I try to live in an echo chamber. I’m not into debates. I’m not a fan of confrontation at all, really. Some people thrive on it, I shut down and retreat into a sweaty shell.

When I’m reading an article or watching the news, while I do follow a lot of centrist sources, I try to stick with the farthest left publications I can find. I’m open to change; like if someone comes in and blows me away with mountains of evidence or a better take on something we disagreed on, I have no problem admitting I was wrong. I can change my perspective if it makes sense.

That said, there is nothing that can convince me voting Republican is a good thing - for one simple reason. It doesn’t make sense. Democrats focus on humanitarian things. They actually have the ability to empathize with people; they run on acceptance and they give a shit about marginalized people. They at least acknowledge that trans people are people. They don’t try to weaponize free speech. The other party runs on total control and banning everything they don’t like. And there’s a lot they don’t like.

I get that change doesn’t happen if you never leave your safe, cozy echo chamber. But we all need a fucking break sometimes. I don’t go on social media to start fights and publicly shame people I don’t like. That’s never changed anyone’s mind on anything.

I come here to make friends with people who agree with most of what I agree with. I come here to find people and content that reflect the things I like and believe in. I come here to hang out with people who don’t want to see immigrants deported simply because they’re not the same race as them. People who don’t do the mental equivalent of rolling around on the floor screaming and throwing a tantrum like a fucking toddler because they can’t handle something as simple as pronouns.

I see enough of that in the real world. I’m surrounded by conservatives where I live. I work 50 miles from home and I still can’t escape it. I don’t understand how Ohio was ever a swing state, honestly. I spend a lot of time on the road and I didn’t see a single Harris bumper sticker this year. I saw a grand total of one (1) Harris yard sign during the race.

Meanwhile I can never seem to get out of the path of jacked up trucks sporting Trump flags and massive light bars brighter than the surface of the sun. I can’t drive a mile down the road without seeing 50+ Trump signs, and that’s a conservative estimate (pun intended).

I don’t have a relationship with my parents because I’m too liberal queer confused and they’re too conservative. I don’t try to make friends with the neighbors or most co-workers for the same reasons. I’m not ashamed to admit I like living in an online echo chamber most of the time. It’s the only place I can safely dissociate for a little bit while I’m swimming in an ocean of blood red.