I Unplugged and You Should Too

[Chuckie Finster 22624]

When I woke up last Wednesday, I felt a lot of emotions.  Anger that we put him back in charge.  Sadness, obviously.  A little bit of fear about what was to come.  Confusion as to how my perception of what was going to happen in the election was so wrong.  But soon, all of those took a backseat to an unexpected one: acceptance.  
Acceptance that my current view of the country differs from the majority.  Acceptance that no matter how strongly I feel about something or how "informed" I think I am, it has no impact on the outcome.  Acceptance that vibes matter more than concrete ideas in an election.  Acceptance that people decide who they are voting for and THEN rationalize that choice, not vice versa.
I decided that morning to delete my Facebook and Twitter accounts and have not returned.  I have purposefully avoided any news sites.  I used to trick myself into believing that I was just staying informed, but if I was so informed then how the hell did I not see Tuesday night coming?  I thought I had done a good job of curating my feed to generally unbiased outlets, but nobody still on Twitter is unbiased in any way.  So I decided to get my life back - and you would not believe how much better everything has gotten.
No doom scrolling.  No "somebody should do something!!!" pleas from the very people capable of doing something.  I periodically check in here to get updates (quite the Cabinet being developed!) because I can't go full cold turkey, but that's really it.  And you know what I've realized?  We are not meant to know all of this.  No regular citizen should know the name of the White House Press Secretary.  None of us should care about some new Government office being developed by the stupidest billionaire to ever exist.  Nobody outside of congress needs to have any insight to the election process of the Senate majority leader.
And the bigger realization: this is how most of America already lives.  Nobody normal knows who fucking Matt Gaetz is.  Hell, most of them don't know what an Attorney General even does.  So what is to be gained by endlessly scrolling news about that appointment?  He might one day enact policies that negatively impact our lives, but until then there is absolutely. fucking. nothing that we can do - so stop caring.  No matter how many facts you gather on how this is a bad thing, 1) anyone who can do something about it will not listen to you and 2) anyone who will listen is not capable of enacting change.  Treat politics like hurricane coverage: do your best to protect your family from the one headed directly your way, but don't let every possible tropical disturbance dominate your life.
Yes our lives will likely be impacted by the choices these stupid people ultimately make, but unless you are actively planning to run for office, there's no point to worrying about any of this.  Enjoy your life, keep your shit together, and hold out hope that he fucks things up enough for the unplugged folks to feel the vibes of necessary change. 
But until then it's time to focus on the things that really matter, like beating the fuck out of Arkansas tomorrow.
 

[sidis 9777]

DO SOMETHING, CHUCKIE!!!

while i agree with your sentiment about unplugging from social media, i pretty much categorically disagree with everything else you said. an educated and informed citizenry is the only way to keep any check whatsoever on outright corruption that leads to truly unpleasant consequences such as runaway levels of totalitarianism and fascism. continuing to add to the already insurmountable ledger of uninformed idiots doesn't help.

that said, anyone who finds themselves having material levels of anxiety or their mental/emotional well being threatened by the non-stop onslaught of frustrating and discouraging news and/or speculation should absolutely do themselves the favor of "unplugging" and detaching themselves from the source of that. no question.

sounds like you are finding a happier place after being so invested in the disappointing results by avoidance. a lot of people are in your shoes. the recency of everything and the fact that every decision dipshit has made thus far betrays his worst instincts makes it an ideal time to become apathetic in the near term. hopefully a balance will reveal itself while remaining informed.

stay happy, chuckle.

BUT DO SOMETHING!!!!

(eta: and yes, we owe the pigs a borderline erotic beatdown)

Edited Friday at 11:24 PM by sidis

[David Dennison 18749]

[Brisketexan 104779]

20 minutes ago, Chuckie Finster said:

But until then it's time to focus on the things that really matter, like beating the fuck out of Arkansas tomorrow.

Do you even "redouble my efforts to get the wife to sign on to a weekend-long sex-fest with her, Sela Ward, and Susanna Hoffs," bro?  Geez.  It's like you haven't even been paying attention.

[TeeDubya 3360]

1 minute ago, Brisketexan said:

Do you even "redouble my efforts to get the wife to sign on to a weekend-long sex-fest with her, Sela Ward, and Susanna Hoffs," bro?  Geez.  It's like you haven't even been paying attention.

