Comradeship // Freechat

For the past year or so I have been incredibly stressed and I have/had no outlet other than drinking. I have/had been drinking most of the days of the week.

As those who have dabbled in such abuse of alcohol already know, getting wasted as a reprieve is temporary and you feel somewhat good only for a fraction of the time you are drunk. Then you feel like crap when you crash and most likely a good part of the next day. So not is alcohol not the solution to the problem, it exacerbates it. And there is the damage to health that comes with it.

I have tried quitting multiple times over the period but have given in every time so far. The only logical thing to do is try again. So I have been trying again. This past week I have only had two beers. I did this without flying off the handle which is a good thing. I have started working out again. This time I am taking it a bit easy so that I don't burn out. Over the course of heavy drinking I had not been exercising at all. It's probably me being hypochondriac but I felt like my heart was getting weaker. It wasn't because of anything serious but when I had to exert myself like when climbing stairs or having to jog or sprint for a bit, I could notice my body not being up to the task which disappointed me. So I have started doing cardio (treadmill running) and reduced the meathead weightlifting routine. I managed to outdo my expectations during cardio and was able to jog at 8 speed for 50 minutes (two episodes of Scavenger's Reign). 8 what? I don't know the units but it felt good nonetheless.

It's highly likely I will fail again. Things in the past fall apart when my old injuries flare up while working out so I will be trying to make sure that doesn't happen. If it happens I will pay attention that it doesn't make me spiral by maybe doing something different like walking. Hopefully after my body normalises I can go back to the occasional recreational drinking because I do enjoy doing that while watching a movie, football or just listening to music. I feel like it is taboo to say this as someone trying to quit drinking.

My doctor said that before I can get my estrogen I need a support group but I have scarcely any real friends :(

Hexbear.net is probably going to be sold to a complete stranger, and this is a big OpSec issue because there will be rare visitors who can be honeypotted into a malicious Hexbear clone. I think we need to request all mobile Lemmy apps to ban hexbear on the client code side. Or at least add the code to alert anyone connecting to Hexbear.net that it is not safe to visit this domain anymore

Alright it is late at night where I am in and this is probably going to have a bunch of spelling and grammar errors, but I need to get this off my mind with this post

https://theconversation.com/us-military-launched-a-secret-anti-vax-campaign-in-the-philippines-heres-why-im-not-surprised-232639

After mentioning it it this post it stayed rent-free in my mind for a while and I've developed a few thoughts about it

1. Bread and circuses

This was originally "discovered" by Reuters investigations and was subsequently covered by several other major corporate media outlets, but something about it seems very controlled. First, coverage seems to vary sparingly. There doesn't seem to be any mention of it in major outlets like the BBC or CNN. It seems the NYT has an article about it, but it's only a subscriber opinion piece.

Also, I've noticed that the outlets that cover it seem very dry. usually in stuff like this, they bring it some "expert" from "Burger-fart-institute-of-not-Fed-funded-org" who voices "their" opinion of the situation, stuff like its "strategic implications", but the articles that cover this only show the reaction of various officials but almost no actual commentary.

What I'm trying to show is this is how the US controls the narrative, not truly by censorship (but they will resort to that, like what we have seen with the pro-Palestine/Gaza protests), but more of a bread and circus act. And by the looks of it, it has succeeded.

The U.S gov doesn't truly need to censor stuff like this, because the public has been "defanged" to like this and won't do anything significant about it (they didn't even do protests), the public seems to tamed with some open-washing and the idea that "at lest we know what atrocities the government has committed".

I'm reminded of this Maxim "At least we can talk about it", while it's a joke, it does encapsulate the mindset of people like Americans.

These "free speech" advocates seem to view free speech as the end, rather than a means to an end! What is the point of "free speech" if you don't have any real will to act!

Of course, another tactics is using fall guys, saying "It happened under Trump, but Biden stopped it!"

Let's just ignore other things like the "fake Hepatitis vaccination campaign in Pakistan" which happened under Obama or Bidens list of crimes.

A sad attempt to pin the blame on a gross symptom rather than the true sickness that causes and perpetuates it, the system itself.

2. Us bot army implications

A more significant was an admission that the Pentagon's Psyops include running a troll army.

"The Department of Defense (DoD) conducts a wide range of operations, including operations in the information environment (OIE), to counter adversary malign influence. DoD activities, including OIE, conducted outside areas of armed conflict are coordinated and deconflicted with other departments and agencies, as appropriate. This process is deliberate, methodical, and comprehensive," DoD Spokesperson Lisa Lawrence told TASS.

