What is your level of emotional response to recent current events?

brianlux · October 2023

In light of all the recent events unfolding around the world (or even in your country, state, or local issues), I thought it might be good to have a place to talk about how you respond to and deal with all of these unfolding events. The idea here to to examine and express your feelings about things, not to badger or berate each other over our differences. We all know what those differences are and who thinks the way they do about current events we have discussed on AMT. In other words, it's not a Biden Vs Trump, or Republican Vs Democrat, or Israel Vs Palestine, etc. thread. Let's not go three, please.

My own take is that we are entering an increased time of ever more complex and concerning issues and my feelings/ response to all that is one of controlled concern. I told my wife the other day that I experience a lot more anxiety over the little things-- a sore tooth, my hearing issues, worrying I might get sick, etc.-- than I do about economic collapse, widespread war, or a collapsing environment. I have a LOT of concern over the BIG things, but only occasional minor anxiety. I guess I'm wired that way because I can get a tooth fixed, but I can't stop a war. But when large scale events increase in number and intensity, there are times when I find myself having feelings of despair and depression. I'm sure some of it is information fatigues, and I'm aware of that, but when things are really cooking, I'm not always so good at "turning off the news". I wouldn't say I have serious issues that way- my issues are more centered around being neurotic over little things that nag at my, i.e. anxiety, but I have noticed lately a greater degree of my own uneasy feelings about the big stuff.

So I thought, for those inclined to want to share these kinds of feelings, that it might be good to have a place to do just that. Share you concerns, console others. And I think/hope we can do that even with people with whom we don't agree on other specific topics. In other words, this is a about coping, not changing minds or being right or wrong about any particular issue.

Please, again, let's not have this be a place to argue. We can argue about Trump or Biden elsewhere, but we really can't/ought not to tell someone how or what they feel.

I hope we can do this.

tempo_n_groove · October 2023

Been happening for 40 years. I'm not worried.

josevolution · October 2023

It sucks the hate is everywhere!

jwhjr17 · October 2023

Still just living my life, and I'm not too wrapped up in world events.

bootlegger10 · October 2023

Not really thinking about it. Not sure what I would even do about it. Fortunate to be born here in the US and not in the Middle East.

OnWis97 · October 2023

I hate to say it but my response is to be numb and watch sports. Admittedly, I'm pretty ethnocentric and I don't really know a lot about the politics/history/etc. of the region. I know it's terrible, but a lifetime of hearing stories from the middle east has desensitized me.

lastexitlondon · October 2023

I can't handle any of it. I stopped social media 9 years ago . I don't watch news . Even sports I do watch have adverts and medical scare stories which I can't handle so I would say for me I'm sad and anxious about many many things I find it becomes way too much that I can't change and I feel helpless

stuckinline · October 2023

Brian,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I’ve had many conversations with friends and family about the state of the world today and where the human race is headed.
It’s not looking too hopeful.

brianlux · October 2023

josevolution said:

It sucks the hate is everywhere!

I hear you. The amount of hate and anger in the world is disheartening. I know some of that is because the media emphasizes it, but I also get the sense that hate and anger are at a peak these days.

OnWis97 said:

I hate to say it but my response is to be numb and watch sports. Admittedly, I'm pretty ethnocentric and I don't really know a lot about the politics/history/etc. of the region. I know it's terrible, but a lifetime of hearing stories from the middle east has desensitized me.

I think one almost has to have at least some distraction to stay sane. I know I do. I do what Henry Rollins calls "medicate with music".

lastexitlondon said:

I can't handle any of it. I stopped social media 9 years ago . I don't watch news . Even sports I do watch have adverts and medical scare stories which I can't handle so I would say for me I'm sad and anxious about many many things I find it becomes way too much that I can't change and I feel helpless

Limiting TV time is something I've done, but I probably spend too much time reading news on the internet. But today we're heading out a bit later to check out the fall colors. Outdoor time is healing.

brianlux · October 2023

stuckinline said:

Brian,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I’ve had many conversations with friends and family about the state of the world today and where the human race is headed.
It’s not looking too hopeful.

Thanks for the kind reply. I feel the same way.

Sometime it is hard to maintain a feeling of hope when things get to the point they are today. I have to remind myself that unless something terrible is going on that is directly affecting me, it's good to be informed, but to not go too deep into worrying.

