Dont Panic - Tumblr Posts

Happy Geek Day//Towel Day.

For this day I drew Marvin, the paranoid android accompanied by one of my geeky OCs, Serenity Fancy, with her cat, those three are thinking about the best answer for everything: 42.

"So Long, and thanks for all the fish!" 🐬

Stay calm and don't panic

Dont Panic

hey guys I know everything seems crazy right now. I know it feels like some major catastrophe.

Dont panic. It wont do you any good. It's ok to be afraid and want to be prepared. Be smart about it. A lot of people have started hoarding resources and by doing so have stopped people who really really need it from being able to use resources.

For example:

You may not be able to find any kind of sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, or other first aid items. Diabetics have to prick their skin to check their blood sugar or give themselves life saving insulin. Now when they cant clean the skin, they are at higher risk of infection.

Dont panic.

This isn't a blizzard. You wont be trapped inside.

If you are not sick or immunocompromised do not use masks or gloves. Just be careful and wash your hands. Most people dont know how to properly use their masks or safely remove their gloves anyway.

If you use clorox wipes CHECK THE DWELL TIME otherwise you are wasting resources and doing nothing.

If you are going to a store, here are some tips:

- prepare to be overwhelmed: people are panicking and just grabbing what they can. This panic is as infectious as the virus. When you feel yourself start to panic and just grab at things, stop and center yourself. Remind yourself why you are there.

- bring a list: take a list of the things you need. Try your best not to deviate from this. Stay focused on what you need. This list will help keep you from panicking and grabbing things you dont need.

- expect the produce and meat to be empty: you are probably not going to find much packaged meat or fresh produce. That's ok. Check the canned meat aisle. There is still some chance of skim picking but it's better than nothing.

- check the frozen section: precooked meals saved my life today. I panicked because there was almost nothing in the meat and produce. But there were so many frozen foods.

- take what you need: hoarding is only going to make this worse. Take what you need to get you to your next paycheck or however you plan your groceries.

- plan to return: it is very likely you will not get everything you need today. That's ok. Soon the store will restock. Ask an associate when their restock day is and be there. Be prepared for crowds.

- check out the meat counter. I had better luck there than with packaged meats

- go to the lunch meat aisle: that is where hot dogs sausage and kielbasa is. Its great for situations like these.

- get yourself something you want but dont need: once you have what you need, get yourself something you want if you can. Treat yourself. Self care it up.

- dont hoard: hoarding keeps other people from being able to get their needs met as well. If you have what you need, leave the rest for someone else. The every man for himself mentality is one of fear and only hurts people.

-dont panic: the stores will be restocked. This isnt the end of the world. Take a deep breath. You are going to be ok. The virus is a virus. It's not a monster. Ground yourself and be prepared for crowds.

-wash your hands: put the food away and then wash your hands. Have a drink. You did a good job!

“It wasn’t the most ridiculous thing out there. Far from it.”

Brad then reminded Becky so far, the plan for human survival was a cave full of seeds in Iceland and some bunkers in New Zealand built by paranoid rich people with guns. He then restruck the pose.

“Now, what exactly did Becky have to say about the ‘outfit’ again? You know what, it doesn’t matter as no one needs to compete with zero coordination.”

Brad then turned to face Becky directly. “People go to jail for not having an emergency plan. What’s really messed up is nothing exists at the top level for all of us. Why was the human species as a whole so whacked anyway?”

Becky offered to get the next round of margaritas and motioned for Brad to rejoin his place in the cabana. Chris piped in to make them doubles then asked everyone where they should take that conversation. It was a pool day, the snarky could be tabled.

Brad thought it should go to Boise. Chris thought to shuffle it off to Buffalo citing his own disappointment in it’s obviousness. Becky didn’t know where to put it but thought enough to store it in Namibia. It was dry and sparsely populated so would preserve well.

She then guessed a doomsay plan could pass through countless generations unnoticed and undisturbed like Ring Around the Rosie. The coding on that was a bit whacked as the message did not make the impact it could have given it’s significance and pertinence to current global epidemics.

“It was from the Middle Ages so certainly credit could be given there. Did we need to attach trauma to children? It is safe to say there were no guns pointed at anyone.”

Becky went on to state the plague and assumed apocalypse remained daunting. To clear the way for the rest of their pool day while the larger whole got it’s act together, she suggested a temporary placeholder in lieu of a true master plan for the survival of the human species.

“It would need to be super simple and as close to universal as possible. Maybe a song is a good idea. Could we at least say, ‘Don’t panic.’ or ‘Florida is underwater. Think Nepal, not Naples.’

Becky took a sip of a now nearly toasted margarita.

“Of course, people would freak anyway, especially after discovering there was no master plan. It may though give us a moment of clarity before the madness where one out of 8 billion of us might just come up with a resolution.”

Becky further dove in the point explaining the problem even with her suggestions around all this lies exactly where it does in general, surfacing the best idea.

