In my personal experience, they are also very much all about CONTROL and controlling the narrative most of all, because they know that the beliefs of the people create the reality which we all share and reside within (to varying extents). The programming came from the very top and is a worldwide effort that reaches its insidious tentacles down to some of the most intimate relationships we have. Any truth we say, they flip it on its head, they inverse it, they accuse us of perpetrating what they themselves are doing--anything to keep the narrative going that they are the "good" guys, that they are "objectively" right and righteous even as they use actual facts like toilet paper and demonize those of us who seek to uphold the truth...
Standing in truth now means that I am alienated from all but a handful or so of people from my former life. It happened over time: the acquaintances fell away first, then the close friends and distant relatives and now, finally, immediate family members. If I didn't have a strong partner with me, I doubt I would have the strength to face this much rejection, but I know in my heart what happened and I'm not going to sell myself out this time for "acceptance." I know what the truth is, I saw what occurred on November 3rd (and early morning November 4th) with my own eyes--and of course I've seen through the media lies and propaganda for the last four years, but this is the most flagrant. I used to think "we can have our differences and still relate to each other," but it feels like that line has now been drawn in the sand, and I'm going to hold it--even if it means losing everything I've known until now.
I used to tell myself, "they're just being lied to. They're just misguided." Because that was the case for me for several years. I woke up to what was going on in mid-2016, and up until this election, even, I thought, "well, maybe their version of reality is valid too, on some level--maybe I'm being too judgemental. Isn't everyone entitled to their opinion, however misguided? Don't we all somehow have to find a way to get along and compromise occasionally?"
But observing the FLAGRANT disregard for truth, integrity, and the constitution that occurred this month, and the way they are desperately supporting it because they NEED to believe their candidate is a "good guy winner" is now making it impossible for me to maintain that stance. They are so determined to implement their version of reality that they excuse using violence to accomplish it--and still claim that Trump is a dictator and his supporters are fascists. I thought the media bias was more than obvious four years ago, but now it's outright ridiculous. And the longer it goes on and more flagrant it becomes, the less I am able to believe these supporters are simply "misguided" or even brainwashed (although I do believe many of them are). At what point do they know what they are doing versus mindlessly believing in lies? How does brainwashing/programming factor into it, and is that even a good excuse? I wonder these things all the time...
If I try to tell them what is really going on, they become upset with me and tell me I'm wrong. I don't know what to do except try to talk to them as little as possible. Leaving social media (except Parler) helped--it seems like you stop existing for many of them if you're not on social media anymore.
I agree with you, and I do have some republican friends and relatives I've known for much of my life (although some of them also dislike Donald Trump for whatever reason?)
Moving from a blue state to a red one has helped considerably, especially since some of my distant relatives here turned out to be Trump supporters too. But I am applying to jobs and pretty much all of my references are left-leaning, so I feel like I can't come out with my viewpoints publicly yet. But maybe I just need to take that risk and trust that I'll figure it out somehow--for the reasons you've mentioned.
I don't want to appear childish by shutting so many people out of my life, but going back to the comfortable cage of "acceptance" and the weird stockholm syndrome I've lived with for so long feels like less and less of an option. I'm tired of being "tolerated" and disrespected as the "wacky" one with the "crazy" opinions, made fun of when I'm not around (and that's from the nicer ones--I don't share my views with people I think might actually retaliate in some way).
This is all still pretty recent, so I appreciate having the chance to vent a bit on here with people who understand. :-( I hope it will get better in the near future.
Everything you say makes total sense to me, and I couldn’t have articulated it more accurately for my situation during that time.
All I can tell you is things are MUCH better once you commit to who you are and stop caring about what other people think, or associating with people whom at the end of the day ARE the actual crazy and/or unethical ones.
I highly encourage you to read Dave Rubin’s book “Don’t Burn This Book”. I read it recently because it is new, but it’s the perfect book for a person at your stage of self-realization. He amazingly articulates how it was genuinely much, much harder for him to “come out” as a conservative than it was to come out as gay.
I also highly suggest that you start listening to Jesse Lee Peterson. He very much discusses the importance of living one’s truth and not caring about what other people think.
To that extent though, don’t get carried away with it. It doesn’t help you to express unwelcome opinions in a professional setting that will hurt your career. Learn when to keep your mouth shut, and start thinking about a potential path to starting your own business.
Godspeed. I am currently marshaling my resources and positioning myself to be able to facilitate this effort in any and all ways I am able. The first step is making sure they have no remaining power over me, either real or guilt-based. Hang in there.
Great comment.
