=== ANCHOR POEM === ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─ Those who trade liberty for stability, order, peace... Deserve none of them. Iran has been held by a vile dictatorship for almost 50 years. If we had the chance to defeat North Korea, would you be in favor? If we had the chance to end childhood hunger in America, or end female genital mutilation in Africa, or eliminate COVID-19 forever, would you be in favor? How is the United States toppling the Islamic Republic of Iran any different? There is an evil in the world. We are defeating it. Easily, I might add, because we have the greatest military in the world. Chekhov's gun is a trope in media where an object given attention in the scene is usually important. America has the greatest, largest, and most powerful military in the world. How would you like it to be used? ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════┘ === SIMILARITY RANKED === --- #1 messages/1115 --- ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──── The Russian Revolution was a contest of "who could out-hardship the other side". The Spanish Revolution was a contest of "who can wage a better war". The French Revolution was... Long, but the people will be free. Did it ever really end? What if, hear me out, what if we out-competed the other side, as capitalism has been begetting amongst the other nations of the world "ah but each nation must have equAl armies" okay, so let's build moon-baseds in Nevada and military bases in Australia and the Yukatan, then one day when everthing's distributed commun ally, we can start the continuous breakdown. Why keep 1000 old tanks and 250 new ones, when you could have 500 new tanks and 500 scrap piles to make into TVs and jewelry? Then, as we build better and better, we build fewer and fewer. Sometoday i hope qe'll have authority. Then it'll all feel so consuming. All-encompassing. Where does my compass point? Always beyond the reach of arms. Or my legs, for that matter. I've never been to the north pole. I wonder what it's like on the other side of the magnetosphere? [pretty much the same, says the cartographist. Pretty much the same, says the spiritualist. Pretty much the same, says the simple machinist. Pretty odd and strong, says the compass.] ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───┘ --- #2 fediverse/4110 --- ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────── ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ CW: government-corporations-capitalism-mentioned │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ if you have a job, your life is dictated by your corporation just as much as it is by your government. And yet corporate leaders are not elected, but rather selected. And that is unfair for all the reasons that primogeniture was. It is unjust for all the same reasons that monarchy was. It is a tool of oppression, just like autocracy is. The world will never be free until we can be as we choose to be. Our society is simply too enmeshed with capitalism to destroy it, but we could, with the minimal required effort, dismantle the corruption and authoritarian control that is wielded against us as we weld our own chains day after day. We can replace them. We can vote for them. We can select leaders who know more than us and are better suited for the role than those who seek only to maximize profit over all else. ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────┘ --- #3 fediverse/2976 --- ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────── ┌──────────────────────┐ │ CW: uspol │ └──────────────────────┘ on our current trajectory, the presidential election is already won. now we can get back to on-the-ground organizing, the part that actually improves life instead of maintaining our current (unethical) state. As long as our allies (liberals) continue to work, perhaps there may come a day when we can stand against them as friendly equals in the ballot box. But for now we are best known through friends and community rather than TV. I am optimistic in a way I haven't been for a while. I know that the more we speak, the more we share, the more they falter, the more people we can save from their vice grip of despair. There is no better world than the one we build together! ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────────┘ --- #4 messages/982 --- ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────── if you want a government to be unable to harm it's citizens, you must deprive it of the power to do so. or rather, have the main capabilities in the hands of the citizenry. can you imagine if soldiers had to prove themselves to civilians in order to be trusted with mechano-chinery? who would ever choose the non-valorous and determinable? instilling the culture of greatness within the archetypes and character structures that we believed were confisight bold and determined and measured and freely detectable who would slay the brave paladin? none but the fools, who shared in their lack of conviction. determined? ha, I am as you see me. Come and claim me, that I might determine you some more. ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────┘ --- #5 notes/revolution --- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────── the only way revolution can work is if the poor have more power than the rich power is only, and solely, the control of violence we are what we make, and what we do is forever a struggle else-whise we'd grow bored from our unassailable perfection waiting for judgement day... any day now... t... don't cross the line and you're fine dream, america dream. I gave-ing her sleep, from a wiserly dawn. scream, america scream, believe what you see from heroes and conseSTACK OVERFLOW I won't have internet until tuesday. ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────┘ --- #6 notes/to-lock-eyes --- ═══════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────────────────────────── =============================================================================== = to lock eyes with a person while on your way to work is the intersection between two separate relationships - the relationship that you, the viewer, holds with your employer, and the relationship that they, the viewed, holds with their employer. in a sense, you are exchanging information through the weighted meanings behind a glance. =============================================================================== = if the military deployed to police the police, we'd solve most of our racial justice issues. I mean, if we somehow could *force* them to do their damn jobs instead of oppressing people for the ruling class, then 90% of the problems would just go away. After that it's just freeing unjust prisoners and addressing wealth, education, and health disparities. Easy, right? Well... Military policing the police sounds fine when you first think about it, there's a few problems that might crop up. For example, how do the private citizens know that the military presence is there to help them? It's an interesting paranoia, one that is endemic within the left. There's no way to unwillingly cede control of your life to another - it must be consensual. At the basest and most violent level, it's as simple as "I will do what you say because I don't want you to hurt me." We've obviously grown as a species, and we've learned that violence is not the answer to all problems. Obviously. So why would we assume it of the past? Just saying. The police bombed a commune. The military escorted black students to their seats. Their structure is decided such that ... where was I? oh right I was thinking about time. ... Imagine, if you will, an impossibly large hourglass. Spinning, or rather rotating, at an impossibly speedy repetition. It's spinning so hard and so fast that our matter is cast out of place and through time it is cast an eternity's canvas our light ever shined (shine-did?) astral magic is kinda neat it's also the scariest? oh by far but it's the most interesting ... Their structure is decided such that discipline and obediance is the most important thing. Because it kind of is? I mean, discipline is just being ready able and willing at all times, and obedience is just when you allow yourself to be directed toward a collective goal. The military is *all about that*, which means you know they would believe they were aligned toward the common goal of mutual prosperity. And if they were to discover that they were not, in fact, aligned toward the common goal of mutual prosperity, then perhaps they would adjust their navi- -computers and chart a more reasoned path. I know I would, and I would dedicate myself to the idea of serving others. To the path of the righteous, the holy and the true, a hand is outstretched and calling to you. Thus, the one of two types of ethical fighter - the reasoned and adaptable zealot the other, of course, is the master of the martial - the cherished of the few - who battle for their sport - and love unbidden the new - all other fighters, of absurdity and of rage, are frankly of a different kind and not members of our clade. =============================================================================== = okay, but what about like... all of the history of America post cold war? And even before, honestly... idk seems like a lot of evidence that the military is engaged in fighting unjust wars. I mean, they've all been over petty things like oil or support for communism or whatever. Aren't human lives and human sovereignty more important than that? I understand what you're saying. Human lives are unique and precious and they are a valuable commodity. Something to be maximized and focused toward. But there are only so many resources on earth. We need to utilize them in a reasonable way. We have optimized the efficiency out of our production and distribution networks. Corporate control has eroded our capacities until all that is left is the weakest of products, the cheapest of uses, and the useless of workers. I mean, they've optimized the skill out of individual human workers such that they are left completely unable to practice their craft. They become glorified code monkeys who generate whatever is required and think of it no more. There's no pleasure in the artifice, as their masters have eyes only of gold. Our world is changing. The very ground beneath our feet is shivering, and water is rising up to our noses. There's no time for debate, no honest appraisal of what's worth it to contemplate, we need a plan. We are trapped here, in this gravity well, for all time and all of our age. We are trapped here, because in greatest of misery we unleashed all of our rage. We are trapped here, as ghosts of the time when we were eager. =============================================================================== = Alas, with but a glance, we are confined to our bedrooms by our mast(ers?) They say America will fall without it's 2nd place Perhaps. But are libraries really going to solve that? I mean, if work from home is inevitable, then wouldn't it make sense to build? We need more places where we won't be billed. Safe. From the demands and