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I’m noticing three different negative responses to FB posts and notes about Trump’s “mug-shot” and the dangers it poses:
1) It really doesn’t matter what his followers think. They are a minority and incorrigible.
2) I’m bored with this. Did you expect any different?
3) Why don’t you just turn off the television?
I’m noticing three different negative responses to FB posts and substack notes about Trump’s “mug-shot” and the dangers it poses:
1) It really doesn’t matter what his followers think. They are a minority and incorrigible.
2) I’m bored with this. Did you expect any different?
3) Why don’t you just turn off the television?
I think I want to write about this—it gets at the heart of one of the dilemmas of living (and writing) in this heavily media-driven culture in which all the contradictions and vulnerabilities of democracy are being exposed, as well as the tension between self-protection and watchful responsibility. So I’m very interested in what others think about these responses.
To all who have commented so far: thank you!!! I hope the conversation continues, but it will be without me for awhile, because I have a Feldenkrais zoom workshop from 12-3. This one will focus on better sitting—for writers, very important. I know a lot of my back problems are from hunching over writing. And in general Feldenkrais is AMAZING for all kinds of issues. Anyway—I’ll be back later! And of course, feel free to tawk among yourselves!
You may find, "What America Needs Psychologically From the trump Trials" useful in answering some of your questions. "What will not help us get there is having so many of our brilliant minds spending days, weeks, months and years analyzing and parsing every single aspect of what should be trump’s open and shut case. Therefore, we at CNI implore all the top political experts who fill out email boxes to put a bunch of their brain power towards being more solutional, since two things America definitely needs to get us out of this mess are fewer solution-less emails and more wise and workable solutions." https://samray.substack.com/p/what-america-needs-psychologically
Thanks, I’ll check that out. I agree that the constant liberal media dissection of the crimes, the indictment, when the trial will be, etc. etc. is repetitive and—to me—irritating. Do we have to hear everything that Ari Melber thinks about the chances of having the trial moved 100 times? But as to solutions, I’m less optimistic than you that we can actually figure that one out in any useful way—but my reasons for believing that are too complex to go into here. What do you mean by “fill out email boxes” and who do you regard as the “top political experts” who fill them out. I was puzzled by that reference.
Aug 26, 2023·edited Aug 26, 2023Liked by Susan Bordo
Most welcome. If you have time, a better place to start would be https://samray.substack.com/p/how-the-news-is-psychologically-broken. I found myself rarely watching any of my favorites anymore due to an endless loop and drone of non-solutional politics. I was however pleasantly shocked to hear Heilemann say "pathological narcissism" re: trump on Deadline a few days ago.
As you know, I view politics through the narcissism spectrum lens. From that perspective, watching more than essential news is not psychologically healthy right now. I’ve been writing a lot about that lately in a quasi-series. I suppose the positive side of a psychological lens is if you look at a problem from that aspect, there are almost always solutional psychological answers where the political lens fails, and many of them just require minimal resources to succeed, “but my reasons for believing that are too complex to go into here” as well.
I thought I fixed “fill out email boxes” to “fill our inboxes. ”Starting with trump’s third indictment, my inbox was filled daily by all my favorite political experts on Substack with endless trump this, trump that, trump this & that, that & this. Sure there was some new info and good insight here and there but frankly it all seemed like meaningless distraction. Robert Reich just posted a headline this AM, trump sucks up all the oxygen. Well, if everyone focuses on the minutia irrelevancy, they are giving him all the oxygen for likes, or clicks or that’s what sells advertising, idk, but to paraphrase Moonves, trump is great for CBS but bad for America.
Thanks for clarifying. I’m also going to pass your substack on to my sister, who is a psychotherapist and believes, as you do, that watching the news is not psychologically healthy. I agree, from the perspective of individual health, but as a writer I regard it as a nasty job that someone has got to do—and write about intelligently. I don’t fool myself about the direct effect of my own critiques, but my experience (from writing about eating disorders, for example) is that ideas can unexpectedly enter the cultural bloodstream and wind their way to people who can actually do something other than write.
I actually land somewhere between you and your sister personally. I have always loved the news and keep up quite well for both personal interest and to be well-informed. I just do not watch much anymore because it became so repetitive. Another aspect I know you know well, is when you have a strong knowledge base, hearing the basics over and over becomes an unnecessary repetition too, so that may also be a contributor to my current boredom with MSM. !00% agree that words spoken into existence have a way of changing the world. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. Cheers and thanks for what you do!
