#historical determinism

[yuk-tepat]

Flowchart-outlined skeleton history of the Swira (one of the nomadic barbarians who inhabit the steppe north of Tepat), viewed in mechanistic terms

Flowchart created with draw.io

Still can't seem to get those connectors to not be screwy

#conworld #conculture #worlbuilding #history #swira #historical determinism

[racefortheironthrone]

on: "there is no ethical consumption under capitalism," would you agree to the corollary that: "and there CAN be no ethical consumption under capitalism" or is there some meliorist path towards ethical consumption under capitalism

As a social democrat, I'm very much a believer in "meliorist" solutions and deeply skeptical of the undistributed middle. It is a matter of historical fact that capitalism can function in a number of ethical "registers," and anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sucker you into pseudo-revolutionary defeatism.

There is a real difference between completely unrestrained dark Satanic mills powered by child labor and slave cotton and a fully-realized social democratic mixed economy, complete with tripartite bargaining and co-determination, economic planning organized through a jobs state and decommodified/nationalized economic sectors including a social democratic welfare state, and a robust regulatory state that can enforce safety and environmental and labor standards at home and abroad - and there are many different points along that spectrum.

My main critique of the whole "ethical consumption under capitalism" thing is that the variant of it that stresses individual consumer behavior is a total fantasy.

It is simply impossible to exert pressure on capitalist systems on your own, or even through ad hoc or single-issue boycott efforts. You need social movements like the National Consumers League that combine mass mobilization with permanent infrastructure, those movements need to be in coalition with the labor movement and civil rights movements, all of them need a regulatory state with the capacity to enforce its will on corporations - and that state needs them as countervailing forces against corporate lobbyists.

#history #historical analysis #economic policy #political economy #regulation #regulatory state #ethical consumption under capitalism #economic history #social democracy #mixed economy #co-determination #boycotts

[greenconverses]

12000 words in... and the plot finally arrives

#jess does nanowrimo #is it historical romance? YES #do i like any of it besides this so far? MAYBE #will i actually make it past the 20K mark in a draft? TO BE DETERMINED #sharing excerpts is always my curse but whatever

[navree]

today's e-pistulae email, also known as the "cicero immediately teaches us about dramatic irony" email.

no no marcus, it is both here and there. especially for you.

#personal #e-pistulae #'it's neither here nor there' ok but are you sure about that #like i'm sorry but i'm cackling at the real life foreshadowing #like this is cinematic almost this is like a stock moment in any historical figure's biopic #the moment where they unintentionally dismiss someone who would become vastly important later #but he actually did it! in real life! #this period in time vacillates between 'revenge tragedy of shakespearean proportions' and 'sitcom' so often #right now we're at the sitcom part because mr 'neither here nor there' hasn't shown up yet #with his ten million dollars and his personally loyal army and his teenage vendetta and determination to kill everyone

[icewindandboringhorror]

I know multiple of these are likely important to people, but I'm asking in terms of like - which of these do you tend to focus on the MOST, enjoy the most, that is most essential for you to actually care about the media, etc.?

(For example: someone finding "Relatability" most important would likely not enjoy a show much if they have trouble empathizing with the characters/relating to it, even if it were good otherwise. Or, someone might be able to overlook bad acting and ugly costumes, as long as the Character Dynamics are fun to them, because they value that more than Aesthetics- while for others, bad costumes would be a dealbreaker.)

Also feel free to reblog and explain your answer or more information in the tags- I've always been curious about people's relationships to media, how they conceptualize it/what they get out of it, how some people value some parts more than others, how that informs their overall taste and genres they may be more inclined towards, etc. :0c

