Exactly, dont give in to the narcissists which exist, the world is brighter than initially thought. We grow as a species by examining each others opinions and logically contesting them - changing our own or others opinions.

The amount of narcissists and machavellists is not the majority - but they are the loudest, and that loudness is what makes regular people overwhelmed.

It's a learned skill. Once I realise I am wrong about something, admitting that is trivial. Coming to the conclusion you are wrong is also trivial on hard facts based things. But on emotional topics, that's the real challenge. Admitting "I overreacted, sorry for lashing out", as a prime example.

Fuck yeah, we need way more of this attitude. Like, sure, there are people out there that do an apology tour as a grift, whatever, but it's absolutely insane how often people see someone legitimately trying to change and be better and will immediately shit on them like they need to be punished immediately. Do we really want to disincentivise people to change for the better?

I'm 100% unironically for literally punching nazis/fascists when they're doing their bullshit in public. The number one goal any rational person would have for a fascist is for that fascist to not exist. The best-case scenario for this is for them to no longer to be a fascist and renouncing fascism altogether. We must keep in mind that we must focus our anger on the system, not the people. That means publicly and viciously opposing fascism, but also giving people a way to leave that movement. You don't destroy the movement by opposing it alone, you must also starve it of it's members. If enough people leave a movement, that movement loses it's power. I'm using fascism as an obviously extreme example, but the principle(s) applies for any kind of malignant behavior/system.

When someone tries to leave some hateful bullshit behind, pull that motherfucker in. You lose an enemy and gain a friend. +2, bb!

A lot of younger people don't realize how far we've come on gay rights in a very short period.

In 1989 84% of Americans were opposed to gay marriage. It didn't break 50% support until 2012. By 2024 it was nearly 70% in support, and all 50 states are now over 50%.

Most of us growing up in the 80s and 90s thought homosexuality was wrong. It didn't feel like we were prejudiced assholes at the time though.

We now know we were wrong, and many of us have worked to make things better. And young people need to accept the fact that we were wrong and have changed.

There's something else we're all wrong about now. An unacceptable prejudice we don't recognize because we don't feel like we're biggots. I don't know what it is and I may never get over it, but the next generation will look back and realize they were wrong about something. And the only way to move on will be to accept they were wrong, forgive themselves, and make the world better.

It's how we improve as a society.

I've been dwelling on something I overheard for the last week- "that didn't define me, I transcended it."

Whether it was something I did / mistake I made or something that happened / was done to me, it doesn't define me, I transcended beyond it.

Same as if my boot was stuck in the mud, it was only stuck until I pulled it free. Once I wash the mud off, it's just a boot again.

I chose my username specifically because I did not realize how misguided I was when I was younger, but when I did see myself I resolved to learn and grow, to be constantly improving myself in some way. That includes reevaluating long-held beliefs, shedding them when they are wrong or hurtful, and apologizing to those who I may have hurt. If it weren't for forgiveness, both from others and for myself, I don't know where I'd be right now but I know it wouldn't be a better place.

All that to say, whoever hit you with that down arrow has lived either a life so pure that they've never felt the longing for forgiveness after wronging another, or a life of pitiful ignorance. Understanding and accepting Violent J's remorse does not mean we condone who he is or what he was, it means we appreciate and respect his humility.

Based on that alone a safe bet can be made about his politics.

And scientists.

Why does that make you laugh out loud?

Well yeah, otherwise they’d be called judgegullos.

They seem to be mostly kind hearted folk that are about the (actual, not proverbial) filthiest humans on the planet.

Like they're gross AF but friendly too. It's certainly a weird subculture but I'd hang out with a juggalo over a MAGA bro any day of the week.