It's so Dark out there in Our MSM World....but how are you all holding up?

[KoKo]

It's been how many days since Nov. 2nd...when I turned it off and tuned it out? How many days since I only read "snips" posted on DU from the WaPo, NYT, Salon and others all of which I'm a registered viewer of?

I am now officially a "Fringe Folk." Yet, I don't see myself that way...but I must be because I can't tolerate any of it. I scroll through DU reading headlines about carnage and destruction in Fallujah including the Mosques and all the other stuff coming down from EPA, and Tom DeLay overthrowing ethics charges and all the rest of the dismantling of our Democracy. I can't click on the rest of the post, after the "subject line" and I don't want to "link to the source" of the news.

I feel sick. I have focused on e-mailing everything I can about BBV and
the corruption of our election system to everyone who might have an influence. I even e-mailed Olberman...because I read his Blog but don't turn on MSNBC anymore.

But, I'm still feeling sick...and I know turning the MSM on again will only make me sicker...but I wonder how long I can live like this?

Anyone else in that "Limbo?" Movies and Music aren't even a distraction...it's silence...this is NOT HEALTHY...

[MuseRider]

1. It is frightening

to me but I have done the same. Some sights I am registered at but most I am not so I read and read some more here. I am touchy and uncomfortable and I HATE not knowing exactly what is happening but then I know if I watch MSM it will not be real anyway. I think it is the fact that nothing we hear or see is trustworthy anymore and to trust it again ever? I don't know and it makes me very sad. Perhaps it was our trust that got us in this place. Somehow I always trusted Cronkite and then Rather. I still think I trust Rather but not his bosses and not what he may be forced to say by them. Now I just sound paranoid and strange. It sure has been a long but rapid, nasty trip into this dark hole.

[KoKo]

7. I know...it's the corruption and co-option of all our folks we trusted at

some level...not that we had blind trust...but that we believed in our system of "checks and balances." And, in the end...the "system" failed us as it seems.

[MuseRider]

15. The one and only thing

I can see that might happen that is good is the potential for community. We have all grown so far apart. Or we may end up like the people in Russia did. I was there in 1997. It was funny, there was still lots of distrust. Everyone talked really close to you and quietly. I asked for a bathroom in a public place and was sent to the police station. Armed guards on the trains and nobody really was smiling, not anywhere, not even at the circus. It was very odd. I hear that things have gotten better for people there. I hope.

We do have each other here and as odd as it is in some ways it is a very close community. We all have lives and friends and families yet we also have this group and it has been a real anchor for me, a support group and an information source and a place to weep or laugh or yell. Feel better. Has anyone started a support group yet? LOL. Take care.

[KoKo]

17. You make a good point "Muse Rider." And the support we have...here

is a great network. It's kept me going since "Selection 2000." I imagine after the "first blush" of folks increasing our ranks..it will sustain me further.

Peace to to you! and thanks for your post..it's uplifting.

[MuseRider]

19. Peace back to you.

:hug:

[KittyWampus]

2. I'm Enjoying The Cooking Channel. Lots Of Nurturing, Creative Stuff

no divisive, harmful crap.

[NJ_Lib]

3. Oh Honey...

We are all in that boat with you... Some of us handle it better than others... For me? It's my daughter that's saving me right now... I HAVE to function normally, I have no choice... But the first few days after Black Tuesday, I stayed behind closed doors, in my robe, crying the entire time... I asked my daughter to stay away (she's 15) and I had a mini meltdown, which is by the way what led me to DU and saved me pretty much... I probably would have stayed that way if it wasn't for her and DU, so I completely understand...

I do not watch ANY news anymore... I get my news here at DU... I also do not click most posts unless they have something to do with the election fraud or people's personal experiences... I have no sympathy or empathy or kindness left for anyone, except my family and my DU brothers and sisters...

One thing I want you to notice is people's unhappiness and frustration... I believe this is what's necessary to get people moving... Many, many people are very unhappy with the way this election went down and it may take time but that anger is bound to come out somewhere...

Even if we don't change this election's outcome, which honestly seems more and more likely every day to me, we are still enraged...

This is the beginning of a good thing... ;)

[seafey]

6. I feel the same way about my child...

Mine's six, though, so I hadda pretend I was ok and the world was ok, even though he knew. He asked me if they're shipping the nuclear waste "tomorrow" on the day we found out Bush had "won."

I am quite sure that if I wasn't a mother, I'd be in jail or a mental institution somewhere because I only kept it together because I absolutely HAD to. I know I buried some of it due to this, and that's bad, but I'm using it to do my work. I have now taken on a ton of work, and I feel good about that. It's just hard to actually get my paying work done when I'm so preoccupied with this actual important stuff!

[KoKo]

8. Yes...maybe we are moving to a "diffrent level" of awareness of life and

moving forward will be in some way different from everything we've known in our past life. :shrug:

[seafey]

4. You're going to hate this but...

First, take care of yourself. Make sure you're getting enough sunlight and *healthy* food and water and sleep. I have been through it a jillion times, and had a giant dose of it after the election. I have come out of it somewhat thanks to a Women's Conference held here last weekend. It helped me out of it because I'd been thinking of moving or dropping out of politics or quitting my job to go into politics or whatever other crazy idea I was having. The conference brought into my life LOTS of people who think the same way I do, and the speakers had *actual new ideas* to hang onto. I came away with books full of them, and a head full of the ones I could wrap my brain around by just listening. I also came away from it feeling like I can keep my life arranged the way it is and still be of significant help to the progressive movement.

So, since you are probably not going to have a women's conference to attend, I would suggest the second way is to use this board for support, and stay in the General Discussion until you can handle the other stuff. Do not push this.

