#what a great theoretical question with big thinking required answers

[typosandtea]

🪨🗡️

Alright I love Jude for that that’s so real ahaha! Does she make a face or panic??

Tango would try jokingly on the assumption that’s it’s fake and when the sword doesn’t move they’d be a bit perplexed and pull harder, and when that obviously still doesn’t work they’d try increasingly violent and mythbustery methods till they or the stone break (they will break first obviously). They’d never be able to, if Tango’s soul was distilled it would be tinted black with the weights of their deeds, rage and selfishness. They would leave defeated, grumbling and probably physically damaged. As a joke they would suggest Preston try, to make themselves feel better at not being able to remove Excalibur by any method, only to have a what passes for a robotic aneurism when Preston effortlessly removes it. Preston would be so confused at why tango is physically freaking out meanwhile tangos like “I used a fucking missile launcher and a second set of hacked armour and still couldn’t move the blasted thing”. It would be a very confronting experience for Tango and they may have to face that old magic still exists in some places.

Murphy would psych herself out of even touching it, that gif of the husky tippy-tapping on the edge of the pool from indecision? That’s her. ‘What if? But but but the implications!’ If she does pull it, what does that mean for her? She is already the defacto figurehead for the regions mutant population, is she destined to unite the commonwealth??? She can barely keep them from tearing each other’s throats out aaa, heck she has enough trouble keeping the factions from fracturing as it is! And If she doesn’t pull it it would just be validating all of her anxiety that she truly is a monster of awful heart. The stress of either outcome would freak her out enough to decide that it’s better not to know ..

Thorn would not be able to at all, and she knows it. Being ‘pure of heart’ has never been something of value to her at all, power on the other hand.. she would be mostly dismissive of it as myths and stories, but part of her would wonder what such power feels like, would it be everything she strives for? She doesn’t believe in souls and if she did she would have sold hers long ago.

Nathan … this is tricky since current Nathan is not really present in his body most of the time.. as is he probably would not be able to because he is of animalistic demeanour and intelligence, BUT if he is having one of increasingly rare lucid moments he probably could, but those moments are fleeting and few so the chance is incredibly slim.. prewar Nathan yeah for sure but he wouldn’t want to, he doesn’t want the attention.

Slick would be able wield excalibur for sure, and then like Murphy would have a major freak about the implications.. with guidance and a fuckton of confidence building from his friends slick would be an alright leader, though he would never agree to lead on his own, he is very people oriented and tactical, but can struggle to see in the long term. His past as a gunner shattered any confidence he had in himself and has left him very confused that the sword has considered someone like him pure of heart? He doesn’t see what others can..

Libby would not be able to, and it would be bloody close too. she’d be a good sport about it though. So many jokes, but a tiny part of her wonders if it’s because she is a ghoul, does the old magic recognise the true heart through the many walls she’s put up? Or does it recognise corruption of body as a corruption of heart? She unconsciously dwells on this for a long time after, especially if no ghoul is able to wield it. She’s certain that she felt it move, what was it about her that Excalibur didn’t like? Would be 100% in support of Slick or Preston if either of them pulled it though! She’d be so very loud about it too ahah

could your oc pull excalibur from the stone?

jude could but she would assume it was Not Supposed To Do That and put it back.

[edwad]

I think my “mode of thought” question was poorly worded, because I mean “why is political economy not cognizable such that we could critique it (either in the way that Marx frames it, or in general) in the same generalized way we might critique Marxism or humanism, i.e other modes of thought?” I was not making an analogy between political economy and “genre.”

“Marx made it up” is a reasonable answer but basically all modes of thought are, at least initially, post hoc (and self-serving) constructions by other people observing or naming common intellectual themes, underlying values, phrases, symptoms and tacit arguments. “It’s impossible because we’d have to account for everyone” seems, pragmatically speaking, an unreasonably high bar for criticism. (You might say, as you have before, that it’s Marx himself who set the unreasonably high bar - but then I don’t really get why some other more achievable standard for the critique of capital couldn’t be developed; that conclusion of impossibility honestly makes the HET stuff seem like a big waste of time, at least for the purposes of critiquing capitalism/advocating for communism. If the CoPE is impossible, does that make the critique of capitalism impossible by the same standards?)

