• faythofdragons@slrpnk.net
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      8 months ago

      but when I see all the people actively turning off their higher-cognitive functions on purpose

      Counterpoint, it’s not all the people. You and I are depressed as fuck, our brains like to tell us that everybody is against us, it’s all worthless, and the only good part is the end, but that’s not very accurate.

      I burnt out as a caregiver for developmentally disabled adults, due to lack of support in the community. I was working nights, working with clients that had violent behavior (unfun fact, 100% of people with Down’s Syndrome will develop early-onset dementia), and my friend group imploded with the stupidest drama. It’s too easy for me to think “most people have never had a client have a seizure in the shower and spray shit and vomit all over them, blah blah addicted to comfort”, but it turns out that’s a really terrible way of getting people on your side.

      I’m going to a local meetup this weekend to discuss plans and mutual aid in my rural town. There’s not a lot of us, but nobody can argue it’d be better to stay home.

      • Absurdly Stupid @lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Agreed, it’s so many wrongs built upon a foundation of awful; I think the internet magnifies and accelerates this enshitification. Thank you for your work

        • faythofdragons@slrpnk.net
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          8 months ago

          Yes, it’s hard and it is getting worse. But the revolution will not be televised. There is an overwhelming interest in keeping people from knowing about each other, they’re not going to make it easy for us to organize. The internet is complicit, as it’s controlled by only a handful of companies, who don’t want to lose their monopoly either.

          One of the ways in which to drive a wedge is to highlight the failings of the other side. It’s more personal for you and I, and therefore more effective. We cannot focus more on the failings than on the successes, even if there is more fail than success, because success is birthed from failure. Yes, it feels weird, it feels like you’re ignoring how badly we’re all doing, but we have to keep our eyes forward and not get bogged down with despair.

          I saved more than a handful of young men from falling into that darkness

          It is just a small thing, but you are only one droplet in a cascade. People who have stood on the precipice and stepped back are in a more valuable position to reach others on the edge of darkness, and you have enabled that to spread. If darkness can spread like a mind-virus, so can the sun.