Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
Coronavirus
Twoapenny:
I think what's been interesting here is that this is the second big 'thing' we've had that hasn't had a clear political slant. People from both main parties were for and against Brexit, and people from both parties have been for and against restrictions (too many or not enough, depending on your point of view).
I've found it interesting that there have been a couple of media personality types who I usually don't even listen to as I find much of what they say irritating who have, for me, done an outstanding job throughout the Covid thing. Similarly I've got several very left wing, hippy, off grid type friends who think people like myself and son should just stay inside for a few years so that they don't have to wear masks, whereas other friends (who I avoid talking politics with as we have polar opposite views on everything) who have been staunch defenders of the elderly and disabled and think we should have locked down and stayed locked down until it all went away. I think maybe the old style way of doing politics has just had its day; perhaps as we are now a global community with so many different races, religions, cultures etc living alongside one another maybe having sides just doesn't work anymore? Perhaps we need something more like a really well run admin office that just keeps all the wheels turning and big decisions about major policies get put to the vote each time? I'd guess in this day of technology we don't really need polling booths and voting boxes in the same way now? Who knows? It certainly feels more divided than it ever has in my lifetime, perhaps social media is a big role in that? For now, I am making like Skep - keeping busy at home, being kind to myself and others where possible and just hunkering down (although without the snow or a moat, although I've always fancied a moat! They just look like fun :) ). This too shall pass and all that xx
sKePTiKal:
What I find terribly SAD and dysfunctional...
is that all of us have said so far we can't talk about politics - because of the intensity of the duality. The "Us and Them" mentality. There are a lot more perspectives/perceptions than duality.
We're (as a society) making ourselves "voiceless" to avoid being in conflict and working to find a way THROUGH conflict to unity. I see many people making similar choices right now; the sense of risk and danger in choosing, is very high.Or so they've expressed.
The way I came to that observation was by writing/self-censoring my own rant and expression of disappointment and my determination not to contribute to the cacaphony. And then deleting it.
I'm not at all sure my choice is going to be effective or safe. My simply "dropping out" of society (again). Refusing to participate in what I feel is an absurd, juvenile and ultimately abusive political "game" that we are all being persuaded is in our interest to "play". There isn't anything to "win" playing that game - for me.
My choice, isn't for everyone. Everyone (in my reality) is capable of and free to make their own choices. Those are my rules around the farm - yes, there are consequences of those choices; even for me. The rest of the world is going in another direction where it's acceptable for gov'ts to force people into the gov's "preferred" choice.
This lifelong non-conformist, says sorry - I don't want to play that game.
Twoapenny:
Yes I see what you mean, Skep. Do you think it's the internet that's contributed to a lot of this? I just find there's so much information now - online, on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines etc - that it's overwhelming and I feel I've had to make my world a lot smaller in order to cope. I do see increasingly a difference between the online world and the 'real world'. People in 'real life' seem to me to be more middle of the road? open? to other people's points of view. Less argumentative/certain they're right/do it my way or not at all. The internet seems to have made things very black and white - maybe because of a lack of context or personal knowledge of people? Too many voices about too many different things, maybe? It's a shame. I think you said in one of your other posts that the potential for great things was/is there with the internet but it's been misused or mishandled and is becoming a bit of a beast of burden instead.
Meh:
Skep,
You have a good point. I will have to think about this later when I have more time. I'm not sure what the best route is.
I think most people could agree that there is almost way too much information available because people can self-publish on the internet. So YouTube stars, influencers, blogs and so forth are places where opinions can be voiced and that is their right but also some of these people have more popularity than experts, authors, researchers, professionals. IDK
Sometimes I feel like if i try to stop myself from having an opinion I give myself a little more peace? It seems like we are all required to opinionate about everything and having an opinion might be a stand in for real involvement and action or work. Having an opinion allows a person to feel like they are involved in something or have some kind of power of being included with a larger group but really maybe opinionating is a cop out.
I could seriously discipline myself to have no opinion, go and volunteer cleaning up hiking trails or something (if I could get there) and that miniscule effort might be worth more than an opinion. Is there a psychological effect of having an opinion that makes a person feel as though they are involved and actually doing something.. Is not having an opinion the same as non-engagement. I don't know.
At the start of this year not having an opinion was actually my new years resolution but it didn't work out, I forgot about it, it went out the window with my school papers etc. There is almost an idea that non-having an opinion is the same as being dumb, and having an opinion is "smart" Having opinions is fine there is nothing wrong with it exactly but I wonder if there is more emphasis on people having and expressing their opinions because of the internet connectivity. IDK
In any setting I also think opinions are regulated and expected. In my school I think a liberal opinion is expected in almost a brain washing sort of way. You know what, it's pretty rare that there are every exercises in listening... lots of exercises in thinking, researching and expressing but it's practically only like couples therapy where any person is told their job is to listen.
Meh:
Here in Washington State where I am at the vaccine shipment from the CDC was reduced by 40% with no explanation from the CDC. Our governor broadcasted his frustration and dismay publicly. He called it an unexplained "glitch" so I am not at all surprised by this, it was inevitable really to have many vaccine issues. Thing is this is our government, the military and national guard was at times even said to be involved in distribution etc.
So WTF. With such an anticipated high level procedure, how could there have been a glitch. I wonder if the Republican run CDC is still holding some grudge against the liberalness of my state. Earlier on in the pandemic there were some choice words between Trump and our Governor. Anyhow who knows.
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