I've noticed an uptick in divisive 'pissed off' threads lately

[Baltimike]

and I want to offer a hug to everyone feeling "less than" this holiday season. Not to call anyone out in particular at all, but there are a lot of "I am pissed off about (insert whatever here....taxes...holiday get togethers, etc) and I wanna know if you're as pissed off as I am about it".

Not for nothin', but, like, there's a LOT of that here lately.

I want to hug you.

When we get divided, that's how they conquer

[MicaelS]

1. I am pissed off at all those pissed off.

And I am not joking. What a bunch of fucking Grinches we have here.

"Wahh, waah waah... I hate Christmas."

"Christmas sucks"

"My relatives do not appreciate me"

"I hate my family."

"The Holidays suck"

I can keep going but you get the idea.

I guess it is impossible for some people to ever be happy.

[cwydro]

4. Yeah, there are certainly some Gloomy Gus threads.

Some very unhappy people apparently post here.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Why would you be mad at people who find the holidays difficult?

[MicaelS]

11. Because THEY often make it difficult for themselves.

No matter what holiday comes around someone is going to whine about it. And that shit gets real old, real fast.

Some people are only happy when they can shit on other people's attempt to have some enjoyment out of life.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

14. Huh.

[LakeArenal]

21. I agree. I think having a good time is a choice.

At least 90%

That old cliche: You can only control what you do, say and react.

I’m blessed with a no drama family.

But I hear negativity at theChristmas Party, work, church, in line at the store.

I feel bad for them but I will not let it wreck my attitude.

[wryter2000]

13. I'm happy, I would guess, over 90% of the time

And I still hate Christmas.

In fact, things I'm happy about right now include, but are not limited to, days getting longer and seed catalogues arriving.

[leftstreet]

2. How is being pissed off 'divisive?'

[relayerbob]

7. Anger divides

It is its nature. Anger only unites to tear other things apart. Love joins and combines

[mopinko]

12. it's the divide part of divide and conquer.

[lunatica]

3. You just noticed this?

It’s a perfectly normal state of affairs in DU. I’m puzzled that you haven’t noticed it before. There’s always been blood spatter here, especially in General Discussion. It’s actually been pretty good since they started the Democratic Primaries forum. The real fighting will happen there. Wait and see.

[DownriverDem]

5. Not PO

I just want folks to focus on who can win enough states to beat trump. That's all I care about.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. I think the country is so divided it is impacting everyone's mood.

I see more angry people in the grocery store, at work, even at the toy store I went to in town before Christmas to buy a gift. I don't care what they say, the Trumpers are not real happy people either.

I can't wait for November 2020 in hopes we can get someone sane in the White House and hopefully beat turtleman in Kentucky.

It has been a brutal 3 years.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

8. Most I've seen are just people needing to vent and.....

get their troubles out into the sunshine, quite often a healthy practice. Most I've seen are also not divisive but just personal feelings and opinions, such as on the holidays.

I've had what's probably one of the worst years of my life this year, but being an introvert I choose to keep it private and I vent in private face-to-face. Others that are more extroverted need to shout it out and we have a vast diversity here on DU that I appreciate.

Let's try to be compassionate and accepting during this sometimes stressful season and try to see things from other's viewpoint and context.

KY...................

[calimary]

10. Hugs, my friend.

Hopefully we’ll All make 2020 a better year.

Just make sure you vote!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

15. Thanks, Calimary and happy holiday to you.

Nothing will keep me and my kids away from the polls in 2020.

This thread and related thoughts remind me of DU jury duty. Many times, I have no way of knowing the context of an alerted post, so I give the poster the benefit of a doubt. Also have no way of knowing the emotional state of the poster - a common disease of social media. And, sometimes the posts prior to the alerted one is are worse.

Have a safe and happy new year!.......

[calimary]

29. To you as well, my friend.

[oldsoftie]

16. I refuse to be pissed off. I do my work & help who I can. I live my life regardless of Trump

Just like I said the morning after the '16 election; "oh well, I gotta go to work just like any other day"
I refuse to let my disdain for that idiot ruin my day or week. I have just as much fun now as I did 3 years ago. Because I choose to not let that stupid fool ruin my day!
I'll work to get rid of him, but i'm not going to let it consume me as some others have.

