@Hex Hey. You're encouraging folks to publicly post information about themselves that could land them in jail or in an exciting new position fertilizing someone's cornfield.

Maybe take a look at some of the stuff @hakan_geijer has posted recently about #OpSec, and reconsider.

#opsec #opsec101 #anarchism #uspolitics #USPol #anarchists

@Fishercat @hakan_geijer I am not. The majority of organizing that folks can do is both legal and not high risk. Anyone who is doing high risk work should absolutely not share anything about that.

The majority of folks in rural areas are not nearly as scary as city folks tend to think... And most of them hate the few loud Nazis and good ol' boys who run a lot of small towns.

If you're doing things like abortion support or trans healthcare, yeah, don't talk about that. But you can just do things like organize 4H (as a leftist), organize marches with Quakers, or be involved in other community organizations, or organize folks to be more active in local government. That stuff tends to fly under the radar.

@Hex @Fishercat @hakan_geijer Yeah, this comply in advance stuff on vague discussion of things that are 100% innocuous at this stage is really starting to irk me. If we're not going to organize and share tips now, here, like this, then we're lost.

And yeah, I know which houses to avoid because they've got huge Trump flags waving, but the assumption that everyone else is salivating for a lynching is part of the problem.

Have they been made to be ignorant of some things? Yes. Are they stupid, violent savages? No.

Think about what you're saying here, how that probably violates your values, and how that's a big part of the misinfo that's led us here. We're not immune to disinfo either and we need to unpack that shit. I'm entering this with an open mind and a friendly attitude, and I'll judge someone *only* once they give me something to judge them about.

I find myself unexpectedly in a hyper-rural red area, shit's about to get real, and it's either act while I can, or face down a tank. I'd like to organize, thanks. Please don't make that harder with your biases. I'd like to learn what my options are.

I haven't told the internet specifically where I am. I'm not taking pictures of the stunningly beautiful landscape here. I won't be waving signs in front of the courthouse or blocking roads like I've done in cities. It'll be making friends, or going to "PTA meetings" or whatever makes sense, talking local issues, talking about protecting local people, and avoiding all the thought-terminating nationalpol talking points.

Right now I still have freedom of speech, and I'm going to use it wisely. But I'm GOING TO USE IT.

@corbden @Fishercat @hakan_geijer my best advice, more than anything else, is just listen to people and ask questions. Most folks who are trapped in cults free themselves when given space and a gentle mirror, but dig deeper when pushed.

Listening is the most powerful work you can do in that space, IMHO.

@Hex @Fishercat @hakan_geijer As a cult researcher, YES. This is 100%. Avoid the hot political and religious talking points. If they get defensive, you've stepped on one and time to shift tracks. Ask questions, drill down to core values, and genuinely seek to understand. Curiosity is the best antidote to dogmatic thinking. Both inspiring their curiosity, and maintaining your own. People want to feel heard. Dig deep to their real concerns, which are going to be personal. Share whatever of your own vulnerability and personal story as you feel safe.

(But don't waste time with folks who are clearly into hate for hate's own sake. You get a feel for how to tell after awhile.)