A journey through Postfactistan

I love travelling and people who think differently. They are my home. I respect discussion and even though I may often offend people with my sometimes extreme opinions, I always make an effort to either respect and understand other opinions – or to change them in objective discussions. The latter often also applies to my own.

Corona has finally sealed the demise of any meaningful culture of debate. The brilliant Israeli polymath Yuval Harari predicted back in 2016 in his deeply disturbing book “Homo Deus” that the internet would destroy democracies and ultimately humanity. Unfortunately, I can only agree with him today.

Facts no longer count for anything. There is only hatred for anyone who thinks differently – and it seems that this is especially the case when, for once, those who think differently agree with the majority. All manners are lost, especially online. There is no longer any desire for togetherness. I don’t want to live in a world like that. So I write.

I often think differently to the majority. I criticise a lot. “My” party has never governed and I am anything but in agreement with many of the actions of the governing parties. To put it somewhat casually, I don’t see the brains and heart in many of their actions. I often wish for simpler rules, even at the expense of justice. You can never understand everyone anyway. I doubt a lot of things. Even though I often hate my own doubt, it is often the reason why I live.

Today I shared a post from the Nürnberger Zeitung in an associated medium based on figures from the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. Content: Pandemic of the unvaccinated. 58.3% of people in Bavaria are vaccinated according to the Robert Koch Institute. Incidence among fully vaccinated people in Bavaria: 9.18. Incidence among unvaccinated people in Bavaria: 110. Three different sources previously confirmed these figures to me – with small fluctuation ranges. I explicitly agree with some commentators who argue that vaccinated people are tested less frequently than unvaccinated people – and therefore their incidence rate must tend to be lower.

The reaction to this from a frequent traveller and motivational speaker I know personally: “Why are you sharing such nonsense? Is it fun to set people against each other? What kind of behaviour is that?”.

My jaw drops. Facts are finally irrelevant. Everyone just believes what they want. Even worse. I miss all decency, logic and respect. Other opinions make the world a colourful place. I was always grateful to them. This statement has only one effect: my surrender. I can no longer do it. I no longer want to. I no longer have to. I give up.

Sometimes it takes a lot of strength to listen to other people’s opinions. Often even more to try to understand them. It also takes strength to fail. I was once able to explain to an Israeli who made jokes about Nazi Germany in Zanzibar why I think his compatriots are better Nazis than our grandfathers when it comes to Palestine. He understood some of the points, but disagreed with the conclusion. We came to blows with words but drank together peacefully. It was very exhausting for both of us – but valuable.

When strength fades, hatred always follows. Every heart can only bear a limited amount of hatred. After that, it withers and gives up all its space. I no longer want this hatred of those who think differently. I want to keep the space for understanding and love. Especially for those who think differently.

I am drawing a line today. I’m ashamed of it, because in doing so I’m preventing other opinions from being heard to a nice extent. I am also aware that, strictly speaking, I am contradicting my own rules. Today, I kick everyone who no longer fulfils the minimum requirements of humanity and logic. I quickly grin again at memories of motivational coaches who were helped by my arse-kicking to kite the perfect wind. Then I move on.

RESPECT No matter how differently the other person may think: always treat them with the respect that you would wish for yourself.

FACTS are not always absolute. But many things are spread virally far too quickly today without being checked – especially by people who say their own opinion is being suppressed. We don’t live in Belarus, but that’s exactly what some people want us to believe.

VESTÄNDNIS Always try to understand other opinions. You are allowed to think differently. But understand why they think differently.

LIFE IS COLOURFUL Without different opinions, life would be a desolate pond with no chance of growth or ever seeing the sea. As long as you can: listen to other opinions, grow and let grow!

LIVE IS LIVE whenever possible discuss face to face. When it comes to Corona, I will never post comments, posts or likes on Facebook again. It only brings hate. Always.

HATE is the source of all evil. When it wins, there are only losers. Fight hate within yourself first.