Merkin Baller · October 2023

I've been playing a lot more bass in the last two years, and spending significantly less time on social media and consuming the news.

I don't live in ignorance and am very concerned about where we're headed, but I'm also not living every moment fretting about it either. That doesn't serve much purpose besides adding to my anxiety or stress.

I do try to be a responsible citizen in how I vote and how I treat people every day. That's one thing I can do to try to make the world a better place.

MayDay10 · October 2023

I do not watch cable news. It is bad for you.

Overall, I was pretty anxiety fueled through the early Covid days and the early days of the Ukraine War. Right now I'm pretty fine.

brianlux · October 2023

Merkin Baller said:

I've been playing a lot more bass in the last two years, and spending significantly less time on social media and consuming the news.

I don't live in ignorance and am very concerned about where we're headed, but I'm also not living every moment fretting about it either. That doesn't serve much purpose besides adding to my anxiety or stress.

I do try to be a responsible citizen in how I vote and how I treat people every day. That's one thing I can do to try to make the world a better place.

You seem to keep a good balance. Well done, good man.

MayDay10 said:

I do not watch cable news. It is bad for you.

Overall, I was pretty anxiety fueled through the early Covid days and the early days of the Ukraine War. Right now I'm pretty fine.

Yeah, that first year was rough, but glad your doing well now.

Thanks for lots a good relies, all. I'm off to go see some fall colors, hopefully get a few good pics!

benjs · October 2023

brianlux said:

In light of all the recent events unfolding around the world (or even in your country, state, or local issues), I thought it might be good to have a place to talk about how you respond to and deal with all of these unfolding events. The idea here to to examine and express your feelings about things, not to badger or berate each other over our differences. We all know what those differences are and who thinks the way they do about current events we have discussed on AMT. In other words, it's not a Biden Vs Trump, or Republican Vs Democrat, or Israel Vs Palestine, etc. thread. Let's not go three, please.

My own take is that we are entering an increased time of ever more complex and concerning issues and my feelings/ response to all that is one of controlled concern. I told my wife the other day that I experience a lot more anxiety over the little things-- a sore tooth, my hearing issues, worrying I might get sick, etc.-- than I do about economic collapse, widespread war, or a collapsing environment. I have a LOT of concern over the BIG things, but only occasional minor anxiety. I guess I'm wired that way because I can get a tooth fixed, but I can't stop a war. But when large scale events increase in number and intensity, there are times when I find myself having feelings of despair and depression. I'm sure some of it is information fatigues, and I'm aware of that, but when things are really cooking, I'm not always so good at "turning off the news". I wouldn't say I have serious issues that way- my issues are more centered around being neurotic over little things that nag at my, i.e. anxiety, but I have noticed lately a greater degree of my own uneasy feelings about the big stuff.

So I thought, for those inclined to want to share these kinds of feelings, that it might be good to have a place to do just that. Share you concerns, console others. And I think/hope we can do that even with people with whom we don't agree on other specific topics. In other words, this is a about coping, not changing minds or being right or wrong about any particular issue.

Please, again, let's not have this be a place to argue. We can argue about Trump or Biden elsewhere, but we really can't/ought not to tell someone how or what they feel.
I hope we can do this.

'Que sera, sera' sums it up for me at this point. Whether consciously or not, I find myself aware and accepting of the fact that I don't see a future for humanity, nor do I see an undiscovered effective means of intervention as likely. When I think about the planet or our civilization, I have overwhelming numbness and apathy (even about human suffering, which just feel cyclical and inevitable). Most of the time, and on most topics, I feel that any kind of discourse, rhetoric, support, criticism, even opinion-stating, are mostly wasteful ventures that produces nothing that could be called positive, so I don't bother.

If I do happen to be talking with someone and they have an opinion to share on sociopolitical whatever and it isn't a humanitarian-first approach, I'm consciously turning down the volume on the conversation and thinking about a song in my head instead, until I can excuse myself and walk away from it. Music is my number one outlet. If I'm not working/eating/sleeping - I'm playing bluegrass on guitar (and recently fiddle and dobro).

Those are my methods/thoughts/coping mechanisms, to the best I can articulate. Thinking of you all and hoping you're mentally staying well

OnWis97 · October 2023

MayDay10 said:

I do not watch cable news. It is bad for you.

Overall, I was pretty anxiety fueled through the early Covid days and the early days of the Ukraine War. Right now I'm pretty fine.

