"I'm not a Democrat or Republican, a liberal or a conservative I think for myself!"

I think a lot of people are libertarian-curious but again, don't want to be associated with any particular party or movement because it seems gauche to them

because it seems gauche to them

A+

the "don't pay any attention to politics" faction is always going to be the largest single group

people who use some of the above and esp. "I’m socially liberal but fiscally conservative" usually seem to not be aware of too much going on but want to cover themselves while not discussing anything.

the "don't pay any attention to politics" faction is always going to be the largest single group

― Wuhan!! Got You All in Check (Camaraderie at Arms Length)

so ok, what's the overlap between these circles:

people who don't pay attention to politics
people who are so taken care of by the status quo political discourse that they have no need to concern themselves with it
people who are so excluded by the status quo political discourse that they have no viable opportunity to involve themselves in it

i self-identify, rightly or wrongly, as the third

firat two have some overlap, third one is a separate thing, however I would suggest that being engaged with political discourse by no means needs to take place within the status quo / mainstream media setting, actually most real discourse takes place outside it.

I would suggest there’s a difference between people who don’t follow “politics” vs people who just don’t follow the news (irrespective of any distrust of media)

guh I need to eat something. Nevermind, Carey on

carry

i self-identify, rightly or wrongly, as the third

self-identification is a matter best left to each self, but my outsider perception is that you find effective ways to involve yourself in the discourse on ilx and I appreciate those efforts.

actually most real discourse takes place outside it.

― Wuhan!! Got You All in Check

yeah but i'm not a true scotsman so i'm not qualified for real discourse

sarcasm aside, i find engaging in any sort of political discourse in a kind, respectful, and healthy manner to be really fucking difficult, particularly since much of the discourse i am exposed to seems to my inexpert opinion to have unhealthy and self-defeating tendencies.

it's all a meta-conversation with me, actually talking about the issues isn't even an option for me at this point, it's just figuring out how to get back to the fucking table. that's diplomacy, it's like playing fucking Risk, every game of Risk I was ever involved in ended in a physical altercation.