Of course the Pentagon tries to defend itself

"As it relates to Covid-19 disinformation, China [in 2020] initiated a disinformation campaign to falsely blame the United States for the spread of Covid-19," Lawrence noted. "In line with the US National Defense Strategy, the DoD continues to build integrated deterrence against critical challenges to US national security, including deterring the PRC’s spread of disinformation under the scrutiny of the Department’s coordination and deconfliction process," she said.

Just don't ask why they didn't just use the troll army to refute the "Chinese disinformation" online and instead just used it to spread inarguably worse disinformation that got people KILLED.

Meanwhile, this bot army is very likely still active, just that it doesn't talk about COVID anymore (and hopefully at least doesn't put public health at risk)

According to the document, the Pentagon also conceded it had “made some missteps in our COVID related messaging” but assured the Philippines that the military “has vastly improved oversight and accountability of information operations” since 2022.

According to the June 25 document, Pentagon officials concluded its anti-vax campaign was “misaligned with our priorities.” It says the U.S. military told Filipino officials that operatives “ceased COVID-related messaging related to COVID-19 origins and COVID-19 vaccines in August 2021.”

While I don't like calling people "Feds" or "Bots", it really does feel like some of the online accounts are really actually "Feds" or "Bots"

3. US vassals

Now lets talk about that country that got fucked in this situation, the Philippines.

I know that the Philippines is involved in the SCS dispute with China in particular, and have poor relations.

But it seems that this situation got entirely swept under the rug by the Philippine government, media, and people.

I've tried to see Philippine media outlets and government to gauge their reaction, and it seems the media don't really talk or mention it frequently too, the government has originally claimed to prosecute the Pentagon but it seemed nothing came of it, and I haven't seen any reports or protests in the Philippines calling for Pentagon officials to be held accountable. (can any Philippine users/comrades hopefully correct me if I'm wrong?)

This should be a huge turning point where the Philippines questions it relationship with the US. It should question if the US legitimately cares about the defense of the Philippines or if it only sees it as a sacrificial pawn against China (especially since the Philippines has a defense pact with the US and has US army bases there) But it doesn't seem like any major reflection has actually happened.

I am genuinely curious if this is the amount of influence the US has on its vassal, or if this a only the case of the Philippines due to other factors (i,e being colonized by the US)

What should we do?

Well, I dont know, we really can't do anything against the Pentagon, but I have a few suggestions. Maybe try to spread awareness of this? maybe in the Philippines too? I don't man, im just tired Ill check up on this post soon

This domain is expired and may be in an active auction. Place your bid now.

Ah shit

Using a throwaway to keep anonymous because I'm not ready to tie this to my main account yet, but you've probably seen me around.

Last year I suffered an unprovoked pulmonary embolism. If you don't know what that is it's blood clots in the lungs. I had several showing up on the scanner, with part of my lung being collapsed from non-usage. Thankfully, I had physical therapy and I'm doing great now in terms of lung capacity, back to pre-illness levels.

How to describe it, you basically go to bed feeling fine one night, and wake up the next day with searing pain in the ribs. I'm 30 (actually just turned 30 at the time it happened) and I understand not everyone gets pulmonary embolism as their 30th birthday gift lol, so that was worrying.

The treatment is simple, because some 10-15 years ago what's called new blood thinners came on the market. you just take a pill in the morning, it thins your blood and it dissolves the clots. Back in the day you'd have to get blood tests done every week to make sure the older blood thinners worked. You take the medication for 6 months and after that you should be fine.

Except my embolism was unprovoked, meaning that we have no idea what caused it. In that case the medication is extended "long-term", which is a nice way of saying "assume it's for life". It doesn't mean lifetime per say, it just means that we don't know when I can stop taking it.

For 9 months now I've had absolutely terrible nausea, as if my body was completely rejecting the medication. It can happen at any time of day for any reason, but is usually linked with physical effort (even any light physical effort like putting away groceries) or talking for more than 2 minutes. It can quickly transform into vomiting, though thankfully nothing comes out, but everything else is as if I was trying to puke my guts out.

