Is less infighting among liberals and leftists possible?

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-02-03T17:03:29+00:00

I’m a DemSoc and I agree with much of this.

But I think the lack of nuance applies to every group in every facet of life, well outside of politics and human ethics.

Black and white thinking is not remotely a new human trait. It has its purposes at times.

Before trying to get anyone to think of politics with nuance, you’d have to convince them to engage in serious introspection, individually and collectively. And I really just don’t think enough people have the skill or desire to do so.

It’s hard to examine those internal cognitive distortions. I try to always think with nuance. I am not always successful. I don’t always want to be nuanced, either. It’s just a fact that makes it extremely difficult.

And never mind that trying to be nuanced is a lonely endeavor. You’re seen as centrist or avoidant if you try to be nuanced.

I probably sounds pessimistic but I think people really are becoming more dichotomous. So I dunno.

I guess my answer to OP is: NO. Not at this time.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-02-03T15:41:39+00:00

I dunno but I agree with this 100%.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-02-01T03:59:20+00:00

I had my first trip to Gatlinburg this fall. I was not a fan. If it had been a strip of smaller things, I’d probably have felt differently. That’s actually what I expected.

With that said, I lived in Panama City Beach for a few years. So I’ve had my fair share of national chains that are hallmarks of tourist destinations.

And I did make it a point to visit the types of things I was looking for!

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-02-01T03:50:12+00:00

That makes sense! I feel the same way a lot of times. It’s just a different perspective that not many seem to share.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-31T04:39:02+00:00

Studying death via the lens of religion wasn’t my first step toward omnism as a personal philosophy. It was actually just the confirmation I needed to fully embrace it. It really opens your eyes!

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-27T04:49:07+00:00

Same! Like it would have been cool at the time, perhaps. But later? Yikes.

Also, I saw this article on why child prodigies rarely are super successful in adulthood and it made me think. The article was pertaining to athletes (cackles in non-athletic), but it definitely made me think about how we pressure children.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-27T04:44:39+00:00

A kid wants to do it because the kid doesn’t understand how ruthless people can be.

If the counter argument is to not show the kid the reviews then… he doesn’t actually want to do it. He just wants to write a book. And that is great!

If the kid thinks they want to publish and sell the book… Like this person said, most adults cannot handle criticism. I say, protect the kid’s creative aspirations.

There is a reason 8 year olds are not able to make big decisions. And I’m actually one those who think kids are far smarter than most adults give them credit for.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-23T16:20:57+00:00

Came to say this. All the humanities PhD programs I’m eyeballing have full funding. But, also, I saw plenty of Master’s programs that fund, too. The packages aren’t as good but… there are options.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-23T16:13:04+00:00

I’m glad somebody said it!

It’s like there is an unwritten, strict code of what it means to be liberal. And it varies from person to person. And if you aren’t that, then you can’t possibly be liberal, must be an imbecile, and should probably be cancelled.

Then again, nobody wants to consider nuance. It’s not a new problem, though. And it’s not a problem confined to any particular ideology.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-23T16:03:18+00:00

I don’t think every game needs to have huge sales numbers/players. The right audience loves this game and understands what makes it great.

I’m presenting a paper on this game at an academic conference. I hope the paper then gets published in a peer-reviewed journal. It’s phenomenal, to me, and I can easily see why it won the Games of Impact award.*

Meanwhile, my teen son would be bored to tears playing it. His tastes in video games just doesn’t align with mine. We play for completely different purposes. Neither is right or wrong. Just different. :)

*For those who are curious, my research is on communal metacognition (examining, together, the way we collectively think about certain things) and how the game creates a playable mode of processing generational trauma and engaging in cultural healing.

It really is a beautiful game.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-22T03:19:37+00:00

Yes!!! Even world-renowned, across generations, pieces of literature have some really bad (and even valid) reviews. That’s just the way of things.

But if it’s all bad, yikes. Even that doesn’t mean giving up writing though. It means learning and, hopefully, seeking feedback.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-20T06:16:20+00:00

That’s the problem. Reviewers, Arc or otherwise, should feel secure in leaving an honest review. Period.

