Health and Sanity Check-Ins

[sprocketta]

Things are crazy now. I think we are all trying to stay healthy and maintain sanity as well. I thought I would start this thread so folks can check in and discuss how they're doing. I want all my BIC friends to be okay. I will kick this off with a first post. Take care of yourself lovelies.

[tsavorite]

I would like to celebrate January 20th, 2021 as a beginning of a return to sanity for the United States.   We have a long way to go, but this is a beginning. 

We have such a long way to go to get this pandemic under control, and the worst days of the pandemic are probably yet to come.  We are in very deep water.  We didn't need to go in this direction with the pandemic, there were choices that were made, and we are now living and dying with the results.  Now, there is also hope, if everyone gets vaccinated.

[faeriegirl]

Today is definitely a day to celebrate @tsavorite!

[LuxFlora]

This is my first time posting on this thread and I won't be posting here again because the subject matter saddens me. I have empathy for anyone who feels depressed during this time. I felt this shock and anger during the last six months when riots, fires and looting was caused by unruly protests of ANY kind from ANY political side (DEMS or Republican extremists). I feel an anger brewing in me because I believe in free speech and big tech has moved to silence this voice from certain sites. I don't agree any platform should promote violence but its clear to me there is a bigger propaganda happening. The covid virus is real and thankful that me or my family never got it. I am very lucky and still fortunate to have all I have and to be an American. I know alot of people hated our currently exiting president but alot of people liked him too and that is why this nation is so divided. I admire alot of things he did but disliked alot also. He helped alot of the black communities in a way that was never really done before. I am in no way racist by supporting Republicans because I have dear friends from all ethnicities and love diversity. I learned to separate politics from my beauty passion because everyone has a right to their opinion without having to defend it. I am here because I love beauty and I love learning about new techniques and awesome product recommendations. I have learned that respecting both political viewpoints is one way toward peace in our future. Good night and virtual hugs to all! We are united by our love for inner and outer beauty!! 

[Nickelliebear1]

Just a Canadian stopping by to say my heart is going out to all of the Americans who are part of the BIC community.  We're not a perfect country but we hide it well and despite what it seems like the media is trying to do, it seems like many people are trying to hide a blatant disregard for domestic terrorism.  I'm so floored that people are holding that ideal close to the idea that he/they could make America *great* again.  

I'm safe in my corner of the world and not to brag but I feel blessed.  We've been in our second wave for a while and there are provinces who are still super locked down, with curfews in place, we've had a day where there's 0 new cases.  My boss let me know that our company has decided to finally follow their claim of closing 200+ locations but our store is safe.  My father got his negative covid result from his pre-holiday shopping exposure. 

While I'm aware of how fortunate I am, I still can't shake the night terrors that wake me up in the middle of the night.  They're not Covid/white supremacist related but it's just one of the telltale signs that I'm stressed out.  I'm still lonely?  I'm just choosing to focus on the positive right now and still searching for the lights at the end of the tunnel.  

[ather]

@Nickelliebear1  I’m so sorry you are so stressed out. I totally understand the lonely feeling. I feel it too. I am very grateful for my family but it’s sometimes nice to be able to see people outside your household. We got locked down another 14 days. I am soo hoping this allows down soon. If you every feel lonely and need someone to talk to I’m always here to listen. 

[Nickelliebear1]

@ather I live on my own so my only human interaction are with coworkers and my customers, lol.  Hopefully you're getting closer to regaining some sense of normalcy.  

[naturalooks15]

Just a very very sad time for our country 😞  Lost pride. Can't say anything when my friends from other countries ask what's happening here. I am just worried where are we headed. 

Not sure if I am optimistic but let's see if hope restores on 20th and beyond.  

[itscarin]

I'm going to ramble.  Consider yourself warned.

