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How to stay sane in an increasingly crazy political climate

gameboy

Tool-Bearing Hominid
Tool-Bearing Hominid
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I'm in Western Europe and it's getting crazier here than ever before. While it used to be easy to ignore the more extreme political views, I am now seeing more and more political content that advocate things starting from prohibiting political parties up to "joking" insinuations of killing a certain very well known president.

While I'm used to ignore mainstream media (my thinking has always been that they are mostly financed by af very few wealthy entitites) and it's easy to block content like that on platforms like Facebook, it's now gone so far that I'm getting political memes even from close and distant relatives. It's getting harder and harder to ignore. Just today I got two separate messages from relatives, independently from each other. I don't want to block these people since they are my family, and just ignoring those messages doesn't seem like an ideal option either.

This shit is affecting me since I end up thinking about this stuff and how to respond to it while I go about my daily life, and also makes it harder to concentrate on things like game.

Anyone else here have a similar experience? If so how do you deal with it?
 

Spyce D

Tool-Bearing Hominid
Tool-Bearing Hominid
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Messages
753
I'm in Western Europe and it's getting crazier here than ever before. While it used to be easy to ignore the more extreme political views, I am now seeing more and more political content that advocate things starting from prohibiting political parties up to "joking" insinuations of killing a certain very well known president.

While I'm used to ignore mainstream media (my thinking has always been that they are mostly financed by af very few wealthy entitites) and it's easy to block content like that on platforms like Facebook, it's now gone so far that I'm getting political memes even from close and distant relatives. It's getting harder and harder to ignore. Just today I got two separate messages from relatives, independently from each other. I don't want to block these people since they are my family, and just ignoring those messages doesn't seem like an ideal option either.

This shit is affecting me since I end up thinking about this stuff and how to respond to it while I go about my daily life, and also makes it harder to concentrate on things like game.

Anyone else here have a similar experience? If so how do you deal with it?
Just avoid most of the social media .
Disable youtube history ... So that your home page is empty. Currently.. social media is just a place for ads and rage bait., I can't go a day without seeing something horrible happening in ALL parts of the world.



But speaking of things that your relatives send . You have to pratice not giving a fuck . And one thing that I specifically do is that I would just leave these messages on seen . ( Without actually seeing them ) .

The thing is that there is no other choice ... In the last few years , lot of ethnic killings have taken place ( that have been shown on the internet) ... Even of an ethnicity that is closely related to mine .

Initially, it was hard to comprehend everything, but slowly I had to realise that no matter what I think , it won't change the world . ( Unless , i take some dedicated action of course ) .

And also the fact that I have grown out of politics cuz literally there is nothing I can do right now to change the world even if I wanted to ... So , why should I stress. Will my stress make the world stop what it doing ?

And that freed me from the stress ( it took some time , tho ) .

That's what I did ... I know it may not be what you wanted to hear but it is what it is .


And i think that it's easier to just not talk about politics with people irl. Is someone talk about it these days , I just nod my head and listen or if I can... I leave from there. Or i would straight up tell them that I am not interested in talking politics cuz I have no time to focus anything other than my career and purpose ( specially to women ).
 

topcat

Tribal Elder
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I hear you bro, the European elites are glitching heavily right now. It's kinda funny to watch (hella bizarre too).

I'd just be honest, let them know you're not interested in talking politics as you feel there are more productive and positive ways to engage with others and spend your time. Be polite, but make it clear that the political things they share are a drag and aren't having the affect on you your family members likely intend (assuming they do it in good faith; if not they need to get lost..).

If they press further, just explain that you'd rather spend your free moments on (list positive, good, non partisan) things you enjoy, and that politics are devisive and ruin more personal relationships than they solve societal problems.

If after all that they continue. Put em on silent/ignore/block em/cuss em out.
 

Will_V

Chieftan
Staff member
tribal-elder
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I'm in Western Europe and it's getting crazier here than ever before. While it used to be easy to ignore the more extreme political views, I am now seeing more and more political content that advocate things starting from prohibiting political parties up to "joking" insinuations of killing a certain very well known president.

While I'm used to ignore mainstream media (my thinking has always been that they are mostly financed by af very few wealthy entitites) and it's easy to block content like that on platforms like Facebook, it's now gone so far that I'm getting political memes even from close and distant relatives. It's getting harder and harder to ignore. Just today I got two separate messages from relatives, independently from each other. I don't want to block these people since they are my family, and just ignoring those messages doesn't seem like an ideal option either.

This shit is affecting me since I end up thinking about this stuff and how to respond to it while I go about my daily life, and also makes it harder to concentrate on things like game.

