Politics - why I left in the past, why I'm leaving again...

CrimsonProf

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Dec 30, 2006
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I appreciate what all of you are saying - but someone has to do this. If good people back out of this, the only ones you'll have left are bozos and charlatans. For my own part, I'm hoping to make inroads into politics within the next ten years as my kids age. This stuff matters - a lot! - and it can't be left to the cesspool, and good people need to remain in this fight.


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Redwood Forrest

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Sep 19, 2003
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Thank you, and nope, I'm just dropping the political discussions. I've long felt that politics were simply a man-made game that people use to divide others, and that's never been more apparent in my lifetime then it is now. I once again refuse to take part in the game anymore.
Well, does this mean you can't discuss immigration, babies, China, Russia, recession and all those topics? I can be against ILLEGAL immigration without being political. It is illegal and just plain wrong.
 

CrimsonProf

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Dec 30, 2006
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Thank you, and nope, I'm just dropping the political discussions. I've long felt that politics were simply a man-made game that people use to divide others, and that's never been more apparent in my lifetime then it is now. I once again refuse to take part in the game anymore.

Come on, now. Whether it was a "man-made" or not is besides the point - we have this issues before us and we can either cast away immature nutjobs on Twitter and work hard at this stuff or we can hand it over to the Trumpkins and Bernie Bros.

It's hard - I get that. I have to step away sometimes for my own sanity, and sometimes arguing over marginal tax rates and taxes on dividends, etc. can sound like some 9th century monk debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. But this stuff matters - if you somehow managed to get insured through Obamacare or if your premiums skyrocketed and you lost your doctor....it has very real consequences. So if you want to ignore Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow - yes, please do! But let's not act as though the basic divisions in this country between progressives like Barack Obama and conservatives of various stripes (from Paul Ryan to Clarence Thomas) has very real impact on people's lives and wellbeing.
 
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crimsonaudio

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Sep 9, 2002
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This article sums up the primary reason I'm apolitical once again - no one wants to listen and understand the other side, they just want to mock it and feel superior. Even here on NS it's common. I want no part of that in my life.

There is one 'bad word' in this article, but I'm making an executive decision to let the post stand despite that - I think people need to read this: The “Other Side” Is Not Dumb
 
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Jon

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Feb 22, 2002
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This article sums up the primary reason I'm apolitical once again - no one wants to listen and understand the other side, they just want to mock it and feel superior. Even here on NS it's common. I want no part of that in my life.

There is one 'bad word' in this article, but I'm making an executive decision to let the post stand despite that - I think people need to read this: The “Other Side” Is Not Dumb
can I just say both sides are dumb?
 

Bama Reb

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Nov 2, 2005
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On the lake and in the woods, AL
My life isn't politics. Not by any means. I just got back (for a little while, anyway) from my island retreat where I've been busy building a bungalow (for my sil).
I keep up with politics, yes. But I don't let it run my life. Anyone who gets too involved with it is begging to be pushed over the edge, imo. Those are the ones who riot, shout slogans and obscenities, and dress themselves up to look like womens' private parts.
Life is too short to go crazy over things we can't control. Too short, indeed.
 

92tide

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can I just say both sides are dumb?
our entire culture is dumb (and that is expanding globally as well). personally, i think it is more that our infotainment has turned everything into a 24/7 reality show where every issue, no matter how complex and convoluted is presented as binary. in that situation, you have to become ever more absurd to be heard. eventually, absurd is normalized.
 

Jon

Hall of Fame
Feb 22, 2002
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our entire culture is dumb (and that is expanding globally as well). personally, i think it is more that our infotainment has turned everything into a 24/7 reality show where every issue, no matter how complex and convoluted is presented as binary. in that situation, you have to become ever more absurd to be heard. eventually, absurd is normalized.
100% agreement, too much black/white, right/wrong when most of the world is in the gray area in between.
 

Go Bama

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Dec 6, 2009
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I've seen politics consume the lives of people close to me, people who were veterans and war heroes. No matter what topic started the conversation, it always ended with politics and money. I realized 35 years ago I could not let this happen in my life.

Politics is very interesting but I seem to have zero influence on anyone therefore I'll still form my opinions and support my candidates, but my sphere of influence is outside politics. In order for me to effect someone's life I try to help them.

