General Discussion

liberalmuse

(18,880 posts)

22. I dread running into people of my generation at work, at the park, at the grocery store, etc.

Sat Dec 3, 2022, 12:05 PM

Dec 2022

I can have pleasant conversations with most younger people, a few older people, but by far and large most boomers will start getting political in under 5 minutes. After that it quickly escalates into hate speech filled with racism, homophobia then full on into crazy Q garbage if you don’t nip it in the bud which I’ve learned to do.

I’ve disliked my generation for decades and knew there was something seriously wrong with a large number of them, so much so that I want to jump for joy when I meet anyone in my age group who isn’t a selfish, addle-witted hatemonger. Even my good friend of 30 years started showing signs of becoming one of the pod people a few years ago so I’ve disengaged. I think this could be related to breathing in leaded gas fumes throughout childhood. It has to.

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Bumped into a high school friend for the first time in 30 years. [View all] Chainfire Dec 2022 OP

Usually or at least it used to be conversations with people about their dogs or vehicles could stay Walleye Dec 2022 #1

Ever take your dog to a dog park? Doc Sportello Dec 2022 #7

I think that that is a part of the problem. markodochartaigh Dec 2022 #30

That's a big part of the problem. FoxNewsSucks Dec 2022 #36

+1000 Meadowoak Dec 2022 #64

Saw that krkaufman Dec 2022 #86

It was a general English speaking accommodation from the English Civil War and restoration. plimsoll Dec 2022 #49

You are absolutely correct. I decided a few years ago to not allow that type BS to go unchallenged. Handler Dec 2022 #134

same here, my group of friends has also dwindled, but then I realized Meadowoak Dec 2022 #135

Similar experience in western Arizona lambchopp59 Dec 2022 #46

My first experience with this bs was in Prescott Doc Sportello Dec 2022 #57

They have absolutely no filters Cosmocat Dec 2022 #130

Fox News and right wing talk radio? Diamond_Dog Dec 2022 #2

Yep we are in the same flock of "black sheep." Chainfire Dec 2022 #4

I don't Rebl2 Dec 2022 #21

Reagan was the beginning of the end of USA Dave says Dec 2022 #42

Reagan was instrumental in getting the fairness doctrine removed tiredtoo Dec 2022 #123

the most significant thing reagan did was kill the fairness doctrine, which unleashed the RW radio certainot Dec 2022 #124

My brother used to be normal bedazzled Dec 2022 #50

I lost mine to Fox as well. Very sad. Evolve Dammit Dec 2022 #59

It's odd. They are still there but a part of them is missing bedazzled Dec 2022 #62

What amazed me is how it took over all rational thought. The Murdochs must be thrilled. Evolve Dammit Dec 2022 #65

It's like their intelligence, empathy and soul have been sucked out bedazzled Dec 2022 #88

It is a real mental health problem and gets little attention. Those of us affected, that lose Evolve Dammit Dec 2022 #101

I hope these vile political lost causes eat each other bedazzled Dec 2022 #105

"normal level of scum." Yeah that sounds right! Evolve Dammit Dec 2022 #106

Fox is scrambling people's brains. Initech Dec 2022 #118

Fox News. tavernier Dec 2022 #3

I had that happen with an old high school crush I reconnected with Siwsan Dec 2022 #5

Demeaning the intelligence of liberals PatSeg Dec 2022 #44

it is sad, and sadly I don't see it changing. If the pandemic didn't pull us together (and you Evolve Dammit Dec 2022 #63