Anyone else here have a similar experience? If so how do you deal with it?

When things slide into chaos, whether it's a general chaos or one that's specific to you, you have two possible responses:

1. Panic/get emotionally involved
2. Surf it

The instinctive human response is to get emotionally involved - to panic, to complain, to seek security in comfortable illusion, to bury the head under the sand, etc. That's what everyone is doing now, taking sides and preparing themselves to be subservient to something that they believe will save them.

The other possibility is to surf the chaos. Think of it like a huge, powerful wave. If you confront it, it will wipe you out. If you try to run from it, it'll catch up. But if you roll with it, navigate it, use it to give yourself kinetic energy, find the pockets of control that are available to you and maximize their utility, and always enjoy the ride, then life becomes an exciting puzzle with all sorts of dynamic opportunities.

That's my modus operandi for any situation that either seems completely intractable, or that hits me out of nowhere, where it could have immediate or long term negative consequences for me. That way, I get to keep my awareness, my drive, and my intent, which are the only things that completely belong to me that have a chance of getting me where I need to go. Whenever you try to go to that place, emotions try to pull you back into the bucket, and that's where self control comes in, to give you the realization that your emotions are not who you are, and the humility to face defeat at your own hands as a possible outcome.

As far as relatives getting political, my habit is to either avoid it completely, or make a point at an extremely basic level that's hard to disagree with and tangential to their argument, and move on. A lot of people adopt strong mainstream opinions about hot political issues, but are very open to non-mainstream ideas about less controversial things that are more related to their immediate experience. For example, a woman might be completely feminist about some political talking point, but when you're just conversing about day to day stuff she's implicitly accepting all sorts of frames about how men and women are different. So it's always best (if you want to influence someone at a personal level) to avoid their ideologies and speak to their experiences - it's my habit whenever I talk to anyone face to face to immediately peel away as much stereotypical context from the conversation as possible.

At the end of the day, politics is the struggle for power and influence between groups of people, and whether it veers in one direction or the other, it's fundamentally the same animal, one that will be with us until the end of time. There's no way to avoid it. The trick is to enter the game at the level and at the scope where you have maximum capability - and for most guys, that's at the level of their personal relationships with friends and family, not at the level of mainstream politics.
 

gameboy

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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Good advice there, thanks.

What I ended up doing was ignore most of the memes I received. I did argue with one person briefly though, over text, but I quickly realized it was going nowhere and it was just going to sap my energy so I told her I'd rather continue this conversation over a beer, in person than over text. Which is unlikely to happen anytime soon since we live in different countries. And when it does happen I find it much easier to find common ground when chatting with someone in person. Over text everything becomes polarized much faster due to missing body language queueus etc. And if finding some common ground turns out impossible you can always switch to a more pleasant subject of conversation.

2. Surf it
[...]
The other possibility is to surf the chaos. Think of it like a huge, powerful wave. If you confront it, it will wipe you out. If you try to run from it, it'll catch up. But if you roll with it, navigate it, use it to give yourself kinetic energy, find the pockets of control that are available to you and maximize their utility, and always enjoy the ride, then life becomes an exciting puzzle with all sorts of dynamic opportunities.
That's a beautiful analogy! Are you familiar with "Reality Transurfing" by any chance? One of my favorite books. Quite esoteric, a bit like the law of attraction but much more profound.

I find it hard to gain energy by discussing controversial issues over text messages. What can work is to deepen a connection with people who have similar or at least compatible opinions to myself. But as for trying to convince someone to change their world view, that just looks like a huge drain to me.

So ignoring / leaving them on read seems to be the best option after all. And for those people who have a compatible view, bond with them over that.
 
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you miss 100% of the shots you don't take

Will_V

Chieftan
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Good advice there, thanks.

What I ended up doing was ignore most of the memes I received. I did argue with one person briefly though, over text, but I quickly realized it was going nowhere and it was just going to sap my energy so I told her I'd rather continue this conversation over a beer, in person than over text. Which is unlikely to happen anytime soon since we live in different countries. And when it does happen I find it much easier to find common ground when chatting with someone in person. Over text everything becomes polarized much faster due to missing body language queueus etc. And if finding some common ground turns out impossible you can always switch to a more pleasant subject of conversation.

I never engage in political discussions with women. With a guy I will spar over some issue if we both feel like it, but not with a woman. The reason is in the end result: a guy often enjoys sparring and it can end up improving the relationship even if we disagree somewhat, if he sees you arguing with skill and strength he might well respect you more. But with a woman, no matter who she is and what apparent relationship you have with her, her perception of you is always carried out within a subconsciously sexual frame, and there is no sexual frame in which arguing with a woman over politics advances your position. She may agree or disagree with you, but the end result is that she loses respect for you for having argued about it with her in the first place, for having made her opinion on the matter something you are concerned about.

