Polarization Examples

Water and the Continental Divide

The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans sit on opposite ends of North America, making them a fitting analogy for polarization. Rain falling on the continent will eventually end up in one ocean or the other. The Continental Divide determines this fate—rain that falls to the west of the divide will flow toward the Pacific, while rain that falls to the east will reach the Atlantic.

A fascinating example of this split is Two Ocean Creek which straddles the divide. Here, two raindrops swimming side by side may randomly separate—one heading west, the other east. Once divided, each follows the path of least resistance, guided by gravity, moving further and further apart until reaching an ocean. Along the way, droplets join like-minded companions, forming streams, which merge into rivers. Some face intense pressure, rushing over waterfalls and rapids; others take a slow, meandering path through lakes and plains.

We can see a similar path in society. Two people may start out at the same point, but be swept in different directions, gradually drifting further apart.

But nature also provides some exceptions to this polarized flow, not all water (or people) follow the same path.

• Evaporation: A raindrop moving west might be lifted into the atmosphere, carried by the wind back over the divide, and return to the earth as rain in the east. Notably, drops near the surface are more likely to evaporate, while those deep in the riverbed are less likely to escape. In society, like drops near the surface, those with more open minds are sometimes able to resist the flow.
• Water Can Run Uphill: This is perhaps the most mind-boggling exception—a siphon allows water to defy gravity under the right conditions. It’s a powerful metaphor for overcoming division:

1. The end of the siphon must be lower than its starting point. (People need a compelling reason to fight against inertia and have a vision of an end result that is worth the struggle.)
2. An outside force must start the process, pushing water uphill. (Just as people don’t change direction without an external incentive to get them over the hump).
3. The flow must remain unbroken. If the stream is stopped, it won’t restart on its own. (Like water, people have short memories. Once momentum is lost, it’s difficult to regain, and may require starting over.)

Of course, there are other outside forces involved as well. Beavers in the wild or social media in society, can dam the flow, altering the natural course. There are a lot of dam problems in the real world.

Oil and Water Don't Mix - Until They Do

It's hard to imagine anything more polarizing in nature than oil and water. Water molecules like to hang together, as do oil molecules. When oil is added to water, the oil just floats to the top. Even if you vigorously mix them together, they eventually separate and return to their polarized state; oil on top and water on bottom. Oil and water, Hatfields and McCoys, Montagues and Capulets.

But water and oil can be combined through a chemical process called emulsification. This process requires a third ingredient, fittingly called an emulsifier, which acts as a mediator to bind water and oil molecules together. But it doesn't come easy, it takes considerable care and attention to the process. The oil needs to be added gradually, not all at once.

.A great example of emulsification is mayonnaise. Something you can make at home. At its core, mayonnaise is simply just acidic water (lemon juice or vinegar), oil, and egg yolk ( the emulsifier). But you can't just throw them in a bowl and mix them together, otherwise they separate. Instead, care is needed. First the egg yolk and acid are whisked together. Then the oil is introduced very slowly, a drop at a time, until they are emulsified together (no oil droplets are visible in the mix). As the mixture stabilizes, the oil can be added more quickly. Maybe a teaspoon at first, and then a tablespoon at a time.

If you add too much oil, the sauce separates, what cooks call a "broken sauce." And the only way to recover is by starting over, slowly incorporating a bit of the broken sauce can be into the new base.

The result is mayonnaise. Recipes vary slightly depending on the region, but the core ingredients are the same whether you use homemade, Hellman's, Duke's in the South or Kewpie in Japan. Without witnessing the process firsthand, one might never guess that mayonnaise is simply egg yolk and oil. Many assume it contains dairy. Even after reading the ingredient list on the side of the jar, I still found it hard to believe until I made it for myself. I had assumed mayo had dairy in it. Even now, after learning the truth, I occasionally have to remind myself. Just because I've learned it, doesn't mean my subconscious always remembers that. Years of believing mayonnaise contained dairy don’t disappear overnight.

And that’s where the real lesson lies. The drop-by-drop method of making mayonnaise reminds us that sometimes change has to happen gradually. It may even require outside intervention. Move too fast, and resistance builds, no amount of stirring can fix it.

Our polarized world may feel like a broken sauce, but broken sauces can be fixed. It takes patience, new approaches, and a willingness to step back before moving forward. The resulting synergy is worth the effort, just as mayonnaise is so much more than its individual ingredients. Few people would spread raw egg yolk and oil on a sandwich, but blended together, they create something quite tasty.

This mayo clinic is an example of how the use of analogy can provide guidance for addressing seemingly intractable problems. By using an example outside of the political arena, we can help reduce the effect of emotion and thus think more objectively.

When life gives you lemons, make mayonnaise! Whether we are talking jokes or yolks, both can make polar opposites more willing to hang together.