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submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by Not_mikey@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

There's a lot of people on here who are part of what I'd call losing causes, causes that run counter to the consumerist capitalist mono-culture, I.e. socialism, veganism, FOSS, anti-car urbanism, even lemmy and the fediverse.

I want to know what made you switch from being a sympathizer to an active participant. I believe it's important for us to understand what methods work in getting people involved in a movement that may not have any immediate wins to motivate people to join.

EDIT: A lot of people objecting to my use of losing so I'll explain more, all of these causes benefit from popularity and are weakened by there lack of adoption and are thus in direct competition with the capitalist consumerist mono-culture, a competition which they are currently losing.

  • Socialism on a small scale cannot solve the inherent issues of a capitalism that surrounds it.

  • Veganism benefits from more people becoming vegan and restaurants and grocery stores providing vegan options.

  • FOSS, or more specifically desktop Linux, benefits from more people being on it and software developers designing for and maintaining applications for it.

  • The more people that use transit, the more funding it gets and the better it gets.

  • the fediverse benefits from more people veing on it and more diverse communities so those with niche interests besides the above causes can find community here.

On the flip side the capitalist consumerist alternatives to all of these benefit from there popularity and thus offer a better value to most people. The question is about what made you defer that better immediate material value in favor of something else.

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[-] Lazylazycat@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

I assume this I just bait but regardless, describing any of these values as "losing" suggests that for anything to be worth pursuing in life, you must be winning at it. I don't even know what that means. Don't you make choices and spend time doing things because they make you happy or they benefit you or the people around you?

[-] Wahots@pawb.social 4 points 4 months ago

Because it's saving me craploads of money to bike instead of drive. Our city put in protected bike lanes. It's faster and cheaper than driving in traffic in a state with $5.60 gas.

[-] solidsnake@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago

Education. Good luck

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)
  • FOSS - Because I have been in it since almost the beginning of my tech career (first Linux was Red Hat Halloween) and in a tangential manner have helped it along in many ways. It's my default.
  • Veganism - Technically I am an inveg (involuntary vegan). I was pushed into a whole food plant based diet because it turns out I am genetically predisposed to coronary disease and absurdly high levels of cholesterol, arterial plaque, and inflammation. Built to run hard and die young, and I'm all out of young.
  • Fediverse - I am old enough to remember the old Internet and the Fediverse has a bit of that vibe. This is probably Lemmy leans more Gen-X/Xennial than other platforms.
  • UBI and other Socialist safeguards - I am a capitalist but I am more so a pragmatist. If we do not ensure the survival, viability of the population and access to the means of success to majority, then the system will collapse and we will all be fucked. Rich, poor and everyone in between. It's just common sense. Rich fucks and politicians are always focused on fast, short term gains and never in longevity and sustained success.
  • Netrunner CCG - Because it's just the best card game ever made (sorry MtG, but it's true). I buy every new set, even if I don't have anyone to play with anymore.

I have no doubt there are many other lost causes I support or follow that I am blissfully ignorant of their niche status.

EDIT:

  • Final Space - I pre-ordered the book so I can find out how it ends.
[-] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 4 months ago

I was pushed into a whole food plant based diet because it turns out I am genetically predisposed to coronary disease and absurdly high levels of cholesterol, arterial plaque, and inflammation. Built to run hard and die young, and I’m all out of young.

Have you been keeping a eye on atherosclerosis with imaging like CAC scores?

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 months ago

Oh yes. I even do a full body Pernuvo scan every other year.

[-] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 4 months ago

Wow, that is awesome. your the first person I've seen be so proactive!

[-] Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I have kids... so clearly yes.

[-] sad_detective_man@leminal.space 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I think I was broke at a young age to stand by things I think are true even if I'm liked less. There's definitely something to be said for social cohesion but I already have a lot of issues with hating myself and a lot of things that American society demands of me for social cohesion involve hating myself for more things that are less and less problematic.

So eventually it's just easier to identify with being a "principled" pariah. And then all the pro-social concessions I actually do make are things I can keep to myself to preserve that identity.

[-] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 2 points 4 months ago

I'm stubborn as shit and kind of a masochist.

Also in video games I like the adrenaline rush that comes with being on the losing side. Usually you just lose but sometimes you manage to do some badass shit and come out on top and that gives you one of the highest highs there is.

[-] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

How is (F)OSS a loosing cause?

Same for cars.
That may be true for car-centric countries/infrastructures like seemingly in the US (never was there. Only know what I read here) but Europe is not as dependant on the car.

[-] memfree@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 months ago

I expected "transit" to refer to non-car public transit, but I'm not the OP. That is: the more people on trains, buses, and such, the more routes and times. The route with 5 riders per day gets cut as too costly.

[-] Fleur_@aussie.zone 2 points 4 months ago

I'm a loser

[-] silentjohn@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 months ago

I'm a hipster.

[-] m532@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 4 months ago

Let's see... a few capitalists and their horde of miseducated lackeys vs 1400000000 socialists + lots of other people around the world. What's the losing cause here?

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this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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