bother and stuff: us politics, weekend

[tielan]

There's a friend who's watching US politics like it's a blood sport. I don't think I can take it.

Thing is, it's just...tiring. And we're not even in the country, I can't conceive of how bad it is for y'all in the middle of it all. Farking bloody hell.

*big hugs*

I'm tempted to message another friend in the chat and just say "I'm switching notifications off, can you let me know if anything happens that I might like to be included in? I just can't cope with X."

thinking it through

I realise it's a coping mechanism for her, but I don't want to participate in being her coping mechanism. There's also another friend who is very involved and knowledgeable about US politics, except he also watches all the people who make money from being dramatic and comedic about it. Which, you know, is fine when things are going okay and we can all get a laugh. But when things are getting bad for the ordinary people (which, I might add, none of these dramatic and comedic people are "ordinary") they keep going because that's what they are. It's what they do. It's their job, their business, their motif, what they're known for.

And the truth is that if aany of what's coming actually affects them, it will be marginal. But their influence is undue and oversize and right now, it's a drag. And not the fun kind of drag either.

The last four years have been okay to poke fun at, because things have been slowly getting better. However, once Trump was the nominee again, that's it. This isn't a joke anymore. Now is the time to be deadly fucking serious because a lot of people are going to suffer.

Seriously, if I could kidnap all my friends and rehome you here, I totally would.

--

Anyway, I had a gardener in today, I did some writing (actual writing, although the whole thing is just going to need a rewrite - I feel like I haven't found my voice for this story yet) and I'm looking down the barrel of an exceedingly quiet weekend. Which is kind of nice, tbh. I've been crazy social the last couple of weeks.

Comments

[gingicat]

Sadly, you can't kidnap my family because your country doesn't allow neurodiverse immigrants.

If it's a Discord server, would people be open to a politics channel?

[tielan]

No, it's a local group of friends and it's Whatsapp.

Yeah, nowhere's big on the neurodiverse, alas. Even here we're not great with our own neurospicy natural-borns and it's bloody frustrating (my sister works in the space for government assistance for disability care, including ND and...yeah. It sends me into a rage and I don't even have to deal with it).

[ringsandcoffee]

The main source of political news I can tolerate is "A Closer Look" with Seth Meyers, and clips from The Daily Show. Comedic, yes, but it's so farking depressing that I need the funny spin. I have an impending sense of dread about the coming election. At the same time, I have the reminder that God is in control, no matter what goes down. So it isn't and won't be ideal, but someday, it will end. Even if it gets worse first. Whatever I can do to not spiral into an anxious mess.

Even with the giant spiders and venomous snakes, I think I'd like it in Australia. Plus, you have a reputation for great coffee.

[tielan]

Definitely an impending sense of dread. *sigh*

I'm praying every night for you guys.

[timespirt]

I keep telling myself that God is in control, that is what I believe.

[tielan]

He is, but also: the way conservatives are behaving right now is not of His Kingdom - not in the USA, not anywhere. They might hew to the strict behaviours described in the bible, but they're undertaken with ungodly intent - and that's not right, no matter how 'traditional' or 'conservative' they make it.

[timespirt]

I know, they are bending it to fit their agenda. God will sort it out in the end.

[kass]

I feel this SO MUCH. As a person living in the US who is boggling at the horror we might be facing down again, I just... sometimes I have no words. Anyway. Thank you for seeing us and getting it. God this is the worst sometimes.

[tielan]

I'm so sorry all this is happening again. And I know all the people I know will do what they can to keep everything from backsliding, but so many people think it's all hopeless or that it's all bad because they can't snap their fingers and everything will be perfect.

[adafrog]

I am just ignoring it all, hoping that some sort of miracle will happen.

[tielan]

I'm not ignoring things, but there are limits to how much US politics I want to take, particularly from people who aren't in the US and for whom a lot of this is just speculation.

So far as I know, it's largely academic for her (except on a global level) while I know lots of leftwards leaning people, LGBTQIA+, Jews and Muslims, blacks and POC, who will be affected at an everyday level of safety and society by what happens in this election.

[adafrog]

What I'm actually afraid of is this crap riling up the reactive people with guns, and everything going to hell in a handbasket. Hence the ignoring.

[tielan]

Yes, that's definitely a concern although it's in the back of my head and my concern is for you and others in "hot zones". *hugs*

[adafrog]

Thanks. *hugsback*

[ladyjax]

I'm resisting the doom scroll and also side-eyeing a lot of Dems because on so many levels, their BS inaction helped get us here. It's not all Trump, although I keep going back to 2016 when Keith Ellison said that he could win and everyone laughed.

Coping mechanism or not, if someone can afford to tee hee and scoff at what is happening, I'm fully convinced that they are not in the direct line of fire like me and mine. Also, I'm done with white women who swear that they'll be an ally (I no longer trust that word) but will eventually vote for the other side. I've seen way too much, "But it's not ME" and not enough, "I'm down fully for this struggle no matter what I might personally lose." My wife and I can't leave this country, given age and demographics, so I'm doing my best to fight back.

[tielan]

I thought I was going okay on the not-doomscroll and then just realised I spent two hours on social media. UGH. I may need better coping mechanisms...

And you're right, she's not at all in the line of fire.