This reminds me of an event that happened at a social club that my wife and I belong to (being vague on purpose). Anyways, a new girl showed up and all she cared about was the demographics of the group - we needed more "diversity" and she had no interest in the existing relationship dynamics or chemistry. Completely brainwashed into seeing humans as numbers and metadata, not real people.
I have many friends spanning many decades now that I’m in my 50s. Yet I did lose one friendship of 33 years recently. This was somebody I went to college with and our families have been friends for decades and his kids are friends with my kids. Yet over the years, he has increasingly become deranged. He asked me flat out if I voted for Trump this last election and I admitted I had. I wanted to discuss this with him, but he said fuck you stay away from me and my family, hung up the phone and that’s it. Thirty three years of friendship gone. My kids are wondering why his kids don’t play with them anymore So I thought I chose my friends carefully as well, but the current environment has definitely shifted some people.
Other than that, though, I have many friends of different political persuasions and we’ve all survived. I had a short term three year friendship where I was dumped as well and that didn’t bother me so much in that we weren’t super close but she’s a therapist! And she lives in a fairly conservative area, so I can’t imagine how she’s treating her clients who may have views that are not far left, which seems to be a prerequisite for her to think of you as a healthy and good person.
What’s disturbing about these days isn’t that people have political disputes, as that’s been around for forever. It’s that certain people are just living in an alternate reality. I’m seeing it more on the left than on the right to be honest, but if it were the right wing that had control of the media and all of the institutions we’d probably be seeing it the other way. The amount of dehumanization and catastrophic thinking out there is frightening.
On the other hand, you voted for a candidate who actively dehumanizes people. I think it's hard to point the finger at others if you personally make choices to dehumanize others. It starts with the choices you make, and they have consequences.
I voted for the candidate who would be best for all Americans, including minorities. As for Biden, he stood there addressing the nation against a red backdrop dehumanizing the unvaccinated, barring us from daily activities and empoyment. He also supported slave labor in the form of undocumented citizens working off the books in often hazardous conditions, and also dehumanized males and Christians. So yes, these choices of the Biden admin to dehumanize others rather than MAGA who spoke for all Americans did iindeed have consequences. You lost the election, all swing states, the senate, the court and the popular vote as well as shifting hispanics and blacks to the right. You continue to dehumanzie your opponents as well after this instead of learning your lesson, if the raging Tesla charger fire we experienced a town over is to be counted.
No, not really. You voted for someone who doesn't acknowledge the existence of transgender people (they are a minority!). Trump very specifically doesn't speak for all Americans, you can tell when he pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists who killed a police officer. You can also tell by how he's withheld relief funds from Asheville, NC because he doesn't like their policies. Biden never withheld funds based on politics.
It was only 4 years ago that the Democrats held the Senate, Congress and Presidency. You seem to think this is some kind of movement, but we have the least popular president in history who won by one of the smallest margins in history.
Yes, "the alternate reality". Based on what I've seen the last few years, I would say it's often a combination of: 1. Media programming, 2. Drugs (alcohol, prescription, and other things), 3. Social media hive / junior high nonsense, 4. Massive amounts of self-imposed debt, 5. The garbage, poisoned food people continue to eat. - I'm sure there's more nuance going on...
The last thing I want to do is discuss politics with friends. Plus they all know I understand the right / left wing media talking points and the actual real data. I am going to ask to explain the takes.
I have several memes that never let me down. One is a Picasso quote: "I no longer understand the politics of the left and have no wish to talk about it." - Pablo Picasso on becoming disillusioned with the Communists in the 1960s. Eisenhower going on about the "military industrial complex". A bunch of Malcolm X and William S Burroughs quotes. And Woody Allen from Annie Hall where the subtitles say, "Christ, I sound like FM radio."
Agreed, although I am concerned about the normalization of bigotry and other extreme views. I have some great transgender friends, and it's not possible to be friends with people who refuse to acknowledge their humanity. Same with racism, etc.
Expecting people to accept bigotry has become a strangely common opinion.
Just to illustrate the broad differences between liberals and conservatives (while it has been overly used as a meme, the research here from NYU/Jon Haidt is legitimate). Maybe helps account for the animosity, in a healthier culture it shouldn't.
Super interesting, I hadn't seen it before; it's essentially illustrating that liberals are more empathetic than conservatives. Which does, I suppose, account for some animosity.
This reminds me of an event that happened at a social club that my wife and I belong to (being vague on purpose). Anyways, a new girl showed up and all she cared about was the demographics of the group - we needed more "diversity" and she had no interest in the existing relationship dynamics or chemistry. Completely brainwashed into seeing humans as numbers and metadata, not real people.