I just say that my whole family is blue plus Tetrachloride Dec 2022 #6

Did you ever move away John Ludi Dec 2022 #8

That may be part of the answer. Chainfire Dec 2022 #20

The smart ones leave n/t WA-03 Democrat Dec 2022 #26

Very similar story. Ms. Toad Dec 2022 #51

I started school John Ludi Dec 2022 #91

The Detroit Suburbs DownriverDem Dec 2022 #109

I'm sure they are, many of them. John Ludi Dec 2022 #129

+1000 genxlib Dec 2022 #25

Definitely a John Ludi Dec 2022 #92

Also, it's often HOW you travel. halfulglas Dec 2022 #27

I agree. John Ludi Dec 2022 #94

In was a military brat & moved a lot too. You learn more that way. nt oldsoftie Dec 2022 #112

same Skittles Dec 2022 #126

I have lived Rebl2 Dec 2022 #28

Definitely not John Ludi Dec 2022 #95

This - I remember a study (can't cite chapter and verse) . . . . hatrack Dec 2022 #29

This doesn't John Ludi Dec 2022 #96

John Ludi......... Upthevibe Dec 2022 #37

I spent John Ludi Dec 2022 #97

That has generally been my experience too. yonder Dec 2022 #38

It's been John Ludi Dec 2022 #98

Could not agree more The Butler Dec 2022 #48

That had to be John Ludi Dec 2022 #100

Strangely, I have had the opposite experience. LisaM Dec 2022 #58

It's refreshing to hear that. John Ludi Dec 2022 #99

Funny, we moved from the Detroit metro area, too. LisaM Dec 2022 #103

I think that you are very correct about that. llmart Dec 2022 #87

I live in a small area now John Ludi Dec 2022 #102

The ones who move away and can hack it in a new environment Genki Hikari Dec 2022 #125

What the hell happened to "them." Botany Dec 2022 #9

I grew up in a small town as well EYESORE 9001 Dec 2022 #10

Getaway plan?! slightlv Dec 2022 #84

College? modrepub Dec 2022 #11

People in the happiest countries in the world have low expectations. betsuni Dec 2022 #107

College isn't it. Genki Hikari Dec 2022 #127

Same with me and my 2 sisters hauckeye Dec 2022 #12

I can't believe how the people I went to h.s. with have turned. r/o SoBlueInFL Dec 2022 #13

Likely you got out. I did. apcalc Dec 2022 #14

The urge to proselytize is strong among cultists. dalton99a Dec 2022 #15

Social media has altered our perception of reality. walkingman Dec 2022 #16

I was an avid fisherman. Grumpy Old Guy Dec 2022 #17

Yeah, it's funny- I dream of returning to my little Western New York Erie Canal hometown - but NBachers Dec 2022 #18

You can live in the place, but you have to become a hermit. Chainfire Dec 2022 #32

I told an old high school friend to fuck off. BradBo Dec 2022 #19

I dread running into people of my generation at work, at the park, at the grocery store, etc. liberalmuse Dec 2022 #22

My high school was 25/1 VGNonly Dec 2022 #23

Any chance you went away to college or otherwise spent a few years well away from home ... eppur_se_muova Dec 2022 #24

Similar story here. WestMichRad Dec 2022 #31

Your last sentence may be the key. Chainfire Dec 2022 #34

maybe... mollie8 Dec 2022 #33

I was born in a city & moved to a very small town when I was seven. CrispyQ Dec 2022 #35

The difference is, to borrow a word JHB coined, inFOXication. Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2022 #39

But also, the use of the religious pulpit in a way very similar to Fox News. NullTuples Dec 2022 #77

Yes. Too many billions promoting fascism and theocracy -- from 'think tanks' to pulpits. Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2022 #90

And churches are the ultimate "dark money" funnels. NullTuples Dec 2022 #104

I don't know but the same happened to me... CousinIT Dec 2022 #40

The way some people can close their eyes to what's right in front of them is astounding sometimes. ShazzieB Dec 2022 #120

There's this, too... CousinIT Dec 2022 #122

I've had that same experience so many times NickB79 Dec 2022 #41

Reading your post and comments gave me an eerie feeling. pandr32 Dec 2022 #43

Same here! hamsterjill Dec 2022 #45

We all grow with experience. The more impactful experiences, the greater growth. jaxexpat Dec 2022 #47

