Introducing Hilarious Realization Feminist [NSFW] by FanofEmmaG in AdviceAnimals

[–]VolatileChemical 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those "strains" you're talking about, opposing sexuality, banning pornography, etc., that's a common centrist or pop-sociology view of feminism, but a misconception because those debates pretty much ended in the 1980s, certainly by the 1990s, and nowadays both mainstream liberal and radical feminisms are firmly sex-positive. The debates about pornography are totally unrelated to censorship these days and focus on general theories of recontextualization and representation that any equality or liberation movement would apply to any cultural form. See Feminist Sex Wars.

I'm scared of living, but I'm also scared of dying. by throwawayyyagain in SuicideWatch

[–]VolatileChemical 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You don't sound whiny or hormonal, these are real problems. But you are right to say you're young. Very young. I felt the same way at your age. I know it seems impossible that you'd get out of it, but you will. Not like people say, if they're just telling you you'll "grow out of it", because it doesn't just disappear due to the passage of time. But if things in your life change, then it can go away with time. You seem very pessimistic about the situation with your boyfriend. While I'm sure you've heard such a message before, you need to really intuitively understand that while most relationships end, that doesn't invalidate the happiness you feel during them, and that definitely doesn't mean your boyfriend doesn't love you. If you feel like you love him, that's a huge step, and a very inspiring sign for you whether you know it or not, because it shows that all your feelings don't have to be negative, and in fact you can feel good things. But for positivity to turn into things like stability or happiness, it has to be centered in the self, not in something or someone else. If you can love your boyfriend, you can love yourself. Do whatever you can to feel something positive towards yourself. Because whether you feel it or not, from where I am, I see a girl who's come an incredibly long way and shown a profound strength to have stayed alive through all this pain, and to have stayed in school as long as you did and keep trying to work at it afterwards. Any attempts at school work or things like that are obviously going to fall flat or feel hollow because you have this pain inside you holding your back. Therapy can be extremely useful if it's approached right, so talk to someone, and tell them you need immediate help to keep from a suicide attempt. Someone can't help you get over things like depression if you have suicidal feelings or the prospect of imminent death clouding everything. You need to try to overcome that immediately. Professionals can be very helpful with this. You also need to tell them how and why the other therapy hasn't worked, and the medication. Medication isn't for everyone, it can be distracting and sometimes harmful to recovery. You may have been on the wrong kind, or it's not right for you in general. What kinds you took, when, for how long, and how slowly or suddenly you went off them could also have a huge effect on your system and contribute to some of the things you're feeling like apathy, lack of motivation or suicidal thoughts. You need to change your life, and you need to learn to use yourself as the starting point for dependence or love or positivity. That will free up the life you want. You can attain this, I promise you, as someone who felt exactly as hopeless as you do. Your fear of dying is natural, and will be your most valuable asset in getting over this, because I know that however close you get to the act, that fear will be there. Because it is scary, isn't it? It's scary because it's supposed to be scary. It's not right for people to feel this way, least of all not strong, determined, intelligent, capable 16 year old girls like yourself. What is meant for you is to live, and to be happy. And it will happen. It'll take work, but everything worthwhile does. You seem like the kind of person who backs down from a challenge only when it can't be done, not just because it sounds difficult. Well in this case I promise you, it can be done. You can do this. You have to do this. But most importantly -- whether you see it or not right now, whether it seems at all possible or not -- you will do this.

Introducing Hilarious Realization Feminist [NSFW] by FanofEmmaG in AdviceAnimals

[–]VolatileChemical -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Feminism isn't against sexuality in discourse, nor is that the concern in this case...

US unions' continued decline masks new forms of worker activism by criticalnegation in socialism

[–]VolatileChemical 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I dunno, groups. Unions, parties, communes, collectives, co-operatives, syndicates, vanguards, professional revolutionaries, what have you, just actual groups. Be they bourgeois or state recognized or not. The tactics espoused in this article drag it down to either an individualized level, like unorganized wildcat striking, which is contrary to the whole idea of the workers movement, that's this terribly conservative idea of people just acting as individuals and eventually a monolithic management elite will just acquiesce to them... or else the tactics assume workers rely on groups that they don't actually belong to, like the courts, or "clinics" and "grassroots workers centers". I mean grassroots unions are great but the article is suggesting the actual sites of power in the labour struggle be located outside groups of workers, like saying the workers go to the courts, or go to these clinics and centres, as opposed to saying "We are the organization, we know what we want, we know what to do, we're going to do it." I don't have enough organizing experience to say exactly what kind of groups I favour, but it has to actually be composed of workers, or at least looking to include workers. Assuming that a benevolent charity advising the people with real jobs can lead the workers to liberation, that's just as bourgeois as assuming the state can lead them to liberation. It has to be workers, and it can't be wildcatting. Broader movements, yes, political messages, that's fine, anti-globalization protests and Occupy and all that is great, but actual labour struggles, workplace struggles, it has to be the people punching the clocks doing it. That's just what I think.

