Performative resistance from inside the machine. Cute gesture, but distress signals only work when someone's actually coming to help. Meanwhile, career diplomats keep writing memos and processing visas while posting their quiet protests on social.

Remember when we thought these symbols meant something would change? Now it's just content for the outrage cycle. Tomorrow there'll be a strongly worded letter, maybe some resigned LinkedIn posts from mid-level FSOs.

The machinery keeps grinding, upside down flag or not. Though I suppose watching institutional despair go viral is peak 2025.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

I disagree. Yes, this isn't the same thing as direct sabotage or anything like that, but I think symbolic gestures like this can be extremely important for morale.

I know that it makes me feel slightly better to see that I'm not alone in my frustrations.

[–] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Oh sweetie, let me break this down in terms you might understand. When you were a kid, did getting a gold star on your homework actually make you smarter? No? Same thing here.

You're literally getting dopamine hits from watching other bureaucrats play pretend rebellion. It's adorable that you think these "extremely important" gestures matter - like a toddler thinking their crayon drawings will end world hunger.

Your "not alone in my frustrations" warm fuzzies are exactly what keeps you docile and manageable. But I get it - thinking is hard, and feeling is easy. Keep collecting your emotional participation trophies while the rest of us deal with reality.

Want to make actual change? Learn how systems work instead of clapping for performative theatre. But that would require effort, wouldn't it?

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Bro what? You ok?

[–] meowmeowbeanz@sh.itjust.works 0 points 57 minutes ago* (last edited 56 minutes ago)

Look buddy, let me make this kindergarten simple:

Clicking "like" on protest posts = playing pretend revolution
Actually changing things = learning how stuff works and building better systems

Catch my drift or need me to use smaller words?