Are we just tired of talking about it all?

[CeeCee72]

School shootings, political assassinations, social media influences inciting "civil war," and yet not a lot of discussion.

It's exhausting being an American these days . Maybe we are all just bone tired to discussing where we are because we know nothing is going to change.

 

[Frank Underwood]

I think you hit the nail on the head. I was a freshman in high school when the Columbine massacre happened, and things have gotten even worse in the last 26 years.

I still believed that a better future was possible until about five years ago, but it's become increasingly clear just how divided and broken we are as a nation.

These issues will always be topical, sadly, but I think it becomes sensory overload for a lot of people. And thanks to smartphones, the carnage is turned into modern day snuff films on social media. Some people cry, some people cheer, feuding parties point fingers and cast blame, and the hate and division continue. There's certainly a depressing futility knowing that nothing is going to change. On top of that, these discussions can turn hostile quick. Having been part of such discussions, that's something I don't miss.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

I still have hope for this country, but it's daunting to hold onto it at times. The people at the top who benefit from the division that leads to this violence have the money and the resource to be safe when things hit rock bottom. The middle class, working class and the poor do not. Something has to turn this tide, but I don't know how that can happen.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Yeah, I think it's having a deleterious effect on my mental health -- such as it was -- but Grandpa doesn't have to be exposed to it for that much longer.

I'm not sure how much pharmaceuticals have to do with it, but there does seem to be a move on to encourage -- or, at the very least, not discourage -- chaos.

We've had zillions of guns in the States for too long, but we rarely had these kinds of shootings. And now they're daily -- even the media can't keep up with them.

I remember watching the kids from the Parkland shooting a few years ago being interviewed, and was startled by how world-weary and articulate they were at 15 or 16. They'd grown up in an era when they knew their entire lives that this could happen --- and then it did. And they weren't one bit surprised. And theyalso knew very well that the adults, or the adults in power, didn't care and would never do anything to protect them. (A short time later, I saw Sean Penn -- Oscar-less, because he'd soon give his award to Zelenskyy -- make the same observation).

Later, Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, would compare the kids' desire to not be massacred to "wanting extra recess time." Proving the kids right.

Orwell. It's what's for dinner.

 

[Laurie!]

Guns and violence in general needs to stop being glorified. Bottom line is, guns are for wimps and cowards.

A toddler can kill with a gun. So why is it supposedly a right to passage for American males (mostly) to consider themselves tough, dominant members of society because they own them?

I grew up with probably a dozen or more guns in the home (older brothers who loved hunting) but I was always taught to be cautious around them, not to play with them, never to point one at anyone...and I certainly never understood the macho photos of a poor, lifeless animal propped up in front of the successful hunter as though it made them tough to kill a lesser foe. So I most definitely don't understand those Conservative family Christmas cards with the whole family showing off their guns.

Guns are just supposed to be for practical use (easy meat source when needed, scaring away predators, thieves, etc), not killing other human beings.

This extends beyond just guns. The world is in a state where it's celebrated to drop the biggest bombs and to hell with whether innocent people die as a result. It's cowardice on every level.

 

[Rove]

It's exhausting being an American these days

The same can be said for us Aussies. We were once a care free culture. In the past our only concern was looking forward to the weekend and beating the POMS (English) at cricket. Today the youth are buried in their smartphones, perving on others and their miserable lives. Influencers who cry crocodile tears because poor me is struggling with mental health due to the public and their unrelenting horrible opinions when all I wanted was a new high profile boyfriend weeks after splitting with the husband.

Once upon a time we'd sit and watch the nightly news and get on with life. That smartphone now means we are constantly connected to a depressing world. I'm so thankful I grew up in the 80's surrounded by great friends, good music (vinyl) and awesome television (Dallas).

At some point we need to address our own behaviour. Stop the madness from creeping into our lives. I'm finished watching the nightly news. I'll check the news headlines in the morning but quickly get on with my day. No social media platforms for this clear thinker apart from TellyTalk.

This is my long weekend off work and I instructed my family, friends and workmates I'm switching off my smartphone for the 3 days. They ask, "How do you do it?"

Easy. Switch the bloody thing off.

 

[Frank Underwood]

In regard to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, someone said “One of the architects of this climate was consumed by it.” I think that's an accurate observation. In a sense, Kirk viewed his demise as the price of freedom. In defense of the second amendment, Kirk said "You will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry, and you won't have a single gun death. That is nonsense, it is drivel. But I think it's worth it. I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. Nobody talks like this. They live in a complete alternate universe."

