u/KiwibuckyNZ

Of course the U.S is the current world power with vast influence in every matter of life and shares the English Language with the other Anglo nations allowing for effective social contagion, but it is still amazing how culturally dominant America is.

For example I live in New Zealand yet I know vastly more about the history and politics of America than of my own nation. I can name every President in order of succession since FDR yet can’t name who was Prime Minister before John Key was elected in 2008.

I can remember being 8-9 years old being scared of Donald Trump when he first did campaigning. I can remember being in middle school anxiously watching the 2020 election, scared of the idea of a second Trump term. And can remember the only time in high school students talked about politics wasn’t Ukraine, Gaza or the Pope dying but Charlie Kirk being shot.

My Grandad will say to my Dad how horrible Trump is for starting the Iran war and causing a fuel crisis. My Dad will argue with him and say how Trump needed to do what he’s doing.

My Dad everyday will watch American politics on YouTube and ask me questions like if I know about Spencer Pratt running for LA Mayor and how horrible the Democrats run California.

When Greenland was on the news my Dad tried justifying the US annexing Greenland as necessary to beating China. When I tried debating him he told me I shouldn’t care because “You’re not even on Trump’s radar.”

He’ll say this but at least once a week he’ll say how he “fucking hates the Clintons” or “Joe Biden’s a retard.” I was watching The Empire Strikes Back and my Mum goes “Mark Hamill hates Trump!” To which soured my Dad’s mood, stating “Mark Hamill’s a bitch! Let me guess he’s a Democrat?” To my Mum responding Yep and a big one!”

My Mum will lament how our savings have gone down by several thousands of dollars since the tariffs have been implemented and my Dad will say “America needs those tariffs”.

What the actual fuck? My Dad was apolitical 5 years ago but 2 years on Twitter has totally warped him. We’re not even American why do you have the need to justify whatever Trump’s doing?

Had surgery so dog was in the clink for a week. Been 2 weeks home and now whenever my dad isn’t home my dog cries for hours. Even when me or my mum is home he will still cry. We’ll play with him and once that’s over he’ll cry again in a few minutes. We’ll pet him and give him treats and he’ll cry once that’s over.

He’ll only stop crying when my dad returns from work or when he’s get tired out. As a puppy he was never like this so why did he change after going to the clink?

Had surgery so dog was in the clink for a week. Been 2 weeks home and now whenever my dad isn’t home my dog cries for hours. Even when me or my mum is home he will still cry. We’ll play with him and once that’s over he’ll cry again in a few minutes. We’ll pet him and give him treats and he’ll cry once that’s over.

He’ll only stop crying when my dad returns from work or when he’s get tired out. As a puppy he was never like this so why did he change after going to the clink?

I’m not fully informed on Kiwi politics but I definitely will not be voting for the coalition. Them with their corporate interests gutting this country bit by bit.

But at the same time, immigration will keep on pouring in, diminishing the value of the average worker. Sure it’s good to bring in medical workers but do we seriously need thousands of people coming in to do Uber Eats and Fast Food?

As a young person I am deeply dissatisfied with the state of the country. We seem to be naive and think we can hide away from the problems of the world.

That we can send in tens of thousands of people each year which will totally not affect our country’s limited resources while our most successful flee to Australia.

The factories sent overseas, us sending our agriculture overseas while we buy lower quality foreign foodstuffs and university being free decades ago now tens of thousands in student debt.

I might be pessimistic but I’m not hopeful for the future of New Zealand.

At least once a week when I’m having a meal with my parents they’ll comment on how the portions are smaller, it tastes worse or it’s more expensive than when they were kids (about 30-40 years).

They’ll talk about how nothing’s cheap these days, another business shutting down and how it’s so hard for people to get jobs now.

My dad will say multiple times a week how people are fucked in the head by drugs and mental illness without the asylums. Then he’ll say it’s too dangerous for me to go into town like he did back in the day because of these people.

My Grandad once or twice a month will lament how antisocial people are. He’ll mention going on a bike ride and greeting 10 people that past him and less than half respond. The women look at the 80 year old with fear. My dad will go “no shit Sherlock”

I don’t know it seems my family doesn’t have a lot of hopes for the future and it makes me very anxious. When I tell them my concerns for my future and how I wish I was born in more prosperous times they act confused. It annoys me.

At least once a week when I’m having a meal with my parents they’ll comment on how the portions are smaller, it tastes worse or it’s more expensive than when they were kids (about 30-40 years).

They’ll talk about how nothing’s cheap these days, another business shutting down and how it’s so hard for people to get jobs now.

My dad will say multiple times a week how people are fucked in the head by drugs and mental illness without the asylums. Then he’ll say it’s too dangerous for me to go into town like he did back in the day because of these people.

My Grandad once or twice a month will lament how antisocial people are. He’ll mention going on a bike ride and greeting 10 people that past him and less than half respond. The women look at the 80 year old with fear. My dad will go “no shit Sherlock”

I don’t know it seems my family doesn’t have a lot of hopes for the future and it makes me very anxious. When I tell them my concerns for my future and how I wish I was born in more prosperous times they act confused. It annoys me.

At least once a week when I’m having a meal with my parents they’ll comment on how the portions are smaller, it tastes worse or it’s more expensive than when they were kids (about 30-40 years).

They’ll talk about how nothing’s cheap these days, another business shutting down and how it’s so hard for people to get jobs now.

My dad will say multiple times a week how people are fucked in the head by drugs and mental illness without the asylums. Then he’ll say it’s too dangerous for me to go into town like he did back in the day because of these people.

My Grandad once or twice a month will lament how antisocial people are. He’ll mention going on a bike ride and greeting 10 people that past him and less than half respond. The women look at the 80 year old with fear. My dad will go “no shit Sherlock”

I don’t know it seems my family doesn’t have a lot of hopes for the future and it makes me very anxious. When I tell them my concerns for my future and how I wish I was born in more prosperous times they act confused. It annoys me.

Born with Eosinophilic asthma and most of my life it’s been chronic with it only improving moving to a slightly warmer city and graduating high school so no longer outside most of the day and surrounded by hundreds of people.

I can wear a beanie, jacket and gloves but in winter it is still so easy to get sick. Would wearing a mask prevent the cold air from entering my lungs? Which type of mask?

Although housing, relationships, socialising and cost of living is a lot worse now then it was for my parents and grandparents I still want to try now. Before I just accepted it and wanted to die.

Crazy to think social media is this powerful. Yeah I know I’m back but oh well.

Movie starts a few months into WW3 (no nukes yet bro). Protagonist is an early 20s NEET, got fired because of AI. Watching a streamer react to the live national drawing of the draft. It selects protagonist’s birthday. Streamer goes “oh anyone with that bday gonna get mogged!”

Protagonist has panic attack and stays inside his parent’s house for a couple of days. His Boomer parents rat him out to the authorities. They come in to take him and he runs outside, climb’s over neighbours fence, runs out of their driveway and gets hit by car, cut to black.

Skip boot camping training eventually protagonist is in Eastern Europe. His battalion has to seize a fortified Russian position. Over the new few nights his battalion gets cut in half by drone strikes and artillery.

They make it to the Russian emplacement and everyone there is already dead, bombed by NATO forces earlier but communication is spotty so they didn’t know. First enemy soldiers shown in movie.

CO yells at everyone to go back to home base for the war effort ain’t gonna stop. Protagonist stares at him then shoots him in the head. Everyone else watches as he marches into the nearby forest.