The Trivial Complaints Thread ... #3

[Leave a Whisper]

What a crappy day to wake up too. That's all I have to say.

[shockponie]

I worked polls the past 2 days. You’re not allowed to leave when you’re a poll worker in my county. My old black lab’s health got much worse suddenly (she was already deaf and mostly blind) to where her hips weren’t working any more, she was incontinent and not eating or drinking, so my husband had to take her to be put down yesterday. I couldn’t be there to say goodbye to her or be there for my husband.  At least she’s not suffering. Rest in peace, Clover.

Also, my knees are killing me from all the setup, walking, standing, helping people, and break down from 5am to 10pm.

[Ponybookworm]

I worked polls the past 2 days. You’re not allowed to leave when you’re a poll worker in my county. My old black lab’s health got much worse suddenly (she was already deaf and mostly blind) to where her hips weren’t working any more, she was incontinent and not eating or drinking, so my husband had to take her to be put down yesterday. I couldn’t be there to say goodbye to her or be there for my husband.  At least she’s not suffering. Rest in peace, Clover.

Also, my knees are killing me from all the setup, walking, standing, helping people, and break down from 5am to 10pm.

[Beth3346]

i'm so sorry shockponie

yesterday and today are the worst. i just feel completely broken right now. way worse than 2016. this is the first time i've ever broken down in tears over the outcome of an election. i'm devastated and angry. i really thought enough people had learned from the first term. i guess it's true. no one every learns anything ever.

[Taffeta]

I'm sorry, Shockponie

I'm not going to comment on the US election, except to say that I'm not overly surprised :/ This is the world we live in right now. It's not a US problem, but a world problem - misinformation is catching.

[Leave a Whisper]

I worked polls the past 2 days. You’re not allowed to leave when you’re a poll worker in my county. My old black lab’s health got much worse suddenly (she was already deaf and mostly blind) to where her hips weren’t working any more, she was incontinent and not eating or drinking, so my husband had to take her to be put down yesterday. I couldn’t be there to say goodbye to her or be there for my husband.  At least she’s not suffering. Rest in peace, Clover.

Also, my knees are killing me from all the setup, walking, standing, helping people, and break down from 5am to 10pm.

I'm sorry hun

[shockponie]

Thanks for the hugs Ponybookworm, Beth3346, Taffeta, and Leave a Whisper. 

It's not a US problem, but a world problem - misinformation is catching.

Yes, I recently attended a webinar regarding MDM (Mis/Dis/Mal-information). It’s an epidemic because social media is incentivized to prioritize fear-based stories in their algorithm because users are more likely to interact with it. (cha-ching! ) 

[Ponyfan]

Shockponie, I'm so sorry.    

I was grateful I was sick when my dog had to put down in April since I got to spend time with her, tell her I loved her and give her one last hug goodbye.


Ponyfan

[Beth3346]

Thanks for the hugs Ponybookworm, Beth3346, Taffeta, and Leave a Whisper. 

It's not a US problem, but a world problem - misinformation is catching.

Yes, I recently attended a webinar regarding MDM (Mis/Dis/Mal-information). It’s an epidemic because social media is incentivized to prioritize fear-based stories in their algorithm because users are more likely to interact with it. (cha-ching! ) 

yeah and unfortunately it's a world problem with a lot of money and power behind it. and the people who run the platforms aren't remotely interested in stopping it. they won't face any consequences either i'm afraid.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

one more reason why social media is such a messy problem and it is destroying the internet and society!

[BlackCurtains]

I'm so sorry, shockponie


I'm also not surprised at the outcome.

[Beth3346]

yeah unfortunately what people "feel is true" tends to override actual truth. a lot of people seem to want to believe things like violent crime is out of control despite actual data that shows its fallen dramatically in the US in 2024. or that immigrants commit more crimes. it's not true but it "feels" true to people who bathe in fear and disinformation. it's very hard to get people to change core beliefs. especially when they make it part of their personality.

it's not exclusive to more right leaning people either. i think people just aren't built to handle the sheer amount of information thrown at us every day.

i don't have a solution. maybe something more along the lines of decentralized community moderation. idk. i don't think centralized content moderation or AI content moderation will solve the problem. taxing billionaire's money away and removing the financial incentive for poisoning people's minds probably will. unfortunately that won't happen any time soon. too many people still think their grifter god kings will save them. the idea that someone will come along and fix all your problems without you having to be inconvenienced can be really seductive.

the far right has been using technology to communicate since before there was a public internet. in the US at least, i'm less familiar with other countries, has spent decades building parallel institutions.  Think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and Claremont.  Home schooling and fundamentalist Christian religious schools that raise kids in a bubble. Media outlets, including book publishers, talk radio, internet communities. there is a ton of funding behind these institutions. a truly shocking and scary amount when you start digging in. traditionally more "left" coded institutions like public health, public schools, and mass media are either underfunded or in the process of being dismantled. as we've seen billionaires like Bezos buying up newspapers and pretending they care about making the world better is just making the problems worse. the rich are never going to support movements that result in their money and power decreasing.

anyways, i'm still feeling very shocked and devastated. but i'm also angry and looking for ways to make positive contributions. probably sending money to mutual aid organizations and looking for local community organizations where i can get involved. Hopelessness will get us nowhere. doing something about it gives us agency which is good for mental wellbeing.

Some reasons for hope and an evergreen article from the 1940's.

https://popular.info/p/through-the-darkness-some-rays-of
https://margaretkilljoy.substack.com/p/the-sky-is-falling-weve-got-this
https://harpers.org/archive/1941/08/who-goes-nazi/

Also this for keeping communication secure. https://ssd.eff.org/

[BlackCurtains]

Really great articles there, Beth. The 1940 one is especially interesting.

[Beth3346]

yeah that's one i've come back to a few times over the last few years.

here's another interesting one about misinformation and media environments. https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/link-between-media-consumption-and-public-opinion

[Heart Of Midnight]

shockponie, I am so sorry..