Many of them probably don't understand the urgency of the situation or have qualms against using sabotage or violence. And we are very much running out of time.
This is probably the essence of the XR malais. I think that instead of trainers going around teaching people dysfunctional and ineffective behaviors, they should rather focus on the science and explain where we're headed and how little time we have left.
I do think, though, that dropping out has merit even if it's not a cure-all.
Agreed. But what I'm talking about is the lie that "dropping out is the solution". As an individual action then whatever, but it should not detract from the primary task, which is deindustrialization. Too often it becomes a substitute for noble and heroic action against the system. It's kind of like deserting the battlefield. And it should be treated that way.
to my mind the economic damage caused by starving the system is the real goal, not simply providing myself with a meal.
That all makes sense. But starving the system really means things like #DebtStrikeForClimate and attacking the FIRE industry. So as long as it doesn't detract from those, then it's very commendable.
There's also something to be said for showing people that the meta-alien cortex isn't necessary.
I don't think they will ever believe you. You may as well try tell Joseph Stalin he isn't necessary (to his face).
Most people that participate in a movement like XR or its proposed cousin won't take direct aggressive action anyway -- so why not put them to use changing the cultural narrative rather than have them continue to act as ecological dead weight?
Sheep are sheep and they are pretty much all useless in a revolution. So it doesn't really make a difference whatever they do. That's why it's important to rouse #500LoneWolves.
Changing the cultural narrative is really only important in one respect. If the Overton window can be shifted even slightly then it has a dramatic impact on the number of outliers on the long tail of the bell curve. Lone wolves are outliers on the extremes. So a slight shift in the medium opinion can have a dramatic increase or decrease in the number of potential lone wolves on the long tails.
Everyone's appetite for risk and aggression varies widely, that's why I proposed a division of labor and a number of roles for supporting lone wolves (anonymously and firewalled off from each other) in my book.
Great Reset? I'll give you a Flipping Great Reset!
I'm guessing this is one threat that the "experts" missed.
I agree, but it's a question of time. Untangling and a soft landing would be best, but if you look at the responses to stuff I post on this sub you can see people are decades away from even seeing the need to untangle.
Personally I think we are already passed some major environmental and ecological tipping points. So now it's just a question of a handful of lone wolves who understand the problem getting together to try and accelerate collapse so there is more of the planet left when Industrialization ends.
I explained how it might be done in this novel here:
Love it! Thanks so much for the plug.
We will find out shortly if it's reality or not. It's not all woo-woo. Just keep watching the Greenland ice sheet! This is the video I mention in the book.
And let me know if anyone finds any evidence for or against!
Lord Hugh's cli-fi novel is available on Amazon (US): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0837R1SPW
Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0837R1SPW
Amazon (AU): https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0837R1SPW
They sound awesome
I haven't tried one out myself. But I'm hoping if someone does the R&D they will report back and say that "they sound pretty quiet, and used in a greenfield location allow plenty of time for the 'arrestable' to escape and leave plenty of doubt as to the cause." Bearing in mind that they could attain magnetic fields of millions of gauss), and 10 or more might be directed at a single target from a very long way off, I imagine that there is more than an afternoon's entertainment involved.
Although my novel mentions them, the more interesting part may be how four categories of lone wolves (firewalled off from each other, using anonymous dead drops) might collaborate without incurring much legal culpability. Division of labor might be the key to catering to a wide range of depth of commitment to the cause and appetite for risk.
Portable versions may also be worked into the cli-fi novel that visionaries can use in public places to wean people off their phones as a kindly reminder that it's time to bin them and begin Deep Adaptation. Better now than later.
Cli-fi is such fun!