@aral
That might not be entirely true, I have a lot of people in my mental health support group that define themselves to be apolitical just because they are triggered by political events (either by feeling unheard or by the climate that's inside our political system). So the reason of choice to be apolitical might be more complex

@aral It could be a way of coping though. Too much empathy and you explode, too little empathy (plus too much stimulants) and you go Nazi Germany.

@aral there's a saying here in Spain: if you don't care about politics you are right-wing...

@aral And to say "all politicians are the same, so why bother" is worse.

@aral See also ‘keep politics out of sport’, etc. And I remember in the era of ‘Rock Against Racism’ one prominent record producer saying pop music should be purely for entertainment. Which takes us right back to panem et circenses.

@aral There's something I saw on Twitter once - can't remember who from, but it stuck with me. It was something like:

White is apolitical, black is political
Straight is apolitical, queer is political
Cis is apolitical, trans is political

and so on. Only if you're in a privileged group can you say that your existence is apolitical. Everyone outside the privileged groups has no choice.

@aral There is no apolitical. Being apolitical is really just the stance of being fine with the status quo.

@aral@mastodon.ar.al I recognize the type of "apolitical" person you're referring to. There also are many people who consider themselves apolitical because they understand the word "politics" as injustices being done in their name, without a chance to elect anyone who will not do evil.

@aral Oh no. It affects them. They just don't realize it. Most people don't see things like racism, sexism, homophobia, etc as illogical. And so they accept more illogical thinking in their lives than they know.

Which spills into every faced of their lives. Leading to them making shitty decisions for themselves. So naw. It without doubt affect and effects them personally. But...dunning kruger...

@aral to shove politics into every environment is being a bully. Everything has its place, that too applies to politics and especially americans seem to struggle with the idea that people outside of their country to not give a fuck about their politics

@aral

Anyone who says they are "not political" is saying they have no role in the process of change.

@aral 🎯🎯🎯

@aral@mastodon.ar.al i'm a'political. i'm adverse to all politics. if you're a politician, we're enemies. i'm all for justice and ethics, but largely against justice systems and law enforcement

(tongue in cheek jokes aside, u right)

@aral Apolitical is a euphemism for apathy.

@aral "“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." -- Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel

@aral

This is how I feel about the nice people who never, ever say anything political because they don’t want to offend anyone. All they are doing is enabling the worst people.

Edit: sorry, the order is jumbled
https://www.facebook.com/1263813345/posts/pfbid02j7psTZdd6YJWLCeAM6Yv2LWN68xzMxCMwELDQRDuYiNwGDiLyxxaowqcSwNW2MkNl

@aral When I was trying to drum up registrations and I would come across a Christian who claimed that they weren’t political I would explain that exact point to them and leave them with this line from the Bible a claimed to care about. Whatsoever you do to the least among, you do to me.” It was gratifying to see the lightbulb turn on behind at least a few of their eyes.

@aral

There is a term for that:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiot#Etymology

@chucker

@aral *Everything* is political. It's just a matter of degree.

@aral Got to age 71 until I finally joined a political party.

@aral this image says everything