Looking Back: The Saftey Pin Post-Election Support Group

 

A few weeks after the Presidential Election, things are starting to calm down somewhat. But with both sides screaming that victory for the opposition would bring ruin to the country, there are still some people nervous about what lies ahead. It was much the same eight years ago. In response to Trump's victory in 2016, the head of one Clinton HQ, Evangeline Ling, founded the "Safety Pin" post-election support group, "to provide a safe space for people negatively impacted by the election to process it and to support each other," inviting people over, "if you would like to take some time to process your fears, hopes, and experiences about this election." The Newser would interview her about the group then.

I would message Evangeline a few days ago, asking if the group was back or she knew of another. She would say no, "While 'Safety Pin' as a group no longer exists in reality it certainly exists as a concept." She would say she still thinks Trump is "disastrous," but would rather express her disappointment more privately than in 2016.

If anyone knows of such an existing support group, feel free to contact the Newser.

 

The 2024 Election US Presidency Exhibit

 

 

I recently came across an exhibit for next year's election in America, the 2024 Election US Presidency Exhibit. It's a place where one can learn a little more about the country's Presidential Election.

Visit this evolving exhibit about the 2024 Presidential Election. Review information about voting and voter registration, key dates for the 2024 election, Democratic and Republican Parties and candidates, and more! Collect party supplies! Enjoy refreshments from the Campaign Cafe! Start your own fireworks show!

The U.S. Presidency has been an exhibit topic at Learning Virtualē from September 2012 through March 2014 (for the 2012 presidential election and more) and April 2015 to present (for the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections and more). 

 

Looking around, there was a place to pick up bottled water and a hamburger or hot dog, or other goodies. There was also a sign "Exercise your Constitutional right to vote!" 

 

Among the displays was one of voter trends in recent years. There was also a billboard giving out notecards of recent Presidential and Presidential election scandals and controversies "and every Presidency seems to have an alleged scandal or a few." There was one place where one could read charts on voting statistics, such as what percentage of what age group went out and voted. The chart displayed was stating older people are more likely to vote, though in recent elections more younger people were coming to the polls. 

There were also a couple places where one could get a little information on the candidates, one for the Democrats and another for the Republicans. With this upcoming election having a Democrat as the incumbent, there were only a couple other candidates listed besides President Biden running for the nomination by the party. In contrast, there was a long list of candidates running for the Republican nomination for the Presidential race, such as former President Donald Trump who has been having a consistent lead in the polls. While fortunes in politics can, and have, change wildly in a short time, there is the likelyhood of the next US Presidential election having the same two candidates by the two major parties as in the previous one. This would be only one other time in more than a century this has happened, in 1956  when the Republican Dwight Eisenhower faced the Democrat Adlai Stevenson. Neither of the major parties have ever before nominated a former President to run in a Presidential Election in American history since Grover Cleveland in1892.  .

Learning Virtualē was founded by Addison Loxely and describes itself as "a group and site for educators, students, and others interested in the advancement of e-learning in (higher) education, particularly the integration of SL into learning experiences."

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serena%20Balmoral/218/58/1651

Bixyl Shuftan

Election Night 2020 in Second Life

 

Last week was the culmination of the efforts of thousands of political volunteers and the two men leading them. On Tuesday November 3, millions of Americans went to the polls to vote in the Presidential Election. As people anxiously waited watching TV and social media, some gathered in certain places here in Second Life. I visited a few of them in an Election Night like no other here.

Read the story in Events.

Election Day

 

 In the United States, it's Election Day, and time for Americans, at least those whom haven't done so earlier, to vote. It's been a unique election, and while there are always those who feel each election is the one the future of the country depends on, this time more than usual consider this one vital. 

People will likely hang out at one of several locations, such as the Election Simulator (above), one of Second Life's political areas, and even Book Island is offering for those anxious about the election to come and hang out. So who will win, Trump or Biden? We may know sometime tonight.

So go out and vote (if you haven't already), and come and hang out in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Some Political Locations In Second Life

The US Presidential election is just nine weeks away. While many Second Life residents would rather have nothing to do with it, there are a few places supporters of Biden or Trump can hang out at, or the curious can visit. The longtime hangout for the politically liberal, Cafe Wellstone, is still around. For Trump supporters, there's the Trump Pub. There's also a newer location for Democratic supporters, the Blue Revolution HQ.

Read more in Places.

Post-Election Support Group For Democrats

It was quite a Presidential election season in the United States this year. While some are happy with the results, and some are just glad it's over and putting politics behind them, others are expressing fear and anger. For those genuinely worried about what changes the election might mean, Evangeline Ling has started a support group. The first meeting was last week, but another one is tonight. Talking to Evangeline, she had a number of things to say.

Read more in People.

Commentary: Election Day

With this moment of truth for Americans, we're taking a moment to talk about an important real life event today.

For about a year and a half, the US Presidential election process has gone on, the declarations of those seeking the nominations of their parties, the primaries and caucuses, the winning of convention delegates, the whittling down of candidates for the major parties down to a winner, the conventions and nominations, the accusations and counter-accusations, the charges and counter-charges, the leaks, the mudslinging, in an election that many simply begged for it to end. And today it finally does. It all comes down to today, when Americans cast their ballot for their choice for President of the United States.

While not the nastiest election in US History, one is hard pressed to think of another in recent history that surpasses the ill feelings of this one. Both candidates are highly unpopular, even among members of their own party, and many Americans have simply given up on politics.

But there's more to vote on than just the top office. Everywhere Americans will be voting on who represents them in Congress, and a third of the country votes on who represents them in the Senate. Then there are state and local elections. For instance a city near me is voting on whether to have a light rail system or not.

