Introduction (again)

[OnBendedKnee]

"Welcome back OBK. Nice to see I'm not the only one that vanishes for extended periods of time. Place has changed a little. Less mocking and more anti Trump shit. I just avoid those threads and I do fine."

It is definitely enjoyable reading familiar faces and catching up on the latest thoughts.
I too somewhat avoid some of the political posts.
There is Reddit and Imgur for most of that.

[Duchess]

Some sites have very strict no religion/no politics rules (I understand why that is done) and it works for those who want harmony.

[username]

Some sites have very strict no religion/no politics rules (I understand why that is done) and it works for those who want harmony.

I get my cake and eat it too.

I can’t express my political opinions on some social media sites for various reasons. Rules on the sites, my husband’s business and lastly I might end up feuding with some of my family/friends. Probably one of the reasons I’ve been more active in Mock the last 5-6 months. Absent evidence to the contrary, I find it a safe place to vent.

[rothschild]

Welcome back OBK. Nice to see I'm not the only one that vanishes for extended periods of time. Place has changed a little. Less mocking and more anti Trump shit. I just avoid those threads and I do fine.

What is it about phony conservatives that appeals to men who have nothing in common with them? Thomas Massie or Rand Paul, sure, that makes sense, but Trump's a greedy chicken hawk pretending to be an alpha male. I voted for Ron Paul and would vote for him again, But Trump? I don't get it.

[username]

Welcome back OBK. Nice to see I'm not the only one that vanishes for extended periods of time. Place has changed a little. Less mocking and more anti Trump shit. I just avoid those threads and I do fine.

I missed this. Why WOULDN’T u take this opportunity to support Trump if you do as opposed to just checking out/avoiding? I’m willing (and in fact somewhat eager) to hear what people like (or don’t like) about him.

It’s a part of the conversation that this country needs to have. I honestly want to hear what he’s doing that people support.

I’ve said elsewhere I don’t disagree with every idea he’s had (like tightening borders), but then he (IMO) takes a decent idea and runs it off a cliff.

[OnBendedKnee]

"It’s a part of the conversation that this country needs to have. I honestly want to hear what he’s doing that people support."

This is an extremely rare position to take in tolerance. Most, if not nearly all will destroy the person's character who thinks differently then the tribe of the forum.
To be fair, a face to face comversation has an opportunity to take off into a delightful and enjoyable exchange of ideas.
The written form here on this forum is a more difficult proposition.

[username]

Nah. I’ve been a registered Independent for years for a reason. I don’t think either of our two parties has it “right” so I’m forever interested in different opinions (and wishing there was a common ground alternative).

TY.

I guess I understand preferring an in person discussion but I like reading differing opinions online. I find in person discussions much more fraught. Because if I’m hanging out with someone (family, friends or business people), disagreeing on any point might mean that relationship could be ruined. I can generally agree to disagree but IRL, a lot of people I know are hard locked in their opinions. So I refrain from going there with them.

[OnBendedKnee]

For the longest time I was a Libertarian.
That was before Howard Stern ran on that platform for the Governor of New York.

I did swith parties from Republican to Democrat although that isn't always the way I vote.

I too wish there was an alternative party- somewhere in the middle.
For example, I am all in favor of women making their own choices, unencumbered by outside (read: male) thinking and logic.
On the other hand, am pro-death penalty and a promonate of legal immigration.

[username]

For the longest time I was a Libertarian.
That was before Howard Stern ran on that platform for the Governor of New York.

I did swith parties from Republican to Democrat although that isn't always the way I vote.

I too wish there was an alternative party- somewhere in the middle.
For example, I am all in favor of women making their own choices, unencumbered by outside (read: male) thinking and logic.
On the other hand I hand I am pro-death penalty.

See? That’s fine. I’m not pro death penalty but I could easily see changing my mind on that if someone killed a loved one. 

I don’t mind Trump’s tightening the borders (as I said). And deporting those with a criminal record, fine.

