Joking is a coping mechanism.
Lowers cortisol, increases endorphin, reduces feelings of isolation, reinterprets stressful events through a less threatening lens and all that jazz.
We joke a lot because what is happening in the US is really scary.
Also, realistically, what the hell can I do about it? I voted. I donate. I even write actual emails and not use form letters. I can’t influence DOGE. I don’t have enough money to bribe Trump or his cabinet. What the actual fuck is expected of an individual?
I don’t know what should be done, but I’m pretty sure whatever it is will involve a Guy Fawkes mask and a green newsboy hat.
Could also invest in protecting yourself, your family (if applicable) and get to know your community, neighbours and helpers that work in it.
While none of the above will seem like much on a grand scale, at least it will help cover some of your personal bases when/if things go south.
Organize/join an org. Talk to your neighbors/family/friends/coworkers. It’s slow going at first. You may not see results for years, but building a community that resists takes effort. I see people doubt the efficacy of protest/organizing all the time, or they are discouraged by lack of numbers in the streets because it doesn’t happen overnight or because there isn’t absolute 100% alignment with what they think should be done, but we need to remember that these things are built over time and more important than complete alignment on prescription is agreeing that the direction we’re going is wrong. The best time was yesterday, the second best time is now. There are people across the US in all states organizing to resist. I’m in a very red state and each subsequent meeting we have nearly doubles in number of people.
Correct. This country is fucked and half it’s citizens are fucking cult morons. We are, as the gen z would say, cooked.
And if you look at the voting demographics of Gen Z, you will see a majority of them that actually showed up voted republican and most of them believe in fringe anti-vax Tea Party MAGA dumb shit.
Gen Z is getting downright worrying at this point. I keep witnessing behaviours and hearing opinions that had practically disappeared since my high school days. I didn’t expect the same ass-backwards bullshit I would have heard some drunk uncle rant about at a family outing when I was a kid, to come out of the mouths of a generation raised in the 21st century. It’s utterly mind boggling. All I can wonder is, who failed to teach them this shit? Were they legitimately raised that way? Who did this, how did it get so bad?
Honestly, just let the YouTube algorithm run for a few hours on a fresh account. You’ll start getting right wing and “Christian” viewpoints spoon fed to you fairly quickly.
I mean, that drunk uncle is now old enough to be a grandparent who looks after the kids while both parents work two jobs each.
I don’t have many gen z people in my immediate circles, but something I’ve noticed online re-emerging in the last couple of years is the use of “retarded” as an insult.
I can’t definitively point to gen z as the culprits, I can’t really know who’s behind a username in most cases, it could just be that older generations have found their way to the parts of the internet that I inhabit, or may I’ve migrated to theirs as I’ve gotten older, or that overall attitudes have shifted, but it does sort of coincide with when I figured the younger half of gen z would be hitting the sort of “grown-up” internet.
Maybe I was in some sort of bubble, but for around a decade it felt like that was something we managed to mostly scrub from our vocabulary. It was honestly a little jarring to see it again, like I’d suddenly been transported 20 years back in time surrounded by assholes from my middle or high school.
Tbf retarded is just synonymous with stupid at this point. Nobody is retarded in a medical context anymore afaik. Gen Z probably wasn’t even alive when the term meant anything but an insult
And the n-word is synonymous with “black person,” doesn’t make it any more ok or less hurtful to use it.
Retarded was an archaic medical diagnosis for a group of things. It literally just means slow. Nobody is actually “retarded” today. There is a fundamental difference between those words. One can literally apply to anyone and one is explicitly used to insult an obvious and immutable characteristic.
I have a Gen alpha niece. One time a couple years ago she was gleefully ripping up grass and I mildly scolded her and said she shouldn’t do that. She asked why not. I said because if everyone did that, there wouldn’t be any grass. She genuinely seemed baffled by that concept and thought it was idiotic. I’m pretty sure that was thoroughly pounded into my head by age 5. She has an awful mother and my brother is a meh parent but still. I’ve gotten the strong sense she just doesn’t have much empathy for others. Maybe it is partially generational?
Each subsequent geration seem to get less in person social/play time. Probably correlates.
Fuck grass, especially non-native grasses.
(Sorry, I have a hatred for lawns that probably stems from being forced to mow as a kid.)
Also, I think children are sociopaths naturally. I know I was. I think there are studies that show empathy doesn’t fully develop until later in life. It’s also one reason child soldiers are used.
Hitler Youth
We can just give them blankets when thongs get violent.
Hope I see you on the other side, good luck.
Worse yet, what’s happening in the USA is happening all around the globe, to varying degrees. Elections being “influenced” by alternative information campaigns, the rise of authoritarianism, etc.
And worst of all is what’s behind all of it, arguably the chief component being that ultimately climate change is going to radically reshape the world, along with the forces of automation and globalization but that one in undeniably bad ways with an even rougher transition process. Neo-liberalism in most nations did not care, not truly in the sense of actually doing anything rather than merely paying lip service to caring.
TLDR: we FA, now we get to FO what that means.
