I don't think people care anywhere near as much as it seems. Everyone is just bored. They go online and see a list of trending topics they're supposed to have a binary reaction to. "Oh today I'm supposed to be mad about mr. Potato Head and the chick rabbit from space jam." Then they spend a minute typing up an opinion and throwing it into the void of online discourse. Then they move on with their day.
There is an emotive reaction in there and that's the important part - that's what fuels the sense of moral superiority that carries one into the discourse - but the actual item that's being argued over is quickly forgotten.
I don't think people care anywhere near as much as it seems. Everyone is just bored. They go online and see a list of trending topics they're supposed to have a binary reaction to. "Oh today I'm supposed to be mad about mr. Potato Head and the chick rabbit from space jam." Then they spend a minute typing up an opinion and throwing it into the void of online discourse. Then they move on with their day.
There is an emotive reaction in there and that's the important part - that's what fuels the sense of moral superiority that carries one into the discourse - but the actual item that's being argued over is quickly forgotten.