I've given myself a reprieve/time bonus from following the details of his indictments and arrests.
If Trump or a Trumpy candidate gets the nomination, I will give my resources (letter writing and money) to the Voter Participation Center,(a 501c3). VPC does a great job of targeting the demographics most likely to vote against Trump.:
"The New American Majority—young people, people of color and unmarried women—is 150 million people strong. They represent 64% of the people who can vote in America.*
Thanks so much for that link. I tried the reprieve myself, but just when I thought I was free, they pulled me back in. (What’s the quote I’m trying to remember here?)
One thing I know is I have to stop reading comments (she opines as she posts a comment) becuz I am becoming incrementally more enraged by the mocking. I don’t need to scroll through endless inane barbs re: his weight, for instance. I don’t even want to read about the gaze or the posture. I’m beat. The mere fact that there IS a mugshot is a blot on our country. The resulting fact that it is emboldening people to become even more entrenched in their support is terrifying.
If I can find measured reporting/analysis (I have found some here on Substack), I welcome that. But my fellow readers who post ridiculous childish comments are letting me down.
Wow, I couldn’t agree more. I hate the weight comments, and there’s nothing funny about his pose. It particularly galls me when broadcasters joke about it. And I’m irritated by the response “We gotta laugh, what else is there to do?”
I'm glad you brought this up, Susan. I'm torn, as always, between adding to the attention to Trump and the need to express how much I detest that vile creature who is still sucking the air out of American life. I've backed away from watching those shows that do nothing more than speculate and agitate. Constant analysis isn't going to solve the problem of Trump. Voting might do it, but even voters can only keep him out of the White House. Nothing I can think of will take him out of the spotlight.
So my conflict stems from the need to expose him vs the need to shun him. If enough people just ignore his antics, will he cease to dominate the mainstream media? Maybe, but he'll still dominate his own Right Wing media. Without the counterpoints will the RW media gain a stronger foothold? Without the analyses and the fact-checking, will more potential voters lean toward Trump?
It's become a delicate balance, one that's just baffling to those of us who haven't been seduced by Trump and his ugly message, and so far nobody knows what to do about it. That's what's frightening to me. All that talk and we're still struggling to understand what happened, and how it happened, and how to keep it from ever happening again.
Yes, this is the dilemma in a nutshell (which you are so good at—should we call it “nutshelling”?) I really don’t think there is much that any one individual can do—beyond the usual: contributions, get out vote effort, etc. This thing is going to play out as it will whether or not any of us (by “us” I mean those of us talking to each other here) shut off our TVs or not. Things could play out differently—but not necessarily better—if the Democratic Party was smarter in their presentation of who we are. But then, we don’t have a “we” in the same sense the GOP has a “we”—and that’s a good thing. As writers who are outside the inner circle who get interviewed, etc. on MSNBC, we don’t have much direct influence on anything—although we can plant seeds that can have unexpected flowerings here and there. But who actually is motivated by ideas any more, anyhow? Personally, I choose to write about it even if it does no good, and despite the fact that I have no answers—but that’s in my bloodstream; I don’t fool myself about the effect of what I’m doing. My best hope is the abortion issue will carry us through elections and that the example of all the “little people” who stormed the capital and are now in jail will discourage violent protest. But so much of their behavior is based on irrational cult-think rather than enlightened self-interest that I’m not very optimistic about any rationality from them. My husband is more optimistic; he thinks people are already getting bored with Trump (couldn’t tell from the media!!! Which is a big part of the problem) and this fever-dream will break at some point. I’m less hopeful. I do think my daughter’s generation (and those a bit older; she is 24) is ultimately going to take this country in a different direction. Our messed up generation (and a few that followed us that are equally if not more messed up) is going to have to die off, a la Thomas Kuhn on scientific revolutions. But that’s a very long view. In the nearer future, I just wish the mainstream media would stop keeping him the center of attention. But that’s a futile wish, for all kinds of reasons (not just the profit-motive; I also think they don’t know how to do it differently at this point). But don’t get me started on that…..
I will NEVER understand why the Democrats won't go for the gullet. They don't have to hit below the belt, they just have to HIT. Plenty of targets out there. It's not that hard.
