Ask Lemmy

In 2013, I posted on Facebook, urging my Czech friends not to vote for the eventual winner of their Presidential election, Milos Zeman. I called him and inept drunkard, and compared to him to the then Slovak President, Ivan Gasparovic. The next day, the Slovak police paid a visit to my parents (I've been living abroad by then), and offered not to create problems for them if I deleted the post, because Mr. Gasparovic was offended by being compared to Mr. Zeman. As soon as my parents called me, I dropped everything and deleted the post.

This was in a presumably democratic member of the European Union, and I didn't even think twice. I'd probably self-censor if I lived in a dictatorship. Sorry; I'm no hero type. I do have my opinions and express them when able, and don't when it would cause problems for me or my family. I think I'm just an average person.

Sure. I can lie. 🤷‍♂️

Could use the time they are not harassing me to get away where they can't get me again to continue talking shit.

Great question. The denouncement doesnt cost you anything, but everything to be gained - your family safety, but there is no reassurance that the promised would be held by the other side. And it might be used again as, black mail. I'd denounce myself and move my family away if possible as soon as possible

I really don't understand why regimes do this. Like everyone with two brain cells to rub together know the person recanting is not being truthful. But then again almost two thirds of my country at least tacitly supported an open fucking idiot with "concepts of a plan".

Depends on what's at stake and how serious these threats are. I wouldn't let my family be murdered over my political beliefs.

You're asking a lot of questions like this. Are you okay?

Nope. What I'd do is call out the religious rulers of our world who want to lie, steal, cheat, and murder their way to Armageddon (Armageddon is the final attempt by Lucifer in murdering all of Messiah Yeshua's followers). They're not Khazars as most think (as I'm a crypto Khazar myself, so I'm convinced); for we're employees of a higher religious power: Roman Catholic leadership.

Edit: I wouldn't care if I died for it, as I would be essentially faithful to the end.

I would; it's just words.

Can't really resist if you're dead or in a murder camp.

I like to think I would stand firm for important beliefs.

But I pray to God I'll never have to find out the hard way.

And yet it moves.

My answer is "more weight"!

Can you trust them to follow through on their end of the bargin?

I think this is an excellent question. People often forget about threats to families/friends, and only consider their own lives.

It's of course very context-dependent and I'm sure different people have different beliefs. For example, if your friends and families are ardently against the government and would be willing to risk a lot, and you are having an impact, you might just ignore the threats.

And in a way I think if more people think like that, it's best, as that makes blackmail to friends/family worthless.

In most other scenarios, I would give them one chance. After all there is other good that can be done in this world. However, if they show that they can't be trusted. I'd consider that I have nothing left to lose, and go hard.

Family comes first. Now maybe there's some wiggle room to decide which choice serves my family better, but my motivation would always be to serve my family the best I can.

That being said, I'm a fifty year old man with 5 kids. If one of my kids was in the same position I might quietly cheer them on for resisting if it was just them and me. But I'd have to encourage them to consider their siblings as well if that was the situation.

100% I'd recant. More enjoyable to not be locked away as a political prisoner, and way easier to overthrow the government that way, too.