It's difficult to convey how debilitating it is without writing a wall of text. This is the third time I'm rewriting this part lol. Just to give you an example, I used to go to the gym 3-4x a week before the PE. Because of the nausea, I can't go anymore. There's no point. Even if I feel fine before going, I know I will get sick on the way and even worse during the exercise. So what's the point of inflicting myself this kind of torture just to get half a workout in. That's the kind of decisions I have to make on the daily. Before we knew it was the medication side effect I thought maybe if I got back into a routine and physical exercise it would go away, but it didn't lol.

I had my specialist on the phone this morning to talk about the "new" medication I've been trying for a month (it didn't fix anything) and she basically said there's not much more she can do. We've tried all the medications because my case is quite specific in what it requires, but I have an apt with her on Thursday to talk about it more. And going on disability. If there's no solution (and I'm not expecting a miracle solution to magically make all of this go away), then I'll have to go on disability benefits. I mean, I've already stopped looking for jobs because what's the point? I know I can't handle one right now, I could barely handle going to the interview. I avoid long drives because it could be dangerous.

There is one silver living and it's that I was more of a homebody before that, so it doesn't completely upset my life. But I won't lie it does do something when you learn you can't do the stuff you could do before, instead of choosing not to do it before. that was a wall of text anyway lol, i tried.

So I've come to a realization after about a couple decades of stress and shit that I probably have adhd. Obviously I don't want to for sure since I haven't been diagnosed, but when I'm literally yelling at myself to do stuff and can't stay focussed on basically anything, and get extremely overwhelmed via information overload, etc. It's a good idea to get checked out.

But...I don't want the medicine. I don't know why but I dont like the idea of it. I take other medications, heartburn meds, cold medicine, vaccines, etc. But I dont like shit messing with my head. I don't even drink coffee (and I don't drink or smoke either. Hell, im even reluctant to take painkillers) It causes such anxiety in me, I don't exactly know why either. But the me who is shit and can't focus and whatever is all I've known. I dont want to be someone else because I took a little pill filled with chemicals. It's stupid. I know its stupid. If this was someone else talking to me I'd be saying "well You'd improve yourself and you're just making yourself focus like a normal prrson." But I have such a fear of...of whatever I fear. I don't understand.

I normally pace around pretty much everywhere, it's pretty much because I have adhd. And I apparently made a mistake of doing it in a plaza.

I was pacing in a plaza while two relatives was shopping. And out of the blue some guy came out of the plasma donation center and yelling at me. Most of what he was saying was unintelligible and the only things I could pick up was "..walking around like a idiot" and "I'm going to blow your head off". Man fuck this city.

I write down every dream I have, which I suspect helps me remember even more of my dreams. Anyway, the dream goes as such:

In 19th-century Austria-Hungary, a nun initiated and led a peasant rebellion against lords and the emperor. However, a conservative, religious institution in our modern times organized a campaign to condemn the nun and label her and her convent as ‘communist.’ I was irked by this group's blatant attitude in rewriting history according to its whims.

The idea of a ‘communist’ nun intrigued me and so I did a bit of research in hopes of finding something pertinent regarding a communist nun or church. And I did find some interesting bits of history.

• The 1381 Peasants' Revolt in England. In June of that year, a band of rebels from Wroxham broke into the convent of Carrow where they demanded the prioress to hand over the convent's deeds which they burned.

• Maura Clarke, an American nun and leftist activist who was radicalized by her overseas missions in Latin America.

• Philippino nuns’ active engagement with the New People's Liberation Army.

• Marie Carré, a protestant nurse who converted to catholcism and published the supposed memoirs of an undercover Soviet spy tasked with the infiltration of the Catholic church.

• Bella Dodd, a labor union activist and member of CPUSA who later converted to Catholicism and became a staunch voice of anti-communism. She claimed that the CPUSA had plans to infiltrate the Catholic Church.

This is everything I managed to gather, if there are more interesting related stuff, please do share.

I'm not complaining in this story, I just think it's funny (looking back).

So basically, we are in 8th grade, and our English teacher (known for being eccentric) always made us do unusual assignments. One time, he decides to split the class into groups of 4 kids and make them write lyrics and compose a beat.

The problem is I got put into a group of 1 (just me). Now picture this, a kid with 0 social skills, music talent, someone who had never even listened to rap before, making a rap song to perform in front of the whole class and their parents (yes, we were going to do a concert).

I remember just not being able to do the assignment and crying (like a stupid removed). I would straight up dodge my teacher for the year outside of class so that he would stop hounding me for a submission.

