I argue that we need to consider a triage consciousness. Currently the present way conversing about our culture is primarily by focusing on symptomatic issues that almost never get anywhere close to the root of the problem. Not only are we not having meaningful conversations, but most are so incurious to be bothered to ask deeper questions they’ll mock the idea of broadening their range of thought, usually because it’s uncomfortable territory.
It’s analogous to a situation where someone just got in a major car crash and has internal bleeding with a myriad of life threatening injuries. After taken to the hospital the medical staff quickly begins to treat the patient by focusing on a small cut on the finger. Ten people stare and gawk at the finger contentiously arguing what to do about it. Should they administer a Scooby Doo band-aid or a Sponge Bob? All while the patient lies dying on the table.
An objective passerby pipes up and says “Oh my god, I think the patient has stopped breathing!”
To which the medical personnel respond by saying “You aren’t qualified to make that assessment.” And shut the curtain preventing future outside influence from interrupting as they return to their critical band-aid problem.
