One of Them

After the election, someone who thinks she can extrapolate my politics from, well, I'm not sure, added me to a private Facebook group. This isn't a person I know in real life, it's a person who's been an online acquaintance for many years. Since about 1996, I think. We met through homeschooling and have stayed in touch a little bit. Certainly not enough for her to know what my political leanings are, but for whatever reason, she thought I voted for Hillary Clinton and would appreciate being part of a secret Facebook group.

This group started out as a gasping, wounded, floundering thing... 'oh my god Hillary LOST??!??!' and has quickly turned into basically a group about virtue signalling. (Look at my safety pin! Look at me! I am a safe person, I did a good thing for a ________.) You can fill in that blank with gay or Muslim or bi-racial or whatever.

The posts are divided between "I did a nice thing for" and "I am a _______. Give me some encouragement about who I love/my mixed children/my religion."

I don't have a problem with any of those things, of course.

I believe there is value in all people and that one should stand up for those who, for whatever reason, are not able/afraid to stand up for themselves.
 
I'm lurking and reading. I don't have any sinister motives. Many people have written posts to explain how the group has given them courage/strength/hope. Helped them stand up for themselves or for others. This is not a bad thing, although I think their taste in political candidates may need adjusting. :)

I'm still trying to figure out how someone decided that because I homeschooled and I don't hate people based on religion, skin color, gender, sexual preference... I prefer to hate people who have earned it, haha, that I would appreciate being added to a pro-Hillary group.

It's been instructive. People are tired of being treated as less-than based on superficial characteristics. Worried about their future and the futures of their children and families. Worried that things are going to change now that Trump has been elected. These people were confident that Hillary would be the answer to all our problems and they're hurt and sad that she was not elected.

This is not the only Facebook group that someone added me to without my consent. A cousin added me to a pro-Trump group about a month and a half before the election. The rhetoric and bullshit was pretty amazing, but there were many people who just wanted things to be... better. You know... Hope and Change. Ever hear that one before? I left the group after about four days. I wasn't interested in helping Trump get elected, wasn't interested in still more ugliness from people who think his way. The positive posts were few, the negative stuff was a barrage. Of course it was another group of people preaching to the choir. A 'safe space' for them.

I realize that I'm not like most of the people in either one of those groups. I know I've mentioned that I did not vote for either one of our poor choices. I'm certainly okay with that.

You may be asking yourself if there's a point to this post.
I'm not sure there is.

I have always been able to see things from the viewpoint of others. I sometimes really have to work to understand why people think the way they do, but I do try.

I don't think the events reported in the first group I talked about are because Trump was elected, though. People treat each other like shit. Throughout history, people who are different have been ostracized and ridiculed. To read the stuff that's being posted, it's a sudden thing... just since he was elected.

I doubt it.