If you're fuggin depressed, get off your butt and do something

[struggle4progress]

This place is beginning to sound like Eeyore having a really bad day

Look on the frickin bright side: the Assyrians aren't swooping down on us; the Black Death isn't rampaging through town; volcanic eruptions haven't blotted out the sun for weeks and weeks and weeks

Yeah, the world ain't nowhere near perfect, and it ain't been near perfect for just about as long as anybody can remember. I is real sorry about that. I know it's tempting to scout around for somebody to blame, but it wouldn't actually help

Why not just look in the fuggin mirror?

Find a pothole in the road and make it your mission to get somebody to fix it. Go meet some of the members of your city council and try to get yourself on a local advisory committee. Scan the Federal Register everyday until you find a proposed regulation that interests you and get the background documents and comment on it. Drive around on cold nights and hand out blankets to homeless people. Say something nice to a stranger. Wrap yourself in plastic wrap, climb up on the police station roof with a transistor radio duct taped to your head, and send morse code messages to space aliens begging them to visit. I don't care what it is: do something

:eyes:

[VMI Dem]

1. If you're unemployed, get a fuggin job.

If you're poor, pull yourself up by your fuggin bootstraps.

:patriot:

[struggle4progress]

3. Yeah, well, that's not what I said -- but you know that

[VMI Dem]

5. Fuggin A.

[struggle4progress]

7. Wow! My friends and I used to say exactly that back in the Nixon era while we were

sitting around depressed, not doing anything

[HereSince1628]

29. Shagging the depressed off their deadbeat asses is the answer

well I can see how that might be in a Tea-Party World.

In the real world such facile disposal is more an indication of individual's having extended beyond their limited capacity to tolerate in their presence someone with a mental disorder.

[BoneDaddy]

40. No, continue

to whine and blame anyone but yourself.

This is the classic line of many liberals in here. Whereas I do not subscribe to the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality, I also refuse the "liberal" penchant to hold everyone else accountable for your success, happiness and well being instead of yourself.

The OP is making a point. The point is that you can still be aware, a fighter and stand up to injustice without getting drowned by overwhelming funk, depression and ennui. Getting depressed about it will not change it, it will just make your life more difficult and will add to whatever problems you are experiencing.

Ultimately, we have only one thing in our control...our choice on how we are going to react. Once we give that power away to anyone, anything or any event, we are making a choice.

[virgogal]

2. Thank you,thank you,thank you. The gloom and doom

around here is pitiful.

Many DUers want to leave the country,but I doubt there is a perfect place on this earth.

Your post is a breath of fresh air.

[ibegurpard]

4. despit your snark you do have a point

the only way we are going to survive this is on our personal scale.
Do what you can to make your own space a better place for everyone and everything that comes into it.
That kind of change can rub off.

[struggle4progress]

6. The only way we're gonna survive this is to do a whole lotta something

[mahina]

8. Thank you, K and R, for the first really sensible post I've read here

in a long time. Of course I'm here less and less so that's not saying that much, no offense brah~

Moaning is cathartic but it gets really old for everybody else. This site is a vehicle, not a destination, and as useful as we make it.
Moaning gets you nowhere.

Oh, except for phone sex lines...I guess people do get paid to moan, but I still can't see doing it. I'd crack up laughing.

Aloha Struggle4progress. You are my hero of the day.

[CakeGrrl]

9. K/R

Preaching to the choir and commiserating about mutual disgust with the Administration on a message board doesn't move much of anything.

[JVS]

10. If only the Assyrians were liberating us!

[struggle4progress]

16. *snork*

Nobody was ever liberated by the assyrians

[TBF]

11. And those individual actions are nice but mean absolutely nothing politically. nt

[Odin2005]

13. You got it backwards.

Local action is the ONLY way to brig real change. Change comes from the bottom up, not the top down.

[TBF]

17. No, I don't think so. That is just busy work to keep us from challenging anything on the

national/international level. If we are kept fighting, divided, going after each other, focused on minutia - they can continue to rob us blind.

I have no problem with helping the homeless or fixing potholes - I believe in donating locally especially (both time and money - whatever works), but that can't be our sole focus.

[struggle4progress]

20. The most effective political group I ever worked with had a regular active membership

of 5 - 10 busy people, with diverse interests. They didn't sit around philosophizing or complaining: they always had a few balls in the air on a variety of issues, and because they actually had projects going, people would show up for them

[Hannah Bell]

25. i think organizing locally is one of the more effective things people can do.

