Fellow lifelong weirdo here! I think you're spot on, Jena. It is the perfect word to unsettle them. They really are weird, this is not normal behavior and perhaps the spell is going to be broken by pointing out that the Emperor has no clothes. Isn't that weird?
Gosh I sure hope so. You can tell how much they long to belong, which I suspect is one reason the direction this country has taken (rewarding the wealthy and making it harder and harder for average American to feel empowered and thrive) has made them act out like frustrated children. I am not condoning their behavior, but I can see how it happened and hope that being labeled weird will help them see that their current behavior is the opposite of what it takes to belong to and take part in an effective democracy.
The great thing about the word Weird is that it is go generic and non-specific that you can make it your own. I’ve learned to embrace my version as a badge of honor and @Gloria Horton-Young had some wonderful things to say about the history of weird (see comments under my “Weird Right?” Post. Go Kamala GO!
Yes…if you listen to them, most can’t accurately recount events or tell you why they support the orange one. They just keep repeating the tropes fed to them. If you ask for facts to back those claims up they can’t produce them. Their allegiance is purely an emotional reaction based on the feeling that they have been wronged or disrespected in some way and the orange one will fix it. I am talking about the regular MAGA here, not those who are consciously manipulating situations and events to gain power and/or money.
Right. I spoke to a gal from Facebook Marketplace and she was convinced Trump would not do a national abortion ban and would leave it the states… and she ranted on about 9th month abortions… and I just shook my head and did my best to explain truth-but she wasn’t having it. 🤦♀️
Brainwashed. What I would have wanted to ask her was why she would prefer a failed businessman, rapist, and convicted felon over a woman who has impeccable credentials both as a legal prosecutor and as Vice President. But you and I both know she wouldn’t have a real answer to that. It is sad.
I remember discovering Hunter S. Thompson when his articles first started appearing in Rolling Stone magazine. It was the early 70s, and his writing was like nothing I had ever read before—raw, unapologetic, and utterly captivating. In 1971, his most famous work, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream," was serialized in Rolling Stone before it became a book. I devoured every installment.
Thompson had this way of making the bizarre seem almost normal, like he was peeling back the layers of reality to show us the weird and wonderful underbelly of life. He once wrote, "Weird behavior is natural in smart children, like curiosity is to a kitten." That really stuck with me. It was his way of saying that intelligence often shows itself in unconventional ways, something I’ve always believed.
Then there's that classic line, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." It was from "Fear and Loathing at the Super Bowl," and it captured his belief that when life gets chaotic, those who thrive in the madness will rise to the occasion.
Another gem is, "The only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over the edge." This was from "Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs," and it highlighted his view that to understand the limits of normalcy, you had to experience the abnormal.
"Too weird to live, too rare to die." That line from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" perfectly described those unique individuals who don’t quite fit the mold but are all the more fascinating because of it.
And then there's, "There is no such thing as paranoia. Your worst fears can come true at any moment." This one’s from "Kingdom of Fear." It wasn’t directly about being weird, but it spoke to the precariousness of life, something I think we all feel from time to time, especially when you're a bit different from the norm.
Thompson’s work wasn’t just about the weirdness—it was about embracing it, finding deeper insights, and showing us that what society often labels as weird can actually be a sign of adaptability and brilliance. His writing felt like a call to see the world in all its chaotic, messy glory and to find our place within it.
I am so glad that I subscribe to your posts. You are absolutely brilliant. Thank you for your insights.
One of your thoughts struck me: In doing what I do, some have said that I am not normal. My response has always been, thank God! Who in their right mind wants to be normal!
Isn’t it obvious that each of us is extraordinary, and consequently no one on earth is normal? So weirdness is just what we all do, naturally.
Yes this is another and delightful definition of weird and one I eventually learned to embrace (after years of good therapy) about myself. I see the use of weird in the context of MAGA not as a way to explore or find deeper meaning in their behavior but as a way to get them to hit pause and hopefully think about what they’re spewing into the world.
I will add that I believe there are many underlying and important reasons for their outrage, need to demonize and try to control others, but I don’t think we can go there until they are returned to their senses. Right now they are not behaving rationally, IMHO of course.
Unfortunately, they are exactly where they want to be. Trump opened Pandora’s box and all the little monsters were able to come out into the world and reek havoc.
I agree that Trump emboldened and gave them permission to spew their hate but there are reasons for it (please don’t hear me excusing them. No one should be allowed to do what they’ve done).
I must confess that I may be reluctant to call them Creeps as I do not want them on same table with the wonderful cover by Haley Rhinehardt with the incomparable Post Modern Jukebox.
Excellent. Great perspective!
Thank you, David :-)
Beyond weird, cultish and stupid.
Agree!
Bravo, Jena!
Thank you, Kimberly.
Fellow lifelong weirdo here! I think you're spot on, Jena. It is the perfect word to unsettle them. They really are weird, this is not normal behavior and perhaps the spell is going to be broken by pointing out that the Emperor has no clothes. Isn't that weird?
