Through the power of autism, all things are possible. Jot that down.

Orson wells sad that some kinds of shy people have a severely inflate sense of self importance. I think that is not often the case but I think that is highly illustrative of the point. If I say something poorly and make a mistake, I can just apologize and fix it. No harm no foul. Nothing I can say is that serious. It’s fine.

Find a mic, any mic as long as it’s in a public space, then go up to it and say “Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was The Devil, and the government is lying about 9/11”

Or just start saying that to strangers until you feel comfortable.

• Start with people that are close to you, that you can trust, and open up to them first.

• Do it 1-on-1 instead of facing multiple people at once.

• And show nothing but full confidence, even when they ridicule you.

I only give a leftist take on something if I can back it up with specific theory and/or some historical example. If I’m making a point, I try to ask questions that guide that person into making that point themselves or at least becoming agnostic to it before I reply. I keep things relevant to that person and whatever modes of alienation they already recognise. If academic language is necessary I’ll explain it through questions about things that person has already observed, if it isn’t necessary then I’ll phrase things casually as two schmucks getting fucked by the same system.

It’s super easy for me to talk about eco-Marxist ideas at work because they’re plainly observable and can be phrased in ways that include the person I’m speaking to. To my boss it’s sustainability, best practices, biocentrism, and public outreach. To a coworker it’s all the little contradictions I can point out while we’re working, always pitting ourselves against some larger structure or idea that I can describe the toxicity of.

my dad literally has the same geopolitical/economic views as hexebear on almost everything

his uncles were communist too so honestly at this point he’s literally a communist

This might sound weird, but the way I did it was to start working out

Now that I’m in decent shape, I’m not worried about upsetting people because what are they going to do?

If they yell at me, my increased lung capacity and lowered blood pressure means I can yell louder and longer

And if they try to beat me up, I’m faster and stronger than them

“Breaking the law” to get HRT broke my ability to understand which rules I should respect and which I shouldn’t, and having to work in close proximity with so many old engineers taught me that they are morons and I am better than them. Now I just do whatever, including saying whatever comes to mind since it can’t be any worse than anything anyone else could say.

There is a technique or art to easing into it. I find it very easy to talk about"lefty" stuff if you know what buzzwords to avoid, or alternatively, to abuse.

alcohol normally

I reap later just like with most things in life.

Mostly through finding not speaking my mind gets me the same crap over and over. If you speak up there’s at least some kind of result, it can be negative but at least things move forward. I generally try to be clear and to the point if expressing something that could lead to conflict. Short declarative sentences and if you can phrase it in a way that makes it clear you will broker no debate you just kinda get to go off whenever. You have to know your shit well enough to stick to the point and avoid rambling. Also if there is a back and forth take note of anything the other person won’t address or talks around and make them address it directly. You’re not talking around the subject and they don’t get to mislead you to irrelevancies. Be a straight shooter, don’t mince words and don’t let others derail

What’s holding you back from doing it?

stop caring as much about how people see you

i deserve to be loved like a queen casting a hypnotic spell over her land, but i accept that not everyone is down with monarchic socialism, and while some useless fuckers still have their protective amulets, not everyone is going to worship my every thought and decree

but eventually i’ll get those charms to rot and break, so i try not to care too much

I am 110% in the same position. Conflict-avoidance is my first, middle, and last name and I can’t even come close to overcoming it. It’s actually so causing such increasingly real problems in my life that I’m thinking I need to find therapy solely to teach me how to feel able to speak what I’m thinking.

I would kill to get 1% better at expressing myself honestly. If you find success in these or any other methods, please do feel invited to share with me at least.