Warning: this post discusses current events so mentions a lot of potentially distressing topics, including, but not limited to: war, child labour, train accidents, Covid.
WTF is actually going on?
The 2020s are something else, honestly.
Someone needs to turn reality off and turn it back on again - simulation or not, this sh** is glitching.
Due to the increasingly post/apocalyptic situations we in the UK and Europe keep finding ourselves in, I haven't heard much news from the rest of the world in a few weeks now.
Noticeably, news from the USA has kind of fallen away from the UK news cycle.
Which shows how much has been going on here, since we usually dip into US news as easy filler cos all the footage etc. is already in English.
Our news has been kind of pre-occupied with:
- horrifying murders and disappearances of various types
- constitutional crises
- the ever-present threat of nuclear war
- the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey (donate to aid efforts here)
- the ongoing horrific conflict in Ukraine (donate to aid efforts here)
So... I was watching comedian Ben Brainard's Table News, because even though I don't live in the US, it is freaking hilarious and... are you OK, America?
Like, we can't buy lettuce here in the UK, but... you've got a child labour problem in food packing plants?
There's a train crash in Greece that's BAD, but, you seem to be actively collecting train wrecks like Pokemon cards?
Why, in 2023, is any of this stuff in the headlines?
Child labour and train accidents involving chemical waste?
If it wasn't so horrifying, I'd laugh.
Here in the UK -
- we've got strike after strike after strike in our increasingly strained and pained public services, the current (so far,) Prime Minister basically admitted that we'd be better off in the EU (which, no duh,) and - as mentioned - fruit and veg is rationed at the supermarkets.
...That's if anyone can afford fruit and veg because more and more people are relying on food banks.
Meanwhile, Covid is still Very Much a Thing -
(you can check out the Wales stats here - because unlike other parts of the UK, we're still pretty open about our stats,)
- and I always seem to be the only one wearing a mask in shops etc.
Everyone else has decided to just pretend it isn't happening, because they're tired. And I get that, but that doesn't make it go away, darling nerdlets.
In fact, other people now stare at me in a mask as if I've taken leave of my senses. I have not taken leave of my senses, I have vulnerable family members (and I don't want to catch that again - it was horrific.)
People acting like Covid isn't a thing is doing my head in, I swear. People are still dying of Covid, OK? It's still a pandemic, and the WHO guidance is still to wear a goddamn mask!
Overall, the world is just really messed up - and I don't think I'm the only one who's tired (*sad millennial sigh*)
But, even when it feels sh**ty out there in the big wild world dearest nerdlets, I promise you that there's hope.
Where there's life there's hope, and we just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
*Mildly hysterical laughter* - We've made it this far, after all. 😎
How are things where you are?
Do we need to switch reality off and switch it back on again?
Talk to me! ðŸ’💬
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I have to be honest, often I do switch reality off and come back in. I have to take reality in small doses, because if I am faced with it all the time, my intrusive thoughts do not do well for me. But, to address your points about COVID, yes, I too still wear a mask in shops and in my workplace (I work in a clothing store). The other day when there was no customers in the store I took my mask off for a minute to fan myself as the room was really hot and my coworker said: "oh there's your pretty face, I was thinking we'd never see it again!" I know it was probably meant as a joke with no malice behind it, but I mean I know I'm judged for wearing one when nobody else does. Oh well, I think it makes me look cool, lol.
ReplyDelete...That would most likely have sent me into an Anxiety spiral, fair play. The thing is my Anxiety has decided to take *both* sides on this (if I wear a mask it's 'people are judging you,' if I think about taking it off it's 'you're gonna give Covid to your parents. You're a terrible person, etc.') so whatever I do, I will still freak out. *sigh* I know wearing a mask is the right thing, but Anxiety makes it pretty damn hard sometimes.
DeleteI know the feeling!
Delete*sighs* *hugs*
Delete