Every day I try to check myself and make sure I'm not putting my anger (my righteous anger, some pitiful part of my ego insists) out into the world and making things worse. I suspect I fail more often than I'd like. We need places we can put our anger at the attacks on our democracy without barfing it all over each other. That's only making things worse. I can totally understand wanting a break from it. You've been putting yourself out there because you love our country, and it's really hard. <3 Peace.
It does seem like there's this bipolar monolithic way of looking at things and the answers are just not usually that way. I'm just spent in pointing out there are other ways to view things and really need a break from it all. To withstand what's typically thrown at me weekly (and I make liberal use of mute and block buttons) does wear on you. Sometimes you need to get out from behind the keyboard.
I'll be back. Just need to recharge the batteries.
***** I regularly post teases to the articles on various social media platforms. It’s helped me grow this little corner of substack from literally nothing to a pretty impressive and expanding fan base. Unfortunately, it also attracts its fair share of trolls who prefer everyone stay lockstep to a party line. Most of the time, it’s easy for me to tune them out, but it does wear on you. Sometimes they can get under your skin though and your mental health suffers for it.
[...]
So it is with some sadness that I am going to be taking a pause from writing on PurpleAmerica for awhile. I’m just burnt out and disspirited for the time being and need to recharge some batteries.*****
.
I am all sympathy. And not having ventured broadly into the wilds of social media, I have not had this kind of painful experience. I do not judge!
That said, this retreat from the mob saddens me.
It also inspires me. It is time that I risk exposing myself to trolls. I would like to think that I would withstand what may come. We shall see.
Thanks. I make liberal use of the mute and block buttons but lately the volume of what I am seeing and people responding have been overwhelming. It's frustrating to be sure. And some sites have become toxic IMO. It's too bad. I love the community I've helped develop here and want it to continue and grow. I just need to step back for a little bit.
I'll be back. It's not a retreat, its a rest. The fight for common sense and rationality will continue, just after I recharge a little.
Get some rest and chill out for a bit. Many people appreciate what you offer here, but I'm glad you are taking a break because it sounds like you need it. Don't damage your mental health for a newsletter.
I have become much more comfortable calling myself a moderate in the last few years. Yours was one of the voices, first on Twitter and then on Substack, who helped me get here.
If you feel like getting a beer in Milwaukee sometime, let me know.
Thanks, I genuinely appreciate that. And it's humbling to know I've helped you feel comfortable taking more moderate positions; this kind of serious thought leads to great discussions and a better overall politics. You have also offered great thoughts and dicussions and I appreciate your contributions.
I still believe that purple represents the glue holding the country together, and there's more smart, thoughtful, reasonable people in the middle than there are mindless, party line regurgitating automatants.
And to be sure, I want to continue doing this. I just genuinely need a break. Some of the more negativity out there is just wearing on me, and I just get angry, frustrated and upset. I think just stepping back for a month or so will do wonders for my sanity.
OH NO! This is one of the only sites where I feel I belong.....where there is nuance instead of scorched earth rhetoric from the polars of the parties. Take care! I hope you get your second wind soon.
I just completely stopped using social media and also ration my news intake. I real the news but not obsessively and I don’t read any campaign tick-tock stories or what if stories. If it makes The Economist, it is probably newsworthy. I also read more books and more long-form articles. All of this has made me much happier.
I’m sorry to hear this, but totally understand. I just found you recently and like what you have to say. Best wishes and will look forward to your return.
Apart from my time here, I no longer participate in the major social media platforms.
I guess I owe Musk a debt of gratitude for finally getting me to break my Twitter addiction.
But without "spamming" on those platforms, your ability to attract and grow an audience is greatly limited. That said, I suspect that the quality of subscribers you get from the cesspool that the social media majors have all become.
