Let's not talk politics

Hot take: I don't care about other people's political ideoligies. Not even if they would want to see me dead. If someone want's to off me, they will do so anyways, so I can also go about my day and not get all worked up about someone elses ideas. It sounds like giving up, I know, but I feel this is what more people should to, in order for the world to heal. Hear me out. Not too long ago I used to be online for 3 or more hours a day. Especially Instagram had me on a hook and I fell down a rabbit hole, full of politics, terrible images and videos, people screaming and babies crying. On a daily, I saw people being attacked, blood all over their faces and wounds all over their bodies. I saw video after video, comment after comment of people crying out stuff like "KILL THE JEWS! RAPE THEIR DAUGHTERS!" (This video, if anyone remembers, got even worse, knowing that GB said that there is nothing wrong with a guy chanting this).

I had a hard time sleeping, I had a hard time trusting people, I fell into a depression like state and was full of aggression. After sometime I felt the need to take a break, and BARUCH HASHEM, because I NEEDED this! I am barely online anymore, unless it is to write with someone or watch cute videos, I try to read as little comments as possible, and I am more happy then ever. But not just that, it gets even better: Offline people are not the same as online. I got my trust in humanity back. Last week I wore a white Kippah, usually I wear a dark brown one, to match my hair, but I felt ballsy, and immediatly I got different reactions. People SAW me as a Jew. But funny enough, the majority of reactions were positive. People were curious and interested, some asked a few questions and were happy to meet a real Jew, who could answer them. Of course, this was also a great way for other Jews to see me, and I was happy o meet some. But this taught me something: Most people are just ignorant, in every way. Most people never met a Jew, but they think they know us, until finally, there is a real Jew. And suddenly, this is just a normal human being, drinking coffee, working their job, loving their cats. I doubt that ever person who talked to me is a leftist, like me. I am pretty sure some where center or right wing, but it didn't matter. We were nice and respectful to each other. That was all that mattered. Due to social media, we are so used that our opinion needs to be shared, and usually we build and echo chamber to do so. This leads to us getting more and more extreme thinking. We think people who see the world slightly different are already against us, people who don't agree with us are bad and our world gets black and white easily. I don't think this will solve any issues, but just make everything worse.

Many of my friends have different world views, some more left, some more right, some have none, and honestly, I like it that way. I love how one of my best friends Nana chooses her own mental health, instead of fighting bots online, because it taught me to take a step back as well. I love how another best friend of mine, Leni, loves Israel like crazy and just gets happy hearing stories about it and will defend it with nails and teeth. I love seeing other friends being more critical about everything, in evey aspect. The ones who fight for gay rights, the ones who fight for disabled people, the ones who fight for mental health and the ones who fight for safety. The ones who fight for Austria. My friends taught me to see the human first, and the political view last. After all, talking with each other and teaching each other, will do more for a community then fighting each other. So what are we supposed to do? Just ignore people? If this is easier for you, then talking, yes. I don't always agree with my friends on everything, and that's ok. I love them because of them. My opinion is not worth more then theirs, and as long as they accept mine, I don't care what they do. And the same goes for strangers. I do not care what you think of Jews, Trans people, Queer People or Autistic People. If you see me, and you are nice to me, I will be nice to you.

"Oh, but what if they vote something that hurts your community??" Well, I won't change that by being terrible to them. I can hope that being nice and patient will change their minds. "But what about the aggressive people who yell terrible things??" Do you really think I would engage with such people? No. We ignore them and in the worst case, hope they go to jail. But fighting anger with anger, will not solve shit, and will only tire you out. So, here is the conclusion: Politics suck, stop being online too much, be kind, and protect your peace. If you disagree with me, that's ok. We can have a civilised talk if you want, or, if you prefer, we can have a pillowfight in my yard, to get out the anger out safely and then talk. No go, and spread more love or something.