Americans don’t just disagree with those on the other side of the aisle, they hate them. One of the reasons this hate is on the rise is because we are increasingly separated from one another. The absence of real (or even virtual) interactions leaves a vacuum that can be filled with feverish, fury-inducing messages created by those who benefit from dividing us; from politicians clinging to minority rule to faux news networks looking to up their rage ratings. It’s a lot easier to create a caricature out of someone if that someone is out of sight. And we’ve almost completely lost sight of one another. We’re divided economically, we’re divided online, we’re divided in the TV shows we watch and the music we hear, and, maybe most importantly, we’re divided geographically. We’ve lost the daily interactions that remind us of our common humanity and that, regardless of our differences, there’s much more that unites us. Sadly, the geographic divide is only getting more stark, as red Americans move to redder areas and blue Americans seek to make their surroundings more blue. We hate each other because we’re divided and we further divide because we hate each other. NPR: Americans are fleeing to places where political views match their own. “America is growing more geographically polarized—red ZIP codes are getting redder and blue ZIP codes are becoming bluer. People appear to be sorting.” I know what you’re thinking. “Good riddance.” But there’s nothing good about this pattern.

+ Maybe there’s still hope that we can find common geographic ground in the happiest condos on Earth. A Disney-branded California community promises the company’s special magic. “The new developments will be staffed with ‘Disney Cast Members’ and offer Disney entertainment and activities … Some neighborhoods will be designated as senior living communities for people over the age of 55.” (I don’t even want to think about the kind of cosplay these people are gonna get into…)