#I was having a conversation with a friend about our favorite type of media and they said the reason they DON'T like historical or fantasy #media or etc. is because they can't imagine themselves being in those situations like it's too detached from anything that they can relate #to personally. they put themselves in the shoes of the characters and apparently like feel emotions while watching stuff and actually #get into the way the characters are feeling so they kind of judge how 'good' or 'bad' a show's writing/setting/etc. are by how it makes #them feel and if they think the characters reacted realistically based on what they were feeling in the moment/what in their head they #would be feeling if they were in the postion of the character. SO apparently the distance of it being in an unrelatable setting or too #detached from our reality makes it harder for them to relate to and less able to really engage with it on that level. WHEREAS I watch #things exclusively in a very like.. detached way?? I'm INTERESTED.. it's like im intellectually analyzing everyhting that's happening and #can be intrigued by events but it's not in an emotional way? More of like a distant 'intellectual curiosity'. Maybe the premise or the #aesthetics or something about it has piqued an interest for me to observe it. to see what it's like or how it plays out. how the idea #is executed or etc. But like.. I cannot remember EVER really relating to any character or situation or projecting onto a character #or having those sorts of feelings or investment in it. That is just not a central part of why/how I watch things or what I care about #BUT after this I was thinking maybe this is my disconnect? I do not seem to conceptualize media the way some other people do and I often #walk away with an entirely different take on things. etc. So I wonder if maybe it's part of how everyone values different things probably? #maybe I literally just watch stuff and percieve it from a different frame of mind that others. More of a like detached curiosity #vaguely bemused analysis mode. Instead of a 'I am deeply emotionally invested in this and am feeling for all the characters' mode #And also I bet people who care more about plot/story are also the people who mind spoilers. Whereas for me I literally seek out spoilers #intentionally because that element of 'suprise ooh what will happen next!' is not central at all to my enjoyment. I could know literally #everything that will happen and still can find it interesting to observe - since for me #that's not the point. I'd rather know the ending so I can determine whether I want to invest the time in it in the first place. etc. #ANYWAY!! If I had to choose - I would say I'm usually heavily focused on world details and aesthetics. With only a slight preference #towards characters individually being interesting. Group dynamics can sometimes be okay but I get tired of everything being about relations #hips and romance - especially when sometimes it seems to be like. people who could not stand on their own as a character/are fundamentally #boring otherwise lol. I would watch a series of just one guy locked in a closet talking to himself as long as he was interesting and saying #things that were amusing or notable for some reason lol. I actually tend to dislike plot because most 'plot heavy' things like action focus #ed shows ALWAYS feel to me like they're moving so fast just to get from one thing to another that I'm not getting enough details. Part of #why I tend to not like movies. the time limit makes them too quick. I need a 95 hour expostion dump of the history of the entire world #and a series of 17 episodes straight where a guy is trapped in a room & the audience is just psychoanalyzing him. hghj.. Maybe I find all #characters annoying/unrelatable bc people w my personality type make bad characters/are not often represented (or are done BADLY). so then #I'm just picking 'who is the LEAST insufferable? who could i study like a lab rat?' whilst my main focus is the worldbuilding&costumes lol

[tmarshconnors]

Today 2nd April marks the 42nd Anniversary of the Falklands War, a conflict fought over 8000 miles away from the United Kingdom.

"The people of the Falkland Islands...are few in number but they have the right to live in peace, to choose their own way of life and to determine their own allegiance." – Margaret Thatcher, 1982.

42 years on, we will still defend that right.

#Falklands War #Margaret Thatcher #Falkland Islands #Sovereignty #Self-determination #British history #Anniversary #Conflict #Military #Argentina #South Atlantic #Peace #Allegiance #Defense #British Overseas Territory #Historical event #Remembrance #International relations #Military history #1982 #new blog

[hyperfixation-tangentopia]

GUYS

I PLAYED CHESS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND I DIDN'T TOTALLY SUCK

(This wasn't how it ended but was like, a couple moves before it finished)

#I historically am not great with strategy games #and so I was determined not to learn chess for like #the past 10 years #but I did it! and Papa said I wasn't too horrible at it! for like first game :3 #I've never even watched someone play chess I'm happy

[helladirections]

You’re actually disgusting. How can you support a genocide? How can you be pro Israel when Israel shouldn’t even exist in the first place, it’s Palestine!!! it’s not a conflict, it’s a genocide!! Israel is oppressing and killing Palestinians for the past 70 years, but yet you side with them. Palestine retaliates for the first time and Israel get shook, it’s not nice being on the receiving end but they love to dish all that harm out themselves. You’re a nasty nasty human being and you have no humanity or heart. Because no normal person would stand besides colonisers like that. You’re disgusting. Shame on you

I'm really not going to fight with you. I'm just going to say that killing people is wrong, for any reason. And my friends are in imminent danger and I am scared for them.

