Shunning and the price of eggs

[Kaos]

For four long, hellish years I watched the systematic destruction of America and the degradation of many values I hold true. I watched as a parade of corrupt miscreants turned the judiciary and many federal agencies into weapons of mass destruction. I felt horror and revulsion as people with obvious mental disorders were normalized and celebrated. I grew disgusted with a complicit and corrupt media (and liberal Hollywood establishment) covered up the disintegrating abilities and mental capacity of the man installed as president. I believed in 2020 and remain convinced today that election was corrupted and stolen.

But you know what? Other than airing my opinions here and baiting a certain lost sheep (who's vanished now that what he so foolishly tried to defend has become indefensible) I didn't shun my liberal friends and associates. I didn't demand they accept my viewpoints, or bend their way of thinking to mine.  I grew up in a world where words didn't hurt; where you were allowed to have different opinions; where healthy debate and compromise was the solution - not the problem.

This is a topic for another day, but I've come to believe that maybe bullies need to make their return. When we waged war on bullying with a no-tolerance policy, and when we taught our kids that there are no wrong opinions, no losers, that we all deserve equal outcomes... we stripped them of the sometimes brutal and harsh lessons they needed to learn. 

So now. One week and one day into Trump's (triumphant) return to Washington, the liberal friends and associates I endured for the past four years have turned on me like starving hyenas. I have been shunned. Blocked. Removed from their lives. For what I did? No. For what I won't do. People I considered reasonable/rational have completely lost their minds. Typical exchanges:

Liberal Loon: "You saw it. You have to acknowledge that Elon Musk is the leader of the Nazi Party, and he's literally doing Heil Trump/Hitler salutes in front of the Presidential seal. It's clear Trump is a fascist."
Me: No, I saw a guy who's a little socially awkward and odd, doing an overly exuberant "my heart goes out to you" gesture - he literally said those words. I don't see anything nazi or fascist about it.
LL: "He's well known to have nazi views. He's been a nazi for years. If you can't admit that, I don't know what to think."
Me: I'm not aware of that, and I don't believe it's true.
LL: "Then you must be a nazi sympathizer."
Me: There ARE no nazis and haven't been since the 40s. I didn't spend the last four years demanding you accept that Biden is a deeply corrupt and immoral dementia patient or that Kamala is a communist, although I believe both to be true. I am not going to "admit" things I don't believe and I'm not going to try to force you to admit things that you don't. I'd really prefer not to even have this discussion.
LL: "I no longer have room in my life for people who dwell in hate and division. I would prefer you never speak with me again." 
Me: Fine by me. You asked for my opinion, I'm sorry you're too weak to hear it.
LL: "I hope you die in one of Trump's concentration camps."
Me: See you there.

Liberal Loon 2: "Can you at least acknowledge that Trump is a liar and doesn't care about people? Have you seen the price of eggs? I thought he was going to fix inflation. He's definitely not doing it."
Me: Seriously?  He's been in office four days. The policies of the last four years created inflation. The conditions that created the egg shortage were caused by the prior administration's over-reaction to the bird flu scare - the slaughter of millions of chickens primarily. You can't expect any president to literally end inflation in four days.
LL2: "So you won't admit he's a liar and that he doesn't care about the inflation that's killing working class families?"
Me: No. I won't. And where was this outrage a year ago, two years ago, three years ago when the cost of EVERYTHING went up dramatically? Where was this when gas went from $1.50 a gallon to $5 a gallon and when overall grocery prices went up by 30% or more? Something should have been done then, but instead we sent billions of our tax dollars to Ukraine.
LL2: So you won't admit it? You won't admit that all Trump cares about is making his rich friends richer? And don't you care about the innocent Ukrainians who are being slaughtered?
Me: No, I won't admit that at all. I'm reserving judgment, hoping the policies this administration puts into place will help bring inflation down - starting with gas prices. The price of eggs is such an arbitrary measure, especially when compared to everything else. And for the record? No, I really don't give one fat fart about Ukraine or that war that the prior administration provoked primarily to obscure their money laundering operations.
LL2: If you can't even admit Trump is a liar and he's going to strangle us all while the rich get richer, I don't know how to talk to you. I think it's better if we just stop communicating. I thought you were smarter than this.
Me: I was afraid you weren't. Thanks for confirming it.

