this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2023
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I'm really worried about the state of the US despite being a white male who was I'll coast right through it. I'll also accept "I don't" and "very poorly" as answers

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[–] banneryear1868@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Understanding the historical circumstances I find myself in and devoting the majority of my effort in to things I can control.

[–] mononomi@feddit.nl 10 points 1 year ago

I try my best to understand it better and change the little things I can. I know that won't change the world much so it isn't very fulfilling. Anyways I often think "at least it wasn't my fault and I tried".

In the same position as you, I'm quite privileged living here in Europe, if it all goes to shit I will be fine. I hope I can make the world more fair for everyone anyways.

[–] CarmineCatboy@hexbear.net 9 points 1 year ago
[–] AlyxMS@hexbear.net 9 points 1 year ago

By believing that eventually people will be so fed up with how bad things have gotten and start a revolution.

I'm not an accelerationist though.

[–] paddirn@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

That in the grand scheme of things none of this really matters. In 100 or 1000 or 10,000 year’s time there will have been just as much horrible stuff happening in the world whether I fret about it or not. Just as much rape, mutilation, disease, and killing either way. Historically things have been trending towards better, so I have to assume that trend will hold (despite what the news or the internet makes it seem like).

The only thing I can control is what I personally do or don’t do, so I can at least reduce it by that small infinitesimal amount by not doing bad things. I can also try to make the world slightly more bearable by trying to make people laugh, or at least help them enjoy themselves some, that’s a little bit more help. I also have three kids I hope I can raise well enough that they too try to not do bad things and also try to help those around them. Or maybe one of us will stumble upon something that just completely changes everything and all our problems go away, or it wipes out humanity, or we’re just waiting for Godot.

And while in the grand scheme of things nothing matters too much, we can at least make life a bit more bearable to those around us in the here and now. Because for us, the here and now is what matters the most, that’s all we can really know, this eternal moment until we die.

[–] quams69@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

I'm getting a vasectomy and I drink, cheers m8

[–] Critical_Insight@feddit.uk 9 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I don't agree with the premise. The world on average is better than it has ever been and it just keeps getting better every year. It's understandable that heavy consumption of news might make it seem otherwise but virtually every metric you'd use to track this shows that things have been improving and keeps doing so.

[–] lemick24@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (3 children)

What about climate change? Murder rates going down is nice, but murders impact individuals. Climate change impacts civilizations.

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[–] cosmic_slate@dmv.social 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The world is getting better in a lot of ways but the uplifting headlines don’t garner clicks and views. A lot of people only post the doom-and-gloom headlines.

Lemmy hasn’t been any better than Reddit in this regard.

[–] vortexal@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago

I do what I can to just ignore it. Sure, I don't have a lot and my life is pretty shitty but I always remember that someone somewhere else probably has it significantly worse. Also, while I know it's morbid to think like this, I know that if things get really bad, there will always be a way out.

[–] PanArab@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

That’s a very relative and personal question. Because for me the world is getting better. Not everyone lives in the US, here we graduate university with money saved instead of being in debt

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[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can't change it, don't care about it.

You are tuning in to the Tragedy of the Week Show. Next week they'll have another to show you.

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I focus on one thing at a time in my sphere of influence.

[–] AuntieFreeze@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Going fishing.

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

There's tons of evidence that the world is getting better. Life expectancies are the highest they've ever been, disease is the lowest it's ever been, globalization is distributing opportunities for relative prosperity to previously ignored or neglected regions. The only thing that's not getting better right now is climate change but the youth care about that more than ever so it seems like we'll make headway on that once the old guard ends their watch. The youth are aldo much more progressive so with their ascent to power, I expect more power to return to the people and more scrutiny to befall the rich and powerful as it once was.

What sort of critical life and death issues are getting worse in your perspective?

Stoicism. Is there something that I can do about it?No. Is it under my control to change this? No. Then I move on and do the best I can be a better person and be more empathetic.

[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I moved to Arizona, where I can drive 0.2 miles to the weed store.

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[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

life is temporary.

im hangin on to the ride until i get thrown off. its my only shot, even if it sucks donkey balls

i guess my answer would be 'dont sweat the small stuff. its all small stuff'

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[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 8 points 1 year ago

I focus on the areas I can impact. So far that's going OK. As for the state of the world I tell myself that it's probably not as crazy as the media makes it out to be and most of the time that's true. I'm not American so it makes it easier to dismiss American issues.

[–] GarbageShoot@hexbear.net 7 points 1 year ago

Not the answer you are looking for, but I think the world is generally getting better. What is getting worse is life in the imperial core, which has been rotting for a long time now as western capitalists cannibalize their own states to keep profit growth up. There are dangers associated with this for the rest of the world, and other places where things are also definitely getting worse (western Ukraine, Argentina, etc.), but I think for most of the population, besides the mounting threat of the US starting World War II 2, things look okay.

[–] Godric@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (8 children)

β€œI wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. β€œSo do I,” said Gandalf, β€œand so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Worry without action is of no tangible use. If you just worry, ACT!

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[–] endhits@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Got news for you, if you're working class, being white or male will not let you "coast right through" the inevitable boom/bust cycles that will befall the economies. You'll be under the boot like everyone else.

[–] 31337@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 year ago

Using the Serenity Prayer as inspiration (though I'm an atheist and not an addict), I try to accept what I cannot change, and change the things I can.

I also try to keep busy with hobbies such as gardening and woodworking.

I suppose I should probably try to get into some type of activism or community type stuff, but I'm not at all an outgoing type of person.

[–] berrodeguarana@lemmy.eco.br 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I try to remind myself that, in the great scheme of things (i.e, evolution) a "step forward, two steps back" is a common thing in this chaotic universe of ours.

Meteors, dinosaurs, civil wars, capitalism issues, pandemics, murder, genocide, climatic changes... it's all accounted for.

Of course, the answer is different if you are suffering directly from these things (apart from the meteors and dinosaurs) I mentioned above, then things suddenly get VERY personal and provoke impulsive reactions from our end.

[–] anaesidemus@hexbear.net 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

joker-troll

real answerabsurdism

[–] CloutAtlas@hexbear.net 6 points 1 year ago

Alcohol and shitposting

[–] Jakdracula@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Not getting better?

What are you basing that belief on?

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[–] SuperSpruce@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 year ago

By doing things that make me happy.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago

the fact that the world isn't getting any better

I think you've beggared (begged) the question.

[–] Saigonauticon@voltage.vn 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

I was sort of in the same boat, although in Canada. We had our own set of different, also serious issues that were not getting any better. I couldn't see any way to do anything about it myself, or even secure myself an OK life in the country.

So, I emigrated. Just like so many generations of my family before me, from their various home countries. I'm not sure if I'm up to the task of making the whole world better, but at least I can move somewhere where I can be productive enough to make things locally better (for myself and perhaps even a few others).

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