To my own detriment, I have to admit, I'm attempting to have nuanced conversations with friends about our current political situation. Why? Well, for one because I'm worried, and two because I do consider them friends, and I feel obligated to help them break the spell they've fallen under.
However-- I seem to be failing...
Incongruent thinking
I have a good friend, someone who I love dearly and that I've known for a really long time, who's turned into a fully fledged Trump fanatic these days.
He and his wife share all the memes, repeat all the lies, the verifiable lies, and refuse to listen to facts that contradict their convictions. It can only be described as evidential immunity, if such a thing even exists.
Now; this friend of mine has no clue that I know things about him that would make anyone feel more confused than Darth Vader in a Teletubbies feature.
My friend lives a double life as a woman.
Listen, I'm in no way shape or form kink shaming him. I believe he has the right to self expression, and as long as his wife is "in the loop" and she's supportive, well-- So am I. (even if he has no clue I am)
Open relationships are not my thing, but as someone who believes in freedom, I do repeat the mantra, when asked that is-- "You do you".
I doubt my friend would consider himself a member of the LGBTQ+ community, but it's undeniable that he's at least adjacent to them, which allows me to land to my point, or my question that makes the point for me.
Why would he support someone who hates people like him?
Tell me why
Since being a fully fledged member of MAGA requires, at least at this point, loving Elon as well. This friend of mine has began posting Musk memes, and hot takes defending his actions.
That said, there are congruent ways to defend Musk, logical ways to present, if you will, reasons why someone might think Musk is great. But my friend, my good friend, is simply shit posting fallacies.
It was his very last post the one that lured me into "helping" him see the light, and why I'm feeling quite frustrated at this very moment.
Allow me to share his hot take:
The same people who are saying Musk was not elected were completely fine with Kamala being appointed as the Democratic candidate.
Two wrongs != One right
As I said at the very beginning of what seems to be a good rant for a good Sunday, I saw this and decided to insert myself, insert some logic, an olive branch, if you will, to my good friend.
The Dems messed up, that was BS, but also, this point you are attempting to make, can't be the very reason why we are not allowed to discuss Elon's actions. Nobody should be given carte blanch to do as they please, not somebody operating as a public servant. That would be illogical.
I even added a simple example, one that should not require much brain power to understand.
Kid A eats all the chocolate selfishly. His parent tells him that was wrong, and that he should never do that again. Kid A then responds: My brother drank all the juice.
Again the core message being: Two wrongs != one right.
Where is the goal post?
The conversation then devolved, as maybe I should have known it would have.
My friend:
Elon has no power, he's just an advisor to Trump. Trump has not given him the keys to the car, and this was the case from day 1.
Me:
I heard this just yesterday, he was even declared not be the head of DOGE which seems to be in direct contradiction with everything we knew until now.
Friend:
Show me when Trump said he was the Elon was the head of DOGE
Me:
Posts a video of Trump saying precisely this.
Friend:
DOGE existed under Obama under a different name
Me:
I did not know that, but I still should be able to question the actions of any governmental department, this does not negate my initial point.
Friend:
Don't you want Elon to fix the government? What is wrong with him finding Fraud and Abuse?
Me:
....
Self Torture
I remember hearing the expression: "Playing chess with a Pidgeon" and thinking it was creative, but too hyperbolic. But as of yesterday I think I fully grasp the need for said expression.
Yes, I know, I'm on a futile quest, and I need to just click away. But shit.... it's hard.
MenO