In retrospect, crying and running away (sometimes literally) from my school assignments was basically my default strategy of dealing with middle school 💀. It's a miracle that this troubled child grew up to be a model student (in primary school I was known for biting the other kids).

As mentioned on here before, my GP surgery has reduced the amount of meds the prescribe me, not on medical grounds, but I believe on cost-saving grounds. The pharmacist in the pharmacy that is joined on to the doctor's surgery recently complained to me about the cost of my meds, and this isn;'t the first time.

The neurologist prescribed me migraine tablets and says I can take one a day as a preventative, but the doctor will only prescribe 8 a month. This is the med the pharmacist complained about - they're £12 a tablet.

Also they recently cut the amount of eczema cream and soap substitute I'm prescribed in half. Again - no medical reason for this. It's just it costs around £20 a bottle so now I'm only allowed one bottle a month instead of two.

I'm writing to the GP to ask him to reconsider, can someone help me? What should I say and how should I phrase it? Would it be going too far to mention that the pharmacist has (publicly, in front of other patients) shamed me for the amount my meds cost the country? Would it be too emotive to say "I know I'm costing the country money but I need these things"?

I got one of my favorite albums

Communists don't just have the burden of being right too early, they also have the burden of never getting recognition once they've been proven to be right.

A friend is now getting really pissed off about the annexation of Gaza. And I'm like, yep, I've been mad about this for a year. And he responds with something along the lines of

"Oh yeah, the Biden administration wasn't doing great, but it was only the public facing stuff. He was doing all of his negotiation behind doors. It may not have been good, but at least I understood why he was trying to do things quietly. It might have been ineffective, but he was trying".

Sure, right, Cool cool cool, won't even admit that this is what we've been fighting the dems about... ugh.

And follows it up with

"There's not much we can do to affect foreign policy because of how we're set up"

Like.. What? Hey thanks for finally getting on board about Gaza. Please stop making excuses for Biden. And finally, WHAT THE FUCK? Nothing we can do? So I guess what Trump is saying is all bullshit then, right? Because, you know, "There's not much we can do to affect foreign policy" right???

I think I'm giving up. I can't help these people anymore. I just need to avoid politics with anyone. Their brain worms are too deep and I'm not good at propaganda AGHHH.

(Note:rely on the homeowner for income and shelter, can't just move easily and have mental issues)

It's the worst of both worlds. Simultaneously I'm isolated from the city and have to drive to do absolutely anything, all of the people here are racist entitled assholes. Simultaneously its not isolated enough like a small town so theres no way to organize any independence or feel safe from troubles in said city, or to have any sense of community. There's Simultaneously too many people and too little people, too much space and too little space.

I've been trying not to ask for help again on here so soon, worried that people will get sick of me. But my surgical wounds are infected and while I have the dressings I need, thanks to help received from here, I now need medical iodine patches. They are sterile patches of gauze that you place directly over the wounds and they fight the infection. They aren't provided on the NHS, I have to pay for them myself. I need them very urgently, less than two weeks ago I ended up in the emergency department because the infection got so bad and I really don't want it to get that bad again.

Due to the DWP checking people's bank accounts, I don't feel safe asking for actual money if I can avoid it (I'm going through a disability benefit appeal.) So I am hoping someone might order these patches and send them to me. I need as many as I can get as they said the wounds from this current surgery could take another 3 months to heal fully, and I'm having another surgery on 24th April. But even one box would be a huge help.

It's really quite urgent.

They are available from various online medical suppliers who take paypal and credit/debit cards:

https://medicaldressings.co.uk/inadine-iodine-dressings/

They are available on amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inadine-JKP01481-Non-Adherent-Dressing-Sterile/dp/B075RHBZZ9

I am also getting low on the outer dressings, if anyone can help with this:

https://medicaldressings.co.uk/cosmopor-e-hypoallergenic-sterile-dressing/#f8b3%2Ffullscreen%2Fm=and&q=cosmopor+e

https://www.amazon.co.uk/COSMOPOR-ADHESIVE-7-2X5CM-X-50/dp/B0098LTR06

Due to being unable to wear shoes at the moment but still having to go outside sometimes, I really need some of these. They gave me some at the hospital with my original bandage pack but I'm about to run out:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B093HR9XK6

In recent years, a troubling narrative has emerged in some Western discourses about China and its people: the idea that Chinese citizens are "brainwashed" by their government, incapable of critical thought or independent decision-making. This narrative is not only deeply flawed but also rooted in a long history of Western condescension and cultural superiority. It reduces the complexity of Chinese society, dismisses the agency of its people, and perpetuates harmful stereotypes that undermine mutual understanding and respect. To address this issue, it is essential to examine the origins of this narrative, its implications, and why it is both inaccurate and offensive.

