Common Cause 

T.K. McNeil 

Reality is subjective. Not only when it is convenient for an argument but in the more concrete terms as well. Such as those related, in some fashion or another, to neuroscience. One of the complex things about being a member of the human race, is that everything that can be known and thought is done through perception. If something is so-called 'imperceptible', it is the same as that thing not existing at all. Because of this flaw in understanding concrete reality, the notion of 'truth' can get a bit dicey, the process of verification being tenuous at its very best.

The state of social structure and the human condition is no great exception, as the limited an flawed processes used to investigate natural science are the same by which we measure and judge values and states of existence. The phrase 'my truth', particularly to those who favour persuasion, is closer to the truth than many are willing to admit. The nature of truth as well as its substance is greatly depending upon personal experience and interpretation.

A phenomena gaining in recognition in the last few years is the so-called 'Red Pill.' A reference to the science-fiction film The Matrix, said term refers to a particular contention that almost everything, if not everything, that people assume to be true about society is false. Not that it is all a computer generated hologram such as in the film but a sort of mass delusion based on a combination of state propaganda and public credulity. Believe it or not, this the above contingency is not as daft as it may first appear. There are numerous examples from history of powerful government apparatus convincing large swaths of the population of things that had no basis in fact. Not in the sense of conspiracy theory cover-ups and 'official accounts' but state propaganda such as that seen in the former Soviet states. In this alternate universe, racial minorities are coddled and out to exact terrible revenge on those who oppressed them, it is men rather than women who are oppressed and the world is run by corporations rather than the government.

While there is little talk of the 'Blue Pill' side of the equation, there is always at least one other side, this is assumed to be the rest of society who have bought into the alleged deception entirely. These are the folk most likely to make up what has been termed the 'regressive left.' A not terribly flattering restatement of the original idea of the 'progressive left.' Generally leftist, these are the groups who have a, sometimes unfortunate, tendency toward direct action political activities to try and fix the wrongs they see as happening around them. Sometimes not even fully understanding what it is that they are angry about and may or may not be happening. Just as the 'Red Pill' faction perceived injustices which may or may not be correct. Passion for justice, as they see it, being one of the main attributes uniting the two.

One option could be to combine the approaches of shrewd skepticism and recognition of the obvious. Keep as open a mind as possible and try to get information from as many reliable, if disagreeing, sources as can be found before drawing conclusions about what might be going on.