You’ve nailed it. One of the biggest mistakes people make, especially about their ideological enemies, is that other people are just dopey and dumb. But there’s all kinds of “intelligence” and one thing almost all humans have is intelligence in pattern-recognition. Kids quickly learn what they can and can’t get away with, what they can say to get heat off them when they’re in trouble (and what they shouldn’t say because it turns the heat up), etc. If society is in a place where “but racism! But historical trauma!” gets you whatever you want and puts you above criticism, people are gonna start making that claim. It’s honestly the smart thing to do, if you have nothing else to back up your ask or your argument.
You’ve nailed it. One of the biggest mistakes people make, especially about their ideological enemies, is that other people are just dopey and dumb. But there’s all kinds of “intelligence” and one thing almost all humans have is intelligence in pattern-recognition. Kids quickly learn what they can and can’t get away with, what they can say to get heat off them when they’re in trouble (and what they shouldn’t say because it turns the heat up), etc. If society is in a place where “but racism! But historical trauma!” gets you whatever you want and puts you above criticism, people are gonna start making that claim. It’s honestly the smart thing to do, if you have nothing else to back up your ask or your argument.