And they have to stop concentrating on Trump and go after the rest of the GOP deplorables. That'll keep them busy for a lifetime.
Not just complain about them. We're all doing that! No, use their considerable powers to stop them in their tracks. Don't let them make unlawful laws. Don't let them pretend late-term abortions are rampant in our society, or that all migrants crossing the border have their backpacks filled with Fentanyl, or that all teachers are teaching evil or useless stuff, or that Hunter Biden is the real criminal here, or that, or that, or that...
Jeez, how hard can it be to just go after them? With all that GOP baggage it shouldn't be hard at all.
And yes, the mainstream media sucks at reporting the truth.
Many media outlets see all of this as a chance to repeat or increase the ratings they had for the OJ Simpson trial. I’m not into that circus. There is plenty of responsible reporting here in substack, don’t need to immerse my self in corporate media.
Most of the comments I’ve read about the 6’3”-215 lbs are pointing to the audacity of the lie, trying to get through to the cult. Not about the weight, it’s the obvious lying. I confess that I did laugh at the picture of Muhammad Ali at that height and weight, imagining the poetic creations he might be making now.
Do give yourself permission to leave it all be for as long as you need to keep your sanity. Be strong for when it’s time to work and vote.
I hear you and agree with you about the circus. Re. Myself, however, my personal dilemma is that writing about the circus IS my work—or a big part of it. I do get relief from my posts on movies and television, though. They—and my dogs and daughter (and my husband’s sense of humor)—are pretty good at keeping me (relatively) sane.
I’m not sure the lie about his weight should be considered audacious OR surprising. It’s the least of our worries. And it’s not a tell. We KNOW he’s a liar. We also know he’s vain. I’m not even sure why anyone mentioned it in the first place. Who cares.
There’s so much hurt and fear in trumpism and it has been intensely analyzed, so I can’t add to that. It’s what we can do about it that matters. Support for economic fairness and social parity are essential. On a more personal level maybe we could be more kind and gracious. Terms like trailer trash are clearly punching down, and there’s plenty of proof of trashy millionaire filled mansions. Same with the “witticisms” about bad teeth, health, clothing and education that are directed at people that can’t afford the fixes. Maybe being more forgiving of honest mistakes
Mistakes of the politically incorrect nature. It’s hard for an older person or anyone under the myriad stressors of life nowadays to keep up. We used to be more patient with those that are a bit slower.
Oh dear, yes. My last semester of teaching was ruined because I “misgendered” someone and tried to explain why it was hard for those of us raised with grammar high on the curriculum to use “their” as anything but plural. No tolerance for me whatsoever; the purity police even started a FB campaign against me (this after decades of being the teacher that students struggling with norms could go to.)
These are terrible responses and honestly, the media is letting me day in the years of Trump coverage. His followers, although a 30% Minority, garner 90% of the news today. They normalize the threat to Democracy by stating its typical Trump response, delay, delay and sick of the media normalizing how destructive Trump has been to our Country nationally and to democracy. They play it down. Yet talk about Biden very little and when they do, they say Yes, he did this and that but nobody feels it and BTW he is too old. They cover polls constantly 15 months out of the election. I don't need the news to report the polls, they can do it themselves. They mean nothing to me. Turning off the tv is NOT the point - the point is all the media covers exactly the same story - TRUMP - morning, noon and night. I like Nicole Wallace and Jen Psaki (she called out the right on their abortion lie). I miss professional journalism - I feel like I am watching Jerry Springer every day. Its a joke and they hype the "crazy." Now we have a new Trump - Ramaswamy!! He is getting covered ravenously just like Trump in 2016. We need better in-depth responses. Letting the Country down.
I think that even if they see that film….or read any critiques ….they will still somehow imagine that it’s not about them. Even now they haven’t—and I suspect never will—acknowledge how much they contributed to 2016 (and beyond—as you point out, are doing it to Biden right now.) And those polls!! I looked deep into them when I was writing the Hillary book. People would be amazed to see how poorly the questions are constructed, how “leading” they are, how ambiguous, etc. And how much they create/reinforce what they are supposed to be “finding out.”
Thanks again for your comments (just posted one to you on the adoption piece.)
You’d think they’d have learned from 2016, right? But no. They either haven’t learned or other considerations continue to swamp their sense of what their job is—or maybe I should say, should be.