I swear that once a platform reaches some threshold of users, it is inevitable that the discourse coarsens, and the trolls invade and become emboldened
Every day I try to check myself and make sure I'm not putting my anger (my righteous anger, some pitiful part of my ego insists) out into the world and making things worse. I suspect I fail more often than I'd like. We need places we can put our anger at the attacks on our democracy without barfing it all over each other. That's only making things worse. I can totally understand wanting a break from it. You've been putting yourself out there because you love our country, and it's really hard. <3 Peace.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
It does seem like there's this bipolar monolithic way of looking at things and the answers are just not usually that way. I'm just spent in pointing out there are other ways to view things and really need a break from it all. To withstand what's typically thrown at me weekly (and I make liberal use of mute and block buttons) does wear on you. Sometimes you need to get out from behind the keyboard.
I'll be back. Just need to recharge the batteries.
PurpleAmerica wrote:
***** I regularly post teases to the articles on various social media platforms. It’s helped me grow this little corner of substack from literally nothing to a pretty impressive and expanding fan base. Unfortunately, it also attracts its fair share of trolls who prefer everyone stay lockstep to a party line. Most of the time, it’s easy for me to tune them out, but it does wear on you. Sometimes they can get under your skin though and your mental health suffers for it.
[...]
So it is with some sadness that I am going to be taking a pause from writing on PurpleAmerica for awhile. I’m just burnt out and disspirited for the time being and need to recharge some batteries.*****
.
I am all sympathy. And not having ventured broadly into the wilds of social media, I have not had this kind of painful experience. I do not judge!
That said, this retreat from the mob saddens me.
It also inspires me. It is time that I risk exposing myself to trolls. I would like to think that I would withstand what may come. We shall see.
Thanks. I make liberal use of the mute and block buttons but lately the volume of what I am seeing and people responding have been overwhelming. It's frustrating to be sure. And some sites have become toxic IMO. It's too bad. I love the community I've helped develop here and want it to continue and grow. I just need to step back for a little bit.
I'll be back. It's not a retreat, its a rest. The fight for common sense and rationality will continue, just after I recharge a little.
Get some rest and chill out for a bit. Many people appreciate what you offer here, but I'm glad you are taking a break because it sounds like you need it. Don't damage your mental health for a newsletter.
I have become much more comfortable calling myself a moderate in the last few years. Yours was one of the voices, first on Twitter and then on Substack, who helped me get here.
If you feel like getting a beer in Milwaukee sometime, let me know.
Thanks, I genuinely appreciate that. And it's humbling to know I've helped you feel comfortable taking more moderate positions; this kind of serious thought leads to great discussions and a better overall politics. You have also offered great thoughts and dicussions and I appreciate your contributions.
I still believe that purple represents the glue holding the country together, and there's more smart, thoughtful, reasonable people in the middle than there are mindless, party line regurgitating automatants.
And to be sure, I want to continue doing this. I just genuinely need a break. Some of the more negativity out there is just wearing on me, and I just get angry, frustrated and upset. I think just stepping back for a month or so will do wonders for my sanity.
OH NO! This is one of the only sites where I feel I belong.....where there is nuance instead of scorched earth rhetoric from the polars of the parties. Take care! I hope you get your second wind soon.
Thank you. This just made my day. :) Actually my week. And I assure you that you most definitely belong.
I'll be back. Just need to step back from it for a little bit.
I just completely stopped using social media and also ration my news intake. I real the news but not obsessively and I don’t read any campaign tick-tock stories or what if stories. If it makes The Economist, it is probably newsworthy. I also read more books and more long-form articles. All of this has made me much happier.
I’m sorry to hear this, but totally understand. I just found you recently and like what you have to say. Best wishes and will look forward to your return.
Thanks. I appreciate that.
In the meantime, feel free to peruse the archives for other stories you may like.
I'll be back. I just seriously need a break and to recharge. :)
Let’s grab a drink soon.
Apart from my time here, I no longer participate in the major social media platforms.
I guess I owe Musk a debt of gratitude for finally getting me to break my Twitter addiction.
But without "spamming" on those platforms, your ability to attract and grow an audience is greatly limited. That said, I suspect that the quality of subscribers you get from the cesspool that the social media majors have all become.
Take care brother.
Thanks. I'll be back again soon. Just really need a break.
I held out hope Threads would be a positive and for awhile it was, but it's becoming "die hard liberal twitter" and that's not a good thing.
I swear that once a platform reaches some threshold of users, it is inevitable that the discourse coarsens, and the trolls invade and become emboldened