I've had five people I considered reasonable friends - people I knew had voted for Biden in 2020 and whom I was confident had voted for that cackling sow in 2024 - launch similar attacks and then declare me persona non grata when I refused to accept their delusions. I never treated them that way and I'm somewhat surprised to be treated the way I am being treated in return. 

Over egg prices. Over pretend nazi salutes. Over "the systemic slaughter of queers and the plans to exterminate them" or "put them in concentration camps."  Over securing the border when we were all once illegal immigrants.

The biggest thing is, I didn't seek any of them out to gloat. I didn't attempt to force my beliefs, expectations, or hope on them. THEY sought me out, demanding I buy into their delusions or risk losing all contact with them.  Fine. Bye Felicia.

Now where is wes? 

[The Six]

There's no magic left in the world. No spark. No surprise. No joy. Every single aspect is dissected and analyzed and scrutinized against 1)impossible standards of today; 2)misplaced nostalgia for a time that never existed. Nothing can be allowed to breathe, enjoyed.

[Kaos]

There's no magic left in the world. No spark. No surprise. No joy. Every single aspect is dissected and analyzed and scrutinized against 1)impossible standards of today; 2)misplaced nostalgia for a time that never existed. Nothing can be allowed to breathe, enjoyed.

I was there.  It existed. 

Gum squirted. Evel flew. Bottoms were bell.  Cuts were butt.  Farrah’s nipples were on point. Steve and Jamie were flesh and steel.  Hotels were in California. Saturdays were for fever and fighting.  HR’s stuff was Puffin.  Guns were loved by demons and star children.  Bay Cities were Rolled.


I was there and it was glorious.

[jmar]

I'm ecsatic. We have a commander in chief who is delivering on his promises and he has everyone's attention.

[CCTAU]

See. Unless you’re fleecing these liberal turds out of money, there is absolutely no reason to associate with them. None. I am at the point that if a flaming liberal exploded into flames in front of me, I’d piss my pants before trying to help them. Liberals ARE the enemy. They are like Muslims. The only thing they understand is being crushed into submission. If Trump does not use the justice department to go after these blatant traitors, they will do it again and again. At first I did. It think this way. I thought let’s move in and unite. But since, I’ve realized there is no uniting. There is no reasoning. It me, or them. And I really like me.

[Snaggletiger]

I was there.  It existed. 

Gum squirted. Evel flew. Bottoms were bell.  Cuts were butt.  Farrah’s nipples were on point. Steve and Jamie were flesh and steel.  Hotels were in California. Saturdays were for fever and fighting.  HR’s stuff was Puffin.  Guns were loved by demons and star children.  Bay Cities were Rolled.


I was there and it was glorious.

Long enough to equal the original post, but that's what I do.

Funny, because I was thinking something similar today, but more in regard to what causes such an incredible chasm in our nation.  Just check all the threads on whatever social media platform you like, and you realize nothing has changed, with the exception of Republicans being in control.  The hatred and vitriol are just as prevalent as ever.

I was thinking back to a much simpler time, before cell phones, 2,883 channels, puters etc.  The national news came on from 5:00 to 6:00 in the evening.  Your local news, weather and sports came on for 30 minutes at 6:00 and 10:00.  If you watched, you were given the actual news, regionally, nationally and globally. You were told what happened, without bias, opinion, or the need to try and influence the way you thought.  You took it in and decided if it was important, and formed your own opinion about it.

Then, you had cable and the advent of the 24/7/365 news cycle through CNN.  It's just my take, but I think as technology advanced, and people had more viewing choices, a non-stop cycle of the same news every day became less and less appealing to the public, and the networks had to morph into something different to attract viewership, sponsors and $$$. It became less about the news, and more opinion based coverage, and what better, all-encompassing topic could there be than politics?

I have no idea about the reasoning, but CNN and the other major networks became increasingly liberal, and very hostile towards conservative views.  In a gusty gaytor move, Rupert Murdoch saw the opening to cater specifically to that conservative segment of the population, and started Fox News.  MSNBC was created right about the same time.

