As much as I can, but of course that doesn’t mean there’s been a complete severance.* It was easy to not consider any of the American car manufacturers or Apple products, but there are many treats from the vending machine that are available, I bought some electronics (GPU, handheld, probably SteamMachine or SteamDeck in the future) so there’s still room and not all merchandise or services are easily replaceable.

As for the culture, I follow some American influencers and there are some TV shows worthy of seeing (Dune and Andor come to mind). However in my case the American influence and their projected image has been waning ever since their attack on Iraq.

*I have no delusion that this is making a change in a financial sense, it’s simply a matter that I can’t support their acts.

Think from the angle of the story and what you desire to tell from the said story.

An advanced post scarcity civilization developed through cooperation and pacifism , but what happens when one element on the fringe of the human federation suddenly starts assimilating other neighboring regions? Will the doctrine endure or will it collapse under the practical test?

That dystopias feel cleaner is kinda worrying statement in my eyes. It’s not that they’re cleaner but it’s usually the recognizable issue that’s been dialed to 11, or perhaps what will happen when the Genie is out of the bottle… does the story grapple with the possible solution or it’s a simply a cynical take of the writer behind the curtain?

There is something to the the mindset of the author and what or how do they want to tell. Without a doubt the current “Zeitgeist” also plays on their mindset and what sort of a story or perhaps a scenario they’re setting up.

I do not know if the same “logic” holds true for others, especially the larger nations, but to many in my nation it’s “if we leave there’s no telling who of the neighbors is going to absorb us”. Perhaps going by the “there’s always a bigger fish” there’s a feeling that nations inside of the banner at least on paper are obliged to not attack each other in an effort to deter the larger opposition.

I personally though this is a bit of a fantasy, as Greece - Türkiye showcases that situation is far from ideal and wouldn’t it make more sense to try to reason and integrate with the larger (outside) nation? As otherwise you’re really leaning into a narrative that the “outside” is somehow born evil, which should feel quite hollow to anyone hearing it.

I’d like to read, USA has made a contract to deliver a 5 billion worth of fishing rods and hooks. I think it’d make a nice change of pace.

I don’t think that’s immature, but the reality you lived through. I used to be dismissive of these thoughts now I try to see what’s the real momentum behind them.

I don’t hate it, it’s just is what it is.

• Work isn’t slowing down, there’s no “Christmas is coming” mood anymore. It’s a rush and stress before and after it and no matter how much you got it done, you’re going to be behind schedule when you’re back.
• Rush, crowds everywhere.
• The artificial feel of it. Inauthentic essence that wants you to be authentically happy.
• Isolation.

What happened to the crew?

In part this is hilarious (in a terrible way), as I recall how there was fearmongering how piracy will increase because the US will no longer provide the global security for the sea routes. But we’re seeing them doing what they warned against.

With exercise I’d like to say that you shouldn’t treat it as a daily quest in an MMO. You know “I have to do this today”, if you forget you forget. Group activities with a fixed time slot are a bit better, because they create a greater incentive for a person to go out and do them. Sometimes there’s also an after hour hanging out at the nearest pub, provided people can take the time.

Not to go too much into psycho analytics, yes, there is a trade off with time and energy for it… if you’re starting out and always dropping out it’s a sign that you’re unwilling to go through that exchange of time and energy (or perhaps unable). But if the goal here is to simply a bit healthier you don’t need to do much. Take it step by step, day by day.

I will echo on the self expression, that’s an area I always low key suppressed thinking it’s foolish but it’s not. Frame that 80’s Japaneses poster, buy that DAP player or vinyls, because the ambient of the room and aesthetics of cloths and accessories we use do matter. It can be a simple thing of simply getting a key chain for your phone or a sticker for your laptop. It requires come curation but I can honestly say that it feels nice. Perhaps it asserts a certain agency, as opposed to 1001 of soulless apps on a big screen all overseen by the big AI.

No ideal answer. Try to find a certain meaning in your daily life, activities can help or rather shifting from passivity to activity will alleviate that feeling, board games, pick up an instrument, martial arts school and so on.

I’ve accepted that this is how things are. Most interactions I have aren’t about connecting, and even within my circle, there are times when it’s possible to be completely misunderstood by people filtering out what their preferred narrative is about.