all 11 comments

[–]hfxB0oyA 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

That's what this site is for - venting in a forum that (mostly) won't shut you up, without having to reveal your ID.

I have frank discussions with close friends and family about my 'dissident' thoughts. I don't try to bring them around to my way of thinking, but I tell them why I have these opinions, and encourage them not to trust any one source of information, myself included. In my opinion, encouraging critical thinking and discourse amongst those around me is far more important than finding a like minded group to ensconce myself in.

[–]panel30[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

I have frank discussions with close friends and family about my 'dissident' thoughts. I don't try to bring them around to my way of thinking, but I tell them why I have these opinions, and encourage them not to trust any one source of information, myself included. In my opinion, encouraging critical thinking and discourse amongst those around me is far more important than finding a like minded group to ensconce myself in.

This is a really good reminder for me, thank you.

I also mean about people I'm less close with and the public too.

  • I'm not very good at hiding things in person. Like if I disagree with something or feel uncomfortable in some way that reveals dissident thinking. I think people can tell. Am I safe if people I rely on to help me meet my basic needs get a whiff? Am I going to be put on a tracking list? What is it safe to talk about publicly? Are there some things it's not?

  • what happens if you try to use legal stuff to protect you? does it still work right now? what about trying to get laws changed, or doing protest type stuff? is that safe?

[–]hfxB0oyA 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I suppose the answers to that depend on your locale. If I were in China, I suppose I'd be very concerned about being put on a government list. In North America, less so. But then, there would be a difference between being a loudmouth with the 'wrong opinions' in Portland, where there seem to be plenty of crazies who could put you on their own private lists for harassment versus someplace like Texas.

I think the old adage that you should avoid discussing religion or politics when you're invited to someone else's house for dinner is still valid today. Read the room and make your own decision about how much you want to reveal.

[–]panel30[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Read the room and make your own decision about how much you want to reveal.

I'm in the US in a moderate locale (there are a good portion of both conservative and liberal people around here). It's a little hard for me to "read the room" 'cause I've been burying my head in the sand regarding a lot of current politics and events. I was hoping someone could advise. I'm glad if it doesn't seem quite as restrictive as China at least.

"reading the room" as you describe makes sense as a good general approach though, when I'm not among people I'm close with.

I also feel like I'm hiding something from people sometimes. If I know they want to avoid contact with people if they have certain viewpoints, for example. I guess I can just try to avoid them out of respect without disclosing if I think that's safer.

Thanks for the reply.

[–]SeethingPeasant 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Say what you need to say. They can censor our lives but they CAN NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!! KUUPLLAAAAHHHH!!!

[–]SMCAB 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

It can't be that horrible, YET. While I completely know that we are on a slippery slope that only your fellow citizens can stop it en masse, and that the bottom of that slope includes a social credit score and possibly jail time for your thoughts, we can't be too close. I just renewed my TSA preCheck, and if they read what they have collected on me before giving me access, I wouldn't have it.

With that said, history shows these things can seemingly happen overnight, but only with useful idiot cooperation for decades.

[–]panel30[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Thanks for the reply. Hm.

but only with useful idiot cooperation for decades.

that is our situation tho, no?

[–]SMCAB 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Exactly.

[–]DefinitelyNotAnAgent 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

If you're scared to voice dissent, you aren't in the US, and you most definitely weren't born and raised here. We are indoctrinated at an early age to voice our opinions, especially if they are of dissent.

"I don't feel safe having opinions that different from everyone else" said NO AMERICAN EVER.

Sounds like you were born in an Authoritarian country my guy.

[–]Alphix 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The U.N. are drafting laws (yes, actual laws when they aren't government, but you know how that works lately) that make it a CRIME to voice dissent. The exact wording is, "spreading misinformation", "inciting hatred", "sowing mistrust, conflict or strife" or "extremism", as vague as these terms are.

[–]legly 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

one time a fed sniped me for calling kamala harris a transgorilla rapist even tho she raped my fuckin gmom and got her pregnsnt