You left town? yobrault1 Dec 2022 #52

how were your parents? Kali Dec 2022 #53

That is an interesting question. Chainfire Dec 2022 #67

that IS interesting Kali Dec 2022 #69

Try running into one you've known for 62 years... czarjak Dec 2022 #54

Why did you tell him you had "no politics"? relayerbob Dec 2022 #55

It wasn't worth it. I already have enough "enemies." Chainfire Dec 2022 #68

Empathy and discerning intellectual abilities. Joinfortmill Dec 2022 #56

A line from a song by a smalltown girl Michelle Shocked Joe Nation Dec 2022 #60

Good line! chowder66 Dec 2022 #66

I love that line. Thanks for bringing it to the thread. Chainfire Dec 2022 #73

Ah, Michelle Shocked has taken the turn too... druidity33 Dec 2022 #108

Well, she doesnt make any money off music you already OWN! oldsoftie Dec 2022 #113

I observed that many ex friends who turned GQP I've had to cut ties with, all seem to think that Ziggysmom Dec 2022 #61

Not sure "we" can bring them back from the brink Joe Nation Dec 2022 #70

I have severed all ties with my sister, who's company I once enjoyed, and who I loved dearly. Chainfire Dec 2022 #83

My late sister and her husband were Democrats before retiring to Alabama halfulglas Dec 2022 #111

I don't think it's philosophy. Mblaze Dec 2022 #71

Why did they take different paths? AverageOldGuy Dec 2022 #72

I still blame all this extreme division on Newt. sarchasm Dec 2022 #74

I first became aware of how crazy some folks were in the mid 90s. Chainfire Dec 2022 #79

Well, for starters, you didn't have the same parents. Samrob Dec 2022 #75

I haven't seen anyone from high school since the 70s and I like it that way Warpy Dec 2022 #76

Reichwingers, especially men, generally assume that everyone thinks as they do Orrex Dec 2022 #78

It sounds like you didn't allow a rich & powerful right-wing propaganda machine... CaptainTruth Dec 2022 #80

Different MEDIA intake - different PATH. n/t TeamProg Dec 2022 #81

Get to the root of your framing and you may know krkaufman Dec 2022 #82

Introspection? Interesting, I will have to think about that. Chainfire Dec 2022 #89

That's exactly what I've wondered about my former grade school/high school classmates. BComplex Dec 2022 #85

I almost passed on my high school 50th (class of 1969) because of a classmate... 3catwoman3 Dec 2022 #93

I've wondered the same thing Ohioboy Dec 2022 #110

There was a certain amount of it 'back in the day' chowmama Dec 2022 #114

I finally came to think of it as an expression of values. davsand Dec 2022 #115

you get your values from your parents, not your church or your friends or your school Hamlette Dec 2022 #116

Your family or your innate compassion IbogaProject Dec 2022 #117

Conformity and cohesion moondust Dec 2022 #119

Fox News happened. It also turned our parents into raving lunatics. nt SunSeeker Dec 2022 #121

I never see people from my high school days DFW Dec 2022 #128

The Biggest Difference I've noticed Brenda Dec 2022 #131

I haven't been to a high school reunion. I was notified of one coming up next spring. JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2022 #132

You somehow got vaccinated with logic and reason but your peers didn't. KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2022 #133

Faux news , Hate radio and evangelicals. flying_wahini Dec 2022 #136

I find it really strange that the right are still scared of commies, reds and pinkos. Martin68 Dec 2022 #137

Exactly, for how could black people fight for justice without outside influence? Chainfire Dec 2022 #138

On a side note, Fox News doesn't change who you are ecstatic Dec 2022 #139

Just found out someone a year ahead of me in school transitioned. shrike3 Dec 2022 #140

Where the hell are the left leaning billionaires? Do they exist? Prairie_Seagull Dec 2022 #141