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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

I'm not, but not due to not feeling British. I voted for independence as a route to effective governance/ representation - entirely logistic/structural, not at all tied to patriotism, which I broadly reject. I believe an independent Scotland would be back in the EU by now, and have MORE immigration.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

Yeh I mean, we (in Scotland) were pretty fucking close to independence. We were pretty fucking close to NOT leaving the EU. We got close to quite a lot of things but sadly there's no actual outcome from 'almost not Brexit' or 'almost Labour-LibDem coalition in 2010'. They're on/off.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

(Notably, a 'protest' 1/10 that size from hard right white supremacists the other week got considerably more traction and respect paid to it. I think about that a lot.)

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

When you speak to Millennials and Gen X though you are speaking to a generation who cut their activist teeth on a march of over a million people that still failed to stop an illegal war. Hope died for many of us in 2003. I've been running on fumes and principles for 22 years.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

I think that it takes a certain kind of bloodymindedness to see how fucked things appear to be and keep fighting anyway. Who can afford optimism or dogged determination in this economy? I feel lucky to still have fight left. I can't find it in myself to really fault the folk who can only howl.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

Certainly one of the factors making the much needed narrative change an uphill struggle.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

Protest groups are a different thing of course, more than one way to fight these battles. But I think it would be a mistake to assume good behaviour isn't being rewarded and reinforced by these same folk in other capacities.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

If I'm reading you right this feels like a biiiit of a straw man? I'm active in a Union with close contact with gov officials/MSPs. I see a LOT of energy spent complimenting and thanking and reinforcing good behaviour. I would guess most pressure groups working closely with govs are similar. tbc..

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

In other words, my issues right now are holistic, and have been for over 20 years. I want to see a shift in fundamentals, and find it hard to celebrate successes that feel like moving deckchairs around on the Titanic to me.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

Less pithy response: my main concern is that the gov, and Lab generally, seem unable/willing to challenge narratives invented and controlled by the right. The need for that is becoming urgent on many fronts. Individual successes aren't changing it, and various current policies/choices play into it.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

Okay so I, an average lefty, have been aware of all these things (maybe not your letter writing specifically..). Now what? It's natural that folk will be noisier about change that still needs to happen, no? What d'you want to see? Fruit baskets for MPs? The return of the Thursday pot bang? ;-P

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

Or are we taking more specifically about the actions of the current UKGov? Off the top of my head they've raised minimum wage, have made a little progress on NHS waiting lists, and somewhat belatedly recognised Palestine. Anything else?

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

What are some good news stories that you've been pleased to see/read lately?

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · 14d

I recall campaigning with NO2ID back in the 00s. Niggle Farridge (then just a nasty itch) was also against them, but the left had our own reasons, viewing it as another feature of Blairite surveillance state overreach. I think folk probably still do given that context hadn't really changed?

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Sep 4

Oh wow, hope you're enjoying!

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Sep 3

Tfw you realise belatedly that you've dressed like an extra from Man In The High Castle...

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Sep 1

Nobody actually cares about this for their own sake, Keir. Nobody is actually personally worried about this. You know why? Because it's not a real problem. When will you stop dancing to Farage's vicious racist little tune and start paying attention to the stuff that matters?

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Sep 1

I'm not sure that's thematically in line wi- you know what fuck it let's go.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Sep 1

Like, all the time? Hrm. I dunno man. The thing is, it doesn't have slats or a sprung box underneath; it's just a board. Do you like REALLY hard beds?

morag @mordant.bsky.social · Sep 1

Oh, the above re mattress comfort is when drawn out as a double by the way; have never slept on it as a single.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Sep 1

As a guest who sleeps on this regularly: looks lovely, makes a nice reading seat when up, very hard and needs a thicker mattress when down. If you love the aesthetic and have space to stash an extra mattress it works. A Zempire Monstamat or similar would be good (check length).

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Aug 27

Wowwww

morag @mordant.bsky.social · Aug 27

*laughs in "I read our reviews"*

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Aug 17

Finally made it to a Worldcon panel I'm not on.

Female panelist: [after being asked about romantasy by the moderator] Romantasy has its place but I don't really read it.
Old dude panelist: When you say Romantasy has its place that sets off subversive thoughts for me. Slavery has its place.

Welp.

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morag @mordant.bsky.social · Aug 1

Agree. Also I think it's worth saying that Ian's actual STANCE on what we should be telling young men is exactly like yours: women are people. Treat them that way. But he doesn't seem to have realised there ARE people already doing this work and getting no traction with it.

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