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[sonerohi]

Aqizzar, if it makes you feel better, I'm asking all future telemarketers whether or not they are you. The odds are slim but present.

[Bdthemag]

Aqizzar, if it makes you feel better, I'm asking all future telemarketers whether or not they are you. The odds are slim but present.

If it was Aqizzar, it would probally be the most awesome telemarketer call in the history of mankind.

[SalmonGod]

You can't try to sell people on all the problems all at once, because it's simply too much to process.

I think this is just a great demonstration of the differences in strength between progressive movements and entrenched powers/ideologies.  The former can effortlessly blow away any supporting point ever made by the latter, but eyes will glaze over in the vast majority of casual observers in the time it takes to do so.

The problem is progressivism most often relies on that level of sophistication, and it's hard to imagine giving that up without undermining itself.  Yeah, you can rally a little more support from average people by dumbing down the message, but then what gets attention is the dumbed down message, not the real important one.  In your case, we might end up with CEOs putting more effort into hiding their real wealth and maybe some actual legislation regarding their incomes... but then it would be done, because the majority of people who were attached to that dumbed down slogan would say "Ok.  We did it."  Majority of problems would continue.

In my opinion, which may sound a little unprofessional from a PR standpoint and definitely unrealistic, people simply NEED to pull their heads out of their asses and do some real thinking.  I don't see how we can get anywhere otherwise.  Society is a product of its culture, and if the majority of the population is getting ass-pulled by whatever political slogan makes them feel the best about themselves, then we're going to get a society proportionate to that level of stupidity no matter what those slogans are.

I just happened to be in high school government class during the 2000 elections, and I'll never forget my teacher asking everyone of voting age in the class who they were going to vote for and why.  At least 1/3 of those questioned said they were going to vote for Bush, because he seemed like a regular guy that they would share a drink with at a bar.  This blew my mind.  I could not believe that people would consider this as a leadership quality.  This was seriously one of the biggest WTF moments of my life.  Unfortunately, I've grown to accept that a significant portion of people are like this, and I don't think we need to dumb ourselves down to their level to get them on our side... I think we need to motivate them to actually give a shit.  That may not be realistic, but I think it's necessary.

Edit:  I also think it's happening, even if small-scale.  I'm seeing lots of signs of a cultural shift online, in the protests, and in people I know face-to-face.  I've been sharing lots of information with people lately who are actually listening, questioning, and valuing my input, when just months ago they would have been rolling their eyes at me.

[Willfor]

What you see as a progression of people from point A (uninterested) to point B (interested), I see as another spoke on the cultural wheel that we'll be back to in 40-60 years.

[TheBronzePickle]

What you see as a progression of people from point A (uninterested) to point B (interested), I see as another spoke on the cultural wheel that we'll be back to in 40-60 years.

Finally! Someone who realizes that it's all just part of the gigantic cycle!

Someday, when my conspiracy theorist family and I are old in age, and everything's the same as it started out (maybe not completely, but the gist of everything will still be there) I can laugh and say "what happened to all those conspiracies?" And they'll just laugh along and throw rocks at me.

[SalmonGod]

All things are temporary.  I never claimed otherwise.

[Vattic]

Still feeling really awful but guilty as always when I take time off work.

Someday, when my conspiracy theorist family and I are old in age, and everything's the same as it started out (maybe not completely, but the gist of everything will still be there) I can laugh and say "what happened to all those conspiracies?" And they'll just laugh along and throw rocks at me.

I really wonder how some of my family will react when the world doesn't end or change beyond all recognition next year. Then again I suspect a slow change of position will occur on the run up.

[Urist Imiknorris]

I really wonder how some of my family will react when the world doesn't end or change beyond all recognition next year. Then again I suspect a slow change of position will occur on the run up.

I'm just wondering how many people would be stupid/gullible enough to bet money on it happening.

[Vector]

But every fiber in my being that I don't have any control over sure as fuck wants to give up and hide from the phone, and it's really really hard to do anything but listen.

I sympathize.  I've always been afraid of phones, but a year ago it was so bad that I pretty much couldn't make any calls to anyone.  So, ah... hope you feel better, soon.

