Have we already passed the tipping point?
-
Has the system finally cracked? Have the wealthy and powerful simply taken so much leaving the rest of us grasping at our very survival, easily manipulated into turning against other groups and even each other in an attempt to make sense of it all? Is society destined to destroy itself or descend into eternal servitude to our masters? How do we get out of this spiral of madness?
I guarantee you that it will not descend into eternal servitude. People die, environments collapse, wars happen, empires fall. Although this may sound negative, go read the history books and see how much horrible shit has happened in the course of human existence. All of that should show you that progress doesn't ... progress ... linearly. Things change, things get worse, things get better, dictators die, that's all part of human life.
Of course there could be remarkably bad times, particularly if we face nuclear war or extended effects related to extreme climate change. Those are not cyclical in any way shape or form. But many other horrible things that you're seeing right now in the united States, for example, similar bad shit has happened before. That doesn't mean the country is going to recover in 5 years or even in 50 years, or that it won't, but it's not the first time this kind of happening has occurred in history, and it certainly won't be the last.
-
Has the system finally cracked? Have the wealthy and powerful simply taken so much leaving the rest of us grasping at our very survival, easily manipulated into turning against other groups and even each other in an attempt to make sense of it all? Is society destined to destroy itself or descend into eternal servitude to our masters? How do we get out of this spiral of madness?
wrote on last edited by [email protected]This happens every once in a while in history. The wealthy grow very wealthy and the poor realize they're being used and chop off a few heads or descend into lots of wars or whatever and then the cycle starts again. Don't worry it's not the end of humanity itself but it very often signals the end of an empire.
See: the feudal ages/french revolution or the end of the roman empire
-
I guarantee you that it will not descend into eternal servitude. People die, environments collapse, wars happen, empires fall. Although this may sound negative, go read the history books and see how much horrible shit has happened in the course of human existence. All of that should show you that progress doesn't ... progress ... linearly. Things change, things get worse, things get better, dictators die, that's all part of human life.
Of course there could be remarkably bad times, particularly if we face nuclear war or extended effects related to extreme climate change. Those are not cyclical in any way shape or form. But many other horrible things that you're seeing right now in the united States, for example, similar bad shit has happened before. That doesn't mean the country is going to recover in 5 years or even in 50 years, or that it won't, but it's not the first time this kind of happening has occurred in history, and it certainly won't be the last.
History repeats itself but accelerated and amplified?
-
If you want the world to be some kind of way, your best hope is to be that kind of way and hope it catches on. Get yourself to a better place. If you're keeping company with people who aren't onboard with that, it will hold you back.
I don't live in that world. I have too many issues for any of that to work, but even if that weren't the case I probably couldn't travel to wherever would be better for me.
-
I don't live in that world. I have too many issues for any of that to work, but even if that weren't the case I probably couldn't travel to wherever would be better for me.
Imma break out some tough love on ya.
I have too many issues
That's learned helplessness, loser talk. "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen." That quote is about an attitude, not intrinsic qualities or abilities.
couldn't travel to wherever would be better
More failure talk. You make do with what's in front of you. Dragging your body through space isn't going to change you. Greener grass and whatnot.
I'm no psychologist, no idea how to break you out of this failure mode, but you really need help to cut that shit out. You got one shot at life, no more, go make shit happen for yourself. And if you're already typing a reply full of excuses, you already lost.
-
Has the system finally cracked? Have the wealthy and powerful simply taken so much leaving the rest of us grasping at our very survival, easily manipulated into turning against other groups and even each other in an attempt to make sense of it all? Is society destined to destroy itself or descend into eternal servitude to our masters? How do we get out of this spiral of madness?
Society has gotten far, far more unequal and oppressive before without the system being threatened.
Reinterpreting this as "is there still hope for humanity", it's more complicated. Big history is kind of a wide-open mystery. It's possible we've already won, already lost, or have any odds of getting a good ending in between.
-
This happens every once in a while in history. The wealthy grow very wealthy and the poor realize they're being used and chop off a few heads or descend into lots of wars or whatever and then the cycle starts again. Don't worry it's not the end of humanity itself but it very often signals the end of an empire.
See: the feudal ages/french revolution or the end of the roman empire
wrote on last edited by [email protected]That's not at all how Rome ended, though.
As far as I know, the only purely domestic peasant's uprisings that succeeded were the French and Russian ones. They're actually kind of exceptional events. Usually, it's struggles between different factions of elites (like with the slow balkanisation of Rome).
Edit: Haiti was a slave revolt, but I should probably include it.
-
Imma break out some tough love on ya.
I have too many issues
That's learned helplessness, loser talk. "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen." That quote is about an attitude, not intrinsic qualities or abilities.
couldn't travel to wherever would be better
More failure talk. You make do with what's in front of you. Dragging your body through space isn't going to change you. Greener grass and whatnot.
I'm no psychologist, no idea how to break you out of this failure mode, but you really need help to cut that shit out. You got one shot at life, no more, go make shit happen for yourself. And if you're already typing a reply full of excuses, you already lost.
