Stories seem to play a huge role in uniting people into a common cause. For example, biblical myths unite people in religion, patriot stories unite countries, partisan stories unite political parties, etc. In an argument, we emotionally attach ourselves to our side of the story. And since all stories are inaccurate and incomplete, we essentially hold on emotionally to a story that supports our interests as we see them.
We use stories to unite ourselves with our tribe. Today, democrats unite themselves into a tribe by talking about how bad Trump is. Republicans unite behind the story of how bad Hillary is. If I make a comment about any issue on a conservative biased group on FB I will be dismissed as a xxxx liberal. Seldom does anyone say anything about the issue I am trying to discuss.
I can't believe this tribalism is good for anyone in our country. But, how do we realize that we are bound to "a story" that stereotypes the other tribe? We do not see them as individuals are even being more than their allegiance to their political tribe. How do go from where we are to sitting down and having meaningful conversations with the "other tribe" or the "them" in the "us and them story"? #stories #tribalism
The mistake you - and way too many other people - are making is in viewing social media as a place to find your "tribe." This has been pointed out as the principle problem in the western world since 2000 or before: social structures are fraying to the detriment of our health (mental and otherwise). Facebook friends aren't friends. But we treat them as if they were. The mistake you're making is assuming that you can have a substantive discussion about the issues with a group that has effectively no ties that binds them to you. Go to a precinct meeting. Have that conversation with a random stranger... in person. It'll go a lot differently. Simply by being in the same room physically you're a lot closer to their "tribe" than anybody you graduated high school with ten years ago.
Actually I go to a lot of social action groups, political action groups, meetings, UuFN fellowships, etc. And 99% of the time I only meet people that are in my tribe, I.e., liberals. I will look into precinct meetings, that should be very challenging in the trump county I live in. Contrary to your statement, I have built some good friends on Facebook some of which have become friends in my real world...but do your point, they are almost all liberals. I am actually looking for mixed groups, in a perfect world, 1/3 each of independents, democrats, and Republicans, hopefully different sexes and races. However, such groups seem more like a unicorn more than reality.
Moderate-to-heavily involved with junior Rotary in HS. Most of the Rotary members I interfaced with were stand up people active in the local community and further out of different backgrounds. Lots o' people on boards of schools, hospitals, etc. working in their own way to advocate for those who need it (at risk students is one example, hell the org's mission is to eradicate Polio). Volunteer options were sick, too, like staffing the minor booths at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Anywho. Can confirm, it's a nice option.