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Steven Diller's avatar

I’ve always been amazed at the progressive activist tendency to celebrate “rage,” believing that it somehow liberates self-perceived victims from the traumas perpetuated by their abusers. Your argument is an essential corrective, but after decades of propaganda advocating for rage as a response, it may be tough to persuade people that an enraged emotional response may feel like “healing,” but is ultimately disempowering. Not to mention psychically damaging.

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Davis Masten's avatar

Steve, Good point of the celebration of rage. Hadn't thought of it quite that way. Sadly the money and the attention goes to the extremes. And if it bleeds it leads.

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Pam Paradiso's avatar

100%!!

I’ve been way more selective about even diving into some NYT articles because just reading the subject lines can really get to me. I started following mushroom foragers in blue.skye because it quickly turned into a doom feed with lots of name callers. Feels so unproductive. I do an email scan in mid afternoon and look at Substack with coffee every morning.

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Christopher Ireland's avatar

Same. I also add offbeat feeds like Farming Fulltime, various food writers or even a knitting expert to keep my bubble at bay. But giving up just isn't an option unless you look forward to living in a dystopian nightmare managed by aging men seeking eternal youth.

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Pam Paradiso's avatar

Never! I won’t ever give up! but …ooof, this has been quite the barrage. All foreign to me

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Jesse Cool's avatar

Rage is not where some go.

Some go to sadness, holding our breath, and trying to be softer, slower. Ghandhi.

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The Human Variable's avatar

Thank you Christopher. Such a powerful insight on how we get played - and what to do about it. Very helpful.

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