Im sorry the latter part of the 20th century was all about trying to avoid the whole might makes right mindset and in international politics it still should be. Wasn’t the whole justification for the west supporting Ukraine that might shouldn’t make right? The fact that people have just swallowed the might make right narrative just shows what kind of a dire situation we are in when it comes to international politics and how far standards have fallen since 2001.
> the latter part of the 20th century was all about trying to avoid the whole might makes right mindset and in international politics it still should be
Just because you try to do something doesn't mean you succeed. The way the world ought to be is not the same as the way the world is.
> Wasn’t the whole justification for the west supporting Ukraine that might shouldn’t make right?
Which involved buying them weapons in order to make them mighty.
And lets be real, there are plenty of other conflicts in the world that nobody gives a shit about (just look at africa). The real reason Ukraine is getting support is that its geographically right next to europe and having them not be controlled by Russia is strategically valuable to western interests. Having Russia wear itself out in Ukraine is also strategically valuable.
Reading a pulp novel as opposed to watching 10 second video clips is in no way comparable. I went to good schools but I hope most public schools still have libraries and if they don’t where I live the library is extremely cheap for young children. Also TikTok and YouTube aren’t free FFS, they’re commodifying your data anyways I don’t have children but if I did and I wanted them to read and the place where I live isn’t giving them an environment to do that I would try to create one myself (easier said than done I know) but kids can have book clubs just like adults do I would often hang out and talk to other kids about the books we both enjoyed reading.
My main point was that books are not treated as an entertainment anymore. It is education, chore, character development, duty. I am from generation that read more and a lot of that was us being bored and anything fun. All of that is tiktok/youtube now.
You did not had to go out of your way to find fun books, they came to you. There was kids journals with mini reviews of books and sometimes asked parents to buy one, because review sounded cool. Kids do not read kids journals either, they watch youtube and no youtube channel recommends books.
But, adults do not read for fun anymore either. The sort of demographics that read dumb books dont read at all. Those who read more sophisticated books watch more sophisticated shows. Basically only people who regularly read are those who are consciously seeking education.
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School libraries do not have pulp novels in them and if they did quite a few parents would call riot. Including people who complain on HN that kids are not assigned <insert whatever novel written for adults dealing with adult relationships that go over kids heads>.
Kids cant go to normal libraries unless someone drives them or accompanies them. And that someone has typically educational goal in mind, so that feeling you can pick pulp/junk and not be judged is not there.
> Also TikTok and YouTube aren’t free FFS, they’re commodifying your data
I dont think kids care about that. Or most of the population, which includes their parents and teachers.
> kids can have book clubs just like adults do I would often hang out and talk to other kids about the books we both enjoyed reading.
Kids don't have book clubs. To be honest, adult book clubs are something I have seen only in the movies. If you organize a book club for kids, it is another educational activity like math club. It can lead to some kids liking reading/math ... but it does not mean there is overall "math is fun" culture existing.
I remember the first time I read His Dark Materials trilogy as a kid and how much I loved it. I was able to escape to a completely different world, and it was the first love story I really enjoyed. I loved it so much I reread the books immediately, and begged my parents for the cassettes for the audiobooks. Makes me kind of sad that we seem to not value reading as a form of entertainment anymore because getting immersed in a book is a completely unique feeling I rarely get from any visual media.
My suggestion is get kids into audiobooks first and then get them reading, also don’t let kids watch tv or have a smart phone I wasn’t allowed to watch tv during the week as a kid, and I have neck problems because I read so much. Now I’m lucky if I get through a book a year.
Yeah hilarious how leftwing content is shut down on this website. I don’t care if you believe what I’m saying maybe just take note on how what I’m saying is censored by people with power.
It's incredible that Russia has managed to associate itself with the western left so easily, just by dint of "We're not America" and "Lol remember the Soviet Union? Wasn't that wild?"
Frankly I think the actually association is probably shallower than anonymous internet self-proclaimed leftists would have you think, but it's still impressive how powerful it appears.
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