Comments

  • Climate change denial
    At this point, to be a climate denier takes really hard work. Must be like playing whack-a-mole. Unprecedented heat, hurricanes, floods, droughts, etc.— but nah, nothing to see. Or it’s all “natural,” so no need to care about emissions. Or it’s “not so bad,” because it probably won’t wipe out every human.

    I was thinking of a good film metaphor for all this— and of course Don’t Look Up was a good one, but there has also been another staring us in the face for 50 years: Jaws.

    Try picturing the shark as climate change, and it all makes sense. And Republicans are still the mayor.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    I am afraid that in their attempt to sound moderate, Harris and Walz will lose support among some groups, and they will try to stick with an economic plan that does not sound popular to the majority (middle class) they are trying to appeal to in other ways.Eros1982

    I think that’s a disaster too. But not surprising.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    I am just glad that Vance did not refuse global warming; he even blamed democrats for not having done enough with renewablesEros1982

    No he didn’t. He rambled a bunch of nonsense and then threw in a lie about nuclear. He also said “if you believe” emissions are causing climate change. An absolute joke.

    The fact that you give him a pass while criticizing the Democratic ticket, and yet claim you care about climate change, shows how unserious you are — or how fake. The choice is clear for anyone truly concerned about that issue. Should take about 10 seconds.

    A forgettable "VP debate"180 Proof

    Yeah, nothing great. They were polite. Walz stumbled with the Hong Kong answer— Vance stumbled with January 6th and gave ridiculous answers on guns, Climate change, abortion, child care and healthcare. Should have been a slam dunk for Walz— too bad.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/29/world/middleeast/middle-east-war-peace-nasrallah.html

    The key paragraph:

    “But an ironclad alliance with Israel built around strategic and domestic political considerations, as well as the shared values of two democracies, means Washington will almost certainly never threaten to cut — let alone cut off — the flow of arms.”

    Notice the vague, careful phrasing. Translation: there’s nothing the US can do because the Israel lobby is too powerful (“domestic political considerations”) and is an extension of our economic agenda (“strategic considerations”) in the region.

    There’s plenty we can do: namely, STOP SENDING WEAPONS. Stop funding the war. Period. Shame on The NY Times for talking nonsense. This isn’t the 1990s — we see right through it now.
  • It's Amazing That These People Are Still With Us
    Maggie Smith— not on the list, but probably should have been.
  • Donald Trump (All General Trump Conversations Here)
    I hate Taylor Swift! Haitians are destroying music— they’re eating the Snoop Dogs; they’re eating the Doja Cats.
  • Climate change denial


    Don’t waste too much time with climate deniers. Ignore feature works great. That’s my recommendation.

    Anyway— yes, for denialists who don’t understand a single thing climate scientists say, but want to sound as if they alone have special knowledge, it’s important to develop the strawman of “they think the world will end in 12 years!”

    Idiots are gonna idiot.
  • Why should we worry about misinformation?
    Oh cool, the dude who worships the guy who said anyone burning the flag should get put in jail is gonna lecture us on free speech absolutism. Pass.
  • Donald Trump (All General Trump Conversations Here)
    What I found is someone who is willing to ask the hard questions.L'éléphant

    :rofl:
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Pay attention to these bogus beliefs:

    That Israel only “defends” itself (it doesn’t).

    That “wiping out Hamas” is even possible (it isn’t).

    That some words in a charter are ultra-important (they aren’t).

    That gaza isn’t a concentration camp (it is).

    That Israel isn’t the overwhelming military power (they are).


    Then you’ll have a better understanding of why these conversations go nowhere. The assumptions are so far apart it’s beyond rationality.
  • Donald Trump (All General Trump Conversations Here)
    These people who keep trying to kill Trump must really hate the establishment. Since Trump is the embodiment of the establishment, he’s an easy target.

    Anyway, look forward to this being forgotten in 48 hours.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”

    Quiz:

    Who said the above?

    A) a random troll on Instagram
    B) a 9-year-old boy
    C) a young girl who couldn’t get tickets
    D) a 78-year old former United States president

    Any guesses?
  • What is the most uninteresting philosopher/philosophy?
    Anyways, what are other people's most uninteresting philosopher/philosophy and why?schopenhauer1

    Jordan Peterson. A bumbling, jumbled pile of garbage from what I can tell. No substance whatsoever. I’m reluctant to even include him— but many consider him a “philosopher.” Oy.

    More classically: I agree about Wittgenstein to a degree. But mostly nearly all the analytic types from the 50s. :yawn:
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)


    Yes. Fun to watch the corporate-owned trickle-downers try to navigate all this.

    Yeah, he’ll pretty much say anything at this point. Taxes, abortion, electric cars (now that Elon is on his side, he likes them), anything.

