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
it completely floors me that he was the first ever presidential candidates to hold a gay pride flag on stage during the election cycle and is a republican (!) and is still considered one of the worst outcomes when he made it (vs a candidate that never fully supported gay rights during their career)