General Discussion

After an election that should've proved that consuming media whose entire business model is telling us what we want to hear is not great, people are doubling down. "Inject what I want to hear directly into my veins!"

Not even cursory fact checking. No questioning. Not even an eyebrow raise at claims and assertions that can't even pass a common sense check. And no matter how many corrections are posted, it just keeps chugging along. Just go all in at every random bit of internet conspiracy throw up that hits the floor.

And then there's an unironic, "The problem with voters is they can't tell misinformation from fact!" Uh huh. Weird how people do that, isn't it?

And thing is - the worst part for me - is that it dumps fuel on the fire for voters who have "both sides" attitudes and start tuning everything out. If this stuff gets a foothold and we get four years of election conspiracies, it will be tougher for us to criticize Republicans for their election conspiracies. We're draining our credibility in real time. And for what? Just one more hit of that sweet black tar belief?

It hardly feels worth it. Seems more like self-harm to relieve displaced emotional pain. Which, you know, generally not smiled upon behavior.