My imaginary audience for this is progressive liberals. On the slight chance that any of my hanging-on-by-an-unspoken-fingernail liberal friends happen to be reading this, friends, I am talking to you, too. Goodness knows you don’t contact me, but perhaps you “check up” on me to see if I’m “still going crazy.”
This is a good example of the difference between parasocial relationships and real friendships. If I read this statement from anyone I didn't know, I would think of it as highly likely to be a disingenuous performance of humility. (This is probably a combination of having been burned many times and projection on my part, remembering how the last six months of my time on Twitter had me performing a lot, just to keep the number of notifications and fights in my notifications down.)
But I know you, and I know you mean what you say here. Thank you.
Don’t mind me butting in, but I absolutely LOVE that. It worries me that so many young people never even realize it's happening. I’m fairly new bumping around here as a voyeur on Substack but you and Holly have quickly become my favorite reads, surpassing Taibbi and Shellenberger. You both are so real and making a difference. Authenticity and sincerity coupled with wicked fast wit and humor are rare indeed these days. I feel blessed that I can comprehend what a luxury it is to receive so much when I’ve contributed nothing.
I have two teenagers and you’re absolutely right - the kids are NOT ok. I will never forgive Dems for supporting the brainwashing that goes on in public schools.
Thank you Josh. I'm trying to have a similar conversation with my sister without breaking the relationship. We used to be close. But then she swallowed whole the COVID narrative and Trump Derangement, the trans stuff is starting to wake her up, but she doesn't want to see it. Too many people are refusing to see it.
Same with my mom, sigh. She is 80 so I try not to talk about politics with her often, but it’s infuriating when I have trouble making ends meet to know she supports the proxy war against Russia, and she thinks Biden can do no wrong. It has damaged perhaps the most sacred relationship a person can have which makes me sad, frustrated and angry.
The vast majority of regular people I run into, don't even know about the law that passed in Washington state. In fact most of them wouldn't even believe it.
There are those on the left who are unreachable, but there are far more that just don't know what's going on. For them, it's too hard to believe that half of the stuff you've mentioned is real, because who in their right mind would do those things?
It's the never ending "There never going to do that" crowd that keeps voting Democrat. They never stop to think, you don't pass legislation for things you don't plan to do.
The ones in leftist states that have figured it out have/are leaving. They began to see where things are going, and have realized that voting in New York and California will NEVER fix anything. They're voting with their feet, because that DOES work.
You might be interested in Matt Taibbi’s recent piece, which surprised even me, about the evolution of the Censorship Industrial Complex. Apparently, a FOIA request unearthed an initiative by DHS to teach citizens to spy and snitch on each other. I thought that one wasn’t as far along as it is. Silly me. All this and more, brought to you by the Democratic Property.
We are living in the Tower of Babel. We talk but they cannot understand us-they do not speak our language (the language of common sense and reality). It is the only way I can fathom how we see things so diametrically opposed to each other.
May 14, 2023·edited May 14, 2023Liked by Josh Slocum
I know this is only the second time I've done this but I'm beginning to feel just a wee bit like your personal side therapist.
There is no need for you to feel shame or guilt because it took you so long to accept the fact that the left wing in this country has gone utter, evil bananas.
Twenty years ago it was the left that was in the right calling bullshit on the Second Iraq War and pointing out that the case for it made no logical sense. There were exceptions. The Cato Institute brilliantly objected to the war and Christopher Hitchens went unexpectedly south but generally it was clear which side was in the wrong and which one was in the right.
And, of course, the early pushes for equality made all the sense in the world--at least on paper. Why shouldn't gay people be teachers or suffer job discrimination just because they have minority sexual tastes? I've been around quite a bit longer than you and remember racism like mother used to make. Fer chrissakes George Wallace ran as an in-your-face segregationist in 1968 and literally won five states. It was the left that celebrated free speech, fly your freak flag, sex, drugs and rock and roll (note: I'm an old jazz geek, but still), equality under the law, due process rights, judging people as individuals. The economy historically worked better under Democratic rule. There was a lot of undoubted good here.