Lemme know how that works out.  Might need a strategy share.

[SubliminalHorn 6730]

I really want to disconnect and pretend everything is fine. But I just can’t 

[Brisketexan 104779]

2 minutes ago, SubliminalHorn said:

I really want to disconnect and pretend everything is fine. But I just can’t 

Oh, "pretend everything is fine" isn't part of the deal.  Instead, it's "be at peace that it's all gone to shit, and there's nothing you can do about it.  So, take care of you and yours."  And of course, take care of Sela and Susanna.  I know you don't swing that way, but even you can see the wisdom of my plan.

[CTC2 2756]

I deleted twitter and stopped watching cable news.  
I will watch the evening national news and read a newspaper but I’m not subjecting myself to CNN and MSNBC and all the opinion stuff masquerading as expertise. 

[bolverk 29483]

3 minutes ago, SubliminalHorn said:

I really want to disconnect and pretend everything is fine. But I just can’t 

I understand the desire to take the apathetic plunge for your short-term well-being, but I choose to relish watching the leopard feast instead. 

[Willfully Horn 7948]

Most of this country had already checked out. How’s that working out for us?

[Chuckie Finster 22624]

26 minutes ago, sidis said:

while i agree with your sentiment about unplugging from social media, i pretty much categorically disagree with everything else you said. an educated and informed citizenry is the only way to keep any check whatsoever on outright corruption that leads to truly unpleasant consequences such as runaway levels of totalitarianism and fascism. continuing to add to the already insurmountable ledger of uninformed idiots doesn't help.

Look I get it, but we do not have an uninformed electorate.  We have an electorate actively hostile to being informed.  Politics is a team sport now, hat and flag out front shoulda told ya.  

8 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Oh, "pretend everything is fine" isn't part of the deal.  Instead, it's "be at peace that it's all gone to shit, and there's nothing you can do about it.  So, take care of you and yours."  And of course, take care of Sela and Susanna.  I know you don't swing that way, but even you can see the wisdom of my plan.

Yeah, it's this.  The plane is headed into the mountain.  You can continue to read your book or you can look out the window and scream.  Maybe the pilot corrects the plane and everything is okay, maybe he doesn't, but either way you aren't getting in that cockpit to affect the outcome in any way.

[David Dennison 18749]

6 minutes ago, Chuckie Finster said:

Look I get it, but we do not have an uninformed electorate.  We have an electorate actively hostile to being informed.  Politics is a team sport now, hat and flag out front shoulda told ya. 

Now?

[0xdeadbeef 1629]

In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, my stress level and blood pressure were far to high for my well being.  I had to turn off most news sources. I'm so much happier and healthier for it. But you can't completely unplug and still be part of the modern world, and I don't want to be completely uninformed.  I still see headlines of stories as they happen, I just don't follow links.  If something is still being talked about 2+ weeks later, I'll google something like "recap of XYZ" or "Timeline of XYZ" I get most of the basics without a lot of the emotion.   I'm sure there are hundreds of news stories this year that would be rage-inducing if I had read or watched them.    Am I less less informed than the old news-junkie version of myself; yes.  But stress degrades the quality of life.

 

 

[bolverk 29483]

23 minutes ago, Chuckie Finster said:

Yeah, it's this.  The plane is headed into the mountain.  You can continue to read your book or you can look out the window and scream.  Maybe the pilot corrects the plane and everything is okay, maybe he doesn't, but either way you aren't getting in that cockpit to affect the outcome in any way.

Granted. But you *can* point and laugh at all the stupid motherfuckers who voted for Andreas Lubitz to be the pilot while you're going down.