Also, I was recommended the book "Soul of a Citizen" by Paul Loeb, so I'm reading that. I'm not done with it, but you might give it a try.

If none of this works, get professional help.

[evilqueen]

9. I agree with seafey

(love the nick, btw!) :)

I cried for a couple of days. Then I got into cooking and reorganizing things around the house. I don't have the TV on 95% of the time (even before the election, so nothing's changed in that respect), and I get my news online from all over the world... I have a page of news source links (newspapers, alternate/independent news, blogs, organizations, etc.) and you are welcome to bookmark it and use them if you like:
News Resources

There are also tons of free books to read online. Or, if you want to, you could check out MIT's OpenCourseWare (they're making all their course materials available for free online). There's a lot in the Political Science section, so it's a good place to learn about democracy. Lots of other stuff there too.

[KoKo]

20. Thanks for the "links" in your post...many of us could use them...

:-)'s Resources we NON MSM Tune Off Folks might use in these dire/harch times where we need some refuge...

[KoKo]

23. "evil queen" your site is to die for ....how much more comprehensive can

you get! A fantastic site...even listing the CIA/ Center for Disease Control! Much work linking all those sites, including the Bloggers and whatever..

It's a virtual Encyclopedia for Information Wonks like myself and others who want a "one stop resource!" Even UK Newspaper links...

Great....Fantastic. Should be a Bookmark site for all DU'ers..

:toast: to you!

[evilqueen]

24. :)

Thank you. I've worked very hard at organizing things in my blog... mainly for my own convenience, but my readers and visitors seem to like it too.

I hope you get good use out of it.

[Shoeempress]

5. I'm with you. Can't even watch TDS, which I love. It's on Tivo waiting

for me. I don't have a radio on anymore, only watch HGTV, or forensic shows. Newspaper gets thrown right into the garbage, gotta cancel it, such a waste of money. Get my news here. Still have trouble looking at people, cuz I think, "who did that person vote for?" Feels like I'm surrounded by enemies, and I'm in a blue state. Paranoid much?

[KoKo]

10. To Quote: "I have no sympathy, or empathy or kindness left for anyone..."

I have no sympathy or empathy or kindness left for anyone, except my family and my DU brothers and sisters...

Yes...that's how I feel..and I'm normally an "upbeat" person looking for the good out of the bad in every situation...to such an extent that I've been called an "Optimist who tries to make lemonade out of lemons" every time.

This time...I don't see any lemonaid, unless we get ALL the votes counted...but even then, how will we succeed in the Courts recognizing what we've done? My depression is with our "systems" that aren't working.

I'm not depressed enough for meds...or psychotherapy...but I think I'm close. I need to see just one sliver of hope to keep me from going "over the edge" here. I have a couple of weeks....

[NC_Nurse]

13. Meds aren't an answer in and of themselves

If you feel you are clinically depressed, see a therapist.

[KoKo]

14. No....I don't feel "clincally depressed" or I wouldn't still be posting on

DU ...railing against the "system" who is working to dismantle our Democracy...

I wake up in the morning...and don't stay under the covers...and function in my job...BUT...I'm a "Disenfranchised American."

Meds are a last resort to me...I used to be "pretty balanced." :shrug:

But in "Bush America" I might qualify as having "Clinical Depression" because everyone who doesn't "suck up" his policies...is obviously "deviant fringe folks." That's my point....

[NC_Nurse]

11. I'm not missing the news...

at all! I refuse to buy into the BS they're peddling to scare the shit out of us and I feel there is nothing I can do about it right now.

I have family stuff to deal with and I want to have a nice holiday with my kids. I guess I feel like the people who voted for Bush will get what they deserve, but I refuse to participate in their mass delusion. I hope and pray that none of us that fought this hateful, arrogant regime will be hurt by the consequences of them staying in power.Other than that, I am avoiding the details...I just don't need to feed my angst...

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Welcome to club...from someone who used to think herself a moderate.

:toast: Good to have you. :hi:

[KoKo]

16. Before 2000 I was a Moderate, too....what is "moderate" anymore..but

sell out...that's what I think...for what it's worth.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. Sadly agreed here. I have narrowed it down to look out for the interests

of my children and my loved ones. I'm not going to shut up about it either. We just got Link TV on our service. I'll try watching that awhile...although Canada is getting FOX "news"...sigh.

[Nay]

21. I also have done this. Could not care less about anything on TV,

especially the news. Am totally mad at the Dem leadership for rolling over for the repubs about the recount. I truly think that one of two things is true:
1. Dem leadership has no clue how to fight the good fight, or
2. They are posing as the opposite party when, in fact, they are part of the same elite.

It's demoralizing, disgusting, and has turned me off completely. I don't exactly know what I am going to do since I have the misfortune to live in a deep red state, but personal things like diet and exercise, learning a language, etc., are probably going to take precedence over politics. I just can't stand it anymore. Four more years of this bastard! I will never be able to retire, and my 20-yr-old son has a bleak future.

[reality based]

22. Kick the habit

I used to be addicted to TV news, but I realized that I really don't like Wolf, Judy "Woof-Woof", "Tweetie", Tim "Rustert", the very overrated Koppel, Jennings, Brokow, and a host of others. I even have problems with Rather's out of sync silliness. I decided I didn't want them in my home anymore. I get a lot more information from the web than I ever got from TV. Now when I turn on a news program I find that I know more about the story than they are telling. TV gives the illusion of having a responsive relationship with the talking heads but it's really a stultifying one-way hypnotic crutch. Listen to music, read, get out, talk to other people, use this site and others where you can interact. The MSM is now nothing but a propaganda machine for a corporate dominated state. Don't drink the kool-aid.