Forging Light in the Algorithmic Abyss

A dispatch from Pat Pending, Warlord and Author of Evil Affirmations

The world will tell you, over and over, that outrage is engagement. That the best way to capture attention is to make people afraid, divided, or endlessly scrolling through conflict. It’s an effective spell — but a corrosive one.

And yet, even in a media landscape optimized for anxiety, there are sparks worth protecting. I’ve seen them in creators who dare to post something hopeful, in leaders who share real progress instead of panic, and in individuals who refuse to trade compassion for clicks.

The Power of Strategic Optimism

In Evil Affirmations, I teach that control isn’t about domination, it’s about direction. The same applies to content. When we lead with hope, we don’t ignore darkness; we choose where to shine the light.

Embed what’s working inside what’s broken. Show that improvement is possible and measurable. Hope, when reinforced with data and authenticity, becomes an act of rebellion against despair.

Micro-Wins, Macro-Momentum

You don’t need to cure the kingdom in a day. Highlight small victories.An employee who fixed a process. A creator who found their audience. A team that shipped something honest and useful.

Momentum is forged in the minor details. Celebrate them, because morale is a renewable resource, but only if you keep recharging it.

Visualize the Shift

I enjoy a well-made infographic. It’s like a tactical briefing for optimism.

Show your audience how things have changed for the better: not in slogans, but in comparisons. Before and after. Then and now.

Something good happened today. Make sure it doesn’t vanish in the feed.

Empathy as a Strategic Asset

You can rule with fear for a season, or lead with empathy for an era.The latter takes more skill. It requires listening to those who follow you, acknowledging their effort, and reminding them that progress, even slow progress, still counts.

Empathy doesn’t weaken authority. It humanizes it, and in doing so, makes it last.

Realism Is Not Cynicism

True optimism isn’t naïve. It’s data-driven defiance. You don’t deny problems; you contextualize them. You show people that facts can coexist with faith in the future.

That’s not spin. That’s leadership.

The world may still sell fear. Let it. You, meanwhile, can sell resolve. Show your minions what’s improving, even if it’s just the courage to keep trying.

So tell me, my ambitious apprentices: What good news forged itself in your world today?