I have not seen to my surprise any comments similar to what I want to say: The mugshot scenario--that is, the fucking jail-- should NOT be a venue for ANYone and their sick shtick. The person taking the mugshot should not have professionally tolerated Trump's current "mugshot", or should have taken another "neutral" picture, period. "Look straight ahead ["sir"] , lift your chin up, look at that line on the wall, hold that pose [snap]" A jail is not a venue for "self expression" , not a venue for a creative, well-rehearsed photo-op for Trump hats and T-shirts and for catalyzing yet more trumpnik rage. (Thanks Susan!)
Wow, I so agree with you, John. And you’re right! No one (including me) has criticized this aspect of it. I’d really like your comment to get more exposure! Maybe you can put it on notes (or I can re-post it) and can I copy and put on my FB page. Do you have a facebook page? If so, I would put it there and I can share. It’s too good to be buried in comments here.
Susan I have a FB page, what should I do? You can do whatever you want with it, but tell me if I should do anything. (I only have 100 FB friends, and five died. : )
John, If you send me a link to your facebook page, I can post it on my page and your page. I have thousands of friends and followers, most of them still alive (so far, and as far as I know.)
I understand the responses. It is very tiring to listen to these uninformed, selfish babblers. After 80 years of life, one gets bored with the lazy thinkers and wishes they would just be quiet. And yes, shutting the tv stations that carry such nonsense might also help. So, I actually think the responses above make sense.
I do think that those of us who went through the sixties, seventies, eighties, etc. (I’m 76) are experiencing an exhaustion (and for some, despair) that is pretty profound. The babblers on the media are mostly much younger. Sometimes they even seem to get excited about what’s happening—it gives them something to talk about and feed their ratings. But I don’t see that changing, as it’s a feature not just of Fox etc. but MSNBC and other self-identified “liberal” and “left” media.
To all who have commented so far: thank you!!! I hope the conversation continues, but it will be without me for awhile, because I have a Feldenkrais zoom workshop from 12-3. This one will focus on better sitting—for writers, very important. I know a lot of my back problems are from hunching over writing. And in general Feldenkrais is AMAZING for all kinds of issues. Anyway—I’ll be back later! And of course, feel free to tawk among yourselves!
You may find, "What America Needs Psychologically From the trump Trials" useful in answering some of your questions. "What will not help us get there is having so many of our brilliant minds spending days, weeks, months and years analyzing and parsing every single aspect of what should be trump’s open and shut case. Therefore, we at CNI implore all the top political experts who fill out email boxes to put a bunch of their brain power towards being more solutional, since two things America definitely needs to get us out of this mess are fewer solution-less emails and more wise and workable solutions." https://samray.substack.com/p/what-america-needs-psychologically
Thanks, I’ll check that out. I agree that the constant liberal media dissection of the crimes, the indictment, when the trial will be, etc. etc. is repetitive and—to me—irritating. Do we have to hear everything that Ari Melber thinks about the chances of having the trial moved 100 times? But as to solutions, I’m less optimistic than you that we can actually figure that one out in any useful way—but my reasons for believing that are too complex to go into here. What do you mean by “fill out email boxes” and who do you regard as the “top political experts” who fill them out. I was puzzled by that reference.
Most welcome. If you have time, a better place to start would be https://samray.substack.com/p/how-the-news-is-psychologically-broken. I found myself rarely watching any of my favorites anymore due to an endless loop and drone of non-solutional politics. I was however pleasantly shocked to hear Heilemann say "pathological narcissism" re: trump on Deadline a few days ago.
As you know, I view politics through the narcissism spectrum lens. From that perspective, watching more than essential news is not psychologically healthy right now. I’ve been writing a lot about that lately in a quasi-series. I suppose the positive side of a psychological lens is if you look at a problem from that aspect, there are almost always solutional psychological answers where the political lens fails, and many of them just require minimal resources to succeed, “but my reasons for believing that are too complex to go into here” as well.
I thought I fixed “fill out email boxes” to “fill our inboxes. ”Starting with trump’s third indictment, my inbox was filled daily by all my favorite political experts on Substack with endless trump this, trump that, trump this & that, that & this. Sure there was some new info and good insight here and there but frankly it all seemed like meaningless distraction. Robert Reich just posted a headline this AM, trump sucks up all the oxygen. Well, if everyone focuses on the minutia irrelevancy, they are giving him all the oxygen for likes, or clicks or that’s what sells advertising, idk, but to paraphrase Moonves, trump is great for CBS but bad for America.
