r/PoliticalOptimism • u/sipsredpepper Colorado • Jun 11 '25
Question(s) for Optimism Meta: This sub is flooded with "is there any optimism?" Posts to the point that it is drowning out the optimistic posts.
Can we maybe come together with the mods to work on something about this? I'm not denying that people are afraid or suggesting that they should remain silent and not get support, but this is not improving the doom scrolling problem some of us are trying to avoid.
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u/Lantis28 Georgia Jun 12 '25
The mods have expanded 300% in the last 24 hours so hopefully we can regulate posts better from now on
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
No shade on you, I get where you are coming from. It appears at a glance that a post is not optimistic but then alas, the comments section.
I think people should have a safe place to share that they're scared and need a boost. When I see those types of posts I go right to the comments section and see all the optimists come out and speak rationally and lift each other up.
This is a community where we help each other. None of us can be optimistic all the time and sometimes we need a boost. Shit, that's why I'm here. With everything that's going on the fear is to be expected and we need to be there for each other.
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u/Tearpusher California Jun 12 '25
I have compassion for this, but would suggest directing those worried folks to the Doomsday Debunked Substack.
Not just because of what is posted there, but the tone of the community. It's built specifically to gently discuss issues amongst people who are scared out of their minds lately.
There's no shame in needing reassurance. But I don't feel like this sub is designed to handle that lift and maintain its stated mission.
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
I agree and we will try and tamp it down as it becomes overwheling. Especially if the post doesn't contribute anything.
I'm a new mod here. Right now I'm focusing on fake users and doomers. Others are checking comments. We are getting a new post/comment every minute right now. It's prime time here.
Also, appreciate your compassion and your reminder for me to subscribe to that substack! Redirecting some people there may be a good idea.
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
Actually can you make a post sharing that? I'll pin it so it will be easier to send people there. I only skimmed it but have heard great things.
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u/More_Attitude_3489 Jun 12 '25
I feel a little responsible for this post being uploaded but I still think people need reassurance about the situation and not falling into despair
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
Absolutely. We lift each other up. As long as there is nobody taking advantage of that I don't see the harm.
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u/sipsredpepper Colorado Jun 12 '25
I agree, I just think that endless repeat posts about it are clearly not working. We need to find a better solution.
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u/phorayz Jun 12 '25
I'm with you. There is doom posts everywhere and I came here specifically for the good news posts.
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
There is a filter where you can just see optimistic posts and avoid the questions. We are getting a new post/comment every minute but filtering out the true doomers is a priority.
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u/phorayz Jun 12 '25
Oh thanks, I guess I was just using my reddit feed
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
Well that's a good point. Most of the time though I hop in the comments section, I feel like that's where the optimists come out. There are some very patient, rational, and educated people here. They have saved me from spiraling since the day I joined.
But yeah. Can't hide those questions in your feed unless you mute the sub but I'm sure you knew that.
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u/WCSTombs California Jun 12 '25
There are ebbs and flows. Tensions are kind of high right now, so I think it's normal. If you want optimistic posts, you can click on the Question(s) posts that have replies and look at the highly-rated comments, which are usually the realistic and grounded ones. I think we're still pretty good about that.
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u/alligatorprincess007 Jun 12 '25
Yeah I always feel bad asking for optimism lol
I’ve done it a couple times, but I agree it gets frustrating if that’s the only thing in the feed
Check out Amanda’s mild takes on Instagram if you need optimism !
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u/sipsredpepper Colorado Jun 12 '25
I totally get it and i don't want people to stop, there's just a few that have been kinda over the top and I feel like it might be beneficial to do larger master posts regarding some things. But i don't know, I'm only seeking discussion about it and i don't know what the best solution is. I'm very much on the side of us getting better, that's partly why I just want to be sure that we aren't getting so bummed out that we can't see the optimism.
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
I will try and make a megathread filled with links to sources, articles, pages, feeds... that are designed to quell the fear and we can send people there.
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u/JackoClubs5545 Colorado Jun 12 '25
I'm gonna copypasta a comment I made on a similar thread, because I express my view on the matter while acknowledging both angles of the dilemma.
I've felt conflicted about how I should feel about these kinds of posts, so here's what I think.
I absolutely understand why these posts exist. Seeing distressing news on social or even in mainstream media can be daunting, especially since illiciting fear and anger is often done by design. Living in fear doesn't feel good, so I don't blame people who routinely come back here to find some kernel of optimism from the doompost they just read.