Hamas is not a government, they do not care about their people, and they did not start this war with the intent of making life better for Palestinians. They started this war to murder jews. they went to a music festival and killed people and took hostages and raped women and beheaded children and murdered holocaust survivors. and if you think that's ok, then YOU are disgusting and deserve shame.

If you think murder is good, unfollow me right the fuck now.

There is so much nuance missing from conversations. things are not black and white. Jews and Israel HAVE colonized in part, and they HAVE reclaimed their ancestral homeland, and they HAVE accepted UN border guidelines in 1948, and they HAVE cut off resources from gaza including for civilians and they HAVE done a lot of fucked up shit.

But our government colonized, claimed land that didn't belong to them, disobeyed international orders, cut off resources, murdered people, and fucked up too. America has way less of a right to exist than Israel.

NOT that it should matter in this discussion, but I believe in a two state solution, I genuinely don't care where the lines are as long as everyone has access to their holy sites, I think Netanyahu is terrible and hurts Israel and diaspora Jews.

But no one has the right to kill other people.

Super cool how after my post about 'pls let me have this one space to escape the trauma' resulted in multiple asks about this.

#beep #genuinely fuck you if you think any of this is ok #i shouldnt have to precface this but OBVIOUSLY i disagree with almost everything Israel's government does #and OBVIOUSLY i want human rights and self determination for everyone #and OBVIOUSLY I want everyone to have access to their holy sites #and OBVIOUSLY i recognize that both groups of people have historical precedent to be there #and OBVIOUSLY i recognize that the modern state of israel exists as an international response to the holocaust #so yeah #fuck you for doing the exact opposite of what i begged for #this isnt even political at this point for me #I just love my friends #like I worked in this political space professionally and it would take literal hours just to explain one tiny piece of it #dont pretend to know something you dont

[smol-blue-bird]

nothing sustains me more than extremely petty academic debate. i love when professors and researchers get ridiculously riled up about the most low-stakes issues on the planet. the more minor the disagreement, the better it is when they start aggressively rebuking each other in journals

#people trying to determine how historical figures died are the best for this #because a lot of the time they don't understand the diseases they're talking about at all #(or they're biologists who understand the diseases but not the history) #so you see papers like “Justinian Died of Syphilis” #followed by “No The Fuck He Didn't. Do You Even Know What Syphilis Is?” #followed by “Okay Science Man. You Know What Syphilis Is. But Do You Know Who Justinian Was?” #and Science Man does not #its fantastic

[estbela]

Also I have continued to watch rise of empires: ottoman. I have not finished the first season yet but I will! Anyway it's so good!!!

Also the segments with Constantine XI Palaiologos could also be titled "Constantine and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day siege". The actor is great, Constantine looks so very tired and like he's going through the most horrible time of his life, which well, he is, so it's great.

#just talking recreationally #Mehmed is also interesting he's so fun (actually all the charactera/historical figures are so fun!) #rise of empires: ottoman #At least you gotta give it to him! He's determined and shit. And perseverent!!! #Not his fault the byzantine empire was on it's last leg. And that leg too was barely standing

[freebooter4ever]

awww basketball again

#malkin #tanger where is your penguin hat #oh wait dallas is a few days ago this must be old #i do appreciate how even though geno wears expensive sweaters and shit #his favorite hat is still just a 50$ trucker cap from a historically high quality but relatively affordable hat shop #its just cute: rich famous hockey celebrity but still just geno #When i bought my first go*orin hat i must have gone into the shop at least twice if not three times trying to decide which one i wanted #I had just gotten my first job in LA and Old Town pas is one of those Fancy shopping districts so i felt very awkward and out of place #and jenn had to go with me to drag me into the shop i was so nervous #And she tried on a bunch of the hats with me cause shes nice like that #Anyway yeah the folks in go*orin were real nice to us which if you have ever been into botique shops in LA you will know thats unusual #Most of the time they are rude assholes especially if you dont look like you are going to spend any money #I did buy a hat it was a little directors cap like the one walt wore in the 20s before he went into his porkpie phase #I do not like porkpie hats i will never wear one of those LOL #But i was determined to have a directors cap because if i was here in LA living the dream i was gonna look the part #I was still optimistic about things back then #Weirdly enough when i got my second job a month later the hat became a thing because it turned out everyone at the studio wore hats lol #I fit right in #And then the pandemic happened and suddenly nobody was going into the office at all for a very long time :(