As for the office of the President, it's not for me to tell you who to vote for, just make a choice, whether Democrat, Republican, Third-Party, or write-in. But do not get upset at friends of break friendships just because one's choice has a "D" or "R" after it. And should your candidate loose, there's always next time.

As for yours truly, I'll be going out in real life, just not saying who for. And will be watching the results while in Second Life like so many of you.

See you at the polls.

Bixyl Shuftan

Election Night 2012 in Second Life

Last week on November 6th, it was time for American voters to head to the polls in real life. And in Second Life, some politically-minded residents went to certain places to watch and discuss the results. So were the winners gracious in their victory, or did the Democratic donkey make an "ass" out of itself? Were those in second place take it like a champion, or did the Republican elephant vow to never forget what happened?

Read more in Events.

Cartoon of the Day

Taken at Obama HQ on Election Night

By Bixyl Shuftan

And It's Obama, Again

Last night, Second Life residents watched the election returns not only on TV, but also got together at locations like the GOP HQ, Cafe Wellstone, and Obama HQ. It was just after 8PM SL time in which the winner was declared. President Barrack Obama had won, overcoming a weak economy with an unemployment rate that would have brought down previous incumbents.

Stay tuned for an in-depth look at election night on the Grid.

Election Day

On Monday while boating on the Blake Sea in the Mizzen sim, Gemma Cleanslate got a reminder of what season it was. She spotted another boat heading her way, and as it got closer, she noticed a certain someone's picture on the sail: the Republican candidate for US President, Mitt Romney. The boat itself had no one aboard. Scripts made it go automatically on it's course, as a floating billboard for the election.

Second Life Newser will not endorse either candidate for office. What we do ask is that people get out and do their civic duty and vote.

For those wishing to discuss the election in Second Life, one can go to the hangout for Democrats/liberals and progressives at Cafe Wellstone in the mainland Pini sim (56, 78, 45) , or the meeting area for Republicans/conservatives at The Republican Party of SL Headquarters in the Sunset River sim (180, 198, 23).

Go out and go vote.

Bixyl Shuftan (image from Gemma Cleanslate)

The First 2012 Presidential Debate in Second LIfe

Last night, Oct 3, the first Presidential debate was seen on TV, but it was also seen in Second Life. At least it was watched in two locations: Cafe Wellstone and the Republican Party in Second Life HQ. So how did the different audiences react and who won?

Read more in Events.

Politics in Second Life

Four years ago in 2008, it wasn't too hard to find reflections of the US Presidential Election in Second Life. During the Presidential Primaries, a number of places on the Grid were set up for candidates by supporters. At Capitol Hill, showings of the debates, as well as election night's returns, were shown and moderated. And of course there were the Republican and Democrat hangouts, notably the Straight Talk Cafe and Cafe Wellstone.

Today in 2012, this year's election doesn't seem to have quite the same impact here. Part of it may have to do with the real-life media spotlight largely off of Second Life. Also the Capitol Hill sim is gone, and with it the most noted spot of neutral ground debates had. And then there's the theme to the election itself. Four years ago, we had a crusty old war hero against a promising up and coming young candidate. Today, the President's once shiny promises have long been replaced by gritty realities, challenged by a candidate whom while competent seems more than a little bland. And of course there's the deepening partisan divide. Drama-shy residents may be more than a little reluctant to get involved in discussions they fear may quickly become heated.

For those interested in participating in political discussion, there are still some places one can go to. For Democrats/liberals and progressives, there is Cafe Wellstone in the mainland Pini sim (56, 78, 45), next to the highway. For Republicans/conservatives, with the closing of the GOP Cafe (formerly the Straight Talk Cafe), their place with the most traffic seems to be The Republican Party of SL Headquarters in the Sunset River sim (180, 198, 23). Second Life Newser does not yet have weekly schedules of either location.

Do you the readers have any stories of political debate in Second Life, or know of another location where it takes place regularly? By all means let us know.

Bixyl Shuftan

An Interview with Hatton Hunghi (Hatton Humphrey), Talk Show/Podcast Host

With the US Presidential season in the news, some are turning to talk shows as a source of information, or a soapbox to speak their minds for a few minutes. While on the radio, they can be found in Second Life. One such show is East Coast Conservative, co-hosted by Hatton Humphrey, known on the Grid by his avatar Hatton Hunghi. Recently, he and I sat down for an interview, in which he talked about his show, and its current new location.

Read more in People.

Election Day: Get Out and Vote

For those living in the United States, it’s that time of year. No, I don’t mean hit the 50% off Halloween costumes sales, but Election Day.

Two years ago, the 2008 Presidential Election had a number of residents on Election Day, Democrat and Republican, waiting in political themed sims with anxious hopes until the Democratic candidate Obama was declared the winner. Today, the Congressional elections have taken on an unusual amount of interest as some are predicting a historical turnover as a revitalized Republican Party is poised to retake the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate.

Not much is predictable, though. A number of races are too close to call, and the Democrats have been making a last-minute push for votes. It is still potentially up for grabs.

So “Get off your tail and vote.”

After you vote, one can hang out at one of the political sims to discuss the election returns in the news. Among the places Democrats can hang out is at Cafe Wellstone in Pini (55, 95, 46). Republicans have the GOP Cafe at the Grand Old Party sim at (217, 73, 27). Although those with opposing views can drop by for reasonable dialogue, those seen as troublemakers will be ejected faster than one can say “gerrymander.”

Bixyl Shuftan