Terrible parenting, honestly
This makes me appreciate living in Ohio with regular people because the only thing we optimize is the back patio for summer.
Ohio is great
I have many friends spanning many decades now that I’m in my 50s. Yet I did lose one friendship of 33 years recently. This was somebody I went to college with and our families have been friends for decades and his kids are friends with my kids. Yet over the years, he has increasingly become deranged. He asked me flat out if I voted for Trump this last election and I admitted I had. I wanted to discuss this with him, but he said fuck you stay away from me and my family, hung up the phone and that’s it. Thirty three years of friendship gone. My kids are wondering why his kids don’t play with them anymore So I thought I chose my friends carefully as well, but the current environment has definitely shifted some people.
Other than that, though, I have many friends of different political persuasions and we’ve all survived. I had a short term three year friendship where I was dumped as well and that didn’t bother me so much in that we weren’t super close but she’s a therapist! And she lives in a fairly conservative area, so I can’t imagine how she’s treating her clients who may have views that are not far left, which seems to be a prerequisite for her to think of you as a healthy and good person.
What’s disturbing about these days isn’t that people have political disputes, as that’s been around for forever. It’s that certain people are just living in an alternate reality. I’m seeing it more on the left than on the right to be honest, but if it were the right wing that had control of the media and all of the institutions we’d probably be seeing it the other way. The amount of dehumanization and catastrophic thinking out there is frightening.
On the other hand, you voted for a candidate who actively dehumanizes people. I think it's hard to point the finger at others if you personally make choices to dehumanize others. It starts with the choices you make, and they have consequences.
I voted for the candidate who would be best for all Americans, including minorities. As for Biden, he stood there addressing the nation against a red backdrop dehumanizing the unvaccinated, barring us from daily activities and empoyment. He also supported slave labor in the form of undocumented citizens working off the books in often hazardous conditions, and also dehumanized males and Christians. So yes, these choices of the Biden admin to dehumanize others rather than MAGA who spoke for all Americans did iindeed have consequences. You lost the election, all swing states, the senate, the court and the popular vote as well as shifting hispanics and blacks to the right. You continue to dehumanzie your opponents as well after this instead of learning your lesson, if the raging Tesla charger fire we experienced a town over is to be counted.
No, not really. You voted for someone who doesn't acknowledge the existence of transgender people (they are a minority!). Trump very specifically doesn't speak for all Americans, you can tell when he pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists who killed a police officer. You can also tell by how he's withheld relief funds from Asheville, NC because he doesn't like their policies. Biden never withheld funds based on politics.
It was only 4 years ago that the Democrats held the Senate, Congress and Presidency. You seem to think this is some kind of movement, but we have the least popular president in history who won by one of the smallest margins in history.
Yes, "the alternate reality". Based on what I've seen the last few years, I would say it's often a combination of: 1. Media programming, 2. Drugs (alcohol, prescription, and other things), 3. Social media hive / junior high nonsense, 4. Massive amounts of self-imposed debt, 5. The garbage, poisoned food people continue to eat. - I'm sure there's more nuance going on...
Couldn’t agree with this more.
The last thing I want to do is discuss politics with friends. Plus they all know I understand the right / left wing media talking points and the actual real data. I am going to ask to explain the takes.
Don't bring Maddow / Hannity to a gun fight.
I have several memes that never let me down. One is a Picasso quote: "I no longer understand the politics of the left and have no wish to talk about it." - Pablo Picasso on becoming disillusioned with the Communists in the 1960s. Eisenhower going on about the "military industrial complex". A bunch of Malcolm X and William S Burroughs quotes. And Woody Allen from Annie Hall where the subtitles say, "Christ, I sound like FM radio."
I will totally cop to having used a spreadsheet when dating. Happily married 6 years now :)
But honestly concur.
Agreed, although I am concerned about the normalization of bigotry and other extreme views. I have some great transgender friends, and it's not possible to be friends with people who refuse to acknowledge their humanity. Same with racism, etc.
Expecting people to accept bigotry has become a strangely common opinion.
Why is it that you decided to include the heat map at the top of this article?
Just to illustrate the broad differences between liberals and conservatives (while it has been overly used as a meme, the research here from NYU/Jon Haidt is legitimate). Maybe helps account for the animosity, in a healthier culture it shouldn't.
Super interesting, I hadn't seen it before; it's essentially illustrating that liberals are more empathetic than conservatives. Which does, I suppose, account for some animosity.
Important post.