• It's Maddie!@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      I’m minimal contact with him, as little as possible, mostly just at Thanksgiving and occasionally Christmas or another big family holiday. He’s a huge conspiracy nut, MAGA guy, microchips in the vaccines, “Am I being detained?” etc. Basically for any topic he’s going to find the most asinine position possible and insist that it’s the only reasonable one

      • Bizarroland@kbin.social
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        9 months ago

        My theory about those types of people is that they have a very normal need to be important and that need is currently unfulfilled.

        And that’s how they get drawn into these phantom wars against the boogeyman of the week, like there’s some part of them that says, “I am being a hero! I am doing a good thing even though people are against me!”

        It probably also explains that the more people that they make uncomfortable the more deeply they get into the rabbit hole.

        The negative feedback provides attention, it provides a source of importance to what feels like an unimportant and worthless life.

        • ivanafterall@kbin.social
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          9 months ago

          Christianity’s version of this:

          If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - Jesus

        • Jerkules_Jerkules@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Yeah if only they stopped with demanding a solid yes or no on detainment and keeping their mouths shut. Instead they rant about how they don’t need licensing, registration, etc. because they aren’t using their vehicle for commercial purposes. It gets more unhinged from there.

          Yes, if the cops stop you, get a firm yes or no on being detained, as they will try to make a voluntary contact situation seem like something you are obligated to cooperate with. Yes, you should not answer any questions with few exceptions: if you are the driver of a car that has been pulled over for an infraction or you have been arrested. Yes, you should insist that they tell you what they are bothering for and you should never respond to questions that fish for you to give answers that may fill in the blanks for them. Keep in min though, they are not obligated to tell you until they cite, charge, or arrest you. (eg. for things they ask so you fill in the blanks: “do you know how fast you are going?” answer “how fast did you clock me at?” do not say no, do not give a number) If you are at your home when the police arrive, unless they have a warrant that specifically allows them to enter your house, do not open the door. Speak to them through the door or a window close to the door. If they actually have a warrant 99.9% of the time they will show it to you in hopes of gaining compliance because almost every does at that point. The rare times they do not do that? Well there is a very good chance you, or someone in your house, is considered a dangerous criminal who is wanted for a serious crime.

          Give the cops as little access to you and your information as possible. DO NOT claim you have the right to drive on public roads without documentation while you have a gun on your hip and you are berating those police.