100%. I’m with you there. And I am prepared, very probably far more so than any of the people downvoting me, who will ironically end up following men like me when the real violence begins (assuming they don’t just hide) precisely because we’ve been through it and know what to expect and what to be ready for - which, in turn, is exactly why we will do everything we can to prevent it from coming to that.

It’s good to see a kindred spirit. I couldn’t have said it better myself. And if revolution comes, men like me are the ones who everyone downvoting me will end up following, because I’ve already been through war and know exactly what to do and what to expect. I pity those foolish enough to mistake my caution, and my desire for peaceful methods, as either cowardice or inability. When the violence they’re calling for comes, I’ll be out there showing them what real violence actually looks like while they’re shitting their pants, because they have no idea but I regretfully know all too well.

That said, the point where diplomacy and due process get abandoned and the fee of liberty gets its thirst quenched isn’t here. Our democracy has not collapsed. Elections still happen - we’ll likely be seeing a major power shift in the midterms.

My fear is not what the government will do if we fight them. That’s predictable and frankly very manageable. My greater fear is what will happen after we’ve “won.” I fear what we will do. Because if you think the answer is “put down our weapons” then you haven’t read the third act of many revolutions in history.

Oh it works alright. The problem is that the guillotines don’t stop falling when all the people who deserve to die have done so. Sure, using a flamethrower to kill the spider in your kid’s room will “work” but there’s an extra detail or two that might be getting overlooked there.

Perhaps “can” want the right word. I’m aware we technically “can” run around guillotining our neighbors without due process. We shouldn’t.

“Saying ‘violence bad’ because it’s directed against capitalists and fascists…”

I’ll be sure to pass that along to anyone who says that. I’m saying war is bad, period. Fascists are an example of the kinds of people that make war necessary. And it may yet come to that. But it hasn’t yet. Our democracy has not been dismantled. Diplomatic options remain available to us. We’re very likely going to see a shift in power come midterms - which itself demonstrates why war is not yet needed.

I’m not saying war is never called for, and nobody ever deserves to die. The overwhelming majority of the people I’ve killed deserved to die. But war isn’t that cut and dried. The scenario where we address the problems we’re having without a revolution remains drastically superior and preferable to the scenario where we must fight a revolution.

Of course they do. Historically they’ve only happened when a country reached a point where there were was no other recourse. At that point, of course they’re going to make things better - “worse” isn’t really a possibility when revolution becomes necessary, which is kind of the point. Leaping to war before that point, on the other hand… well, there aren’t any examples of that which come to mind. Which suggests that, on the bright side, people apparently tend not to resort to revolution until it’s actually required.

History books*

And show me. I’ll let your inability to do so speak for itself.

Hence the “or it shouldn’t be a pilgrim” part. By 1775 people were dressing more like what we associate with the American revolution.

Seems like gods (or rather the people who believe in them, since those actually exist) are consistently a problem.

Situations like this forcing crazy improvs are what make D&D one of the most entertaining games ever made.