    And always remember: they’re EATING the DAWGS.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    If democrats had majority control of congress Trump could pass legislation supporting workers.praxis

    True— but that’s assuming he wants to help workers; his entire business and political life says otherwise.
  • Chinese Cars
    Trump wins and inexplicably prevents on "blood bath" he promises a 100% tariff, but they would still be cheap.Fooloso4

    There’s already a 100% tariff.

    And yes I’d buy one. BYD seems fine to me.
  • Donald Trump (All General Trump Conversations Here)
    I think the doddering dotard should now take his very-stable genius brain, with his best words, and drop out of this race.

    The obese, 78-year old lunatic should enjoy himself. He’s most likely only running again to avoid court losses anyway— and since he has never had any principles, he can do it. Just drop out that make up a story, say it a thousand times, and his supporters will come up believe it’s true.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Israel actually sent in special commando troops to al-shifa hospital. I don't believe any civilians were killed during the operation miraculously.BitconnectCarlos

    So it can be done… :chin:

    I thought causalities were inevitable because war is hell, WWII, good intentions and so on.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    “They’re eating the DOGS!”
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    What to do about the rockets being fired from the hospital?BitconnectCarlos

    We have the answer: obliterate the hospital, and everyone in it. Since they’re non-human anyway, it doesn’t matter much.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Guess we just can't go to war then.BitconnectCarlos

    Yeah, I guess nothing can be done. Genocides are inevitable.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    I maintain that Israel does not intentionally murder civilians.BitconnectCarlos

    Yeah, because it isn’t obvious that bombing schools and hospitals and shelters — because “Hamas is there” — will result in civilian deaths.

    Likud has unintentionally killed 300 thousand people.

    “When they do it, it’s terrorism. When we do it, it’s counter-terrorism.” How tiresome.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    doesn't take away from the fact that the Biden administration carries responsibility for things going to hellTzeentch

    :up:
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    What national abortion ban?NOS4A2

    A ban can be enacted under the Comstock Act, if the DOJ (at the president's direction) so chooses. I doubt the Supreme Court would stop it. It's a very real possibility. The fact that Trump is backing away from the rhetoric because he sees at as the political liability that it is means exactly nothing.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    The Biden administration's colossal failures of diplomacy vis-á-vis Ukraine and Israel are very important to me.Tzeentch

    Understandable. It's important to me too, and Biden has been an utter failure in that respect. It's the one area that Trump may (accidentally) be better for the world. I don't see how he'd be any better on Israel, but perhaps I've missed something.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    I think there's zero basis to argue that Trump was worse in any meaningful way.Tzeentch

    To pick one: environment. The IRA was meaningful, and has (and will continue to have, unless somehow dismantled if Trump is elected) meaningful impacts on a transition to less emissions— yes, despite current levels of oil production.

    To say nothing about actions at the EPA, SEC, FTC, and NLRB— which have been surprisingly good. Oh and the education department’s canceling of student debt has been fantastic, despite the courts blocking much of that effort.

    It takes effort not to see differences, unless there’s some real partisan skewering of perception.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    There is no lesser evil.Tzeentch

    Yeah, actually there is. Trump is the greater evil. Don’t overthink it.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    Taylor Swift has endorsed Harris.

    “It’s over.”
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    Trump is so old and his bullshit is so tiresome after 9 years, I think many people will vote for Harris just so they won’t ever have to hear from this guy again.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    It’s a good example of what this is all about: Trump is a dangerous, incoherent imbecile. Anyone with a couple brain cells realize you gotta vote against that.

    Harris could have been replaced with a mannequin and still win.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    Ukraine has been working towards implementing a modern, free, transparent democracy.jorndoe

    :lol:
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    Well he’s making it pretty easy for Kamala, who’s an awful actress.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    God this is fucking embarrassing.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    15 minutes in— She looks nervous, dry-mouthed, and is delivering memorized lines, ignoring the questions. She’s delivering them without stuttering and with coherence, but it looks fake and forced.

    Trump is his usual rambling, incoherent buffoon self — repeating his rally lines reflexively. But he looks more natural doing it.

    Man, it would have been nice to have Bernie up there with Trump just once.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Would you rather see it a Muslim state?BitconnectCarlos

    Nope.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Having 6 million Palestinians come to Israel brings "Israel as a Jewish state" into question.BitconnectCarlos

    As it should.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    magnitudes more strife and difference.BitconnectCarlos

    I’d say the strife the last few decades has been pretty bad— so you better be sure. I don’t see it as a certainty. Maybe pockets of violence— maybe just issues at first but not in the long run, etc. Giving Likud and Hamas less power could be the ultimate result, which would be good.

    You seem far too certain for such an important possibility.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    different community with different values there can very well end up being strife as both groupsBitconnectCarlos

    Isn’t there strife now?