Thinking about how a white woman recently told me she was specifically trying to get her Instagram algorithm to never show her anything political.

“Apolitical” is a conservative position. You know that right? Avoiding politics means you aren’t opposed to the current conditions. You would be happy *conserving* the status quo. That’s what that is

@danirabbit
She probably doesn't realize she COULD toggle to a feed of only accounts she follows, which, if she follows no political accounts, would contain no politics.

@danirabbit@mastodon.online

(edit: 100% agreed re apolitical stance being a conservative one, I more meant to reply to the message above this one ​​ but yeah, I don't think avoiding political content in your feed is equivalent to being apolitical)

I am certainly lacking context but like, I think it's perfectly reasonable and valid to want to avoid propaganda and/or selectively engage with political events as they unfold. people should be allowed to just be social and joyful from time to time

I believe this pressure to be always-on for political awareness is incredibly harmful

@mizblueprint that’s not the point though. She wants to participate in the world and discover new things outside her bubble, but only when those things don’t make her uncomfortable. That’s the point

@danirabbit
Yes, I realize that. The sarcasm font is not working on my tiny keyboard!

I reposted a reel from a black woman a while back where she said, “your politically engaged friend is burned out too”. We are also exhausted and tired of hearing about it and talking about it. You deciding you’re too stressed out and overwhelmed to participate just puts more of the burden on the people for whom participation is not voluntary