Left or right, center or extreme, the nation seems to be operating on unofficial talking points.

You figure out who “your people” are, you follow them, you see their content on social media, and you start picking up on the topics and phrases they seemingly care most about. Pretty soon those same things are what you care most about, too (or at least it’s all you can think about, which feels like it must be the same thing).

Election results, racism, aliens, anti-Semitism, Trump-derangement syndrome—just find a trending hashtag on whatever social network a group happens to congregate, and with even the barest sense of pattern recognition, you’ll see it.

We talk about the things we think about. We think about the things others talk about. See the circle?

Talking points are seeds that grow the next generation of related talking points.

Speaking of seeds…here’s a weird such talking point I see popping up with conservatives, generally males, particularly those trying to promote a kind of Catholic crusader masculinity (often ones who frequently post versions of the Yes Chad / Nordic Gamer meme): seed oils.