Distractions From Election Terror: Station Conversation

No matter which side of the fence you sit on, the weekend before Election Day is a scary one. In today’s Station Conversation, Jill Weinberger and Liz Shannon Miller uncurl from their fetal positions to discuss how best to distract oneself from the fear of what might happen on the 4th. Cats, World of Warcraft, and the Philippines are involved.

Jill: Liz, I gotta say that I’m finding this election season mighty stressful. I’m starting to wish I’d done that early voting thing, ’cause I’m afraid that my head might explode on the way to the polls. And then my vote will never be cast.

Liz: I, meanwhile, am just considering myself fortunate that most alcohol comes in recyclable containers, because otherwise I would be single-handedly ruining our environment.

Jill: Every time a political ad comes on the TV, I either develop Tourette’s and scream profanities at the screen, or just curl up in a little ball and go “lalalalalalalalalaaaaaaaaaaa.” It’s not healthy.

Liz: It isn’t. If only because if you’re going to try and avoid political news, then you should actually try and avoid it.

Jill: Fortunately, there is online video. Quite a lot of it.

Liz: Hey, what works for you best in terms of escapism?

Jill: Generally, the darkly comic animation world is a good place to run. But normally, I’d go for my all time favorite, Charlie the Unicorn, which is full of dark humor and schadenfreude-y goodness. But now the pastel peer pressure unicorns just remind me of Sarah Palin.

Liz: Um, why?

Jill: Oh, the excessive cheer, the emphasis on fitting in and going along, the resistance to logic and the discouraging of asking questions, stuff like that. Are there videos that you otherwise would have enjoyed that now, for some reason, strike an uncomfortable chord?

Liz: Hmmm, not really. What more often happens is that I’ll go looking for interesting viral stuff, and it will TRICK ME by secretly being a video about politics.

Jill: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Liz: And stuff I thought would work to distract me has in fact not done so, like this video from the San Francisco LOLcats art show. Eight minutes of LOLcats discussion! Fantastic! But alas, not quite what I needed. I’m actually considering delving into comedy web series; there’s enough plot to keep me invested, and there’s comedy jokes to make me happy!

Jill: Well, I think I’ve expressed clearly how much I lurve Invisible Friend.

Liz: Yeah, good call. I may embark on a massive Guild rewatch this weekend, too.

Jill: I also enjoy something like MondoMedia, with a number of series that all seem to sit in the same world, mood-wise. If the Furious Little Cinnamon Bun can’t get you through tough times, what will?

Liz: Well, clearly, nothing. Though let it be said that there is nothing like a stupid cat video. For example, this kitty is too fat for the diet drink box!

Jill: Aw. It’s as if the giant DIET on the side is mocking him!

Liz: It’s like a metaphor for America. And — oh crap, now I’m thinking about the economic crisis! That is the problem with adorable cat videos. Their pleasures are fleeting.

Jill: What about Nora? Playing the piano and purring. She is gifted and hardworking and all that is RIGHT with America. We should call her Nora Six Pack…uh-oh. I, too, have now been sucked back into the Election Think Vortex.

Liz: That’s why I’m thinking it’s all about comedy web series, where you can be like, no, it’s OK, I’ll just watch another episode of Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show and everything will be fine afterwards!

Jill: The problem with web series is that some of my favorites — like GTCMS — don’t have a huge number of episodes, so you need backup one-offs to round things out. Like World of Warcraft characters singing numbers from Avenue Q.

Liz: Oh, yes. Or Doctor Who being mashed up with Top Gear.

Jill: And Beaker singing Ode to Joy. And Eddie Izzard’s Death Star Canteen bit. Oooh, and I forgot all about the Phillippine prison dance numbers!

Liz: Maybe the key is to stick to the international stuff? Fantasy worlds and British comedy and island nations?

Jill: Avoid all Americans altogether, thus avoiding any thoughts of America. I like it. It’s a little on the seditious side, but hey, at this point, whatever gets me through til next Wednesday is fair game.

Although there is a fine representation from the Americans in the eye shadow demonstration video milieu. And those are very soothing. They can take you right into a fugue state.

Liz: So I suppose the moral of today’s story is that we’re gonna be fine, because even if we’re not happy with the results of Tuesday’s election, we’ll have plenty of escapist fare to get us through…well, a good portion of the next four years.

Jill: I dunno. If I have to make it four years, Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show and the Philippine dancing prisoners better increase their output. ‘Cause there’s only so many eyeshadow tips I need. Especially if I’m home all day, hiding from the world and watching online video.

Liz: True. Internet, do not fail us!

Jill: And nobody teach Nora to play Hail to the Chief. Just in case.