I'd been finding it very peaceful not to engage in soapbox speeches or the online culture war, especially given the horrors of this past week. But I've dipped my toes in this week, which has left me with that same feeling I get when my hands are dirty and covered with grease, and I don't use enough soap to wash them off. That feeling almost exactly, but the thin dirty grease layer is soul deep.
The young deckhands at work are circumspect about it, but want to talk. Many of them weren't alive for the September 11 attacks and this is one of their first encounters with humanity at our worst with a resultant cultural upheaval.
Zoomers who choose to work on boats are politically tending to be conservative. These are kids who are afraid to speak their minds for fear of getting ostracised. They seem to be in need of fellowship more than anything. Kids who I've already taken the time to break the ice with, to get them talking about themselves so they'll listen if I can say or show them something to make them better seamen.
Quiet at first. And underneath... so hurt and angry.
It's already happened 3 times. A kid starts to talk topical, and trails off, leaving me to either pass on the elephant in the room or engage.
Best I can figure, these kids, who live online in a way I do not, saw a mask slip on some people they liked, showing a lot of hate towards a dead guy they agreed with on some things... and then realizing how much the same people of course hate them too. It's not a stretch to see someone blood dancing online over a murder, and to realize that you'reseeing them for once, for who they truly are. Once that mask slipped off, some have not yet put it back on, either... and in a very clear way, a pussy apathetic disclaimer, which is even more common and less respectable, has widened the gap. They saw psychos and the enablers of psychos. 'Murder is wrong but...'
Murdering someone over words and ideas. If that's OK, when does it become ok to do so over politics and religion?
I've made peace with not speaking my mind. Rule 1 of good seamanship: One hand for you, and one for the boat. Rule 2: No politics and no religion in the galley.
I know the benefits of finding and focusing on things other than politics and religion. As a result I have several friends, some quite close, who don't share my politics OR my religion... all are people whom I care about deeply.
No buts are coming here. My point is these young guys have gotten a masterclass on the power of hate this week... and whether they're more scared or hurt? I dunno. It sucks, to feel a sense of betrayal. It did for me when I realized I really didn't share some of the most important values, ideas and principles with nearly as many people as I thought I did.
I have my nuclear family, and my blood family. I have my extended family. I am deeply fortunate to be loved, even beloved. I have my faith, and I have friends, who I love as well, because we know each other, and despite that, they still like me anyways.
The hate? I have hope they'll see they've put up an umbrella that's a hell of a lot bigger than what they maybe thought they were putting up. I'm certainly catching shade from surprising places... despite not being targeted, how can you not be, when realizing the same person would say the same if it was you dead, and they didn't know you?
'Murder is bad but I'm not sad he died.'
'Murder is bad, but my definition of what a nazi is is anyone who doesn't support the things I support.'
Translation: 'Murder is not bad, but I'm not saying it out loud so don't @me.'
I already retreated as far as I can, to be friendly, to keep friendships without being false. I'm ok with it, but I have a line I won't cross, and my heels are on it. No further, not one step. Not because of this week, but because I have everything in the world already, wouldn't gain by refusing to judge, and I already got enough shit to think about.
7 comments:
Keep going lad, yer on the right path.
I'm still here for the farts and dick jokes.
And sometimes the most relevant statements get made by people who don't delve deeply into politics or religion or other stuff.
Yeah, finding out that the World Hates You because you're working and in an industry The World Hates, well, I can see walking around on egg-shells.
Mayhaps you need to take the young sprouts and say something like, "I know how you feel. Been there, done that, lost family and friends over it. I'm here if you need to talk but don't abuse the right."
They need someone to talk to. The NYPD has the tradition of 'rabbis,' senior people who help younger people over bad times and watch over the youngers' careers. You can be these young men's 'rabbi.' They need it and do you trust others to do it right?
I could say much the same. Thanks, Paul. Keep being you.
More here than fart jokes... As to the new guys, the cancel culture is real & saying nothing is way safer.
As to the other thing... "I" saw evil step out of the shadows to shoot a man holding a microphone. Shot him in the back too. Shot him because he was speaking honest words, logically in a polite manner. I LIKE honest words, I LIKE polite and logic works for me.
A guy on the other side of the world who's been following here for a few years would have thought you'd have blended everything possible by now, so this must be something special coming up. Hope it goes smoothly and you can talk about it here after!
Chris in Sydney, Au
Chris, I wish I could say, and I haven't been told NOT to talk about it, it could be cool, or not, but I don't want anyone who wears a tie to work to get their almonds all activated if I run my fool mouth.
" The young deckhands at work are circumspect about it, but want to talk. "
Well, you seem to know them well enough to know they want to talk. And they seem to look up to the "old wise one" (stop laughing!) to want to talk to you. So, maybe off-handedly say something like "I'm listening, get it off your chest."
Sometimes folks just need someone to listen.
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