I had a huge argument with a friend of mine and it made me realize how much I just can't take this shit anymore!

[HereUntilApril]

Sorry if my post might not be all too coherent as I am extremely tired. I can't really remember how this argument really started but I said how you have to put yourself before others and that as long as you believe that you are a good person and that you try to do what you believe is right, that that's all that matters as you can't please everyone and brought up the fact that I didn't vote in the election because I wasn't in the right headspace for it and I was called selfish for that. She told me that the reason why America is terrible today is because of people like me who chose not to vote and she brought up about women's rights and minority rights and that their rights are being taken away and that it's selfish for people to not vote and should vote if they have the ability to. I said how I hated seeing politics because it makes me depressed and she basically said that I need to grow up and face reality. I feel like as much as it is a right to vote, it should be a right to not vote and that it should be a choice to vote or not. It makes me want to crash out because I'm just sick and tired of the world already as it is and I don't want anyone to guilt trip or fearmonger me over this political bullshit because I couldn't care less about anything any more. I just want April to come by so that I could just kill myself already.

 

[Apathy79]

Fwiw, you are clearly right and she is clearly wrong. No question. One of the worst things that happened in our country was making voting mandatory. So now the 60% of the population here that are like you or me and don't care, have to vote anyway, so they just vote randomly, usually for the top name on the page. It's become a massive issue because the top name on the page has a huge advantage. A great thing about the US is you have the right to vote, but don't have to if you don't have an opinion. You can chime in once every 20 years if you want. It's the right way to do it. I don't vote here most of the time because I don't even know elections are on and don't care anyway, and get fined every time. It's nonsense.

People like her are the problem - there's no point listening to them. You did the right thing.

 

[Sleeper System]

I think the reason you don't vote is important. I don't vote because I don't believe that it matters anymore when so much shady activity seems to happen behind the scenes that appears to have more sway in the proceedings than my singular ballot does.

I also think it's a complicated issue and your friend isn't exactly wrong. There is an argument to be made about living in America and supporting the values that it's supposed to stand for. Rights are important and there is fear that if you don't exercise them then they become meaningless and that's when money and power and corruption truely take center stage and it's in those parties best interest that the rights be removed if no one cares enough to use them.

If you don't vote or take part in our political machine then you don't have the right to complain when things happen that you don't like. You didn't make yourself heard when it mattered and now you have something to say? Sit down. That's another view people share that I can understand.

In the end, there are people who care about society and people who don't. Everyone acts in their own best interest hoping they will come out in the right. It's only until we all suffer as a collective that we will ever get on the same page about anything.

 

[nembutaldream]

Fwiw, you are clearly right and she is clearly wrong. No question. One of the worst things that happened in our country was making voting mandatory. So now the 60% of the population here that are like you or me and don't care, have to vote anyway, so they just vote randomly, usually for the top name on the page. It's become a massive issue because the top name on the page has a huge advantage. A great thing about the US is you have the right to vote, but don't have to if you don't have an opinion. You can chime in once every 20 years if you want. It's the right way to do it. I don't vote here most of the time because I don't even know elections are on and don't care anyway, and get fined every time. It's nonsense.

People like her are the problem - there's no point listening to them. You did the right thing.

OMG, I had no idea it was *mandatory* to vote anywhere; that is insane. Do you mind sharing where this is?

 

[Languish]

OMG, I had no idea it was *mandatory* to vote anywhere; that is insane. Do you mind sharing where this is?

Likely the U.S. and it is not mandatory to vote, but there are many who are losing rights due to the ooutcome of the vote. Many here are even killing themselves due to the world now being faced as a result of the vote. I also did not vote, and do believe in the right not to vote. While some may pressure us and say it is our duty - when we are already outcasted from society, we have no obligation to society. This is especially true when you're barely struggling to exist as is. I understand that if everyone who did not vote, voted, and it changed the outcome - but there are many who would have voted red, that also didn't vote. It is balances out.

If you can convince a friend to vote, by all means. Every vote does count, and can make a difference. But do not guilt trip or attack them if they opt out.

 

[HereUntilApril]

I appreciate all of your messages. Why should I care about the world when I know that the world wouldn't care about me. That's why I hate it when I get called selfish for stuff like this. I will be dead soon anyway so I have nothing to complain about in terms of politics or anything else for that matter. I just wish that the world wasn't ran like this. At least, I have this forum to share my unfiltered thoughts here.

 

[Apathy79]

OMG, I had no idea it was *mandatory* to vote anywhere; that is insane. Do you mind sharing where this is?

Australia