[troph 24675]

1 hour ago, Chuckie Finster said:

When I woke up last Wednesday, I felt a lot of emotions.  Anger that we put him back in charge.  Sadness, obviously.  A little bit of fear about what was to come.  Confusion as to how my perception of what was going to happen in the election was so wrong.  But soon, all of those took a backseat to an unexpected one: acceptance.  
Acceptance that my current view of the country differs from the majority.  Acceptance that no matter how strongly I feel about something or how "informed" I think I am, it has no impact on the outcome.  Acceptance that vibes matter more than concrete ideas in an election.  Acceptance that people decide who they are voting for and THEN rationalize that choice, not vice versa.
I decided that morning to delete my Facebook and Twitter accounts and have not returned.  I have purposefully avoided any news sites.  I used to trick myself into believing that I was just staying informed, but if I was so informed then how the hell did I not see Tuesday night coming?  I thought I had done a good job of curating my feed to generally unbiased outlets, but nobody still on Twitter is unbiased in any way.  So I decided to get my life back - and you would not believe how much better everything has gotten.
No doom scrolling.  No "somebody should do something!!!" pleas from the very people capable of doing something.  I periodically check in here to get updates (quite the Cabinet being developed!) because I can't go full cold turkey, but that's really it.  And you know what I've realized?  We are not meant to know all of this.  No regular citizen should know the name of the White House Press Secretary.  None of us should care about some new Government office being developed by the stupidest billionaire to ever exist.  Nobody outside of congress needs to have any insight to the election process of the Senate majority leader.
And the bigger realization: this is how most of America already lives.  Nobody normal knows who fucking Matt Gaetz is.  Hell, most of them don't know what an Attorney General even does.  So what is to be gained by endlessly scrolling news about that appointment?  He might one day enact policies that negatively impact our lives, but until then there is absolutely. fucking. nothing that we can do - so stop caring.  No matter how many facts you gather on how this is a bad thing, 1) anyone who can do something about it will not listen to you and 2) anyone who will listen is not capable of enacting change.  Treat politics like hurricane coverage: do your best to protect your family from the one headed directly your way, but don't let every possible tropical disturbance dominate your life.
Yes our lives will likely be impacted by the choices these stupid people ultimately make, but unless you are actively planning to run for office, there's no point to worrying about any of this.  Enjoy your life, keep your shit together, and hold out hope that he fucks things up enough for the unplugged folks to feel the vibes of necessary change. 
But until then it's time to focus on the things that really matter, like beating the fuck out of Arkansas tomorrow.
 

100% and my people are one of the primary targets. Nothing I can do about it. I’m not accepting it, but truth is my life was way better during his first term not because I should be MAGA but because I was intentional about staying off social media, avoiding news, looking to strengthen relationships, enjoy my hobbies, breaking bread together, loving, laughing and living as large as I could bc who knows shit could go down. Next four years, doing the same. Not much else we can do, so I co-sign with ya brother.

[StassneyHorn 6563]

Didn’t read shit

[tx 3 putt 76578]

[bernorange 8351]

10 hours ago, Chuckie Finster said:

...

Acceptance that my current view of the country differs from the majority.  ...

[Evil Bill Obrien 3221]

 

maybe ignorance is too strong a word for it, definitely something too this in my life experience observing others tho, but I’m cursed with a thirst for knowledge that I’ve found very hard to turn off so I’ll probably be the guy screaming while looking out the window of the plane and seeing nothing but mountain outside…

[4th&Five 41477]

I think I’ve avoided hearing his voice for going on 3 weeks. That alone has been a boost to my mental health. 

[Al Bundy's Napoleon Hand 13557]

4 hours ago, bernorange said:

[DixonHur 11276]

Oh hell no.  

I didn't watch the prelims for the last 4 years just to turn it off once the main event started.

I'm gonna Nero this bitch and fiddle while watching it all burn to the ground.

[TwiceHorn 31352]

For some reason, apathy or something (I won't attempt to claim any superiority), I just never got much into social media.  I had a myspace for a bit, didn't make any use of it and let it go when it was superseded.

This, and a couple of hobby fora are my social media and almost the only reason I know what's going on in that sphere.  And to the extent that (pop) cultural awareness is needed or desirable, it keeps me up to date.  The hobby fora pretty much forbid political talk and are confined to the hobbies themselves.

Of course, you can do plenty of doom scrolling on here, too.  But at least it's fact-based doom scrolling.

[TexArcher 37662]

15 hours ago, SubliminalHorn said:

I really want to disconnect and pretend everything is fine. But I just can’t 

Yeah.  I can't not look, not yet.

I'm sure I'll be there in a year or two, and I have no illusions that things might actually be okay.  But knowing what's coming isn't the same as seeing it and being forced to accept it.  That'll take a little while.  Eventually, I'll unplug from this place, find another, and hopefully never look back, accepting that this place is no longer the one I once cared about.

