Summary
Racist text messages invoking slavery were anonymously sent to Black individuals across several U.S. states, sparking investigations by the FBI, FCC, and local law enforcement.
The messages, received in states like New York, Alabama, and California, varied in wording but shared a disturbing tone, with some directing recipients to report to specific locations.
Civil rights groups, including the NAACP and Southern Poverty Law Center, condemned the messages, calling them deeply disturbing and perpetuating a legacy of evil.
Wireless providers are working to block the messages, which officials believe could be the work of bots or malicious actors.
Call me melodramatic, but I’m honestly surprised there aren’t roving bands of armed white dudes with trucker hats and wrap-around sunglasses in every neighborhood at this point. Maybe Jan 21, but I won’t be alive to know.
988 is the national suicide prevention hotline and it is going 24 hours a day. But even if you won’t call it, let me tell you a story. It is a story I have never told before and only the people who were there know it happened:
10 years ago, I was diagnosed with atypical trigeminal neuralgia. It is known as the suicide disease because of the intensity of the pain. I was also on various opioid medications that a doctor was putting me on in the hopes of helping me (none did) and I apparently have some sort of reaction to opioids that makes me pretty psychotic if I take them for more than a week.
Anyway, I got in a big fight with my mother while I was visiting her and I decided to hang myself.
I won’t go into the specific details, but let’s say that I was saved by a light fixture that was not very well anchored to the ceiling.
And almost every day since then I have regretted it. No matter how bad things have gotten, I realized all the people who would have been hurt by me doing it and I have yet to get over that guilt. Maybe I never will.
I firmly believe that there is no afterlife. This is all we’ve got. Do not check out early even if it’s hard now. It might not be as hard later. Eventually I found the right medication and I am not in the severe pain I used to be in most of the time.
Meanwhile, now I’m dealing with another major illness and again, it’s been really hard. But this time I’m sticking with it and I’m going to get better.
Similarly, I had a plan before Trump won in case he did and now it’s being put into action. It’s not too late for you to make one. One that doesn’t involve what you’re thinking of doing.
Honestly I wish there were. For… Reasons.
Just do your best to check out from news for the next 4 years. Don’t let that orange fucker win.
Ignorance is not the solution.
There’s a balance. You need to stay informed, but you need to keep yourself from spiraling.
Edit: To be clear, I’m not suggesting anyone totally tune out forever. Just take breaks as you need and get back in.
Seems to be becoming less and less possible.
And I fear that it will just allow things to escalate and become so much worse because people are deciding to “check out” because their privilege allows them to (at least at that moment).
I feel you with regards to the privilege aspect, and it’s definitely been something I’ve been conscious of in this (being white, straight passing, cis ish male). But it’s important to remember that it’s not all or nothing. If it’s too much, tune out for a bit, take a breather, then tune back in. It’s not like you have to permanently tune out forever or commit to stay engaged 24/7/365.
If you’re actively having like anxiety/panic attacks or sobbing about things there’s nothing you can do in that moment to help people. It’s sort of like the spoons metaphor thing. You’re just totally out of spoons. Take some time to fill your spoons back up and get back in.
I’ll edit my other comment to make my point a little more clear that I’m not advocating a “lay down and rot” type of response.
Giving up gives them power, and leaves others behind who you could help. Yeah, it sucks he won, but it’s not over. Don’t let them take everything for free.
Thats not mentioning there are certainly people who care about you in the world. You may not even understand what you mean to them.
If you’re contemplating suicide over this, seek help. It’s not worth it.
Never kill yourself for something that’s somebody else’s fault.
Meh
I don’t want to deal with 4 years of constant panic attacks every day. Again.
Like others said, anti anxiety meds, avoid the internet. Also, get yourself a musical instrument and dive into creativity. You won’t be sad that you did that.
I’d hate to have to tell your ghost that a week after you died there was a plane crash that changed everything or something.
You don’t know what’s going to happen and I promise you, you’ll die eventually if you just hang in there.
If I had pulled the trigger when I wanted to in 2017, I would have missed the most wonderful time of my life so far and by a long shot.
I still have the only gun I’ve ever owned. I’m probably gonna bury that bad boy soon, give it a little grave. Can’t sell it, it’s one of the worst reviewed firearms made in the last 40 years and no one who cares would dream of buying it.
Good luck.
Get a script for Xanax and get off the internet. You’re only going to hear the worst news here.