Fast forward to today.  News is a thing of the past, and these networks have long realized that polarization sells.  You're one side, or the other.  Liberal or conservative.  Everything revolves around politics, and the only reason to actually report a news event, is to find some way to spin it and make the "other side" look evil.

I have seen several reports recently that showed the coverage of Republicans/Trump/Conservatives by CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC over the last 8 plus years, was anywhere from 91-95% negative.  Fox is the only real conservative network out there, and I would venture a guess that they're in the 98-100% range for negative coverage of the Left.  It's what they were created for, and it's also why I stopped watching years ago.  It's not news.  It's opinion designed to make you hate the other side. And it works.  It sells!!!

And now, social media has allowed that polarization and hatred to rise to levels never seen before.  Like me, you may say, "Well, I don't watch any of those networks".  You might not, but you are absolutely affected by them. It all originates there, and we all hear and see the talking points through friends, family and the bookfaces, twatters and instaslam. Everybody has a voice, and everybody takes a side. There is no in between, no give and take, no compromise. Truth has no place in all of this, and as long as something is repeated enough times, it takes truth's place. 

You would think our country is embroiled in a civil war, and I place the blame squarely at the feet of our media.  In the infamous words of one, Ron Burgandy:

"News going twenty-four hours around the clock? A channel that's never off in other words?...No offense, but you are stupid.  But a fat paycheck is enough for this anchorman with salon quality hair to give it a go.”

Ron was right.       

[Kaos]

I agree with most of what you wrote.  But I think it’s more. 

Since its earliest days the entertainment industry has been about changing America as it has entertaining. It caters to our basest instincts, and over time normalizes them. 

Most of us just dismissed it but the push to normalize being gay began in the 70s. Movies and later tv slid it into storylines. Treated it as normal.  Billy Crystal’s first role was a pregnant man.  It’s normal.

Television over the last 30 years or so has emasculated the American male. White males in particular. If there’s an idiot on TV, chances are he’s white. 

Entertainment takes all the things it wants to force on this society and drive us further from our judeo Christian values and portrays it as normal and virtuous. Interracial relationships? Gays? Trans? All good.  All normal. 

We’ve been under attack for decades.

[The Six]

I was there.  It existed. 

Gum squirted. Evel flew. Bottoms were bell.  Cuts were butt.  Farrah’s nipples were on point. Steve and Jamie were flesh and steel.  Hotels were in California. Saturdays were for fever and fighting.  HR’s stuff was Puffin.  Guns were loved by demons and star children.  Bay Cities were Rolled.


I was there and it was glorious.

The only parts of those days I want anything to do with were the cars and the opulent, exquisite bush that was sported.

[Snakebite]

The only parts of those days I want anything to do with were the cars and the opulent, exquisite bush that was sported.

Arcades, malls, Blockbuster/Movie Gallery, American Gladiators, wrasslin', great music, iconic movie releases, freedom, and a sense of patriotic duty to contribute to the common good.  This is how I reflect on the 80's/90's.

I would take that culture & feeling of community back in the blink of an eye.

[Snaggletiger]

Arcades, malls, Blockbuster/Movie Gallery, American Gladiators, wrasslin', great music, iconic movie releases, freedom, and a sense of patriotic duty to contribute to the common good.  This is how I reflect on the 80's/90's.

I would take that culture & feeling of community back in the blink of an eye.

I couldn't agree more.  In fact....wait....American Gladiators????  That's ghey!

[Snakebite]

I couldn't agree more.  In fact....wait....American Gladiators????  That's ghey!

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Kaos]

Arcades, malls, Blockbuster/Movie Gallery, American Gladiators, wrasslin', great music, iconic movie releases, freedom, and a sense of patriotic duty to contribute to the common good.  This is how I reflect on the 80's/90's.

I would take that culture & feeling of community back in the blink of an eye.

If I could go back in time and erase anything?  It would be cellphones and social media. 

Those two things have altered humanity more than any thing else I can think of over the course of history and 95% of it is negative.

[Snaggletiger]

If I could go back in time and erase anything?  It would be cellphones and social media. 

Those two things have altered humanity more than any thing else I can think of over the course of history and 95% of it is negative.

That's what I was referring to above.  The media puts it out there to divide us, and social media takes over to make sure that happens.  Just the stuff I read yesterday was enough to tell me there's no turning back. It's sad, really.