Everyone needs and wants friends and, as the old saw has it, old friends are the best. Giving them up in adulthood is scary and traumatic as most people's social circles are well established by that point. I was never completely a fan of the left. A lot of my heroes, Robert Crumb, George Carlin and Frank Zappa could be highly critical of them. But the process was so slow and the emotional risks of giving up the friends and society you have known are daunting as fuck. Because they're transition didn't happen overnight yours wasn't going to either.
On the other hand, feminism was always almost 100% bullshit but women are evolutionarily adapted to overplay the victim card and men, God bless the stupid bastards, are likewise adapted to give their fears and demands too much credence or at least pretend they do in order to avoid being at the wrong end of an emotional meltdown.
It's a long way from MLK to Sean King or, as I like to refer to him, Mickey O'Dolozol.
Wow. feminism was always bullshit and women are evolutionary adapted to overplay the victim card ? You’re a pretty horrible sexist who is on full display here. Proving of course that feminism is required. I’ve read and heard some pretty shite comments about women in my time, and yours is up there with the worst. Do you know any history ? Actually you don’t even need history. You can obviously read, because you read this article, which is pretty spot on. I’m not really sure what your excuse is for this level or ignorance. Mummy issues ?
According to feminists we live in a rape culture where rape is condoned and used by all men to oppress all women. I was taught this in college. Obviously that's bullshit. Rape is against the law and is considered by virtually everyone to be a particularly heinous crime. People who have been accused of rape have found their lives ruined EVEN WHEN PROVEN INNOCENT.
Feminists also claim that women are "second class citizens" who need to have all the rights men do despite actually having more, getting more funding for their diseases, college and business opportunities because of set-asides for women and minorities. Prostate cancer, which has approximately the same fatality rate as breast cancer gets only 1/3 the funding. It was men who invented oral contraception, voted on the Supreme Court to give you the right to an abortion and developed treatments for the aforementioned breast cancer.
That's not what being a second class citizen looks like, you stupid little twat.
Your above remarks are nothing more than another verbally abusive temper tantrum. You are the one who is ignorant. You are the one who doesn't know your history.
Nothing cures stupid. Your case is hopeless. Have a nice day.
I am only a little over 2 years into my own "Bridge Too Far" evolution. I just turned 49!
My friend and I (another recovering liberal) send each other texts and photos with our old ways, like a picture of her and her kids in strollers carrying signs that say, "Nevertheless, she persisted!" Or her old email signature that included She/Her. I send her a pic of my Biden/Harris Yard sign or worse- my song about hating Trump. (Cringe) Then we do our assigned penance- 3 Hail Marys and a Kellie-Jay Keen, I Never Lose) haha!
THANK GOD, I found this woman who was also peaked by the Trans Madness and the Race Insanity in school and we can go through this together. I am also so grateful that my husband of 25 years is evolving right along side me.
This hasn't actually been sudden. I think I was just compartmentalizing so many things for so many years and it was Gender that just tipped the scales.
Yes, I do believe that the "Left Left Me," but I also believe I have become more Conservative. I've also become more religious, by the way.
I am a professional artist and I still believe we need a mix of world views to make this world interesting but I do not want to be associated with anything about the Democratic party at this point. It's evil.
I really believe that many people who are bothered by aspects of Democratic policies but don't seem to be budging are in actual Denial- the good old fashioned self protection kind. At the moment, they literally can't accept the truth. Maybe, like me, they will soon? I pray it is before the next election.
Thank you for continuing to speak out on this issue. Watching people going along with child mutilation with seemingly NO limits is actually very frightening to me. These people are closer to zombies than people, IMHO.
