Recently I have tried to do this “touching grass” thing, again, and it’s difficult. Any fleeting joy of participating in this thing we call society, the moment I notice a homeless person struggling, it just evaporates. How can I enjoy participating in social events when most of them involve exchange of goods that could have been used for the purposes of helping those in need?
Do I need to donate a certain % of my income and then I get a pass? Well I don’t have an income, how much do I need to give then? Should I deduct a % of any money I get and set that aside for donations? Should I donate to local causes or international? Who gets the priority? Can I justify spending any money on things like a movie ticket to see a movie with friends, why so? What makes me more important than the person struggling on the street right next to the theater?
Are there any resources or guides you could point me towards? Is this something you’ve struggled with and found ways to cope with it? If so how have you managed?
(edit: I made an update in the comments. )
its not your personal responsibility to save the victims of capitalism. you’re one easy misstep from being right there next to them on the streets just like most of us are. that’s not to say your empathy is being wasted or anything or that you shouldn’t care. but dont let it consume you to the point that you cant live your life. i know thats hard, i used to cry many times on my way to work seeing all these homeless people with no way to help them myself.
there’s no set amount you’re meant to give or anything. socialism isnt a religion. you need to find out what helps you personally cope with existence under capitalism. not for anyone here to tell you what that may be because we dont know.
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At least as I read it, “touching grass” doesn’t mean “pretend everything is fine”, but instead “get away from the screen. Stop digging deeper and deeper into news feeds, online arguments and ‘theory’. Go outside, live in the real world and do something.”
That can also mean fully dedicating yourself to helping those in need and fighting for a more just world.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
oops i reposted a comment with this video, but bump
Joining a party helps! 🥳 there’s only so much any individual can do, that’s why we’re meant to stand together. Its also good to remember that there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism and you can’t fix that on an individual basis either.
Comrades, friends, and loved ones make the struggle both bearable and worthwhile. the people united can never be defeated
i’ve seen one other person wearing a mask in two years, it was on halloween, and i’ve seen them not masking in the same location at other times.
Idk what ur getting at here soz
A lot of organizations don’t have mask mandates. So they meet up, dozens or hundreds of people at a time. It’s no different than the church that just had a measles outbreak in Carolina, but for covid. Any comrades with compromised immune systems are thrown under the bus because “fuck intersectionality when it comes to the disabled” seems to be SOP for these orgs.
there’s nobody around me doing literally the bare minimum of not getting each other sick. there’s no structure here and if there was it would be a pox party.
Ah ok gotcha. Good luck! Nobody in my area has a mask mandate either. I mask myself at most events. Could be better I suppose.
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White man paperwork only means something as long as he can make money off of you. If you get that much. Sorry you’ve been blocked on that for so long tho, sounds like it’s important to you.
I hope you can find some local comrades to organize with. Even just doing some mutual aid work with anarchists can be very fulfilling.
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I’m also trans comrade, I haven’t gotten my white man paperwork updated either. I personally don’t particularly care for validation from a genocidal empire and would rather give them a “false name” for as long as is feasible. I’m sure I’ll have to get it updated eventually tho to avoid getting punished lol I am openly trans and willing to be perceived as a femboy in a lot of contexts so yk our experiences likely differ quite a bit
I am sorry that it’s a source of distress for you though and I hope we can make a difference in that area in the near future.
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If so how have you managed?
I give when I can. I also participate in communist organizations quite frequently.
If you have recurring problems with finding self-worth or joy, I would maybe recommend seeking professional help.
You need to take care of your basic needs before you can help others. If you don’t have an income then start with getting a job and an independent life. You can’t bail out other people’s boats if you’re currently drowning
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Okie dokie. You seem a little defensive. “I don’t have an income” while stressing about how much money to donate to causes / homeless people just kinda stood out to me and reminds me of a lot of friends who have had similar struggles.
Anyway, I used to think a lot like you - It’s really hard to enjoy life when there are other people suffering, yes. But at the end of the day you can’t save the world, so prioritise yourself and people in direct community with you.
For deciding what to commit energy / funds to, I personally try and stay within my sphere of influence so that the gains for me and my community have force multipliers if that makes sense at all.
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Anyway from reading your other comments in this thread it sounds like the thing that’s bothering you the most is your paperwork / identification. It’s also likely there are LGBTQ legal aid volunteer programs in your country that will help you process the necessary paperwork and possibly assist with financing it.
So if that isn’t impossible to change, keep job hunting and save the finances and get it done. You aren’t screwing anyone over by prioritising yourself. Not sure where you’re at, but surely it isn’t a completely insane amount of money
best of luck
“Responsibility is cool but there’s more to things in life…”
You might just be deeply depressed tbh
The Socialist guide to surviving in Capitalism yugopnik made this vid
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
I cope by doing what I can to mitigate the harm. Working homeless services is really stressful and the whole nonprofit system has some inherent problems, but my average work day is spent creating a place where people can stay and get connected to free services while homeless, and that feels better than when I worked in a warehouse.
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