this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2023
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Many people in here arguing things "have never been better". It's true to an extent; things are pretty good in terms of poverty, liberties or world peace (for now). It's not great, it's never been great, but it's a decent bit better than it's been in the past. Overall.
We are, however, in an era of unstability and unrest, where it feels like things are constantly on the cusp of changing for the worse (and in some cases, are indeed already changing for the worse, like abortion or LGBT rights in the US, for example). Violence and discrimination are on the rise, global peace is being threatened, democracy is in jeopardy (not just in the US mind you), the 1% are getting WAY richer way faster than ever... To top it all off, climate change is objectively, unarguably as bad as it's ever been, and it's getting much much worse, much faster than even experts can keep up with. Like, we're headed straight for extinction and we keep accelerating toward it.
You have every right to be worried. Yes, it's easy to forget and take for granted the things we have now that we didn't even a mere 60 years ago, but many of them are very much under attack at the moment. Just because shit maybe hasn't quite yet hit the fan doesn't mean everything is fine.
And to answer your question, I've found some refuge in art, both experiencing and creating it. Reading books, watching movies, playing games, etc, especially those that echo that sentiment of fear and uncertainty for the future (or present). Trying to use all that as inspiration for my own work, I think it'd help to express my feelings this way. I am indeed doing very poorly still though, it's a lot to deal with, on top of my own personal problems.
LGBTQ rights in the US are, generally speaking, progressing.
I don't think doom and gloom is warranted with climate change. Many countries have long reached peak CO2. The goal now is net zero. Rich nations also need to pony up to help developing nations that haven't already spewed a ton of CO2 into the air as part of development. Unfortunately, that's looking to be difficult with internal politics in the rich countries.
Some of the progress at the recent COP18 looks to be possible ground breaking. The methane related agreements in particular could be enormously beneficial. They could decrease the amount of methane released or burned off as part of fossil fuel extraction significantly. Methane has a relatively low half life, so it will cycle out of the atmosphere faster than CO2.
I don’t think doom and gloom is warranted with climate change. Many countries have long reached peak CO2. The goal now is net zero. Rich nations also need to pony up to help developing nations that haven’t already spewed a ton of CO2 into the air as part of development. Unfortunately, that’s looking to be difficult with internal politics in the rich countries.
This is like standing on the deck of the titanic and being like “meh, we have already scraped by most of the iceberg, so we are fine”.
The damage is done, look at global sea surface temperatures they are off the charts. We could stop everything now and things would still be spiraling out of control climate wise and I am sorry but that is just the reality of it :(
Don't get me wrong, nothing is "fine" when it comes to climate change. There's a lot of work to do, much of which has a lot of resistance from people with a stake in the status quo towards ruin. But at the same time, this is a situation that can at least be mitigated, with real work in progress. Humanity is not going extinct from climate change.
as a trans person in the USA
fuck you, ya ignorant removed
I'm not trans, but I'm gay and I have many trans friends in the LGTBQ+ community who have shared their experiences with me. Maybe lay off the insults?
Also, I'm talking broad strokes of history. Think about how the general public's attitude towards LGBTQ+ people has changed in the last, say, 50 years (since Stonewall). It's been a rough road with set backs, but we have the momentum. Young people are already much more LGBTQ+ friendly, and demographics is destiny.
I will lay off some insults, yes. If i hadn't had experience with you before. Your politics are of a most silly kind.
Maybe in europe, but before your people decided to pillage and plunder the world, real civilizations in Native Americas, China, Oceania, and such had far far more progressive cultures than our own.
GenZ is the most pathetic excuse for a leftist generation. Even Boomers had wayyyyy better communists, America just killed them off.
As a trans person on the ground with trans organizers, we do not have the momentum. People's support means little without active protection. Politics is actively stripping away our right to exist in every country on the globe. Well besides civilized countries like Cuba, Nigeria, South Africa, and China. The west is heading backward materially. Your "popular support" means nothing if no one has the spine to do something with it.
We got where we are with riots and subversion and rage, not pandering and concessions. Concessions are how we get washed away.
I can cite sources if you want them.
I am not interested with bizarre comparisons with Nigeria. I am focused on one time comparison. On average, are attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people trending positive. Let's say you were born under similar circumstances, but fifty years earlier. Would your life as a trans woman be better or worse? Would the people around you treat you better or worse? Would the government treat you better or worse?
The DeSantises and the so called Moms for Liberty out there are unfortunately currently having their moment in some quarters. It is frustrating to see ignorance and hatred directed at my trans brethren. But I have seen too much positive movement, both historical and current, to expect that we anywhere but the right direction. History will be the judge of those who got in the way.
I'm not talking to someone who gets regularly temp banned for things like anti-semitism
fuck off
You're talking about the world news mods who will find any excuse to ban someone who goes again a pro-Russia, pro-CCP, or pro-Hamas narrative? That community barely has rules, it's just excuses for the mods to pick their preferred propaganda.
I believe you probably mean COP28 unless you are talking about one from 10 years ago.
Yes, thank you. I wish they had just numbered it to match the years...