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Generation dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis

Britt Wray is an accessible writer who touches upon a lot of topics that evoke climate anxiety — and how to deal with it. While writing it, she’s grappling with her own desire to bring kids into the world while knowing just how bad things have gotten. I was definitely avoidant of climate news before reading this, and now I feel like I have decent coping strategies and a renewed love for our planet. Contemporary Western culture may not stand alone in its glaring alienation from nature, but many of us living in it are certainly unaware of the effects of this alienation. We have grown to become what the mythologist and psychologist Sharon Blackie calls "disenchanted." When we no longer see every bird, tree, or ladybug as worthy of our interest and engagement, we lose some of our own vibrancy as a living thing on this Earth. The prevailing view that says humans are at the top of the chain, in a superior category all our own, is emphatically unenchanted. And so, what the radical danger of this ecological moment calls on us to do is to muster whatever forces we can to close the chasm or separation. Stopping to notice the beauty and intelligence of creatures beyond one's small human constellation brings sincere, profound connection.

@leen

Jul 30, 2024

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these are uneasy days. War is possible. love your neighbor.

I do think that large scale war is more possible than it has ever been in our lifetimes. There's a powder keg feel to much of it. Towering empires, armed and empowered. This thing that many western nations have experienced—several generations of peace—is a luxury, maybe even a historical anomaly. Neither you or I (as far as I know) have our hands on the levers of power or command armies with our decrees. But we aren't powerless. And one of my biggest concerns is the hallowing out of care for our communities. Of course it starts with our own hearts: Are there particular people groups that I'd like to see "get what's coming to them"? We know that marginalizing people based on race and ethnicity and class and nationality is bad. But what about those people whose religion we think is narrow and harmful? Whose beliefs are wacky? Or who support causes we find offensive? Do we find ourselves justified in wanting them to suffer because of what they think or say or which political faction they support? — that's a dangerous place to live. As an American who pays attention to the historical record, I can see that since its founding, my country has been marked by compromise, national sin, and perpetration of injustice. But I can also see that there have been times—around the second world war, for instance—when we were a force for global good: pushing back waves of fascism. That was only possible because of a willful working together among the people. And "together among the people" seems to be a great area of vulnerability—"a house divided cannot stand"—and also the opportunity space where each of us can influence our communities for the better. My challenge to me: show kindness and love to someone whose beliefs I dislike.

@mattshawsome

Jun 17, 2025

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Humans have been doing this for a long time

We love looking backwards to try to get in touch with ourselves, our history, traditional ways of doing things. I think this is a noble pursuit but the pace of cycling through eras in the trend cycle for example has grown increasingly rapid to the point that it feels like we’re endlessly regurgitating everything all at once, without context. Rediscovering the past can look like going back to pre-industrial ways of living which is a beautiful thing to strive toward. In a lot of ways, we’ve also abandoned a lot of traditional ways of doing things in favor of methods that are easier, faster, and simpler, not necessarily better. On the other hand, one of the three essential elements to fascism identified by Jason Stanley is invoking a mythic past to manufacture nostalgia for a more traditional, patriarchal, and racially pure past, which is I think what we’re seeing with a lot of people who romanticize 1950s Americana as some kind of utopian traditional society. Carl Sagan said: “In general, human societies are not innovative. They are hierarchical and ritualistic. Suggestions for change are greeted with suspicion: they imply an unpleasant future variation in ritual and hierarchy: an exchange of one set of rituals for another, or perhaps for a less structured society with fewer rituals. And yet there are times when societies must change.” “As a consequence of the enormous social and technological changes of the last few centuries, the world is not working well. We do not live in traditional and static societies. But our government, in resisting change, act as if we did. Unless we destroy ourselves utterly, the future belongs to those societies that, while not ignoring the reptilian and mammalian parts of our being, enable the characteristically human components of our nature to flourish; to those societies that encourage diversity rather than conformity; to those societies willing to invest resources in a variety of social, political, economic and cultural experiments, and prepared to sacrifice short-term advantage for long-term benefit; to those societies that treat new ideas as delicate, fragile and immensely valuable pathways to the future.” So I think we need forward-thinking transformational change, though it may not be as comfortable as nostalgia…

@taterhole

Jan 15, 2025

Top Recs from @crabbyblabbyabby

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THE ART OF GENDER

I am making a zine about the art of performing, producing and affirming our gender. A few weeks ago I was struck by a video of a piercer talking about gender-affirming piercings that exposed my bias. I, (a nonbinary hyper-femme glittery diva, obsessed with exploring, manipulating, and playing with expression, using my face, body, and essence as a canvas), realized I assume that "gender-affirming" actions, such as getting a piercing, would only refer to trans folks. There was this unconscious part of me that still gripped to the narrative that "gender" was somehow real... that cis people did not need to perform, produce, or affirm their own identity... that gender was static. This piercer exposed a hideous blind spot. They opened with a story of little girls getting their lobes pierced. This beautiful ushering into womanhood, this ritual of adorning similar style jewels to the brave and courageous women in your life. And then mothers. When mothers get their nose pierced to reclaim their bodies, to reclaim their autonomy after literally sharing, giving, everything to bring a child into the world. We all use art express our gender. We all everyday wake up and perform gender - yes sometimes in the theatrical sense, gender is drag of course - but also in the Judith Butler sense, that with every act we create a new reality. I don't know. The whole thing has just got me thinking. Especially with the state of the world today, authoritarianism on the rise globally, transgender history literally being deleted from government websites... a joyful celebration of gender, a leaning into the playful aspects of what gender can, of what it should be... is at least what I need. If you, cis, trans, unsure, whatever, have a story of a gender-affirming moment in your life, please share:) And if anyone wants to be a part of this project .... eeeeee that would be sick!

@crabbyblabbyabby

Feb 19, 2025

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no Phone #offthegrid

two weeks ago my iPhone decided she would no longer turn on, and as the broke young adult I am I said fuck it what if I went off the grid? Mind you I have been ADDICTED to short-form content and social media for years. I tried the time limits thingy but like any addict I just completely ignored it. there was a withdrawal period, sure, but my god. I have so many thoughts. So many ideas. So much more patience. I have read more, created more art, and spent some of the best times with my friends. I have sent letters and receive emails. We are not meant to be reached 24/7. I am intentional with my news intake, and I am even more informed because I make an active decision to read and watch the news when my nervous system is regulated and with all this free time I have the space to process what I am consuming. I truly do not see myself ever going back. With no google maps to rely on I am experiencing my surroundings - paying attention to the small stuff. I live in a fucking beautiful place. I am surrounded by beautiful people. I have an interesting mind capable of beautiful thoughts. mom was right!!! it is the damn phone!!!!

@crabbyblabbyabby

Jun 15, 2025

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COOL VERBS!

Okay I love interesting verbs, like anyone can use a fancy adjective, but a unique verb??? Now that is class. my current faves: - galvanize - scamper - bungle - envisage give me more recs!

@crabbyblabbyabby

Jun 18, 2025