The Scene

Abstract

The Scene is the most banal and most expected outcome when people disagree about politics. It is inevitable because there is no agreement. If we can’t agree together then we shout. The Scene is an open conflict where each protagonist is happy to accept a role play. It happens when people get carried away in their enthusiasm, when the adversity between people escalates, and when the irrepressible desire for the perfect retort and for power rises to the surface. The Scene is about domination: squabbling, not accepting someone else’s opinion, not giving in, always having the last word. It can be intense as each party wants to be seen to be right, to impose their convictions and their camp. One must not lose face as words do battle together, ideas clash, retorts become sharper, the tone of the discussion hardens, there is shouting, and finally a real falling out. Afterward, the protagonists are no longer speaking to each perhaps for the duration of the meal, perhaps until the next day, or for a few days. And then the fight begins to fade though it is not really forgotten. A provisional peace is then likely to hold for a time.