hexaflexagonbear
It’s less visible, but I think this is one of the long term effects of austerity that causes irreparable damage everywhere. Institutional knowledge lost for rockets is very visible, it’s less so for processes and systems. Losing knowledgeable caseworkers or IT people in government does a similar thing over time. We’ve probably lost the knowledge of how to manufacture the ceramic coating that holds together our society and don’t even realize it.
I really feel there's no point talking to these people unless its in person or you have a relationship with them
I mean, pretty much, yeah. Think there’s a circle of trust effect, where people close to you are easier to sway even when they differ greatly from your view, and people online tend to be impossible to move from their position. At least if the discussion is at all formal, passive consumption of low effort content does seem pretty effective in shaping opinions online.
On the west coast, yeah, but the northeast and Midwest tend to get 90+ degree weather a ton of humidity during summers.