Writing a general critique of - for example - contractarian or humanist thought seems possible to me, and I don’t think such a project would succeed or fail on the basis of not “accounting for everyone’s beliefs,” even if it makes claims about how a larger system operates based on that critique.

lots of points here are well-taken, but i still feel like this misses the main core of the argument. it isn't that classical political economy is made up while other "modes of thought" aren't, because if that's what all my concern amounted to then it wouldn't really matter. all i could do with that is rate him better or worse as an intellectual historian, and maybe i'd be able to say i'm better at it than him because i have access to more documents and scholarly research or whatever. great for me, i guess, but it doesnt get us anywhere.

the argument i'm making, and you sort of hit on it here, is that *he* is aiming to not just construct demographic groupings of economists (sure whatever), but also to account for these economists out of the dynamics of the system. from here, the actual taxonomy should come *out* of the analysis, so we can assume that this is how he proceeds and that his categories (classical, vulgar, etc) should be fairly adequate for the task and not theoretically premature. this turns out to not be something we can fully grant because his opinions of the economists and how they relate to one another are constantly in flux, but even if we could treat this as a non-problem, he would still have the very hard job ahead of him of actually doing the accounting.

is it an impossible task? you say its a high bar (i agree), and acknowledge where i've said this is marxs own standard not mine (which matters a lot, i think!), so where does that leave us with other standards? well, that's basically not my concern here. if we're assuming the need for other projects, other methods, other standards, then we have accepted my critique. beyond that point, i'd definitely be interested in other attempts at contributions to *a* CoPE rather than *the* CoPE (marxs, apparently no longer salvageable). in fact, this is exactly the sort of thing i've been trying to invite for a few years.

what should be said here, though, is that the difference between projects can't simply be one of degree, where we simply loosen our epistemological claims and decrease the percentage of thoughts we'd need to account for. to me, this just isn't achievable on the terms laid out by marxs CoPE, and this would require a bigger change than just lowering the bar we'd have to clear. this has stakes for his method, and what would it mean for materialism if we weren't able to ground particular dynamics out of the social machinery? why would some be achievable while others aren't? and, pretty significantly (to return to the beginning), how is that any more possible than what marx already did when he got these things *wrong*? we haven't come any closer to offering answers, we've just cut ourselves some slack on how many we're supposed to provide.

this has direct consequences for the critique of capitalism, as ive said elsewhere, because his analysis of capitalism has to inform and be informed by the analysis of political economy. these two levels have to connect for his epistemological argument to work. if they don't, then that isn't just a one-sided problem. but is a critique of capitalism possible otherwise? sure, lots of people have offered them, it's just whether or not they're any good. is a *good* critique of capitalism possible? maybe, but i'm increasingly skeptical of it being rooted in marxs CoPE. is that depressing and frustrating? yeah, absolutely, i fucking hate it.

as for critiquing anything else (humanism, etc), i think it's worth saying how the CoPE isn't merely supposed to be account for political economy alone, as a narrow discipline. he is concerned with PE as the science of capitalist statecraft, but from here's he's working much more broadly to try and tackle liberal social theory as a whole (hegel, bentham, comte, etc). this is why, in the past, i've talked about marx's critique as a critique of modernity. the HET angle is incredibly relevant to estimating marx's success on this front, since this is the direction he goes about approaching the issue, but contractarianism, humanism, etc are all supposed to be bound up with this. if you tried, independently, to offer critiques of these things, i think you'd either be making an incredible mistake if you tried to pursue it in a marxy mode, OR you'd have to find another way in, which might be permissible for the same reasons that i think alternative attempts at the CoPE would be. that doesn't guarantee their success, by any means, but i'm not stopping anyone from being good, creative communists. my whole point is that i think this critique of marx leaves us in the position where this is exactly what's required of us.

[valentinos-corner]

HIIII VALENTINO :DD IM SO HAPPY YOUVE HAD A GOOD DAY!!!

Gasp!! I'm most certainly good with spoilers, and even more ecstatic to await ramble :00..... that's awesomeeee let's gooo!!!!

Yaayyy!! awww, I'm soso happy to hear that school's got a great environment for you like that, that's such a great thing :D Aaaa that's so exciting!! Nice teachers are somewhat rare these days, absolute win on your end :)

Soundsss delightful!! you really never know lol, i love that :> In that case hiii!! I am le back, and berry excited to hear about fmab :3 I hope you're having/will have a lovely evening as well!!

