(nigeria)

fact 1 - an overwhelming majority of armed robbers are men

fact 2 - an overwhelming majority of vigilantes/local security are men

these realities co-exist but people will vary in their perception depending on which category of actors they have more experience with...

...how they value these experiences, and how they interpret the connection between the two categories (e.g fact 2 as a consequence of fact 1, fact 1 & 2 as consequences of different forms of social pressure etc.)

these differences in perception can be quite jarring presented...

...in sociopolitical discourse, often leading to conflict where each party is absolutely certain of their position and believes it incapable of coexisting with any other reality;

unnecessary conflict that ultimately proves unproductive, counterproductive even

the truth is...

...one individual/group's perception of reality doesn't necessarily negate/invalidate the experiences that inform your own

that some women perceive men as violators does not invalidate your experiences of them as protectors

that some perceive religious people to be oppressors..

..does not negate your experiences of them as saviours

you don't need to view other people's experiences as attacks on yours

and you don't need to be so dismissive of realities you don't understand

especially regarding matters that rely more on opinion than established facts

"it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it"

- aristotle (kinda)