The Productive Pessimist

  In a recent  i paper article , Suzanne O'Sullivan opines about "seeing 20-year olds with 20 diagnoses".  I saw the headline, and read the article expecting to see at least one   example  of these people with "20 diagnoses", so that this article could have been exploring co-morbidity, and linked chronic conditions (eg, where multiple impacts often or always occur together, but are diagnosed separately because of the way the healthcare system functions, or where one condition triggers a cascade health impact, which can result in multiple diagnoses, although in reality, the cascade impacts are more so symptoms of  the original, initially diagnosed, condition.) There were no  examples of these people with "20 conditions". Not even examples of the kinds of conditions which are being seen in the same person. Conditions, in fact, were never actually mentioned, except as something of "questionable value", especially if they "require constant v...

  Personal Independence Payment, or PIP, is a working-age benefit which individuals with recognised disabilities can apply for to support them with meeting the additional costs which those disabilities can incur in daily life, and in accessing employment. While PIP is "not means tested", this doesn't  mean it's "just handed to anyone who says they're disabled" - non means-tested just means that an individual's income and savings are not considered when their application is being assessed. This is often the first issue that comes up when PIP is being discussed in media, both mainstream and social - "non means-tested" is frequently thrown around media discussions very casually, allowing the assumption  that "they're just handing it out to anyone!" rather than, in contrast to the unemployment and under-employment benefit that is Universal Credit, which brings income restrictions for those in part-time or gig-economy work, as well...

  We're way past the point where we can pretend there isn't going to be another global conflict. There's too much bureaucracy that's amputed process at the knees, hogtied it, and then mired it in slowly-solidifying cement.  Process itself is too heavy, with too many moving parts that are too separated, and too frequently told they're the only team that actually  matters. There's too many people in positions they have no qualification or competency for, and too many people in society who'll keep f-cking putting people like that  in those positions, because "they're so funnneeeee!!! I looooovvvve   their Twitter drama!  And snowflakes deserve to be triggered,  hurrr-hurrr, am I right?!" There's too many bullsh*t jobs which have no justification other than the barriers they create to people in jobs that are actually achieving things society will genuinely benefit from - because there are too many vested interests involved in keeping people in ...

  "Remember; January is still  winter! It's unnatural to be making changes and starting things! The world is telling us to be cosy in bed and rest!" I've been seeing this a lot in the past few days, when it hasn't been present in past years as an anti-New Year's Resolution; previously, the counter to "new year, new me" was simply "Hey, if you don't want to make any resolutions or changes, that's cool, you can look back on the things you're proud of, and want to carry on doing." I'm much more in favour of the latter position than the former. The former position, that we just can't possibly be expected to do anything at this time of year , and people are literally being abusive sadists for expecting us to manage basic adult responsibilities "because still winter! Waaaahhhh!!!" Yes, January 1st is an arbitrary date to start a year. But so is February 2nd, March 31st, or the fifty-nevernth of July. Not ...

  No, I'm not talking about the "seize the means of production!" kind of revolutions, but a more impactful, sustainable, accessible and inclusive form of radicalism; the "revolutions" in the way you approach and engage other people - and yourself. In 2026, the revolutions we need to engage in - or perhaps start  - are: . Revolutions of attitude  - focus on having impactful, rippling words, rather than the last word. Create a message  which carries, rather than relying on argumentative fallacies, sheer force of volume/tone, or insults. View people you find yourself in conflict or disagreement with as cultures to be explored, rather than problems to be solved. . Revolutions of approach - come with curiosity. Argue as though you are doing so in front of a sensitive cat, or a young child - if you can't? Journal the argument you  wanted to make, so you can look back at it over time, and refine the original argument into  a suitable ...