“The car alarm, censor/chat bots, a war on drugs, phone trees, microbeads in soap, beef hamburgers and the electric chair were lauded as genius at one juncture. The fact is the list is infinite, and we know better now. The more hoopla made over something, the more it felt like there was reason to question it.”

Becky then mentioned all the gimmicks around AI. “We really do not know what we are stepping into or better said, already have. For some time, no regulation existed around any of it. AI also did not automatically keep records in the same capacity as with previous technological advances. This was scary.”

All three were already well aware Brad and Chris’ issues with Tumblr stemmed out of bots and a culture difficult to interpret other than hellbent on efficiency and profit ironically at any cost to its own customers.

In an unrealized interruption, Brad interjected his shock, “I so did not associate the censorship with AI until now. That’s…. OMG. I mean… Look at the damage being done to the gay community alone. I didn’t place it. That hardly makes it any less real or hard hitting.”

Becky assured Brad in his reaction and offered some perspective as to what Brad and Chris faced. “There is not sufficient law, social construct, personal protection or compensation around AI. Overall, corporations and those of resource thus far have chosen censorship, ignorance, and to look out for themselves.”

She paused to readjust her composure into a near stand on her knees.

“That IS fear culture. Process exceeds person across the board here, and in the grand scheme everyone loses. You are literally taking the brunt here with your blog bradandchris.com.”

Seeing things materialize for the two, Becky switched gears quickly. “I say keep going. The Oregon Trail didn’t pop up out of nowhere. If you look around, you are not the only gays on the block either. Start your own thing or grind away just as the bots do to you. Eventually people pick up mirroring which is why we all do it where conversations can’t or do not happen for whatever reason.”

Becky scanned the pool looking for their server before returning her attention to Brad and Chris.

“To mirrors, why don’t you start Twittering? Musk is also weary of AI. You might find a home there. It would not hurt to try.”

Brad and Chris appreciated options and the former nodded in affirmation. The each knew they were not helpless, but not unaware any move required significant resources or losses.

As to her suggestion as to where to temporarily store the conversation of a need for master plan for a global emergency, Becky affirmed her choice in Africa. Humanity began on the very same soil, and the entire continent was bothering enough to take time for introspection.

She lived in South Africa for several years as a medical refugee from the United States Her insurance didn’t cover her condition and she needed to go somewhere cheap as well multicultural that came in English with a beach. It was that or Belize.

Chris who’d been quietly sunning at the edge of the cabana suddenly came to life. “Is that where ‘Please Belize’ came from? I’ve heard you say that and caught myself saying it. It’s mad addicting. I’ve tried to keep it to myself as I didn’t know what it meant. I forget to ask every time you are around. The last thing I need to do is offend more people out of the blue.”

Chris sat up to allow for his hands and arms to go full on Price is Right showcase. “I look really good in blue. Just look at my tiny swimmers.”

Becky nodded in affirmation took the last slip of the margarita in hand and motioned for the pool server that came into view to head their way. Satisfied they made contact and on their way over, she called Mars a ‘hellhole’ and reframed Twitter as a definite ‘maybe.’

She then mentioned she got her job assisting for Ralph Lauren after meeting him at the beach in Cape Town. That’s why she came back to the States. Her her stint abroad may also explain some oddities about her.

To bring everything full circle before the server arrived, Becky indicated her regret for using the Oregon Trail as an example. It wasn’t what she intended to say though she could not remember what that was. She pointed out while understandable as a selection, Boise left out half the population inclusive of herself, and that she didn’t know what a ‘shuffle’ was. It did not ring as something particularly evolutionary or bring much to her in terms of inspiration. It did remind her of apples for unknown reasons.

At the end of the day and to rest her case, it was fun to say Namibia.

“Namibia.”

Becky was so on her game.

Whoever has such a signature must be writing about the universe!

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Since I've read his books, my view of reality has become a little more relaxed because nothing is as crazy as reality.

It would be funny if a hyperspace bypass were really built and our planet had to give way. It's a bit like cutting down the rainforest to make way for a ring road - all the creatures would have to go too.

en.wikipedia.org

Douglas Adams - Wikipedia

I liked the series from the 80s just as much as the last Hitchhiker's film.

However, the books are a real treat of absurd alternative realism.

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What I liked best was the conscious decision that at a certain point you are crazy. ..... but that's in one of his books if I remember correctly......

Sociopath

Sociopaths are people who suffer from a dissocial personality disorder. They have difficulty forming long-term relationships. Others often describe them as unscrupulous, callous or manipulative. You are extremely willing to take risks and behave irresponsibly in the eyes of others. Sometimes you come into conflict with the law.

What is the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath?