[Prepuce of Doom 21016]

OP isn't wrong, but sowing apathy among those who know better is the entire point of this specific phase of the downward spiral that ultimately lets the shitheads win. 

Edited 22 hours ago by Prepuce of Doom

[usmc0331horn 951]

How am I supposed to laugh at people if I don't tune in?

[Goredho 17370]

17 hours ago, Chuckie Finster said:

When I woke up last Wednesday, I felt a lot of emotions.  Anger that we put him back in charge.  Sadness, obviously.  A little bit of fear about what was to come.  Confusion as to how my perception of what was going to happen in the election was so wrong.  But soon, all of those took a backseat to an unexpected one: acceptance.  
Acceptance that my current view of the country differs from the majority.  Acceptance that no matter how strongly I feel about something or how "informed" I think I am, it has no impact on the outcome.  Acceptance that vibes matter more than concrete ideas in an election.  Acceptance that people decide who they are voting for and THEN rationalize that choice, not vice versa.
I decided that morning to delete my Facebook and Twitter accounts and have not returned.  I have purposefully avoided any news sites.  I used to trick myself into believing that I was just staying informed, but if I was so informed then how the hell did I not see Tuesday night coming?  I thought I had done a good job of curating my feed to generally unbiased outlets, but nobody still on Twitter is unbiased in any way.  So I decided to get my life back - and you would not believe how much better everything has gotten.
No doom scrolling.  No "somebody should do something!!!" pleas from the very people capable of doing something.  I periodically check in here to get updates (quite the Cabinet being developed!) because I can't go full cold turkey, but that's really it.  And you know what I've realized?  We are not meant to know all of this.  No regular citizen should know the name of the White House Press Secretary.  None of us should care about some new Government office being developed by the stupidest billionaire to ever exist.  Nobody outside of congress needs to have any insight to the election process of the Senate majority leader.
And the bigger realization: this is how most of America already lives.  Nobody normal knows who fucking Matt Gaetz is.  Hell, most of them don't know what an Attorney General even does.  So what is to be gained by endlessly scrolling news about that appointment?  He might one day enact policies that negatively impact our lives, but until then there is absolutely. fucking. nothing that we can do - so stop caring.  No matter how many facts you gather on how this is a bad thing, 1) anyone who can do something about it will not listen to you and 2) anyone who will listen is not capable of enacting change.  Treat politics like hurricane coverage: do your best to protect your family from the one headed directly your way, but don't let every possible tropical disturbance dominate your life.
Yes our lives will likely be impacted by the choices these stupid people ultimately make, but unless you are actively planning to run for office, there's no point to worrying about any of this.  Enjoy your life, keep your shit together, and hold out hope that he fucks things up enough for the unplugged folks to feel the vibes of necessary change. 
But until then it's time to focus on the things that really matter, like beating the fuck out of Arkansas tomorrow.
 

I totally get it.  There's a difference between being willfully ignorant and adequately informed, and theres a difference between being adequately informed and an anxiety riddled political news junkie.

Its good to keep in mind that many people benefit from the exploitation of your personal anger or fear.  Angry and afraid people are malleable and able to be motivated.  They will read, tune in, like, subscribe, share, donate, vote, defend and more.  Angry and afraid people are a valuable form of business, political and military capital.  And many people are looking to cultivate them, not just people on the right.

Which isn't to say there aren't valid reasons to be angry and afraid at times, but once you have enough information to be informed, nothing is gained by gluttonously consuming more of the same information.  At that point, you are giving others access to the controls of your subconscious.

Edited 22 hours ago by Goredho

[C-Man 27123]

I really want to disconnect and pretend everything is fine. But I just can’t 

This is how they win. And this is how they install their autocracy. We cannot give up now. Otherwise, America is done-zo.

[Brisketexan 104779]

This is how they win. And this is how they install their autocracy. We cannot give up now. Otherwise, America is done-zo.

Dude. That ship has sailed. Truth is, it sailed the day after we elected Obama. Electing a black man president absolutely broke us. I never saw that coming, but that’s where the tipping point was. We can’t and won’t recover.

