and how would an elder start looking for friends or recreational activities for seniors? I don’t even know what’s available.
my father has always been republican, never a maga type, just old school republican.
The last message he sent me was more a rant against everything that’s wrong with the world together with some immigrant blaming and talking about an invasion. He also wrote how he misses when I was 5. He is usually more articulate, this message was all over the place.
My mother is Mexican and I’m half Mexican. Make it make sense.
On my answer, I asked him if my mother should be deported, if he is feeling lonely or angry and if he meets people in real life other than my mother or he spends his time watching slop and listening to right wing media.
I also told him talking about immigrants the way he did to me is the perfect way to end up alone or in a right wing bubble because nobody sane wants to talk to somebody with so much disregard for people wanting a better life.
He also wrote something about how AI makes people stupider, which I agree with and asked him if he is sure this isn’t something exactly happening to him right now with the message he sent me, just hoping he snaps out of it.
I suggested, if he feels alone he may contact social services, but I have no idea if they actually help seniors find new people.
I also wanted to suggest he goes to a nursing home but it doesn’t seem to be the ideal place for a competent senior to meet new people, does it?
If you ever did this, what worked for you?
What are his hobbies or interests? Most places have senior centers with programs that involve getting people together for activities.
Though I’m not sure if him spending time with a bunch of other senior men is going to solve this issue.
You may want to point him to recent articles about how shady interests are paying people all over the world to post right wing US talking points to US social media via VPNs.
Or how social media algorithms are design for engagement and that promotes rage baiting content most of all.
Any kind of hobby that gets him off screens for hours a day.
Even a solitary one like model railroads or model building would be better than spending time online.
I don’t know. In my experience, if you throw a bunch of Republicans together in a room with enough beer, it’s amazing how fast they can turn into a bunch of socialists. Toss in a, “You know what, I think you’re right. We should defund social security.” and quickly shut the door behind you. You’ll start to hear the clattering of hammers and sickles almost immediately.
Modern political conservatism has no ideals. Ideals create discourse. And discourse is “bad” in that it breaks down the illusion of a unified front. That illusion needs to be destroyed.
The moment you tell them they have to vote against the GOP to get what they want it all falls apart.
this is true and might be a losing battle:
me and every working age son or daughter: we have our lives, children to raise, work to do to pay bills, commute, buy food, cook, prepare our next day, relax, we sometimes don’t live near them…
seniors: they have absolutely nothing going on in their lives and a device that offers them unlimited rage bait…
we cannot win unless we take their phones from them or heavily censor them, but my father is not that far yet…
but I try n remain positive: I thought it would be a good idea he meets new people because not every senior is going to be an angry person with no life and he may learn something meeting people from different walks of life, at least I hope so.
He should leave his bubble.
Even angry people irl are so, so much better than non-human online slop. We are social animals, we literally become mentally sick if we don’t talk to people, and then we try to substitute with algorithm slop, or in the good old times, drinking yourself to death.
IRL you can always come to different conclusions, although the chance is small. Online, there is only one direction and that is down.
I think there’s value in encouraging him to fill his time with positive things. Instead of “that phone is making you crazy” you pitch “wouldn’t this be fun, or nice, or interesting.” Lots of townships, municipalities, or counties have programs designed for seniors to get out, be active, and interact. And at least if he meets people that’s an opportunity to spend more time offline.