100%. I’m with you there. And I am prepared, very probably far more so than any of the people downvoting me, who will ironically end up following men like me when the real violence begins (assuming they don’t just hide) precisely because we’ve been through it and know what to expect and what to be ready for - which, in turn, is exactly why we will do everything we can to prevent it from coming to that.

It’s good to see a kindred spirit. I couldn’t have said it better myself. And if revolution comes, men like me are the ones who everyone downvoting me will end up following, because I’ve already been through war and know exactly what to do and what to expect. I pity those foolish enough to mistake my caution, and my desire for peaceful methods, as either cowardice or inability. When the violence they’re calling for comes, I’ll be out there showing them what real violence actually looks like while they’re shitting their pants, because they have no idea but I regretfully know all too well.

That said, the point where diplomacy and due process get abandoned and the fee of liberty gets its thirst quenched isn’t here. Our democracy has not collapsed. Elections still happen - we’ll likely be seeing a major power shift in the midterms.

My fear is not what the government will do if we fight them. That’s predictable and frankly very manageable. My greater fear is what will happen after we’ve “won.” I fear what we will do. Because if you think the answer is “put down our weapons” then you haven’t read the third act of many revolutions in history.

That’s true. Just because all revolutions are collapses doesn’t mean all collapses are revolutions. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say revolution goes hand in hand with collapse, even if the reverse isn’t equally true.

Oh it works alright. The problem is that the guillotines don’t stop falling when all the people who deserve to die have done so. Sure, using a flamethrower to kill the spider in your kid’s room will “work” but there’s an extra detail or two that might be getting overlooked there.

Perhaps “can” want the right word. I’m aware we technically “can” run around guillotining our neighbors without due process. We shouldn’t.

“Saying ‘violence bad’ because it’s directed against capitalists and fascists…”

I’ll be sure to pass that along to anyone who says that. I’m saying war is bad, period. Fascists are an example of the kinds of people that make war necessary. And it may yet come to that. But it hasn’t yet. Our democracy has not been dismantled. Diplomatic options remain available to us. We’re very likely going to see a shift in power come midterms - which itself demonstrates why war is not yet needed.

I’m not saying war is never called for, and nobody ever deserves to die. The overwhelming majority of the people I’ve killed deserved to die. But war isn’t that cut and dried. The scenario where we address the problems we’re having without a revolution remains drastically superior and preferable to the scenario where we must fight a revolution.

Of course they do. Historically they’ve only happened when a country reached a point where there were was no other recourse. At that point, of course they’re going to make things better - “worse” isn’t really a possibility when revolution becomes necessary, which is kind of the point. Leaping to war before that point, on the other hand… well, there aren’t any examples of that which come to mind. Which suggests that, on the bright side, people apparently tend not to resort to revolution until it’s actually required.

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History books*

And show me. I’ll let your inability to do so speak for itself.

Collapse and revolution are the same thing. And you can’t guillotine anyone, as a rule, without due process at a minimum. Swap out the word “elites” in your comment with any other group name and it should swiftly become clear why.

It’s one of the cruel jokes of the world that those who call for war the loudest are those who’ve never seen it, while those who’ve fought in them are the ones who wait until it’s absolutely necessary to do so again - or who actually appreciate what “absolutely necessary” means.

The addition of the red hat means the people pictured actually support the elites in question.

Having said that, you’re talking about violent revolution. Look at basically every example in history. They all get much worse before they get better. The people that need to die, die. Sure. And it’s satisfying because those people historically have grown beyond what conventional institutions of justice could do anything about. Problem is, the revolution doesn’t just stop once the problem is gone. People don’t stop dying, they just stop deserving it.

Point is, people are armed as a desperate last resort that we pray we will never need, because people who’ve actually fought in wars know that outcome is far worse and far more horrifying than any diplomatic compromise would have been. War is not how you solve a handful of wealthy elites who are effectively above the law. It’s how you solve families being executed in the streets or put into concentration camps. We’re not there yet. Though admittedly we’re closer than we’ve ever been - ironically thanks to people in red hats.

Hence the “or it shouldn’t be a pilgrim” part. By 1775 people were dressing more like what we associate with the American revolution.

Seems like gods (or rather the people who believe in them, since those actually exist) are consistently a problem.

Situations like this forcing crazy improvs are what make D&D one of the most entertaining games ever made.

“I baked you a pie, Mary”

He could have been puppeteering the body, but he would have no need for a second pair of eyes, nor for any expressions. He has his own face for that. The reactions on the human face mean the guy is still fully aware, not just a meat puppet.

It certainly illustrates what Christian values are really like.

Oh, how I would enjoy the discussion that would follow. And oh, how they would not.

Perhaps it’s similar to the reasons why media outlets overwhelmingly report bad news over good news. People don’t care when things are going right. People react much more when things are going wrong.

In social media I imagine that most of the positive feedback people give takes the form of likes and upvotes, with only occasional comments, while the bulk of commentary is used for criticism and confrontation. At least in the context of doomscrolling through things like memes or political garbage. Forums where engagement itself is the norm, like philosophy or hobbies, probably get way more positive comments. But where impulsive reaction is the norm? Positivity comes in the form of thumbs up emojis, and comments are for arguing. XD

Just to make this a little worse, for those who didn’t notice it, the human guy the dolphin is wearing isn’t dead. You can see him continuing to observe/react throughout the comic.

Check for an ID. If there is one, bring it to the address listed. Mail it if it’s not local. If there isn’t one, bring it to the local police station.

And for the record, I’m an atheist.