Two dogs meet in a field. One comes from a loving home that has provided a large comfortable pillow for sleeping at night. The other comes from a loving home that has provided a box with cardboard walls for sleeping at night with a sense of protective space. As the two converse, one expresses the sentiment that all dogs should have the benefit of sleeping as s/he does, and briefly summarizes the what and why of the opinion. The other expresses an alternative viewpoint.
The subtle, gradual changes takes place in less than an hour. First came the hints of “mere” disagreement. No one noticed the malevolent spirits or psychological fragments that were gathering to watch the show and silently applaud. A bit longer and all possibility of real friendship was dwindling away.
Within a few days and weeks, mutually affirming loyalty groups formed within the broader canine population: “us” (wise and good) against “them” (ignorant and wicked).
