The Lies We Learn on TV

I was so broke about a year and a half ago, I cancelled my cable television. Commercials seemed a bore, so I got Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, and still saved $100 a month, and didn't have to put up with endless commercials. I never realized how much power TV commercials had until I wasn't seeing them at all.

I was hanging out at my friend's house and she had the TV on. I saw a commercial for a supplement pill to cure low testosterone in men that could be ordered with a phone call to an 800 number. "What a scam," I remarked. It just seemed like placebo caplets to me. Without a prescription, they weren't going to do much good. Then a commercial for another supplement came on, this time, to cure insulin resistance, but they described the condition incorrectly. "That's not how insulin resistance works!" I yelled at the TV.

Being an election year, I've started to see TV spots where certain issues and topics are brought up over and over. I've realized that I feel more firm in my politics because I don't watch these news channels now, and I do all my research myself, looking for the most accredited source without bias. And it's surprising to me how much people quote the TV spots when talking politics.

There was a gas pipeline burst on Thursday in Alabama. And now the rumors of gas shortages are driving the paranoid people of Middle Tennessee crazy and the gas stations have cars lined up to the interstate. But me? I'm just annoyed, because if people weren't filling up jerry cans and freaking out, there wouldn't be a gas shortage in the first place.

All this has made me realize how much control the TV has over our minds, but it's super subtle in doing so. When I was bored and had cable, I'd find myself turning it on for background noise or aimlessly flipping channels when I was burnt out. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to watch TV shows and movies and reality TV (I loved Hellevator, just like I love the Soska Twins), and I'm not giving that up. But not having 24/7 access to news networks and an endless sea of commercials trying to convince me that I NEED their product has changed how much I do and do not trust ideas presented to me. It's allowed me to think for myself and want to investigate more. I like research, and I like doing it more now. I don't have propaganda sneaking into my psyche so much any longer. And I feel like it's sad that Americans don't know how to research and can't tell that they're being bombarded by ideas and images that are not their own and are accepting them as fact without true research. We trust our news networks to have fact-checked ahead of time, but nothing is further from the truth. It's gotten to the point that comedians are the only ones telling the truth on news-satire programs, but the trained and accredited journalists are not getting the freedom to present their research to the public, silenced by the conglomerates who own the media.

I wish I could get everybody to spend a few months without cable TV, just so they could see how much it really control them to not think, just blindly believe.

What One Week Without Posting Politics to my Facebook Did for Me

Mid-December, I thought about very quietly taking a break from posting politics for a week come New Year's.
No, I'm not ashamed of my politics. I'm quite proud of them. They didn't come easy to me, and I can explain why I believe what I believe. I like talking about them to people who actually comprehend them (even if they don't agree) instead of shouting theirs back in my face without listening to a thing I'm saying. But being as they were inspired by some really private things, it's sometimes inappropriate to bring up these things, despite my lack of shame over them.
I realize that the reason I've gotten into posting politics on Facebook was just a few short years ago, I was miserable. I didn't like myself, and I wanted to control a lot of things because I thought I knew that if I controlled other people, they'd be happy and I'd be happy.
Wrong.
So wrong.
When I finally entered treatment at the end of my rope at the end of 2012, I started to learn that I can't control other people and expect them to be happy. I can't let another person control me and expect happiness out of that either, because another person creating your happiness will always do it incorrectly. I realized only I can make myself happy, and I can control it. Trying to control others pushes them away. And I realized that, when people have politics that shaped from cowardice and racism,  I could help them, but it's difficult, and honestly? They're not very good people, so why am I trying?
In short, I found my self-esteem. I went through an "I don't give a crap" phase on Facebook where I posted whatever I wanted and would tell people who criticized me, "I don't care" and I'd slap them on my restricted list. I used to be scared to use the restricted list, and then I realized, they don't deserve my thoughts on social media. And truly, I still don't care if they want to tell me to not post what I'm posting. They don't control my sense of self. And their trying to control me is them being who I used to be. They're miserable. Control freaks. Why would I want to let them that deep into my life?
And yes, I've lost friendships on Facebook because they hate my politics so violently. I've even been blocked a few times for supporting gay rights, supporting freedom of religion for Muslims in America, supporting being honest, and campaigning against racism (and I don't miss their racket, trust me).

A lot of the time, I'm relieved, too.

But, I realized I don't need to post my politics to believe in them and for them to be strong. I'm a registered voter, and that's all I need. I don't owe anyone an explanation if I find their politics repulsive and I make the choice to unfriend them, and the response from their friends who want to start drama.
Since I've been in recovery from depression (which I could fall off the wagon from at any moment if I'm not careful, knock on wood), I've realized if people I care about don't notice me or care about me, they're not very nice or good people worth my feelings. Why should I pursue their friendships? What a waste of time! Nowadays, I like myself, I like my friends, my friends check in on me (it's no longer a one-sided relationship), and that's all I need.
Wow, what a relief.
Has it been difficult to not post politics that are close to my heart, like supporting the Syrian Refugees plight to safety? Initially, and it will probably be difficult later. And the glee of seeing certain political candidates for President bow out of the race (OMG, OMG, OMG!). But I have people I can talk about that with over Direct Message (and share my Schadenfreude glee). It was really difficult when Obama finally agreed to executive action of guns, too. I can still like political memes and links, I can comment on them, too. But I don't need to argue with people or cause a fight by posting them to my wall.
I wanted a cause to stand for... because I was lonely... and trying to fill my time with something I was passionate about.
These days, I like myself, which changes my perspective on expressing myself and how I do it. I don't need other people to confirm that for me. These days, I don't need anyone else to tell me I'm a good person worth hanging out with and my opinions are important. I want to be the friend that does that for other people. Somewhere along the line in my treatment, I started telling myself those things to myself. And guess what? I don't care if someone doesn't like me anymore. Good riddance. If you don't like me, you probably have something wrong with you anyway, LOL! And I don't need to post politics on my Facebook for people to notice me and want to talk to me, either. If you don't find me a good enough person or interesting enough to pursue my attention, why would I waste my time with you? I make a damn good friend.

And you know what? I think I'll keep up not posting politics on my page for a while. I kind of like what's happened.

Hobbies outside Writing

I love writing.

It keeps me sane.

It's been the thing that got me through some tough times, and it probably will be in the future. I'm safe in my imaginary world and I get to write stuff down and read it again, because it's fun like that.

But I do have other things I love doing, other hobbies, and hobbies are important to break up the monotony and loneliness of writing. My favorite hobbies are knitting, embroidery, sewing, costuming, music, gaming, politics, and reading.

1. Reading-- because reading is really cool. Stephen King says, "If you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write." And it's true. I get inspired when I read and start coming up with new ideas.

2. Costuming/sewing-- because what's cooler than making someone into something they weren't before? And I love the theatre. It's so fun, especially backstage. That's where all the fun happens.

3. Music-- luckily, I live in Music City USA, better known as Nashville. No, we aren't just country and honky tonk. A lot of hit musicians live here, and it's not abnormal to run into them, not just country stars. Any given night, if you know the right places to look, you can find a concert going on, and it's usually pretty good music. Indie music is a big deal.

4. Gaming-- I admit it. I'm a noob to gaming, but it's fun. My favorite games so far are Elder Sign and Cards Against Humanity. I also play bar trivia with Geeks Who Drink every Sunday night.

5. Knitting-- fun, but I always end up dropping stitches, darnit!

6. Embroidery-- this is my adult coloring book.

Urban Threads is my favorite site for patterns!

7. Politics-- okay, not a great subject for this blog.

So what do you like to do when it comes to hobbies?