As was I. And in Minnesota, spring/summer of 2020 was a particularly tense time. I could walk to buildings that preventatively boarded up their windows. Early Covid and the post-George Floyd were quite stressful for me and it's undoubtedly because those things much more directly impacted me (as is human nature).

I worked from home and was fortunate not to lose any employment/work. Also stopped taking vacations. So as my personal time built up, my leisure time was lacking (probably should have done more stay-cationing). How did I handle it? Not sure that I did. I probably put 100 miles per week on my bike (and had the silver lining of really good weather for a long time) and I vegged out in front of the tube.

bootlegger10 · October 2023

MayDay10 said:

I do not watch cable news. It is bad for you.

Overall, I was pretty anxiety fueled through the early Covid days and the early days of the Ukraine War. Right now I'm pretty fine.

I gave up cable news years ago. I try not to get dragged into pointless political debates. Much better for it.

curmudgeoness · October 2023

I'm generally numb/ overwhelmed. Our private lives are pretty chaotic/ overwhelming right now, as well.

For the moment, I'm having to... I wouldn't say *look away,* but maybe *detach* a little. The price of liberty might be eternal vigilance, but I'm not doing any good by lying awake at night, jittering. So I'm not up on the latest troop movements in Ukraine, I refuse to search the interwebs for graphic details of what's happening in Israel/ Gaza, I assume the GOP will continue to be a clown show, and who has time to keep up with all of the former president's legal troubles? It's not that I don't care -- I DO. But personal life is more than a bit crazy right now, so we're focusing on what we can control/ manage/ help.

Elon Musk is a colossal assh*le, but locking people without accounts out of Twitter might be the best thing he's ever done. Everyone in my family reclaimed more time each day than I care to admit, and our collective anxiety levels dropped significantly.

brianlux · October 2023

benjs said:

brianlux said:

In light of all the recent events unfolding around the world (or even in your country, state, or local issues), I thought it might be good to have a place to talk about how you respond to and deal with all of these unfolding events. The idea here to to examine and express your feelings about things, not to badger or berate each other over our differences. We all know what those differences are and who thinks the way they do about current events we have discussed on AMT. In other words, it's not a Biden Vs Trump, or Republican Vs Democrat, or Israel Vs Palestine, etc. thread. Let's not go three, please.

My own take is that we are entering an increased time of ever more complex and concerning issues and my feelings/ response to all that is one of controlled concern. I told my wife the other day that I experience a lot more anxiety over the little things-- a sore tooth, my hearing issues, worrying I might get sick, etc.-- than I do about economic collapse, widespread war, or a collapsing environment. I have a LOT of concern over the BIG things, but only occasional minor anxiety. I guess I'm wired that way because I can get a tooth fixed, but I can't stop a war. But when large scale events increase in number and intensity, there are times when I find myself having feelings of despair and depression. I'm sure some of it is information fatigues, and I'm aware of that, but when things are really cooking, I'm not always so good at "turning off the news". I wouldn't say I have serious issues that way- my issues are more centered around being neurotic over little things that nag at my, i.e. anxiety, but I have noticed lately a greater degree of my own uneasy feelings about the big stuff.

So I thought, for those inclined to want to share these kinds of feelings, that it might be good to have a place to do just that. Share you concerns, console others. And I think/hope we can do that even with people with whom we don't agree on other specific topics. In other words, this is a about coping, not changing minds or being right or wrong about any particular issue.

Please, again, let's not have this be a place to argue. We can argue about Trump or Biden elsewhere, but we really can't/ought not to tell someone how or what they feel.
I hope we can do this.

'Que sera, sera' sums it up for me at this point. Whether consciously or not, I find myself aware and accepting of the fact that I don't see a future for humanity, nor do I see an undiscovered effective means of intervention as likely. When I think about the planet or our civilization, I have overwhelming numbness and apathy (even about human suffering, which just feel cyclical and inevitable). Most of the time, and on most topics, I feel that any kind of discourse, rhetoric, support, criticism, even opinion-stating, are mostly wasteful ventures that produces nothing that could be called positive, so I don't bother.

If I do happen to be talking with someone and they have an opinion to share on sociopolitical whatever and it isn't a humanitarian-first approach, I'm consciously turning down the volume on the conversation and thinking about a song in my head instead, until I can excuse myself and walk away from it. Music is my number one outlet. If I'm not working/eating/sleeping - I'm playing bluegrass on guitar (and recently fiddle and dobro).