Also! random question before I go lol, are there any scents in the world that you enjoy the most :3?

Alrightyy, a departure for now Valentino!! It was lovely talking with you, and I'm super happy to hear that you had a good day c: Let's hope you continue to stay on the mend, getting all better and all, and I hope you sleep well tonight as well!! I'll see you 'round, you're amazing, byeee!!

HAIHAIHAI

OKAY SOSOSOSO

fma spoilers, obviously

you know how al is literally just. a soul in a suit of armor? that his brother unceremoniously cobbled together after The Accident? so in an attempt to find out more about the philosopher's stone, the elrics decide to go poke around the theoretically abandoned military laboratory 5, plopped right next to a prison (that's what makes them suspicious- philosopher's stones require humans to create, so they think that death-row inmates might be being shuttled off to make stones)

so they're right, of course, but here's the catch- in a couple cases, they only take the bodies, leaving the souls of a couple notorious serial killers behind in suits of armor as guard dogs should anyone come poking

so the elrics get separated and each end up fighting a former serial killer, and the guy al's fighting asks him if he thinks he's real

see, how is he meant to know his memories are real? that edward didn't create a soul just to follow him around? that he's really his brother?

so al beats the shit out of him with relative ease before the lab BLOWS THE FUCK UP (thanks homunculi) and ed ends up in the hospital and al is brooding up a storm

AND THE SCENE. WHERE HE CONFRONTS ED. IS SO GOOD

it starts off with them just. bickering like siblings, and ed makes an offhand comment about how al is lucky to have a big body (cus ed's really upset about how short he is. he's 15 years old and he's 4' 11". i'd be mad too) and al, understandably, shouts at him that he didn't ask for this! he didn't want this body! and asks the question that's been on his mind. is he even real? or is ed lying to him?

so as winry (ayyy my girl) steps on scene, having arrived to fix ed's metal arm, ed just. calmly asks if al is done. al's like "w- i guess?? are you not gonna answer????" no! no he is not! in one of his most mature moments if you ask me, ed just. gets up. and walks away. and winry starts SOBBING and smacks al with a wrench because SHE'S KNOWN HIM THIS WHOLE TIME AND HE JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS LYING??? FOR WHAT??? oh! and that thing that ed wanted to talk about but was too scared to? HE WAS GOING TO ASK AL IF HE BLAMED HIM FOR WHAT HAPPEN

the voice acting. in that flashback. was. HEARTBREAKING OH MY GOD. "he can't eat, he can't sleep, i don't even know if he's human anymore, and it's my fault. i'm his big brother, i was meant to protect him, and i hurt him and it's my fault."

so winry smacks al with the wrench again and tells him to GO GET YOUR BROTHER AND APOLOGIZE and al's like OKAY I'M SORRY and we get a really sweet scene of the elrics just. sparring. and then they collapse on the hospital roof and talk about memories for like seven minutes and i cried

well that was. a lot! thank You for listening!! bwaaaaa!!! /pos

there are! i really like woody smells. frankincense and sandalwood and cedar and MM PINE I LOVE PINE (<i lived in alaska for a while! so evergreen smells like home :>) how bout You? :D

thank You thank You thank You for letting me ramble! >.< i do hope it was fun to read!! gnight, You mean a lot to me!!

[nofourfol4]

i think finding the truly weirdest piece of art in a medium is less an exercise in extremity than an exercise in subtly- to an extent. if the weirdest piece of art is the one 'farthest' away from every other piece of art, then its incorporation of convention in a stream which theoretically maximizes that distance will place it off even that tattered path. so anyway, Maze of Justice

[screenshots from Cosmo (left) and Ota Owa (right) on youtube- not both images of the same part but it's about that different between the deco and layout lol]