The Myth of "Brainwashing" and Its Origins The term "brainwashing" first gained prominence in the West during the Cold War, when it was used to describe the alleged psychological manipulation tactics employed by communist regimes, particularly China and the Soviet Union. It was a convenient tool for Western propaganda, painting these nations as oppressive and their citizens as passive victims devoid of free will. Decades later, this trope persists, often invoked to explain why Chinese people express support for their government or hold views that differ from those prevalent in the West.

However, the concept of "brainwashing" is not only scientifically dubious but also culturally reductive. It assumes that Chinese people are incapable of forming their own opinions or critically evaluating information. This assumption reflects a profound lack of respect for the intellectual and cultural agency of over a billion individuals. It also ignores the diversity of thought and experience within China, where people engage in lively debates, express dissent, and navigate complex social and political realities in ways that are often misunderstood or oversimplified by outsiders.

The Superiority Complex Behind the Narrative The persistence of the "brainwashing" narrative reveals a deeper issue: the enduring sense of Western superiority that underpins many critiques of non-Western societies. This superiority complex is rooted in colonialism and the historical dominance of Western powers, which have long positioned themselves as the arbiters of progress, freedom, and rationality. From this perspective, any society that deviates from Western norms—whether in governance, culture, or values—is seen as inferior or backward.

When Westerners accuse Chinese people of being "brainwashed," they are implicitly asserting their own cultural and intellectual superiority. They assume that their way of thinking is the only valid one and that anyone who disagrees must be deluded or coerced. This attitude is not only arrogant but also deeply hypocritical, as it overlooks the ways in which all societies, including Western ones, are shaped by education, media, and cultural narratives. The idea that Westerners are immune to propaganda or ideological influence is itself a form of indoctrination.

The Agency of Chinese People One of the most offensive aspects of the "brainwashing" narrative is its denial of agency to Chinese people. It suggests that they are passive recipients of government messaging, unable to think critically or make informed decisions. This portrayal is not only inaccurate but also dehumanizing. Chinese people, like people everywhere, are complex individuals with diverse perspectives, experiences, and aspirations. They are capable of evaluating information, forming their own opinions, and making choices based on their understanding of the world.

It is also worth noting that many Chinese people express genuine support for their government, not because they are "brainwashed," but because they have seen tangible improvements in their lives. Over the past few decades, China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, built world-class infrastructure, and become a global leader in technology and innovation. For many Chinese citizens, these achievements are a source of pride and a reason to trust their government. Dismissing this support as the result of "brainwashing" is both disrespectful and dismissive of their lived experiences.

The Harmful Consequences of Stereotyping The "brainwashing" narrative is not just an abstract critique; it has real-world consequences. It fosters misunderstanding and mistrust between China and the West, making it harder to build constructive relationships. It also contributes to the marginalization of Chinese people in Western societies, where they are often stereotyped as unthinking automatons or loyalists to a foreign regime. This can lead to discrimination, exclusion, and even violence, as seen in the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, the narrative undermines the possibility of meaningful dialogue. If Westerners approach conversations with Chinese people from a position of condescension, assuming that their views are the product of indoctrination rather than genuine belief, they are unlikely to listen or learn. True understanding requires humility, respect, and a willingness to engage with others as equals.

Toward a More Nuanced Understanding To move beyond the "brainwashing" trope, it is essential to recognize the complexity and diversity of Chinese society. China is a vast and multifaceted country with a rich history, vibrant culture, and a population of over 1.4 billion people. Reducing this complexity to a single narrative of oppression and control is not only inaccurate but also deeply unfair.

Westerners must also confront their own biases and assumptions. Rather than viewing China through the lens of superiority, they should strive to understand it on its own terms. This means engaging with Chinese perspectives, acknowledging the achievements of Chinese society, and recognizing the agency of Chinese people. It also means reflecting on the ways in which Western societies are shaped by their own cultural and ideological influences.