Ah yes, walk it off. Very helpful. Do you think real issues don't exist? Especially in the US now?
"If you feel like shit, just grind bro". Doing what, exactly? Lots of options are oversaturated or having layoffs. Rent is a racket and there are people who work full-time "essential" jobs (like professors and nurses) living in their car. I cannot even afford nor do I want a car, and if I was living outside where I'm at I'd be at risk for heat stroke because my body cannot sweat enough for even mild heat. Also, I am nearly nowhere.
I can prepare and sauté vegetables, sweep, carry things, do various computer things. Is that enough to live off of? Even at my best, probably not! Could I maybe work something out with people? I'm a shut-in with the social skills of a rock, so that's not likely either. EDIT: forgot to say bike riding, but again that's also difficult with heat
Have I already lost? Yeah maybe, but the issues (both internal and external) are more than excuses. It if got me out of here I'd be a shitty cook on a boat (I also probably can't swim, no ID/passport) but it doesn't work like that anymore. Solo projects and crowd-funding are just as delusional.
-
Ah yes, walk it off. Very helpful. Do you think real issues don't exist? Especially in the US now?
"If you feel like shit, just grind bro". Doing what, exactly? Lots of options are oversaturated or having layoffs. Rent is a racket and there are people who work full-time "essential" jobs (like professors and nurses) living in their car. I cannot even afford nor do I want a car, and if I was living outside where I'm at I'd be at risk for heat stroke because my body cannot sweat enough for even mild heat. Also, I am nearly nowhere.
I can prepare and sauté vegetables, sweep, carry things, do various computer things. Is that enough to live off of? Even at my best, probably not! Could I maybe work something out with people? I'm a shut-in with the social skills of a rock, so that's not likely either. EDIT: forgot to say bike riding, but again that's also difficult with heat
Have I already lost? Yeah maybe, but the issues (both internal and external) are more than excuses. It if got me out of here I'd be a shitty cook on a boat (I also probably can't swim, no ID/passport) but it doesn't work like that anymore. Solo projects and crowd-funding are just as delusional.
And there we have it. The predicted list of excuses.
Can you not see how making excuses is no way to live the one life you'll ever get?! Can you imagine a counselor saying, yeah, that's normal, you should probably give up and die, soonest best?!
I've had a lot going both for me and against me in this life. But I never fucking said "can't". I've lost much, won much, but I've never rolled up in a ball and cried that I was helpless. Your attitude is so self-defeating it makes me sad. You need counseling and don't seem to know it.
-
And there we have it. The predicted list of excuses.
Can you not see how making excuses is no way to live the one life you'll ever get?! Can you imagine a counselor saying, yeah, that's normal, you should probably give up and die, soonest best?!
I've had a lot going both for me and against me in this life. But I never fucking said "can't". I've lost much, won much, but I've never rolled up in a ball and cried that I was helpless. Your attitude is so self-defeating it makes me sad. You need counseling and don't seem to know it.
I do what I can, I have my ups and downs too. You did better, good for you... maybe if we swapped you could fix my life, or maybe it's just an anecdote and there is no way to tell.
Yeah, I know I need a lot of things (including healthcare and therapy) but healthcare is a mess here especially rural and if I could use any programs now (especially with waiting lists etc) I expect said access will be cut before needed follow-ups are done.
You can pin the blame on mentality all you like, but it doesn't make the country any less of multiple unmitigated disasters.
-
That's not at all how Rome ended, though.
As far as I know, the only purely domestic peasant's uprisings that succeeded were the French and Russian ones. They're actually kind of exceptional events. Usually, it's struggles between different factions of elites (like with the slow balkanisation of Rome).
Edit: Haiti was a slave revolt, but I should probably include it.
Hm that's true. Rome had a lot going on towards the end and I can't pretend to be an expert, but certainly the elite's greed led to a financial crisis, and what I would consider to be a grave dehumanization of poor citizens (and the ongoing reliance on slaves) played a role. It didn't end the same way with a revolution, but the factors that led to its fall were all quite similar.
-
I do what I can, I have my ups and downs too. You did better, good for you... maybe if we swapped you could fix my life, or maybe it's just an anecdote and there is no way to tell.
Yeah, I know I need a lot of things (including healthcare and therapy) but healthcare is a mess here especially rural and if I could use any programs now (especially with waiting lists etc) I expect said access will be cut before needed follow-ups are done.
You can pin the blame on mentality all you like, but it doesn't make the country any less of multiple unmitigated disasters.
What a mess, I'm sorry. Can I just say that guy doesn't speak for me? Let me know if you're not sick of the conversation.
-
Has the system finally cracked? Have the wealthy and powerful simply taken so much leaving the rest of us grasping at our very survival, easily manipulated into turning against other groups and even each other in an attempt to make sense of it all? Is society destined to destroy itself or descend into eternal servitude to our masters? How do we get out of this spiral of madness?