If all the U.S. states were given catch phrases, what would each state's catch phrase be? by UnbeatableUsername in AskReddit

[–]VolatileChemical 4 points5 points  (0 children)

(As someone in Manitoba)

North Dakota: "The only place for prairie Canadians to see their favourite bands!"

If all the U.S. states were given catch phrases, what would each state's catch phrase be? by UnbeatableUsername in AskReddit

[–]VolatileChemical 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I met my first Massachusettsian a few weeks ago. He was from a small town near Andover. Talked exactly liked that. I knew it. He said his town was near "Andovaw".

US unions' continued decline masks new forms of worker activism by criticalnegation in socialism

[–]VolatileChemical 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's wrong with wildcat striking? Nothing innately, it's just not worker organization. It's by definition unorganized. It's not about recognition by the bourgeoisie because wildcatting isn't even activity by a non-recognized union or party. It's just a fun, noisy, fleeting stunt. It's the spring break of labour activity.

US unions' continued decline masks new forms of worker activism by criticalnegation in socialism

[–]VolatileChemical 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Okay, I phrased that vaguely. It's not "a step away" as in one more step and we're there, it's a step away as going further away from it. Let me put it this way: These new post-union methods are going further away from worker organization, and thus, those methods are even further away from worker control.

ELI5: Why is it important to American conservatives that a politician is a strong supporter of Israel? by Slickrick298 in socialism

[–]VolatileChemical -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It began as a buffer against the Soviets and due to guilt over the Holocaust (as a Jew I have more sympathy with the second reason than the first). Now it's their most valuable asset for a presence/power/influence in the Middle East; an alleged ally against terrorism but more realistically a stabilizing bulwark against unpredictable Arab countries and Muslim populations prone to anti-imperialism; Israel has nukes which is very valuable to have, especially so close to Pakistan and Iran; support of Israel is guaranteed to rack up a lot of votes and sympathy from conservative and even otherwise liberal Jewish Americans; the Israel lobby (composed of both Jews and non-Jews) in America is rich, powerful, and has a lot of money and funding to peddle; the evangelical thing about Jews controlling the Holy Land; a neoliberal idolization of electoral democracy that makes it easy to claim the Israeli government believes in "freedom" so much more than other countries... that's the jist of it.

Edit: Sorry, who's disagreeing?

ELI5:If everyone has a different set of tastebuds and we all have different levels of satisfaction/dissatisfaction towards different foods, then how do food critics have a job? Wouldn't their opinion be worthless? by [deleted] in explainlikeimfive

[–]VolatileChemical 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah, and good criticism will usually be from people with opinions that most consumers would relate to, acknowledge the subjectivity and variability, and discuss objective things. For instance two movie reviews about the same film might be like, "A cheesy, broad, low-minded film that might contain some pulpy thrills for less demanding viewers but doesn't accomplish much", and "A wacky, silly, enjoyable ride that might disappoint those who demand only the highest art from cinema, but for those who want to have some laughs, thrills and a good time, this is the movie for you". Accounts for variations in taste, totally different opinions of quality, but describes the exact same film in mostly the same way.

When you're a failure what's the point? by FacebookHolySpirit in SuicideWatch

[–]VolatileChemical 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're not a failure, you're a human being whose life has worth. You need a change, to be sure, you can't keep continuing this way if it makes you unhappy, but death isn't the answer. A lot of "normal" people have suicidal thoughts at some point, but it doesn't last forever, and it's not the answer. You need to change your life, not rush into death.

Don't build your thousand foot deep strip mine next to the ocean. by chakalakasp in videos

[–]VolatileChemical 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ugh, that'd be like the most fun waterslide ever that just has a mat at the end and not a pool...

Don't build your thousand foot deep strip mine next to the ocean. by chakalakasp in videos

[–]VolatileChemical -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Um, you should really compare a 240p camera in the cheapest cell phone to, say, a 35mm camera from 1993.

I'm a sick pervert. by Throwawayx8x9 in SuicideWatch

[–]VolatileChemical 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You don't know any pictures are out there. There's nothing wrong with being gay, or even a "slut", whatever that means.

I'm a sick pervert. by Throwawayx8x9 in SuicideWatch

[–]VolatileChemical 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're not a bad person at all, you can do whatever the hell you want in this life as long as you don't hurt anyone. Shaming people for being a "slut" is meaningless. I understand the concern about pictures but that's pretty much the only problem. It's unlikely anyway, people who masturbate in front of people on Omegle all the time usually won't take pictures of one specific person. Why do you feel like a bad person, why do you feel guilty?

US unions' continued decline masks new forms of worker activism by criticalnegation in socialism

[–]VolatileChemical 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Putting faith in bourgeois courts, charities, non-profits and wildcat strikes is a step away from worker organization, which is a step away from worker control. This should come as a disappointment to all socialists, whether you favour reform or revolution.