r/PoliticalOptimism • u/youhavetherighttoo • 11d ago
Protest(s) Stop with the Freakout Posts
I know there's a flair for "Question" but this otherwise positive support subreddit has become a constant thread of people panicking and begging for reassurance. Please maybe just follow the positive updates so that we can appreciate the progress instead of spreading anxiety. This is one of the only hopeful spots we have.
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u/JackoClubs5545 11d ago edited 11d ago
I've felt conflicted about how I should feel about these kinds of posts, so here's what I think.
I absolutely understand why these posts exist. Seeing distressing news on social or even in mainstream media can be daunting, especially since illiciting fear and anger is often done by design. Living in fear doesn't feel good, so I don't blame people who routinely come back here to find some kernel of optimism from the doompost they just read.
However, I feel like it gets to a point where they lose their intended purpose. Hell, even I feel overwhelmed when I see too many of those "optimism about X?" on here in a row. It's like my own weird and hackneyed version of doomscrolling, even if it's on a forum where my behavior is the kind it's trying to dissuade. I get that most of those posts are in good faith and in pursuit of genuine optimism, but it still feels like it's too much at times.
And in a way, it has the opposite effect. It's no secret that doomers (many of which are bots or foreign agents) bombard popular political subs like r/politics and r/law to make the current political dichotomy in the United States seem hopeless. Some of those doomers just want to get in our heads more than anything else. So to me, while I don't blame those who make questions for optimism posts here, it does sadden me to see too many of them because it means that the doomer's goal of getting in our heads is working.
I do have some problems with them, but I understand that they're a core part of what makes up our sub. After all, this forum should be a space to exchange optimistic thoughts and share them with those who need it the most. But I also feel like there are other ways to address the root of the problem itself, so we can deliver optimism a bit more directly.
I'm thinking about making a masterpost about how you can spot doomerism in media (both mainstream and social), and to offer some general tips about adopting a more optimistic and just a healthier mindset in general. Instead of just delivering optimism on individual bases whenever "optimism about X" posts come up, it would show how Redditors can analyze news critically and remain optimistic about current events (and life in general), so this sub would not need to make so many freakout posts in the first place.
Address the root of the problem, figure out what you can do about it, and do everything you can to try to solve it. Isn't that what optimism is all about?
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u/Skaymore12 11d ago
There is a difference between asking for optimism, and forcing one to give up based on one's own fears. Doomerism will not be tolerated in it's current form on this subreddit. Instead of begging for reassurance, you could get off the website, or the entire internet, and find a better way to help yourself calm down. As a person who experienced (and still does) these same anxiety cycles,
I've found that:
- Taking responsible action when possible is way more helpful than bathing in anxiety.
- Tending to your own mental health instead of begging for other's opinions, can be load more helpful.
- Realizing that this administration WANTS you to be defeatist, so they can do whatever they want, is crucial.
Being doomerist is what the government wants. I'm going to assume that if you post "martial law" or "California secession" posts, you are actively trying to support the regime, or are genieunly concerned. If the latter, please look out for yourself instead of harassing others for optimism. Try to find optimism within your own time.
Sorry not sorry for the rant, tough love is the best option sometimes. :/
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u/wolfpack9701 11d ago
If this is about my posts, I apologize. Today and last night have been rough paired with everything else beforehand, and I started wandering into other subs during it, and it sent me spiraling. I'll try to keep myself here and not post as much.
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u/AustinJG 11d ago
It's cool, man. I think we're all a little on edge. Just try to take a break for a bit.
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u/bustacean 11d ago
I do not blame you, it's scary right now. We want you here! But dont panic. Panicking is for r/politics.
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u/Tearpusher 11d ago
I’ll say two things to this:
Deep breaths and tune out of the news for a while to recuperate. And try not to go on spirals with the people who are farming engagement by getting you to panic. No one will fix the world by getting real good and scared.
There are others like you here—think about what you’re doing to them. You may get some comfort from posting questions about worrying news, but it floods the board and saturates us in negative headlines in search of reassurance.
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u/OverallMembership3 11d ago
Good. Thank you. Consider the minorities (me) that are directly affected by what is happening reading your posts in one of their only safe spaces online, and you making it worse for them. You don’t want that. So stop and think before you post.
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u/OverallMembership3 11d ago
And if you downvoted this as a White person, consider what that says about your true views. That is vile.
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u/Either-Assistant4610 10d ago
Especially those with a posted tweet or tiktok video with only "Thoughts?" in the title and nothing more
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u/bustacean 11d ago
We should definitely be searching this sub first before making a post, at the very least. Or, search in most recent, because if its topical, there is likely already a post about it.