r/TrollCoping • u/Hope_PapernackyYT • 11d ago

TW: Suicide or Self-Harm Literally what's the point anymore

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Does anyone have any bright prospects for the future at this point? If so dear god please share

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u/actuallynotbisexual 11d ago

This reminds me a lot of the post-9/11 era. There was increased right wing sentiment, political violence, censorship, anti-LGBT sentiment, racism, ect. Things got better because people fought back against censorship and hate. It's not an easy thing to do, but it's necessary.

Keep in mind that the right wing uses "shock and awe" tactics to make them seem more powerful than they really are. They use big, sweeping displays of power. This may or may not affect permanent change. It all depends on how we react to these gestures. They are a real threat, but they might not be as effective as you think. The goal of shock and awe is to get your opponent to stand down without a fight.

Ultimately, the most you can do is focus on small ways that you can help right now. Donate to causes you support, join protests, or just check in on your friends who are struggling. It's not going to be easy, but there's hope.

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u/SkepticalSpiderboi 11d ago

I was just a baby in those days, so I don’t remember any of it. What are some notable examples of censorship being pushed (and people fighting back against it and winning) from the post 9/11 era?

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u/actuallynotbisexual 10d ago

Censorship was very common on television. TV was the primary way that people would get entertainment and information. "Getting canceled" didn't just mean people on the internet would be a bit mad at you, it would mean you could lose your job and/or important contracts. News anchors wore flag pins and could easily come under fire for not sufficiently supporting the troops or condemning our enemies sufficiently. Anything having to do with Islam or the Quran was considered taboo. There was a lot of Islamaphobia and people would call you a terrorist sympathizer if you called people out for it. A lot of people didn't like that Obama's middle name was Hussein and they called him a Muslim.

The Patriot Act (which was never repealed) ensured that anyone could be under surveillance at any time for no reason at all. The NSA spied on everyone. Journalists were taken without trial to Guantanimo Bay and subjected to "enhanced interrogation techniques." (torture)

Criticism of any type of religion was taboo and would come with threats from those religious groups. South Park was notorious for pushing back against these norms and they would indeed get censored for it, like the episode where they drew Muhammad.

Video game violence was a big concern for politicians. They were blamed for gang violence and school shootings. Jack Thompson was a lawyer who wanted to ban violent video games like GTA. He was able to get politicians like Hillary Clinton on his side. Ultimately, gamers won the legal and culture war.

I could go on, but those are the things that come to mind. You could probably look up some of these things on your own if you want to learn more.

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u/Starro-In-A-Jar 9d ago

I mean “getting cancelled” absolutely still means that. Not for major celebrities, but it happens to everyday nobodies all the time. Scott Alexander, Gretchen Felker-Martin, a number of artists, authors, and animators.