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[-] logicbomb@lemmy.world 146 points 3 days ago

The explanation given in the picture condemns capitalism, not socialism.

Capitalism is the system that assumes actors work in their own rational self interest. It's when capitalism gives "free stuff" that people need to worry about the hidden cost.

The transaction in this case is that the mouse trades its life for a chance of getting food. But, as is typical for capitalism, the person who offers the transaction is intentionally concealing its true cost, making it impossible for the mouse to make any rational decision.

The person who originally made that meme seems to believe that socialism simply means "free stuff". But a mouse trap baited with food is an absolutely textbook example of capitalism.

[-] spujb@lemmy.cafe 61 points 3 days ago

capitalism will you give me free social media

for increased social bandwidth with friends?

yesssssss

actually creates a hellhole of ad supported data theft, harassment, misinformation, and networks of abuse

[-] user224@lemmy.sdf.org 12 points 3 days ago

Until I got to your comment I actually thought I had read capitalism. I just thought it was the "if it's free, you're the product".

[-] logicbomb@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Yes, I read it and said, "Where's the government?" I don't think you can have socialism without a government or some equivalent. If it's just two entities interacting without outside regulation, then it's definitely not something specific to socialism.

[-] knighthawk0811@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago

if you don't already own capital, everything you buy is paid for with your labor/body/self.

every day we give over small pieces of ourselves just to live in a world that someone else created.

[-] match@pawb.social 4 points 3 days ago

socialism is when the people own the mousetrap

[-] logicbomb@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

That's closer to the way communism is generally used. Socialism would be more like if the government had a mousetrap program where it distributed mousetraps to people with rodent problems.

I say "generally used" because some people have used "socialism" and "communism" interchangeably, but I think it's just confusing to do that today.

[-] m4xie@lemmy.ca 27 points 3 days ago

Mice die in mouse traps because I buy the 'humane' ones then forget to check them for weeks, leading to much greater cruelty than normal ones.

[-] prole 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I had an issue with mice a couple of years ago, and it came to blows. I am not proud to say that I committed some horrific atrocities to mouse-kind that will haunt me for the rest of my days.

That said, legends of my brutality must have spread because I haven't had a mouse issue in years.

[-] SpiceyDejarik@infosec.pub 5 points 2 days ago

We had an issue with mice coming inside at our old house. But we had 7 cats, so the problem was I would come into the kitchen in the morning to find blood streaks on the floor where the cats had their fun with the latest intruder. Then I had to dispose of the body. So I never had to partake in the cruelty myself, but I had to deal with its aftermath.

The mice never seemed to figure out that ours was a house of death. But we had a really cool exterminator that wouldn't try to up-sell us on stuff. He always gave us good advice on dealing with various pests. He helped us find the places where the mice were getting in the house and seal them. That's the best solution if you can do it.

[-] InFerNo@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago

Otherwise, what's the plan once you catch them?

[-] InnerScientist@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Drive far away and release them?

[-] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Drive to Alberta and release them.

[-] spankinspinach@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago

So long as it's not rats, I'm cool with it

[-] InFerNo@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago

Considering the urban sprawl here that would make it someone else's problem, not cool

[-] pyre@lemmy.world 35 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

mice don't pay taxes dumbass

[-] FuckFascism@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

How do you know?! Maybe mice do pay taxes! Maybe mice are secretly the illuminati too!!……BIRDS AREN'T REAL THEY'RE JUST GOVERNMENT DRONES!!!

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

The Mouse paid 1.33 billion in income tax alone last year.

[-] burgerpocalyse@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

and thats about to change thanks to zohran

[-] Doom@ttrpg.network 18 points 3 days ago

but it's not free I'm paying for it

[-] Aliktren@lemmy.world 32 points 3 days ago

Facebook is socialist, apparently

[-] simplejack@lemmy.world 32 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Meanwhile, people voting for Trump because they think they’re going to get $500 of cheddar during tax season.

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

Look I had this dream about Jesus not coming back until we ate the giant wheel of cheese that they rolled in front of his tomb now we just gotta find the right cheese

[-] RockBottom@feddit.org 40 points 3 days ago

Don't mice eat free all their lives? It's their nature. Humans decide to kill them based on "My cheese!"

[-] kinsnik@lemmy.world 28 points 3 days ago

yeah. it is not that "mice don't understand why the cheese is free". they don't understand the concept of ownership or money to begin with

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Besides, rodents are monarchists, not socialists

[-] CPMSP@midwest.social 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)
[-] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago

It’s been a minute since I’ve seen one of these “Socialism is when Capitalism” switcharoos.

[-] tetris11@feddit.uk 26 points 3 days ago

Mice die in mousetraps because they need the cheese to live, and have no control over the means in which the metal bar clamps down

[-] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 22 points 3 days ago

yea, if you're dumb enough to think that reading a book can "turn" someone gay, then of course you're going to think libraries are traps that will kill you. republicans are so fucking stupid

[-] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 days ago

Step 1. Mice should rise up against their human oppressors

Step 2. Obtain free Cheeze

Step 3. ???

Step 4. "All mouse equal, Some mouse more equal than others."

[-] chaogomu@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

I see you moved past communism and straight into Leninism,

That means step three is "lose an election".

[-] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 20 points 3 days ago

Ironically, the closest thing I can think of to this concept actually applying in humans would be "free" internet stuff that is actually funded by advertising and personal data harvesting, which is unrelated to socialism but does describe the place that original post looks to have come from.

[-] Vandals_handle@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

Mix some oats into the peanut butter and roll into a marble sized ball. Much easier to handle and mold onto the traps trigger assembly.

[-] spujb@lemmy.cafe 8 points 3 days ago

good tip but id want to eat it myself

[-] PixelPilgrim@lemmings.world 8 points 3 days ago

Lol capitalism is good because they move would pay for the cheese

Also please sign up for a free account to our service!

[-] ch00f@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

From everyone according to their ability, to everyone a high speed spring loaded metal bar.

[-] kbal@fedia.io 6 points 3 days ago
[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Also I'd rather give up peanut butter and eat the cheese

[-] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

Stop funding the military then.

[-] spujb@lemmy.cafe 1 points 2 days ago

i’m working on it

[-] MercuryGenisus@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

All I can think of here is Government Cheese. Murica.

this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
709 points (100.0% liked)

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