[WhatTheBuck 28729]

[Bateshorn 9910]

19 hours ago, Chuckie Finster said:

When I woke up last Wednesday, I felt a lot of emotions.  Anger that we put him back in charge.  Sadness, obviously.  A little bit of fear about what was to come.  Confusion as to how my perception of what was going to happen in the election was so wrong.  But soon, all of those took a backseat to an unexpected one: acceptance.  
Acceptance that my current view of the country differs from the majority.  Acceptance that no matter how strongly I feel about something or how "informed" I think I am, it has no impact on the outcome.  Acceptance that vibes matter more than concrete ideas in an election.  Acceptance that people decide who they are voting for and THEN rationalize that choice, not vice versa.
I decided that morning to delete my Facebook and Twitter accounts and have not returned.  I have purposefully avoided any news sites.  I used to trick myself into believing that I was just staying informed, but if I was so informed then how the hell did I not see Tuesday night coming?  I thought I had done a good job of curating my feed to generally unbiased outlets, but nobody still on Twitter is unbiased in any way.  So I decided to get my life back - and you would not believe how much better everything has gotten.
No doom scrolling.  No "somebody should do something!!!" pleas from the very people capable of doing something.  I periodically check in here to get updates (quite the Cabinet being developed!) because I can't go full cold turkey, but that's really it.  And you know what I've realized?  We are not meant to know all of this.  No regular citizen should know the name of the White House Press Secretary.  None of us should care about some new Government office being developed by the stupidest billionaire to ever exist.  Nobody outside of congress needs to have any insight to the election process of the Senate majority leader.
And the bigger realization: this is how most of America already lives.  Nobody normal knows who fucking Matt Gaetz is.  Hell, most of them don't know what an Attorney General even does.  So what is to be gained by endlessly scrolling news about that appointment?  He might one day enact policies that negatively impact our lives, but until then there is absolutely. fucking. nothing that we can do - so stop caring.  No matter how many facts you gather on how this is a bad thing, 1) anyone who can do something about it will not listen to you and 2) anyone who will listen is not capable of enacting change.  Treat politics like hurricane coverage: do your best to protect your family from the one headed directly your way, but don't let every possible tropical disturbance dominate your life.
Yes our lives will likely be impacted by the choices these stupid people ultimately make, but unless you are actively planning to run for office, there's no point to worrying about any of this.  Enjoy your life, keep your shit together, and hold out hope that he fucks things up enough for the unplugged folks to feel the vibes of necessary change. 
But until then it's time to focus on the things that really matter, like beating the fuck out of Arkansas tomorrow.
 

Unfortunately, I have to follow this shit for a living, but the moment I retire, I’m out. I want to live like most of America and stop caring about this crap. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Bateshorn

[EuroHorn 3226]

50 minutes ago, WhatTheBuck said:

[Willfully Horn 7948]

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

Dude. That ship has sailed. Truth is, it sailed the day after we elected Obama. Electing a black man president absolutely broke us. I never saw that coming, but that’s where the tipping point was. We can’t and won’t recover.

 

[softlynow 1791]

7 minutes ago, Willfully Horn said:

 

This is on point. Ridiculous frat house worthy hijinks from the Dems may be the only thing that can save us.

Yeah, we’re doomed. 

[Fudge Nuggets 19164]

21 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

Do you even "redouble my efforts to get the wife to sign on to a weekend-long sex-fest with her, Sela Ward, and Susanna Hoffs," bro?  Geez.  It's like you haven't even been paying attention.

Why on earth do you want your wife there?

[Brisketexan 104779]

Why on earth do you want your wife there?

Oh…because she knows what she’s doing. I’m happy to have her on the field running plays.

[Willfully Horn 7948]

51 minutes ago, softlynow said:

This is on point. Ridiculous frat house worthy hijinks from the Dems may be the only thing that can save us.

Yeah, we’re doomed. 

I say this with respect. Don’t bend the knee. 
 

I assume most of y’all saw the threat to our constitution years, if not decades, ago. When considering this threat, did y’all foresee that naked buffoonery would be the tip of the spear? Does idiocracy shock and awe?

Our nation is worth defending with the full measure of devotion.

 

[Willfully Horn 7948]

5 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Oh…because she knows what she’s doing. I’m happy to have her on the field running plays.