[bronxiteforever]

17. I have seen many threads where folks tell of suffering

from illnesses or from the grief over lost ones. Those pains hit more sharply at this time of year.

The passing of time brings the ghosts out for some. It is especially lousy to be ill whatever time of year but when family can’t be seen because of hospital stays, it is tougher.

I have seen threads start out with the pissed off theme only to expose some really difficult times for posters. I am glad they do that. Kindness at this time seems in short supply given the insidious reign of Orange Nero. Being compassionate is a way to fight back and reclaim ourselves as humans.

So here here for your hugs, these are most surely needed.

[llashram]

20. you are insightful

and compassionate with a very dear heart. Many of us suffer the consequence of the lost ones to fate, premeditated loss through murder/suicides and random occurrence that happened in this season of joy and merrymaking. I'm hoping in this upcoming year we can find the unity of purpose to right this ship of state and calm the rough cultural waves caused by the "Orange Nero", Stephan Miller et al.

May we heal our divided Party with one purpose. Turning back the extreme RW and bringing balance to our form of government, again.

[bronxiteforever]

22. I appreciate the kind words! Although

like everyone else I am a crappy human (on occasion) and have to be reminded that other souls are carrying burdens that I should help carry or the very least concern myself enough to offer empathy.

May your wish for our Country and government be made real.

[Baltimike]

27. seen those too...but those aren't quite the ones

it's the "is anybody pissed off that they pay <taxes, excise fees, etc>" not the "this time of year is hard to handle for me"

although I guess both are saying the same thing but differently

[bronxiteforever]

28. I was thinking of the post below.

Started out as the type you referred to but then I read all the responses. Some just heartbreaking.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212817939

[Niagara]

18. I get where the "pissed off' threads come from

Christmas at home is one thing. Christmas (or any family time) with relatives is completely different story.


I'm always on guard and apprehensive when it comes to spending any amount of time with my "in-laws". FIL has repeatedly ruined family gatherings in the past. One year at Easter, he started ranting and yelling about Obamacare. Thanksgiving 2015, he ranted, yelled and blamed Obama for Turkey shooting down a Russian warplane. At a birthday party in 2016, he ranted and yelled about Hillary.


Luckily, I didn't have to deal with it this year, I think word got back to them that I actually hate spending time with them because of the political BS. It just doesn't belong. Another wise DUer once said that normal people don't scream their political beliefs at work or to family in person.

I honestly get where they're coming from and they need to vent. For some of us, this message board is the only Democratic support system that we have.

[ancianita]

19. Maybe, like Trump, they should "go see a movie with friends" or...

[ChiTownDenny]

23. I appreciate your posting this OP.

My wish for myself and everyone is that I am/we are happy and kind. Life sometimes gets in the way of this endeavor. But I won't kick someone when they're down, or tolerate anyone being trollish, dickish, or assholeish, as I see happening here recently.
I remember an OP about taxes, which you reference in your OP. I don't begrudge anyone complaining about paying a lot of taxes, considering what has transpired in this country's recent past. I'm not sure why you do.

[Brainfodder]

24. I only get my demo news here at DU and....

Since I dumped daily twitter back in late Summer, I am not having any Blob mental blowups, disorders, tantrums, or whatever incidents, any more.

*left Fb over a decade ago and wish I hadn't have touched it at all.

2020 needs to be a great year!?!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

26. Most people go online to bitch

I posted a thread where I invited people to share positive thoughts about the new year. I got zero responses so far. I kind of expected that. I probably would have gotten tons of responses if I started another thread inviting people to rage about the Trumpsters in their lives. Those are popular threads around here.

[nolabear]

30. I agree. Talking about feelings is fine but too much rage is bad for us.

I fear people on DU sometimes follow what’s a sad internet norm. If things are okay you don’t say anything. If you’re mad you say a lot. And it’s not for the purpose of having a deeper conversation. It’s looking for fellows who’ll pile on and validate the rage.

I’m not saying anyone is a bad person. I find most DUers to be smart, interesting, good people. But this does have a negative effect, here and in other places. It makes us feel worse. It makes us jump to negative conclusions without nuance. It’s not good for our bodies or our minds.