I think “woke” went too far. 

I don’t think transgender athletes belong in competitive sports if their gender at birth might give them some advantage at a certain age.

I think affirmative action and DEI went over the top in many respects.

And, I don’t mind an “America First” ideology provided it actually benefits us globally.

And certainly I agree with reducing “waste, fraud and abuse” in the government. 

I just see the current administration really screwing up (or going over the top) when it comes to trying to executing a reasonable agenda.

[OnBendedKnee]

There is much more that unites us than divides us.

[Clang McFly]

Nah. I’ve been a registered Independent for years for a reason. I don’t think either of our two parties has it “right” so I’m forever interested in different opinions (and wishing there was a common ground alternative).

TY.

I guess I understand preferring an in person discussion but I like reading differing opinions online. I find in person discussions much more fraught. Because if I’m hanging out with someone (family, friends or business people), disagreeing on any point might mean that relationship could be ruined. I can generally agree to disagree but IRL, a lot of people I know are hard locked in their opinions. So I refrain from going there with them.

Totally agree.

[Clang McFly]

For the longest time I was a Libertarian.
That was before Howard Stern ran on that platform for the Governor of New York.

I did swith parties from Republican to Democrat although that isn't always the way I vote.

I too wish there was an alternative party- somewhere in the middle.
For example, I am all in favor of women making their own choices, unencumbered by outside (read: male) thinking and logic.
On the other hand I hand I am pro-death penalty.

See? That’s fine. I’m not pro death penalty but I could easily see changing my mind on that if someone killed a loved one. 

I don’t mind Trump’s tightening the borders (as I said). And deporting those with a criminal record, fine.

I think “woke” went too far. 

I don’t think transgender athletes belong in competitive sports if their gender at birth might give them some advantage at a certain age.

I think affirmative action and DEI went over the top in many respects.

And, I don’t mind an “America First” ideology provided it actually benefits us globally.

And certainly I agree with reducing “waste, fraud and abuse” in the government. 

I just see the current administration really screwing up (or going over the top) when it comes to trying to executing a reasonable agenda.

Totally agree.

[Clang McFly]

There is much more that unites us than divides us.

AMEN.

[rothschild]

The billionaires' agenda is the agenda of the 0.25%. Neo-feudalism masquerading as conservative "populism", and it worked because the Democratic party decided that gender identity determines sex and middle class whites have too much privilege.

A political confidence scheme the likes of which has never before been seen. The trans people and the blacks and browns that thought their time had come have been hung out to dry, and already we see MAGA dupes sharing the same fate; meanwhile, the Democratic Party is once again preparing to "save" us from the evil they set the stage for.

[Clang McFly]

The billionaires' agenda is the agenda of the 0.25%. Neo-feudalism masquerading as conservative "populism", and it worked because the Democratic party decided that gender identity determines sex and middle class whites have too much privilege.

A political confidence scheme the likes of which has never before been seen. The trans people and the blacks and browns that thought their time had come have been hung out to dry, and already we see MAGA dupes sharing the same fate; meanwhile, the Democratic Party is once again preparing to "save" us from the evil they set the stage for.

[rothschild]

The billionaires' agenda is the agenda of the 0.25%. Neo-feudalism masquerading as conservative "populism", and it worked because the Democratic party decided that gender identity determines sex and middle class whites have too much privilege.

A political confidence scheme the likes of which has never before been seen. The trans people and the blacks and browns that thought their time had come have been hung out to dry, and already we see MAGA dupes sharing the same fate; meanwhile, the Democratic Party is once again preparing to "save" us from the evil they set the stage for.

It's not hard to dupe people who are acclimated to a low signal to noise ratio. As George Carlin said, we have owners, not meaningful political choices. But that's not a very pleasant signal, which is where entertainment comes in: sweet, blessed noise to drown out the unpleasant signal -- the "bullshit" that the disempowered masses have very little tolerance for.

[rothschild]