Despair isn’t enough, but it does put someone in a mindset of disillusionment, which is a good time to challenge the false consciousness with which we are alk inundated under capitalism. Two important things:

1. Socialist radicalization also requires an active effort by socialists to spread information and create welcoming environments that support the curious without disrupting the well-established.

2. Suffering can and does prevent thinking about anything other than the next paycheck, meal, shelter, etc. Folks dealing with that don’t have time for theory, so they need to be protected before anything else - part of where mutual aid can be effective. Also why BPP free breakfast programs were rapidly outlawed (they were effective!)