while answering what the truly weirdest geometry dash level is i don't think i could do, i gotta say it's like at least top 5 or 10. it's the epitome of this confluence of convention and experimentation, starting life as a very unfriendly to even bot impossible maze scribbled under a blade of justice noclip, it eventually was decorated with by far some of the highest production value from the ILL community (certainly responsible for some of the strangest levels ever made already) until the much more successful TRUE SCHAFS (a surreal level in its own right, the surprisingly conventional megacollab stylings contrasted with the utterly unhinged ILL style gameplay, not to mention it being revealed for the first time near the end of a 5 hour, like, ILL community broadcast thing?) but that decoration half looking like entire boj parts stolen and overdetailed to the point of breaking them, but where the stolen objects, if there are any at all, start and end is incredibly hard to tell, giving almost like a B3313 or some such effect where it just looks Wrong. and of course, it's a red "remake"(?) of blade of justice, one of the blue levels of all time, especially since it comes from an era of especially red extremes. it's the kind of idea i'd find hours into deep meditation and wish i could make but not have the patience/colleagues for, it's probably the closest a geometry dash level has gotten to feeling like something you'd see in a dream if you have gd brainrot. the song helps too, a "remix"(?) of the song used in boj with some parts just taken directly from the song with minor edits and others being entire orchestral/sound design remakes that flatten the great song like how the decoration flattens the great level, but this bastardization works, because i actually like this level slightly more than blade of justice (and i quite like blade of justice!), it having produced something much more subtle than conventionally good but utterly fascinating

i haven't even really talked much about the gameplay either, greatly confounding this by, in the decorated mode, being almost completely uncorrelated with the structuring resulting in the icon in any showcase of it just haphazardly clipping around the level, the Maze in question requiring extensive knowledge of the game and analysis in the editor to even understand, a wave near the end being so hard to even bot it's been deemed impossible to do so (while still theoretically physically possible), and it not really reminding me of many other impossible levels, memory levels, or really even many levels in general. my lust for bizarre game breaking gameplay is a big reason i like it as much as i do but the deco is kinda mid so it's like a high 8/10 but i'm not sure a level this strange in this way even could reach higher for me, it's kinda a requirement for it to be slightly visually boring to be as bizarre as it is

[siriusread2muchalready]

HOW TO SURVIVE AN AMERICAN SHIPWRECK

I had been thinking about using the 60's screwball television sitcom "Gilligan's Island" to explore the impending American political shipwreck for a while, but then I found an opinion piece in the Milwaukee Independent by Lee Matz about the disturbing themes of the show and delayed. The point of that piece, to misstate the theme of the piece slightly, is don't look back, things weren't so great.

My point is that the ship of state is now beached, in part by attempts to return us to a Great American Fiction about the past, and we are going to be on the island for a while; how do we survive the prolonged incompetence and nonsense that awaits us? So, let's get to the heart of the matter: why are we on a beach with very rich people complaining about their discomforts, women who are cardboard figurines (though one suspects Mary Ann could cut through at least half the hair-brained ideas), and a brilliant Professor who totally underestimates what the crew can accomplish?

Before the Roman Republic sank through imperial pretensions, Lucretius, that Epicurean "pop" philosopher, wrote a proem to the second book "Of the Nature of Things", likening happiness to a man on a beach watching a ship go down, not taking joy from other's misfortunes, but knowing one has avoided calamity. But surely, our detachment from the misfortunes of others cannot be so complete and indifferent?

Gillian's Island Lesson #1: turn off the radio except for newsworthy moments. Our batteries are dying.

I recently ended my subscription to the New York Times, not because it isn't an addictive read, but because I was being drawn into a loop of opinions about what may happen or speculation about why we are where we are. The very people who had wrong impressions of the election outcome were explaining the outcome a few days later.

The straw that broke the camel's back was an opinion piece by Maureen Down, that in attempting to explain how out of touch the Democrats were, mentioned an acquaintance's comment she didn't want her daughter playing soccer (I think) with a "boy" charging at her.

Was it too big an ask, considering the potential impact on a very vunerable minority, to deconstruct the legitimacy of that statement? How many rabid trans soccer "boys" are longing to take out more delicate girls in school sponsored events? I have seen the number of trans students estimated at .6% which would mean a lot of American schools wouldn't have any trans soccer players even if every trans "boy" wanted to be a soccer star. And if physical impact is an issue in school sports--and I think it should be--why not reconsider the very unfair issue of forming teams only by sex and age? Size differences can vary greatly in the adolescent growth spurt years.

(I will only mention in passing assessments and reassessments of Kamala before and after the election I read in the Times and other media.)

Gilligan's Island Lesson #2: Listen to the Professor but Question

The Professor generally presented a "scientific" answer about getting off the island, but one always doomed to be badly executed. Why didn't he consult the sailors and castaways who had some practical knowledge he did not have? In TV land they had to stay on the air--and so on the island remain--but we need a plan that values not only theoretical solutions, but also practical questions.