In specialist literature, the two terms sociopath and psychopath are not always strictly separated, although a distinction is useful. Psychopathy is the most extreme form of a dissocial personality disorder. While the sociopath acts impulsively, the psychopath plans his actions precisely and acts coolly and deliberately. There are the following differences in behaviour:

Sociopaths have feelings such as fear or anger. They quickly feel attacked and then react aggressively. This behaviour gets them into trouble and ensures that relationships are usually only superficial and short-lived.

Psychopaths, on the other hand, have themselves well under control. They also lack compassion, but they are very good at covering up this lack of empathy.

Psychopaths are highly functional and usually well integrated into society. They are extremely manipulative and easily gain the trust of others. As they can exploit others cold-bloodedly and unscrupulously, they are very dangerous.

There are also thought to be differences in the development of both clinical pictures. Experts believe that sociopathy is more likely to be triggered by a childhood trauma. The typical sociopath has almost always experienced abuse, violence or neglect as a child. Their antisocial behaviour often even serves as a survival strategy. Psychopathy, on the other hand, appears to be innate.

In psychopaths, the areas of the brain responsible for impulse control and empathy are not properly developed from birth.

The treatment options and prognoses are correspondingly different. While a dissocial personality disorder can be treated psychotherapeutically - an approach that plays a major role in the reintegration of offenders into society - it is apparently not possible to cure a genuine psychopath. Some experts even assume that the symptoms can be exacerbated by treatment. Accordingly, psychopaths have the highest recidivism rate among offenders.

Why pursue therapeutic measures when one can simply engage in the overtly illicit act? One need only join a party, and the criminal behaviour will be resolved when one has sufficient influence to petition a judge.

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Regardless of the fact that the act is an assassination, the assassin has given the emotionally unstable individual and his party, which acts without moral constraints, a considerable advantage.

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Causes of dissocial personality disorder

How an antisocial personality develops has not yet been conclusively clarified. Most scientists today assume a combination of genetic and environmental factors:

Genetic disposition: the likelihood of antisocial behavior is higher if one or both parents have already been affected by the disorder. A scientific study of twins has also confirmed that there is an overall genetic predisposition to all personality disorders. Other favorable factors are probably anxiety disorders, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide risk in the family.

Traumatic childhood experiences: Physical violence, sexual abuse and other traumatic relationship experiences in childhood increase the risk of developing antisocial personality disorder.

Serotonin deficiency: A lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin presumably ensures that sociopaths are unable to react adequately to emotional signals and generally feel less fear. On the one hand, this explains the lack of empathy for the suffering of others, but also the strong tendency towards risk-taking behavior. Some experts assume that people with a dissocial personality are generally understimulated. This is why they are constantly looking for a "kick" - on the one hand in dangerous sports, but also in criminal acts on the other.

Neurophysiological factors: Imaging studies indicate dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex of the brain in antisocial personalities. This is likely to be the trigger for the extreme emotional coldness, especially in the strongest form of psychopathy.

Signs: How to recognize a sociopath

People with antisocial disorder stand out due to their socially intolerant behavior. This often becomes apparent in childhood and adolescence.

Possible signs of a dissocial personality can be

Lack of empathy

emotional coldness

pronounced egocentric behavior

Lack of a sense of guilt and responsibility

Low frustration tolerance

strong impulsiveness

violence

Problems entering into long-term relationships

High willingness to take risks

Disregard for social norms and laws

Diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder

Both the ICD-10 and DSM-V classification criteria can be used to diagnose the personality disorder.

According to ICD-10, dissocial personalities must have

character abnormalities such as egocentrism, lack of empathy and a lack of conscience and

there must be a considerable discrepancy between the behavior displayed and social norms. Criminal acts may occur, but are not essential for the diagnosis.

For a clear diagnosis, organic causes must have been ruled out.

In addition, at least three of the following characteristics must be fulfilled:

The affected person has a lack of empathy and shows callousness towards others.

He (or she) shows a clear and persistent irresponsible attitude and repeatedly disregards social norms and obligations.

He (or she) is unable to maintain lasting attachments or relationships with other people, although he (or she) has no difficulty forming relationships.

He has a low frustration tolerance and often behaves impulsively or aggressively.

The affected person feels little or no guilt and is unable to learn from negative experiences, especially punishment.

He tends to blame others or make excuses to explain his behavior, which has brought him into conflict with society.

The DSM-V is based on similar behavioral patterns, but emphasizes the criminal component, which manifests itself, for example, in violations of the law. In addition, according to this classification, the person affected must be at least 18 years old for the disorder to be reliably diagnosed, and the conspicuous behavior must have been apparent since at least the age of 15.

I promise if you’re with me, say the word and we’ll find a way // I can be your lost boy, your last chance // Your everything better plan

Love this song from All Time Low!  I love the story, and how he compares it all to Peter Pan and Wendy.  Alex’s voice sounds great in this song, and the variation of intensity in his singing helps to tell the tale beautifully as well. Probably my favorite All Time Low song.