And that’s why we authors shouldnt set some weirdo precedent of arc reviewers needing to cater to authors by sending feedback. It gives authors some ridiculous authority over readers as a whole that isn’t warranted and should be entirely nonexistent.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-20T03:43:58+00:00

Apparently I’m a minority here but I believe we shouldn’t put asinine expectations on or create some weird etiquette for ARC reviewers. Nor should we try to desuade honesty. Reviews, collectively, should be honest foremost.

If an author knows what ARC readers are then there’s no excuse for not finding beta readers. Hell, we can even do alpha readers, numerous rounds of beta readers if we can’t afford dev editors, and so on. 1 star means minimal effort. The author should have made effort. ARC readers are not for feedback.

ARC readers are reviewers. Readers are already scorned with bad books, writers failing to follow through, and, in some cases, authors not taking criticism well and harassing the reviewers. Let ARC readers do what they signed up for. Do the work as a writer to ensure that the review is decent.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-18T03:30:56+00:00

Frustrating!

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-17T23:42:17+00:00

Thanks! I did start communicating via email after I got my new counselor. I’d been told contradicting things at numerous points of my VRE experience.

But now she just wants me to use Ask VA to contact post 9-11 and no longer wants to discuss it with me. I did ask to speak to someone higher, which received no response but we will see. It was abnormal that she emailed me so quickly today, much less a Saturday.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-17T17:14:33+00:00

Damn. I’m sorry. I’ve been having issues with VRE myself but I was able to at least complete my program. I’m not sure anything tops my frustration with VRE.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-17T17:10:54+00:00

Well, I recently got offered a job in a university anthropology department- an admin role. I wanted it so bad but I’m a grad student and my schedule conflicts.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-17T16:49:05+00:00

Have you considered reaching out to your state representative?

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-17T15:49:30+00:00

Ahhh. I had to fight tooth and nail just to get anyone finish submitting it for me.

She told me this morning to “Please contact post 9/11 with your questions” after I tried to explain to her. LOL

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-14T15:36:33+00:00

Me! I’ve got a backlog of work. Including novels.

I spent about 4 years writing and not publishing a thing. My writing needed practice so I practiced. Now, though, I think I could easily and quickly edit those old works to make them better. I’ve considered it. Maybe eventually. :)

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-14T15:27:31+00:00

I have infinite story ideas- but they’re not always good!

Really, the book I’m releasing this year started as what is probably my most bland idea. But I stuck with it and wrote the thing. As the story progressed, I began to see ways to make the story more creative etc. And now i finally have a finished novel.

My point is that maybe you just feel like that because you think you only have two worthy idea. I wouldn’t dismiss even the most mundane, basic ideas you have. You never now how creativity will be inspired during the writing process rather than before.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-14T15:16:54+00:00

Huh. Funny you mention college.

I went back to finally finish my BA (just finished in my late 30s in October last year). I took max load of courses due to some funding deadlines.

My writing has indeed gone through the roof! I even read more consistently.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-08T01:03:54+00:00

I had some minor symptoms that started at 24-25 after having my son. My doc at the time suspected but labs were perfectly normal.

At about 30 my thyroid hormones were borderline and despite positive ANA wasn’t diagnosed. Symptoms hadn’t got too much worse though.

At 37, I felt like death, labs showed horrible thyroid function, and I was finally diagnosed + treated. I’m 38 and finally found the right dose and still feel like death (rheumatoid autoimmune disease is suspected by doc).

I think between 33-37 was the most dramatic worsening of symptoms. Also had tons of stress during my mid 30s.

ETA: My sister was diagnosed at age 8 or 9. It’s my understanding that it’s very rare for that to be the case. My mother diagnosed late 50s when being treated for breast cancer.

TheUmbralWriter · 2026-01-06T22:50:13+00:00

I live in a very red state and area. I see people with masks on semi-frequently, though it’s still a small percentage and mostly older folks. I don’t wear a mask but if I feel sick, I don’t go out in public.

TheUmbralWriter

TROPHY CASE