Sven Slootweg @joepie91@pixie.town

When I say that demos don't really do anything other than diverting energy, that there's no point in begging for the goodwill of our rulers (and threats that are never followed up is just the macho way of begging), the retort I get most often is that demos help radicalise people, build connection, show solidarity. Even if the demands are never listened to, it feels good to do *something*, to have agency.

Does it, though?? They're kinda terrible at that too though??? I don't see people energised by demos, I see them push themselves to go joylessly to the marches, "como quem dá-se ao carrasco", with the attitude of a religious penitence, a moral duty, inevitably leading to the well-known extreme rates of burnout. Connection is a joke, people cop-jacket everyone and only ever trust their little cliques, every potential recruit is kept at arm's length, it's borderline impossible for an immigrant to find at a demo people to go back home together let alone the level of opening and interdependence that comradeship would require.

Displays of solidarity I think is the least bad one, sometimes it can be helpful to see support for you on the headlines, particularly for heavily persecuted causes like Palestine or sex work, or invisibilised ones like Kurdistan or anarchists in Ukraine. But even then, is this really the best way to show solidarity? How many demos even make it to a headline, and is the effort worth those few seconds of feeling seen? Compared to receiving a letter when in prison, a visit, material support?

I suppose there's a point in taking a stance *locally* for global causes, e.g. when you march for Palestine you can see the relief on the face of every single non-German person you pass by, because this massive genocide whitewashing doesn't hurt just the targets of genocide, it vicariously hurt all of us watching it. (Though what we have to deal with, German cops and unconvincing gaslighting, is peanuts compared to, you know. Literal fucking ethnic cleansing. But it's not *nothing*, to be the witness to it, to live in the belly of the beast).

But once again, is that the best way to reach out to marginalised ppl around you, to march with slogans and worried faces? What if you, dunno, sit by the station with a guitar and play happy resistance songs? Proposition all the libraries and cultural spaces you can find until you find one willing to host poem readings from Palestinian writers? Make friends with refugee families and learn some Arabic while offering a sympathetic ear? Offer your professional skills for fundraising efforts? Start a fundraising effort? Set up a little infostand challenging media narratives, armed with facts, zines, a smile and a lot of diplomacy? Bring those supportive banners to the legal hearings of criminalised immigrants rather than distant protests? Go visit cultural centres, get to know people, then act as a bridge between scenes (e.g. talk with both queer Palestinians and traditional queer orgs to invite the one to speak at the other)? Bake vegan+halal cookies and bring to the Palästina-tresen? Spot a person wearing a kufiyyah or watermelon pin and, look I know this is my most extreme and controversial proposal by German standards, but: fucking open up to a stranger, tell them "I stand with you"?

If the goal is to show solidarity, or to build a revolutionary personality, or to make bonds, then I challenge you to this exercise: If you stay home rather than going to the demo, what else could you do to advance those goals? If 5 or 30 or 100 people drop out from the demo and spend the same amount of time and energy on another activity--what kind of other activities can you imagine? Do you think they'd be more or less effective than calling the cops to inform them that on such and such day 1000 ppl are going to walk around holding signs?

Another cool thing, I have been working on is the redesign of the timelines. The different sections should now be better organized and easier to read.

"What else do we forget about the pandemic? We forget how mesmerised we were as nature rebounded, how clean the air was in the absence of industrial scale human activity. We forget that carbon emissions fell at the sort of pace required to avoid cataclysmic climate change. We forget that no-strings cash payments saw child poverty in America plunge to record lows, that the UK slashed homelessness with schemes that found homes for people sleeping on the street.

We forget that there really was a sense of global solidarity, that the reflection demanded by a pandemic opened up spaces for us to consider truly radical and permanent change. Remember build back better? There really was a sense that the coronavirus, as we all knew it then, could be the catalyst for a better word.

It couldn't last because of capitalism. This isn't some glib statement, it is literally why such promises could never be fulfilled. Because such promises required redistribution and structural shifts to economies that billionaires don't want shifting."

https://www.donotpanic.news/p/five-years-on-a-covid-retrospective

It's been so long since I had my needs considered without ridicule (assuming they ever were) that I've entirely stopped considering them myself. I don't know what my needs even are at this point.

While walking my dog earlier I managed to come up with the following: be actively included (since everyone's subconscious tendency seems to be to exclude me) and have my participation be acknowledged. In short, I just want to feel like my presence is appreciated.

@actuallyautistic

My annual call for actually having a good fucking winter holiday

It's amazing how many services will go 🚨 we couldn't charge your debit card so you have to add a different one asap! 🚨

Or I could just put more money on that one and click a button to have you try again. If the button existed.

Or at least click a button to stop you whining until the actual expiry date comes and let me use the service I have actually already paid for in peace.

I've done a/b tests a few times on different social networks, and no one can compete with yall's voraciousness for clam facts. It is remarkable. Keep up the great work being curious about the weird little wonders of our world! (:)

There was a weird tension at the HEMA stationary department yesterday…

Happy 37th anniversary of the Max Headroom Incident, to those who celebrate.

Here's the email I just sent to #ScienceFriday explaining why I will no longer listen to them.
(Text in the replies.)
🧵 1/9
#COVID #CovidIsNotOver #ImmunityDebt #science

This is really good. Got this off Facebook: If you are a server, these tips will help you next time someone who is blind is seated in your section.

Introduce yourself when you approach the table. “Hi, I’m Allison, your server today.” This allows us (the person who is blind) to make a connection with you that we cannot do visually.

No need to feel awkward about what to do with the menu. Do not say to my friend “what should I do with her menu?” Just place it on the table as you would any customer. Some of us may use magnification or technology to read our own menu. If you are ever unsure, just ask us. Having one large print menu, one Braille menu and a QR code to scan ensures accessibility for all customers.

Always ask me (the person who is blind) what I would like to eat. Do not ask the person I am with, it is rude. When you do this, you belittle me, treat me as less than and exclude me from normal daily interactions. Just say, “what would you like to eat?” If you are looking and speaking to us, we often can tell you are talking to us by the sound/direction of your voice. If we do not reply, just ask us again so we know you are talking to us. Sometimes it is hard to tell someone is speaking to us, especially if there is a lot of surrounding noise.

Because you told me your name when we sat down it allows me to get your attention if I need assistance as, I visually cannot connect with you by eye contact or waving. Knowing your name allows me to say, “Excuse me Allison, may I have the bill please?”

When you give me the bill it is helpful if you say, the total is $14.35. Scenario: I (person who is blind) gives you cash to pay the bill. You return and are holding out the change to me and I do not see this silent action. No need to feel awkward again, just Say, “I am passing you, your change straight out in front of you. This way I can collect it. It is helpful to give us the coins first, then hand us the bills. If there are multiple bills, please tell us the nomination. Do not hand my change to my friend, just use your words.

Treat people like you would like to be treated. If ever you are unsure, just ask. I promise we won’t bite unless it is into our sandwich.

Do you have any other helpful tips in a restaurant scenario that would be helpful for another post?

Gina Martin
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description
A server is topping up wine at a table of friends. The server has the bill in her other hand getting ready to hand it over.