[WildEyedLiberal]

35. YOU can't challenge anything on the national/international level

And I'm not being snarky, or even singling you out. That "YOU" applies to every single person posting here. None of us alone - since I am presuming none of us is a US Senator, Congressman, or wealthy Fortune 500 business mogul - can possibly "challenge" anything on the national or international level in any way that will actually result in one single iota of change.

How are you going to stop "them"? Writing LTTE? Going to a protest? As you know well by now, "they" don't give a shit about any of those things. The only way to stop "them" is to get enough people to agree with you about "them" so that "they" can no longer manipulate popular opinion. And the only way you're going to do that is to get involved with people you actually know and start changing minds one person at a time.

[closeupready]

61. Oh, brother.

:eyes:

[struggle4progress]

15. People aren't much interested in hearing from people who just squat and complain

Political action requires folk who actually do something, who learn by doing, and who talk with and work with other folk for concrete results

[TBF]

22. You have no idea what I do personally, so keep your insults to yourself. nt

[struggle4progress]

23. I made no personal comment; I merely pointed out why it's important to actually do stuff

[TBF]

28. You were replying to me and you have no idea what I do. So direct your comment elsewhere. nt

[struggle4progress]

34. I replied to your reply to me, in which you apparently objected to my view people should do stuff

I explained why I think it matters. For some reason, you seem determined to convert this into some manner of personal issue

[TBF]

43. That is not what I said and you know it -

I talked about the personal vs. political because you are determined to focus on the personal and ignore the political. Solidarity is the only way we're going to get out of this mess - your individual hours fixing manhole covers amount to zilch in regard to promoting political change.

[struggle4progress]

45. There are a variety of barriers to putting people in action. The first barrier to be crossed

is -- people must be willing to do something other than merely cogitate

[closeupready]

51. Actually, you are completely and utterly wrong.

"Cogitation", as you term it, can be extremely valuable. In fact, it was considered the highest state of being amongst the Ancient Greeks and philosophers. No, it isn't always, but to diminish the give and take that goes on here and elsewhere is very counterproductive.

[TBF]

56. Exactly and not only counterproductive - but damaging. We need to be able to find

each other and band together politically if we are going to fight the elites who are running the show. When the communication is shut off you will know the transition to fascism is complete. And then it will be too late.

[struggle4progress]

64. It is the act-think-act-think-act cycle that produces useful and accurate thought

Thought alone accomplishes nothing. And thought, insufficiently tempered by experience, is likely to wander rather far from realism

[Odin2005]

12. Get involved in your community. Do SOMETHING!!!

We have forgotten the principle that real change ONLY happens at the local level.

[ProSense]

14. I think that's the goal.

The left pundit class and certain bloggers are pushing nothing but gloom, and it isn't even about anything particularly relevant, just bullshit political posturing: Oh why doesn't the President punch a Republican in the lip, they hate him!!!

[struggle4progress]

18. +

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

19. I'm pretty sure we're doomed and everyone should just hang it up.

[struggle4progress]

21. "I expect to starve to death anyway so I've decided not to eat anymore"

[safeinOhio]

24. I want to do something positive with

my investments. Are there any publicly traded companies that make pitchforks and torches.

[laughingliberal]

26. +1 nt

[w8liftinglady]

27. I DO do something..that's why I'm so depressed.

I troll for homeless female vets,and usually end up trying to get help for the non-vets while I'm at it.
There are more...
and more...
and more...
little kids in the hotel room with them,in the car,in the garage,on the street.sleeping in the hospital er for a few hours because there simply is NO Where else to go.

I volunteer with my partner's school.98% below the poverty rate.We are putting together freaking gift bags so they'll have some kind of holiday...85 of them for the 5th grade...so many live in foster care,garages,with multiple other family members in one house.

And "They" want to cut more.
and more.
and more.

[OneGrassRoot]

32. I hear you w8liftinglady...

It is appalling. I really have no other word. Horrific. That's another word.

Working to affect change within the current system seems futile. Bless you for doing all you do.

I responded to H20 Man's OP with this, and it's applicable here, too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9656969&mesg_id=9679395

[w8liftinglady]

39. sometimes,seeing so much pain does make one an eeyore...especially when there is no relief

finding a homeless shelter in DFW that takes families is almost impossible.In Ellis County,they are non-existant.
seeing so many children suffer...like the unwashed masses in third world countries....starving for a sliver of humanity does tear me up inside.


and now there is talk of cutting even more from those who have nothing...when,exactly does it end.What am I not doing that I should be doing?I'll do it,dammit.

