A lot of replies here (obviously from people not already aware of The Discourse on this point) were genuinely confused variants on "But why, they're right, that's a valid concern." Let me leave a short thread for future readers explaining why that stuff is always unwelcome on here. (1/n)
It's totally understandable if you're dooming about any facet of the American experiment right now. So your feelings are "valid" in the sense that they represent real anxiety, and I get that. But to vent that anxiety in other people's spaces is wrong for three reasons.
First, it's factually wrong. There will be elections in 2026 and 2028 under Trump, just like there were elections last year under Trump and during his first term. This despite one of the two major parties now harboring a lot of anti-democratic elements and ideas.
I'm not particularly interested in convincing anyone on this point and won't try, the future is the future. But if the left side of the political spectrum is still the domain of scholarship and expertise, take note that you don't find scholars and experts you worrying about canceled US elections.
Second, and probably most importantly, it's tactically wrong. "No point discussing political opposition to fascism, there won't be elections anyway" cedes victory to your enemies. It's defeatism and nihilism.
Finally, it's wrong AS A MATTER OF ETIQUETTE. Entering a total stranger's discussion and leading with your private anxiety is as off-putting in social media replies as it would be in real life. If you wouldn't interrupt a stranger at a party to announce that America is doomed, don't do it here.
If you are anxious and sad about the state of the world, that's fine, and there are plenty of strategies for dealing with that. But I think you already know that drive-by online dooming isn't a strategy. It's selfish and adolescent. It's a contagion that only spreads the worst of you, not the best.
Take a second and think before posting the easy Eeyore reply. You might have something substantive to say instead. Or, even better, you can say nothing at all.
https://bsky.app/profile/kenjennings.bsky.social/post/3mbuedepurs2x
I see, you're too brain damaged to read a reply and say something in response
I'm not sorry that people who are suffering aren't pretending to have perfect lives for your precious comfort.
Don't be. Instead you should be sorry that you're continuously mis-representing what I'm saying with no effort to understand.
I hope every person you meet trauma-dumps on you constantly until you get your head out of your ass.
I hope one day you understand that people don't go through suffering just to irritate you.
When have I said or implied that they do?
Entire thread so far.
Right, no surprise that you can't point to anything specific.
You've somehow inferred something that I didn't say and don't believe.
Where is your threshhold, then? How far are the depressed people you totally don't want to slap on a Stepford grin and enjoy life for you allowed to be unhappy before it bothers you?
You can be any amount unhappy. I can only imagine from this question that you don't understand that you can be experiencing an emotion like unhappiness without expressing it unfiltered.
Well, some people - especially children - have trouble with that, but part of growing up is learning emotional regulation. If you've not heard of the term before, look it up, because it is exactly the difference that you seem to be unaware of.
You could make the situation more concrete: suppose someone is not depressed, but is recently bereaved and so extremely unhappy. Their dead spouse or parent comes to mind very frequently. Is it a) helpful and b) acceptable for them to talk about their bereavement every single time it occurs to them? The answer to both is "no". Doing so upsets other people without benefitting the bereaved person. Of course, that person does need to talk about how they feel sometimes to someone. Not doing so can be very harmful in the long run. But not at all times to everyone, which is what I'm talking about. They're still deeply sad, but thanks to their ability to regulate their emotions, don't force everyone else to deal with their sadness.
The same thing applies to any emotion, from any cause.