GaiusBaltar

joined 2 years ago
[–] GaiusBaltar 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm gonna try. I'm still figuring out what that looks like, and how to respond to all the insanity that's happening in the US. Step one (and the easiest thing for me to do) is to write things like this and try to let people know I'm with them. I agree, it can't stop there, but it's a start.

[–] GaiusBaltar 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I am not a parent, and can only imagine how challenging and heart-breaking it is to deal with all of this from that angle as well. Thank you for that perspective. I still have plenty of room to continue broadening my understanding.

And I'm really sorry to hear about the harassment you experience. I can't imagine walking up to a stranger on the street to say much of anything, let alone demean them. I guess, as you said via your quote, some people are just cruel, and now they are emboldened.

[–] GaiusBaltar 7 points 3 days ago (3 children)

You're right of course. I could have phrased that better. To be honest though, I feel pretty helpless in terms of enacting meaningful change against a fascist regime. I intend to stand up against hate and intolerance wherever I can, and focus on my own spheres of influence. And I'd love to hear ideas on what more I can do. But at the moment I don't have a plan on how to make it all ok.

[–] GaiusBaltar 59 points 3 days ago

Thanks for reading, here's a meme.

115
Sincere "I love you all" rule (self.onehundredninetysix)
 

Hi there. Hope you don't mind an interruption to the memes for a message from the heart.

I'm the default player character in America: middle-aged, white, cis, hetero dude. I've always been on the left side of the American political spectrum, and have tried my best to lead a life of openness, kindness, acceptance, and respect for all ways of life.

Throughout high school and college, I knew a fair number of non-hetero people, and was delighted as the fight for gay rights and acceptance finally swung in their direction (at a national level, in America, at least -- I'm not pretending the work is done or things are perfect). I'll admit I didn't know or hadn't thought much about trans people or other parts of the TQ+ parts of the human experience until the last five years ago as they became more visible to us boring people.

How did that happen? Things like pronouns in bios and email signatures. Seeing visible trans people in media and politics. Wondering what that blue and pink flag meant. And even sitting on the sidelines of silly meme communities that seem to have a strong representation of people who live different lives than I do.

All of these little things had a real impact, for me at least. I've now had the pleasure of working with at least 4 trans people over the past 5 years, and one of my friends came out recently as non-binary. It makes me so happy to see people living their lives as their true selves.

I say all of this because our current political reality sucks. And what I say here isn't going to negate the real harm and fear that many people will face. But I want you all to know, no matter what the people in charge say and do: I see you, I love you, and no one can take that away from me or from you. I am not going back to a world where you don't exist.

The past two companies I've worked for have had DEI committees that were started by low-level employees, not by some weird political government mandate. They included a mix of people who might be considered "diverse" as well as many "regular" people like me. These efforts were broadly supported by majorities of the company. People want DEI.

The government can ban DEI efforts within the government itself, it can bully spineless tech companies to do the same, but it can't remove this thirst for inclusion from my heart or anyone else's. It can and will try to deny you healthcare, deny you opportunity, make you invisible, rewind progress. But progress is hard to take out of people's hearts and minds and put back in a box. In 4 years (hopefully), we'll have someone else in charge, and I am going to be right here, ready to pick up where things left off.

And in the meantime, I got your back, as much as I can. I'm one person and I can't change or control a lot. But I can and will stand up for the people in my life, where I work and live. And I am not alone. You have allies out there.

That's all I wanted to say. You're welcome to share this with anyone who needs it. Keep being yourselves out there. Keep the memes coming. We'll get through this.

[–] GaiusBaltar 4 points 1 week ago

Dress for the job you want.

[–] GaiusBaltar 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

"Eat the trash" can be the new "drain the swamp"!

[–] GaiusBaltar 4 points 1 month ago

Both Talos Principle games are a treat. Really love the philosophy and story mixed in between the puzzles. Enjoy!

[–] GaiusBaltar 1 points 2 months ago

This is becoming a problem. How am I supposed to, in good conscience, keep telling my cat that he's "the fuzziest little guy who's ever existed" when you keep posting these pictures?

[–] GaiusBaltar 6 points 2 months ago

First I've heard of this, immediately wishlisted. The Beginner's Guide had a huge impact on me when it first came out as I was going through some major imposter syndrome and career angst, and here I am in a place of extreme burnout and Davey is making a game about working through burnout? Here for it.

[–] GaiusBaltar 21 points 2 months ago

To be fair, humans were already diluting it in a great sea of excrement, the robots just came to take our job and do it even faster and better.

[–] GaiusBaltar 5 points 5 months ago

You're right, taxing the rich to pay for common-sense social programs is going to lead us straight to the gulags.

[–] GaiusBaltar 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)

We are all dumpsters on this blessed day.

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