[OneGrassRoot]

63. Nothing...

You really are an everyday hero. You do so very, very much in your community already.

Unless or until we can change the system, you are doing above and beyond what most people can and will do within the confines of our system.

I linked to the other thread because it talked about working toward systemic change.

You're doing the direct day-to-day work of saving lives and helping to ease suffering.

You're doing great. You are wonderful.

:hug:

[closeupready]

48. Apparently, the OP thinks you need to do MORE.

:eyes:

[HereSince1628]

30. I suspect our armchair psychologists don't recognize bereavement

and even if they did they wouldn't tolerate it any more than they do depression.

[OneGrassRoot]

31. That's what I'm saying, in a different way....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9656969&mesg_id=9679395

[guitar man]

33. That last one doesn't work

Believe me, I've tried wrapping myself in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, rubber, you name it. Duct taped the radio to my head, my butt...tried it with a cell phone too. Makes no difference. I'm fresh out of ideas, I don't think they are coming to save us :(

:silly:

[TexasObserver]

36. What a mean spirited OP.

Ten percent unemployment. Many more underemployed. Gays without rights. Civil liberties trounced more each year. Health care unaffordable for most Americans, and getting worse. Endless and pointless wars that cost far too much.

Instead of you attacking others who don't have your wide eyed view, see the world as it is.

[struggle4progress]

37. Many Americans seem to think politics is about opinions. But it's really about action

[BoneDaddy]

41. So

let's drown ourselves in sorrow. That will work.

[Hello_Kitty]

38. What are you doing?

[closeupready]

49. He/she is certainly not doing very much, are they?

But I guess since they aren't depressed, that's okay? :crazy:

[ileus]

42. Go hunting, hiking, biking, fishing....

Get out and do something....enjoy being.

[rug]

44. What about the damn pirates?

[hunter]

46. Pitchforks, torches! Get your pitchforks, torches!

I'm busy selling Revolution today.

Unfortunately the only people buying are wearing teabags on their hats.

[closeupready]

47. Unrecced. Presumptuous of the OP to presume those who are depressed AREN'T doing anything.

The unemployed people I know HAVE been looking for work, HAVE been doing things.

Very unconstructive thread.

[laughingliberal]

59. Thank you. The arrogance is astounding! nt

[LoZoccolo]

50. K&R but it won't do much good!

Threads which implore self-proclaimed activists to act like activists are amongst the most reviled on DU!

[closeupready]

52. Do you have to turn your mirror upside down to come up with this stuff?

Or do you just simply write your own material without the aid of such external devices?

[LoZoccolo]

54. No, and you probably don't need to do so to come up with an ad hominem either. n/t

[LoZoccolo]

53. P.S. You'll also get a lot of "you don't know what people here do" but few concrete examples!

People who volunteer know that volunteers are usually direly needed and want to recruit more, but you probably won't see that in response to this thread. Plus if DUers were doers they'd be on your side to begin with anyways rather than getting defensive!

[Taitertots]

55. Most of the people are depressed because they can't "do something" about their problems

Absolutely meaningless advice.

When Volcanoes did block out the sun would your advice have been just as vacuous and without substance?

[mstinamotorcity]

57. Thats the SPIRIT!!!!!!!!

to keep yourself busy. Complaining is nothing but a bunch of dry resentful words. We need encouraging to keep going. Don't worry as soon as the Tea Party Congress gets seated in January I guarantee you will will see some excitement then!!!!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[bvar22]

58. I'm NOT "depressed".

I am ANGRY at the betrayal,
AND....I'm doing something.


"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

[Taverner]

60. OK, I have the Glock pointed to my temple - I think i'll pull the trigger...

[Evoman]

62. Do you mean real depression or are you using the word to describe angsty whining.

Because I've been depressed in the mentally ill use of the word, and if you mean it in that way, then go fuck yourself.

If you mean it some other way, then I apologize for telling you to go fuck yourself. Still, try to be a little more clear about these things.

[struggle4progress]

65. I don't give medical advice. And if I wanted to, it would be against the rules here anyway

[DailyGrind51]

66. Yeah, but so many would rather just sit on their asses and blog!

Because, we all know how effective that has been? I only attended one town hall meeting in Illinois, I should have gone to all of them in my congressional district, but that is still one more, I believe, than a lot of others had attended. Although I could be wrong?