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I'm kind of burned out on the internet at the moment, and that makes me sad

posted by jobes on Whatever

2016 was a volatile and riveting time for internet users, no matter what side you were on in regards to the US election or happenings across the globe. In all honesty, it was the best internet time of my life since Everquest came out. I've come to a point where it's actually difficult to talk to some immediate family members even about basic topics, and I've been going around 3 weeks between talking to my parents vs the former couple times per week, mostly due to how polarized our political differences are and "news" sources we both read. Both sides are kind of fucked.

This last election has caused hostile elements in our family and it's caused one of my brothers to literally stop talking to me and my other brother for several months. That was "resolved", but an accidental text to the wrong group from my other brother re-ignited it several months ago. It's so fucked up because we used to be so close, but over the course of about one year, we just are no longer talking, our family is no longer close as a group.. Everything is dramatized for views/clicks/impressions, and it's literally ripping my family apart, no matter who is actually right or wrong.

I've been fairly inactive on Phuks and Voat over the last few months largely because of this, because I want to just get out of the constant spew of hate that everyone is throwing at each other. Phuks is great to have because it's very not-polarized (so far) and generally just has good, but slow, content. I disagree with a lot of things posted and up-phuked, but I like to see that it's not an echo chamber.

Thank you for making a little escape for us, @polsaker, @pembo210 and @anubis

2016 was a volatile and riveting time for internet users, no matter what side you were on in regards to the US election or happenings across the globe. In all honesty, it was the best internet time of my life since Everquest came out. I've come to a point where it's actually difficult to talk to some immediate family members even about basic topics, and I've been going around 3 weeks between talking to my parents vs the former couple times per week, mostly due to how polarized our political differences are and "news" sources we both read. Both sides are kind of fucked. This last election has caused hostile elements in our family and it's caused one of my brothers to literally stop talking to me and my other brother for several months. That was "resolved", but an accidental text to the wrong group from my other brother re-ignited it several months ago. It's so fucked up because we used to be so close, but over the course of about one year, we just are no longer talking, our family is no longer close as a group.. Everything is dramatized for views/clicks/impressions, and it's literally ripping my family apart, no matter who is actually right or wrong. I've been fairly inactive on Phuks and Voat over the last few months largely because of this, because I want to just get out of the constant spew of hate that everyone is throwing at each other. Phuks is great to have because it's very not-polarized (so far) and generally just has good, but slow, content. I disagree with a lot of things posted and up-phuked, but I like to see that it's not an echo chamber. Thank you for making a little escape for us, @polsaker, @pembo210 and @anubis

20 comments

[–] pembo210 6 points (+6|-0)

Edited

Been rough here too.. any comment involving trump/politics is met with every buzzword I've already seen dozens of times online and heard on every news station. "Open conversations" and "let's be neutral dinners" have brought conversations about stuff that I can google in 4 mins but destroy the whole evening. It's not even about one side or the other, it's just the lack of research talk. Nobody wants to read anything anymore.

I've been spending minimal time engaging the people I hold dear because of off handed comments that turn into an hour long getting yelled at periods.

I'm in the middle on most cases and don't like to pick sides, but i'm ready to move to the woods, install some solar panels, plant a garden, and call it a day.

edit: <3

[–] jobes [OP] 7 points (+7|-0)

i'm ready to move to the woods, install some solar panels, plant a garden, and call it a day.

I've actually fantasized about that way more times than I want to admit. Going off the grid and getting away from this BS seems like the best idea, assuming I can just play some games and avoid cancer news and cancer boards.

Nobody wants to read anything anymore.

The major problem is that sources I used to be able to trust have just become extreme in partisan views. My dad is the most well read person I know, but he tends to believe everything he reads now, even though he is an extremely well educated and smart guy (a medical doctor and former math teacher). He's retired and just buys into what is presented in the papers now, but he's the only person I can actually have a reasonable discussion with where either him or I do change our views for the better. If I'm not there to talk to him, he succumbs to the narrative, which hurts.

One of my brothers is a college professor, and he won't talk to me about anything beyond family matters because everything else is obviously racist/homophobic/etc.