Gosh I sure hope so. You can tell how much they long to belong, which I suspect is one reason the direction this country has taken (rewarding the wealthy and making it harder and harder for average American to feel empowered and thrive) has made them act out like frustrated children. I am not condoning their behavior, but I can see how it happened and hope that being labeled weird will help them see that their current behavior is the opposite of what it takes to belong to and take part in an effective democracy.
I'm weird but I've always been weird lol. At 61 the weirdness is permanent like a tattoo. I embrace it!! Kamala is my girl too, go blue!
The great thing about the word Weird is that it is go generic and non-specific that you can make it your own. I’ve learned to embrace my version as a badge of honor and @Gloria Horton-Young had some wonderful things to say about the history of weird (see comments under my “Weird Right?” Post. Go Kamala GO!
Great piece Jena...I'm so late in catching up with everything. You're right...these people are in pain. I think because of that they are vulnerable.
And thank you!
Yes…if you listen to them, most can’t accurately recount events or tell you why they support the orange one. They just keep repeating the tropes fed to them. If you ask for facts to back those claims up they can’t produce them. Their allegiance is purely an emotional reaction based on the feeling that they have been wronged or disrespected in some way and the orange one will fix it. I am talking about the regular MAGA here, not those who are consciously manipulating situations and events to gain power and/or money.
Right. I spoke to a gal from Facebook Marketplace and she was convinced Trump would not do a national abortion ban and would leave it the states… and she ranted on about 9th month abortions… and I just shook my head and did my best to explain truth-but she wasn’t having it. 🤦♀️
Brainwashed. What I would have wanted to ask her was why she would prefer a failed businessman, rapist, and convicted felon over a woman who has impeccable credentials both as a legal prosecutor and as Vice President. But you and I both know she wouldn’t have a real answer to that. It is sad.
One another note, Jim Sanders blocked me. I find that interesting.
That is weird (pun intended).
LOL. 😂
A different take on weird.
I remember discovering Hunter S. Thompson when his articles first started appearing in Rolling Stone magazine. It was the early 70s, and his writing was like nothing I had ever read before—raw, unapologetic, and utterly captivating. In 1971, his most famous work, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream," was serialized in Rolling Stone before it became a book. I devoured every installment.
Thompson had this way of making the bizarre seem almost normal, like he was peeling back the layers of reality to show us the weird and wonderful underbelly of life. He once wrote, "Weird behavior is natural in smart children, like curiosity is to a kitten." That really stuck with me. It was his way of saying that intelligence often shows itself in unconventional ways, something I’ve always believed.
Then there's that classic line, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." It was from "Fear and Loathing at the Super Bowl," and it captured his belief that when life gets chaotic, those who thrive in the madness will rise to the occasion.
Another gem is, "The only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over the edge." This was from "Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs," and it highlighted his view that to understand the limits of normalcy, you had to experience the abnormal.
"Too weird to live, too rare to die." That line from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" perfectly described those unique individuals who don’t quite fit the mold but are all the more fascinating because of it.
And then there's, "There is no such thing as paranoia. Your worst fears can come true at any moment." This one’s from "Kingdom of Fear." It wasn’t directly about being weird, but it spoke to the precariousness of life, something I think we all feel from time to time, especially when you're a bit different from the norm.
Thompson’s work wasn’t just about the weirdness—it was about embracing it, finding deeper insights, and showing us that what society often labels as weird can actually be a sign of adaptability and brilliance. His writing felt like a call to see the world in all its chaotic, messy glory and to find our place within it.
Gloria,
I am so glad that I subscribe to your posts. You are absolutely brilliant. Thank you for your insights.
One of your thoughts struck me: In doing what I do, some have said that I am not normal. My response has always been, thank God! Who in their right mind wants to be normal!
Isn’t it obvious that each of us is extraordinary, and consequently no one on earth is normal? So weirdness is just what we all do, naturally.
Thanks again,
David
Creatives are not normies. THANK GOD! 💙🫂
Right?!
Yes this is another and delightful definition of weird and one I eventually learned to embrace (after years of good therapy) about myself. I see the use of weird in the context of MAGA not as a way to explore or find deeper meaning in their behavior but as a way to get them to hit pause and hopefully think about what they’re spewing into the world.
I will add that I believe there are many underlying and important reasons for their outrage, need to demonize and try to control others, but I don’t think we can go there until they are returned to their senses. Right now they are not behaving rationally, IMHO of course.
Unfortunately, they are exactly where they want to be. Trump opened Pandora’s box and all the little monsters were able to come out into the world and reek havoc.
I agree that Trump emboldened and gave them permission to spew their hate but there are reasons for it (please don’t hear me excusing them. No one should be allowed to do what they’ve done).
I know you are not excusing them. In my opinion, most not all are beyond reason.
Yes…I agree with you. Reason will not unplug the, from their addiction to the hate speech and dogma.
Not only weird but very very weird.
I must confess that I may be reluctant to call them Creeps as I do not want them on same table with the wonderful cover by Haley Rhinehardt with the incomparable Post Modern Jukebox.
LOL, well I have no such qualms, but maybe that will only cause further derision. I can just stick to weird or VERY VERY Weird.
Well done, Jena!
Thank you. I hope it makes a dent. Hugs!