Boy does that sum up about half of lemmy users. “nObOdY iS dOiNg AnYtHiNg!” Motherfucker, go outside, people are doing plenty to make up for your pessimistic, unengaged ass.
Also the whole “the only solution is to buy guns and start shooting” while being pessimistic and unengaged, yet somehow falling into a hero fantasy where the big person with a gun solves all. They’re not talking about building a parallel economy, mutual aid, support groups, and just generally building community, which are actually stronger moves than buying guns.
And then when somebody does buy a gun and start shooting, it’s gotta be fake somehow
To be fair, buying guns are an important part of building a community.
I hypothesize that a firearms community would be as good as any to Trojan horse mutual aid networks.
Whenever someone starts on a rant about a rugged individualism fantasy… they’ll buy guns… build a bunker… fuck it, whatever… I’m always like
“Yeah that’s a great idea. Let’s get a group of us and do that. Find some land, dig in a bunker. I have a buddy with a backhoe. Let’s do that but build it for 14 people”
Every time it just unravels as a fantasy rather than a genuine plan or genuine desire. But if it ever hits I’d be delighted to grow a rugged individuals co-op.
There are definitely good firearms communities, like the Black Panthers that used open carry laws to follow cops around and intimidate them into obeying the law, or soldiers in Rojava. The power fantasy of a using firearms in a well-organised militia to dissuade imperial aggression and act in mutual aid with other communities is healthy and valid.
like, just go out and smile at someone in line in the coffee shop. that’s it. be friendly. if you think of a [and i can’t believe i have to say this but it’s the internet and 2026 so: non-creepy] compliment, give it to someone. that’s it. not as a prelude to flirting, not just to the opposite sex (or whatever you’re attracted to), just to compliment them. brighten their day. something as simple as “yo, i like your shoes.” there are days you will need it, so pay it forward.
that is step one in building a community.
Let’s be real here, most people are all three of these.
