This is still relevant most of a month later, not the least because my county went for Trump by the same percentage this election too - ThreadSky

scalzi.com • 98 days ago

This is still relevant most of a month later, not the least because my county went for Trump by the same percentage this election too

Reposted from John Scalzi

Ah, I see someone trying to slip the "echo chamber" argument through the back door here, so let me just say: Motherfucker, I live in a county that went 81% for Trump in the last election. If you think I live in an echo chamber because I curate my Bluesky feed, you can fuck yourself sideways, thanks

Comments

malakim2099.bsky.social•98 days ago

As someone living in South Dakota, I feel this way too much.

lizcroweauthor.bsky.social•98 days ago

What Scalzi said.

orivandewalle.bsky.social•98 days ago

tbf, my county went 86% for Harris but I wouldn't say that's proof I *am* in an echo chamber because I don't engage with my community or talk to my neighbors or leave my apartment.

bafairbend.bsky.social•98 days ago

Amen

cerises-acides.bsky.social•98 days ago

It’s not an echo chamber, it’s a staff room in a school of chaos and hatred.

Sometimes you have to have a place where you can meet and discuss things without having chaos and hatred shouting over everyone.

steampowerednet.bsky.social•98 days ago

Must be an odd experience knowing all your neighbours presumably think Trump is is a good thing.

a-r-morgera.bsky.social•98 days ago

It's a terrifying thing for me, a victim/survivor of abuse, and incredibly heartbreaking knowing family and friends didn't consider this when they voted for a man who resembles my abuser.

ladypuffsalot420.bsky.social•98 days ago

I feel the same way for the same reason. I’m sorry that you suffered but happy you’re a survivor as well. I have a feeling there are many of us out there. I’ve decided to start offering words of support & encouragement to others that are potentially struggling with the results of this election. 💙💪🏻

drvenkman.bsky.social•98 days ago

Yeah, I just checked my county: 60% Orange Menace here. Echo chamber my ass.

bluedevilduke.bsky.social•98 days ago

Also, this is *social media*. We're choosing who to socialize with. So yes, I'd like to engage with like-minded people in my leisure time.

I'll use other media to engage with different viewpoints when I have the time and energy to do so.

kansasmod.bsky.social•98 days ago

There’s a reason educated people are less susceptible to misinformation campaigns, and less likely to vote for Trump. It’s literally too much for us to listen to what we know for a fact are lies. Echo Chamber? Nah! Less liars, more reality.

ishouldverun.bsky.social•98 days ago

Because fox and all of AM radio aren't just pandering or directly campaigning.

mdamonbrooks.bsky.social•98 days ago

Man, I live in Oklahoma. Every single county in the state went red. Everytime I go out in public I see Trump flags on cars and people wearing Trump t-shirts & hats. So yea, I'll curate my feeds and block whoever I want to avoid that shit on social media too.

djcochrane.bsky.social•98 days ago

Yup! If anything, I feel like I’m in an IRL Get Smart “Cone of Silence” at times.

insaanity.bsky.social•98 days ago

I need to re-watch Get Smart one of these days. It was my absolute favorite show as a kid growing up in the 70s, so it would be interesting to see it again as an adult so many years later.

angsto2.bsky.social•98 days ago

I feel like it holds up pretty good

insaanity.bsky.social•98 days ago

One thing I imagine holds up well is the social commentary of the woman (Agent 99) being the smart and competent one while the man gets to take all the credit. The "woke mind virus" is so powerful it traveled back in time 60 years!

insaanity.bsky.social•98 days ago

(sarcasm, in case that wasn't obvious)

brentsmith.bsky.social•98 days ago

There’s a big difference between an echo chamber and a place where the worst of online humanity gets to scream obscenities in everyone’s ears.

insaanity.bsky.social•98 days ago

Exactly. And they scream disingenuous bullshit like "so much for the tolerant left!" to intentionally abuse the language of tolerance/openness in order to destroy it. It's not an echo chamber when you don't want your consciousness flooded by the most vile racists and bigots every day.

deathnoteslayer1.bsky.social•98 days ago

seems like your county has a bit of consistency!

barrenlens.bsky.social•98 days ago

Same response when someone from The Atlantic tells me I should follow National Review for the discourse. Fuck off. I can grok why people vote for the GOP by talking to relatives without giving assholes like NE engagement

democrafthtx.bsky.social•98 days ago

Most of my family are MAGA & I live in Texas

drdavidkeegan.bsky.social•98 days ago

Nice channeling of Kiva Lagos in your original post.

annaconda1.bsky.social•98 days ago

Fuck yourself sideways = birth year 1973-1983

annaconda1.bsky.social•98 days ago

Prove me wrong

bagatsen.bsky.social•97 days ago

"John Michael Scalzi II (born May 10, 1969) is an American science fiction author and former president of ..."

crittertech.bsky.social•98 days ago

"...well fuck me running...."

coprolithic.bsky.social•98 days ago

Yeah. I grew up with all sorts of numpties, dinguses and chucklefucks and even now they’re not exactly rare.

manuelfherrador.bsky.social•98 days ago

I agree, and I humbly recommed this thread. I think you will like it.
https://bsky.app/profile/mikecaulfield.bsky.social/post/3lb3kfwn7ok2s

madmimi2.bsky.social•98 days ago

Currently, he's less than 49% of the total vote. That figure is going down, too, as votes are counted.