I'm guessing you're from the US and probably haven't left there (at least for any country that isn't wealthy or pretending to be in tourist areas)?
-
Has the system finally cracked? Have the wealthy and powerful simply taken so much leaving the rest of us grasping at our very survival, easily manipulated into turning against other groups and even each other in an attempt to make sense of it all? Is society destined to destroy itself or descend into eternal servitude to our masters? How do we get out of this spiral of madness?
We've been in this situation before. People lose their heads over it.
-
I'm guessing you're from the US and probably haven't left there (at least for any country that isn't wealthy or pretending to be in tourist areas)?
No. Speaking generally of stagnating wages, increasing right wing influence and media's influence on the general population.
-
What a mess, I'm sorry. Can I just say that guy doesn't speak for me? Let me know if you're not sick of the conversation.
Go for it if you want, especially if it's (mostly) in-reply to my higher-level comment.
In hindsight I guess I should've depersonalized my comment more or just abstracted it completely (yeah that is the dream or something).
-
Society has gotten far, far more unequal and oppressive before without the system being threatened.
Reinterpreting this as "is there still hope for humanity", it's more complicated. Big history is kind of a wide-open mystery. It's possible we've already won, already lost, or have any odds of getting a good ending in between.
Society has gotten far, far more unequal and oppressive
By what metrics?
Historically there simply wasn't physical things with which to have the modern level of inequality. Historically the average lower end was was lower, but the modern high end is incomprehensible orders of magnitude higher.
Historical acts of oppression were often far more brutal and cruel but that's because it wasn't physically possible to maintain the constant, but relatively minor oppression that is characteristic of modernity.
-
Imma break out some tough love on ya.
I have too many issues
That's learned helplessness, loser talk. "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen." That quote is about an attitude, not intrinsic qualities or abilities.
couldn't travel to wherever would be better
More failure talk. You make do with what's in front of you. Dragging your body through space isn't going to change you. Greener grass and whatnot.
I'm no psychologist, no idea how to break you out of this failure mode, but you really need help to cut that shit out. You got one shot at life, no more, go make shit happen for yourself. And if you're already typing a reply full of excuses, you already lost.
So your advice to people who can't afford rent, work a fulltime job and have just had their tent and all their possessions thrown in a dumpster for the second time this month is what exactly?
Do you advise someone who is incarcerated that if they simply ignore the bars they will no longer be there?
-
Hm that's true. Rome had a lot going on towards the end and I can't pretend to be an expert, but certainly the elite's greed led to a financial crisis, and what I would consider to be a grave dehumanization of poor citizens (and the ongoing reliance on slaves) played a role. It didn't end the same way with a revolution, but the factors that led to its fall were all quite similar.
wrote on last edited by [email protected]Rome didn't treat it's lower classes and actual slaves very well from the start, though. Nor did the rulers before them or the feudal splinter states after them. I've had an actual historian of Rome tell me point blank nobody has any idea why it started to decline. Historically, scholars have pointed at too much generosity with the privileges of citizenship and senatorial appointments of those from humble backgrounds.
I think it's fair to say that usually the peasants know they're being screwed. Very rarely, the aristocracy has been complacent enough it develops into an actual movement, but before the French revolution it always ends like the English peasant's revolt: it's crushed, and everything goes back to normal. It's kind of weird it's worked better since then, really.
(There was also more than one financial crisis in the Rome, but that's neither here nor there)
-
Ah yes, walk it off. Very helpful. Do you think real issues don't exist? Especially in the US now?
"If you feel like shit, just grind bro". Doing what, exactly? Lots of options are oversaturated or having layoffs. Rent is a racket and there are people who work full-time "essential" jobs (like professors and nurses) living in their car. I cannot even afford nor do I want a car, and if I was living outside where I'm at I'd be at risk for heat stroke because my body cannot sweat enough for even mild heat. Also, I am nearly nowhere.
I can prepare and sauté vegetables, sweep, carry things, do various computer things. Is that enough to live off of? Even at my best, probably not! Could I maybe work something out with people? I'm a shut-in with the social skills of a rock, so that's not likely either. EDIT: forgot to say bike riding, but again that's also difficult with heat
Have I already lost? Yeah maybe, but the issues (both internal and external) are more than excuses. It if got me out of here I'd be a shitty cook on a boat (I also probably can't swim, no ID/passport) but it doesn't work like that anymore. Solo projects and crowd-funding are just as delusional.
You've been dealt a really rough hand. The way it should work is that your community would see that you mean well and want to contribute, and support an ongoing effort to make that happen.
We don't live in the world of should, but imo you do need a community of any kind. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it should be your top priority to make at least one IRL friend and making the absolute most of it. They don't have to be perfect, but they do have to reciprocate the friendship.
Once you have one, it's easier to make more. Everything is easier with a community. Keep a journal, write about your efforts, write about the people you might try to talk to. Try anything. There's a loneliness epidemic out there, so chances are good there are people just like you who are waiting for someone to make the first move. I hope you find each other.
