'But they're mistaken or have been lied to' goes the narrative at this point.
I'm afraid at this point I honestly don't care. At this point if you claim to think the earth is flat, Trump won, Brexit was a sensible decision, abortion is murder, covid doesn't exist, etc, you are choosing to believe this nonsense. The reality is as an adult it behoves you to orientate yourself to reality, and I don't owe these people a discussion, evidence, or even an audience. They're fools and will not be persuaded because they don't want to be (that is, if they're even actual people, on social media).
Is this judgemental? Of course. Am I being horrible? You bet. Do I care? Do I fuck.
When you don't care about these fools, it changes your perspective. It gives you the opportunity to concentrate and be very selective who you talk with. This means that I don't waste the remaining years of my life around people that I can't stand, and I think we can all agree that this is a desirable thing.
In my misspent youth hanging around the monastic world I got to know the idea of being focused on thing, being alone, and so on. In a Christian monastic world this tends to mean being focused on God and the other people in the community form the lessons that God teaches you by the love of neighbour. I suppose in true witchy fashion I've turned this on its head to focus on what I want to focus on, and not be distracted by fools. The Hound's rule for monasteries would tend to end up with a very different end product than St Benedict's!
I honestly can't really see a downside to this approach. I can see an objection that you would never get your opinions challenged if you only hang out with people of your own opinion. However if you're just making a point of avoiding unreality and argument with the unpersuadable I think you actually get challenged more. I think this is the result of seeking out intelligent people.
This also highlights that in a witchy/Pagan milieu, rather than the single eye being focused on God, it will necessarily be focused on the world and open to all the possibilities therein. Just not fools.
Subtle, I know.
Some of these fools you speak of are my family and long-time friends. Ignoring their brainwashed perspective is a luxury I cannot afford. It is I who remain to hold their hands during their trials and tribulations, including death itself. They are not scared because I'm on both sides of the veil, the Fox news pundits become echos of a distant land. I devote myself to the art of water, which finds the path of least resistance. At my most violent I chose the path of fire, but it's been decades, and even then, the charred remains must be washed clean with water for new growth. You would be surprised what a difference Jan.6th had in the minds of American Trump voters. It is then that I was flooded with Conservative Republican friends and family who saw what Trump stood for and could not abide it. I was the only one they felt safe confiding in. toe everyone else they smile and nod but they did not vote for him in 2020 and they will not vote for him in 2024. Gather enough of the silent objectors and it matters. Practice the art of water, Hound. It can cut through stone when given the time to do so.
ReplyDeleteSplash splash.
DeleteNow you're being naughty because you're giving my readers (all three of them) a preview of my next post where I say that since humanity is almost certainly doomed so we might just as well let set fire to the bus we're on hurtling towards the cliff!
Ha! Life is boring if we aren't naughty sometimes, but that's more of your domain than mine. I'm mostly an observer and a scribe, rarely do I go feral. Observation becomes stalking and scribing becomes marking.
DeleteI've been studying why civilizations collapse and commonalities among those who survive. Apocalypse means "new beginning" it doesn't mean a violent end is inevitable for everyone. The miracle that we exist; you, me and your other three readers. How many times are you counting IDV? ;) Our ancestors survived apocalypses'; we need to learn what they learned and adapt. See article below:
https://www.sciencealert.com/what-is-the-likelihood-that-you-exist
Did you see that some of the horses from the Household Cavalry broke free and ran through the streets of London? It was like the horsemen of the apocalypse and caused something of a sensation.
DeleteI did not see that! The news here was recently all abuzz because there were ZEBRAS running around the nearby small town of North Bend where my Aunt lives. Locals were having way too much fun making memes about it! Sasquatch lives around here you know, so some were joking that the last Zebra that took days longer to find must be hanging out with Sasquatch and that's why no one could find her. I'll go look up the London horses unofficial parade now!
DeleteOh, just count me once. Twice if you need to bulk up the numbers. The other two aren't "even actual people" as they're only subconsciousnesses.
DeleteOoh, I should take note of this post, Hound, and be selective in talking with them.
Hey!
Now stand still and stop milling around as I count you!
Delete