Also in generational humour today:
I monitor forums across the political spectrum to see what's being shared about the war, & to note the similarities in rhetoric & human behaviour from every side.
One weird quirk that's come out of this practice?
I've become "hip to the jive" of a Gen Z fandom, because a group of popular streamers has become massively invested in talking about the war.
Weirdest, most roundabout way of learning the lingo and star drama of another generation, I tell you what!
But also, from a behavioural standpoint? Fascinating. Though these fans are capable of discussing the war directly, to talk about how A is good and B is bad, they more often channel their commentary through how their stars are talking about the war, & what flak they're getting amongst themselves for saying something.
This feels like a natural extension of a culture that often watches others game more than game itself. But is it constructive? Or does it just add to the gamification of politics?
I wish I could think of a correlate for another decade's media, but...
I guess it's a little like imagining how each of the characters on Friends would respond to the latest war news? Then hashing out all the schisms it would create in the group, and swapping links and sources to prove one's fandom argument, instead of just talking about the news directly?
See, it feels weird even to type that.
What a roundabout way of staying informed and fostering discourse.
Was the internet a bad idea? 🙃