Conclusion The accusation that Chinese people are "brainwashed" is a deeply problematic narrative that reflects a long history of Western condescension and cultural superiority. It denies the agency of Chinese people, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and undermines the possibility of mutual understanding. To build a more just and equitable world, it is essential to move beyond these reductive and offensive tropes and engage with others as equals. Only by doing so can we foster genuine dialogue, respect, and cooperation across cultural and political divides.

I am so exhausted by how difficult it is to get medical treatment in the UK when needed. I recently had foot surgery, at the moment I'm having my surgical dressings changed by the practice nurse twice a week. She cleans the wounds, puts an iodine patch on to help clear the infection, and redresses them. While the treatment is free on the NHS, the dressings aren't, I have to pay for those. So much for the NHS being "free at the point of delivery." I had to buy a box to take home too, for when the wounds are no longer so bad and I start to change them myself at home.

My next appointment for a dressing change is on Thursday but today one of the dressings came off. The wound it was covering is deep, oozing blood and orange/yellow fluid, and was totally exposed. I called the GP surgery and explained the situation and asked for a sooner appointment to get it changed. They said there are no appointments and the nurse is too busy to see me, I'll have to phone in the morning and see if I can get one. Appointments are released at 8.30am, but they all get snapped up at once. So many people need an appointment that at 8.30 everyone starts phoning or turning up in person and always, by the time I get through, they're all gone. The only reason I have the twice weekly appointments I do is because they're post-surgical appointments that were booked in advance. So I'll try but I know there's a 0.0001% chance of me being able to get an appointment sooner than Thursday.

So, I dressed the wound myself with one from the pack I had to buy. I don't have iodine patches to put on it, and I can't do it in a 100% sterile way like the nurse can. The surgical wounds already got so infected that about 9 days ago I ended up having to go to the emergency department (because, again, only way to get seen as the GP practice said they had no appointments and wouldn't squeeze me in.) I'm worried it'll get infected again now, and the dressing I've done isn't very comfortable, I'm worried it might be too tight but I had to wrap micropore around it to hold it in place.

It makes me so angry when I see British people bragging to Americans and other nationalities about the NHS. It's shit. Almost impossible to get an appointment and having to pay for your own damn bandages. And all the cost-saving measures they make only end up costing more in the long run.

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/6920552

Anhedonia means difficulty in feeling joy or happiness, and is a common condition in depression.

And no, this isn't some more "mindfulness" tips. I agree with the author of this article that cultivating the ability to enjoy things is a skill, and skills develop with practice. Like most skills, it is hard at first.

But yeah. I just wanted to share this article, in hopes it might help anyone slightly.

---

obviously this is just an article and mental health especially depression these days is an affect of our material conditions being very hard and as such, for many people true relief is something beyond reading articles or getting therapy. beyond political activities or mutual aid (the latter of which I'm presently unable to contribute), I wish I could help more towards this end. Anyway, I hope we can all make it through to better days.

The JCP supported the Prague Spring and Opposed the USSR.

The JCP is Anti-China.

And Anti-DPRK.

Them being Reformist.

Remember these are NATOpedia links too. Many of these can be compared to Eurocommunism because many Eurocoms opposed USSR while also supporting Reformism. The JCP can also be compared to the majority of the CPA in Austria.

I keep waffling about what domain of software dev I should focus on: web, data, games, who knows. It is like Sylvia Plath about the plum tree, but more nerdy and less personal. But I am thinking that "security dev" might be the perfect niche for me; I would love to learn to read assembly code, reverse engineer, etc. Don't want to be too far from development, would love to develop skills that could hypothetically one day be used to protect the people's movements from attacks.

Comrades, I'm stuck working on some university bullshit and thus I am bored. So, let's shoot the shit. I am an Iranian computer engineering graduate student (have a bsc degree in CompSci) and I have noticed that my country Iran is completely... opaque, so to speak, to even leftist of various denominations from the outside. So, let's talk comrade to comrade. Ask me shit about the daily soulcrushing grind of life in Iran...

when you see it...

Let me know what else I can do to promote this place.

Cheers!

I realize this might be a silly question, but I feel much safer in this instance than in mainstream social networks.

I'm also aware that GenZedong have an Akkoma instance and a Matrix instance, but I just want to have a wider variety of social networks.

Do you have or at least can you recommend alternatives to Facebook, Tumblr and Blogger that exist within the Fediverse that are friendly to people in this instance?

I just never had a Tumblr account mainly because of my anti-SJW phase and have even less desire since NSFW content was banned in 2018.

I would appreciate it quite a bit if you could help me with that issue.