26.19.2
  
  
  THE RAMBLE
  You are the average of the five people you know. How many of those people that you feel closest to, understand, sympathize with, are online? Those people are invisible in your life, yet they're molding who you are, and that is happening to everyone with a smartphone.
  
  Gen Z is so young and angsty and lonely. Of course they are, the American Dream is dead, even if it was just a hope, it is long gone. "The great themes are all used up, turned into theme parks," we don't even have rock 'n roll. Man, this decade SUCKS (says everyone ever). 
  But truly, the basic idea of a society is: if I follow the rules and do what I'm supposed to, I'll get taken care of. If I do what I'm supposed to, and still get fucked, that's it, I leave. Better a criminal or revolutionary.
  
  There's no revolution for us, there's no social movement, and no physical meeting space. Those have moved online, and now physical reality is strangely barren. Gen Z needs community, but it can't trust the old institutions such as church or family, and with no physical place to turn, you can only return to the internet. The closest equivalent is the Pride and other new age wave crap. Get your Party affiliation now.
  
  Digitalized social networks and the US have become radicalized. It is impossible to rationally disagree, conversate, or debate your neighbor. Noone wants to talk, so now the extremism worsens, the politics are not PERSONAL or face to face, and everyone is politically invisible, turning a blind eye. It's better not to mention it, until it's too late.
  
  People need to organize and network in person. You can't hook up with someone online, you can't get a real feel for their personality, you can't make a real friend you can count on when the shit hits the fan. Real communication and rapport skills, as well as the ability to organize without the use of the internet are vital. Humans are inherently social animals.
  
  I have always thought of humanity as neurons and Earth as a brain, and memes are electronic impulses traveling between networks to form movements and cultures. The right neuron, or person (AKA mover and shaker) can tighten the network with the right connections.
  
  Lonely people probably don't know they are. Everyone thinks this is normal, it's our way. Everyone gets to be an invisible loser. Participation in life is optional.
  
  How do we start a social movement that's apolitical and friendly, and actually convince NEETs to gather? It would be a forced repetition of fucking high school. The problem is we don't have house parties or go to clubs, I guess, because the economy is shit and people won't have a good time for cheap, like in the hood. Everyone's so serious, and prefers to get their soma from the witchmachines, fed-subsidized.
  
  DA WISDOM:
  People need to change on a personal level and re-connect. Social networks are social capital, your opportunities are directly based on your connections. People meet each other through family, college, church, or work, and Gen Z has lost out on traditional methods of rapport while also becoming increasingly isolated and introverted. The diverse diversions of the internet provide endless entertainment that previous generations did not have: they went to concerts and public events and other humans for a good time. The death of local scenes and networks reinforces the cycle (and kills local economy).
  Relationships have to be created and renewed face-to-face at social functions, when information can flow freely. (Private organization and the flow of information is the dearth of a tyranny.) We're talking about house parties, venues, hanging out, grassroots organization.
  
  
  HOW TO MEET PEOPLE:
  1. See someone interesting.
  2. Begin a conversation. 
  "Hey, what does that T-shirt mean?" 
  "I like that sticker, where'd you get it?"
  "Do you listen to ____, do you play videogames,  do you play Magic: the Gathering?"
  2a. It's not illegal to give compliments. It can make someone's day, and it costs you nothing. Jokes, quips, or witticisms can be iffy, but I don't care.
  3. "Are you from around here?" - If they are, you can expect to see them again. If not, why are they here? You can learn interesting things.
  5. "What do you do? Do you have any hobbies?" - Relevant information, if you plan on inviting or ever seeing them again.
  4. Introduce yourself. "My name is -----" and they will reciprocate. Shake hands, or other courtesy.
  5. "Hey, can I get your phone number?" Always get THEIR phone number. People are busy and they will forget you. Send them a brief text immediately, explaining who you are.
  6a. "Do you want to get coffee sometime? How about Monday at 10, at the Blank Cafe?" Invite them to a neutral third space, you probably don't want to be in someone else's house if they're a serial killer or crack addict. 
  6b. Or, give them a call to see how they're doing later. Remember what they like and do, and if an opportunity comes up, invite them or send them something.
  
  If it's awkward, it's not the death of you, you can say, "Welp, this is awkward." or you can change the subject. If not... I don't know, jump off a cliff or something. Don't meet that person again if you have nothing to agree on, meet someone else.
  Be presentable, not an asshole, and remember the other human. It takes two to tango.