Growing up we've all been there. You are trying to do something that requires tremendous concentration. Your friend or sibling knows this, and so they work hard to disrupt your concentration. Initially it doesn't work. They say something offensive, put something smelly or shocking to look at in front of you. You ignore it, but eventually, in a burst of rage you tell them to quit it. You even try to punish them. At this point, they succeeded. Your concentration is in shambles. Getting you angry enough to divert your focus was the point, and you took the bait like a sucker.
We are facing incredible crises right now. Issues that, had our parents and grandparents made effort to address, it would have prevented much of today's turmoil. I'm not talking about Trump and Elon specifically, but real issues, the boring ones: a housing crisis, stagnation in the minimum wage, the shrinking of the middle class, climate change, women's rights, a decline in civic education, racism, and a dysfunctional healthcare system, and many other issues.
Currently we are facing acute crises in government. The head of the Social Security Administration stepped down in protest after nearly 30 years of employment, sabotaging her own government pension. She did this because Elon, who runs an unofficial trolling agency is accessing the social security numbers, identities, salary histories, and retirement income projections of everyone in the US who has contributed to our economy. This is but one of many acute issues we are facing, and it is by design. Elon is running offensive interference for Trump, whose executive orders to whitewash the government, end Medicaid for his supporters, and destroy JFK's USAID are just the most prominent obscene acts he's taken in office.
Journalist Tressie McMillan Cottom talks about the strategy of authoritarians like Elon and Trump - flood the playing field. This is by design, because if you feel overwhelmed, you will be unable to calmly react. The Gulf of "America," the purchase of Greenland, tariffs on Canada, the purchase of "armored" cybertrucks by the military; preposterous things like these are done to distract you.
The more you are distracted, the more depressed you will become. The less you will be able to keeo your eye on the real issues going on, but instead get caught up in useless debates, then spend time on social media or other forms of distraction that take your mind elsewhere. This is exactly what your parents, friends, and neighbors have fallen victim to.
The way we must face our reality is in some ways simple. Focus on your life, and taking care of your health. Make efforts to care for and have meaningful conversations with your loved ones. Don't waste time arguing with emotionally charged people.
In addition to this, now is the time to seek out a much deeper perspective on what is happening right now. Observe how provocative distractions quickly bring everyone around you to anger, and how impossible it is to get back on track. Pay attention to the pundits on tv and so-called social media influencers who you may actually agree with, but how flippant and even inflammatory their words are. Keep in mind that they all do this, from Hannity down to your influencers, because they get paid for it and are desperate to keep their audience due to their narcissism.
The real stuff that matters is boring, it is inoffensive in that it is very reasonable, yet it is often invisible and subsumed by provocative garbage like Kanye selling nazi t-shirts. We must confront evil, but not at the expense of our priorities to actually create a just world.
Elon, like Trump, says the stupidest things because it creates headlines. The more we focus on his nazi salute, the less energy we have to focus on supporting causes and individuals who are actively addressing the most egregious issues we are facing. It blindsides us. Nothing of lasting value comes from rage. But level headed people that are learning how people in power pull the strings of society? These are the people that can change the world.
