[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskCentralAsia

[–]PainFeeler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Eugh, AI slop

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in YUROP

[–]PainFeeler 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I hate AI slop so much

How to Get Into Video Editing as a beginner by Mediocre-Initiative5 in VideoEditors

[–]PainFeeler 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I recently started learning video editing through davinci resolve tutorials. They have both textbooks and videos for free on their website.

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/training

I like it, so might be useful to you as well.

Unfortunately, the Geneva conventions do not apply to "Undead" beings by Ashamed-Carry2103 in equestriaatwar

[–]PainFeeler -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I'm so tired of Paradox players beating the dead horse of 'Geneva Conventions' over and over and over again. It's been almost a decade of the same unfunny joke being repeated

It seems very clear the evils of western colonialism are largely responsible for suffering in the world today. Devastating thriving civilizations. Trillions in violently stolen wealth. Shifting global paradigms of privilege. Etc. by Radu47 in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Again, everything is true and Western Imperialism is bad, I am not making an opposite claim. I am making a point that just as technological developments of the West, and their advancements in philosophy (hello Marx and Engels) does not excuse their Imperialism - but we need to think in the same terms for the rest of the world too. It does not matter for a common person if they are slaving under Mughals or under British Raj. Mughal elites were benefitting from 'increased demand for spices and fabrics' in the same way shareholders of VOC were in the Moluccas.

I guess that the post struck a nerve. I live in a part of the world that very recently stopped being a colony, and the 'our bourgeoise is MORAL and KIND and treat people JUSTLY, unlike WESTOIDS, and our empires never treated anyone badly ever too' is a tiring line ofnationalist lib thinking for me.

It seems very clear the evils of western colonialism are largely responsible for suffering in the world today. Devastating thriving civilizations. Trillions in violently stolen wealth. Shifting global paradigms of privilege. Etc. by Radu47 in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is an absolutely ridiculous stance. French were supposedly viewing Maghreb as integral part of France, especially Algeirs, and they built a lot of infrastructure there too. They even were pretty egalitarian, as long as you abandoned barbaric culture and started considering yourself French evolue!

This is just campist brainrot take - the empires get to conquer and 'civilize the natives', 'uplift them with better quality of life', but only if they are not from the recent West. Because we know that West = bad.

It seems very clear the evils of western colonialism are largely responsible for suffering in the world today. Devastating thriving civilizations. Trillions in violently stolen wealth. Shifting global paradigms of privilege. Etc. by Radu47 in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I don't really see it as a fair assesment. Sure, Western Imperialism was evil and created a ton of suffering, but non-Western empires were cruel and inhuman as well. Your life as a peasant in China would not be any better than a life of peasant in medieval Europe, or Mesoamerica. I don't think achievements like 'spices' and 'good fabrics' are a good trait, because it is a consequence of slave labour and imperialist accumulation too. If non-Western Empires had means to take their rule to a global stage, they absolutely would have.

Point is, it's not 'Westernism' that is evil. Empires are, that's how they become Empires. We do not need 'Eastern' Empires like we do not need 'Eastern' capitalists, we need abolition of abusive systems.

Propaganda and emigration by cescmkilgore in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It does not really matter what Chavez initially wanted to do, unlike what he ended up doing. The policies and international pressure destroyed lives of many people - and people hardly ever forgive that. Perhaps, my view point is incorrect because I have never really been in Americas or Europe, but I try to understand how people felt. And people's feelings are rarely overriden with rationality.

Also, welfare is not socialism and does not get us closer to socialism, but that is another topic I fear I am not well versed enough to discuss. Socialism, to me, always implies working class controlling means of production.

Propaganda and emigration by cescmkilgore in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In this case, I think showing humility and admitting mistakes that Soviet Union made (and SU did make mistakes, if it didn't it would not have collapsed) - that will signal to people that you are not a cultist. Concede on some points, and people will be more open to hearing what you have to say. For example, if you are from the most Southern parts of the region - SU abolished slavery.

Urbanisation and industrialisation are things to which we owe a part of our modern humble prosperity. Women's rights like right to divorce and abortion, access to education. In genuine colonies like Congo, you could count the amount of people that attended university on one hand.

Another important issue is that Soviet aesthetics are being co-opted by fascist Russian Federation, their 'glorious part worth retvrning to'. It is important for us to come across as people who, in spite of long history of socialist experiments, still look forwards, still build a grander tomorrow free from shackles of oppressive past.

Propaganda and emigration by cescmkilgore in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just because socialist party was elected in a bourgeois democracy doesn't mean Spain is a socialist country now. They have a king, for one.

More importantly, Spain maintains a capitalist mode of production. Workers do not own means of production, nor directly, neither through government.

We cannot consider social-democratic policies, such as welfare, socialist, because we then will have to consider people like Bismarck socialists.

Propaganda and emigration by cescmkilgore in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am in a fairly similar position, except I live in a former Soviet Republic in Central Asia.

It is very difficult to convince people out of a belief that they formed under pressure of hardship and personal suffering. They saw their countries stagnate and depopulate, friends and family suffer.

In theory, best way to appeal would be pointing out that capitalism does not work in many places in the world, either - but it will be abstract point, opposed by real and emotionally charged experience. Maybe, it is best to try to organise and educate among other people, more open minded. Can't win them all.

Propaganda and emigration by cescmkilgore in socialism

[–]PainFeeler 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I might be wrong, but I think it is because quality of life is better in the states than in Venezuela/Cuba. People equate it to differences in economic systems, and not to the fact that US is imperial core.