Post 2196015 by wizard@freespeechextremist.com
(DIR) More posts by wizard@freespeechextremist.com
(DIR) Post #2180910 by wizard@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-22T03:08:14.499064Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Imagine having nothing better to do than discuss politics with people whose minds are already made up on the internet
(DIR) Post #2181653 by p@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-22T03:48:32.368937Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@wizard You don't really know anything until you can answer when someone asks you "Why?" five times, I think.
(DIR) Post #2195450 by wizard@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-22T18:24:36.054480Z
2 likes, 0 repeats
@p Politiposting is fine once and a while, and discussion definitely helps build wisdom, but doing something like that all day is just going to lead to poor mental health.Philosophy is different in that its discussion leads everyone closer to a truth, but politics puts your minds on all sorts of horrible things actually going on in the world.While it's important to not be ignorant to these things, most of the time it's impossible to change any of it, which leads to depression and a general sense of powerlessness in your own life. It's really just unhealthy in large doses is what I'm saying.But I'll give an answer to a "why" question any day to non world-shaping questions.
(DIR) Post #2195684 by z@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-22T18:43:01.371352Z
3 likes, 0 repeats
@wizard @p So I think when developing a political philosophy there are multiple things to consider.First, is this self-consistent. Is this actually a philosophy that can be consistently applied or is it just a bunch of things you want from society and the state? This is important since a good political philosophy has coherent things to say about new and unseen scenarios.Second, does my philosophy survive contact with the enemy. Do I understand the shortcomings of it and do I have good answers to those that might want me to look foolish? This is important since rhetorically is matters how you sell ideas. It matters if you want to convince other people to adopt parts of your philosophy.Lastly, there are tactics. This is the stuff you say and do to move the ball forward. What you have to say to get people onboard, to turn the philosophy into policy proposals and get those adopted not just by the government but also by local communities.When communicating online know which of these you are doing.
(DIR) Post #2195814 by z@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-22T18:50:44.055856Z
2 likes, 0 repeats
@wizard @p It's perfectly ok to show up in a hostile place to break the echo chamber, or perhaps more potently encourage your enemies to politically disengage and withdraw within themselves.
(DIR) Post #2196015 by wizard@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-22T19:04:17.674629Z
2 likes, 0 repeats
@z @p Some tactics are unconcious, I guess ;)But seriously though, it's just not healthy to subject yourself to (even slightly non-civil) political discourse all day. It's just a downwards spiral that leads to the inability to converse normally with anyone outside of your tiny subculture.
(DIR) Post #2196034 by z@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-22T19:05:39.724600Z
2 likes, 0 repeats
@wizard @p The way I think about it is in terms of why do I want a better society and a better country. It's to enjoy life and preserve the good stuff. So make time to love and enjoy life :)
(DIR) Post #2203501 by p@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-23T00:45:59.927817Z
6 likes, 0 repeats
@wizard I think I get more bored by politics than depressed. Where it gets interesting is when you step away from the day-to-day politics. International politics are really interesting because you can strip away the minutia. Political policy is really just applied philosophy, where the real world does its damnedest to ruin your beautiful ideals, and that's as interesting as the purely philosophical bits.As far as the difficulty changing things, it doesn't bother me any more than the difficulty changing physics, and I think it's easier to route around things than change them directly. Make Maduro reverse capitalism, or give Venezuela bitcoins?But I couldn't be more bored than when a political discussion hinges on emotional investment in one side or another. Zealotry is depressing to encounter, a whole existence dedicated to being a blind, unthinking tool of dead men. The fixation on the minutia of a piece of wording in some speech and whether or not it's a dogwhistle, that's unspeakably boring.
(DIR) Post #2203570 by p@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-23T00:48:11.477732Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@wizard @z Counterpoint: George Carlin.
(DIR) Post #2205308 by coy@niu.moe
2018-12-23T02:01:40Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@p>Zealotry, a whole existence dedicated to being a blind, unthinking tool of dead men.Damn.I get frustrated with the zealotry, and the day-to-day politics can often times serve as a reality show zealots and sheep can invest themselves in. The "dead men" remark hits the mark perfectly. I rarely see ideological viewpoints expressed from politicians and instead see a drumming up of anger towards that mysterious and fearful "other".
(DIR) Post #2205479 by p@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-23T02:10:47.367753Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@coy Yeah, someone who can't change their mind is basically carrying out the will of dead men at the cost of the living, even their own. I can't think of a more depressing way to live.I don't think they know who the other really is, half the time.
(DIR) Post #2205584 by hansbauer@fosstodon.org
2018-12-23T02:13:48Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@pbut it is easier to do so. they feel they bear no responsibility so, plus they have the feeling to be superior to the dead men, because they are "improving, expanding and applying" the dead men's ideas.@coy
(DIR) Post #2206905 by coy@niu.moe
2018-12-23T03:20:45Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@pToo depressing to see most of the time.. And they don't understand. That's probably the worst part is the manipulation of fear and anger when the people of another group aren't necessarily responsible for the politics and discussions surrounding them. A lot of times it is a result of some form of social engineering or shabby groupthink and that can be quite depressing..
(DIR) Post #2207395 by petit@social.ufeff.club
2018-12-23T03:55:54.309673Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@p @wizard The problem with stepping away from day-to-day politics for international politics, is that you stop being active in your local community. I live in Virginia. We have our own constitution, the general assembly, the governor, and the courts. People seem to forget this. It's a lot less interesting to work at the local level, but it's a lot more productive.
(DIR) Post #2209661 by wizard@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-23T06:09:32.680188Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@p Some real prose in that last paragraph tbh. Nicely worded.
(DIR) Post #2212927 by p@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-23T09:39:47.911892Z
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@petit @wizard Yeah, I totally agree, but the day-to-day minutia, even in local politics, are pretty ridiculous. Like, compare some dumbass tweet from Trump with the ongoing situation with China.Here in LA, we've got some kinda publicity-whoring mayor and all the time we've got half the people saying "Stunning and brave" and the other half yelling "This guy's an idiot". Broad strokes, though, the FBI has been raiding the offices of a city councilman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Huizar#Los_Angeles_City_Council . I don't really care if the mayor said something stupid today, because it won't matter tomorrow. The Huizar thing, that's gonna matter tomorrow.
(DIR) Post #2213079 by p@freespeechextremist.com
2018-12-23T09:47:31.569715Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@wizard Flattered as hell.