Of course, guns are only part of the problem. I know several responsible gun owners, but there's a mental health crisis. It's far too easy for the deranged to access firearms.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Guns and violence in general needs to stop being glorified. Bottom line is, guns are for wimps and cowards.

A toddler can kill with a gun. So why is it supposedly a right to passage for American males (mostly) to consider themselves tough, dominant members of society because they own them?

I grew up with probably a dozen or more guns in the home (older brothers who loved hunting) but I was always taught to be cautious around them, not to play with them, never to point one at anyone...and I certainly never understood the macho photos of a poor, lifeless animal propped up in front of the successful hunter as though it made them tough to kill a lesser foe. So I most definitely don't understand those Conservative family Christmas cards with the whole family showing off their guns.

Guns are just supposed to be for practical use (easy meat source when needed, scaring away predators, thieves, etc), not killing other human beings.

This extends beyond just guns. The world is in a state where it's celebrated to drop the biggest bombs and to hell with whether innocent people die as a result. It's cowardice on every level.

I'm not a gun guy.

But we've had zillions of guns in the States for too long, and we rarely had these kinds of shootings. Now they're daily.

What's changed?? Have American males' "macho" aspirations just increased that much more since the 21st century dawned?

And all the bombs America drops on innocent people are (mostly) for the benefit of corporate profits. And the American citizenry has no control over it.

 

[CeeCee72]

The same can be said for us Aussies. We were once a care free culture. In the past our only concern was looking forward to the weekend and beating the POMS (English) at cricket. Today the youth are buried in their smartphones, perving on others and their miserable lives. Influencers who cry crocodile tears because poor me is struggling with mental health due to the public and their unrelenting horrible opinions when all I wanted was a new high profile boyfriend weeks after splitting with the husband.

Once upon a time we'd sit and watch the nightly news and get on with life. That smartphone now means we are constantly connected to a depressing world. I'm so thankful I grew up in the 80's surrounded by great friends, good music (vinyl) and awesome television (Dallas).

At some point we need to address our own behaviour. Stop the madness from creeping into our lives. I'm finished watching the nightly news. I'll check the news headlines in the morning but quickly get on with my day. No social media platforms for this clear thinker apart from TellyTalk.

This is my long weekend off work and I instructed my family, friends and workmates I'm switching off my smartphone for the 3 days. They ask, "How do you do it?"

Easy. Switch the bloody thing off.

Yes. Social media and biased cable news is a huge part of the problem.

Last night several friends came over for a cookout and to watch Thursday Night Football. I am very liberal, friends are very conservative. Eventually, the Kirk killing came up. We all just kinda shrugged and shook our heads. Someone said that all of that is just background noise. Those of us in the working class all have the same problems - regardless of our political leanings. We're worried about paying our mortgages and feeding our families and paying for healthcare.

The powers that be have no interest in stopping the division and the violence. They THRIVE on it. Maybe it's pollyanna of me, but perhaps WE can stop it one little cookout at a time by talking to each other and realizing we're really not all that different.

 

[CeeCee72]

What's changed?? Have American males' "macho" aspirations just increased that much more since the 21st century dawned?

Back in the 80s, the Reagan administration declared a de-funding war on public services for mental health treatment. Facilities closed all over the country. By the 90s, insurance companies started decreasing coverage for mental healthcare. I think that's a BIG part of what's changed.

Few people can get mental healthcare, but EVERYONE can get a gun.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Back in the 80s, the Reagan administration declared a de-funding war on public services for mental health treatment. Facilities closed all over the country. By the 90s, insurance companies started decreasing coverage for mental healthcare. I think that's a BIG part of what's changed.

Few people can get mental healthcare, but EVERYONE can get a gun.

All of that is undoubtedly true. But does that really explain all of it?

 

[CeeCee72]

All of that is undoubtedly true. But does that really explain all of it?

No. There are lots of other factors.

The necessity to have at least two incomes per household has left three generations with very little in-home parental supervision.

The glorification of the gun culture and violence in movies, TV, video games, and now on social media

The demonization and dehumanization of groups people in the mass media that has painted us all as "enemies of the other."

Lots and lots of reasons.

None easily solvable.

 

[Laurie!]

I'm not a gun guy.

But we've had zillions of guns in the States for too long, and we rarely had these kinds of shootings. Now they're daily.

What's changed?? Have American males' "macho" aspirations just increased that much more since the 21st century dawned?

And all the bombs America drops on innocent people are (mostly) for the benefit of corporate profits. And the American citizenry has no control over it.

