Further Reading...

Mark Fisher, Capitalist Realism
Why it can become difficult to imagine alternatives to the systems we already live under.

Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark
A thoughtful look at hope, uncertainty, and the possibility of change without pretending everything will work out.

Rutger Bregman, Humankind: A Hopeful History
A challenge to some of our more pessimistic assumptions about human nature.

Hans Rosling, Factfulness
Why our perception of the world can skew toward the negative, even when some things are measurably improving.

David Graeber and David Wengrow, The Dawn of Everything
A broader look at how varied human societies have been, and why our current arrangements aren't necessarily inevitable.

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Equipment: Hardware: iphone 14. Rode Videomic NTG. Software: imovie. Garageband

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Please note: This channel explores philosophical themes and is for educational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This is the only official Functional Melancholic YouTube Channel. This is not an AI channel. I am a real person. No green screens are used.

I’ve started doing the simple things that made me happy back in the 1980’s:  going to local independent bookstores - especially the ones with used books where you can just browse and happen upon a treasure, going to local independent coffeeshops to read said books, going to farmers markets to buy from local farms, listening to my music on a stereo instead of streaming, baking, buying bread from a local independent bakery, going for long walks or a bike ride in the neighborhood without earbuds, going to the couple of independent local movie theaters, etc.   These things soothe my soul.

"When did believing in a better future become more ridiculous than believing in the end of the world?"
Fabulous question!

How ironic that we now have to prove to robots that we are human. The ultimate irony. We truly get the world we deserve.

As long as billionaires exist, we will never get to enjoy this very modest utopia.

"The news isn't to inform you. It's to keep you scared and compliant."

"There's a plague of denial". What's been foisted on us is accepted as the new "normal" by far too many.

We live in a system that expects us to function to meet a monitary level even when sick, old or otherwise.

Beautiful trees. Nice hat. Great talk.❤

A melancholic being optimistic 😊 what an insightful video

"They've made freedom so expensive that only the ultra rich can afford it." I hate it & that's why I always expose this evil billionaires"

I would rather be a simple, contented, “regular” person living in a simple, contented community with clean food, water, air and creativity than a trillionaire. It must be hell to be that wealthy.

🤣"Maybe the shoes had developed feelings for You" ... 🤣

Thanks for applying your talents and keeping imagination alive❤

I love the world you're describing 🙏🏼🦋

Wow, another excellent video there. I've been to college, and I can tell you that this lecture / talk is far better than anything I ever experienced at the lies of Higher Learning.

This channel is psychologically addictive ❤

This was really refreshing - - what a nice change : To imagine how "good" it can be (for a change.)

I think you changed the fabric of the universe with the past 38 minutes. I can feel it in the quality of sunlight streaming  through my window. I'm so inspired that I am going to build a marimba out of some leftover sirari flooring. Much love.❤ And carpe diem!

When you mentioned the cat videos, it stuck with me. I love them, they're so funny and so cute, but it's more than that. Maybe the fact that we still stop to watch a cat be silly is proof we haven't given up on lightness yet.