Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Teri Kanefield

Michael Li (李之樸) @mcpli.bsky.social · 2d

Grassroots campaigning on Prop 50 in California

Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 2d

You can find political messages in interesting places in California.

This painted rock was spotted along a trail in the coastal range.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 2d

You can find political messages in interesting places in California.

This painted rock was spotted along a trail in the coastal range.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 26d

I keep tinkering with it, so typos creep in. Please ignore them.

I am persuaded that my keyboard is haunted.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · 26d

I meant to tag @jenmercieca.bsky.social, whose work I also mention in this very long blog post.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Oct 4

3/ Anyway, I hope someone finds it interesting and helpful.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Oct 4

I agree. I tried to make a compelling case for just that.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Oct 4

. . . it's sort of long.

I asked it: “What do you want to be?”

It hasn’t answered yet, so for now, it’s a blog post.

terikanefield.com/whyextremism...

I draw on the work of lots of scholars, including @karenstenner.bsky.social, @dannagal.bsky.social, and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social

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Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen (and how to protect democracy in a divided world) - Teri Kanefield

Hello, and welcome. I plan to take on some big questions, including: Why do some people spiral into extremism? Why does democracy seem perpetually on the brink? Why are we so divided? What can we do t...

terikanefield.com

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Oct 4

I finished that thing I've been writing. It looks like I've taken on some big questions.

The conclusions are what I’ve been trying to say for several years, but I believe now I've explained it better and with more context.

terikanefield.com/whyextremism...

For a blog post . . .

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Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen (and how to protect democracy in a divided world) - Teri Kanefield

Hello, and welcome. I plan to take on some big questions, including: Why do some people spiral into extremism? Why does democracy seem perpetually on the brink? Why are we so divided? What can we do t...

terikanefield.com

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Sep 13

I tell my readers I publish on Sunday morning, but, well, I'm the type who always worked ahead of deadlines 🤓

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Sep 13

It’s about (almost) everything.

I'm trying to pull together the ideas I’ve been working out over the past several years.

One section relies on @hcrichardson.bsky.social's book, How the South Won the Civil War.

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terikanefield.com/heres-why/

Here's Why - Teri Kanefield

* * * Welcome! If you’ve already read Part I, click here to skip to Part II. * * * Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national indepe...

terikanefield.com

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Sep 13

In Part II, I offer the lyrics to three songs,
-Sam the Sham’s “Lil Red Riding Hood”
-Roger and Hammerstein’s “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught,” and
-“Those were the Days.”

Can you guess what it's about?

No? So I'll tell you. . .

terikanefield.com/heres-why/

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Here's Why - Teri Kanefield

* * * Welcome! If you’ve already read Part I, click here to skip to Part II. * * * Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national indepe...

terikanefield.com

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Sep 13

Part II of this thing I’m working on is ready.

Part I was called “Here’s Why Intolerance and Extremism happen.” It was about demagogues and artists (and more).

In Part II, I quote the lyrics to three songs . . .

terikanefield.com/heres-why/

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Here's Why - Teri Kanefield

* * * Welcome! If you’ve already read Part I, click here to skip to Part II. * * * Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national indepe...

terikanefield.com

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Sep 12

Thanks for this comment. I did write a paragraph on the psychology of many demagogues. I thought it would fit in later (I am planning 3 more sections) but it might end up going back here.

I'm leaning toward including it in Section III. We will see.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 31

I think he's saying something more subtle, and now he says "there is no free will" because he felt he was too subtle before.

It think he's saying that at each moment, our behavior comes from what came before, but there is constant flux so we are not predetermined.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 31

I guess I had no choice in the matter 😅 My library search function was beyond my control .

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 31

I just discovered Sapolsky. Here is how. I wrote the sentence, "What sets us apart from other species is our ability to think in metaphor." Then being an appellate lawyer, I thought, "I'd better find some authority for that sentence."

So I started poking around, found his work, and started reading.

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

Isn't it a heart-wrenching story?

I picked out the line I always loved. (I won't spoil it!)

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

I'm writing about everything. I'll explain in a few weeks :)

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

that was funny!!!

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

Forgot one: Robert Sapolsky

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

Also I cited from:

The Manticore by Robertson Davies
The Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett

Yes, I did. I quoted from The Little Princess.

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(Was this #5? I lost track. Time for a break!!!)

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

Ledroit, Stephanie
Levitsky, Steven
Packenham, Robert
Ratliff, William
Russell, Bertrand
Tierney, Michael
Wilde, Oscar
Yalom, Irvin D.
Ziblatt, Daniel

I told you I covered a lot of ground !!!

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

The link: terikanefield.com/heres-why/

Other scholars mentioned, critiqued, or cited:

Adorno, Theodor
Arendt, Hannah
Chinoy, Sahil
Coleridge, Samuel
Doestoevsky, Fydor
Frenkel-Brunswik, Else
Haidt, Jonathan @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social
Hand, Learned
Kanai, Ryota
Merritt, Eli

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- Teri Kanefield

Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national independence festivities and a reunion for my husband and his siblings. I learned that an ...

terikanefield.com

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

I add new research, new conclusions, and venture into new territory including existence pain and the role of the artist.

terikanefield.com/heres-why/

Special thanks to @karenstenner.bsky.social and @leorzmigrod.bsky.social who helped me understand how to pull this all together.

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- Teri Kanefield

Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national independence festivities and a reunion for my husband and his siblings. I learned that an ...

terikanefield.com

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Teri Kanefield @terikanefield.bsky.social · Aug 30

Okay, whew. I've been writing. Some light summer beach reading . . . NOT

I begin by going over familiar territory: The authoritarian personality, what the neuroscientists tell us about our political differences.
I need this because the new stuff requires context, so please stick with me. . .

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