I believe the reason is a very simple and primitive one, that the fundamental relationship between a man and a woman is one of dominance and submission, of your intrinsic authority over her as a man and a leader. Whereas men develop relationships between themselves that may be more or less authoritative of one over another, but that authority is only exercised within the context of a particular activity, in order to improve a result for both of them - and they are also always competitive, meaning that they can always change if one guy proves he is more capable than the other.

This means that a woman is uncomfortable with a guy who seems to believe that his authority rests on convincing her of some practical point of view, or of his competence or knowledge in something. Which is a trap many guys fall into, trying to convince a woman of their skill or capability in something that has no bearing on the sexual frame, when in fact all she wants and needs is to feel his dominating presence as a man who knows that he is a man and she is a woman.

That's a beautiful analogy! Are you familiar with "Reality Transurfing" by any chance? One of my favorite books. Quite esoteric, a bit like the law of attraction but much more profound.

No, I haven't. I'll check it out.

I will say that while sometimes I say things in ways that sound esoteric, for me it's not esoteric, but an attempt to describe my immediate experience of it. I always try to reduce things to their practical elements, but sometimes (because the subconscious operates in a somewhat abstract way) it's hard to describe the subconscious or semiconscious layer of an experience the way you would describe the conscious experience. And these deeper layers are very useful to understand because in some ways it's easier to gauge yourself and maneuver your own mind through them.

I find it hard to gain energy by discussing controversial issues over text messages. What can work is to deepen a connection with people who have similar or at least compatible opinions to myself. But as for trying to convince someone to change their world view, that just looks like a huge drain to me.

Yes. I think the best way to look at it is that people need their illusions the same way they need their family, their house, their job, their pets, etc. Illusions keep them anchored and give them a sense of who they are and how they should behave to continue being themselves. It's not very useful to try and remove them, especially if you want them to be happy.
 

Spyce D

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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. It's not very useful to try and remove them, especially if you want them to be happy.
This .

Today , I had to do use it with 2 looks maxer guys separately ... So that to avoid winging with them in the future.

They are too toxic and judgemental .

So , I just told them that yeah daygame don't work and shit.

Felt like how chicks lie in order to not meet ,.tbh .
 

Will_V

Chieftan
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This .

Today , I had to do use it with 2 looks maxer guys separately ... So that to avoid winging with them in the future.

They are too toxic and judgemental .

So , I just told them that yeah daygame don't work and shit.

Felt like how chicks lie in order to not meet ,.tbh .

I wouldn't lie like that, in the long run lies destroy relationships, no matter the reason why. I just don't engage, and steer the conversation to something more relevant.
 

Spyce D

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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I wouldn't lie like that, in the long run lies destroy relationships, no matter the reason why. I just don't engage, and steer the conversation to something more relevant.
Wish I could .

I valued those men ... Even if they had anti game stance and actually tried to help them ... Even with their inner issues and by being blunt at times with them but all I got was their judgemental attitude towards the girls I was dating

they both were virgins + lookmaxers but always claimed to be getting girls left and right ..
And if i would ask them about not getting laid .... They would talk that I only care about one thing ... I was still ok with it .

But ,.now I just can't take it anymore . I tried being upfront with them but they would just not listen ..... And also recently they began badmouthing mutual wing who was actually putting effort ( but wasnt a naturally good looking guy ) and lot of things that I just couldn't ignore but I no longer felt my duty to solve their problems.... I tried what I could to guide them out of redpill , looksmaxing .... And it's like they didn't know what else to talk about even if I would politely change the topic.

At the end of the day , if people can't change and want to " enlighten" me with their book theories ....is it really my problem ( that's what I learnt from chicks )
 

gameboy

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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I never engage in political discussions with women.
I completely agree for women you're gaming, but do you include long-term girl friends in that statement?

I can't imagine being with a partner that I can't even discuss politics with. I'd want them to at least know my general stance and accept my overall way of thinking, even if we don't necessarily agree in every detail. Never had a problem with that in previous LTRs.

Yes. I think the best way to look at it is that people need their illusions the same way they need their family, their house, their job, their pets, etc. Illusions keep them anchored and give them a sense of who they are and how they should behave to continue being themselves. It's not very useful to try and remove them, especially if you want them to be happy.
Good point.
 
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gameboy

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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they both were virgins + lookmaxers
Hahhaha

You have to pratice not giving a fuck . And one thing that I specifically do is that I would just leave these messages on seen .
Just did that today... guess I'm getting lots of chances to practice in the current climate.