When I first moved out of my house at 18, I moved to Boston, and I used to walk around and see the most bizarre things.  Like one time I saw a homeless lady pushing a stroller with like 3 telly tubbies strapped in.  She was just pushing her stroller along mass ave like it was normal, and nobody else batted an eyelash.  I, on the other hand, was looking around to see if anyone else noticed the very odd scenario, and then I was even more confused when nobody else seemed to notice.

That's how I feel about Wednesday.  A group of domestic terrorists ransacked the Capitol with the intention of taking elected officials and their aides by force, and doing god-only-knows-what with them.  (And let's be honest, they weren't going to give them a pat on the back and let them go.)  That  being said, everyone around me seems to be acting like this is normal.  (And I'm generalizing here so please don't take this personal.)  

It feels like 9/11, only half of the country can't see it for what it is.

It makes me feel like that 18 year old watching the homeless lady stroll down Mass Ave with her Telly Tubbies, and nobody else is paying her any mind.  And then that makes me wonder, "did I just see what I think I saw?  Nobody else seems to see it.  Maybe I'm the crazy one!"  But no... we did just see a bunch of domestic terrorists and an insurrection.  

And then speaking of mental health -- I feel like I almost have to tip-toe around the insurrection because I understand that a lot of people are stressed out and scared by Wednesday, and are trying to take a mental-health-break from the news, but I'm the opposite where I feel like Wednesday was bad and we need to acknowledge it every single day until something is done to address it.  

I'll wrap this up and say thanks for reading, I hoping you're all doing okay, too!

[pocketvenus]

@itscarin Here's an analysis from Business of Fashion regarding the radio silence. It's not about beauty, but the two industries are so closely intertwined, I think it applies.

Spoiler

Soon after a costumed, right-wing mob, inflamed by online memes and outgoing US President Donald Trump, stormed the seat of the country’s democracy last Tuesday to stop the certification of the 2020 election results, many companies took swift action to protect their brands. Almost immediately, many paused their marketing activities for fear of appearing next to coverage or commentary on what President-elect Joe Biden gravely called “insurrection.”

The same day, CEOs from technology to finance issued statements on the matter. Apple chief executive Tim Cook lamented a “sad and shameful chapter in our nation’s history” and called for accountability. BlackRock chairman Larry Fink called the Capitol invasion “an assault on our nation, our democracy and the will of the American people.”

Even the Republican-leaning National Association of Manufacturers issued a strongly-worded statement denouncing the violence: “This is not law and order. This is chaos. It is mob rule.” And soon, companies from Amazon to Nike to Goldman Sachs had vowed to pause financial contributions to legislators who voted against certifying the election.

But few major brands rushed to make big consumer-facing statements.

Patagonia, no stranger to taking political positions, was one of the only fashion and apparel companies that issued a statement to its fans, condemning the “assault,” calling for the removal of Trump and noting the “double standard” in the security response to last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests and the storming of the Capitol.

In recent years, leading brands like Nike and Gucci have reversed years of corporate neutrality, taking a public stance on sensitive topics from racism to gun control. Most famously, Nike embraced polarising American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the national anthem, which is played before sporting events across America, to protest the police brutality and wider social injustice suffered by Black people.

At the heart of the shift is the rising spending power of millennials, who expect the brands they love to embrace values that align with their own and take a stand on important socio-political issues as they lose faith in traditional institutions like government and the media. Millennial employees have similar expectations of the brands they work for at a time when attracting and retaining talent and fostering a strong company culture are more important than ever.

Never was this shift more visible than in the avalanche of support from major brands for Black Lives Matter when protests erupted after the police killing of George Floyd, another flashpoint in a deeply divided nation.

And yet, when a mob of white nationalists stormed the US Capitol last week, many of the same brands stayed silent, save for quiet statements pledging to withhold political donations. Why?

Some may have become more cautious after being burned when their statements supporting Black Lives Matter and other causes were seen as inauthentic, self-serving and, in some cases, at odds with their own internal cultures, attracting social media backlash.