Same. 
 

[WhatTheBuck 28729]

2 hours ago, EuroHorn said:

Of course those two meatheads are your surrogates. 

[softlynow 1791]

49 minutes ago, Willfully Horn said:

I say this with respect. Don’t bend the knee. 
 

I assume most of y’all saw the threat to our constitution years, if not decades, ago. When considering this threat, did y’all foresee that naked buffoonery would be the tip of the spear? Does idiocracy shock and awe?

Our nation is worth defending with the full measure of devotion.

 

If it comes to armed resistance, as you imply, and I’m somehow a combatant, we’re looking at a Man in the High Castle type scenario. Sure, if it comes to a real civil war / rebellion, I guess it’s possible I’m in the shit. 

But there will be no real rebellion. We are not those people anymore. We are fat, lazy, entitled, and awash in distraction. Maybe there will be the odd freedom fighter cells, and IRA type bombings here and there.

So, no, I’m not dying along with just a few dozen others in a futile attempt to otherthrow the Trump Dynasty. 

[Satchel 6911]

Haven’t watched one newscast since the ejection, and I’m a news junkie. I’m still processing all that’s happen and trying understand… 

[Willfully Horn 7948]

13 minutes ago, softlynow said:

If it comes to armed resistance, as you imply, and I’m somehow a combatant, we’re looking at a Man in the High Castle type scenario. Sure, if it comes to a real civil war / rebellion, I guess it’s possible I’m in the shit. 

But there will be no real rebellion. We are not those people anymore. We are fat, lazy, entitled, and awash in distraction. Maybe there will be the odd freedom fighter cells, and IRA type bombings here and there.

So, no, I’m not dying along with just a few dozen others in a futile attempt to otherthrow the Trump Dynasty. 

I am not advocating for futility, nor bloodshed. However, the freedom to proclaim that the US military swears an oath to the Constitution, and not an individual, as well as the freedom to condemn so called Christians who take action that weakens, or negates, that document for which their faith demands allegiance, is exactly the hill upon which to die. And that hill is my doorstep, unless a hill presents itself from which I can defend others.

[wackawacka 171]

I have completely stopped reading the news. I am the demographic that could be "positively" impacted by Trump. Nothing is positive with Trump but damn its hard to want to care when the electorate kicks you in the balls.

I guess I will be a lot richer after 4 years while the world burns.

[Biff Tannen 45557]

3 hours ago, wackawacka said:

I have completely stopped reading the news. I am the demographic that could be "positively" impacted by Trump. Nothing is positive with Trump but damn its hard to want to care when the electorate kicks you in the balls.

I guess I will be a lot richer after 4 years while the world burns.

Same. At least I hope on the richer part. Damn good chance he could fuck us all over because they are just so god damn inept. 

[The Original Greaser Bob 2803]

Still reading DMN and listening to a few podcasts.

I listen to Know Your Enemy and Commentary Podcast - the latter just to help me steel myself.

[UpperWestside 6140]

On 11/15/2024 at 6:39 PM, Brisketexan said:

Oh, "pretend everything is fine" isn't part of the deal.  Instead, it's "be at peace that it's all gone to shit, and there's nothing you can do about it.  So, take care of you and yours."  And of course, take care of Sela and Susanna.  I know you don't swing that way, but even you can see the wisdom of my plan.

What will happen will happen. I had no say in policy when Biden was there and I have none now. I at least trusted Biden to mostly do the right thing. 
 

Life is so very, very short. Just enjoy each day that you are given. The only thing any of us has control over is our own emotions and how we treat others. Do your best by others and show as much kindness as possible to those who need it.

[InkaUtexas 25596]

Fuck em.

[Aqua Buddha 14531]

20 hours ago, Bateshorn said:

Unfortunately, I have to follow this shit for a living, but the moment I retire, I’m out. I want to live like most of America and stop caring about this crap. 

