It is hard for me to chill straight after training sessions, as there is a lot of energy coursing through my body after delivery - even online. I finished an even at midnight with a group on the other side of the world and an hour later, I still haven't found my balance to the point I am able to go to sleep. Last week, it took me about 3 hours to get into bed and then, my daughter woke up an hour and a half later. It looks like it might be the same this week, but I will attempt my go to, which is writing, as a clear head helps the body relax. If I was abroad, it would be accompanied by a glass of wine, which also helps.
I had a squizz at the early feedback from the event and it is very good, which helps my case in general, but - the mail-ins aren't counted yet, so I won't celebrate too early. Those that might read me often probably know that I don't consume the news much, but today I have kept the US election content in my periphery, as it is important to a couple of people who are important to me and while I am not overly interested in the drama, it is useful to have a general sense of what is going on - but I do not feel this need most of the time so can completely tune out from the news most of the time.
From what I have seen so far, it is pretty much as expected with all interested parties behaving as expected. It is interesting when a person does exactly what everyone knows they will do, yet it is still considered surprising and shocking. But this is the expected reaction from some groups too, even though they have been speculating on it for months. If a person is speculating and running scenarios and considers possibilities - how can they then be surprised that it happens? It is kind of like obvious finish the sentence games.
Man puts head in lion's mouth and - finds Spanish gold.
Drunk driver, four times over the legal limit - wins Le Mans.
But, the internet world loves the drama, because humans love drama. Small towns are full of neighborly gossip, the internet just extrapolates that out to billions of people and incentivizes it with an ROI. While the economic return goes to the owners of the platforms, news services and advertisers, the return for consumers is the feeling of social inclusion - which is in short supply for many in the real world as they feel increasingly disconnected from their actual neighbors.
as said, while not interested in the elections themselves, I am interested in the interaction with my friends and colleagues, as well as the potential "processing" of events and forming of theories on how and why things happen they way they do. I have been part of many discussions about this over the last few months through my closer circle of colleagues, but I haven't actually read an article on any of it - instead, I get them to explain what is going on to me.
What is interesting, is that once they start explaining it all to a idiot like myself, a lot of their emotional energy comes out of it and, they start to think a little more about what is going on - they seem to "step away" a little, like an artist does from their work to get a broader perspective. Since these people also put some value in my perspective as they know I am ignorant to most of the emotional charge around it as I don't get invested in the details and the drama, they are also less emotional when I offer alternative scenarios and raise questions that challenge their views. It is not that they like it, but they listen as they know that I am coming from a place of curiosity, not one looking to inflict pain.
There is something to be said about approaching something with some level of curiosity and honesty, as it can be trusted that there is no malice. It is kind of like how children speak their mind and even though what they say could cut someone to the bone if it was said be someone else, there is no malice in the words, just innocence and openness.
I think this is part of the reason there is so much drama on the internet, as there is very little nuance considered and most people are looking to "score points" against an enemy of some kind - which is why trolling behavior is so supported online. While people try to remove bullies from schools to protect kids, the same people love bullies online, as long as they are bullying for the right side - my side. We want our team to score, we want the referee to miss infractions that punish our team, we want the other team to be punished for theirs. We live a life of double standards, supportive of punishment of our enemies, outraged when our enemies try to punish us.
We want to punish with impunity, while our enemies are restricted.
No one actually wants a fair fight - they want their team to win. Does a world champion team give the trophy back because the referee made a bad call in their favor? We love a dirty fight - as long as we don't have to be the ones fighting dirty and our team wins.
And I think that this is part of the problem with the social internet in its current form, we have access to all kinds of information and possibilities that can strengthen us, but we are more worried about scoring points against the other team, in games that hinder our experience, not enrich our lives. I don't think politics should be exciting, I think it should be mundane due to its functionality, a mechanism for management, not control. Of course, that kind of politics is impossible in a world impassioned by the drama of the absurd.
What is the highest cost we are willing to pay in order to provide a win for our team? Whatever it is, once paid, the other side will have to up their next bid to an all time high - Even if we all end up losers.
Pretty shocking. No - As expected.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]