Contribution by Prof. Dr. Thomas Beschorner “Media change: Opinion is free, but worth less and less”

“My opinion, your opinion, period!” doesn't get us anywhere. What's more, free societies should be wary of opinion absolutism. Social media, as well as some right-wing conservative and libertarian media houses (the names of the horse and rider are mentioned in the text) are doing democracy a disservice with their opinion salad.
 
The topic is topical (see JD Vance on Friday) and is linked to a certain zeitgeist, but at the same time - I suspect - has deeper-rooted reasons that are due to a flaw in modernity: the neglect of an emotional experience in the political sphere. We are now paying the price for this because right-wing extremist movements and parties are filling this void with bravura.
 
What are the consequences?
 
1) We should take note of the fact that parts of the population (and politicians) can only be reached with rational arguments to a limited extent. The more people move in quasi-religious, strongly identity-laden emotional contexts from which they derive their pleasure, the less so.
 
2) A critical eye is needed to distinguish where a productive struggle for the better argument of an interested public is taking place - and where purely opinion-driven pseudo-arenas are being staged.
 
3) Even more important is the systematic question of how democracy can be made more attractive again for many people and linked to positive emotional experiences. Or more precisely: with