In November, Gap was ridiculed when it posted (and then deleted) a tweet featuring a branded, half-red, half-blue hoodie — a reference to America’s political divide — with the caption: “The one thing we know, is that together, we can move forward.”

Others may have been wary of commenting on every new crisis at a volatile moment in history.

But for many, the underlying calculus was rooted in the distinction between politics and values. The killing of George Floyd was widely seen as above politics. It was not about being a Republican or a Democrat, or even an American. It was about fundamental human values that are global and universal in nature, transcending nations and their party politics in a way that the Capitol invasion — inextricably linked to Trumpism and the 2020 election — did not.

While universal values are not always universally shared, they are less fraught with the tension and complexity that can make party politics a minefield for brands. Critically, they can also be more easily activated in a way that is positive, constructive and aligns with a brand’s own framework of values. For example, Nike’s decision to support Kaepernick’s protest underscored its commitment to equality and aligned with its underlying belief in the universalism of sport.

Which brings us to the matter of aspiration. Fashion brands ultimately sell more than just clothes, shoes or bags. They sell a better you. As such, their worldview is fundamentally optimistic. Their brand storytelling is typically uplifting and empowering.

It’s far more natural and advantageous for them to stand for something positive — whether it’s racial equality or a cleaner planet — than stand against the ugliness of a reactionary mob.

Many brand managers will have watched the Capitol invasion unfold in real-time and, despite pressure from employees, quickly realised there was no positive brand story for them to tell.

Article by VIKRAM ALEXEI KANSARA 

[itscarin]

@pocketvenus I’d say protecting the institutions that protect human rights is a positive brand story but I’m not in marketing. Shrug. 

[pocketvenus]

@itscarin I definitely concur that this is a total no brainer when it comes to human rights. I think we see here a real conservatism in businesses when it comes to branding, human rights and their core value of generating and protecting profits.

As an aside, I would like to see this event spur people to seek out more ways of becoming civically engaged to addresss the rise of white supremacy and its underlying causes. Especially in ways that go beyond "consumer activism." A healthy democracy requires citizens organizing together in groups, and it requires lot more work than making individual decisions about which companies are moral enough to purchase stuff from. A lot of organizing has been eroded over the decades, like the decimated labour movement and lowered membership in civic groups but in recent years, I've seen things changing with more people seeking to get involved in political actions. Maybe this failed coup will accelerate things?

[sprocketta]

@itscarin i was avoiding the news that day to avoid the objections to the election drama. I was driving to my doctor's office when the music station I listen to interrupted with breaking news. I yelled in the car in surprise. It felt like a joke. This is surreal and it disgusts me. How can the US be like this? I have been reeling the last week. I feel this riot was clearly incited and 5 people died. I felt very lost last week. It still feels lost now.

I'm.glad you put this out there. Personally I think there should be prosecution for the incitement. He has blood on his hands and has no remorse. He is less than a cockroach to me and more dangerous. 

The ease with which this riot happened distresses me terribly. The BLM protest had tons of law enforcement lined up. I think they were told to go easy on the protesters in favor of this sorrow of a president.

I feel so lost. I know I've said that. I hope the new administration puts some reason back in our lives right now.

[itscarin]

@sprocketta Thanks. Glad we're talking about it.  It's just weird because each day goes by and you see a new person who was arrested in connection to the insurrection.  Some of them are clearly nuttier than a fruit cake but others are seemingly normal.  

I honestly am having a lot of difficulty focusing on anything other than the chaos.  You see certain people saying they don't want to impeach because it would be too divisive and they're 'looking to unite' the country, but nobody was talking about unity when Joe Biden won the free and fair election.  

People need to be brought to justice so we can all move on.  