[Vattic]

I'm just wondering how many people would be stupid/gullible enough to bet money on it happening.

Even if they do believe the world will end I don't see why they'd bet money on it. Kind of hard to collect if you're right. If they just think it'll be a big change perhaps but not for the end of the world. Then again unless you can be more specific I'm not sure who would be willing to take the bet. No matter what happens fingers will be pointed at something as the predicted happening.

[Truean]

My dad is yet again brainwashed by right wing radio. I thought we were past this....

He just spent hours regaling me with conspiracy theories... and this is just about all he has. I keep pointing out that there are things he could be doing to make his life better instead of worrying about this stuff for hours, but these things make him feel important. He can't seem to prioritize tasks he should be doing or avoid wasting his listener's time (I'm literally the only one who will listen to his shit). He has basically no friends, because he rambles and rants like this.... I long ago memorized every last one of his stories and can, without exaggeration predict exactly what he will say next, because he's said it over 50 times before. It isn't prediction so much as it is memorization.

It is a matter of time management. Whatever time he has left could be spent talking to people about things that they can both enjoy talking about (I've tried to change subjects to woodworking, even pretending to like cars, anything at all besides politics). Instead, he talks for hours if you let him about things that piss him off and depress anyone he tries to talk to.

[jc6036]

I'm just hoping that the whole 2012 thing doesn't cause riots or anything such as that. Sure enough there will be enough people around that believes in the end of the world in 2012 prophecy that there may be looting, suicide rates going up dramatically, and riots as an effect of grief from deaths and stocking up combined. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic. I don't know. But I know that suicide rates have went up in the past over events like this, and this time it seems to be more "professional" in the declarations of the prophecy. Baugh.

[Bdthemag]

Hey, on the bright side if the world does happen to end we can do that whole Roleplay we all did awhile back. But in real life!

[Vector]

I don't know if this should be in the sad thread or the happy thread, but I'd been having an anxiety attack today... until my mom came and helped me restock my pantry.

I guess it is bad to be thinking so much if there's any more nutrition I can squeeze out of what's left.  I'm not living in the conditions of many of the people here, but I've basically lost the tolerance I once had to skip meals day after day, month after month, year after year and still be anything like functioning.  Food has become incredibly important.

[Pnx]

But every fiber in my being that I don't have any control over sure as fuck wants to give up and hide from the phone, and it's really really hard to do anything but listen.

I sympathize.  I've always been afraid of phones, but a year ago it was so bad that I pretty much couldn't make any calls to anyone.  So, ah... hope you feel better, soon.

I'm still terrified of picking up the phone and talking to people at times, at least if they aren't expecting me to call them. I just don't know what they're doing or what I could be disturbing.

Actually, to make a confession, I kind of have a case of agoraphobia.
I'm afraid to go out and do anything strange or new on my own. Very, very, afraid. To the point where I have missed appointments because I was afraid to leave the house, although sometimes it's not so bad.
If there's someone with me who's taking the lead then I'm alright, but I'm really afraid to do anything by myself, or for myself. At least anything I haven't done before. I wind up hiding in bed to avoid going out or I drive somewhere then freeze up in the car the force myself to drive home...

Sometimes I manage but ugh...
Honestly, feel glad you're not as pathetic as me.

I don't know if this should be in the sad thread or the happy thread, but I'd been having an anxiety attack today... until my mom came and helped me restock my pantry.

I guess it is bad to be thinking so much if there's any more nutrition I can squeeze out of what's left.  I'm not living in the conditions of many of the people here, but I've basically lost the tolerance I once had to skip meals day after day, month after month, year after year and still be anything like functioning.  Food has become incredibly important.

I seem to be averaging 1.5 meals per day now. Sometimes I don't even manage one meal a day. It has a tendency to make me sick sometimes.
I know it's unhealthy, but I have a lot of trouble motivating myself to get up and eat. My mother has tried to counter this by filling the house with cookies and ice cream and such, and encouraging me to eat a pudding. I suppose the cookies might help keep me from passing out, but I'm not sure if they're not just making things worse by stemming my hunger.

... Wow, today has really been a day for awkward confessions.