Those are my methods/thoughts/coping mechanisms, to the best I can articulate. Thinking of you all and hoping you're mentally staying well

Thank you for this thoughtful post, Ben.

And thanks everyone. Your words can be like the light shining through the leaves of trees in the fall:

The last of the fall colors near West fork of the Carson River, Calif.
10/18/23

josevolution · October 2023

benjs said:

brianlux said:

In light of all the recent events unfolding around the world (or even in your country, state, or local issues), I thought it might be good to have a place to talk about how you respond to and deal with all of these unfolding events. The idea here to to examine and express your feelings about things, not to badger or berate each other over our differences. We all know what those differences are and who thinks the way they do about current events we have discussed on AMT. In other words, it's not a Biden Vs Trump, or Republican Vs Democrat, or Israel Vs Palestine, etc. thread. Let's not go three, please.

My own take is that we are entering an increased time of ever more complex and concerning issues and my feelings/ response to all that is one of controlled concern. I told my wife the other day that I experience a lot more anxiety over the little things-- a sore tooth, my hearing issues, worrying I might get sick, etc.-- than I do about economic collapse, widespread war, or a collapsing environment. I have a LOT of concern over the BIG things, but only occasional minor anxiety. I guess I'm wired that way because I can get a tooth fixed, but I can't stop a war. But when large scale events increase in number and intensity, there are times when I find myself having feelings of despair and depression. I'm sure some of it is information fatigues, and I'm aware of that, but when things are really cooking, I'm not always so good at "turning off the news". I wouldn't say I have serious issues that way- my issues are more centered around being neurotic over little things that nag at my, i.e. anxiety, but I have noticed lately a greater degree of my own uneasy feelings about the big stuff.

So I thought, for those inclined to want to share these kinds of feelings, that it might be good to have a place to do just that. Share you concerns, console others. And I think/hope we can do that even with people with whom we don't agree on other specific topics. In other words, this is a about coping, not changing minds or being right or wrong about any particular issue.

Please, again, let's not have this be a place to argue. We can argue about Trump or Biden elsewhere, but we really can't/ought not to tell someone how or what they feel.
I hope we can do this.

'Que sera, sera' sums it up for me at this point. Whether consciously or not, I find myself aware and accepting of the fact that I don't see a future for humanity, nor do I see an undiscovered effective means of intervention as likely. When I think about the planet or our civilization, I have overwhelming numbness and apathy (even about human suffering, which just feel cyclical and inevitable). Most of the time, and on most topics, I feel that any kind of discourse, rhetoric, support, criticism, even opinion-stating, are mostly wasteful ventures that produces nothing that could be called positive, so I don't bother.

If I do happen to be talking with someone and they have an opinion to share on sociopolitical whatever and it isn't a humanitarian-first approach, I'm consciously turning down the volume on the conversation and thinking about a song in my head instead, until I can excuse myself and walk away from it. Music is my number one outlet. If I'm not working/eating/sleeping - I'm playing bluegrass on guitar (and recently fiddle and dobro).

Those are my methods/thoughts/coping mechanisms, to the best I can articulate. Thinking of you all and hoping you're mentally staying well

Same to you hope all is well! I need to let go of all social media outlets and TV news I’m hoping with me semi-retiring in 8 days I’ll be able to just spend time outdoors and take up an instrument! It’s never too late no? Plus I’ve got a honey do list from my wife that will take sometime for me to get through and planning on getting active exercise every day..

gimmesometruth27 · October 2023

i'm basically checked out at this point. i am angry at all the conflict in the world. i am embarrassed by our government and the house inability to elect a speaker to perform its basic day to day function. no news seems good, so aside from this website i try to avoid it mostly. i will snap out of it, but at this point i don't have the bandwidth for it.

brianlux · October 2023

gimmesometruth27 said:

i'm basically checked out at this point. i am angry at all the conflict in the world. i am embarrassed by our government and the house inability to elect a speaker to perform its basic day to day function. no news seems good, so aside from this website i try to avoid it mostly. i will snap out of it, but at this point i don't have the bandwidth for it.

Well, damn, I have to say, "When gimme is fed up, you know the shit going on is bad."
I get it, bud.

What is your level of emotional response to recent current events?

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