My question is related to this video.
I’m a first worlder living in the imperial core.
I’ve developed some internal theory to do some praxis for the movement, but I find it so hard to move forward due to intrusive thoughts on how complacent my useless coworkers are. They are the productive part of the company and joke about unionizing because they are noticing their increased exploitation, but they won’t do it. They also make fun of trans people and blame racial minorities for their criminalization in the “personal responsibility” kind of manner. Any means of trying to reason with them goes in one ear and out the other. I loathe being around them, but I have difficulty getting around thought spirals and ruminations around them. I’ve given up hope of doing anything meaningful with these losers than help each other collect a paycheck. I have no means of getting them fired, don’t want to give out too much info. I stick around because I can collect a paycheck with minimal oversight.
I’m disturbed by so many people’s use of the phrase “it is what it is” around the rot of the social services of this country that is clearly going against their own interest. It seems nonsensical to me that so many people laugh and are complacent in the destruction around them because they are temporarily isolated from it.
I want to do some praxis but I’m just too enraged and depressed being surrounded by these people that love their bigotry but would hate to do anything to liberate themselves. How would you suggest containing my rage filled ruminations appropriately so that I can perform my praxis?
I need to point out that those people chanting “it is what it is” around the rot of the social services of this country are doing so to cope with their impotent rage. They aren’t just complacent because of their isolation, but because of their inability to do anything and cynical fear that things can only ever get worse.
That is not helpful to the central question, but thanks for the input. I suppose everyone here has unhealthy ways of coping with these contradictions. I’d like to have some healthy way of dealing with this, so that I can act knowing that I’m doing my best for the revolution.
Empathy helps me deal with impotent rage. I remember these cynical freaks are created by their material conditions, and realize the only reason I’m not the same is mostly down to luck.
Maybe I’ve never embraced my sense of powerlessness enough to be able to relate.
I read the Tao te Ching alot when I was really young and found it made more sense than the bible to me. My central understanding has always been that change is inevitable. Things only exist because they are harmonious with their surroundings until they are not.
Reading history taught me how things have changed due to technological and social changes in society.
I can’t empathise with those that think human nature is a static thing. They talk about human nature causing greed, but i inform them that even if true we clearly suppress certain behaviors in all societies like murder. All societies encourage certain behaviors and discourage other behaviors. There would be no need to suppress behaviors if they were not within this “human nature”.
I can’t get over how much it disgusts me that their conception of freedom is the freedom to direct who the government hurts instead of actual freedom for themselves. With freedom being ontologically impossible in their view, i guess these ghouls accept schadenfreude as a disgusting substitute.
I guess I’ll have to accept it is all just a cope thanks. These conservatives that refuse to take any responsibility for their society to pass on any freedom to their children are cowards that won’t meaningfully help or hurt most forms of revolution.
You don’t have to become like them to empathize! It’s hard, but I think it’s worth trying to understand the tragedy of their cynicism and to imagine their point of view. At the very least it makes fighting their cynicism easier. For example:
They choose to believe human nature is static because they hate themselves and everyone around them. It’s a cope.
Their conception of freedom is also a cope. They have to believe that the freedom to direct who the government hurts is freedom because that’s all they believe can ever be accomplished. They can not imagine actual freedom for themselves.
I think it’s sad.
Myopic. Misanthropic. Pathetic. Pitiable. All words I think fit this thought process well. Miseducation is a horrible tragedy, and it is a meaningful part of our work to combat it… tiring, exhausting, and often mind-boggling as it might be to do so.