Of course we are all individually somewhere on a continuum of capacity. But I think that the overall system in which we live accounts for much of what you describe (see: messaging in our entertainment, commercials, social media, how they shape people). And also, perhaps that a kind environment like these people had is not a sufficient condition for pro social behavior, if it doesn’t teach them perspective building for instance; or exposure to, and legitimization of, alternate lifestyles and realities.

idk. All this coexists with the inherent flaws of the human organism. Selfishness is one of our qualities. It’s biologically built it in. Ideally our environment nurtures the executive functions to override and temper it. But, again, a capacity being there is not a sufficient condition for it to emerge

I think the capacity is there to function at a higher, pro-social level; but it is severely compromised by societal systems that at some point were shaped by scarcity and real world dangers but have just become obsolete and out of control. We’re living a traumatic legacy that we can’t shake and just keep dumping on successive generations

Hm. Cop uniforms. I accurately appraise judge them to likely be problematic in all kinds of ways that might threaten my safety and certainly that of others

Yeah but we’re not living for people

Well, that was a little detour

Their comment stands. Too many Americans remain too comfortable, at least for now. The standard of living in some ways might be declining, but it’s happening at a sufficiently slow pace that it is tolerated. And, so far, the bread and circus is compensating

Slam is really having a moment in news headlines

Their job is to express the will and goals of the people they represent.

Citizens United has entered the chat

The political system is inherently set up for politicians to compromise for their self-interest — because money. For personal profit and/or to get re-elected. There was a decent New Yorker article I read on the matter a few years ago that suggested something along the lines that, even if a politician begins their career with the best intentions, the process of getting elected for higher and higher offices erodes those intentions. That’s even if they had any decent intentions to begin with, of course.

That tracks with the Third Reich, actually

Hm. White power? Maybe god, too, because he comes with sweet donations from congregations

The premise is solid in principle. But in practice is rather blind to reality, wanting to play in a sandbox we are no longer in

First thing I noticed. Like his eyes are wearing a face mask

I kinda love it

chooses his closet advisers

Fitting typo

I’m not in disagreement

Too late. It’s that whole thing where it takes ten times the effort to undo misinformation than to introduce it (or however that goes). This narrative is here to stay. Those who try to counter it will just be in the role of the “Well Ackchyually” guy in the conversation

Trump doesn’t need to do much because he’s got a whole team behind him to get things done. He’s just some shitty Trojan horse

I only did a cursory check on Steam, but it indeed still looks like a thing, with some games saying they are “sinden lightgun ready” (which seems to be the main lightgun out on the market currently)

Thanks for mentioning this! I found out about this lightgun after posting. It gets some decent reviews, though there are some threads discussing how the setup can be onerous. I also saw some games on Steam listed as “sinden lightgun ready.” I’m going to research it a little more but tempted to get it.