[notthatalex]

People are laughing at me now, doing long-time archival of fanwork I care about, but in the future bc of digital dark age, only my blorbos will have survived

*no one is laughing at me

**I have librarian/archivist disease

***I am not the only one doing this and I am not even doing it particularly well

#but no really especially stuff on social media sites dies quickly #and with fanworks it is a bit more trivial but so much of important historical documents only exist on social media #and that stuff will be gone #save what you care about #your hard drive has only a life expectancy of 10 years #for really important stuff you should burn it onto a cd which has a life expectancy of 50 #but how you take care of them is very important and that mostly determines how long they will last #the digital media you have will disappear in you lifetime if you dont have an eye on this

[racefortheironthrone]

What are your thoughts on Tony Benn? Because much as I admire him in some ways he does come across as a bit impractical in an idealistic way, with his challenge to Healey and describing the 1983 general election as a triumph for socialism.

I'm of very mixed opinions about Tony Benn.

On the one hand, I think he was a very sincere and well-meaning man with fairly laudible beliefs (although he did I think have a problem where he would sometimes prioritize following a consistent ideological line over his personal moral instincts, which I think were more reliable).

On the other hand, I don't think he was very good at his job and would have done better as a social movement organizer than as a politician and government minister - or at the very least, I think he would have been better suited to a ministerial portfolio that spoke to his strengths, which were much more in the area of social policy rather than economic policy.

So as Minister for Technology or as Secretary of State for Industry or Energy, I'm sympathetic to his support for industrial democracy in and out of nationalized industries, but he wasn't ultimately very good at putting worker control into practice. And that's the thing; when you're in government, you have to be able to translate your beliefs into effective public policy.

Likewise, I think his Alternative Economic Strategy was just a bad strategy for achieving left-wing economic objectives:

it focused on the very blunt instruments of direct economic controls on prices and imports and finance rather than more flexible approaches that would have fewer negative side effects.

it had a heavy emphasis on issues that Benn cared about (like nationalization and industrial democracy) but weren't really relevant to how to deal with stagflation in the short term.

meanwhile, it under-emphasized policies to deal with unemployment and ironically relied on a rather standard "commercial Keynesian" solution for reflation rather than more social democratic alternatives.

the anti-European/autarkic emphasis of the AES was profoundly counter-productive, especially for the economic context of Britain in the 1970s.

finally, it really neglected the crucial question of how to develop state capacity. In part because Benn really didn't get along with the Civil Service and viewed them as essentially hostile, the AES didn't spend nearly enough time on how to develop the expertise, coordination, staffing, etc. needed to carry out economic policies that were very heavy lifts.

So yeah, "impractical in an idealistic way" is fair.

#history #historical analysis #labour party #political history #intellectual history #political economy #uk history #economic policy #tony benn #industrial democracy #co-determination

[stylechronicles]

A Tale of Resistance: Malcolm X and the Wounded Knee Massacre

Introduction:

In the annals of American history, two significant events stand as symbols of resistance and the struggle for justice: the activism of Malcolm X and the Wounded Knee Massacre. Though seemingly unrelated, these events are intertwined through the shared themes of indigenous rights, racial injustice, and the fight against systemic oppression. In this blog post, we delve into the relationship between Malcolm X and the Wounded Knee Massacre, exploring how their stories intersect and shed light on the ongoing struggle for equality and liberation.

Malcolm X: Championing Civil Rights and Empowerment:

Malcolm X, an influential civil rights leader, advocated for the rights and empowerment of African Americans in the United States. He staunchly opposed racial segregation, challenged white supremacy, and called for black liberation. His powerful speeches and unwavering commitment to social justice inspired a generation to resist oppression and fight for their rights.

Indigenous Rights and the Plight of Native Americans:

Parallel to the civil rights movement, Native Americans were also engaged in their own struggle for justice and self-determination. Native American communities faced centuries of displacement, forced assimilation, and broken treaties. The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 stands as a tragic symbol of the violence and oppression inflicted upon Native Americans by the U.S. government.

