Popularity

Political popularity often goes out of fashion rapidly.

The genres of communication within it tend towards the aggressive rather than the peaceful. 

Do you mainly consider politics to be a hobby for power-hungry fanatics and their deluded fans?

Perhaps you have a few insights into election defeats, cancel culture and other forms of social rejection.

Perhaps you have been the victim of a popular bully at least once in your life.

Some bullies become very popular indeed, mostly as a consequence of the delusions of those who like them.

No dictator can acquire power without first being popular with at least a few people already in possession of power.

In view of the above, popularity should always be viewed with skepticism.

Popularity has a strong tendency to lead to hubris.

And many people fail to distinguish clearly enough between the popularity of a social or political group and the popularity or otherwise of the people within it.

The activities of groups involve synergy.  The synergy itself may be the source of popularity rather than the group itself or its members.

Yet enlightenment has never been popular.  It has often been viewed as a threat, especially when compared and contrasted with the popular.

Have you ever been shunned for telling the truth?

Have you ever experienced ostracism for addressing rudeness?

Perhaps your serious attempts to encourage civility have been mistaken for irony.

Popularity is often associated with deference, as is fear.

Perhaps you associate the mainstream with popularity.

Perhaps you associate apparent popularity with the development of hubris.

How do you distinguish between popularity and notability?

How do you distinguish between celebrity and notability?