A Call to End the Era of Emotional Outrage

We are living in an age where critical thinking is optional and outrage is currency. Log on to any social media platform, and you will be treated to a never-ending parade of uninformed opinions, illogical conclusions, and selective outrage wrapped in a veneer of supposed intelligence. The modern information age has not ushered in an era of enlightenment—it has simply given every loudmouth with a WiFi connection a megaphone.

The current state of affairs is laughably predictable. People are foaming at the mouth, not over waste and corruption itself, but over the fact that it's being exposed. There is a particular venom reserved for those daring to point out that long-broken systems are finally undergoing the renovations they so desperately need. Suddenly, being informed is secondary to making sure your latest hot take sounds compelling enough to garner likes, shares, and retweets.

Photos are misused. Quotes are taken wildly out of context. Facts and records—readily available to anyone with an ounce of curiosity—are ignored in favor of consuming information one meme at a time. Social media users, en masse, are more interested in debating the phrasing of an issue than addressing the actual problem itself. This is the world we live in—where we actively choose to be misled because reading a headline is more convenient than reading a report.

Take the economy, for example. Egg prices are still high, and somehow, this is an indictment of Trump. A quick review of data from the United States Department of Agriculture shows that wholesale egg prices in New York soared to $7.24 per dozen in December, while California saw an increase to $8.76 per dozen. (Strange because here in Texas I can purchase a whole broasted chicken ready-to-eat from Walmart for that amount!) 

This spike in egg prices isn’t due to corporate greed or economic policy—it is the result of an H5N1 avian flu outbreak that has decimated more than 20 million egg-laying hens in the last quarter alone. Yet, instead of acknowledging reality, we see critics asking why Trump hasn't lowered the price of eggs. I would think that one would have to ACTUALLY believe he is the Messiah to expect him to resurrect dead chickens from their graves.

The same people screaming that Trump’s supporters treat him as a Messiah are the first to demand he work miracles. This level of cognitive dissonance is exhausting. The anger of losing an election is morphing into a mental illness, just as winning the last election became a mental illness for many. Trump is not the Savior of America and he is not responsible for every lingering consequence of previous policies.

Those that spoke up by the millions last November are the heroes of America. We contracted a specialist to do a job and so far, he has shown up every day for work.

While I don’t agree with every stance or action Trump takes, I know in both my heart and my mind (and that distinction matters) that I don’t have to like the man who is clearing the debris from my Palisades property to appreciate that the foundation must be rebuilt. I also understand—both emotionally and logically—that debris cannot be removed in an instant, that new concrete needs time to cure, that precise measurements must be taken, and that supplies have to be ordered. If I refuse to let the process play out, I’ll find myself living in a temporary trailer on-site, meeting only the bare minimum of my family’s needs.

And to be clear, I didn’t actually lose a house in the Palisades—I lost my country to a different wildfire that was left unchecked…

There is a growing subset of the population that is incapable of being content. They refuse to focus on the root causes of problems, preferring instead to pick apart the minor details in an effort to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths. This psychological affliction manifests in a never-ending stream of complaints, regardless of who is in power.

Consider the election results: a staggering, overwhelming majority voted for change, and yet, the loudest voices online are those who refuse to accept reality. Many of these same people once promised to leave the country if Trump won—yet they are still here, polluting social discourse with their endless grievance-mongering.

Some individuals are simply predisposed to see the world through a lens of negativity, and this can be attributed to deeper psychological patterns. Depressive Realism is a cognitive bias where individuals believe they perceive reality more accurately than others, often leading to a detached, pessimistic worldview. These individuals dismiss optimism as naïve and believe that acknowledging problems without offering solutions makes them intellectually superior. This mindset fuels much of the performative outrage we see online.

Similarly, Dysthymia (Persistent Depressive Disorder) manifests as a chronic state of dissatisfaction, where even positive changes are met with skepticism or outright rejection. Those suffering from dysthymia struggle to experience joy, constantly moving the goalposts of their own expectations to justify ongoing misery. This explains why some people remain unhappy no matter what policies are enacted, refusing to acknowledge progress and instead focusing on lingering problems.

While depressive realism is not classified as a clinical disorder, it is often linked to depression and negative cognitive biases. Psychological professionals typically approach its treatment through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This method helps individuals challenge their belief that their pessimistic view of reality is the only accurate one. It encourages balanced thinking and teaches ways to recognize and counter cognitive distortions. Another treatment is Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Therapies that help individuals acknowledge reality without fixating on the negative aspects, promoting healthier emotional regulation. Another option is Behavioral Activation Therapy that encourages engagement in rewarding and meaningful activities where therapists work to break the cycle of detachment and negative outlook.

Dysthymia is another animal altogether. Dysthymia is a recognized mood disorder and typically requires a combination of approaches that include first and foremost, Antidepressants. These are particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) that can help regulate mood and reduce chronic depressive symptoms. Another choice may be psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to develop more adaptive thought patterns and coping mechanisms alongside Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focusing on improving relationships and social support, which can be lacking in those with dysthymia.

It must be mentioned that beside these treatments there is a need for basic lifestyle adjustments such as exercise, structured daily routines, proper diet and better sleep which all can promote better mental health. If by some miracle we could begin such treatments as widespread as they would need to be, because these disorders are chronic, any treatment will involve long-term therapy and medication adjustments to manage the symptoms effectively.

It’s bad enough that Facebook and X are cesspools of reactionary drivel, but the infection has now spread to LinkedIn—a platform meant for professional networking. Instead of insightful discussions on industry trends and innovation, we are treated to sanctimonious diatribes, half-baked political takes, and performative outrage. Professionalism is taking a backseat to self-righteous posturing, and it’s time for a course correction.

America, wake up. Most of you are not ready to be clinically diagnosed yet. I refuse to believe it. Raise the American flag in your yard. Stand there and watch the sun go down behind it. Just be quiet in that moment and start to heal. America is something you can feel. It is not just a place—it is an emotion, a belief, and a commitment to something greater than yourself. It is a faith all its own. It is the understanding that we are bound by shared values, by history, by sacrifice, and by the promise of a better future. If you want to be part of that future, stop tearing down what remains and start building something worthy of the nation you claim to love.

It is time to leave behind the era of knee-jerk emotional responses and return to reasoned, logical discourse. Let’s stop reducing complex issues to bite-sized outrage and demand more from ourselves and each other. If you truly want to be informed, do the work. Read beyond the headlines. Challenge your own assumptions. Otherwise, step aside and let the adults handle the conversation.