General Discussion

I live in the north country in NYS. My uncle has always tended to listen to AM radio stations and something out of Canada and has long been down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. But a larger part of his personality used to be at least somewhat normal. He is 82, generous with his time and money. Good looking guy. Volunteers with a search and rescue group. Repairs trails on National Trails Day. Would give anyone his last dollar and frequently has. He still works and doesn't have much, but he puts money in the church donation plate, then gives extra if a family has experienced a fire, illness, or death. He can be very funny.

He has been hanging around our Constitutional Sheriff and now I can't be around him at all anymore. He espouses RW/Trump talking points. He has been turned down for jobs because he won't get the vax. His face turns red and purple, his voice raises, and his arms start flying around. I live way out in the country and was shocked when someone appeared on my porch at 10 p.m. a few days ago. It was a young woman at the wrong address with an Instacart delivery. (I didn't even know we could get that out here!). I made the mistake of telling Uncle Dave and he started yelling that the young woman just better watch herself going to the wrong house out in the country. I cut him off and reminded him that people used to be able to knock on the wrong door, ring the wrong doorbell, accidentally get in the wrong car, turn around in a driveway without getting shot. I said it's not the young woman's fault--it's the people being quick to use a gun. Then he started muttering stuff about "they and "them" and about civil war. Who does he think he's going to fight? It's not North v South this time. Or slave owners v abolitionists. Each state has communities of red/blue/purple. And exactly why are we going to civil war? Over which ideology? RWs can't even agree completely on their beliefs.

Anyway, I find it disgusting that our sheriff is actively working to get people radicalized and extreme, then holding rallies to remind them of their Second Amendment rights. Dangerous combo.

Another point: The Dept. of Health just published a study about people being lonely and isolated. That is my uncle. He is the perfect target for people trying to radicalize others.

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html