what does it mean when people say stuff like individual morality or action is incompatible with class analysis or class struggle?
alright so like one of the key ideas about class analysis is the idea that classes (as a whole) have economic interests that affect all their members but don't extrapolate out to an individual analysis.
for example, let's say that you can't find a job, and somebody offers to pay you below the table for below minimum wage. it's in your individual interest to do this--it beats having no job! but as a member of the working class, once this practice becomes normalized, suddenly the standards of pay for everyone are lower because people know that they can just pay less than minimum wage under the table. competition between workers for jobs drives wages down for everyone, leaving them all in a worse situation overall even if each individual choice to scab, to accept lower pay, to resist unionization, etc, leaves the person who makes it better off. cf. karl marx on what happens when wages and working conditions deteriorate:
The labourer seeks to maintain the total of his wages for a given time by performing more labour, either by working a great number of hours, or by accomplishing more in the same number of hours. Thus, urged on by want, he himself multiplies the disastrous effects of division of labour. The result is: the more he works, the less wages he receives. And for this simple reason: the more he works, the more he competes against his fellow workmen, the more he compels them to compete against him, and to offer themselves on the same wretched conditions as he does; so that, in the last analysis, he competes against himself as a member of the working class.
— Karl Marx, Wage Labour & Capital
similarly, any individual member of the working class is completely dispensable and replaceable by capital. if one person refuses to work unless they're paid a higher wage, they'll be fired and replaced with somebody who doesn't. the individual worker has no economic leverage whatsoever. but the working class has incredible economic leverage! and so does the intermediate stage between the working class and the individual--organized segments of the working class (e.g. trade unions) have economic leverage. if one person strikes, the capitalist can fire them. if 40,000 people strike, your industry is going to shut down.
so the reason why class analysis is compatible with individual action is that your incentives measurably change when you start organizing--it's in the interests of the individual to compete, but in the interests of the class to cooperate. and obviously you cannot just expect everyone to spontaneously coordinate! you, the individual, are disposable to capital! if you, personally, refuse to take the under-the-table offer, either on moral grounds or because you recognize your class interest, your neighbour's going to take it--unless you and her get together and agree that neither of you will take it. that's the only way that the guy making the offer is going to have to give in and offer the job for a living wage.
and this is what organization is--trade unions (although they have severe limitations!), communist parties, and other worker's organizations allow the working class to pursue their collective interest--which can only be pursued by collective action, because engaging in the strategies of collective action as an individual, without the cooperation of your peers, is high risk for no reward.
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Starlo should be Clover's dad
Why? Because ↓
1) Both dress into cowboy-themed attire to feel braver/more important than they are
2) Clover, instead of a regular kid, wants to feel like a hero; Star, instead of a regular farmer, also wants to feel like a hero
In reality, Star is not the tough guy he pretends to be. His optimism, protectiveness and caring nature make him a hero though.
In reality, Clover started off as a scared kid who became more confident and skilled thanks to Flowey's resets. Their heroism comes from their forgiving and selfless nature and the hidden courage they got the chance to explore.
2) Both acted childish during a dangerous situation
Clover came down the mountain with a toy gun so that it would bring them comfort/they'd feel more in control of the situation (if you remember, Frisk refused to play with Asriel's toys in UT, saying how they're "too old," and I assume Frisk and Clover are the same age).
Starlo brought a fake gun before confronting Clover in genocide, just to feel cool.
3) Both not only value justice, but base it on compassion
Clover's entire mission was to bring justice (avenge the kids), but along the way changed that mindset (in pacifist). Star says how him and his posse aren't bandits, tests Clover's sense of justice and morality with the trolley problem, and wants to give Ceroba a second chance despite her actions.
4) Starlo's got protective fatherly instincts
5) fatherly pride
8) a lot of monsters associate Clover with the Dunes/Wild East
9) oh and... Starlo referred to the Wild East as Clover's.... home. Twice.
he could have easily said 'Wild East'
... get the adoption papers.
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I love your werehog sonic and tails art because no one draws them together enough also I love how it looks like that werehog sonic would definitely use his teeth to pick tails up by his scruff and I’m here for it
AHHH thank you!
take them. an offering
they are dog bros. canid comrades if you will.
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My friend tried to be my wingman and was talking me up to my crush cause they were at the same party and my crush fully goes “oh I don’t like Hannah like that” and my friend had to save it by being like “oh nah she justs think ur chill and wants to hang” and he called me relaying all of this information and I have never felt so many horrifyingly embarrassing emotions at one time
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Palestinian Red Crescent workers comforting little children terrified to use a crossing because they fear they'll get killed... where does one even begin? A child at this age should be worried about monsters under their bed, dentist's appointments, having to get out of bed for school. Not that another human being will try to kill them. And the brave rescue workers putting on smiles and pulling out juice cartons, tickling them to bring out a smile and maintain the illusion of safety...
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Frieda Fromm-Reichmann (1990)
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