[tsavorite]

@itscarin , @pocketvenus , @WinglessOne , and everyone,

I'm really glad to see this situation discussed here, in this Thread.  We are living in a nightmare.  I think it is good for us to talk to each other.  I'm in awe at how well you all are expressing yourselves.  In my off-BIC life, I have not been able to stop talking about the Wednesday attack on the Capital Building and what needs to follow.  

[itscarin]

@tsavorite I'm kind of surprised by the lack of reaction from the beauty community and mostly I mean influencers. I get that there isn't a big overlap between politics and beauty. I get it that nobody wants to get involved in a shouting match online. But we're talking about domestic terrorists overrunning the capitol building lookingto "dispatch" the Vice President, speaker of the house, and senate majority leader (I mean chuck not Mitch). This kind of thing isn't supposed to happen in America. We're supposed to be better than that. 

And then im scrolling through Instagram and all the influencers are posting about fit tea, whatever new product is launching, etc, and I'm just like 😱  What is happening?!  Wednesday just happened and you're really back to your regularly scheduled programmin?!  One influencer I follow dipped out for her own mental health.  Another influencer didn't really address Wednesday but did have some words for another influencer who was in support of the siege. But other than that, not a word. 

[SportyGirly125]

@itscarin I think a majority of them don't talk about it because they will lose followers.  I follow some Doctors and Influencers who do talk about it and post on their feed and stories about how they feel but they start getting crazy DMs and get attacked and start to lose a lot of followers. Some don't care about losing followers but others do and don't want to bring up what's going on in fear of angrying people or not saying the right thing.  It's always hard to talk about BLM, Politics, LGBTQIA and any ongoing issues on Social Media because people can be so mean. 

[pocketvenus]

@SportyGirly125 It's so true, the level of vitriol and violence random strangers can unleash online, especially when you are a public figure and a woman, can get really extreme and scary 😞 Influencers are also precariously employed. Even when they are making a lot of income, they are not full time employees with benefits. The more precarious someone's safety and finances are, the less likely they will take any kind of risk, even if it is in their self interest. There's that saying, "people with mortgages don't go on strike." It's sad though, that this event is controversial.

[itscarin]

@SportyGirly125 I understand influencers make their livelihood via social media, but it's a little bit like the republicans who go along with trump even though they know he's evil.  Yes, you keep your popularity if you stay silent, but at what cost?  Is it that important to get re-elected or to keep your followers on social media?  Do you like who you are when your head hits the pillow at night?  

I know that people can be nasty online.  But anyone who has something nasty to say about human rights: eg BLM or LGBTQIA is a warped individual. 

[WinglessOne]

@itscarin @Kim888  That's one of the reasons I don't follow beauty influencers. Collectively, they're not very good at using their platforms for anything besides tutorials, sponsorships, self-marketing (which includes performative "support" of causes), and beauty community drama. And I mean, sure, most of their audience probably doesn't expect (or want) more than that in the first place so they're getting what they came to watch. Some folks use influencers as a fun escape from news bombardment, and I get that. But yeah, beauty influencers are some of the last people I expect to talk (on their own videos/channels & accounts) about this terrorist attack. 

Eh, that doesn't mean they're not talking about it outside their own channels/accounts. We only see the parts of their lives they chose to show us. It'd be nice to see them give this disaster a bit of airtime on their platforms, but I have no idea if they're devoting time and energy to discussion and action outside their platforms. I don't mean to sound like I'm defending or excusing beauty influencers' silence. I guess my expectations of their platform use are already so low, their silence is no surprise or major disappointment to me—and for all I know, they're genuinely vocal about this terrorist attack elsewhere. 

[itscarin]

@WinglessOne I saw a lot of brands step up for BLM.  Sephora, Ulta, MAC (MAC has always been very supportive of diversity and inclusion), etc.  But when a rabid mob storms the capitol looking to "dispense" the VP, Speaker of the House, and basically anyone who disagrees with them, noooooobody had anything to say.

I understand there's a difference between human rights and politics, but when your politics are denying human rights, there's no longer a separation between the two.