Thanks for clarifying. I’m also going to pass your substack on to my sister, who is a psychotherapist and believes, as you do, that watching the news is not psychologically healthy. I agree, from the perspective of individual health, but as a writer I regard it as a nasty job that someone has got to do—and write about intelligently. I don’t fool myself about the direct effect of my own critiques, but my experience (from writing about eating disorders, for example) is that ideas can unexpectedly enter the cultural bloodstream and wind their way to people who can actually do something other than write.
I actually land somewhere between you and your sister personally. I have always loved the news and keep up quite well for both personal interest and to be well-informed. I just do not watch much anymore because it became so repetitive. Another aspect I know you know well, is when you have a strong knowledge base, hearing the basics over and over becomes an unnecessary repetition too, so that may also be a contributor to my current boredom with MSM. !00% agree that words spoken into existence have a way of changing the world. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. Cheers and thanks for what you do!
Likewise!!
I've given myself a reprieve/time bonus from following the details of his indictments and arrests.
If Trump or a Trumpy candidate gets the nomination, I will give my resources (letter writing and money) to the Voter Participation Center,(a 501c3). VPC does a great job of targeting the demographics most likely to vote against Trump.:
"The New American Majority—young people, people of color and unmarried women—is 150 million people strong. They represent 64% of the people who can vote in America.*
https://www.voterparticipation.org
Thanks so much for that link. I tried the reprieve myself, but just when I thought I was free, they pulled me back in. (What’s the quote I’m trying to remember here?)
Godfather 3
Right, I thought it was one of the Godfathers. Do you remember the exact quote?
Six second clip (maybe the only memorable six seconds of the movie)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU
Thanks!
Perhaps rethink your use of the word targeting. In this context especially.
One thing I know is I have to stop reading comments (she opines as she posts a comment) becuz I am becoming incrementally more enraged by the mocking. I don’t need to scroll through endless inane barbs re: his weight, for instance. I don’t even want to read about the gaze or the posture. I’m beat. The mere fact that there IS a mugshot is a blot on our country. The resulting fact that it is emboldening people to become even more entrenched in their support is terrifying.
If I can find measured reporting/analysis (I have found some here on Substack), I welcome that. But my fellow readers who post ridiculous childish comments are letting me down.
Wow, I couldn’t agree more. I hate the weight comments, and there’s nothing funny about his pose. It particularly galls me when broadcasters joke about it. And I’m irritated by the response “We gotta laugh, what else is there to do?”
Vote! turn off the doomscreed news. Listen to reports of record of work done by candidates who are seeking election.
You must mean down-ballot candidates?
I mean published records. vote for experience, not promises, or finger pointing.
All candidates.
There’s a new Lauren Hough piece devoted to this very topic.
I don’t know who Lauren Hough is. Can you post a link?
She’s a very good writer, with an excellent book. I’m off to a gig, so I can’t give you my complete blatherfest about how much I like her.
https://open.substack.com/pub/laurenhough/p/everything-bad-is-good-if-i-dont?r=6x9gm&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I'm glad you brought this up, Susan. I'm torn, as always, between adding to the attention to Trump and the need to express how much I detest that vile creature who is still sucking the air out of American life. I've backed away from watching those shows that do nothing more than speculate and agitate. Constant analysis isn't going to solve the problem of Trump. Voting might do it, but even voters can only keep him out of the White House. Nothing I can think of will take him out of the spotlight.
So my conflict stems from the need to expose him vs the need to shun him. If enough people just ignore his antics, will he cease to dominate the mainstream media? Maybe, but he'll still dominate his own Right Wing media. Without the counterpoints will the RW media gain a stronger foothold? Without the analyses and the fact-checking, will more potential voters lean toward Trump?
It's become a delicate balance, one that's just baffling to those of us who haven't been seduced by Trump and his ugly message, and so far nobody knows what to do about it. That's what's frightening to me. All that talk and we're still struggling to understand what happened, and how it happened, and how to keep it from ever happening again.
