Big history nerd here, so my perspective is definitely colored by all the books I’ve devoured over the years. I don’t think what we’re going through this day in age is very unique – people have always been incredibly violent and the press/ruling elites have always used it to their advantage. The thing that has changed with the advent of technology and the 24 hour news cycle is we’re just more bombarded with current events than we used to be. Expose any person to that much negativity over an extended period of time, and it warps one’s perception of reality. Combine this with the erosion of many of the “glues” that have traditionally held society together (manners, communities, etc.) it puts a greater strain on all of us.

I think there’s a lot of positive work being done in the world, but we don’t hear about it since it doesn’t draw the internet clicks or television viewers.

Only thing that keeps me sane is to go on news detoxes periodically and remind myself that the human race has endured through equally if not more troubling times.