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But outrage is also a powerful motivator for changing society for the better. Right now in the UK people are protesting an authoritarian anti-protest bill. How

But outrage is also a powerful motivator for changing society for the better. Right now in the UK people are protesting an authoritarian anti-protest bill. How many are out there because they were outraged by it? What if they were at home, happily following their respective hobbies instead? If no one ever speaks up, what prevents society from sliding towards fascism / 1984 / etc?

jpttsn 6y ago
Do you believe the protest is working well, achieving meaningful change? Have protestors so far been able to stem the slide toward 1984?
- pharmakom 6y ago
  I think they are losing, but I’m glad they are trying. I don’t think I would be so brave if I were in Hong Kong, for example.
inglor_cz 6y ago
Things that work in some context may turn fairly dangerous outside of it. An example. Being hungry and finding high-calorie food is, in our natural state, a very important mechanism for survival. Our tribal ancestors wouldn't have survived all the famines and periods of bad luck or bad weather if we weren't programmed to seek high-calorie food. Unfortunately, in the developed world of 2021, we have so much cheap high-calorie food in our lives that blind obedience to the ancient "gorge yourself!" impulse is killing us. The same applies to outrage. Twitter is an outrage mall, with outrage screaming at you from every shop window there. It is not in anyone's interest to buy it all.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
sonthonax 6y ago
The irony is that the Bristol protesters are doing a great job at swinging public opinion towards the bill. The police have been really accommodating of protests. It’s an incredibly fine line they have to walk, between the fairly soft rules of engagement, the right to protest, and the COVID restrictions.
pitspotter 6y ago
No I really think society can only improve, albeit slowly, by problem-solving. Firstly one has to identify a problem and take ownership of it. But outrage is about blaming other people and refusing to take ownership.
- tayo42 6y ago
  Not everyone has the tools or ability, but public "outrage" or signaling somehow to some one that does like politicians does make change. Like this article reffered to women's rights not being worth his time? You should be empathetic to a marganilzed group, but really what can an individual do besides signal to politicians that this needs to change
Semiapies 6y ago
It's because, ultimately, the post is about nothing more than the author being tired of hearing and seeing other people's outrage. The author notes that the world is improving but treats that as magically disconnected from anyone having problems with the status quo. Everyone is just some rando online with no effect on the world. (Why then try to write an article to change people's minds? is an open question...) And the great rhetorical weapon of today is framing what you don't like as a pathology of those you disprove of. They aren't doing what you want? They're dysfunctional or sick. They do something you dislike or value something you don't? They're infected or addicted. Etc.

jpttsn 6y ago

Do you believe the protest is working well, achieving meaningful change? Have protestors so far been able to stem the slide toward 1984?

pharmakom 6y ago
I think they are losing, but I’m glad they are trying. I don’t think I would be so brave if I were in Hong Kong, for example.

inglor_cz 6y ago

Things that work in some context may turn fairly dangerous outside of it. An example. Being hungry and finding high-calorie food is, in our natural state, a very important mechanism for survival. Our tribal ancestors wouldn't have survived all the famines and periods of bad luck or bad weather if we weren't programmed to seek high-calorie food. Unfortunately, in the developed world of 2021, we have so much cheap high-calorie food in our lives that blind obedience to the ancient "gorge yourself!" impulse is killing us. The same applies to outrage. Twitter is an outrage mall, with outrage screaming at you from every shop window there. It is not in anyone's interest to buy it all.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

sonthonax 6y ago

The irony is that the Bristol protesters are doing a great job at swinging public opinion towards the bill. The police have been really accommodating of protests. It’s an incredibly fine line they have to walk, between the fairly soft rules of engagement, the right to protest, and the COVID restrictions.

pitspotter 6y ago

No I really think society can only improve, albeit slowly, by problem-solving. Firstly one has to identify a problem and take ownership of it. But outrage is about blaming other people and refusing to take ownership.

tayo42 6y ago
Not everyone has the tools or ability, but public "outrage" or signaling somehow to some one that does like politicians does make change. Like this article reffered to women's rights not being worth his time? You should be empathetic to a marganilzed group, but really what can an individual do besides signal to politicians that this needs to change

Semiapies 6y ago

It's because, ultimately, the post is about nothing more than the author being tired of hearing and seeing other people's outrage. The author notes that the world is improving but treats that as magically disconnected from anyone having problems with the status quo. Everyone is just some rando online with no effect on the world. (Why then try to write an article to change people's minds? is an open question...) And the great rhetorical weapon of today is framing what you don't like as a pathology of those you disprove of. They aren't doing what you want? They're dysfunctional or sick. They do something you dislike or value something you don't? They're infected or addicted. Etc.