The internet definitely plays a part. Facebook was literally called to congress for its algorithm only feeding people exactly what they want to hear. No wonder there is so much polarization in the world, every topic gets reduced down to a left vs right political argument even though these things often have nothing at all to do with politics. This happens with every issue in society not just COP26, people view every issue through a political lens. Why?
It's like:
"sir, how do you feel about this issue relating to morality and ethics?"
"Well my political circle has this to say about the issue, therefore I think that as well."
"Okay, and how about this issue of science. The science suggest that (...insert findings...), how do you feel about that?"
"Well, my political circle does not believe in that science therefore I do not believe in it."
Personally, I respect people more when they have mixed feelings about a topic. Many issues today are highly complex so if a person can see multiple sides of the issue and its impacts across multiple fields and they are unsure where it all fits in within their own values and belief system, then at least it shows that they are thinking about the topic themselves and are not just regurgitating with certainty, the reduced down argument that their biased news outlet is telling them.
These are just my personal thoughts on political polarization hahaha 🤣
I like your thoughts on it all, lol. They are similar to my own. I think people with a mixed bag of opinions and thoughts is better than someone just trotting out the same line that they have heard someone else and there is no scope for accepting anything different.
I especially like it if they have something to back it up rather than internet warblings from a crazy site!
But yeah, the internet really does make a difference. I have found my daughter googling millions of random things she wants to know the meaning of and I keepthinking I wished there was something similar when I was young