There seems to be a lot of free-floating anxiety looking for a place to land. People are getting really wound up. Folks who were "regulated" and "functional" just a few months ago are now a hot-mess.
Never put your hands between dogs that are fighting
There is a long-standing legal principle called "Standing". I can file a law-suit against somebody but it will only be adjudicated if I have "standing'. That is, if I can demonstrate that I was PERSONALLY injured by the actions I am protesting or if somebody I legally represent or am the guardian of was demonstrably injured.
Example: There are some people who are totally spun-up by the Trump administration firing missiles at boats allegedly used by narco-terrorists to transport drugs to the United States. It can be arguably that those actions were outside-the-Constitution.
Under historical precedent, the next-of-kin of the ship's captain could file suit. The owners of the boat's cargo could file suit. The owners of the boat that was destroyed could file suit. Maybe the company that insured the boat could file suit. NOBODY ELSE is entitled to a hearing because they did not experience demonstrate injury or loss.
So why are 60 million people losing their minds over this incident and dozens of others?
Adrenaline junkies?
I don't exclude myself from this criticism. I find myself watching Youtube videos that get me wound up. It seems as if "rage" is a very addictive emotion and reaction-and-engagement algorithms float feeds that elicit rage in you to the top of your stack.
Key points
You are being jacked-around when the narration begins the piece with the conclusion: "Because of Global Warming..." or "Because of dementia-riddled Biden's..."
The past cannot be changed but you can armor your future against unwanted outcomes.
Trust is quickly and easily destroyed but very slowly earned.
Today's rage-inducing topics will age as quickly as the trendiest hair-styles.
The words "...could..." and "...should..." are not your friends when you apply them to other people. The only person you can control is yourself.
Yes, Trump could order the military to fire missiles into legacy, US cities. It is not impossible. But take a deep breath; what are the odds that he would do that? What are the odds that the military would execute those orders? I suggest that the odds are one-in-a-billion that he would order a Hellfire missile fired into a US city during the next 7 years. If ordered, I estimate that there is a one-in-a-thousand chance that the military would execute that (illegal) order.
Yes, the NGO should not incentivize breaking the law. But spinning-up emotionally does not change the incentive-disincentive landscape the NGOs are operating in. Sure, write letters. Call your congresscritter. But rage just makes you stupid and elevates your blood-pressure and cortisol levels.
You are in charge of your life. Stop being Pavlov's dog to the notification "Ping" on your smartphone.
Random, feel-good video
Strong agree. I'm not saying, and you're not saying, never be worried about what doesn't hit close to home, but if your worries about it are damaging your life (and not just changing your votes/donations, maybe a few protests) than you've got to consider are you being played like a fiddle.
ReplyDeleteEven if the world is going to heck in a handbasket you've still gotta work the row in front of you before you do anything else.
Regardless of your religion I think the subtitle of your blog is good wisdom: Encourage one another and build one another up. Pray without ceasing. Test everything. Keep what is good. Avoid all evil. -1 Thess 5:11,17,21,22
I also agree that the reader - viewer is being manipulated into having a reaction the person submitting the message - meme - photo wants. For me, the overlying reason is to demonstrate the rules of the world we grew up in is being completely dismantled and we and are families are being threatened because of this.
ReplyDeleteThe Left has done a good job convincing their base that ANYTHING Trump has a hand in is wrong and a direct threat to them. Sometimes with justification - Trump has quite a way of using words that directly get their goat (Dude - could you have chosen a more diplomatic way to say that ?). I'm glad you are showing the way but you don't have to rub their faces in it !! Not the way to insure prompt and cheerful service.
I just wonder after Trump's term of office is over - who are they going to transfer that hate too ? Frustrations can lead to chaos.
I take it you've seen the NH court ruling on class-action status for anchor-babies then? Oh boy oh boy, did the left shoot themselves in the foot on THAT one! Anything to get Trump, ANYTHING! OK, kiss abortion goodbye! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL! Talk about hoisting yourself on your own petard!
DeleteOne of the worst parts of the current situation we are in, is that most people are totally and completely unaware that 99% of what is triggering them is being done on purpose, to trigger them. A scared and confused population of people is easy to manage and control. New issues can be manufactured to direct outrage in useful directions.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of whether you agree with the issue or not, recognize you are being manipulated by the issue.
Unfortunately very few people are self aware enough to analyze their emotional responses and figure out if their responses are their own or if they are being generated by someone else.
DeleteOne thing I believe is that it is harder to generate a response in someone by reading than it is by video.
Jonathan
Proverbs 4:23
ReplyDeleteMany a time, I talk to The Darling Wife-Mark II, saying, "If this is not entirely b*//$hit, then it sounds serious!"
ReplyDeleteAnd, maybe half the time, it *IS* malarkey!
Surprise!
Baffling how short-sighted this take is. Think about "no standing" next time you complain about abortion. People want to live in a society that has standards. Someone gets murdered that isn't related to me, I still want my government to do something about it. But I'm sure you only complain when someone directly linked to you is getting an abortion and don't advocate for it to be illegal or anything.
ReplyDeleteLet's get it on record: would you vow to stop supporting Trump and republicans IF a missile was fired onto one of our own cities? You've gone radio-silent regarding the rhetoric of deploying the military to our own cities. His latest military-meeting-turned-rally includes alluding to declaring war on citizens and expanding military deployment domestically.
IF things don't escalate, it will be DESPITE the excuses and complacence.
People need to draw a line and stop supporting politicians when they cross them - while we still have that option.
The only direct question you asked was "...would you vow to stop supporting Trump and republicans IF a missile was fired onto one of our own cities?"
DeleteNo. I will not make that vow because your demand excised all context. What if Antifa fired the missile...you would demand I stop supporting Trump (note that Antifa is already using lasers, directed energy weapons, to blind law enforcement)? What about if local law-enforcement or the Feds started firing tear gas canisters into the crowd, they are technically missiles (note, they are already doing that)?
Hey Gary, help me out here.
DeleteSo if Trump attacked a peaceful commune within the United States with .50 caliber machine guns, armored combat vehicles, explosives and poison gasses outlawed for warfare by the international treaties, and if that action resulted in the death of 20 children and 56 civilians; you are saying that anybody who ever voted for a Republican is complicit and immoral on an absolute and unforgivable scale. Is that what you are saying?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_siege#Final_assault_and_the_burning_of_the_Mount_Carmel_Center
Look at you, Joe. You're already providing pretense to greenlight striking our own cities with missiles.
DeleteThere is not enough context in the world that you won't find a way to "what if" so that you don't have to commit to not supporting strikes on US citizens. This is where we're at. Notice how you're prepped to provide context as to why it would be OKAY to fire the missile, as opposed to providing ANY context where you'd not be okay with it - and it's so fucking weak it's unbelievable.
Fuck you. There IS a problem with radicalization in this country, and it's coming from the people that are ready to GREENLIGHT STRIKING OUR OWN CITIES WITH MISSILES. You WILL support military deployment against US citizens. You WILL support the compromise or complete shutdown of our elections. And all you need to do so is weak pretense. You are doing this because of party, not principle.