Many of us — most of us? — have friends on “the other side.” Perhaps “friends” is a stretch. Followers, for example, are not technically friends. Whatever the case, one of the best ways to stay in touch with these folk is through social media. By that I mean Facebook, Twitter (X), TikTok, Instagram, Threads, etc. These are the platforms for the folks we don’t really want to call or buddy up with. We may “see” them, but only during reunions or other forced social situations (like work?). With social media, we can peek in on them without the usual give and take. Which is nice in times like these. Blame it on distances enforced by the nauseam.
Yes, The Nauseam
Now, of course, we are in the silly season. My wife, originally from Canada, is quick to remind me that there is no “political season” in U.S. politics. It’s a full-time exercise. It’s just politics, day after day, month after month, ad nauseam. She’s right, of course. We sometimes lack the remove required to see it for what it is. Other times we just want to check out, maybe even hibernate.
But these times demand something more.
Keep Nauseam Close
Yes, of course, blah, blah, blah, there are extremists on all sides. I have a name for that. It’s called nauseam, ad nauseam. I’m instead offering an old-fashioned piece of advice: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Because here’s the thing: there are enough firearms in the U.S. to arm everyone at least once over. Not all of these folks have love and protection on their minds. Like I said, it’s the silly season.
That’s not even the half of it. According to Pew Research, there are differences in gun ownership rates by political affiliation, gender, community type and other attributes.
- Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more than twice as likely as Democrats and Democratic leaners to say they personally own a gun (45% vs. 20%).
- 40% of men say they own a gun, compared with 25% of women.
- 47% of adults living in rural areas report personally owning a firearm, as do smaller shares of those who live in suburbs (30%) or urban areas (20%).
- 38% of White Americans own a gun, compared with smaller shares of Black (24%), Hispanic (20%) and Asian (10%) Americans.
Civil War? Do You Know This Guy?
Stay Alert
The hardest part, of course, is to refrain from commenting on every single one of their unhinged posts. (Yes, that’s a value judgement.) You know… the whole autocratic Megillah. It is tempting. But worthless if your goal is to somehow persuade them of their folly. As Charles Barkley notes, “I only call them [nutty] because they are,” he said. “They’re crazy. They’re like your drunk friend. Like, once your friend’s drunk, there’s nothing you can say to him.”
That said, please keep them close. Be mindful that silence is assent. Confront them strategically. Big stuff. Absurdities. Logical impossibilities. Listen carefully. Deliberate assiduously. You never know. Change is constant. Some may need an embrace. Some may have sobered up. And some may disappear. Beware the silent ones. (Do you have an escape plan?)
Oh, and yeah. AI is on the loose during this silly season. Buyer beware. For example:There’s no fucking way the former guy looks like this. But ADD? Perfect.
Copyright Leland E. Hale (2024). All rights reserved.
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