mudbone2000.bsky.social•98 days ago

These people dismiss any information from higher education, scientific institutions, government agencies, intelligence agencies, professional journalistic institutions... everything that western civilization has evolved into, in deference to Joe Rogan and Greg Gutfeld. They're a cult of plague rats.

jlojso915.bsky.social•98 days ago

I live in a red area, and work in the defense industry. I hear right wing shit nonstop. So this is my little pocket of blue sanity. If that makes it an echo chamber, then so be it.

mmmadcccow.bsky.social•98 days ago

Oh John thanks for reskeeting this!!! I remembered that you wrote and tried to search for it but couldn't find it. I'm pinning it now!

churlishbvillain.bsky.social•98 days ago

I misread county as country and was all kinds of confused. I do read, though.

sophisticateddog.bsky.social•98 days ago

Yeah, same. I live in a very red county in a very red state. Almost everyone in my family votes GOP. Excuse me for wanting to have at least one place where I can interact with people who have views similar to mine!

chaoswatcher.bsky.social•98 days ago

I am in North Carolina, and my county went for Robinson as governor. I cannot begin to tell you how bad he was.
https://youtu.be/t3-FGMKDESY?si=SWhqMF6yjtVNtadH

satyrane86.bsky.social•98 days ago

I actually live relatively nearby, different county, but this exactly. We're actually leaving the echo chamber we live in.

dorkland.itch.io•98 days ago

I live in Florida. I am well aware of "other opinions."

scorpioscorpion.bsky.social•98 days ago

As soon as I read this I thought “He must live in Ohio.” Yep, you do. I live in Lakewood.

byorski.bsky.social•98 days ago

Call it an echo chamber if you want.

I hate country music. Therefore, I'm not adding it to my playlist.

I hate nazis and fascists. Therefore, I'm not adding them to my playlist.

If you don't like it, too bad, I can't and won't hear you anyway.

Finally, it's nice to see you again, John.

colleensocialwork.bsky.social•98 days ago

Same for us. We live in an area where too many would be mad that you have called them conservative bc they're libertarian and you've basically accused them off being "lefties".

mr-pig.bsky.social•98 days ago

The "Echo chamber" narrative is the "liberal media conspiracy" story, repackaged for people who aren't conservatives. Don't bother with it, and don't fall for it. Curate your space, but keep it wide, and you're fine. Don't self flagellate for not including evil people in your feed.

itriedtotellyall.bsky.social•98 days ago

I live in the most conservative district of SC. I feel your struggle.

theonegary.bsky.social•98 days ago

Sideways and in the neck, as Penn Gillette would say.

annaezekiel.bsky.social•98 days ago

Yeah I have to deal with enough stuff I don’t like in the physical realm, social media is the only place I can (partly) control that.

afarmerinohio.bsky.social•98 days ago

Same, but on my side of the line we were barely under 72%

olliewogspeepaw.bsky.social•98 days ago

I don’t allow Nazis in my house and I punch them in public. Being blocked is the online equivalent.

prestonsdad.bsky.social•98 days ago

Fucking Christ thank you for this. Similar story here. Two neighbors in the subdivision behind me shoot bump stocked assault rifles in their backyard.... because you know "it's the county" in God's great state of Oklahoma. It's terrifying and my dog's fucking hate it.

prestonsdad.bsky.social•98 days ago

Only solice is knowing their MAGA neighbor friends have toddlers and infants....who I can hear scream and cry once the terror stops.

scottedelman.bsky.social•98 days ago

My state went 70% for Trump, and my county 67%. Which is why the last couple of times I visited my local supermarket, mine was the only mask in evidence.

ghunkinking.bsky.social•98 days ago

My family just vacationed in an 70%+ democrat county, and it's not like we saw any mask in evidence while out and about shopping, dinning, sightseeing etc, so I guess that's not the only reason.

scottedelman.bsky.social•98 days ago

I guess the reason I feel that way is because my son lives in a county which went 75% Democratic, and as we drive there stopping along the way, the level of masking increases, until in his county, the masking we see, though not what it what during the height of the pandemic, is far more prevalent.

eriszan.bsky.social•98 days ago

I feel this. I live in Indiana and feel the winds pushing me far away.

sporadicallyevil.bsky.social•98 days ago

I am not exaggerating in the least when I say my state is so ruby red that I hear people openly saying the most horrible things. If I have to openly speak out against these things in real life on a daily basis, I need serenity somewhere. I completely agree.

crepuscule54.bsky.social•98 days ago

I'm in one of the more educated and liberal areas in my state and it's still more than 80% Republican. The state went to Trump by 60%+. I am most assuredly NOT existing in an echo chamber.

dannyhucks.bsky.social•98 days ago

Old Man's War got me into reading. I am forever thankful for you.

arbiteroftruth.bsky.social•98 days ago

The only way I've kept sane 'lo these many years is RSS. People here who are just waking to the joys of an algorithm-free feed really need to dl Inoreader or Feedly. Yes, sometimes the old ways are the best ways.

luminescentphoto.com•98 days ago

This is the type of writing style that keeps me coming back

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply