https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:09:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922136 Sun, 17 Jan 2021 19:54:36 +0000 Mama Bird 2922136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: wow I never knew! Here, a lot of people got sucked in through email lists - people that know each other socially/coworkers sign each other up and then get dozens of emails a day. Most are just funny photos or interesting articles or whatever, and then there's some political lies or conspiracy theory stuff snuck into one or two emails. I read an article around 2016 about how there were whole email factories somewhere in Eastern Europe - not clear who was funding them, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't Russia.</p> <p>Actually... just tried to find that article, and if you Google troll factories you'd find out more than you ever wanted to about that... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922129 Sun, 17 Jan 2021 09:24:37 +0000 SweetCaroline 2922129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: This article is exactly how my mother got sucked in. I haven't yet identified how far sucked in she is, but natural medicine was her in road. She has long followed this doctor who *SELLS* vitamins and tells her all the vitamins she needs so she can avoid big pharma. I sniffed out his platforms this morning and can easily tell that's how she dipped her toes in the water. I don't even know where to start with her. I'm baffled that she doesn't get he is monetizing his advice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922127 Sat, 16 Jan 2021 23:02:44 +0000 Chuckles 2922127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a really interesting article about how people have been getting sucked into QAnon and crazy conspiracy theories through "natural medicine" and "wellness" influencers. I would guess that everyone's older relatives who are getting sucked into crazy theories aren't getting them from Instagram influencers, but it's just another example of how previously reasonable people can be basically brainwashed. <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/a35056548/wellness-fitness-influencers-qanon-conspiracy-theories/" rel="nofollow">https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/a35056548/wellness-fitness-influencers-qanon-conspiracy-theories/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922080 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 12:56:48 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2922080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smuckers: this is exactly the challenge for me. I can debate with people all day long but it seems like the approach is "you don't agree with me so I'm going to dismiss all evidence you share by claiming the evidence is false." Facts have become subjective and it's maddening. And I'm assuming she wasn't there either but she can claim she knows but no one else does, </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922076 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 11:12:19 +0000 smuckers 2922076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I spent a fair amount of time yesterday in an argument on FB with someone (friend of a friend) who was saying Ashli Babbitt died a patriot ("standing up for what is right") and Breonna Taylor brought her death on herself ("by living with her drug dealer boyfriend who open fired on police"). When confronted with the holes in her story about the BT murder, she told another commenter to "do some research"</p> <p>I got... real mad. Tried to explain that we know exactly what happened with AB by showing her the (horrible) videos of the moments before the shot; she refused to watch them saying they were "leftist media propaganda", and that she "didn't appreciate [me] acting like [I] was there and knew exactly what happened." Called me "u silly girl" and told me she'd pray for me. </p> <p>I just don't understand people :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922075 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 10:15:04 +0000 foodiebee 2922075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Gosh, that's scary, and I'm not sure what you can do other than perhaps reporting the civil war comments. It's really your friend who needs to nip that and not allow him to keep saying that kind of thing by either muting him/unfriending him/etc. I know it's scary to confront people, but keeping this kind of mindset on the margins instead of in the mainstream, as it has become over the past 4 years, is imperative. I hope others who think of more advice will chime in here for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922073 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 10:10:25 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2922073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I admit, as much as last week and everything that's happened prior has really shaken me (big time), I'm also really nervous about reporting people like the guy you describe unless there's clear evidence that he's part of something illegal. I realize this is a real double-edged sword because we can report someone and they're perfectly innocent (legally), just very inflammatory, or they aren't and it potentially creates a real issue (like the Nashville bomber, though he was reported and no one listened). Having grown up in the Soviet Union and in a Jewish culture, the idea of reporting on people just gives me a visceral reaction, as much as I despise the rhetoric and actions these people take. But then I also realize that it can prevent really bad things from happening and I struggle. So no real advice, but that's what was running through my head... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922067 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:42:57 +0000 Anagram 2922067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to check HB probably a dozen times a day (years ago), but now I can easily go a week or more without looking here since the boards are so slow— but rest assured, I have been obsessively reading news and doing a deep dive on Reddit and Instagram and Twitter threads trying to identify all these crazies. I was not at all shocked that this happened—all the signs are there, we have a completely inept White House that has total blinders on. </p> <p>On a related note: I have an FB acquaintance who has always been conservative but in the last 4 years, has been turned off from what the Republican Party is turning into. But she has a family member (a 40ish male) who chimes in on her threads ALL THE TIME, and he comes off as one of these “siege the capitol” types—guns all over his profile, he always says on her threads he thinks we “need a civil war so people like him can be free from Democrats”, and all kind of inflammatory stuff. But he stops short of saying he would be involved in this civil war. Anyway, I feel like he should be on a watch list or something (seriously), but not sure I have the grounds to report him. Also, I don’t know him at all. All I know/see are his inflammatory posts on her page.</p> <p>Anything I could/should be doing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922061 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 12:36:58 +0000 Mommy Finger 2922061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@foodiebee: This is so true. Perfectly describes my FIL's girlfriend/life partner who was a nurse anesthetist her whole career but went down some rabbit hole that all medicine and the entire medical community is bad b/c of a few youtube videos. But that's a conversation for another day. She and my FIL are also very conservative and have some crazy views on things. I think it really is boredom now that they're retired. But it's scary </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922060 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 11:40:22 +0000 foodiebee 2922060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: We shouldn't politicize it? Wow, that's wild. I'm not sure I can think of something more political!</p> <p>@Mama Bird: @Mrs. Carrot: My mom, too, is retired now and has so much time on her hands, and my dad has passed, and I think he was a guidepost for her in many ways. She has stopped watching/consuming mainstream media because she is convinced it's corrupt and now only gets her news from people's podcasts or YouTube streams, and no matter how I try to explain to her why she shouldn't do that, I can't make a dent in it. I feel like she's joined a cult and there's nothing I can do to stop it. It's not even that she's conservative, as I have conservative friends and such who are equally as disgusted by what's going on. She's at a whole other conspiracy level. What's equally sad about it is how scared she is by everything these sources tell her, and I can't comfort her either, and she just goes right back down the rabbit hole. It's like an addiction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922058 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 11:34:12 +0000 periwinklebee 2922058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: This has been a horrible time for the mental health of so many older Americans. I have many relatives who I'm deeply concerned about, but there's so little I can do... </p> <p>As for the storming of the capitol, I'm still really at a loss for words. My almost 3 year old's choice for bedtime story for the past week has been Moonshot by Brian Floca (about Apollo 11). The juxtaposition between America putting the first man on the moon, versus the current state of things, really struck me... Mostly I'm super worried for what comes next, as I think we got lucky that it wasn't worse, and next time it could be... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922054 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 07:06:41 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2922054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: I'm growing more convinced that this is true. My parents are very active, both still work full time, so they were never overly political because they watched local news in the evening and moved on, my mom especially. They had opinions here and there on things that they were closest to (ie, for my mom Israel is a big thing because she's worked for the Jewish community for 20+ years) but never really political. In 2020 being home more and having the TV on all the time, my mother suddenly started having conspiracy opinions on BLM, Covid, the vaccine, you name it. She's a pretty educated, intelligent human being, but I'm convinced the news consumption out of boredom is the cause for this sudden flareup in all these opinions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922046 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 15:47:06 +0000 karenbme 2922046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been lurking on this thread for days because I just don't know what to say. It is both shocking and unsurprising. And it's horrific to see the lack of response especially in contrast to every other recent protest in our country.</p> <p>@Mama Bird: I think you hit on something with the idea of lost credibility. My MIL is a Trump supporter and said (paraphrasing) after voting for him in 2016 that at least he does his dirt in the open unlike Clinton who is probably doing more behind closed doors than Trump. We don't talk about politics anymore, but I wouldn't be surprised if she thinks he's just honest about the things everyone else is doing (and worse) behind closed doors. </p> <p>I've also had family say that we shouldn't politicize this tragedy, but what is it other than a political act? People were literally rioting to nullify the results of an election and 147 out of ~261 R senators and reps still voted in favor of at least one of the objections despite having no credible evidence of significant fraud. The whole thing makes very clear that a significant faction (beyond Trump and his acolytes) on one side believes in power rather than democracy and somehow we're all supposed to be polite about that and not offend the sensibilities of people who vote for Rs but consider themselves principled/above this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922033 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 11:26:04 +0000 Mama Bird 2922033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@foodiebee: what is it with older people? Maybe they've got more time on their hands to consume all the lies? I don't understand it. FWIW I think the Democratic party has also lost a lot of credibility lately, but still. Trump has never made a secret of being a dictator wannabe, and supporting that is miles beyond the pale for me. I want to go and shake everyone I asked not to vote for him in 2016 and yell I told you so! but what's the point now... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922031 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 11:19:27 +0000 Mama Bird 2922031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: he's not out yet. Nine more days. And who knows how long to get all the cooks he's hired out :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922028 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 10:54:09 +0000 foodiebee 2922028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too have been inhaling the news cycle. I'm not surprised but was angry and upset by it and the lack of reaction from the police/DoD/Pentagon, etc. My DH has a degree in WWII studies and we spent the first month of T's term discussing the similarities and were so deeply horrified then, and are scared and angry to see it coming full circle like this. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in line for the presidency were in that building, and T did nothing. That level of abdication from his oath of office...just astounding how anyone can stand by him.</p> <p>How Congress responds to this will determine the course of the country for our children. Healing is needed, but one can only heal after taking responsibility, and that includes the consequences of these actions. Without it, we open ourselves up to another term for T, more extremist violence, and a greater possibility for fascism to become a reality.</p> <p>On a note closer to home, T's term has destroyed my relationship with my mother, who has gone from being a life-long Dem to deeply indoctrinated in far-right conspiracies. We can barely hold a conversation now. I'm not even sure we have the same morals anymore. She finally texted me last night, our first communication since all of this went down, and told me she still supports him and what he's doing. I don't know how I have a relationship with her knowing that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922017 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 04:18:48 +0000 Kemma 2922017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m not American but even I’m not overly surprised to see this happen and quite frankly, every Republican politician and voter who didn’t call Trump’s sh*t out bears responsibility for this. I also think it’s brought to light how little some politicians actually care about America and its people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2922011 Sun, 10 Jan 2021 20:59:05 +0000 nwm 2922011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: @Mrs. Carrot: i had completely the same reaction. i honestly did expect angry racists to be active at the capitol, i also fully expected them to be fairly handily shut down. which, seemingly they were -- at about 6pm, when enough police officers/guardsmen and others finally showed up. it is just frightening and appalling to contemplate what level of racism, incompetence, cockiness, and complicity, if not other factors, led leadership of the capitol police, and to some extent other law enforcement agencies, to leave the front line police so woefully unprotected, under-resourced and with absolutely no tactical strategy. right now i am just inhaling any piece of news that attempts to get at this question and the answers are deeply unsatisfying right now. it's a dark time for our country that's for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921967 Sat, 09 Jan 2021 10:40:36 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2921967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: similar to @Mrs. Carrot: it's not that I am surprised Trump is inciting all this &amp; attempting to hold power at all costs, but I am surprised that the Capitol was literally overrun with the apparent cooperation of at least some of the police force/military. Perhaps that was naive of me, but so be it. </p> <p>I hope the inauguration is moved to a non-public, secure location, and that there are Benghazi-level investigations of everyone involved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921962 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 15:44:11 +0000 luckygirl 2921962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for starting this thread and for those contributing to it! What has been worrying me more than usual lately is what if he had won again? I know that he lost by 7 million votes, but it was still relatively close in terms of the electoral college, and the election wasn't the repudiation many of us were hoping for. It is terrifying to imagine four more years of this, what that would do to our country (I don't know that our country could survive it). I am also wondering, what more can I be doing to help support our democracy, since it seems so fragile lately. And how to repair some of the damage that's already been done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921951 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:03:20 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2921951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I feel so disillusioned as an adult and seeing the real state of matters in this country that it makes me want to discuss these historical events with my kids at an age appropriate level. </p> <p>I saw a tweet yesterday that really spoke to my mindset. "We're going to have to explain this to our kids and grandkids. Remember how we used to learn about things in American history and be like "Mommy how did people let this happen?" We are going to be accountable to our kids for how we respond to these events in our lifetime. That is weighing heavily on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921949 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:43:47 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2921949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: I'm not surprised it happened, the environment has been ripe for a long time. I'm surprised by how far it was allowed to go at the Capitol. I really did think that Capitol police would have had a strong presence and they just basically let them run free. I am on Capitol Hill regularly (pre-pandemic) to pick up the car from my husband's office lot or to drop off something for him or for work related things, and you can't look left without someone demanding your ID. In 2013 a woman with significant mental issues ran a barrier and was bullet-sprayed to death, even though she hurt no one. And yet a mob that was not only expected but was publicly pledging violence was basically given carte blanche to destroy the Capitol. That's what I can't get past. And yes, I do think the treatment of white men vs POC and the political leanings of police are a factor here but I really wasn't expecting this kind of abdication of duty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921945 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 10:06:53 +0000 Chuckles 2921945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: Yes! It's like that meme people are sharing, "Well that escalated slowly over 4 years"</p> <p>At first I wasn't going to talk to our 7 year old about it, but, given that we've talked about police violence towards Black people, I wasn't sure why this felt scarier to talk about. But my friend had a good point, which was that our kids won't really understand the significance of it. So I did talk with him a little. We said that people were very mad that they thought the election wasn't fair because they believe people who are sharing lies. And that the President made it worse by telling them that they should take action. And I told him what happened, leaving out that people got shot (and we didn't look at any photos). He was most concerned that maybe the rioters had gotten into the computers in the Capitol and changed the election results. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921943 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:47:38 +0000 jennlin821 2921943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't understand. So many people are saying they are shocked and surprised and can't imagine that this happened. </p> <p>I'm not the least surprised or didn't imagine this would happen... this is the logical next step for conspiracy theorists and trump supporters. I expected this to happen on election day. </p> <p>I'm an avid history buff, and we have just been living through the rise of Hitler to power, which culminated in destroying Germany's democracy through Kristallnacht and the burning of the Reichstag....<br /> German democracy wasn't strong enough to get Hitler out, which obviously resulted in his facist dictatorship. The USA's democracy miraculously was strong enought to get him out (but only after trump killed over 300,000 people), but it has been SEVERELY damaged by trump and the republican party over and over again. Don't forget that trump and the republicans packed the courts with young incompetent prejudiced judges who have life terms. One ENTIRE branch of government has been weakened if not broken for the next 60 years. Congress has been hamstringed by republicans for YEARS, so lets hope that the Democrats and Progressives are ready to pass 30 years worth of legislation in 2 years. Its the only way forward. </p> <p>If you consider yourself a republican in any way shape or form, I beg you to really think about what the fuck you are supporting when you vote for ANYONE in the republican party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921936 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 03:32:54 +0000 Corduroy 2921936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others I checked here to see if there was a thread. I didn't start one because I didn't know what to say. I still don't but I'm ravenously scrolling.</p> <p>This morning I discovered on Facebook that an acquaintance was at the windows of the Capitol, taking selfies with the cops. Her view of the country and yesterday's events is so different, I can't comprehend it. </p> <p>My 7yo saw a few images of the protests but none of the violence. She recognized that people were protesting. She's been to a handful of marches since so she didn't think it was anything beyond that. I don't think we'll say anything more right now and hopefully we won't have to until there's a peaceful transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921935 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 01:16:12 +0000 codeitall 2921935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also checked on here for a thread, but was so overwhelmed in my other channels I chose not to start one. It makes me so sick and depressed to watch the events happening yesterday and the responses from some. At first I thought, whatever, some idiots broke into the capitol building, but it has slowly become more real to me. I have no connections to DC, never even visited. But to realize the size of the protests, the scale of violence, Trump's statements, and the comparison to the police response to the BLM protests? Genuinely shocking.</p> <p>I wish so hard that the Trump supporters I have in my family and extended family realize why I could not vote Republican this last election cycle. The party is unrecognizable to me. Claims of Antifa infiltrating the protests by people in my facebook feed demonstrate what a world of conspiracy theorists Trump has caused. I learned today about the 'Gish gallop' and it is exactly how I've seen them engage. Sheer quantity of conspiracies don't prove anything other than their desperation to not believe the group they identify with has done something deplorable.</p> <p>My kids are too young to process, aren't in school, and I don't want to unload this uncertainty on them. I know I'm privileged to not live near protests that I would need to explain to them and I wish all of you that have to explain these events can stay safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921934 Thu, 07 Jan 2021 23:42:35 +0000 jhd 2921934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: what you shared is similar to what I told my son (6) last night. </p> <p>I felt I needed to tell my son last night. Just to explain why I was upset. I did not sleep well. I felt physically sick all day and can’t concentrate on anything. I’m so sad and ashamed of our country. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921930 Thu, 07 Jan 2021 22:48:27 +0000 peaches1038 2921930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am disgusted by the domestic terrorist attack on our capitol yesterday. DH and I talked about it with DS (5) tonight at dinner. Basically we used this post from @parenting.littles as a starting point. We said “people were angry that they didn’t get their way” rather that saying “scared and angry”. He had a few questions and we finished up by talking about what we can do when we are angry, frustrated, disappointed, etc and made sure he knew that we would keep him safe and that we were here for any questions he might have </p> <p>[attach=1712/21/qmljxf.600x600.F524F907-32C1-4D90-A937-4DF59E4F8D24.jpeg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921929 Thu, 07 Jan 2021 22:39:17 +0000 Mama Bird 2921929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: same. Everything feels so fragile to me. I've seen life go from normal to... really not... very quickly back home. </p> <p>Definitely not talking to the kids about it. It's taking enough effort just holding it together for the rest of the month. And they've been through enough stress. If it gets to the point where they really need to know :sad: we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Otherwise, I'll save the civics lesson for when they're older and life is less stressful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/attack-on-the-capitol#post-2921927 Thu, 07 Jan 2021 22:28:00 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2921927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: oh my gosh, so glad your husband is ok. I read something yesterday about how in a "real" coup they would take down the news for a few days to organize/choke off resistance, and now every time the internet blinks I wonder, is this it? Which I know sounds crazy...</p> <p>@catgirl: completely same. I take a break from scrolling to work or play with kids and then hop back on. My kids know how I feel about Trump (I tell them I believe people must be kind to those who are less powerful than themselves, and Trump is not) and know that Biden won, but not particulars (they thought Biden became president after the election). I'm not sure if their teachers brought it up in zoom school or not. </p> <p> @LadyDi: I am torn between being drained and needing to process all of it vs internalizing. We don't do TV news either. </p> <p>I previously worked for a fed agency, and once had a gun raised at me for leaning into my passenger seat to retrieve my badge as I slowly pulled up to the guard station. Not that I condone excessive force but I would think the Capital police should have prevented entry! And would have prevented it if it was a BLM protest. And now Hogan is saying they refused offers to help for hours, I just can't fathom all this. </p>