I’m a bit tired of reality at the moment. Stress which is near me is mixing up to the stress of the wider world and it’s making it difficult to be around people. Of course, the way ideology has pretty much killed public discourse in my home country doesn’t help all that much. I’m tired of the shouting. I’m tired of being snapped at when I won’t tow the myriad of party lines clashing in the world right now. I’m tired of being afraid to engage in conversation, and exhausted at having that fear reinforced when I do find the courage to speak.

People can only take being shouted down so much before they give up trying to make connections. Sadly, this is what all the shouters want — to be left alone in their shouting until the world conforms to the desires born of their rage.