As we're all trying to get through this week, I wanted to reflect a bit on fear. On the one hand you have people who are still condescendingly telling us not to worry, on the other you have doomsayers telling us the end is nigh. After the 6th, who could argue with the latter?

But I would, nevertheless, say this: you do not owe the insurrectionists and their apologists a damn thing. You owe them neither your terror nor your awe. You do not owe them the gift of your public despair.

I've watched and studied people like the insurrectionists for years. They thrive on the pain of the people/groups they despise. Be cautious about giving it to them too freely.

Beyond that, doomsaying is a way of taking back control, finding a confident memory of the future to take shelter in. Certainty, set against all the Pollyannas who betrayed you. But it can also needlessly induce paralysing despair in others.

So you're sure a second coup is going to happen. What do you do? More importantly, what do you want your *followers* to actually do? Do you have a constructive or useful ask that helps your community? A good idea for preparation or response?

Because, otherwise, by spreading despair for its own sake you're doing the insurrectionist's work for them. Terrorism is a force-multiplier, using a relative economy of force to achieve widespread political and psychological results. Deny them that success.

Indeed, many of us have known for years that we cannot trust the police or the state; many more, hopefully, now realise that. But how do we reinvest that broken trust in our networks and communities? That seems like a useful next step to consider.