As a child of educators, I once believed everyone would place a high value on questions, but as a society we will need to reassert patience for the best answers to form. In many ways, we, as a society, seem castaways on an incomprehensibly vast sea of knowledge with a clouded perspective on what research can establish, how quickly the right answers emerge, and what expertise means. Theories can be spun at the flash of high speed internet, knowledge requires patience as a society.

The variables that present themselves in each instance of American life are too numerous to simply believe rescue resides in a return to a Glorious Past (that in many ways didn't exist). Nor can we believe that "expertise" in a limited area shines a broad and bright light on the future.

To return to Lucretius and his shipwreck similes and metaphors, the human child appears as a sailor washed up on a beach, lacking immediate resources for his or her survival. A brutal image, but here we are. Elon Musk and the other successful billionaires, confident in their general skills, must be reminded that they are on a shore they have not seen before.

Gilligan Lesson #3. Forgive the Gilligan and Throw In A Show

The detachment of Lucretius' Epicurean philosophy (shared in large measure by the Stoics) makes sense in a precarious world, especially when freedoms and equality suffer loss of respect, but for me it cannot be a total retreat. As Michael Puett argues in his very accessible book on ancient Chinese philosophy, "The Path," the answer is not complete withdrawal from the world but intelligent engagement for the good, achieved through recognition of the need for constant flexibility.

Gilligan was forgiven (though sometimes the fault was with ambiguous communication), embraced. A show was put on for Ginger to express herself again as a performer. The castaways formed a community.

I believe we now should shoulder a bigger responsibility for community building.

Send money to Oxfam, Feeding America, Legal Defense Fund, etc. Attend a concert of struggling artists. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Until support reaches those in need. Until you smile because you achieved something worthwhile in an increasingly turbulent world.

[campuscompass]

MBA Admission Checklist: What to Look for in a University

Master in Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most popular courses in India. The popularity is major because of the flourishing business sector and tech advancement.

If you are also looking for an MBA admission in India, you have reached your ideal destination. 

This blog is like your map to navigate the questions that you have about MBA admission. But if you have missed the deadline and are clueless about what to do, don't worry. Some universities in India are now offering admissions for the February session, which will save you time and ensure that you are not behind your peers in any manner. 

So, let’s dig in and answer all your questions before you take this major step — pursuing an MBA. 

MBA Admission 2025: All You Need to Know

If you are tired of scrolling Google and still unable to find your answers, keep reading. 

To begin with, let’s first understand the requirements for pursuing an MBA. 

Documents Required for MBA Admission: Here is a list of the documents that you would require to start with your MBA: 

Birth Certificate

Graduation certificate

Character Certificate

Class 10th & 12th mark sheets

CAT scorecard (if asked by the university) 

These are some of the documents required generally and you can also check with your respective organisation to find out the same. 

Admission Criteria for MBA 

If you are thinking about the cut-off for MBA, then generally, you require a minimum of 50% or above or an equivalent CGPA in graduation from a recognised university. Several universities have their eligibility criteria which you may have to follow depending on your choice of institution. 

Now, the bigger question is which university is best for an MBA and what to look for while looking for one.

When looking for a university for your MBA, consider these key points:

Reputation and Rankings: Check if the university is well-known and ranks high in MBA programs. This often reflects quality in education, faculty, and placements.

Specialisations Offered: Ensure the university offers the MBA specialisation you’re interested in, like finance, marketing, or entrepreneurship.

Faculty and Industry Experts: Look for universities with experienced professors and guest lecturers from the industry. This ensures you’ll get practical insights along with theoretical knowledge.

Alumni Network: A strong alumni network can be a great asset for mentorship, networking, and job opportunities after graduation.

Placement Opportunities: Find out the university’s placement rate, companies that hire from there, and average salary packages. High placement rates usually indicate good industry connections.

Learning Environment: Check if the university offers modern facilities, interactive classrooms, and a collaborative learning environment.

Internships and Real-World Projects: A good MBA program should include internships and real-world projects that allow you to apply what you’ve learned and gain hands-on experience.

Global Exposure: Many universities offer exchange programs or international exposure. This is helpful if you aim to work in a global environment.

Cost and Financial Aid: Consider the tuition fees and the availability of scholarships or financial aid. Ensure the investment is worth the value you’ll get from the program.

Location: The university’s location can impact job prospects, especially if you want to settle in a particular city or region. Some cities also offer better industry exposure. 