Side note (since we're in the off topic board):

I find it astonishing how many people nowadays seem to be in favor of prohibiting political parties, canceling elections, and even sometimes seem to be silently condoning political violence... all in the name of democracy! With justifications like "Because if we don't do it then the dictators will win"

Again... lots of chances to practice indifference. But I think you guys are right that indifference is the best way forward.

It's not like I'm out to change the world or anything. The world has always been a very complex and very beautiful place, and that's not likely to change (nor would I want it to).

I love trying to understand it and make sense of it though.
 
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DArtagnan

Space Monkey
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I agree with you and is disturbing. I have close relatives who have different opinions than mine, and I have to try hard to avoid taking part in these discussions, because I know they won't lead nowhere. The same with some close friends. It's hard hearing people saying things you don't agree with and keeping your mouth shut, but this is what works for me.

What annoys me is that many times people take your silence as an approval. If you don't say anything, they just assume you agree with them. I feel like I'm being fake with relatives and friends, sometimes. If only they knew my true opinions. For me, I don't consider political opinions as a base for a friendship, but more actions and behaviours. Many people do choose friends based on political views though.

"Because if we don't do it then the dictators will win"

That's so true, people say this all the time. In my life, I know very few people who really stand by and understand democracy. Most people reason that democracy is only working when their party is on the power, and conversely democracy is being endangered when other parties take the power. But this is us starting a political discussion here, so I will stop now ;)
 

gameboy

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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But this is us starting a political discussion here, so I will stop now ;)
Yeah lets not go there haha

What annoys me is that many times people take your silence as an approval. If you don't say anything, they just assume you agree with them. I feel like I'm being fake with relatives and friends, sometimes. If only they knew my true opinions. For me, I don't consider political opinions as a base for a friendship, but more actions and behaviours. Many people do choose friends based on political views though.
Well there's a fine line there. When I'm in person with someone, and they state an opinion that I'm completely opposed to, I'll either point out that I disagree and why, or if that doesn't seem to make sense (for example a family member who I know won't change their opinoin no matter what I say) then I'll at least show by my body language that I disagree, but maybe change subjects or let others talk if there's more people present.

I used to try and change people's views, but I've long come to the conclusion that this almost never works. I find it best to just briefly state my own point of view, but then allow the conversation to naturally change subject. Most people aren't out there to start arguments either. (and for the people I know will start arguments, I often prefer to just say nothing and change the subject directly, but without pretending to agree).

Note I'm not referring to seductions here, I'm talking about situations with guy friends or family.
 
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Spyce D

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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753
find it astonishing how many people nowadays seem to be in favor of prohibiting political parties, canceling elections, and even sometimes seem to be silently condoning political violence... all in the name of democracy! With justifications like "Because if we don't do it then the dictators will win"
If people could just stop using social media or atleast actually put pressure on the companies to " make social media social again " world would become "peaceful" .

But it ain't going to happen. Addicted to misery ... What can I say .
It's not like I'm out to change the world or anything.
The least we can do is to preserve our mental health, and self interests .
 

gameboy

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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If people could just stop using social media or atleast actually put pressure on the companies to " make social media social again " world would become "peaceful" .
Apparently it has never been completely peaceful. It's harsh, but that seem to be the way we are wired.

If you look at animals, they fight over their food too... as humans we may have a (slightly) more civil society, but there's still conflict, especially at the scale of world politics.

We have a long way to evolve until the world can become completely peaceful IMO

The least we can do is to preserve our mental health, and self interests .
Yes, absolutely.
 

Spyce D

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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Apparently it has never been completely peaceful.
I meant peaceful in the sense that a few decades ago ( even in 2000s ) people weren't being bombarded with news 24/7 . So that gave people less stress .

Could be wrong but that's what I think.
 

gameboy

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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I meant peaceful in the sense that a few decades ago ( even in 2000s ) people weren't being bombarded with news 24/7 . So that gave people less stress .

Could be wrong but that's what I think.
Oh I see. Yes that is very true.

Also I don't remember there being these "bubbles" previously where everyone seems to be living in their own reality. Or maybe it just wasn't as obvious back then.
 

Spyce D

Tool-Bearing Hominid
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Oh I see. Yes that is very true.

Also I don't remember there being these "bubbles" previously where everyone seems to be living in their own reality. Or maybe it just wasn't as obvious back then.
I don't think there were cuz cheap internet was still not available to everyone like it is today .

Smartphones were new and expensive.

Maybe it all happened during 2010 era and erupted during a certain american election.
 
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