At least we don’t have to do it alone, here on the (Threadi-)Verse 😁.
I love that Romania declared its elections invalid because the winner had obviously been put there by Russia. Which is exactly what the US and the Netherlands should have done.
There’s no evidence afaik for extensive Russian meddling in the Dutch elections. Our electoral system makes it difficult for foreign meddling to have any extensive impact. The far-right hasn’t really grown much here, it consolidated into a single party. They’re also not explicitly pro-Russia either.
They’re stuck in a coalition government with three other parties and really haven’t made much of an impact at all.
The path we are going is just doubling down on that future. Even if transitioning and slowing our impacts won’t fix things, it could help slow the changes down to a more manageable pace. Doubling down on burning more oil, and overall more consumption, could increase the rate the climate is changing at. It could overwhelm garbage and recycling capacity (this is already true in many places or sectors).
If anything, it illustrates the apathy under which the Nazis gradually took hold of the German population. We’ve learned absolutely nothing from that time.
The following are quotes from the Guy Ritchie film “Revolver” see if any of this sounds like the last 12 years in America…
“IN EVERY GAME AND CON THERE IS ALWAYS AN OPPONENT AND THERE IS ALWAYS A VICTIM.”
“RULE #1: “IF YOU WANT TO GET SMARTER, PLAY A SMARTER OPPONENT.” RULE #2: “THE MORE SOPHISTICATED THE GAME, THE MORE SOPHISTICATED THE OPPONENT.” “THE BIGGER THE ENVIRONMENT, THE EASIER THE CONTROL.” “THE OPPONENT SIMPLY DISTRACTS THEIR VICTIM BY GETTING THEM CONSUMED WITH THIER OWN CONSUMPTION.” “THE BIGER THE TRICK, THE OLDER THE TRICK, THE EASIER IT IS TO PULL.” “YOU BELIEVE IT CAN’T BE THAT OLD, AND IT CAN’T BE THAT BIG FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE FALLEN FOR IT.” “EVENTUALLY WHEN THE OPPONENT IS CHALLENGED OR QUESTIONED, IT MEANS THE VICTIM’S INVESTMENT AND THUS, HIS INTELLIGENCE IS QUESTIONED. NOONE CAN ACCEPT THAT, NOT EVEN TO THEMSELVES.” “YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND A GOOD OPPONENT IN THE VERY LAST PLACE YOU WOULD EVER LOOK.”
It’s becoming legitimately like Nazi Germany. People need to be panicking. Somebody is probably going to reply to this comment by gaslighting me and saying I’m exaggerating.
You’re not exaggerating.
You need to understand when you use the word NAZI you are doing it for the benefit of people who aren’t reading about what’s happening in the history books. End of the day they aren’t NAZIs but they are MAGA which time will show are, much, much, worse.
Indeedy. Hitler didn’t want to destroy the country, didn’t defund scientific research, had advisors who knew what they were doing, didn’t sell state secrets to the USSR, didn’t want to destroy nature… I can’t believe I’m defending Hitler.
Much worse? I don’t think we are at the point to tell yet. The problem is also that the US has always acted in the way of a Fascist empire to the outside, which many US-Americans chose to be ignorant about. The US has murdered millions of people in Vietnam and surrounding countries, at least a million in Iraq and hundreds of thousands if not up to a million or two in South America since the 1950s. The US has fully supported the genocide and ethnic cleansing against millions of Palestinians under a “Democratic” president and people kept justifying to support him by arguing that a slow genocide is acceptable.
So the US started from a point that was worse than 1920 Germany, but only time will tell if the end point will be as bad as 1945 Germany.
My friends and family are feeling stirs of panic, and it has pushed many of us to start taking a more active role in making our voices heard. Letter campaigns to Congress, joining activist groups and participating in those groups, and a much higher level of alertness towards government action are just a few of the more obvious results and changes I’ve seen.
I fear that it won’t be enough, but with young kids in our household we are trying to do what we can in nonviolent ways. The risk of prison or worse would take a huge toll on the little ones.
Maybe just J6 the White House. Give those jackasses a taste of their own medicine.
They would gas and auto machine gun us down Tiannenman-square style in cold blood. Starting with minorities. They already gave up power once and don’t seem keen to do so again. Trump said he made a mistake by leaving office. It’s fucking terrifying.
Not exaggerating. Though not a keen student of history I’m not totally ignorant of it either. Germany was a caldron of political activity from 1918 until the Nazis took over, so one would think the average German would have been politically aware. In the US even active voters seem to be in a lala land head space that is hard to understand, one youtuber saying “I didn’t like the direction the country was going.” What does that even mean. Then there are those that “I don’t do politics” and “whatever - as long as it doesn’t effect me”. The US is guiding into authoritarianism with hardly a struggle.
You overestimate how high political activity relates to overall awareness. It is always a minority of people that lead the activities and the change. Even revolutions don’t happen through majorities. They happen through active minorities, when the majority becomes indecisive about sticking with the old or new system.
Yes, it is. It’s an actual fascist takeover by the right, of the most powerful nation on earth. The heart of democracy is being stopped. People keep going about their lives like this is another fucking Tuesday.
