I'm an artist and it's definitely hit me and all of my friends. Everyone's small business is taking a hit. In the anime community, artists order keychains, prints, stickers, plushes etc from manufacturers, and whether they are local or overseas, the supply chain still originates globally. The uncertainty of when to order and not get hit by a tarrif is causing a lot of stress. I tried to pivot to handmade, but this is my second job, and if it were my main income I would never be able to keep up or create enough at an affordable price, especially when my customers are hurting so bad economically, how are they going to be able to afford my art if I raise prices to compensate? It's a nightmare. I'm lucky I prebought some supplies, but it also costs more and more to get into shows, and those industries are raising prices as venues raise prices... it just is destroying everything.

Privacy of my data, for one. I've had lots of conversations about things like trade and sale of used items, or just plain meetups (they've got my address in many PMs with friends). They've got my conversations and opinions about TV and viewing habits. They've got intimate conversations and vulnerability about mental health. The addition of AI already makes me nervous as F as an artist, and I've shared my art on there before. It has data about my gender identity and sexuality in conversations I would never want shareholders, in this political climate, to use against me.

I wish I could wipe all my data from discord, but i doubt deleting it would do that. And I don't want to lose my communities. I know some of the responsibility is on me for being so open on a communication service, but seriously? When it's privately owned you at least had some semblance of an idea of what to expect, and it originally was for gamers. That aesthetic, while expanded to every day chat, still had a layer of fun and usability that I am just afraid is going to disappear for whatever shareholders want, and shareholders are many many liabilities wrapped up in ideologies that can be bought.

I'm tired.

It really says something about how all over the place OP is that they can't imagine possibly having a very complex task that takes all your concentration. Any time I try to split my attention between a couple emails or documents, inevitably one gets a little less quality put into it. It depends on what your job is, but it isn't worth the risk if you risk say, mixing up data from one file in another. You'd say to me then, well, pay more attention! Be more organized! That's exactly why I know that some items deserve my full attention because I'm prioritizing them.

We used to have so many of them when I was a kid. Their numbers are dwindling. 😭

IDK about the actors, I meant as written, as scripted, the characters often fought exactly this kind of tyranny. Sorry for not being clear!

But then why is Canada's whole absolute boycott of everything American gaining traction around the world? Could it be that... when we ALL participate, it actually starts to make them worry?

...nah, couldn't be.

Honestly I used to think like you did, but this time I think if we apply this boycott as a broad stroke to capitalism in general and ONLY shop small or legitimately supportive companies, then it'll STACK with the other actions people take. One thing doesn't happen in a vacuum, and while it may seem small on its own, it adds up.

God, as a HUGE Stargate fan I feel like all its main cast would be completely enraged at what is happening here, it's fucked up!