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Hey guys (and gals!), I just need to vent for a second.
Someone I know made a fairly terrible post on Facebook about strangers they assumed were Muslim and I tried to politely explain that given Islamic religious practices that under the circumstances of this interaction they were most likely not Muslim. One of this person's friends then went on a HUGE anti-Muslim tirade which caused me to respond back with statistics and facts refuting their allegations. This led them to then post a bunch of REALLY graphic photos (all of which were trigger-happy) on this thread to "prove their point." I stopped trying after that. I refused to comment further because (1) this person was sharing photos but not actually linking to sources and (2) half of the images they tried to use to convince people I traced back (quickly, mind you) to a stock images website where those pictures were available for purchase. I privately messaged the person I know who originally made the post and explained this to her, but refuse to stay involved further with the thread.
I think because this person was just so ignorant and the images were so graphic it made me trigger-susceptible. This interaction reminded me of when I was a child trying to talk about trauma, people just blindly and ignorantly telling me that human trafficking doesn't happen here in the U.S. so I must be lying for attention. People couldn't handle that it might happen here so it was easier for them to cast me aside than expand their view and realize as a country we were - and are - deeply flawed. Even when I had cuts and bruises (or was literally one time bleeding "down there") the adults I reached out to all seemed to cloak themselves in a similar blanket of ignorance.
I had never really thought of ignorant people as a trigger per se, but this person really got me going. I realize in hindsight I don't think I am really upset with her (because ignorant people aren't changing any time soon, there will always be plenty, and I have dealt with PLENTY), I think I'm just upset with that general air of ignorance some people carry where they will do anything, and cut anyone down, to keep their view of the world, regardless of whether they are right, their actions are morally sound, or they are harming others in the process.
While I realize it would be a waste of my time and energy to interact further in this conversation (and I probably should have retreated sooner), I really just want to send her a message saying: It must be nice to think you are better than everybody, and the world must look quite grand when you are looking down on everyone from your pedestal. >:(
Someone I know made a fairly terrible post on Facebook about strangers they assumed were Muslim and I tried to politely explain that given Islamic religious practices that under the circumstances of this interaction they were most likely not Muslim. One of this person's friends then went on a HUGE anti-Muslim tirade which caused me to respond back with statistics and facts refuting their allegations. This led them to then post a bunch of REALLY graphic photos (all of which were trigger-happy) on this thread to "prove their point." I stopped trying after that. I refused to comment further because (1) this person was sharing photos but not actually linking to sources and (2) half of the images they tried to use to convince people I traced back (quickly, mind you) to a stock images website where those pictures were available for purchase. I privately messaged the person I know who originally made the post and explained this to her, but refuse to stay involved further with the thread.
I think because this person was just so ignorant and the images were so graphic it made me trigger-susceptible. This interaction reminded me of when I was a child trying to talk about trauma, people just blindly and ignorantly telling me that human trafficking doesn't happen here in the U.S. so I must be lying for attention. People couldn't handle that it might happen here so it was easier for them to cast me aside than expand their view and realize as a country we were - and are - deeply flawed. Even when I had cuts and bruises (or was literally one time bleeding "down there") the adults I reached out to all seemed to cloak themselves in a similar blanket of ignorance.
I had never really thought of ignorant people as a trigger per se, but this person really got me going. I realize in hindsight I don't think I am really upset with her (because ignorant people aren't changing any time soon, there will always be plenty, and I have dealt with PLENTY), I think I'm just upset with that general air of ignorance some people carry where they will do anything, and cut anyone down, to keep their view of the world, regardless of whether they are right, their actions are morally sound, or they are harming others in the process.
While I realize it would be a waste of my time and energy to interact further in this conversation (and I probably should have retreated sooner), I really just want to send her a message saying: It must be nice to think you are better than everybody, and the world must look quite grand when you are looking down on everyone from your pedestal. >:(
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I did the dumbest thing today. I charged my earbuds, unplugged the block and put the block in my little bag instead of the earbuds. I wasn't happy about that when I got to the gym. What a dummy!
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Ever since I stopped doing therapy because of insurance, I've been feeling that old tense and irritable sense of anxiety and stress. I hate that. I was making so many strides and changes during therapy, my therapist would acknowledge all of my progress and accomplishments, and I miss that reassurance. Today I thought about it, and I made those changes! She would always tell me that I chose to...
In U.S. English, it is phonetically correct to pronounce "ignorant" as "Ignore Ant." Unless the ignorance is mine to educate, I try to be ingNORant of ignorant commentary. Strictly personal.
Sure glad you got that out of your system, Alice. Not good stuff to hold on to. Hope the venting helped.
Healing hopes for all. No exceptions.
Makes me wonder what in the world happened to make that person on Facebook so scared of Muslims. People in your family sound like lying bullies. My family accuses me of lying and faking and it always makes me wonder what they have lied about.
I applaud you for standing your ground and not compromising your principles even when you wanted to tell the Facebook person they are looking down on everyone from a pedestal. I tend to go the other way. I agree with them and point out good ways to avoid those mean Muslims. Recommending ways to hide from the mean Muslims gives me the upper hand and lets me point out how they should have listened to me and gone further away to hide and isolated themselves even more to get out of harms way. Like I said, I get mean and manipulative.
Your account of events in your life and the way you 'disengaged' to stay away from the triggers is an inspiration to me. Thank you so very much for sharing your insightful point of view. I learned something from you today. I'm starting to ask myself if I might be wasting my time by continuing to interact with bullies.
You are truly leading by example. Please keep sharing and venting. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm listening and learning.
Calling all Christians terrorist because of the IRA's bombings or the responses of UK soldiers wasn't fair any more than calling all Muslims terrorists because of what is going on today. But people did it then with Christians and they're doing it with Muslims now.
I think you're right, that it makes people feel superior to judge others rather than engage with a problem in any realistic way. That "pedestal" you mention is mighty tempting.
Sorry you've had to deal with pedestal people up close. It can be exhausting. So glad you came here, Alice, to vent and be restored. We're with you.
To me? Fear is not safety. Fear does not give safety. Fear inspires willful ignorance. Fear, as we of all people know, warps the soul. To let it warp the mind into permanent "closed for business" status is, for me, a grief.
We all have fears, and reasons for them. But I am, for myself, far more scared of the angry white Christian guy down the road with 80 guns and a shi*load of ammo for them, than I am of the Muslim Indian (US citizen) family next door. People with a lot of fear and guns scare me, I freely admit it. And I don't particularly care about any other label attached to those folks. Fear and guns? Right up there with alcohol and guns on the Not To Do list, for me.
Breathe it out, peaceful day to you.
I'm very sorry that you were triggered though... Big hug and a blessing... If you can't remove the post perhaps you could ask FB to?
Alice, had to add I revisited this thread b/c I found an e-mail today linking to similarly ranting blah-de-blah and remembering your vent, I just deleted it and exhaled it out. Pfft.