 

On 11/15/2024 at 5:12 PM, Chuckie Finster said:

When I woke up last Wednesday, I felt a lot of emotions.  Anger that we put him back in charge.  Sadness, obviously.  A little bit of fear about what was to come.  Confusion as to how my perception of what was going to happen in the election was so wrong.  But soon, all of those took a backseat to an unexpected one: acceptance.  
Acceptance that my current view of the country differs from the majority.  Acceptance that no matter how strongly I feel about something or how "informed" I think I am, it has no impact on the outcome.  Acceptance that vibes matter more than concrete ideas in an election.  Acceptance that people decide who they are voting for and THEN rationalize that choice, not vice versa.
I decided that morning to delete my Facebook and Twitter accounts and have not returned.  I have purposefully avoided any news sites.  I used to trick myself into believing that I was just staying informed, but if I was so informed then how the hell did I not see Tuesday night coming?  I thought I had done a good job of curating my feed to generally unbiased outlets, but nobody still on Twitter is unbiased in any way.  So I decided to get my life back - and you would not believe how much better everything has gotten.
No doom scrolling.  No "somebody should do something!!!" pleas from the very people capable of doing something.  I periodically check in here to get updates (quite the Cabinet being developed!) because I can't go full cold turkey, but that's really it.  And you know what I've realized?  We are not meant to know all of this.  No regular citizen should know the name of the White House Press Secretary.  None of us should care about some new Government office being developed by the stupidest billionaire to ever exist.  Nobody outside of congress needs to have any insight to the election process of the Senate majority leader.
And the bigger realization: this is how most of America already lives.  Nobody normal knows who fucking Matt Gaetz is.  Hell, most of them don't know what an Attorney General even does.  So what is to be gained by endlessly scrolling news about that appointment?  He might one day enact policies that negatively impact our lives, but until then there is absolutely. fucking. nothing that we can do - so stop caring.  No matter how many facts you gather on how this is a bad thing, 1) anyone who can do something about it will not listen to you and 2) anyone who will listen is not capable of enacting change.  Treat politics like hurricane coverage: do your best to protect your family from the one headed directly your way, but don't let every possible tropical disturbance dominate your life.
Yes our lives will likely be impacted by the choices these stupid people ultimately make, but unless you are actively planning to run for office, there's no point to worrying about any of this.  Enjoy your life, keep your shit together, and hold out hope that he fucks things up enough for the unplugged folks to feel the vibes of necessary change. 
But until then it's time to focus on the things that really matter, like beating the fuck out of Arkansas tomorrow.
 

I did this a few years ago and am much better for it.  Like Bates but to a lesser degree, I have to follow the business news for my job.  (CNBC, WSJ, etc.). I really only pay attention during elections and that’s more so because I just can’t quit it.  I know that when I’m not following it, I’m in a happier place.

Arthur Brooks wrote something a few months ago about how Capitol Hill has become a profoundly unhappy place and I’m curious on Bates’ perspective on that.

[Brisketexan 104779]

I did this a few years ago and am much better for it.  Like Bates but to a lesser degree, I have to follow the business news for my job.  (CNBC, WSJ, etc.). I really only pay attention during elections and that’s more so because I just can’t quit it.  I know that when I’m not following it, I’m in a happier place.
Arthur Brooks wrote something a few months ago about how Capitol Hill has become a profoundly unhappy place and I’m curious on Bates’ perspective on that.

The Capitol in Austin is similar. I know people who had decades-long careers lobbying, problem solving, etc…and they have bailed and are bailing. Because the environment is so toxic, unproductive, and flat-out mean. They can’t even get a meeting or a sympathetic ear, on the real everyday issues and solutions that government traditionally addressed. And then when you do get a meeting…the legislator and the staffer are not smart.

[Mdhorn 5927]

On 11/15/2024 at 7:13 PM, 0xdeadbeef said:

In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, my stress level and blood pressure were far to high for my well being.  I had to turn off most news sources. I'm so much happier and healthier for it. But you can't completely unplug and still be part of the modern world, and I don't want to be completely uninformed.  I still see headlines of stories as they happen, I just don't follow links.  If something is still being talked about 2+ weeks later, I'll google something like "recap of XYZ" or "Timeline of XYZ" I get most of the basics without a lot of the emotion.   I'm sure there are hundreds of news stories this year that would be rage-inducing if I had read or watched them.    Am I less less informed than the old news-junkie version of myself; yes.  But stress degrades the quality of life.

 

 

I don't want to read about the journey into the mountain by a media that would only vet the rational pilot ,while turning the captains chair over to the inebriated guy with a long history of drunk driving and crashes.