It’s hard as hell to find a genuinely non-political place to chill and take in content. One could argue that everything is political, but if I’m not liking politics and I’m still capable of liking some things in this world, then that’s disproven from go. A good pomo BSer can give you the politics of a kitten falling asleep while playing with a ball of yarn. I know, because I’m a good pomo BSer and could do that right now if I wanted to, but it would be bullshit.
No, to me, political content is information about government, whether true facts, opinions, or bad information. If it’s about the government, it’s political. To another extent, opinions about people’s bodies and relationships and metaphysical beliefs can also be political, particularly if prescriptive or proscriptive regarding speech and behavior – saying something is a good way or a bad way to be.
What does that leave? Dad jokes, funny animals, practical information about day-to-day life like recipes or the weather report, sportball, vidya games, hobbies, science that omits portents of doom… Doomy science is important and has its place – in steering politics, frankly.
I just want a place where I can go and reliably expect nobody is going to shit on somebody else’s entire existence, or look at me with coal black eyes and hollowly intone the specifics of the death of me and everybody I love. I recognize it’s a privilege to even imagine it’s possible to cultivate an experience like that. Some people are staring down the barrel of the political every day, up to and including their grisly deaths.
Very sorry to y’all, but I don’t feel like every human alive must live in torment because some humans do. I will do what I can to face the political on wednesday and help the tormented out, but on thursday and friday I want to enjoy what life has been granted to me by the unfeeling indifferent radioactive constantly exploding and crumbling abyss of a universe we live in. Give me a fucken minute, guys. I’ll get back to you.
Srsly I do recognize that is an unspeakably cruel position to hold, in certain company. I’m not gonna say that to the face of a Palestinian, right? But we all need this sometimes. We need to be able to feel OK, when and how we can. If nobody is ever allowed to feel perfectly hunkydory for a minute, that’s no kind of world to live in.
Anyway, drop recs for non-political content in the comments. If you can think of any times when said content got political, don’t bother to mention it with caveats. Just don’t even start typing until you can think of something genuinely without politics in it. Maybe we can make the comment section a resource for well-being, right?
–
…and for now i’m FUCKING done, thanks
ProZD on youtube, aka voice actor and internet humorist SungWon Cho, has lots of great non-political content.
Non-political content? Here are some recommendations which might entertain you for the next couple weeks.
Julian is an actor who started making videos of walks around London during COVID as he couldn’t find work:
https://www.youtube.com/c/Joolzguides/videos
Eric Curtis is a cabinetmaker I enjoy watching work, and I get inspiration from:
https://www.youtube.com/@ENCurtis/videos
Finally, John Kirkwood is a retired chef, and has a great series of cooking videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKirkwoodProFoodHomemade
All of these are pretty laid back, calming, and entertaining. Sure, there is the occasional sales pitch, but it isn’t the focus of the video. And they all have a large catalog of videos to watch.
You probably won’t be surprised, but I’m avoiding politics by reading. I did follow up on my threat to try Wittgenstein and I’m enjoying it immensely. It’s the first book in ages where I’ve laughed out loud while reading. But I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Here’s a link to a mystery novel written in 1911, The Eye of Osiris:
https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0605551h.html
It’s not the best mystery, but it’s well written, will engage your attention, and best of all free on the Internet from Project Gutenberg Australia.
For me that’s the video game speedrunning (e.g. Games Done Quick) and bad video game communities (e.g. kusogrande). It’s a community that is ridiculously pro-trans rights, which is a must for me to feel safe “hanging out” in as a non-political online space.
Thanks a lot y’all! Any comments with links might not appear right away, as I have to manually approve them.
Not a specific recommendation, but TikTok is pretty good for this. The algorithm learns what you like, and if you swipe away from political content, you see less of it. My feed is mostly science and nature videos, gardening, cooking, travel, and comedy. It’s very pleasant and calming.
I get my news from Mastodon and a couple of news sites, and I use TikTok when I want to relax and feel good for a while. Caring about the world and wanting it to be better is important, but you don’t need to marinate your brain in the bad stuff 24/7.
My youtube escapes:
How to drink
Lots of leatherworking videos, especially asmr types from Japan or South Korea
Ze Frank
Adagamator chess channel.
Non youtube:
Animal behavior books
Getting outside wirh my hawk and dogs. I know its not for everyone but falconry completely eclipses anything else I may be perseverance on. Any outward focused outdoor activity would work I think. I bird watch in the off season.
I feel you needing to escape politics. I voted today and I’m doing my best to not think about it.
thanks guys! wow, falconry is so cool when rfk jr isn’t doing it.
Late to the party here, but I’ve resorted to coloring books. Very therapeutic.