Common Ground: The Fight Against Systemic Oppression:

Despite their different backgrounds, Malcolm X and Native American activists shared a common understanding of systemic oppression and the need for collective resistance. Both movements sought to challenge oppressive systems and secure justice for their respective communities. Malcolm X's teachings on self-determination and the fight against institutionalized racism resonated with Native American activists who sought to reclaim their cultural identity and sovereignty.

Intersectionality and Solidarity:

The relationship between Malcolm X and the Wounded Knee Massacre extends beyond shared struggles; it highlights the importance of intersectionality and solidarity in the fight against oppression. By recognizing the interconnectedness of various struggles, activists can forge alliances, build bridges, and amplify their collective voices. Malcolm X's emphasis on unity and the power of alliances resonated with Native American activists, leading to a convergence of their efforts during the civil rights era.

Legacy and Lessons Learned:

Both Malcolm X and the Wounded Knee Massacre left a lasting impact on the fight for justice and equality. Malcolm X's legacy continues to inspire activists around the world, reminding them to challenge systems of oppression and demand liberation. The Wounded Knee Massacre serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights and the need to address historical injustices.

Conclusion:

The relationship between Malcolm X and the Wounded Knee Massacre unveils the interconnectedness of struggles for justice and the need for solidarity among marginalized communities. These historical events remind us that the fight against systemic oppression transcends boundaries and demands collective action. By exploring the shared themes of indigenous rights, racial justice, and resistance, we honor the legacies of both Malcolm X and the Wounded Knee Massacre. As we strive for a more just and equitable society, let us draw strength from these stories of resilience and continue the work of dismantling oppressive systems that affect us all.

#Malcolm X #Wounded Knee Massacre #Resistance #Activism #Civil Rights #Indigenous Rights #Racial Injustice #systemic oppression #Equality #Liberation #Empowerment #Self-determination #intersectionality #solidarity #Historical Injustices #Marginalized Communities #cultural identity #sovereignty #collective action #legacy #Social Justice #hip hop #black culture #hiphop fashion #hip hop style #streetwear #hip hop fashion #social issues #discrimination #human rights

[fiction-quotes]

“You are fatigued,” said madame, raising her glance as she knotted the money. “There are only the usual odours.”

“I am a little tired,” her husband acknowledged.

“You are a little depressed, too,” said madame, whose quick eyes had never been so intent on the accounts, but they had had a ray or two for him. “Oh, the men, the men!”

“But my dear!” began Defarge.

“But my dear!” repeated madame, nodding firmly; “but my dear! You are faint of heart to-night, my dear!”

“Well, then,” said Defarge, as if a thought were wrung out of his breast, “it is a long time.”

“It is a long time,” repeated his wife; “and when is it not a long time? Vengeance and retribution require a long time; it is the rule.”

“It does not take a long time to strike a man with Lightning,” said Defarge.

“How long,” demanded madame, composedly, “does it take to make and store the lightning? Tell me.”

Defarge raised his head thoughtfully, as if there were something in that too.

“It does not take a long time,” said madame, “for an earthquake to swallow a town. Eh well! Tell me how long it takes to prepare the earthquake?”

“A long time, I suppose,” said Defarge.

“But when it is ready, it takes place, and grinds to pieces everything before it. In the meantime, it is always preparing, though it is not seen or heard. That is your consolation. Keep it.”

She tied a knot with flashing eyes, as if it throttled a foe.

  —  A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)

#book quotes #historical fiction #charles dickens #a tale of two cities #history #politics #revolution #patience #determination #revenge #vengeance #french revolution #france #therese defarge #ernest defarge

[doctorweebmd]

Lessons from day 3 in Japan:

- learned my partner is an absolute nightmare to travel with lmao

#… wow #takes no initiative complains about everything has no interest in the culture or learning about anything #sort of ruining the trip for me not gonna lie #lesson learned next time I’m traveling alone or with family/friends #we have traveled to like resorts and places where there’s hiking and sightseeing #but never cultural/historical locations or really cities #and in this context he sucks so hard lol #like… we are halfway around the world how are you not excited why don’t you want to learn about anything why are you relying on me #to navigate the trains and make all the reservations and determine what we do with no input and still get mad about it #sorry for complaining on here 🙄 #I know all of you would be so fun to go to Japan with ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #this must be what it’s like to travel with a literal child