I think I'm in a transitional phase as the last vestiges of hope are leaving me. I'm still an asshole, have increasingly stronger and more entrenched opinions, and argue heatedly with people over said opinions. And even though I hold stronger beliefs, I still want to be compassionate, courteous, and want the other person not to hate me at the end of the discussion - but that's only half the time. The other half of the time I just can't bear to say anything on the subject, so I just shrug my shoulders and offer little feedback. I hate both of these reactions, but have no solution for changing them until capitalism has been destroyed.