No heart of democracy has a two party system where both parties represent one side of the political spectrum and people have been conditioned to yell at anyone even suggesting to vote third party 😂
Most people have no clue. I went to the dentists office today. my technician was so confused of why I wanted to leave Idaho.
I was confused why she was confused.
An astonishingly large amount of Americans would rather die than discuss politics
most powerful nation on earth. The heart of democracy
Simmer down, now.
And the alternate party is seemingly 1/3 facist as well.
Seriously. Trump is not some random disease that came out of nowhere. He is a symptom of a system that is fundamentally and severely ill and whose past power holders and power brokers have been reinforcing the system to become like this.
Even if you get rid of Trump now. Unless the system is fundamentally changed, which included removing all current elites from power and permanently barring them from it, another guy like Trump or maybe even worse will come to power.
Why could Trump sweep back in for a second presidency after four years of DNC rule? Because the DNC was ultimately happy with where Trump lead the country and they were happy to continue many of his policies, rather than giving Fascism the boot.
It’s called gallows humour… Lately with a side order of slapstick. What can you do but laugh? I’m in hysterics several times a day, but yeah I’m worried.
I’m not sure if I could laugh if I was in the US but its insane there at the best of times, maybe a tolerance builds?
I sometimes worry that political comedy (while healthy at an individual level) prevents action as it alieviates some of the pent up anger and frustration at the problems and injustices of the world today. The same frustration that might otherwise be directed toward action.
I’ve been saying for years that this country is a dumpster fire of hate and repulsive people.
…who’s joking?
It was the same from the start … country built on slavery and exploatation and hyperindividualism could never turn out any differeny
I mean…when you put it like that, you’re not wrong.
Idk what else to do but make jokes, since I can’t leave.
What’s more terrifying is the constant escalation with no legal recourse from this administration. I’m saddened at the thought that by the time any legal recourse gets implemented, it would be too late.
It already happened. I mean, they elected the guy. They knew this would happen. They did it on purpose.
Do we joke a lot? I’m not joking when I say I don’t much care about what happens to them now, just what happens to everybody else. And I’m not particularly willing to be ha-ha funny about how much I despise both the fascist half of the US that made it happen and the entitled, disinterested half that let it happen. I get the feeling that I’m harsher than most, but I don’t get the impression that people in general find it funny, either.
Is this written from a US perspective? Are people laughing it off there?
A little less than a third of people voted for it. A little less than a third against it. A little more than a third didn’t vote. There was no majority here. I don’t get this “you wanted this, so duck you, enjoy the consequences” response. A third of us fought against this. Our kids don’t deserve a hell scape because boomers are gullible.
No, not laughing. Been depressed at the state of my country for a while and the bad influence our system has on the world.
But I understand why other people laugh at us. Honestly, I think our species is just doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again.
It feels like some patterns of greed and ego will always come back around and make it hell on earth. Sometimes I wonder if this is hell.
Anyway, just waiting for my end to come and taking a day at a time trying to make the best of life that I can with my loved ones.
Reminder:
On Bluesky follow @runforsomething then run as well for any position that doesn’t have a viable candidate. The more people in power the more can change and much faster. Encourage others to as well
Same for switching to better alternatives using stuff like alternatives.net, Flashes, Spark, PeerTube, Revolt, & Element
Of course nothing beats action whether its solo or with others. So no matter how small do something every day, and better yet with others. With consistency that makes a big difference, and when it naturally evolves into big effort it’ll result in huge change
Everyone do what ya can to grow with others. Also @indivisible for new left, and @principlesfirst for new right parties (They had a bomb threat so they definitely don’t want the right to have new party)
I wish the jokes would stop tbh, keep joking and people keep thinking it isn’t that serious. Until they stop, people feel safe doing nothing. People need to stop feeling safe, because they fucking aren’t. I keep watching clips of Jon Stewart and Jon Oliver making the same satirical jokes they always have and it boggles my mind they’re still cracking jokes while America is being torn apart. What’s the benefit in that?
I’m with you.
Because none of them care, they are just doing what is making them money, the people that cares know that this is serious and they are not joking about it. Sadly, my impression is that the people from US doesn’t know how to react with what is happening, is like they are in desbelief or they don’t care, I don’t know.
I’m mostly laughing at the Americans, and how they built up this (now false) reputation of being the world’s warriors for freedom over so many years. Where’s that now?
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I can not count the number of times I’ve heard that from Americans over the years.
Makes it hard to believe the cries of “this time we mean it”
Lmao there’s about as much hidden rage hidden in you all as in a day-old puppy. You yankees have capitulated to the fascists, you’ve decided fighting them isn’t worth the effort of having to leave your couch and give up your hamburgers. No amount of “this time I mean it for realsies” will change that.
What are you even implying?
That soon, soon, just wait and see (!!!), usa will rise up against its perpetrators.
I guess, sounds like a 15 yo fever dream too so.
Lol this is literally the silliest thing I’ve read in a long time. Thanks for the chuckle.
lolling in EU
