Post

there is healthcare data out there very clearly linking me to a trans surgery, this is not theoretical for me either, folks

Surviving is all we really can do for so much of what is going to happen, like these tariffs. America voted for it, and we're going to get it. We have to focus on next steps because we will survive. 2026 elections aren't so far away.

Hopelessness and negativism helps no one. Not every feeling we have is worth expressing And I personally never feel better after expressing negativity, it’s not even satisfying

My personal stance is one of an existential optimist. I see the data, I can see where things might be headed, I know that humans tend not to think strategically over the long term. But giving up on hope is a bridge too far, even with what I know.

And when the ideas won’t come, it becomes self fulfilling prophecy.

At the same time, maybe they don’t want to feel upbeat with you. Just a thought. As for why people are defeatist, it’s because they know the reality. All the good feeling and upbeat thoughts will do nothing. There is nothing stopping them, not even Congress or SCOTUS.

maybe they’re not trying to force despondency on others; maybe they are expressing a valid response to the endless, repeating trauma that the magaverse inflicts on us and they (me) are looking for solidarity.

bsky.app/profile/psco...

People can’t make you feel. Everyone grieves in their own way. Please consider how others process and respect it.

one can also be alternatively down/doomer, panicked, angry, or just disassociative and not wanting to deal. we contain multitudes, and claiming you are supposed to feel only one certain way is dumb.

Is this okay

Following you for this!

I’ve been muting huge numbers of people. We need to protect ourselves so we can keep on being magical positive beings. 😎

Twitters are this weird semi private semi public space and it's hard to figure out if we need to kayfabe on here or if we can say what we really think

Honestly, when it comes to Japanese principles to live by, ikigai and kintsugi should take a backseat to "please scream inside your heart."

Yes!

To be scared - terrified even - is only rational. And we must be clear eyed about what we're facing. But we must not become despondent.

And so we give ourselves to each other. Each day, for one more day, we march alongside each other. Fearful? Yes. Uncertain, to be sure. But every day will bring the dawn of another, and one day, we will be somewhere other.

Sure, but this is any analysis, not judgment, right? There is a significant segment of Democrats who were sure Biden, not Bernie, was the future of the Democratic party. Yet it must be clear now that his victory was only a rejection of the pandemic under Trump and not a cry for more neoliberalism.

The severity of the backlash to the Bernie movement, the lack of concern for the loss of support among Latino and black voters (mainly men), and most recently, the lack of concern the party refused to hold a real primary were all signs the party was in major trouble. Democrats must think this over.

From an indigenous pal the other day, on the same theme (paraphrase): “We’ve been dealing with this stuff for 400 years and you’re all pissy after two weeks! STFU and get busy! And if can’t get it up to do something, at least stop with the damn whining!”

Same

When you're out there with an agenda it's a different story, I agree

Joy is literally the main/first thing they want to take from us.

Spite and irreverence are wholly underrated motivators and should be actively cultivated.

💯

It's not about being cheery, of course. It's about being human/humane, courageous & generous. Bill Stringfellow wasn't a very cheery guy, but he has a bunch to say to us (a thread from a month ago): bsky.app/profile/drew...

Long before he entered politics, Trump the “businessman” literally said he believes that when people become depressed, when they give up, it creates opportunity for him to win. Like a true authoritarian, he wants people to surrendering.

They are winning because they played the long game that's what we must do now

I feel like after that election there was a grace period in which people could in all decency go nuts venting their rage and grief in whatever form that took. We're coming up on four weeks since the election. If you're still venting trauma, you're getting a mute or a block.

I agree.

Understand all too well.

For me, the issue is where to focus. It might seem defeatist to some, but I’m clearly seeing that efforts to work through the Democratic Party are wasted. They led us here and are handing us over. IMO, all efforts should be focused on building something new. A tall order.

Glad it helps! I learned about it in the context of covid precautions.

Yes to this as a post-Jan 20 strategy. But as a pre-Jan 20 strategy, 10s of millions in the streets demanding Biden take this national emergency seriously and stop Trumpofascism before it happens seems better. He has the magic wand... bsky.app/profile/nmwi...

Lol! Yeah, there’s definitely more than a tad of misogyny in that 18th - 19th century mind.

Exactly! And you KNOW they're good methods, because they both involve food.

Oh, yeah! I forgot about this handy guide! www.cia.gov/static/5c875...

📌

Exactly!

👍👍🏻👍🏽👍🏾👍🏼👍🏿

a lot of people I know are organizing and sharing information, particularly around the looming deportations

Fool me once….Shame on you. Fool me twice? Nope. Not me!

The both siders just wanted to be able to complain no matter who won

Seriously. The reason both sides suck is that no one cares. Ffs. You have to care. Bare minimum

This.

Both sides DO suck - one is the primary aggressor and one is the codependent enabler. Basically our job is to convince the enabler to pack a bag, get the kids from school, and stay at their sister’s for a while.

hang in there, there's fighters working in our midst. You may not see them at the moment, but they are there. Right now, we can get in touch with our local Democratic office & ask what we can do to help. 🌊💙

It's not defeatism to be realistic. No, we don't give up and we keep on fighting the good fight. But it doesn't help to ignore the fact that Trump has always operated as if the law doesn't apply to him and history has proven him right on that, to this country's everlasting shame.

