Big Talk

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yet another slight variant on a previous post (the final variant):

my current way of looking at the current political conflict:

1. the pro-democracy coalition versus the troll coalition

acronym for the TROLL coalition: Terrible Revenge On Liberals & Leftists

The pro-democracy coalition want a system where everybody counts, and everybody has to account. The troll coalition does not need to have a coherent agenda, and can merely take credit for anything good, and avoid blame for anything bad. It also merely needs to point out that the pro-democracy people are hypocrites, who made a mess of things when they were in charge.

The troll coalition, like the pro-democracy coalition, is diverse, but some things they tend to have in common:

1. They believe liberals & leftists are, for the most part, comfortable and well-padded SOFAS: Safe Outlets For Aggression & Spite. If you are feeling frustrated, sedated, stressed, or depressed, then a good way to let off some steam, and put the roses back on your cheeks, is to troll a liberal or to troll a leftist. 

More generally, the political method of the troll coalition is to find SOFAS for scapegoating and spittle-flecked rage: trans people, immigrants, BLM activists, peace activists, justice activists, peace & justice activists, etc.

2. They believe in maximizing liberal-leftist infighting. Liberals should be encouraged to take out their frustrations on leftists. Leftists should be encouraged to take out their frustrations on liberals. The most disgusting phenomenon in the world is a leftist and a liberal willing to work together.

3. The more respectable members of the troll coalition believe that the trolls are relatively harmless, and not a serious threat to power or status. Liberals and leftists, on the other hand, might be a threat. Liberals and leftists are the quiet ones you need to watch out for. Trolls are the noisy ones whose bark is worse than their bite. 

Therefore, liberals and leftists need to be encouraged to keep eating the mournful oatmeal, and reflect on the possibility that they are not as good, or as smart, as they think they are. Also, that any attempts at reform will almost certainly backfire, and only make things worse. 

https://lakewobegon.fandom.com/wiki/Mournful_Oatmeal/2001-03-10 

4. In addition to trolling, the troll coalition also believes in carelessness. They seek to weaponize their carelessness, and use it for negotiating leverage, on the theory that the one who cares less, wins.  

But enough about the trolls! We have been talking too much about them. We need to find time to talk about better things.

For the last 10 years, certainly, we have been living in an era of trolling, and an era of carelessness. As the costs of carelessness and disrespect gradually become more apparent, the pro-democracy coalition has an opportunity to convince people that democracy and a duty of care, while difficult, are better than the alternative.

Victory for the pro-democracy coalition requires: 

1. An exciting pro-democracy agenda, which gives people energy, inspiration, enthusiasm, and incentives to organize.

2. Assuaging people's anxieties about liberal or leftist overreach.

3. Assuaging people's anxieties about the dangers of calling out injustice, and the dangers of actively seeking alternatives to injustice.

4. Perhaps, a certain . . . je ne sais quoi.

 

What do I mean by liberal or left? Liberal means having a value for freedom. Left means having a value for equality. A member of the liberal-left is someone who has a value for both freedom and equality.

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Little Talk

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How Much Waking Up Does A Man Require?

My current answer:

1. wake up

2. stare out the window a bit

3. un-tether the phone, and check whether the sky has fallen

4. perhaps listen to some audio, then re-tether the phone

5. stare out the window some more

6. get up, stand up, people get ready

7. ???

8. profit!

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Next post: March 29, 2026