139 - Addicted to Outrage: A Modern Hobby

In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge and Shelby dig into a question that feels harder to ignore lately: why do so many people seem to want to be angry? What starts as an observation about local social media quickly turns into a deeper conversation about outrage, conflict, and human nature. From comment sections that feel more like battlegrounds than communities, to knee-jerk hate directed at people we don’t actually know, the guys wonder if this constant tension is something new—or something deeply wired into us. Is conflict biological? Social? A leftover instinct from thousands of years of survival and fighting? Or are some people just mean jerks with Wi-Fi? Ridge reflects on how easily people jump to conclusions without reading the full story, while Shelby admits he mostly uses social media for Marketplace… yet still can’t avoid the flood of negativity. Together, they explore how anger spreads, why it feels addictive, and whether choosing restraint is becoming a lost skill. As always, it’s a mix of honest reflection, mild frustration, and the occasional uncomfortable truth—served up from the barn. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed the episode, rate, follow, share it with a friend, and help keep the conversation going.