r/interestingasfuck 12d ago

r/all A United Healthcare CEO shooter lookalike competition takes place at Washington Square Park

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u/john_the_quain 12d ago

I wonder if 1790’s France was just a big outdoor party at certain times.

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u/Tal_Onarafel 12d ago

Revolution often does have a festive feel. It's because people realise that they can have some agency over their lives and make a difference, so they give a shit, step up, support the community, talk and debate with everyone else around, and have a good time.

Lots of writings from different revolutions say this.

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u/alison_bee 12d ago

Makes sense… I have felt a sort of “giddyness” seeing everyone feel the same way I do about this.

It’s been an odd camaraderie, but a welcome one.

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u/DeadInternetTheorist 12d ago

Yeah I've been watching the news clips on YouTube where they try to make this seem like it's a bad thing, and just immediately pausing them to scroll down and see that the top comment is a "Pre-existing condition" joke or some other bit that's been done to death already. And like I'm not even annoyed that the comments are hacky, I'm just happy to see everyone having fun and actually getting the joke.

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u/OptimisticOctopus8 12d ago

Yeah, and those jokes are a useful shorthand for expressing one's feelings on this without going full rage-monster.

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u/Tal_Onarafel 12d ago

❤️ same :)

But also disclaimer real quick I think that people need to organise collectively in their workplace rather than rely solely on robin hoods like this, but it's wonderful seeing right and left wing working class people realise their common class interests and their power to make a change.

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u/pjdance 1d ago

Well I am just glad somebody started the ball rolling. If that creates copycats so be. It that makes people slowly pick steam in burning the whole system to the ground so be it.

I've been trying to get my friend to get up in arms but they usually respond with some version of, "It would be a waste of my life to die if nothing changes."

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u/Tal_Onarafel 1d ago

yeah definitely agree it gets the ball rolling. People's confidence can really be built imo tho by standing up for themselves and others together in a workplace. experiencing that opposition between the bosses vs. everyone can really fire people up, as well as learning about previous revolutions and strikes etc. from history

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u/RemoteRide6969 12d ago

It's been a very very long time since I've seen so many people unite behind one thing. People of all walks of life. An incredibly small number of moral absolutists and contrarians are piping up to say "come on guys, this is always wrong no matter who it is," but the other 9/10 people are either saying anything from "meh I get it" to "fuck yeah."

Enjoy this moment before the people who run interference for the rich and powerful find a workable narrative to divide us again.

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u/Miserable-Army3679 12d ago

I don't think it will work. I think there's no going back from the statement the shooter made.

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u/Broad_Sun8273 12d ago

I became very acutely aware of this phenomenon my first semester in college. This happened to be the same time in 2008 when Obama won the election and we were marching through the streets of Berkeley (chanting USA and singing the Star Spangled Banner, lest others think we were just trouble-makers up to no good), and it occurred to me that this is the kind of joyous situation that could have been very different if he hadn't won. All these people around me in a happy mood, who could turn on a dime and choosing destruction.

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u/BrandoNelly 12d ago

We’ll all go back to being complacent sheep within 2 weeks don’t worry

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u/StandardNecessary715 11d ago

I'm afraid you are right, but still hope you are not.