expectations of capital. Deranged and obscene and yet all that we've seen so why not bide as we're able? I think solarpunk is kinda neat. I think it's got promise as an idealized. Why don't we build churches to the sun? If we're gonna worship something, might as well be the source of our light and fire. Well... when you puff up the sun it tends to get hotter. I mean, every fire you burn increases the temperature, every release of gaseous fumes from the exhaust pipe of your car increases it by some miniscule amount. Every cigarette, every campfire. The cold darkness of space is kinda hopeful, in that regard, even if it doesn't disperse all that well. I heard spaceships are having difficulty because they can't get rid of all that heat. It just stays with the spaceship and never goes anywhere because it doesn't have anything to stick to. Kinda makes me think that energy is a fluid? Just saying??? I mean c'mon it's not like nobody has ever thought of that. But it's in a different dimension! It's not like we're ever gonna be able to impact that! You try and impact it through your scientific ways and you'll find nothing but heartache at the life you could have lived (laived? Haived?) ... why Because you cannot impact another dimension. You must call to it, like a song to a sparrow. ... that's fucking ridiculous No it's true! ... ... Don't try it with fire. ... fuck - what do I try it with? I don't know just not fire. Try water. ... How do I make sure it doesn't instantiate within my hand? Jeez you think of some crazy backfires! Just breathe and go for it. It's not rocket science. It actually works. Fuck you. ... ... Sorry I was just scared ... ... How do I make it stop? I don't want it to go forever By smoking more of the devils lettuce. ... ... You cannot drag it part of the way. It must come the whole way. In fact you should not be dragging it at all, you should be *calling* to it. You are equals in this exchange, have respect. =============================================================================== = ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════════════════════════════───────────────────────────────────────────────┘ --- #7 messages/71 --- ═══════════──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── There once was a wise old man who lived on a mountain with his disciple. He was devoted to helping humanity, and his disciple was dedicated to him. One day the disciple approached the man and asked "Master, why do you live on a mountain top far from the people you are sworn to help?" The wise old man smiled, because he remembered bearing the same question many years ago. "There is nothing we can do for them down there that would be better than what we can do here." "But master, there are wars and famines and monsters and corruption - we could do so much good if we only overcame those obstacles!" The young man was fervent and passionate. He knew the wise man had been on the mountain for so long he had forgotten the worst of the lands below. "If you wish to add your strength to the conflict, then by all means. You are young, and I am old. Perhaps you'll find a way that I have missed." And with that, the young man packed his sack and left. He travelled for 10 years, doing good and helping the weak. When he returned, the wise man had a much longer beard but scant else had changed. "Master, I have returned and the world is better for my journey. I helped others and ended conflicts. I saved lives and sheltered children. But for all my travels and good deeds I could not change a thing. There are still conflicts and wars and famine and injustice." The wise old man creaked and groaned as he responded. "The world certainly was better to have you in it. But now that you have left again, it will be as if you never left this mountain." "Then why did you let me go?" The young man felt desperate. He needed purpose, and if all his efforts were for naught then he was lost. "Because, my friend, you would not have believed me if I told you the truth. Come, sit by the fire, and leave the past behind. If there are no thoughts of the evil in the world, then when the time comes to tell our tale it will be good." "Who would tell the story of two old men in the forest?" "Who cares? The story has been told, because you're reading it right now. Was it a good story?" ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ --- #8 fediverse/5838 --- ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────── it's not a question of "when" revolution is at stake, but rather a question of "how it takes place" how's the weather today? the nature's lovely. It's great to be out[doors/scores/wards] bah. I don't gotta learn /*communist/* /*theory* they're just a bunch of russians so, people from russia like, total randos ][brief intermission][ hey didya see how that guy got killed by that guy sooooo totally metal bro sick nasty tisk tisk, what have we become well, times a burnin' so might as well light days of yearnin' another one bites the plus signs are great shapes for fitget toys can make them chewy and dog-sized and then you can BITE THEM rawr bfgfghs ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────┘ --- #9 fediverse_boost/2968 --- ◀─╔═════════════════════[BOOST]═══════════════════════───────────────────────────╗ ║ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ It's all made up. And we can make it up differently. We can make it up so that it's not about a murder of genocides on a boiling rock where billions must die to maintain the way of life for a few thousand uber-rich reactionary maggots