"By kindling and fanning violent passions in the hearts of their followers, mass movements prevent the settling of an inner balance. They also employ direct means to effect an enduring estrangement from the self. They depict an autonomous, self-sufficient existence not only as barren and meaningless but also as depraved and evil. Man on his own is a helpless, miserable and sinful creature. His only salvation is in rejecting his self and in finding a new life in the bosom of a holy corporate body-be it a church, a nation or a party." -Eric Hoffer, The True Believer
"Since [narcissists] deep down, feel themselves to be faultless, it is inevitable that when they are in conflict with the world they will invariably perceive the conflict as the world's fault. Since they must deny their own badness, they must perceive others as bad. They project their own evil onto the world. They never think of themselves as evil, on the other hand, they consequently see much evil in others." ~ M. Scott Peck
She buys ALL of it. How can anyone buy this "trans kids" (autistic and gay) need medical intervention and sterility bullshit? It's honestly puzzling to me, and shows propaganda works or the ruling class wouldn't use it.
ISIS manufactured cultism for Western liberal democracies ‼️
“Anti”-racist & woke genderqueer were BUILT to sow chaos. Classic Marxist sociopolitical destabilization wedded to disaster capitalism…. Chinese cultural revolution merged with CIA color revolutions.
Even the old school Communists call it out as fascistic, for its merger of corporate finance and government enforcement to enable monopolistic subjugation. It's being used to infiltrate societies (those vulnerable to & valuable for targeting) around the world. Freighting on preexisting mental disorders it induces ideological possession in primary victims and provides an irrational sophist (shielding from reasonable discourse) worldview enabling violence and furthering chaos. Lesbians, gays, women, liberal whites and progress made in race relations are some of its victims and even those who seem to benefit are also deeply injured … only differently.
I view this weaponized phenomenon as one feature of a global war on humanity itself both an intentional and emergent happening to the benefit of a parasite class. They are VASTLY outnumbered and NEED to weaken, and divide people. They cannot win UNLESS we fight one another.
Blessings & courage upon all who stand free, do not comply with and stand up against this scapegoating madness
You are emotionally and intellectually brave to call this out it so plainly, directly and factually Josh. I admire your courage.
Though I appreciate your words, it is a farce to me that saying what I said should be considered "brave."
We need to raise our standards back to something approaching sanity.
This is a good example of the difference between parasocial relationships and real friendships. If I read this statement from anyone I didn't know, I would think of it as highly likely to be a disingenuous performance of humility. (This is probably a combination of having been burned many times and projection on my part, remembering how the last six months of my time on Twitter had me performing a lot, just to keep the number of notifications and fights in my notifications down.)
But I know you, and I know you mean what you say here. Thank you.
When we become digital, we become trapped in an amber caricature.
Fucking. A.
Don’t mind me butting in, but I absolutely LOVE that. It worries me that so many young people never even realize it's happening. I’m fairly new bumping around here as a voyeur on Substack but you and Holly have quickly become my favorite reads, surpassing Taibbi and Shellenberger. You both are so real and making a difference. Authenticity and sincerity coupled with wicked fast wit and humor are rare indeed these days. I feel blessed that I can comprehend what a luxury it is to receive so much when I’ve contributed nothing.
Fair enough.
I hope I wasn't too harsh; I often am inadvertently. I appreciate what you said.
I have two teenagers and you’re absolutely right - the kids are NOT ok. I will never forgive Dems for supporting the brainwashing that goes on in public schools.
Thank you so much Josh for broadcasting about the road that so many of us Neos have gratefully taken.
Thank you Josh. I'm trying to have a similar conversation with my sister without breaking the relationship. We used to be close. But then she swallowed whole the COVID narrative and Trump Derangement, the trans stuff is starting to wake her up, but she doesn't want to see it. Too many people are refusing to see it.
Same with my mom, sigh. She is 80 so I try not to talk about politics with her often, but it’s infuriating when I have trouble making ends meet to know she supports the proxy war against Russia, and she thinks Biden can do no wrong. It has damaged perhaps the most sacred relationship a person can have which makes me sad, frustrated and angry.
I think "doesn't want to see it" covers so many people! It is actual textbook Denial.
Exactly.
People don't want to admit to being wrong. It is easier for some and harder for others.
You're right about 99% of it.