Same. It’s too much like obeying in advance.

ugh same. like I'm tired too and worried, but giving up is what they want? and we shouldn't give them that? lmao

when you've been a knee-jerk as long as I have, you'll understand.

R-E-L-A-X

Some of us may just be going through a process that looks like sitting with grief, wallowing in it a little, and writing lots of mediocre poetry before we’re ready to get back out there. We’re just strengthening our reserves.

We aren’t defeated. Think about the farmworkers union think about the slaves that fought for their freedom think about women who fought for their rights it didn’t happen overnight or in four years better yet even in a decade. This is a minor setback

Tell people long enough and loud enough someone’s gonna destroy the country people believe it

I have compassion for the Left. Liberals pilfer their beliefs when politically amenable and abandon the causes at the slightest inconvenience. I’ve more ire for liberals—perpetually rolling over to show their fluffy bellies in submission of norms to support a democracy that no longer exists.

...seriously, a Democratic Party that no longer speaks to the common worker has lost its way. It got out-populist-ed by a spoiled rich kid.

Many those of us who were really scared and made plans for how to survive or escape are feeling relieved right now because he didn't achieve the power he needed to do those things. The hashtag resistance crew apparently never really believed he was a fascist before now and didn't do the research.

A lot of people are quietly desperate for any validation for everything they are and everything they experience. Including depression and paranoia, unfortunately for us.

Yeah especially the "a lot of people DIDN'T survive last time" shit. I am well aware, I also lost people. But if I give up all hope I might as well pull the plug now. I have to believe things can get better.

It is a privileged attitude from individuals who have never fought for their basic rights.

We got this. Keep strong. Look out for each other. Be kind.

If nothing else we need to band together with people we trust.

And personally, working an unpredictably stressful job, I’m inclined to suggest that folks just watch & wait, alertly attentive to what happens (not just what MIGHT happen). But I’m aware that this isn’t very helpful to people who need to feel through their anxiety and find their own ways to cope.

I hear you I've been working with my Mom to save the energy for when he actually starts doing the thing not says he'll do the thing. And we'll fight and don't know he'll get what he wants.

I have a lot of concerns about the way the coming years will go, but I'm too spite-filled to give up without a fight

It's like after an old Elvis concert: "Elvis had left the building; thank you and goodnight."

Today I went for my first walk since I got sidelined in June with bad health setbacks. I walked for 30 minutes, and tomorrow I’m doing it again. I’m hella pissed at everything and everyone rn, but I need to channel it into being productive. I’m going to need to be in good shape for the 💩 show comin.

It isn't "knee-jerk public defeatism." It's a genuine expression of longing for leaders to organize and provide a way for people to respond productively The Left & Center-Left have been left rudderless while The Right has been organized for this moment for years. People feel helpless...and they are

I’m not seeing much leadership for them to rally around. Barely anything coming from the Democratic Party.

Amen !

bsky.app/profile/your...

Defiance is 100% what Republicans want out of this. Republicans have nothing but a collection of fast failures and from the hip snipers. A big distraction that they can scapegoat everything on is exactly the fight they need to escape their responsibilities

I’m seeing the same thing I see a lot of weakness not good.

I do think that a lot of people are having a tough time moving from the utter shock of "OMG, he got how many votes?" to "OK, fuck this noise. No one is coming to save us, we have to do it!"

Worry about yourself and how you plan to make an impact.

Totally agree. I also see a lot of circular firing squad on here. I think we'd do better to make common cause with all those who don't enjoy fascism.

Maybe this is a moment when more liberals start to recognize anger as a legitimate force of motivation, and when more leftists appreciate the limits of wallowing in miserablism re: what’s possible.

Here’s a good piece:

Same. Personally, I don't think most of what Trump claimed that he was going to do is going to happen. He only wanted back in the White House for the sake of his ego, to save himself from all these prosecutions, and to enrich himself one last time.

Where did I say “surprised”

We're pissed. We're scared. And we have every reason to be. Give us a minute.

I'm not defeated. I'm just getting started. We will overcome this.

It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Libs need to look in the mirror. Do they see someone scared and timid. Or do they see someone brave willing to push back hard. I know what I see.

There is a danger in this as well, though. An implied silencing of the distressed perhaps. I wonder if a better question might be to consider how we respond to feelings of despair or helplessness in ourselves and others. True power comes from hearing such feelings and responding with compassion.

personally i see no shame in admitting defeat. but OK.

You’re describing the Stockdale paradox en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_S... www.jimcollins.com/concepts/Sto...

Not defeated just limited in what I can do because I'm disabled. If you have anything I can help with let me know

I try to remember the Americans who had no reason for hope before and pressed on. Women, Native Americans, Black Americans...

I even look at it and reminds me of a line in two of Cory Doctorow's books 'This is not a fight to win, this is a fight to fight' The way I read it and internalise it is that no matter what the odds are you have to keep fighting. Admit that is difficult if you want but keep fighting

First, people have survived much worse. Second, what ever horrible decisions are being made will get exposed and rejected. Third, don’t let what’s happened influence you to treat anybody with anything but grace.

Same, and it's really embarrassing when you know how hard and long people around the world (including here in the US) have fought for their freedoms and their rights, only to see a bunch of privileged Americans throw in the towel as soon as things got hard for us.