If you're unhappy and unsettled by Trump's election, don't quit. That's just what they want you to do.
But that doesn't mean you have to do everything the same. Your media and social media habits, for example.
Here's what I'm doing to stay sane, and set myself up to handle what's to come.
But that doesn't mean you have to do everything the same. Your media and social media habits, for example.
Here's what I'm doing to stay sane, and set myself up to handle what's to come.
Comments
Sometimes the best option is the nuclear one.
Twitter has become the church of the poisoned minds over run by incels and satanists. Leave them argue to themselves.
You can continue your social media on a site designed for that purpose.
Mother fucking Americans voted for a guy whom they will liken to Hitler. I don't care how bad her campaign was run or how bad she was at messaging.
They voted for someone that THEY believe is similar to Hitler.
I have no more faith in this country or it's people.
I'm leaving this shit.
I’m moving up my timeline for some purchases I’d planned so they’re on Biden’s clock. Come January, no more spending. I am very petty.
This particularly struck me: "I’m not paying much attention to the “who will the president-elect appoint” parlor game either." We already know that he'll appoint cranks, grifters, and loonies to implement his horrific policies.
I don't think we were wrong to try, but do think we should accept that it didn't work. We were beaten by gigantic piles of money. Time to shift, regroup, and try in a different way.
- Having to redo 8 yrs of work hits different at age 61.
- The thought that D leaders might screw it up again in '26 and '28.
"Hiding" my apps by forcing myself to go through extra steps to get to them and setting timers on them really helped last go around.
My digital wellbeing app also tells me how much time I spend on my top used apps per day and it was *embarrassing.*
It's just too easy to manipulate, and to manipulate people.
The companies won't stop being profit-seeking, the government won't do anything to make it better (especially not now), but any one of us can change how we interact with it.
One thing I'm not sure how I'll handle: some podcasts and late night comedy shows I like play audio of Trump, usually to criticize, make fun of, or be offended by things he said. But I don't want to listen to his, as you put it, vapid voice. Maybe I'll change my mind at some point.
It's not his fault, of course. I just don't want to hear Trump speak right now.
This meme from Vanessa Wyeth @vwyeth.bsky.social captures part of what your essay explores:
The enormity of structural problems, and the different personal choices one may make in the face of them.
https://bsky.app/profile/vwyeth.bsky.social/post/3larsjjlmqs2n
And welcome.
This place has been cooking lately.
that's what I'm hoping for
X.
And joined Bluesky.
As you probably noticed already, it smells better here.
2. Like the fox and the hare, we have the advantage since they are only running for the thrill of inflicting pain, whereas we are running for our lives.
We can and will triumph.
I fought this on social media every day in 2024.
I think I'm running out of gas
Not close to fixing everything, of course, but feeling a little better? There's a lot of value in that.