The vast majority of regular people I run into, don't even know about the law that passed in Washington state. In fact most of them wouldn't even believe it.
There are those on the left who are unreachable, but there are far more that just don't know what's going on. For them, it's too hard to believe that half of the stuff you've mentioned is real, because who in their right mind would do those things?
It's the never ending "There never going to do that" crowd that keeps voting Democrat. They never stop to think, you don't pass legislation for things you don't plan to do.
The ones in leftist states that have figured it out have/are leaving. They began to see where things are going, and have realized that voting in New York and California will NEVER fix anything. They're voting with their feet, because that DOES work.
Thanks for your follow up comment Josh - I appreciate your acknowledgement.
Please know that I am only trying to express my alignment with your comments and thoughts.
You might be interested in Matt Taibbi’s recent piece, which surprised even me, about the evolution of the Censorship Industrial Complex. Apparently, a FOIA request unearthed an initiative by DHS to teach citizens to spy and snitch on each other. I thought that one wasn’t as far along as it is. Silly me. All this and more, brought to you by the Democratic Property.
We are living in the Tower of Babel. We talk but they cannot understand us-they do not speak our language (the language of common sense and reality). It is the only way I can fathom how we see things so diametrically opposed to each other.
I know this is only the second time I've done this but I'm beginning to feel just a wee bit like your personal side therapist.
There is no need for you to feel shame or guilt because it took you so long to accept the fact that the left wing in this country has gone utter, evil bananas.
Twenty years ago it was the left that was in the right calling bullshit on the Second Iraq War and pointing out that the case for it made no logical sense. There were exceptions. The Cato Institute brilliantly objected to the war and Christopher Hitchens went unexpectedly south but generally it was clear which side was in the wrong and which one was in the right.
And, of course, the early pushes for equality made all the sense in the world--at least on paper. Why shouldn't gay people be teachers or suffer job discrimination just because they have minority sexual tastes? I've been around quite a bit longer than you and remember racism like mother used to make. Fer chrissakes George Wallace ran as an in-your-face segregationist in 1968 and literally won five states. It was the left that celebrated free speech, fly your freak flag, sex, drugs and rock and roll (note: I'm an old jazz geek, but still), equality under the law, due process rights, judging people as individuals. The economy historically worked better under Democratic rule. There was a lot of undoubted good here.
Everyone needs and wants friends and, as the old saw has it, old friends are the best. Giving them up in adulthood is scary and traumatic as most people's social circles are well established by that point. I was never completely a fan of the left. A lot of my heroes, Robert Crumb, George Carlin and Frank Zappa could be highly critical of them. But the process was so slow and the emotional risks of giving up the friends and society you have known are daunting as fuck. Because they're transition didn't happen overnight yours wasn't going to either.
On the other hand, feminism was always almost 100% bullshit but women are evolutionarily adapted to overplay the victim card and men, God bless the stupid bastards, are likewise adapted to give their fears and demands too much credence or at least pretend they do in order to avoid being at the wrong end of an emotional meltdown.
It's a long way from MLK to Sean King or, as I like to refer to him, Mickey O'Dolozol.
Wow. feminism was always bullshit and women are evolutionary adapted to overplay the victim card ? You’re a pretty horrible sexist who is on full display here. Proving of course that feminism is required. I’ve read and heard some pretty shite comments about women in my time, and yours is up there with the worst. Do you know any history ? Actually you don’t even need history. You can obviously read, because you read this article, which is pretty spot on. I’m not really sure what your excuse is for this level or ignorance. Mummy issues ?
According to feminists we live in a rape culture where rape is condoned and used by all men to oppress all women. I was taught this in college. Obviously that's bullshit. Rape is against the law and is considered by virtually everyone to be a particularly heinous crime. People who have been accused of rape have found their lives ruined EVEN WHEN PROVEN INNOCENT.
Feminists also claim that women are "second class citizens" who need to have all the rights men do despite actually having more, getting more funding for their diseases, college and business opportunities because of set-asides for women and minorities. Prostate cancer, which has approximately the same fatality rate as breast cancer gets only 1/3 the funding. It was men who invented oral contraception, voted on the Supreme Court to give you the right to an abortion and developed treatments for the aforementioned breast cancer.
