fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #4001 ]

[ SECRET POST #4001 ]

⌈ Secret Post #4001 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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It's for a fanzine that I ordered and I was charged on the 7th. The automated email I got said that the item would be shipped shortly. I checked their social media which said on 13th that they were still shipping out the zine. It's a small team effort, the people behind it are trustworthy, and the zine pretty popular so I don't want to be pushy, but I'm kinda worried since it's been so long, there's been zine scams in the past, and I hardly ever buy things online.

Should I send an email to check the status of zine and if so, how should I phrase it?

Sorry, I should clarify that the email said it was charged and that they would send out another once it shipped.

I'd give it a bit more time before sending out the e-mail - maybe even till the other side of the holidays, unless it's a holiday-specific zine or a present or something like that. But that's just me, and if you wanted to send an e-mail tomorrow or the day after, I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

If you do send an e-mail, I would try to phrase it like you're just asking about what the timeline and ETA is, rather than phrasing it like you need it immediately, I guess. I think with small-team stuff like that, you do need to have somewhat tempered expectations for delivery dates.

"Hello, I am emailing to inquire about the shipping status of the ITEM. I was emailed on _____ and told it would be shipping soon. I am hoping to gift the fanzine on Christmas and was hoping to know if it would arrive by then.

Thank you for reading,
NAME"

You could always send an email like,
Hello [Zine People],
I was charged for the zine on December 07, 2017 and was wondering if the copy for [Your Name] has been shipped out. I understand that this is a busy time of you.

Thank You for your time.

[esig]

Keep in mind it's currently the busiest time of year for the postal system. I've had stuff shipped in December arrive well into January because of the backlog, and I'm not sure about the States (which I'm assuming you're from) but in Canada the date has passed for mail to arrive before the end of December.

You mentioned you rarely buy things online and I'm guessing you rarely mail things, either. Even for something relatively small like a fanzine, it can take longer than you're expecting for it to reach you depending on factors like how far away you are from the source, what method they're using to ship, etc. You got your automated e-mail confirmation. You have a recent social media confirmation that zines are still being shipped. You know it's a small team effort. December is a very busy time of year for the mail. Take a deep breath, give it another week and then e-mail if you have to.

She's sixty+, not very internet savvy, probably hasn't got a lot of understanding of the difference between media following some standards of journalistic integrity and private websites that can post whatever the hell they bloody feel like posting. And she's so nice I love her, and I just want her to understand that just because it's got a professional-looking layout and a lot of rage about the "socialist mainstream media", that doesn't mean that they are actually telling the entire truth. If I had any hope about her listening to me explaining this, I would've; as it is, however, she knows that I'm liberal and left-leaning and probably thinks I'm nice but a bit politically brainwashed or something.

In short - does anyone have any suggestions for explaining older people that checking your sources is hella important?

(for context, we're European and you won't have heard about this non-English website)

Do you a have a family member she would trust more?

And would there be some more accurate right wing sites you could defer her to?

There's one. It's a lot more highbrown than she is, but I'll keep it in mind.

Yeah, a couple. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't find it as concerning as I do, but it's not a bad idea. I'll keep it in mind if she keeps it up :(

What makes you think that she doesn't already know all that? My mother knows full well that those websites are not all that reliable, but reads them anyway, because our left-leaning press isn't 100% reliable or impartial either. Everyone lies or omits something.

Our press generally isn't left-leaning, it's just the standard explanation the conspiracy nutjobs regurgitate when confronted with the fact that no credible news sources are talking about whatever they're working themselves up over. My aunt has never been overly interested in politics and certainly never shared much by photos of her grandkids on facebook until recently.

Honestly, unless she's posting or commenting on things publicly, I don't think there's anything you can do, apart from mentioning the sources are flawed IF it comes up in conversation. Being too accusatory might only push her the other way, and/or make her feel embarrassed. But you can certainly find a time to point out that it's not the most reliable source. (But prepared to back yourself up with a source yourself. "It's obviously fake" probably won't fly with her.)

That being said, posting controversial things publicly on social media can damage your personal life. So I would caution her against doing that, if she is. Especially given that she is a generally nice but misguided and non-internet savvy person - it would be horrible to see her lose her job or have her reputation put at stake because of a misguided post on the internet. :(

"Being too accusatory might only push her the other way, and/or make her feel embarrassed."

This is exactly my problem :( this particular website isn't nazi territory in any way, just... right-wing and the comment section is allegedly populated by conspiracy theorists even if their articles are generally just myopic. I don't think she'll suffer any big social consequences about this, but I'd just hate to lose a person I honestly cherish into that idiocy.

I would look for other more centrist (or just more accurate, like an anon said above) websites to refer her to. And I would be blunt when you do so. Just say something like "I've noticed you posting articles from x. I wanted to say that their journalism is bad/they do a bad job sourcing their information/they're known as having lots of wacky conspiracy theory stuff. Here's a list of right-wing and centrist news sources that's much better!"

If that doesn't work, just let it go. She's 60+ and at a certain point she's going to believe whatever she believes and follow whatever sources she follows.

My aunt is nearly 70 and does the same but I don't think there's anything anyone can do about it. She WANTS to believe the stuff she shares and I don't see her listening to anyone who tries to disillusion her. Most of my family are moderate conservatives and she calls them socialists for being so liberal. Some people just have hearts full of hate and I don't think anyone can change them, or least it would a lot more years than my aunt probably has left.

Any advice for my first day tomorrow? :O

Dress nice, don't assume anyone's position, don't be afraid to ask questions.

They apparently have a very casual dress code. The HR person who did my paperwork and will be doing my onboarding tomorrow said she wears leggings every day. So I am debating whether to dress in slacks/dress shoes or new dark jeans/nice shirt/sneakers.

I have a list of questions and a notebook to write things down in!

Split the difference? Jeans, dressy shoes, nice shirt. Good luck!

Thanks! I'll have to see if the dress shoes I have match my jeans. Damn my inability to walk in heels!

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[ SECRET POST #4001 ]

Advice thread!

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My aunt has started sharing articles from a rightwing website on facebook

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Re: My aunt has started sharing articles from a rightwing website on facebook

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