depending on your skills and what you’re looking for quite okay tbh

I use Alexandrite on my laptop and really like it

I was an hour ago, but now I’m back at my desk scrolling through Lemmy and Mastodon while following cycling (Volta ao Algarve) on my laptop. Social media manager sure is one hell of a job. I think I’ll get another coffee

Politics and social media both have a major impact on your life. Imo it’s impossible to disconnect (pun intended) them from each other. Social media is basically the 21st century version of the town square. People talk about politics, that’s just how it is

I’d like to understand what you’re saying, but you’re not saying much at the moment

what do you mean?

Oh if you’re into politics, it’s very interesting to follow hahaha. It’s definitely not ideal, but better than a two party system for sure. Also not that difficult of a system, but for outsiders it can be a lot I think. I also struggle to fully understand the American system, with the value per state etc. Forming a new government is fun and exciting, plus it gives you some hope that a terrible minister will lose his function four years later

And doing what you can is still better than doing nothing!

Yeah, Germany has its elections on Sunday. I’m anxiously awaiting those results, tbf. You’d think Germans know how well it went the last time the extreme right-wingers were in control, but you never know…

In Belgium, we had elections for the federal government in June and regional (Flanders, for me) government in October. Although the right wing gained a lot of votes, we were able to form a government without the extreme right. At the moment we still have a “cordon sanitaire”, look it up, I think it’s quite nice. The extreme right-wing party says it’s undemocratic, of course, but in this case I don’t mind. The formation took 236 days, tho, but that’s another story. We still hold the world record for longest period without a government (592 days in 2018-202, breaking our own record of 541 days in 2010-2011)

oh, valid… but stay strong! we’ll all get through it one way or another

This is the most positive take I’ve read on this topic so far. I hope it’s true and it’s all more circus than it seems, but it’s scary tho

From what I read online and see in the news here, Canada seems to have a “ow yeah, bring it on, we’ll kick your ass” mentality (might sound cooler than I intended but hey, maybe it really is like that!)

there is no force that could stop us

… yet! I have some hope in the EU becoming stronger together and try to do something against it. I don’t know what, but something…

They just made my gender illegal to put on a passport

So TECHNICALLY they can’t do you harm either… No passport no way of punishing you (I know they can, but I’m just trying to lighten the mood a little bit. Humor as coping mechanism and all that)

I really believe this hole situation is a big opportunity to strengthen our ties within the EU and create a strong bond. And I hope so as well… The German elections this Sunday will be important

Ooof I can imagine. Canada or Mexico?

You get used to it when you live here, trust me. Only once a week, as is tradition!

There’s a society here, yes! Be my guest!

A large portion of Americans only have 2 brain cells and they’re both busy fighting for 3rd place

I’ll steal this one. That’s a marvelous quote

This is hell. This is hell. Never, ever, ever let it happen in Belgium. For the love of any god that gives enough of a fuck to listen, care about politics. Care about politics before they decide they don’t care about you.

I try! It’s a hard battle, sometimes, because even here right-wing nutjobs are getting more and more normalised. We can only hope that they see the situation in the US and realise they don’t want this kind of shitshow. On the other hand… even here some of those nutjobs are celebrating Donny and Elmo. That’s very scary.

Has it all been futile? Have I wasted ten years fighting the same fascists my grandfather fought in WW2?

It’s not! I really believe it hasn’t been futile! Keep on fighting! I know it’s very demanding, but never underestimate the power of the masses. I support you, even if I can only raise my voice online. And here in Belgium, I’m fighting for sure to evade the same situation.