Choosing an MBA program is a big decision, so take time to research each of these areas to find a university that fits your goals.

Now the next important question is which university to choose. Let’s address that in detail. 

Several universities in India are best suited for an MBA but Shoolini University situated in the Kasauli Hills is the best for several reasons. Let’s find out why.

Shoolini University stands out as a top choice for MBA aspirants in India. Ranked among the top 30 B-Schools by the 2023 Silicon India Education B-School Survey, the institution is also recognised as the No.1 private university in India by THE World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings. An MBA from Shoolini can be a major step toward a successful career.

Shoolini’s MBA program goes beyond academics to prepare students for leadership roles in the corporate world. The fully residential MBA program, ranked among the top 101-125 in India in the 2024 NIRF Rankings, combines quality education with practical training. 

Shoolini’s MBA program has maintained a strong 100% placement rate, with a dedicated Placement Cell focusing on ‘Mission 130���—securing high-quality jobs for all students, with 30% in top-tier positions. With paid internships and partnerships with 250+ companies, students gain real-world experience and build professional networks.

Industry Connections

Top organisations, including L'Oréal, Grant Thornton, Accenture, Deloitte, Adani, Mercer, American Express, and Piramal, hire from Shoolini University. The program is shaped with input from global leaders in major firms like McKinsey, PwC, and Citi, and top institutes like IITs, IIMs, and ISB, ensuring students are industry-ready from day one. 

Unique Features of Shoolini's MBA Program

1. SPRINT™ Bootcamp: Inspired by Stanford, this intensive week-long program enhances practical skills through workshops, games, and expert lectures, giving students firsthand industry exposure.

2. Advanced Training Program (ATP): A focused 21-day initiative, ATP builds strong problem-solving and foundational knowledge, essential for thriving in a business environment.

3. Leadership Mentorship: Through this program, students are mentored by top industry experts, such as CEOs and senior executives, offering guidance and networking opportunities that support students' career aspirations.

Shoolini MBA Specialisations

1. Marketing: With a focus on digital marketing, brand management, and retail, the marketing track aligns with current industry trends, equipping students with critical marketing skills.

2. Finance: This specialisation covers areas like FinTech, venture capital, and financial markets, preparing students for dynamic careers in the financial sector.

3. Human Resources: The HR track prepares students to excel in talent management, fostering effective HR practices in diverse workplaces.

4. Pharma and Healthcare: Tailored for those interested in healthcare, this track provides insights into the unique challenges of the industry, positioning students for impactful roles.

5. Business Analytics: Focusing on data-driven decision-making, this specialisation equips students with analytical tools for success in today’s data-centric business world.

Eligibilty Criteria 

To apply for the Shoolini MBA in 2024, candidates need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks, along with qualifying scores in exams such as GMAT (550), CAT (55 percentile), NMAT (60 percentile), MAT (70 percentile), or other state or Shoolini entrance tests. Applicants must also submit a letter of intent and participate in a faculty interview as part of the selection process.

Conclusion

Choosing the right MBA program is a big step towards a successful career in business. By considering important factors like placements, specialisations, and learning opportunities, you can find a program that matches your goals and ambitions. Shoolini University offers a comprehensive MBA experience, with strong industry connections and hands-on training to help you grow as a future leader. Explore your options, focus on what matters most to you, and take that step towards making your career dreams a reality.

[the-madwomen]

... Have you ever played a carnival game and realized it was rigged?

We remember, when our system was far younger, we saw a news segment on carnival games. One of the games was a basketball game. Just get the ball in the basket, you win a prize.

Now, the news team managed to get an actual basketball player. As far as we remember, they were actually in the NBA, and or at the very least they were a professional.

He couldn't make the shot.

No matter how hard he tried or how good he was, he couldn't make the shot.

It turned out that the hoop in question was actually an *oval* shape rather than a circular one. Theoretically you *could* get the ball in there, but it would require just the right angle and still need a great deal of luck.

And, of course, the carnival could get their "prizes" for cheaper than what they were charging for the games. That's how capitalism works, buy low, sell high and all that. And it wasn't some secret, you could go to the same websites and buy them yourself! Even buying in bulk would be cheaper than a ticket to the carnival.

So, the real question is, after learning all that... Why would you want to play the carnival games?

