Rex, man. Of all the nostriches here, you’re one who has made me dig deep and think a LOT about people, politics, nuance, etc.

Sometimes the stuff you share is loving, wise, and compassionate, and I appreciate you for it.

Other times (like this one) I’m afraid it comes across as cruel and ignorant. And it’s hard, but also kind of amazing to have a digital space where one can organically appreciate that kind of complexity without algorithms and all that.

I’ve never had the experience of feeling like I’m in the wrong physical body. I can’t imagine how difficult, distracting, and complicated it must feel. But the fact that so many in our society refuse to even try to offer compassion or acceptance toward people living such a unique and often hard experience is discouraging to me. Because I love people, and seeing suffering makes me sad. It’s why I Bitcoin.

It’s of course true that tiny, extreme factions can and do act horribly, on any end of the cultural/political spectrum. And I’m not here to make excuses for anyone’s bad behavior. (It’s obvious when it occurs, ‘nuff said).

But if we get hooked by that divisive culture war rhetoric, then we’re failing - in that moment - to bring about a better world.

When a minority of people in our culture have overwhelmingly been the recipients of scorn, abuse, and violence, it feels wrong to me to take any approach other than listening. Because I just don’t know what it’s like, but keeping an open heart has never failed me before.

I didn’t read this thread in detail, but my sense is that it got pretty hostile. For my own well-being, I’m not going down that rabbit hole (and I still have to go get ready for a trip).

But since it’s nostr, where I have gotten to know the two humans having this conversation, I’m not just scrolling on. I respect you enough to say, I believe you’re a good person but I think you’re wrong about this, because if we haven’t lived it, we can’t know. I hope you’ll consider that.

Again, culture war BS is just not something I’m interested in. Red blue white black rainbow whatever, I’m in this for all the other humans and want to listen to and honor anyone willing to share their experience of this life.

Okay that’s all I got for now. Hope this note ultimately acts to bring a little more love to every side of the scale ✌️