Not turning more conservative, but it's low-key kind of amazing to have positive interactions with people you weren't expecting.

Background: I've been submitting right-wing memes to "politics" for oh, about 2 weeks now. I've also been commenting like a right-winger on other top politics memes, offering supportive "good one!" style comments where I once might have chosen to argue.

I find that it's just so much easier to swim with the tide rather than try to fight it. Some of the right-wing memers of that stream are looking at me differently too. Like where I once wasn't a person, now they recognize my humanity and my humor.

And... I begin to recognize more of theirs, too. Their worldview is not one I agree with, but it's one that makes internal logical sense to them according to the facts as they know them. They're not evil. They're really not. But sadly the worldview they inhabit teaches them to view us as the enemy. Democrats are ruining America: it's not just a slogan. They really, truly believe that. And when they see a liberal just sharing their political opinions, they react as if to someone trying to take their livelihood and freedoms away. Not true, of course. The Democratic policy agenda is precisely geared toward trying to HELP INCREASE the happiness and livelihood and power of average people -- yes, even rural white straight Christian males.

In order to continue to have a society and a country that works, we HAVE to find a way to recognize our common humanity regardless of political beliefs.

All that is more important than policy issues like the rate of taxation, or the cost of gas, or daily news drama such as who is going to be the next Press Secretary.

So much more important.

Without committing to one another's humanity, we have nothing. And I fear that is where today's hyperpartisan politics is pushing us.

Oh, i was trying to figure out what you were doing lol