The Pragmatic Leftist 🌹
@thepragmaticleftist.com
A British lefty hoping to spread progressive ideas, combat reactionary ones and give a bit of self-help along the way.
https://blog.thepragmaticleftist.com
https://blog.thepragmaticleftist.com
In the end, the WFP has been a public relations disaster for Labour. But it’s also clear that with the current media landscape, there are no good options: the skew will be negative irrespective of what they do.
May 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
In the end, the WFP has been a public relations disaster for Labour. But it’s also clear that with the current media landscape, there are no good options: the skew will be negative irrespective of what they do.
A more honest headline would be:
“Fierce backlash forces Labour to increase WFP threshold”.
It is transparent and still communicates that it’s a policy change in response to negative feedback.
“Fierce backlash forces Labour to increase WFP threshold”.
It is transparent and still communicates that it’s a policy change in response to negative feedback.
May 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
A more honest headline would be:
“Fierce backlash forces Labour to increase WFP threshold”.
It is transparent and still communicates that it’s a policy change in response to negative feedback.
“Fierce backlash forces Labour to increase WFP threshold”.
It is transparent and still communicates that it’s a policy change in response to negative feedback.
This isn’t to say that Labour aren’t making a change in policy direction, lead by the sheer unpopularity of the original announcement. But thresholds are implementation details that are always up for debate, because “means” is always relative to the cost of living.
May 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
This isn’t to say that Labour aren’t making a change in policy direction, lead by the sheer unpopularity of the original announcement. But thresholds are implementation details that are always up for debate, because “means” is always relative to the cost of living.
If you were (a) against means-testing altogether and believed the WFP should be universal or (b) in favour means-testing but thought the threshold was too low, the headline implies that means testing is ending. This is fundamentally untrue.
May 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
If you were (a) against means-testing altogether and believed the WFP should be universal or (b) in favour means-testing but thought the threshold was too low, the headline implies that means testing is ending. This is fundamentally untrue.
What is tricky is that shame often makes people defensive, leading to doubling down on problematic views and tendencies.
I genuinely don’t know how you dig someone out of a hole their ego prevents them from seeing (and which those like Farage will happily sell shovels to)
I genuinely don’t know how you dig someone out of a hole their ego prevents them from seeing (and which those like Farage will happily sell shovels to)
May 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
What is tricky is that shame often makes people defensive, leading to doubling down on problematic views and tendencies.
I genuinely don’t know how you dig someone out of a hole their ego prevents them from seeing (and which those like Farage will happily sell shovels to)
I genuinely don’t know how you dig someone out of a hole their ego prevents them from seeing (and which those like Farage will happily sell shovels to)
To be clear: simply *being* wrong is obviously not a sin. But there is a distinct lack of (deserved) shame experienced by these types of people: the ones who hold very strong yet wholly uninformed opinions on a topic; who are vastly lacking humility, introspection or intellectual honesty.
May 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
To be clear: simply *being* wrong is obviously not a sin. But there is a distinct lack of (deserved) shame experienced by these types of people: the ones who hold very strong yet wholly uninformed opinions on a topic; who are vastly lacking humility, introspection or intellectual honesty.
It’s interesting to highlight the question in terms of embarrassment though. You'd wonder: wouldn’t it bring a degree of shame to one’s self to be *so public* in one's ignorance?
Wouldn’t *you* feel like you’d let down people that you respect? 😟
Wouldn’t *you* feel like you’d let down people that you respect? 😟
May 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
It’s interesting to highlight the question in terms of embarrassment though. You'd wonder: wouldn’t it bring a degree of shame to one’s self to be *so public* in one's ignorance?
Wouldn’t *you* feel like you’d let down people that you respect? 😟
Wouldn’t *you* feel like you’d let down people that you respect? 😟
Those are my thoughts, but what does “being yourself mean to you”?
How often do you hear that advice being given? I’d like to know your experiences, so share your thoughts! 💭
How often do you hear that advice being given? I’d like to know your experiences, so share your thoughts! 💭
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Those are my thoughts, but what does “being yourself mean to you”?
How often do you hear that advice being given? I’d like to know your experiences, so share your thoughts! 💭
How often do you hear that advice being given? I’d like to know your experiences, so share your thoughts! 💭
Take a deep look at the things that make you happy and really own them, and you’ll notice a positive change in your confidence and your ability to interact with other people.
That is just a small step in the right direction towards you being happier and possibly finding the right person 💑
That is just a small step in the right direction towards you being happier and possibly finding the right person 💑
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Take a deep look at the things that make you happy and really own them, and you’ll notice a positive change in your confidence and your ability to interact with other people.
That is just a small step in the right direction towards you being happier and possibly finding the right person 💑
That is just a small step in the right direction towards you being happier and possibly finding the right person 💑
To the lonely men out there: you’re not alone in your feeling of alienation and isolation (paradoxically!) 🫂
It’s human and normal, especially with how depressing the world is today.
It’s human and normal, especially with how depressing the world is today.
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
To the lonely men out there: you’re not alone in your feeling of alienation and isolation (paradoxically!) 🫂
It’s human and normal, especially with how depressing the world is today.