That's not what being a second class citizen looks like, you stupid little twat.
Your above remarks are nothing more than another verbally abusive temper tantrum. You are the one who is ignorant. You are the one who doesn't know your history.
Nothing cures stupid. Your case is hopeless. Have a nice day.
I am only a little over 2 years into my own "Bridge Too Far" evolution. I just turned 49!
My friend and I (another recovering liberal) send each other texts and photos with our old ways, like a picture of her and her kids in strollers carrying signs that say, "Nevertheless, she persisted!" Or her old email signature that included She/Her. I send her a pic of my Biden/Harris Yard sign or worse- my song about hating Trump. (Cringe) Then we do our assigned penance- 3 Hail Marys and a Kellie-Jay Keen, I Never Lose) haha!
THANK GOD, I found this woman who was also peaked by the Trans Madness and the Race Insanity in school and we can go through this together. I am also so grateful that my husband of 25 years is evolving right along side me.
This hasn't actually been sudden. I think I was just compartmentalizing so many things for so many years and it was Gender that just tipped the scales.
Yes, I do believe that the "Left Left Me," but I also believe I have become more Conservative. I've also become more religious, by the way.
I am a professional artist and I still believe we need a mix of world views to make this world interesting but I do not want to be associated with anything about the Democratic party at this point. It's evil.
I really believe that many people who are bothered by aspects of Democratic policies but don't seem to be budging are in actual Denial- the good old fashioned self protection kind. At the moment, they literally can't accept the truth. Maybe, like me, they will soon? I pray it is before the next election.
Thank you for continuing to speak out on this issue. Watching people going along with child mutilation with seemingly NO limits is actually very frightening to me. These people are closer to zombies than people, IMHO.
"By kindling and fanning violent passions in the hearts of their followers, mass movements prevent the settling of an inner balance. They also employ direct means to effect an enduring estrangement from the self. They depict an autonomous, self-sufficient existence not only as barren and meaningless but also as depraved and evil. Man on his own is a helpless, miserable and sinful creature. His only salvation is in rejecting his self and in finding a new life in the bosom of a holy corporate body-be it a church, a nation or a party." -Eric Hoffer, The True Believer
"Since [narcissists] deep down, feel themselves to be faultless, it is inevitable that when they are in conflict with the world they will invariably perceive the conflict as the world's fault. Since they must deny their own badness, they must perceive others as bad. They project their own evil onto the world. They never think of themselves as evil, on the other hand, they consequently see much evil in others." ~ M. Scott Peck
She buys ALL of it. How can anyone buy this "trans kids" (autistic and gay) need medical intervention and sterility bullshit? It's honestly puzzling to me, and shows propaganda works or the ruling class wouldn't use it.
Need some water, Josh?
Holy shit.
You're on fire here.
ISIS manufactured cultism for Western liberal democracies ‼️
“Anti”-racist & woke genderqueer were BUILT to sow chaos. Classic Marxist sociopolitical destabilization wedded to disaster capitalism…. Chinese cultural revolution merged with CIA color revolutions.
Even the old school Communists call it out as fascistic, for its merger of corporate finance and government enforcement to enable monopolistic subjugation. It's being used to infiltrate societies (those vulnerable to & valuable for targeting) around the world. Freighting on preexisting mental disorders it induces ideological possession in primary victims and provides an irrational sophist (shielding from reasonable discourse) worldview enabling violence and furthering chaos. Lesbians, gays, women, liberal whites and progress made in race relations are some of its victims and even those who seem to benefit are also deeply injured … only differently.
I view this weaponized phenomenon as one feature of a global war on humanity itself both an intentional and emergent happening to the benefit of a parasite class. They are VASTLY outnumbered and NEED to weaken, and divide people. They cannot win UNLESS we fight one another.
Blessings & courage upon all who stand free, do not comply with and stand up against this scapegoating madness