Yeah, it's fun and might impress your date, but even that will wane after a bit. The fun stops around the fifth or sixth try as it turns into bitter stubbornness, and your date will get bored after a while and the excitement dies down, especially if you never actually get the damned teddy bear!

Well, the simple answer is gambler’s fallacy and sunk cost fallacy, but what causes us to start playing if we already know we'll lose?

Now, imagine if everyone lived in one of these carnivals. Where all the games are rigged against you, and there's no way to outright buy the plushies from a website.

You can't win those games, can you? But of course the barkers will taunt you about it. It's a game of skill, they say, not luck. Hurry, hurry, step right up and try to win a Teddy Bear! And in this hypothetical carnival they say that, if you manage to win a Teddy Bear you get to make some changes to how the carnival works!

Enticing, isn't it?

And to many, the solution is clear... We play the carnival games! We try to win as many games as possible and BADA BING BADA BOOM! The changes will one day be enough to where things are significantly better!

But the carnival is already privy to this. They realize that people want the Teddy Bears, and they did give a big ol' hefty promise that whoever gets them gets to change the rules, so they have some tricks up their sleeves. They make sure that people who align with their rules have an easier time with the games. Makes sense, you want that power to be in the hands of people who agree with you. Besides, if *no one* can win the carnival games, that gets suspicious real quick.

So, they either put in plants disguised as customers or they scout for people who align with their ideals. As for everyone else, the game is made deliberately harder. For some, even impossible. And in the rare case that someone does make that shot, hit the bullseye, score a three-pointer... Well, if those people can't be bribed, they can just have their little rule-change. After all, the rules still have to be approved by those in power. And even if they manage to get a more radical rule through, something that improves lives throughout the carnival…

Well, one person can't start a revolution.

Revolution is a team effort, first and foremost. Buuuuuut the carnival games are all single player. The games are all designed so that people think that just the right person needs to win a Teddy Bear to take down the carnival, some theoretical Great Man to lead the charge. And the carnival's infamous Hall of Winners, taught to all the children born and raised in the carnival, is more than happy to push that narrative.

They want people to think that they could be the one to do it, or to wait on that person. That maybe, with enough practice, or luck, or darts, or water guns, good aim, letters, rings to toss, votes to cast, megaphones to shout in, representatives at the tents, water balloons, strength-testing hammers, or good old fashioned force of will, that the change will come! That the right person will come along will win the prize, and lead us to VICTORY!

…

But not even an NBA player can make that shot.

A simple three pointer, and not even someone who plays basketball for a living, who likely played basketball for all their life, can make that shot.

... So what to do?

Well, a revolution needs a team.

So, we band together. Work together with many others. Lift spirits. Inspire hope. And, much more importantly than hope... Inspire action. We tell everyone that a better world is possible. Yes, yes, we'll all fight and bicker and even go so far as to hurt one another over what that better world will look like, we're still sentient. Par for the course for any intelligent species!

But the biggest point is that a better world is possible. There is more to the world than this twisted carnival.

So we can't win a rigged game. Well then, ignore the game! Who needs it? And while we're at it... We don't need the Teddy Bears either! They're just symbols for the powers that be! So, why not go directly to the ringmasters of the whole operation and demand changes? And if they refuse to make those changes, then we get rid of them! Death isn't required, but they don't have to be in charge! And we can decide, when we get there, who should be in charge, or even if ANYONE should be in charge. Same applies to the rules, the laws, even the system itself. Maybe we want a carnival where all the games are fair, or maybe we can say "screw the carnival, let's make a library". Maybe we can just leave nothing there and let everyone do as they please.

The point is, no matter what we decide, we need to get to that point.

Where we're able to make something... New.

Not just for our own sake, but for the sakes of our families, friends, descendants, enemies, and the people who we will never bother to know.

We saw a post, that mocked those who waited for “the Glorious Revolution”. Not because of the idea of the revolution itself, of course. They were an anarchist, like we are. It was more the idea that the revolution is going to be some naturally occurring event, like the Christian Rapture. They suggested to work on what you can do, the little things. We would expand that from soup kitchens, although a very good cause, to things like organizing and spreading the word of whatever ideology you prefer. We're not sure how they would feel about this post, or if they’ll ever see it, but at the very least we can agree on one thing.

The "Glorious Revolution" is not going to fall out of the sky.

It is something we have to work together... To create.

- Sincerely, The Hatter