This VS this

I wonder if the USA people here are aware of how the VS concept is so normalised in the stars and stripes culture. Poly VS monogamy, Harris VS Trump.

I rarely see VS used here in the UK beyond sports, nor anywhere else I’ve visited. Your recent US elections looked to me more like the phenomenon of Mike Tyson VS Jake Paul on Netflix than a well informed selection of political party. The rallies, the fireworks, the merch, even the on-screen graphics on election day: Red corner VS Blue corner with a list of each contenders stats.

As I see it, VS as a concept is so easily toxic. I think it births highly charged tribal emotions, which grow into identity investment, deeper feelings of one’s safety or demise being aligned with a certain group, thus 10x more triggers, and more conflict between the opposing views.

Why not: This OR that?

Things could be so much more chill lol.