Yes, this is the dilemma in a nutshell (which you are so good at—should we call it “nutshelling”?) I really don’t think there is much that any one individual can do—beyond the usual: contributions, get out vote effort, etc. This thing is going to play out as it will whether or not any of us (by “us” I mean those of us talking to each other here) shut off our TVs or not. Things could play out differently—but not necessarily better—if the Democratic Party was smarter in their presentation of who we are. But then, we don’t have a “we” in the same sense the GOP has a “we”—and that’s a good thing. As writers who are outside the inner circle who get interviewed, etc. on MSNBC, we don’t have much direct influence on anything—although we can plant seeds that can have unexpected flowerings here and there. But who actually is motivated by ideas any more, anyhow? Personally, I choose to write about it even if it does no good, and despite the fact that I have no answers—but that’s in my bloodstream; I don’t fool myself about the effect of what I’m doing. My best hope is the abortion issue will carry us through elections and that the example of all the “little people” who stormed the capital and are now in jail will discourage violent protest. But so much of their behavior is based on irrational cult-think rather than enlightened self-interest that I’m not very optimistic about any rationality from them. My husband is more optimistic; he thinks people are already getting bored with Trump (couldn’t tell from the media!!! Which is a big part of the problem) and this fever-dream will break at some point. I’m less hopeful. I do think my daughter’s generation (and those a bit older; she is 24) is ultimately going to take this country in a different direction. Our messed up generation (and a few that followed us that are equally if not more messed up) is going to have to die off, a la Thomas Kuhn on scientific revolutions. But that’s a very long view. In the nearer future, I just wish the mainstream media would stop keeping him the center of attention. But that’s a futile wish, for all kinds of reasons (not just the profit-motive; I also think they don’t know how to do it differently at this point). But don’t get me started on that…..
I will NEVER understand why the Democrats won't go for the gullet. They don't have to hit below the belt, they just have to HIT. Plenty of targets out there. It's not that hard.
And they have to stop concentrating on Trump and go after the rest of the GOP deplorables. That'll keep them busy for a lifetime.
Not just complain about them. We're all doing that! No, use their considerable powers to stop them in their tracks. Don't let them make unlawful laws. Don't let them pretend late-term abortions are rampant in our society, or that all migrants crossing the border have their backpacks filled with Fentanyl, or that all teachers are teaching evil or useless stuff, or that Hunter Biden is the real criminal here, or that, or that, or that...
Jeez, how hard can it be to just go after them? With all that GOP baggage it shouldn't be hard at all.
And yes, the mainstream media sucks at reporting the truth.
Yes, yes, and yes. To all of this. A thousand times yes!
Back to you later. Feldenkrais now for me!
Many media outlets see all of this as a chance to repeat or increase the ratings they had for the OJ Simpson trial. I’m not into that circus. There is plenty of responsible reporting here in substack, don’t need to immerse my self in corporate media.
Most of the comments I’ve read about the 6’3”-215 lbs are pointing to the audacity of the lie, trying to get through to the cult. Not about the weight, it’s the obvious lying. I confess that I did laugh at the picture of Muhammad Ali at that height and weight, imagining the poetic creations he might be making now.
Do give yourself permission to leave it all be for as long as you need to keep your sanity. Be strong for when it’s time to work and vote.
I hear you and agree with you about the circus. Re. Myself, however, my personal dilemma is that writing about the circus IS my work—or a big part of it. I do get relief from my posts on movies and television, though. They—and my dogs and daughter (and my husband’s sense of humor)—are pretty good at keeping me (relatively) sane.
I’m not sure the lie about his weight should be considered audacious OR surprising. It’s the least of our worries. And it’s not a tell. We KNOW he’s a liar. We also know he’s vain. I’m not even sure why anyone mentioned it in the first place. Who cares.
I agree. It’s such a minor thing. And actually, it’s something that one might feel sympathy for him for!
There’s so much hurt and fear in trumpism and it has been intensely analyzed, so I can’t add to that. It’s what we can do about it that matters. Support for economic fairness and social parity are essential. On a more personal level maybe we could be more kind and gracious. Terms like trailer trash are clearly punching down, and there’s plenty of proof of trashy millionaire filled mansions. Same with the “witticisms” about bad teeth, health, clothing and education that are directed at people that can’t afford the fixes. Maybe being more forgiving of honest mistakes
Back to you later. Feldenkrais now for me!