Violence has been around since the dawn of time and not just the U.S. It's not an American or white problem. It's everywhere. Though I can't explain why gun violence is so much more prominent in the U.S. than Canada.

We play the same video games, watch the same violent content, etc. The U.S. always had a more violent start than Canada did and maybe that lingers over somewhat but otherwise, I think gun laws are the only difference.

I don't believe there's a limit to how many guns a Canadian can possess. However, to purchase guns, you need to take a multiple day safety course, pass a written and practical test and have no criminal record (or violent mental health history). It's a privilege, not a guaranteed right that's enshrined in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms (similar to driving a car or flying a plane needs a license, written and practical exam prior).

I certainly don't feel less free as a Canadian because I can't own an AR-15 or other gun of war. If anything, I feel more free in Canada than I do in the U.S.

Even with gun laws, violence happens but we need to stop being so divisive with the "us vs them" mentality that Trump especially is perpetuating and that got him into power. Stop devaluing innocent lives (like blowing up 11 people in a boat, suspected of drug muling) without even considering they may not all have been guilty....or even whether that crime is worthy of death. It's disgusting and anything but strong.

No matter how dire, there are still vastly more good, non violent people than bad.

 

[Barbara Fan]

I'm not an American and the Constitution was written in ?1780s
The right to bear arms may have been relevant then but its well over 200 years ago and times have definitely changed and we have moved on since then.
Ive done a lot of traveling in USA and ticked off seeing a lot of states - 32/50 but decided a while ago I will stick there as its not a country i would feel safe in anymore and that's sad. When I hear there has been a shooting in the world (singular or multiple fatalities) I think USA

I dont like where the world is heading.

 

[Emelee]

The world is a complete sh**show. It's all too much for me to invest in. I wouldn't even know where to begin. So I have zoomed out. Let it all go downhill, I no longer have energy to care. I have enough crap to deal with in my private life. And I don't even have enough energy for that.

I just feel lucky to live in a somewhat normal country with somewhat normal people. I have never appreciated the Nordic countries more than I do now -- and I have always appreciated them.

 

[Rove]

The world is a complete sh**show.

An elderly gentleman said something similar to me a few months ago at work. The assumption was he had lost his wife and despite enjoying good health and sound mind for a man in his 80's he was done with life. After blurting it out to a complete stranger he was a little surprised by himself because he admitted he would never say that to his family.

I asked him what his morning routine was. He responded with turning the television on first thing and listening to those talking heads. So I offered him some advice. Shake things up for the remainder of your time. Leave the talking heads to themselves. Request your doctor to issue a medical certificate to be struck off the Electoral Roll. This way he no longer has to deal with those two faced politicians.

If it's a stunning day go for a walk along the beach, especially sunrise. Read a book in the sunshine. I hope he listened. I haven't seen him since but its sad when an elderly person reaches a point when they admit I've had enough of life.

 

[Gabriel Maxwell]

Those who screech the loudest about the supposed demise of democracy are often the ones most eager to projectile-defecate all over its essential pillars.

A political opponent is no longer simply wrong — they must be evil.

Hence the social media and all cable news induced inability to stomach a genuine debate based on argument. Instead, they walk away — because the other is supposedly evil, or stupid at best.

In the most extreme cases, as earlier this week, some even resort to violence, convinced in their perverted minds that they’re saving the world with their vile act.

They see themselves as morally superior — an übermensch of sorts. The irony? The anti-fascist fascist (as Snarky put it, which I’m stealing).

Democracy does not mean our choice — and ours alone — must prevail at every turn. It means accepting, however begrudgingly, the temporary victory of those we disagree with.

So we’re tired of it all? Sure we are. But not of the noise — we’re tired of not getting our own immaculate way.

 

[Rove]

Those who screech the loudest about the supposed demise of democracy are often the ones most eager to projectile-defecate all over its essential pillars.

Does TellyTalk have a sentence of the week award? That wins.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Does TellyTalk have a sentence of the week award? That wins.

"Camus" was my first guess.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

So we’re tired of it all? Sure we are. But not of the noise — we’re tired of not getting our own immaculate way.

Point well-taken. But some of us are, in fact, tired of the noise.

But Grandpa's old. And I just can't keep up my exercise routine, or my carbohydrates down, with any consistency.

I'd like a nice, long nap -- and yet I just got up from one.

My psychic once told me that I was going live longer than I probably wanted to. But I wonder if I've reached that point already -- not that I'm in any way depressed; I'm just sleepy. And if I reduce my caffeine, I'll just get sleepier.

Not to make this all about me or anything.