Purposeful ignorance - exiting US politics

[71 dB]

I have been following US politics closely for about 3.5 years, ever since Trump won the general election to my surprise. Now, restropectively all I can say is ignorance is bliss. Better understanding of the lack of democracy in the US has made me even more cynical and less happy person. Also, I am totally pissed of for how my knowledge and understanding of US poltics has been downplayed online. I am pissed of how political left is treaded. As if we supporters of social democracy were not human being. As if we were not part of the political process. As if our vision for the future didn't matter. Why is it only the oligharcs matter? Why? That is NOT DEMOCRACY!!

So, I am trying to EXIT US politics. Maybe I don't become totally ignorant, but I will care less. If people here want Biden or Cuomo to become the president have at it! Nothing will change. Premiums will go up 40 % because of Corona crisis they say. You want to pay those instead of increased taxes? Well, pay away! Not my money! I live in a single payer country. I don't care anymore and I should have never cared in the first place!! Maybe Corona will make American's wake up, but I don't care.

So, exiting US politics will give "free time" to do other things. I want to listen to classical music, but it's so difficult to concentrate on that when I am so cynical and priritually broken person nowadays. Is it possible to become less cynical? Is it possible to start believing in better tomorrow again? I can't even decide which composer to explore!! Leclair? Melartin? Penderecki? Rubbra? I am so broken it's difficult to even enjoy classical music.

My budget of classical music purchases doesn't allow much, but I can listen to what I have: Instead of Kuijken's Leclair I can listen to my Rameau disc on Accent label. I just need to be able to get all the dark clouds out of my head to enjoy it. Pretend the US don't exist. Pretend Corona virus doesn't exist. It is so difficult.

What do you do when you are so broken and down you can't enjoy classical music or concentrate on it? I can enjoy pop music and electronic music. For example Into this dance pop song at the moment:

https://www.youtube.com/v/wKkj8AeRPus

[steve ridgway]

I just need to be able to get all the dark clouds out of my head to enjoy it. Pretend the US don't exist. Pretend Corona virus doesn't exist. It is so difficult.

Yes this. I am trying to focus more on my own life not what I have no control over. The TV news stayed on earlier only long enough to hear the headlines.

[71 dB]

Yes this. I am trying to focus more on my own life not what I have no control over. The TV news stayed on earlier only long enough to hear the headlines.

Lack of control over many things makes it challenging to feel life is fulfilling or meaningful. I don't know what my purpose in life is. I try things, but always fail. What is the thing I am good/talented at? I don't have a clue.

[Karl Henning]

You announced this before.  I'll believe your abstinence when I see it, as it were.

[71 dB]

I stop watching lefty youtubers such as Kyle Kulinski. Otherwise I won't get away from US politics. This is not an act against them. I have to do this for my own well-being, to be purposefully ignorant... ...if I watch youtube videos, it's non-political stuff from now on.

[Iota]

Lack of control over many things makes it challenging to feel life is fulfilling or meaningful. I don't know what my purpose in life is. I try things, but always fail. What is the thing I am good/talented at? I don't have a clue.

If it's any consolation I'd think most people on the planet have asked themselves those questions at some point, and not been able to answer them. Of course I don't know you, but I imagine you are good at something or things, even though you're not yet aware of it. I also imagine you could become good at things. I think sometimes one's attitude prevents one seeing what one's capable of. Sometimes being a little kinder to oneself can open up new windows. Perhaps our purpose in life is searching for our purpose in life, whether or not we find it. The journey as meaningful (maybe more) than the arriving.

Anyway a cliched series of random thoughts, and I'm in no position to offer anybody advice, but I wish you luck. 

[Karl Henning]

I stop watching lefty youtubers such as Kyle Kulinski. Otherwise I won't get away from US politics. This is not an act against them. I have to do this for my own well-being, to be purposefully ignorant... ...if I watch youtube videos, it's non-political stuff from now on.

Well, I shall support you in that endeavor.

[pjme]

Anyway a cliched series of random thoughts, and I'm in no position to offer anybody advice, but I wish you luck. 

And so do I.
Keep cool (or warm, when necessary). Sleep well.

This is for you!

https://www.youtube.com/v/DgdYGJ-gDHY

Mortals, stop sighing....

[SimonNZ]

Also, I am totally pissed of for how my knowledge and understanding of US poltics has been downplayed online.

The first rule of Dunning-Kruger Club is: you don't know you're in Dunning-Kruger Club.

The second rule of Dunning-Kruger Club is: you.don't.know.you're.in.Dunning.Kruger.Club.

[Holden]

A political system where anyone who wants to be elected needs very deep pockets does not bode well for the common person.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Guys, just be happy you have the luxury of complaining about it from across an ocean--some of us have to fkn live here in Murikkka. 

[Karl Henning]

The first rule of Dunning-Kruger Club is: you don't know you're in Dunning-Kruger Club.

The second rule of Dunning-Kruger Club is: you.don't.know.you're.in.Dunning.Kruger.Club.

Thanks! I just learnt something.

[Holden]

Guys, just be happy you have the luxury of complaining about it from across an ocean--some of us have to fkn live here in Murikkka. 

The statement I made does not apply just to to the USA.

[steve ridgway]

Lack of control over many things makes it challenging to feel life is fulfilling or meaningful. I don't know what my purpose in life is. I try things, but always fail. What is the thing I am good/talented at? I don't have a clue.

Humans tend to define "purpose" as what's useful to other humans, and judge how useful people have been. I've been generally good at exploring the world around me, picking up many little bits of information, sometimes seeing patterns and connections. Not much of great use to other people but maybe I have to learn how to stop feeling that pressure from society and focus more on the bigger picture, appreciating what's been going on in the rest of space and time. And perhaps the smaller picture, keeping my own little bit of the universe in order.

[pjme]

The first rule of Dunning-Kruger Club is: you don't know you're in Dunning-Kruger Club.

The second rule of Dunning-Kruger Club is: you.don't.know.you're.in.Dunning.Kruger.Club.

Most interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect#Original_study

[SimonNZ]

I hadn't heard about the lemon juice thing before. That's brilliant.

[71 dB]

Guys, just be happy you have the luxury of complaining about it from across an ocean--some of us have to fkn live here in Murikkka. 

Many americans think the US is the greatest country in the World. Again, ignorance is bliss. 

[Herman]

Many americans think the US is the greatest country in the World. Again, ignorance is bliss. 

But then, a lot of people think the exact same thing about their country.

I believe that's called chauvinism.

[André]

Most interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect#Original_study

Thanks, I learned something new. 

It's the kind of thing that 'goes without saying', but expressing it as a logical statement is almost startling. The last paragraph of this wiki article was eminently prescient of what would happen in Washington a few years later...

In 2011, David Dunning wrote about his observations that people with substantial, measurable deficits in their knowledge or expertise lack the ability to recognize those deficits and, therefore, despite potentially making error after error, tend to think they are performing competently when they are not: "In short, those who are incompetent, for lack of a better term, should have little insight into their incompetence (...)

[T. D.]

Most interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect#Original_study

I had vowed to no longer engage with (even potentially) politically-oriented threads, but want to thank you for posting this. I admit that I was unaware of it.