Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
While my mother and I take our coffee piping hot, my father can only tolerate it in the form of cold coffee. Then comes my sister, who will only heat the milk as part of the coffee making ritual and then enjoy her lukewarm cup of coffee. Coincidentally, she is also the most liberal of us all.
Looking at the society of extremists, I see the people with neutral or moderate opinions as the flag bearers of peace and harmony. It’s easier to have a strong opinion about something than be tolerant of opposing ideas. The line between an extremist and a fascist appears more comforting than the one near the middle which exists in the pool of difference often considered as indecision and confusion.
It is so important to have an opinion about everything these days, or people don’t take you seriously. What’s worse is that a well-thought-out or thoroughly researched opinion weighs equal to or perhaps even less than the one whthats based on blind faith. The voice of logic is silent while that of misled and corrupted minds is louder.
Why is it easier to have strong, unshakable views regarding anything? Be it politics, culture, or even the choice of beverage. And when does it start affecting people around us negatively?
It is easier to be an extremist than to stand in the middle because the edges are loud, certain, and comforting, while the middle is quiet, uncertain, and lonely. Extremism offers clarity. It tells you what to believe, whom to blame, and what to do. There is no room for doubt, no requirement to empathize with the other side, no pressure to question your tribe. It’s a packaged identity. The middle ground, however, demands intellectual humility. It asks you to hold conflicting truths, to engage with nuance, to admit that things are complicated. You risk being misunderstood by both sides, and often find yourself without a home in a world divided by absolutes.
But progress, wisdom, and peace are usually found in that uncomfortable space. Not everything can be black and white. The gray is scary and all-changing, but it's a mark of strength and acceptance. It doesn’t even have to be something one approves of, just accepts the existence of and moves on in life without engaging in negative emotions associated with difference.
Extremism can be expressed in a healthy way in a debate. It’s even endearing when a couple discusses their food and vacation choices on a first date. But on a national and international platform, such ideas can be triggering and lead to unnecessary conflict. While it is important to recognise the actual rights and wrongs of living in a society that is a blend on all fronts, be it language, religion, culture and even nationalities; what is also necessary is to respect the differences and not make them a topic of discussion, especially not in forums they are completely irrelevant in, for example, education and employment.
In today’s polarized world, it is often easier to commit to an extreme ideology than to stand firmly in the middle. Extremes offer clarity, certainty, and a sense of identity that can be emotionally comforting. They remove the burden of ambiguity by supplying black-and-white answers in an overwhelmingly gray world, which is simpler as compared to the cognitive demands of moderate thinking.
Choosing the middle path is not merely a passive decision to stay neutral; it is a conscious and often challenging effort to embrace complexity. Being a moderate means accepting that most issues do not have simple solutions. It requires critical thinking, open-mindedness, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity. These are difficult mental tasks that do not offer the emotional gratification or the validation that comes so easily with ideological conformity. Moreover, moderates often find themselves isolated, criticized by both extremes, and rarely find a community that champions balanced thinking.
In an era where social validation is heavily influenced by likes, shares, and follows, such nuanced positions struggle to gain attention. Social media algorithms tend to amplify sensationalism and outrage, giving extremists the spotlight while muffling more reflective voices. Humans are social beings, inherently drawn to groups that affirm their identities and beliefs. In this context, middle-ground thinkers often feel like outsiders. Society also tends to associate unwavering certainty with strength and regards those who change their minds or admit to uncertainty as weak or indecisive. This cultural bias makes it even harder for people to hold moderate views, which demand flexibility and the courage to say, “I don’t know.”
The overload of information available today can further exacerbate this situation. Faced with decision fatigue, people often resort to the mental shortcut of aligning with simplistic, extreme narratives that provide a sense of clarity and direction. Yet, these ideologies can foster dangerous traits: those driven by dominance and dogmatism may fall into self-deception, while those clinging to blind faith and dependence risk delusion.
In contrast, the middle way fosters qualities like independence, critical inquiry, and tolerance. It champions insight over ignorance and understanding over reaction. By learning and further teaching children to question extremes and appreciate nuance, we can nurture a generation that is more thoughtful, inclusive, and resilient.
Recent studies suggest that pasta is near near-perfect dish and that it can trigger positive emotions in people. This interesting claim compelled me to wonder what makes it so special. A variety of pasta dishes, yet one thing that remains constant is the addition of pasta water in the sauce, irrespective of what kind it is. The starch in the pasta water helps mix the oil and water in the sauce, making it a perfect flavour blend. While the two extremes would’ve otherwise struggled to come together, the middleman intervened to serve an exquisite experience.
Ultimately, the health of any civilization depends on its capacity to strike a balance, to resist the lure of extremes and embrace the often-uncomfortable space in between. The middle path isn’t a weak compromise, but a courageous pursuit of understanding in a world too quick to divide.
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