I try to get people to read Marxist theory, and correct common misconceptions. Part of why people feel despair right now is because they don’t see a way out of this, because they don’t have a background in leftist theory. I keep a basic beginners reading list I can link, if anyone wants it, I’ll spare the copypasta.

It also includes a section at the end with my own personal practical suggestions for how to conduct yourself in your daily life to remain effective and optimistic.

I also try to combat problems like queerphobia, racism, and misogyny when I see them.

No longer letting my family member rants about [insert today’s Russian propaganda] go unchallenged.

• Crime is going up. Oh no, can you show me a chart with a source? Can’t be just something you find on the internet (they’re always ranting that you can’t trust the internet).
• You can’t trust the weather reports. They’re just using the internet to make all that stuff up. Explain how the internet allows for a 100 fold increase in sensors that can report back to a centralized meteorology facility for number crunching
• Ukraine shot first Explain a timeline of the Ukraine war
• Moon landing was faked. (I actually like this argument the best because it’s been so thoroughly debunked)

I ride my bike/take public transit in my car-centric city

during the hiv/aids crisis; people who had spare bedrooms; or could afford to cook extra meals; or took it upon themselves to distribute those extra meals; or volunteer basic healthcare services for free (ie candy stripers); etc. would put up “help offered” posters in gay safe spaces with contact information on them. the posters where mostly hand made back then, but i’ve seen a more modern day version of it with home printers and the bottom section of the paper scored off so that people can rip off and take the contact information with them and i’ve seen a newer version of that with the mutual aid community in hexbear: https://hexbear.net/c/mutual_aid

any leftist safe space, both virtual and real. will have something like this; seek them out and you can ask someone in person what you can do to help that’s tailored to you circumstances. (and to set your expectations: it’s probably going to suck a lot; that’s why they need the help)

I want to participate more with the food banks in my area.

My parents struggled when I was growing up. They’d bend over backwards to make sure my siblings and I always had food on our plates and clothes on our backs. While they’re better off now, I still remember the times when they wouldn’t eat to make sure there was some for us.

I used to be more active as a teen when I was in the boy scouts, but now that I’m working full time, I want to get more involved again.

If nothing else, people should never have to go hungry

I started the tradition with my parents and brother of saving money over the year for charity. We put up a jar at my parents house and whenever we visit and have money to spare (which for me is a fixed amount that I put aside every month), it goes into the jar. On christmas the money is split evenly among us and everyone tells which cause/organization they are going to donate their part to.

The jar thing is not ideal because I rarely have cash on me so I always have to go to the bank first and then when it’s time to donate, the cash money has to go back into the bank. But it’s nice to look at and it doesn’t tell exactly how much is in it from a glance, so it’s a bit of a mystery until Christmas. I might propose to go digital for next year though.

It’s a small thing I started doing years ago: whenever I see a loose nail or screw in the street I’ll always pick it up and put it in the nearest trash so nobody gets a flat tire or steps on it. Small, but hopefully saves some potential misery for someone.

I keep extinct in the wild and critically endangered species of fish in my aquariums and am a member of a couple of fish focused associations who work with universities for the goal of preservation of species. been considering getting into red listed frogs and cactus, but the communities are smaller (so less access to species) and space is a premium when living in an apartment.

i wish there was more exposure of this hobby because it’s such an affordable, easy and “low effort” thing to do, but a lot of people who care about the environment and animals basically get offended when you keep animals “locked up” in an aquarium. in my opinion, serious aquarists (not the pet store furniture mentality) are invaluable, as a lot of species has been saved from extinction through aquarist efforts and university collaboration to reintroduce them to their native ranges after restoration work is completed (at least Lenoardo DiCaprio made a little bit of social media impact for one of the associations in 2022).

I should add, overfishing is not the leading cause for extinction in freshwater fish, it’s pollution from agriculture, as the vast majority of fish threatened with extinction have no utility to us (or bright enough colors to benefit the commercial pet trade - brightly colored species are generally not even found in the wild, and have their colors from decades of selective breeding by dedicated aquarists).

I guess I’ll keep trying to get out of the house, despite my anxiety about that now. That way, the folks in my community will be able to say they personally know (of) at least one trans person, which will hopefully inspire them to oppose any anti-trans policies that come up.

I also want to be a role model for all the eggs out there who might otherwise be too scared to come out.

Help my people with my time when I can.