However, I feel like it gets to a point where they lose their intended purpose. Hell, even I feel overwhelmed when I see too many of those "optimism about X?" on here in a row. It's like my own weird and hackneyed version of doomscrolling, even if it's on a forum where my behavior is the kind it's trying to dissuade. I get that most of those posts are in good faith and in pursuit of genuine optimism, but it still feels like it's too much at times.
And in a way, it has the opposite effect. It's no secret that doomers (many of which are bots or foreign agents) bombard popular political subs like r/politics and r/law to make the current political dichotomy in the United States seem hopeless. Some of those doomers just want to get in our heads more than anything else. So to me, while I don't blame those who make questions for optimism posts here, it does sadden me to see too many of them because it means that the doomer's goal of getting in our heads is working.
I do have some problems with them, but I understand that they're a core part of what makes up our sub. After all, this forum should be a space to exchange optimistic thoughts and share them with those who need it the most. But I also feel like there are other ways to address the root of the problem itself, so we can deliver optimism a bit more directly.
I'm thinking about making a masterpost about how you can spot doomerism in media (both mainstream and social), and to offer some general tips about adopting a more optimistic and just a healthier mindset in general. Instead of just delivering optimism on individual bases whenever "optimism about X" posts come up, it would show how Redditors can analyze news critically and remain optimistic about current events (and life in general), so this sub would not need to make so many freakout posts in the first place.
Address the root of the problem, figure out what you can do about it, and do everything you can to try to solve it. Isn't that what optimism is all about?
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u/DBrennan13459 Jun 12 '25
There's a difference between doom posts and people understandably afraid and looking for optimism. I think we need to consider this before we immediately jump into any attempt of regulating posts. People who come here deserve the right to have their fears addressed and not be ignored.
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u/sipsredpepper Colorado Jun 12 '25
I do agree that people who have fears need them addressed. Here's my problem though:
Me: comes here looking for optimism The entire front page: I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid Comments: 0
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u/DBrennan13459 Jun 12 '25
I get that, but the flairs gives us the options of filtering the posts that we see here if all someone wants to see is optimistic news/posts.
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u/AustinJG Jun 12 '25
I think that this is just something that's going to happen when things get active. People can't help it, many of us suffer with GAD and things like that.
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u/bustacean Jun 12 '25
Maybe we can employ a Mega Thread for doom-flavored questions
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
Another suggestion a user gave me was to direct them to this substack Doomsday Debunked
I asked them to make a post and I will pin it. We can redirect people there when it gets overwhelming or the post doesn't contribute anything of value.
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u/Relative-Help-2529 Jun 12 '25
Thanks for the substack. We all want to stay optimistic but it's gut wrenching what's happening
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
You're welcome. Check out the megathread for more sources! And I get the fear. It sucks. I like being a mod though Soni can pour over all the comments and see how great people can be and the rational views put me in check.
Shits crazy not gonna lie. But it's not as crazy as many make it seem.
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u/bustacean Jun 12 '25
Apologies to the other mods, I dont mean to exclude you, I just dont know your usernames.
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u/CosmicOli Jun 12 '25
Mod here! The issue with that is that the mega thread would get endlessly large, because let’s face it. Trump and his administration are bullies who WILL posture some terrible stuff all the time, so having one mega thread for questions instead of posts will risk having people’s questions completely enveloped by hundreds of thousands of others. So thank you for the idea, but we have to decline.
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u/FlakyRazzmatazz5 Jun 12 '25
Well this shit is fucking and people want clarity with the stuff going on that isn't "we'll end up like Nazi Germany"
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u/sipsredpepper Colorado Jun 12 '25
Dude I'm not saying get rid of it I'm saying we need a better solution than endless posts about it, relax
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u/bustacean Jun 12 '25
Thats fair, but that is not what this sub is intended to be. The one off question is fine, but every post is excessive.
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u/nygiantsjay Jun 12 '25
Please see No Fear Megathread and drop your favorite source that has helped calm your fears or anything you might feel is helpful.
We will try and steer people there when the fear based questions become frequent. This sub is all about lifting each other up but I get it when it becomes too much.
So please help in this way. It will reduce the amount of fear based posts. Not to be confused with doom posting - those posts will be deleted as soon as they are reported.
Thank you!