When I saw this, I immediately thought of putting it out on Facebook.
But, you know how that goes:
- I’d be reported for “Fake News”
- Immediately, the Die-Hard, Rabid Liberals/Progressives* would get in my face, telling me I HAD to show them my sources
- It would all deteriorate into a He Said/She Said hot mess
- And, most importantly, it would fail to gain traction in those who most needed to have their eyes opened
Too many people can not, will not allow any deviation from their set-in-stone, Trump is Horrible and NOTHING can be said that is good about him, reflexively DNC-programmed beliefs.
They have been programmed into the Cult of Anti-Trump, which is a descendant of the Cult of Sarah-Palin-is-BOTH-Stupid-AND-Evil, and which led from the George-W-Bush-is-BOTH-HItler-AND-Stupid congregation.
Whereas they MAY be able to analyze data or events in other parts of their lives, when it comes to politics/culture/race/Jews, they have 50 foot walls between the reality and their current beliefs.
We’ve tried – God knows, most of us have family and friends who have fallen victim to this cult. Short of de-programming, there may be little hope, other than a Damascus Moment for the True Believers.
It’s Group-Think, and those afflicted with it are incapable of using reason in topics relating to its tenets. The powerful pull of restricting their associations to that sub-group who agree with them is, for them, irresistible. They carefully avoid being in contact with the non-believers, recoiling like a Baptist offered a beer.
At best, they pity those not in the Cult. At worst, they rage against them, FURIOUS that they would resist The Truth.
It’s a hard thing to accept that, if any affiliation is to continue, large parts of conversation will have to be avoided. I think it’s past time to reinstate the phrase, “No Politics or Religion” when in mixed groups.
Fortunately, there is the opportunity to easily get in touch with others who are also non-Cultists. The danger there is that it’s too easy to fall into the Counter-Cults on the Right. For me, the Sweet Spot is finding ways to limit my news/opinion consumption.
I’ve picked up a new app for my phone and iPad – Productivity Wizard, which, I hope, will replace my planner of choice, the Franklin.
I’ve used the Franklin for over 30 years; it’s kept me semi-organized with regular use (My life is chaotic, even with the Franklin. My husband is ADD/ADHD, and it’s nearly a full-time job to keep the whirlwind at bay when he is in town.)
But, with age has also come joint pain. Use of assists, such as cane or walker, make it difficult to devote that much weight to a planner. I’ve looked at smaller versions, but have been unable to envision reducing the complexity of my various appointments, goals, and activities to fit the reduced size.
So far, the app looks like a winner. It is flexible enough to encompass my needs, and includes the features I want most. Google Productivity Wizard, and check it out yourself (I receive no compensation for this).
My husband is feeling better. His breathing is nearly clear, minimal coughing, and I have hope that he will be 100% again.
I’m still not back; voice loss is likely to be another week or two, at best. My ankle is what concerns me most; I fear it might be a stress fracture, which I’ve had in the past. I had my husband call in a request for an appointment with my ortho person, so we’ll see what develops.
Stay healthy, try not to obsess about politics, and enjoy what’s left of the summer.
2 comments
“When I saw this…” This what?
Did you mean to link to the thing you’re talking about?
Let me start with a interview I saw with Shawn Ryan. He was interviewing a young man named #1 hacker in the world. Been doing it since he was 11 years old. Hacker told him that taking the battery out of your phone and moving it to another part of your home doesn’t matter as it can hear you wherever you are. So when you allow Alexis and help devises they help themself to all you info. Private or not. What ever your doing in you phone, on or off, the can hear. And who makes our phones – China.
Talked to son about a shirt one night and within 2 days my phone was blowing up with ads for that shirt. Did the same when daughter was here. So our conversation in the kitchen with phone in bedroom was picked up along with another conversation with someone else. Three times in a row was not happenstance. This was over a year ago. Apparently a Faraday cage is what we’ll eventually have to do.