iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

I’m almost halfway through Surviving Autocracy by @mashagessen.bsky.social , published in 2020. It would far exceed fair use to share every quote-worthy passage, but this one is especially astute and timely. #historyrhymes

If the word “unthinkable” had a literal meaning, this would be it: thinking about it makes the mind misfire; it makes one want to stop thinking. It brings to mind the psychiatrist Judith Herman’s definition of a related word: “Certain violations of the social compact are too terrible to utter aloud,” she once wrote. “This is the meaning of the word unspeakable.” The Trump era is unimaginable, unthinkable, unspeakable. It is waging a daily assault on the public’s sense of sanity, decency, and cohesion. It makes us feel crazy, and the restrained tone of the media compounds this feeling by failing to acknowledge it.

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“Don’t let hopelessness trend in your head.” 💡✨ From @johnpavlovitz.bsky.social

Reminder: There are far more people working for justice, equality, and diversity than opposing them. Don’t let hopelessness trend in your head.

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Cover of The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

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Welcome to the folks who followed me from my repost of @mollyjongfast.bsky.social ‘s latest. If you saw “meliorist” in my bio & wondered what that is, here’s a definition. My style is respectful and welcoming of discussion. Looking forward to learning with you.

Screenshot of Google definition of meliorism

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Thanks 😊 And yes, a meliorist is someone who believes small actions make a difference and incremental progress is worth the effort. Like the kid throwing stranded starfish back into the sea: Can’t save them all, but it makes a difference to the ones you do help. Voting is an example of meliorism.

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From @mollyjongfast.bsky.social today re: how media [and, I’ll add, we consumers] should avoid losing the important info amid the smoke and mirrors.

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Ooo! Ooo! I found one in the wild! Finally I have a dish to bring to the #blockparty!

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I was confused because it just shows Blocked for me and then I realized I must have already blocked this one 😂 the two anti-MAGA block lists I found really seem to be helping! (Wasn’t on Twitter last couple years so I’m out of practice)

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Btw, kakistocracy is not a new sick burn. It’s a concept that goes back 100s of years. News to me too, if you also didn’t know. I first thought it was some clever Urban Dictionary word. Learning fast.

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From Masha Gessen’s book Surviving Autocracy. We’re baffled by their disregard for government until we understand they do quite literally hate it and want to destroy it by putting usefully hostile idiots in charge, so they can then frolic in unfettered tyranny.

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I refuse to join BlueSky - I don’t want to become part of an Eckhart chamber.

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Deb Stanley @debstanley.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Finished. Took it five hours. Redact deleted 11,310 items and left 4. Leaving those 4 old reposts instead of adding a new gray rock. I give Redact 10 of 10.

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Tonight’s sunset, about an hour outside of Austin. I love how the planet remains indifferently beautiful.

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Deb Stanley @debstanley.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

I’m choosing to keep my Twitter acct so no one can take my handle, but using an app to delete all my activity. Redact appears to be working. After this, I will tweet a photo of a gray rock.

Screenshot showing rate of deletion and number of items deleted so far in Redact

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These are my Senators and my Representative. Who are yours?

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Well, my first day on here has been an absolute delight. Hate to leave the party but I need to get back to book two of my @krisgoldsmith.bsky.social reading list.

Screenshot of Kristofer Goldsmith holding a copy of Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen

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I finished reading “On Tyranny” and recognized quite a few of the passages as memes that I have recently seen on social media. Reading the book felt like stringing together all of those useful but isolated thoughts into a coherent and strategic education. 1/2

Cover of book On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

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