It’s human and normal, especially with how depressing the world is today.
This is a learned skill, and some people are better at this than others. But everyone can (and should) take a look inward at themselves and what they truly value, and ask themselves critically: “is this who I am? Is this who I want to be?” 🤔
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This is a learned skill, and some people are better at this than others. But everyone can (and should) take a look inward at themselves and what they truly value, and ask themselves critically: “is this who I am? Is this who I want to be?” 🤔
To summarise: “just be yourself” in reality means being deeply introspective enough to find the essence of what makes you **you**. It means being happy and proud of being that person even when alone, and discovering how to “bring people into your world” 👐
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
To summarise: “just be yourself” in reality means being deeply introspective enough to find the essence of what makes you **you**. It means being happy and proud of being that person even when alone, and discovering how to “bring people into your world” 👐
You do not want to only discover your boundaries after someone has already stampeded past them 💔
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
You do not want to only discover your boundaries after someone has already stampeded past them 💔
To (3): it is easy to get into relationships with the wrong sorts of people for you (they needn't be *bad* people; just wrong for *you*). Linking back to the core values: you need to set boundaries for what you want and expect from people in your interactions.
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
To (3): it is easy to get into relationships with the wrong sorts of people for you (they needn't be *bad* people; just wrong for *you*). Linking back to the core values: you need to set boundaries for what you want and expect from people in your interactions.
Being miserable when alone doesn’t go away when you’re in a relationship: you need to actually be happy doing things on your own! 😁
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Being miserable when alone doesn’t go away when you’re in a relationship: you need to actually be happy doing things on your own! 😁
If you don’t know what makes you genuinely happy, then that’s really the first step you need to tackle: if you’re lacking in hobbies and interests that engage you, you need to go out and find those.
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
If you don’t know what makes you genuinely happy, then that’s really the first step you need to tackle: if you’re lacking in hobbies and interests that engage you, you need to go out and find those.
The people who are “cool” are the ones who *own* it; who don’t let others stop them from doing what makes them happy and are supportive of others in the things that bring them joy too 🤝
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The people who are “cool” are the ones who *own* it; who don’t let others stop them from doing what makes them happy and are supportive of others in the things that bring them joy too 🤝
Crucially, you need to accept and be unashamed of the things that make you happy.
Here’s a dirty little secret: **everybody is insecure about something that they enjoy**. Everybody has something that makes them happy, but which they worry about being judged on by other people.
Here’s a dirty little secret: **everybody is insecure about something that they enjoy**. Everybody has something that makes them happy, but which they worry about being judged on by other people.
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Crucially, you need to accept and be unashamed of the things that make you happy.
Here’s a dirty little secret: **everybody is insecure about something that they enjoy**. Everybody has something that makes them happy, but which they worry about being judged on by other people.
Here’s a dirty little secret: **everybody is insecure about something that they enjoy**. Everybody has something that makes them happy, but which they worry about being judged on by other people.
By taking a critical eye at what genuinely makes you happy, you can discover how to talk about those things in ways that engage the uninitiated. You can situate your passions within contexts other people find interesting enough to take notice of 💡(which makes conversations much more natural to have)
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
By taking a critical eye at what genuinely makes you happy, you can discover how to talk about those things in ways that engage the uninitiated. You can situate your passions within contexts other people find interesting enough to take notice of 💡(which makes conversations much more natural to have)
To (2): if *you* don’t know what interests and engages you, how can you expect *other* people to find you interesting? You owe it to yourself to actually understand your own passions and hobbies, no matter how esoteric it may be!
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
To (2): if *you* don’t know what interests and engages you, how can you expect *other* people to find you interesting? You owe it to yourself to actually understand your own passions and hobbies, no matter how esoteric it may be!
Having a solid grasp of these things and *why* will actually shine through your interactions with other people.
People are drawn to those with clear purpose, values and authenticity 💪
People are drawn to those with clear purpose, values and authenticity 💪
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Having a solid grasp of these things and *why* will actually shine through your interactions with other people.
People are drawn to those with clear purpose, values and authenticity 💪
People are drawn to those with clear purpose, values and authenticity 💪
To (1), what are the most ethically important things to you? (equality, fairness?) What is crucial about how you engage the world, how you treat others, and how others treat you? (empathy, solidarity?)
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
To (1), what are the most ethically important things to you? (equality, fairness?) What is crucial about how you engage the world, how you treat others, and how others treat you? (empathy, solidarity?)
The truth is that "being your true self" requires introspection, and introspection is *hard*. You need to understand:
(1) 🪨 your core values; what is important to you and why
(2) 🌞 what brings you actual joy and happiness
(3) 🚧 what your boundaries are
(1) 🪨 your core values; what is important to you and why
(2) 🌞 what brings you actual joy and happiness
(3) 🚧 what your boundaries are
May 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The truth is that "being your true self" requires introspection, and introspection is *hard*. You need to understand:
(1) 🪨 your core values; what is important to you and why
(2) 🌞 what brings you actual joy and happiness
(3) 🚧 what your boundaries are
(1) 🪨 your core values; what is important to you and why
(2) 🌞 what brings you actual joy and happiness
(3) 🚧 what your boundaries are