starkillerfish

Trans people probably don't spend much time reading stuff describing why they are human and debunking arguments to the contrary so might not have such sources on the tip of the tongue.

That is like, half true. I've talked with people who are skeptical about aspects of trans experience or something, I've written essays about it. Usually people are just curious. In you post, there is just not much info that you have provided to debunk. Like do they actually think that a part of the population is not human? That is pretty far gone, I'm not sure there is anything to be done.

As others have noted in the comments, "bourgeois decadence" is simply absurd and not a marxist approach to organising. For the TERF point, they are aligned purely with right-wing groups, I don't think the distinction between "actual old school feminist" and fash is relevant. When you are aligned with anti-communists in your goals, I think there is some major self-reflection to be done.

knee socks

If you want to give up a habit you have to replace it with something else. Reading or arts have low barriers to entry

guy in your English class who loves David Foster Wallace

I know precisely who you are talking about. And I agree with your assessment, though I would say that sci-fi and fantasy still have a (mostly white) male appeal, even if considerably less than in the past. To me there are two sides to this: the grindset mentality devaluing fiction, as well as fiction becoming for video game-y / marvel-esque in order to compete for attention. I will need to think more about it, media politics is a dear topic of mine.

Your analysis is completely vibes based exceptionalist doomerism that presents Putin as this great magical glue that keeps Russia from collapsing any second. Do you hear yourself? It is no better than the Western propaganda that you refer to, which claim that Putin is personally responsible for every piece of the Russian social and economic fabric, writing every day that surely this time Russia will collapse if only Ukraine gets a billion more $ and drone strike Putin's house. Consider that maybe Russia is more complicated than a constantly collapsing country held together purely by the will of a single autocrat. This is all I'm asking.

I feel like books are still incredibly male-centric. Like the front section of the Barnes and Nobles is usually "10 steps to DOMINATE everyone in your life", "Manly WARRIORS of Saturn" and "Napoleon's (ALPHA MALE) biography" or something like that. And I actually see people reading it on public transport or whatever. Of course it's part of the grindset culture that you mentioned, I just don't think it's fair to say that men are completely absent from book culture. The grindset/video game culture spills over into the literature world.

thats some good bread

dating apps tend to attract a special type of men

Sometimes. I think each has its own culture/vibe but yeah, I think it's hard to acclimate if you are not a club/bar person from the start.

Can you please chill with the dramatic doomerism about Russia.

getting affection post transition is a super cool feeling

real. not a big fan of a lot of cishet relationship posts on this forum lately