Look, I get it. I can be pretty extreme, and pretty inflammatory, on some issues, at times. Which is odd, really, when you consider that I'm probably fairly close to a political "moderate", as compared to some of you.
I care far too much about certain things. Perhaps I value individual freedom more than you do. Fine. Perhaps I have less to lose than you do. Fine. Perhaps I trust the government less than you, and trust the cops, and courts, less than you do. Also fine.
But, with all that in mind, I must say that I'm finding some of the comments and posts, from some of you here, in recent days and the last couple of weeks, really do come across like some sort of... Controlled demoralisation, or something.
"Obey the law, bruh". "Think of your family, bruh". "Your job is more important than your freedom!". "They mean well!". "The pendulum always swings. It'll all be ok in the long term!". "Think of the collective good, dude!" "At least you're safe!" "You don't want a criminal record, bruh!"
I see all of this shit, and more, all over posts on this "community", now. And I really never thought I would see that, from here. Just the... Sheer amount of fear porn, and of "We should obey the government" is really quite... Disconcerting. And some of it is even coming from those of you who I normally find myself agreeing with, at least partly...
So here's my request: this isn't Reddit. Stop being so damn afraid of your respective governments. Stop being afraid to step on official toes, and to work outside the fucking law, in particular the emergency powers that these megalomaniacs have given themselves. Stop telling others to be afraid, or "You really don't wanna do that, bro". Sure, call out violence. Do not do that shit. But telling people to comply, and to just... Suck it up, and play along? You're better than that, or at least, you should be.
Sure, we need to be smart about this, and disobey in ways that are effective, and necessary. But to think the law will protect you, or that you should just play along, to keep the status quo, because you "value your job" so much? Well, I'm sorry, but that just ain't gonna cut it for some of us, anymore.
Yeah...
Perhaps it's a life experience thing, too? Because, like, I've been arrested before. I've been... Fucked up, by the boys in blue (not literally, before those jokes come in). I've had them try to break my bones, on more than one occasion. Because I happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, amongst other things...
I've also experienced... Something worse than, but fairly similar to, probably a medium security prison (I'd rather not say what). If admittedly briefly. So...
I guess that's the position I'm coming from. I've seen people die (not in prison), in some pretty horrible ways. I've seen some immensely fucked up shit, and been... At the receiving end of some dark stuff, too. So I... I guess I just don't fear that shit, anymore.
Which is funny, isn't it? "B-b-b-bu you live in Australia!" Yes, congrats, apparently that hasn't prevented me from having a pretty fucked up life, in parts.
I'm not suggesting I have any intention of "martyring" myself, or neutering myself by getting thrown in jail for something stupid (though if it comes down to protecting my friends, obviously that's a sacrifice I am willing to make, so...), but... Maybe sometimes I forget that not everyone is at the point I am, yet. I apologize for... A lack of empathy, there, maybe. A lack of understanding of other perspectives.
Ugh, not empathy. I've come to hate that word as the leftists use it as the "I care so much about people around me" word.
I've never had any bother with any of your posts. It's those really generic ones, "All you pussies sit around and let this happen! Your forefathers would have overthrown the government a year ago and you just sit and bitch on the internet." Which if I were to do any of what they seem to hollowly suggest I'd either have to travel somewhere and seek out politicians or attack people who are at the moment on my side.
I would say protecting friends is worthy. I know myself if I were somewhere and the police were to come to haul my friends away for not wearing a mask or whatever, I'm certainly not going to just watch. If I get pissed enough I might even do something actually stupid. I'd be pretty bad if I saw them harassing kids too, just one of those things that bugs me and I'm not sure I could just watch. Even being arrested to make a statement can be fine, just if that's the case it needs to draw some attention. If no one knows about it then it's not a statement.
Yeah, I saw some kids (teens/twelvies) getting messed with at that football match I mentioned a few weeks back. That got to me. If they had been hauled out, as nearly happened, I might have... Caused a fuss. But I guess then what? They'll just arrest me as well, and then still fuck up the teenagers just as much. Which I guess is kind of part of what you are saying...
Eugh. It's so frustrating, dude. Especially, quite literally, being in that crowd at the football, and being one of like, 5 out of 2000 who saw it, willing to call it out. Like I said, I've seen shit. I guess I'm just.. Not afraid to put my neck on the line to stop other people being hurt. But for my "fellow Aussies"? Fuck no. "Keep your head down. Shut up. Stop making a scene!"
Even my Dad, who was also there, was quite happy to let other people be dragged out by their ankles, as long as it didn't affect him directly... I can't tell you how disappointing that is. :-/
They have us in a position where so many of (what used to be) 'us' are so pathetic and sheep-like that it just doesn't make sense to make an effort to defend 'us' anymore.
We are not 'us' anymore. It's not just their propaganda making us think we're the minority. I haven't even heard rumors of effective militias taking out the propagandists and their employers.
To jump on this a bit: I can't tell you how bad the media down here is. Like, I know you guys have extremely partisan media, but I'm just... Not sure people in other countries, even other Commonwealth countries, understand just how fucked the Aus/NZ media is, now...
If a journalist here could have "antivaxxers" like me killed, by doxxing us, they would. I wish I was joking... :-(