In my personal experience, they are also very much all about CONTROL and controlling the narrative most of all, because they know that the beliefs of the people create the reality which we all share and reside within (to varying extents). The programming came from the very top and is a worldwide effort that reaches its insidious tentacles down to some of the most intimate relationships we have. Any truth we say, they flip it on its head, they inverse it, they accuse us of perpetrating what they themselves are doing--anything to keep the narrative going that they are the "good" guys, that they are "objectively" right and righteous even as they use actual facts like toilet paper and demonize those of us who seek to uphold the truth...
Standing in truth now means that I am alienated from all but a handful or so of people from my former life. It happened over time: the acquaintances fell away first, then the close friends and distant relatives and now, finally, immediate family members. If I didn't have a strong partner with me, I doubt I would have the strength to face this much rejection, but I know in my heart what happened and I'm not going to sell myself out this time for "acceptance." I know what the truth is, I saw what occurred on November 3rd (and early morning November 4th) with my own eyes--and of course I've seen through the media lies and propaganda for the last four years, but this is the most flagrant. I used to think "we can have our differences and still relate to each other," but it feels like that line has now been drawn in the sand, and I'm going to hold it--even if it means losing everything I've known until now.
Better that than to lose my soul, I figure.
I used to tell myself, "they're just being lied to. They're just misguided." Because that was the case for me for several years. I woke up to what was going on in mid-2016, and up until this election, even, I thought, "well, maybe their version of reality is valid too, on some level--maybe I'm being too judgemental. Isn't everyone entitled to their opinion, however misguided? Don't we all somehow have to find a way to get along and compromise occasionally?"
But observing the FLAGRANT disregard for truth, integrity, and the constitution that occurred this month, and the way they are desperately supporting it because they NEED to believe their candidate is a "good guy winner" is now making it impossible for me to maintain that stance. They are so determined to implement their version of reality that they excuse using violence to accomplish it--and still claim that Trump is a dictator and his supporters are fascists. I thought the media bias was more than obvious four years ago, but now it's outright ridiculous. And the longer it goes on and more flagrant it becomes, the less I am able to believe these supporters are simply "misguided" or even brainwashed (although I do believe many of them are). At what point do they know what they are doing versus mindlessly believing in lies? How does brainwashing/programming factor into it, and is that even a good excuse? I wonder these things all the time...
If I try to tell them what is really going on, they become upset with me and tell me I'm wrong. I don't know what to do except try to talk to them as little as possible. Leaving social media (except Parler) helped--it seems like you stop existing for many of them if you're not on social media anymore.
You’re a good person; there are other good people out there; you will meet them in time.
The less time you spend with bad people, the more time you have to meet good people.
And you won’t meet good people while hanging out with bad people; the good people will assume you’re bad too if You’re hanging out with bad people.
I agree with you, and I do have some republican friends and relatives I've known for much of my life (although some of them also dislike Donald Trump for whatever reason?)
Moving from a blue state to a red one has helped considerably, especially since some of my distant relatives here turned out to be Trump supporters too. But I am applying to jobs and pretty much all of my references are left-leaning, so I feel like I can't come out with my viewpoints publicly yet. But maybe I just need to take that risk and trust that I'll figure it out somehow--for the reasons you've mentioned.
I don't want to appear childish by shutting so many people out of my life, but going back to the comfortable cage of "acceptance" and the weird stockholm syndrome I've lived with for so long feels like less and less of an option. I'm tired of being "tolerated" and disrespected as the "wacky" one with the "crazy" opinions, made fun of when I'm not around (and that's from the nicer ones--I don't share my views with people I think might actually retaliate in some way).
This is all still pretty recent, so I appreciate having the chance to vent a bit on here with people who understand. :-( I hope it will get better in the near future.
You’re where I was 3-4 years ago.
Everything you say makes total sense to me, and I couldn’t have articulated it more accurately for my situation during that time.
All I can tell you is things are MUCH better once you commit to who you are and stop caring about what other people think, or associating with people whom at the end of the day ARE the actual crazy and/or unethical ones.
I highly encourage you to read Dave Rubin’s book “Don’t Burn This Book”. I read it recently because it is new, but it’s the perfect book for a person at your stage of self-realization. He amazingly articulates how it was genuinely much, much harder for him to “come out” as a conservative than it was to come out as gay.
I also highly suggest that you start listening to Jesse Lee Peterson. He very much discusses the importance of living one’s truth and not caring about what other people think.
To that extent though, don’t get carried away with it. It doesn’t help you to express unwelcome opinions in a professional setting that will hurt your career. Learn when to keep your mouth shut, and start thinking about a potential path to starting your own business.
Godspeed. I am currently marshaling my resources and positioning myself to be able to facilitate this effort in any and all ways I am able. The first step is making sure they have no remaining power over me, either real or guilt-based. Hang in there.
Based AF
I want to summon Vlad Dracule....he knew what to do with the enemy.