lining you up for a shallow grave. │ ║ ║ │ │ ║ ║ │ But not, if you keep pretending, that this is all fine, and these people aren't out to get you, and the power structures aren't designed to render you into a commodity and invest the power of CHOICE in the capitalist's hands. │ ║ ║ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║ ╠─────────┐ ┌───────────╣ ║ similar │ chronological │ different ║ ╚═════════╧═════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────┴───────╝─▶ --- #10 fediverse/4768 --- ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────── ┌──────────────────────┐ │ CW: pol+ │ └──────────────────────┘ the more they have to do to make us declare war, the worse it'll be for their citizenry. So long as the citizenry believes they're better, and everything we can do to convince them otherwise weakens their media weather. who cares about trans executive orders. they are our enemy, what else is new? they have power now, and they will try what they can. This is like taking the internet away from chinese citizens and instituting a national intranet instead. Like, okay, we won't be able to get estrogen from the store. Who cares? We'll just make our own. If people actually care about us, which they overwhelmingly do, there's very little materially they can do. until they're further down the "first they came for..." list. then they'll come for us liberals, and gosh wouldn't that just be the worst. Who is there to contest them? What valorous warriors indeed. you're asking for mountains from a mole. have peace, have patience, let your allies intercede. This kind of thing requires discusion to protect life ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────┘ --- #11 fediverse/671 --- ═════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────────────────── If evil is concentrated in 0.1% of the population, even though that's only 7,000,000,000 * 0.001 == 7 million (is my math right?) people actually hang on that's a lot, if they're dispersed. Hence why evil relies on the capacity for good to do what it wills. All we have to do is decide NOT to do what they want, and then we're fine. downside then is, of course, how do you eat? how do you survive? the world has been designed in such a way that food doesn't just grow on trees. The light of the stars burns when you're trying to sleep and it's raining. damn. Would that we had more perfect conditions. Heh, just kidding. Humanity is nothing if not termeritous [high in temerity] - I'm positive we're more capable than we'd wager. Hence, talk of "great exhultation" and "wildest optimizations" or "brightest of futures" and "honest conducers" - okay I made that one up but it's a representation of what I'd like to express. GOSH art is hard. Would anyone like to read a 20 page book I wrote when I was most in tune with ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧══════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────────────────┘ --- #12 fediverse/5251 --- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────── ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ CW: CURSED-DEFINITELY-CURSED-um-maybe-cursed-maybe-not-it-really-depends-on-your-frame-of-reference │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ what if we made it an international crime to use any non-parent soldiers. essentially, forcing military force to be a cost paid in children's lives. who would deploy such a casual-stroke? why cut straight to their heart, why proceed to feast upon their liver? are they not owed the pursuit and the chase? [insert picture of deer killing] humanity is an expert in killing the least suspe-ghost. it's what we do to maintain false identity. the obscenity clause applies to the president and any other non-governmental political appointees. everything else is run like an administration, with no cause for compulsion by the class of immoral elites. she wield[ed/s] weed like a weapon ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────┘ --- #13 fediverse/4224 --- ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────── ┌────────────────────────┐ │ CW: politics-mentioned │ └────────────────────────┘ we could accomplish so much, but capitalism. hmmmm, maybe we should identify the highest output members of our team and like, reduce or eliminate their worries so they can apply themselves fully and completely? for every shackle we break, the struggle becomes easier. The hardest part is the beginning - once the ball is rolling, we may truly shine. there is no government nor circle of autocrats who may resist the will of an impassioned people. So long as the military does not deny us our right to organize ourselves as we will, according to the constitution they swore to uphold (which is now in peril, I might add), nothing can contain us. no acts of god nor capital shall prevent our ascension. They will try, and it'll be just another thing that we have to handle. But we can take care of each other. For we are good, and we are kind, and we are cooperative. And so, we cannot be overcome. ... just watch out for those who prey on goodness, kindness, and cooperation. They may hamper us. ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────┘ --- #14 messages/438 --- ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────────── The rich should act as courtiers in the houses of America. They should not be lords of labor, nor directors of change. They should represent our best hopes and refinement - essentially, kings from another time. I would gladly be inspired by a virtuous leader. And yet none has yet to appear. I wonder why the media wouldn't show us a good representation of the people we are meant to fear? ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧══════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────────┘ --- #15 messages/1349 --- ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─ they want to start wars so they can force people to view "just accepting it" as the honorable option. it, being the conditions they cause. it, being brutal crackdowns, murders of people like me, authoritarian police forces wielded to implicitely or explicitely force or frame people who are against them. the hangman's due is when death you choose to rule. [I didn't write that part] ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════┘ --- #16 messages/782 --- ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────── The truth is The reason none of my revolutions have yet succeeded Is that the only way To secure peace and love on planet earth Is that all the governments Of the world must topple Or relinquish their nuclear arms Each all at once And i was too quick to slay my false duke Who plays at king While i build real power While i know nothing Some day i will be eaten by crows. This is what it means to be buried where you fall. This is my fate as all warriors yearn for. To be eaten by crows implies that you are either a coward who fled a fight, and i know I'm not, or you fought to the last for a phyrric defeat, which is honorable. But shouldn't it be better to fight for victory? Ah, but the gods cherish the fools who face death with glory, and i am cherished still. ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────┘ --- #17 fediverse/2347 --- ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────────── ┌──────────────────────┐ │ CW: uspol │ └──────────────────────┘ I personally think that it's better to act before the liberals have a chance to hand power over to the fascists. when? well, that depends. Are you part of a large and massive organization that accomplishes great and beautiful things with incredible efficiency... but rather slowly? Then yeah get working. I'm sure you already are. Are you just a person, like me? Then go do things that don't raise the temperature too much, but make you feel more confident and inspire those around you. Like, bricks at cop cars is one way to go, but you're probably gonna get arrested. And then you're useless when we need you. BUT if you meet with your friends and make plans for where to go, what to bring, who to know, and what to sing (if you're the musical types) then great! Go do that. If you're reading this and thinking "I'm not gonna do that, I have a plan that's so much better" then yeah do that instead. I don't mind. Just... don't hurt innocent (ignorant) people, because if you do then you are my foe. ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═══════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────────┘ --- #18 fediverse/4031 --- ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────── if you want to "not think about a purple elephant", the first step is to imagine yourself slaying it ... okay how about cthulu - if you don't want to imagine cthulu nomming on our gravity well, then picture yourself wielding a bright burning blade of fire and vengeance and pay special attention to the way that you cauterize each tentacle as you slice them one by one at first, and then in a massive flurry at best, ultimately leading to the incomparable brightness that radiates out from your shining blade of the sky, which blinds the poor beast who can't see you as you approach, piercing the skull and then going home for some toast if you can get good at that, then you can wield magic ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═══════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────┘ --- #19 fediverse/3318 --- ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────── @user-570 low-drama... or normal drama? people who are prone to histrionics can be exhausting, and it's often exhausting for them as well. Drama and excitement is what gets them through the day, while most people are driven by something more inertial or instinctual or goal-focused. you don't have to be on all the time. if you're tired, then rest! if you're hungry, then eat! if you're thirsty, then drink! if you're lonely, then speak, if you're sad, then cry, if you see some friends at a party, then dance like tomorrow you might die. That's how I like to be, and I think it's a decent way to be. it can be prone to dramatics though... YMMV ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────────┘ --- #20 notes/the-sun-goes-silent --- ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───── the sun goes silent for a year, to protest the earth's dying moments one day in march, the light of our life disappears. we know not of why it has \ departed, except that whatever it was happened eight minutes ago. we cowered in fear as one day it refused to rise as our antipode saw it vanish with naught but our ears we saw stars never imagined with the light of our life suddenly vanished our true plight came naturally as our fear but tomorrow it'll re-imagine, as it's been almost exactly one year one full rotation, to get the message across, then with man as our [signal, \ message, \ conveyor, \ performer, \ expression, \ by-product communication,] what's our earth is our star trust-me ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────┐ │ similar │ chronological │ different │ ╘═════════╧╧═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────┘ |