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@Phorm Does it give you any hope to be reminded that I used to BE one of those people? *hug* And believe me, I take ZERO offense at your post even if I used to resemble those people-- because I was wrong, wrong, wrong about so many things and it's so obvious in retrospect.

The only other reassurance (at least for now: a more direct solution may be coming?) I can give is that YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY, DEAR. <3 <3 <3 I have been absolutely reeling from al this and mostly hiding out from social media. I have barely even been "out hunting" lately, which is NOT like me.

We are in a dark age. But a lot of us miss the golden age, and I think the enthuiasm and frustration about it are going to reach a critical mass eventually, because even some of the "normies" are starting to recognize how constrained and awful the online world feels.

But no, you're not wrong at all, and not bad to feel this way about those people. We are coming up very quickly on a huge reckoning with the something very ugly about modern society, and history will NOT be any kinder to your hand-wringing acquaintances than it's been to the people who "didn't think Hitler seemed like such a bad guy."

Have I told you the story of La Donnola, honey? Because I am just ITCHING to repeat it... (TL;DR: great-grandpa got to punch a Mussolini sympathizer in his own home )

@zebratron2084

I get some hope from that, honestly. I really do! I'm so stuck in this mentality that no one wants to change, and that change is impossible.

I totally understand why you'd be hiding from social media. It sucks now!! A whole lot!! If I were able, I'd probably take a looooong step back (as it stands, if I don't have social media I don't have... social. Period).

As for the "normies" getting it, I'm not so sure. At least, from what I keep hearing from my family, it's pretty bleak. They're convinced the internet should be destroyed wholesale, and beyond that, they keep talking about how all Trump supporters are misguided good people we need to make space for. I'm terrified to come out to my larger family, because I know that I'm going to be immediately targeted for being a pervert and a danger to children - They're that kind of 'respectable' liberal. The kind that hate trans people, because we're going to lose an election for them, and they're pretty bought into the far-right narrative despite their allegiance.

Hey, have I ever told you about my step-family? Because they have a pretty cherished piece of family history that aligns pretty well with your example quote there, and it terrifies me.

I don't know. This isn't helpful. I'm sorry. I'm just kind of doom spiraling right now.

I don't remember ever hearing the story of La Donnola, though. I'd be very interested in the details!

@Phorm Oh, and basically my great-granddad's sister married a really sketchy, shady guy that he didn't trust. He nicknamed him "La Donnola," or "The Weasel."

Well, his sister got pragnant and La Donnola didn't have a real job, so they begged Great-Grandpa Nick to let them stay with him and his wife. He did NOT LIKE THIS, because he hated his brother-in-law, but he couldn't turn his sister down so he put up with him.... until one night when Nick came home late and heard something reverberating in the basement.

The fucking weasel was holed up down there with four of his friends, complete strangers to Nick, and a shortwave radio. They were speaking to somebody in Italian. In the late thirties. About something they felt they needed to do at 4 am in a basement.

Yeah.

Great-Grandpa Nick grabbed his shotgun and waved all of them outside except for La Donnola, who he punched in the snoot and told him he'd kill him if he ever saw him again.

I REALLY regret never getting to meet Great-Grandpa Nick. :D