Political apathy requires as much effort as political engagement
Evidence
We often assume that political activism requires an explanation, while inactivity is the normal state of affairs. But it can be as difficult to ignore a problem as to try to solve it; to curtail feelings of empathy as to extend them; to feel powerless and out of control as to exert an influence; to stop thinking as to think. There is no exit from the political world, no possibility of disengagement; human, political decisions permeate human life, whether we like it or not. — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 94
Categorization
- DEEPTHINKING: Reverses the default assumption that passivity is natural and effort belongs to activism; dense, paradigm-shifting framing of apathy as produced labor.
- XREF: connects to: Apathy requires active interactional effort to sustain. — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics: how Americans…, 938; Apparent civic apathy is effortful cultural labor, not genuine indifference — Nina Eliasoph, “Close to home”: The work of avoiding…, 169; Skepticism toward government lies can convert into apathy rather than critique. — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics: how Americans…, 1018
Broader Connections
- Apathy requires active interactional effort to sustain.
#corroborates(0.92) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 938 - Apparent civic apathy is effortful cultural labor, not genuine indifference
#corroborates(0.90) — Nina Eliasoph, “Close to home”, 169 - Skepticism toward government lies can convert into apathy rather than critique.
#qualifies(0.78) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 1018