Mistakes of the politically incorrect nature. It’s hard for an older person or anyone under the myriad stressors of life nowadays to keep up. We used to be more patient with those that are a bit slower.
Oh dear, yes. My last semester of teaching was ruined because I “misgendered” someone and tried to explain why it was hard for those of us raised with grammar high on the curriculum to use “their” as anything but plural. No tolerance for me whatsoever; the purity police even started a FB campaign against me (this after decades of being the teacher that students struggling with norms could go to.)
These are terrible responses and honestly, the media is letting me day in the years of Trump coverage. His followers, although a 30% Minority, garner 90% of the news today. They normalize the threat to Democracy by stating its typical Trump response, delay, delay and sick of the media normalizing how destructive Trump has been to our Country nationally and to democracy. They play it down. Yet talk about Biden very little and when they do, they say Yes, he did this and that but nobody feels it and BTW he is too old. They cover polls constantly 15 months out of the election. I don't need the news to report the polls, they can do it themselves. They mean nothing to me. Turning off the tv is NOT the point - the point is all the media covers exactly the same story - TRUMP - morning, noon and night. I like Nicole Wallace and Jen Psaki (she called out the right on their abortion lie). I miss professional journalism - I feel like I am watching Jerry Springer every day. Its a joke and they hype the "crazy." Now we have a new Trump - Ramaswamy!! He is getting covered ravenously just like Trump in 2016. We need better in-depth responses. Letting the Country down.
Media today needs to watch "Don't Look Up"
I think that even if they see that film….or read any critiques ….they will still somehow imagine that it’s not about them. Even now they haven’t—and I suspect never will—acknowledge how much they contributed to 2016 (and beyond—as you point out, are doing it to Biden right now.) And those polls!! I looked deep into them when I was writing the Hillary book. People would be amazed to see how poorly the questions are constructed, how “leading” they are, how ambiguous, etc. And how much they create/reinforce what they are supposed to be “finding out.”
Thanks again for your comments (just posted one to you on the adoption piece.)
I too wonder why we are giving hm so much attention - which is exactly what he wants.
You’d think they’d have learned from 2016, right? But no. They either haven’t learned or other considerations continue to swamp their sense of what their job is—or maybe I should say, should be.
I have not seen to my surprise any comments similar to what I want to say: The mugshot scenario--that is, the fucking jail-- should NOT be a venue for ANYone and their sick shtick. The person taking the mugshot should not have professionally tolerated Trump's current "mugshot", or should have taken another "neutral" picture, period. "Look straight ahead ["sir"] , lift your chin up, look at that line on the wall, hold that pose [snap]" A jail is not a venue for "self expression" , not a venue for a creative, well-rehearsed photo-op for Trump hats and T-shirts and for catalyzing yet more trumpnik rage. (Thanks Susan!)
Wow, I so agree with you, John. And you’re right! No one (including me) has criticized this aspect of it. I’d really like your comment to get more exposure! Maybe you can put it on notes (or I can re-post it) and can I copy and put on my FB page. Do you have a facebook page? If so, I would put it there and I can share. It’s too good to be buried in comments here.
Susan I have a FB page, what should I do? You can do whatever you want with it, but tell me if I should do anything. (I only have 100 FB friends, and five died. : )
Oh, and we need to become friends on facebook. Send me a request on facebook and I’ll confirm.
John, If you send me a link to your facebook page, I can post it on my page and your page. I have thousands of friends and followers, most of them still alive (so far, and as far as I know.)
Hi,
https://www.facebook.com/john.weissman.94
I sent you a friend request. Confirm it please, and then I can post on my page with attribution to you.
I understand the responses. It is very tiring to listen to these uninformed, selfish babblers. After 80 years of life, one gets bored with the lazy thinkers and wishes they would just be quiet. And yes, shutting the tv stations that carry such nonsense might also help. So, I actually think the responses above make sense.
I do think that those of us who went through the sixties, seventies, eighties, etc. (I’m 76) are experiencing an exhaustion (and for some, despair) that is pretty profound. The babblers on the media are mostly much younger. Sometimes they even seem to get excited about what’s happening—it gives them something to talk about and feed their ratings. But I don’t see that changing, as it’s a feature not just of Fox etc. but MSNBC and other self-identified “liberal” and “left” media.