Minutes to Midnight

[tcpip]

The last minutes begin to count down for 2019. I've spent the past few days at home, and will be doing so tonight in the fine company of caseopaya and with Mac the cat. I've downed some nice French champagnesparking white, made a delicious dinner, and when the clock strikes midnight I'll have a glass of armagnac, which I haven't touched in almost two years. I don't mind spending time at home; I like my home, both the physical building itself and contents, and the surrounding landscape of Willmere estate. Plus, there has been a couple of days where it has been unbearably hot; up to 44 degrees C (112 F, for those who use the old language). I remember in my adolescence in Perth people remarking that Melbourne "was a nice place, but it's too bloody cold!". I bet they don't say that anymore; Australia, is on fire.

In the next few days, as is my wont, I'll compose a reflective piece on the past year and make a few tentative predictions of my plans for the coming year. Such plans are ambit at best and I do set myself far too many tasks. One of which this year was completing the supplement for Papers & Paychecks, Cow-Orkers in the Scary Devil Monastery. I planned to have that finished in 2018; instead, I finally finished it to satisfaction today, sent to the printers, sent out PDF copies to the backers, and put it up for online purchasing on drivethrurpg.com; so that's at least one objective complete. For what remained of the day, I started working on getting a print copy of Supercomputing with Linux organised. So, I have been pretty busy, even a little manic really. I've realised that I've been skipping meals, and have lost a couple of kilogrammes as a result.

But it has been a good year; an excellent year even, at least from my personal experience. It's even been an excellent decade, again from my own experience. But I know this is not usual. Technology is keeping our society afloat at the moment, as there's an increasing disparity between the well-off (of which I must count myself these days), and those who are less fortunate. I can look over the numbers, and I can see the ignorant appeal of the dangerous and extreme nationalisms. Let's hope that in 2020 that we can reverse that.

Comments

[ecosopher]

I very much hope that we can reverse the nationalism too. Through just talking with a friend the other day I discovered that she thinks Trump 'has done incredible things for that country' but I know I've changed her mind for the better on climate change just by talking about it, and I think this is how we do change people's minds: talking, interacting, leading by example.

Hoping you can keep cool - even Albany this year has been usually warm and dry, and I find myself pining for rain. Happy New Year to you!

[tcpip]

I wonder what sort of "incredible things" they are talking about?

I mean there's mention of the employment rates, but one just has to have a look at where the trends were pre-Trump.

The swing we've had to nationalism in the past few years is quite counter-intuitive. The world is becoming a smaller place and our problems are increasingly global.

You know, I've never been to Albany. As a place it's fascinated me since I was a child, but never ventured in its direction.

[ecosopher]

I have no idea - I said I thought that most of the positive changes are due to events and individuals outside his field of influence!

I've lived (still do) in some fairly low socio-economic areas and it baffles me that people will consistently vote conservative when overwhelmingly, conservative governments are likely to cut the welfare on which these communities depend. But I think it is that scarcity mentality, meaning that simplistic 'I'll fix everything' promise is so attractive in a time of complex problems. That's the only thing I can think of to explain it, because why would you vote against yourself, time and time again?

You should come! I mean, I know it's a long way, even if you happen to be visiting Perth, but please let me know if you ever go get down here. It's a great place.

[tcpip]

The reality is that conservatives are very good at manipulating public opinion.

More to the point, they manipulate the opinions of people who don't have the tools at their disposal to realise that they're being manipulated.

And they don't like it when people tell them that either.

I'll see if I can get some extra time off to visit on my next Perth trip.

[ecosopher]

Yes, they are - and that's exactly the issue, that the people who listen and believe them aren't able to critique their arguments. It's why we absolutely need to ensure critical thinking is taught in schools across the board.

I'd love that! I'll DM you my number just in case.

[tcpip]

> that the people who listen and believe them aren't able to critique their arguments<

BAM! And that comment cuts to the core - as is your proposed solution.