Michael

We just need to give those who commit crimes the tools to heal and learn from the hurt they caused. We don’t generally, and various unideal things happen after people are released from humiliating, degrading, dehumanizing, and exploitative conditions.

Not getting caught when they do their next crime or hurt the next person is likely on a lot of people’s minds. It’s happened with my sibling who just continued to escalate their behavior after every incarceration. They never learned their lesson. They never got offered real help. Their life is a revolving door of hurting others and losing their freedom for brief spells. They have no starting point to begin to understand the hurt that they routinely cause. They can’t get a job and participate in society even if they wanted to get better and do things right because they face discrimination in hiring and their opportunities are limited.

Personally, I feel that punishment just amplifies the violence and dysfunction, especially in the horrid conditions of the US prison system and forced labor camps like the story we are discussing. Being discriminated against in employment/not being offered opportunities/given a chance by society locks them into crime and destitution. I just can’t honestly imagine that brings the good out of many people…

The spoiler is he won’t learn the lessons he needs to learn from a labor camp. Even in the most idealized form of a labor camp.

Seems like the OP meant what I linked. But thanks for the link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-primitivism

Why is our planet so boring and stupid?

Because billionaires want it to only be interesting and beneficial to themselves and their class.

This seems like anti-competitive/monopoly behavior. Third-party sellers were already at a disadvantage selling on Amazon to the best of my knowledge.

From what you wrote here; you don’t feel heard, you’re working very hard (likely way too hard for your health condition), and stress is harming your condition greatly.

You need to have a chat with your partner and explore options to get you better support. This is very serious and your partner needs to be on the same page. You’re clearly pushed to the limit. Therapy could be helpful (with or without your partner), really working with doctors in any way you can, cleaning up your diet/exercising/doing anything doctors encourage - I believe it’s necessary that you start working on a series of changes that you make (and soon) for your health.

How long can this go on? Can you keep collapsing? Is it fair to your 4 year old to see you like that on the floor? How worried is everybody about you - both spoken and unspoken?

Please take a break if you can. You need to check in with yourself, regroup with your partner - with a focus on communication and your health (emotional and physical), and find better ways of coping with stress and improving your situation. If alone time is the remedy at times, find a way for them to enable that in a way that supports you the best and preserves the peace - just don’t isolate yourself too much.

Don’t blame yourself. You’re not a bad dad. You’re a human being who has a lot on their plate. You gotta live your life for yourself and the people around you, but that means you can’t forget or neglect yourself.

Wishing you the absolute best, reaching out for support (even here on the fediverse) is a good thing - keep doing it.

Yes.

Anybody who says otherwise is likely (on some level) attempting to convince others to crush their hopes of a better world being possible.

From the Wikipedia page:

In the late 20th century, many Americans with classical liberal beliefs began to describe themselves as libertarians.

I was alluding to that, but I appreciate the added clarity.

“Classic” libertarians were anarchists, communists, and socialists and the term was co-opted and its meaning shifted by capitalists and liberals. That’s my TL;DR.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism#Definitions

Although libertarianism originated as a form of anarchist or left-wing politics,[27] since the development in the mid-20th century of modern libertarianism in the United States caused it to be commonly associated with right-wing politics, several authors and political scientists have used two or more categorizations[9][10][28] to distinguish libertarian views on the nature of property and capital, usually along left–right or socialist–capitalist lines.[11]

Relevant diagram: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism#/media/File:Libertarianism-groups-diagram.svg

It’s a Twin Peaks reference! Just found it appropriate given the nature of this photo

The owls are not what they seem

Sometimes antidepressants can unmask bipolar disorder and cause manic episodes

Unless mania or hypomania was present previously in a patient, this would be more about the drug’s effects than revealing a pre-existing condition.

Definitely advise you to check out Type 2 flower (low THC potency) or edibles made from Type 3 hemp (high CBD, low THC) if anxiety or THC sensitivity is the issue. Carts are very, very potent and I do not recommend them for most people, dry herb vaping low potency flower is much easier to mitigate side effects.

I also edited my reply with a link to Lazarus Naturals for full spectrum tinctures, which is a great company. HCF is my favorite for Type 2/3 hemp flower (search the acronym and append hemp at the end).

Disclaimer: Be advised that CBD has a grapefruit effect and is best to consult with your doctor before regularly consuming if you’re taking any medications.

Have you tried incorporating rice into your diet to gain weight? I like white jasmine rice and it agrees with my sensitive stomach. You could try eating small amounts throughout the day, served with some cooked veggies for some added nutrition - prepared however you like.

When I was under-eating due to an undiagnosed severe stomach issue that was missed by doctors for years, the best thing for me then was slowly increasing my food intake at meals, eating light and more often, eating things that agree with me (eating primarily whole foods and cutting out highly processed foods + gluten), and vaping cannabis for nausea.

Nowadays it’s perfectly legal to get hemp shipped to your front door from online websites in most states for the time being… if you want a recommendation for nausea and appetite primarily I could point you in the right direction if you’d like.

Here is a reputable website for full spectrum CBD tinctures if ordering hemp flower/vaping/etc. isn’t something you’re comfortable with: https://www.lazarusnaturals.com/collections/tinctures?filter.p.m.custom.spectrum=Full+spectrum&sort_by=manual

CBD isn’t something that’s amazing for nausea or appetite specifically, but there are trace amounts of THC in there that could help. Low potency flower would be superior if you can tolerate it.

It’s absolutely shameful that we still have lead pipes in 2026.

Agreed. Open publication, as opposed to gatekeeping publication, is desirable for creative expression in society.

Just imagine how many great works never saw the light of day or reached completion because publishers didn’t bite. Obviously the internet and digital media broke this dynamic to a degree, but I’m sure it’s a significant amount.

For me and my skin/hair/scalp, using no products when showering besides the occasional, situational use of a facial cleanser (always at the end) is best for me. I have very sensitive skin and I react poorly to most products.

After I stopped regularly using most products in the shower I stopped getting dandruff (my scalp is very healthy now), my short hair is always very soft (but never oily), my acne improved significantly, my skin isn’t dry or irritated anymore (nor is it very oily in certain areas), and I have almost zero body odor (I’m somebody who sweats very little and has low body odor regardless - but I’ve still noticed an improvement).

I shower daily and use a deliberate, thorough washing routine, starting at my face and scalp and working downward to redistribute natural oils across my skin. I sometimes use a clean washcloth for exfoliation. This approach has worked well for my skin’s sensitivity and oil balance. I still use soap when it is reasonable and necessary to do so.

Have I bought into Big Soap capitalist propaganda without even noticing??

The skin’s oil layer (sebum) and its flora (microbiota) are critical to skin health, but I don’t think most commercial products are designed to support them.

I feel like no matter how angry you are at the state of the world or at other people, how outraged you are at the injustice and self-destructive trajectory humanity is on, empathy is a solid foundation for radicalization.