Politics is self indulgent.

I'm starting to feel the same way about Sunday school.
 

TIDE-HSV

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Oct 13, 1999
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I've seen politics consume the lives of people close to me, people who were veterans and war heroes. No matter what topic started the conversation, it always ended with politics and money. I realized 35 years ago I could not let this happen in my life.

Politics is very interesting but I seem to have zero influence on anyone therefore I'll still form my opinions and support my candidates, but my sphere of influence is outside politics. In order for me to effect someone's life I try to help them.

Politics is self indulgent.

I'm starting to feel the same way about Sunday school.
I agree with a lot of what you're saying. Wed. night, we went to a dinner party. There were about 25 in all, seated at a long table. Directly across from us sat a city councilman and his wife. I've known him since he was a youth and I've represented his family for over 40 years. IOW, we were very comfortable together. To my right, there were five people, at the end of the table. Immediately to my right, was a very loud and very drunk realtor lady. All she talked about was politics, drowning everyone out. However, all five seemed to agree, including the retired general across from her, who was her husband. At one point, she demanded that everyone in earshot declare his/her allegiance to Trump and zeroed in first on the councilman. (I think that, if she could've, she would have jumped up on the table, not that it could have held her weight.) His wife answered "well, we're what I would call nonpartisan." By way of explanation, our municipal elections are nonpartisan and the only way you'll know the party of a councilman or mayor is if you're a very good friend and the individual tells you. Then she directed her questioning to me. I replied "independent" (the truth). This obviously made her unhappy. Although the group of five agreed with her, they were clearly uncomfortable and kept trying to change the topic of conversation, without success. She was truly obsessed. And drunk...
 

92tide

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May 9, 2000
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I agree with a lot of what you're saying. Wed. night, we went to a dinner party. There were about 25 in all, seated at a long table. Directly across from us sat a city councilman and his wife. I've known him since he was a youth and I've represented his family for over 40 years. IOW, we were very comfortable together. To my right, there were five people, at the end of the table. Immediately to my right, was a very loud and very drunk realtor lady. All she talked about was politics, drowning everyone out. However, all five seemed to agree, including the retired general across from her, who was her husband. At one point, she demanded that everyone in earshot declare his/her allegiance to Trump and zeroed in first on the councilman. (I think that, if she could've, she would have jumped up on the table, not that it could have held her weight.) His wife answered "well, we're what I would call nonpartisan." By way of explanation, our municipal elections are nonpartisan and the only way you'll know the party of a councilman or mayor is if you're a very good friend and the individual tells you. Then she directed her questioning to me. I replied "independent" (the truth). This obviously made her unhappy. Although the group of five agreed with her, they were clearly uncomfortable and kept trying to change the topic of conversation, without success. She was truly obsessed. And drunk...
sounds like she has a little bit of that yearning for authoritarians that the articles you posted earlier last year referenced.
 

TIDE-HSV

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sounds like she has a little bit of that yearning for authoritarians that the articles you posted earlier last year referenced.
Well, she's married to an ex-general, so. I don't think anyone can support him who doesn't have that streak in the personality. I lost a job at DOJ once when the interviewer got around to the question "Do you believe in the violent overthrow of lawfully constituted authority?" (very important in the '60s). I just said "whose?" So, you can see on which side of that question I fall. BTW, I take it you're not doing the Mountain Mist this year?
 

92tide

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May 9, 2000
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Well, she's married to an ex-general, so. I don't think anyone can support him who doesn't have that streak in the personality. I lost a job at DOJ once when the interviewer got around to the question "Do you believe in the violent overthrow of lawfully constituted authority?" (very important in the '60s). I just said "whose?" So, you can see on which side of that question I fall. BTW, I take it you're not doing the Mountain Mist this year?
unfortunately no. i almost signed up this year but i am not ready to race at that level yet (i did two "easier" trail 50k's this past year, but mist is another level). after my brain surgery in fall 2014, i lost 12+ years of endurance training and it has been very slow getting it back.

i will get back to the mist in the next year or two as i have finished 8 and need two more finishes to get my 10 year finisher jacket.
 

TIDE-HSV

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Oct 13, 1999
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unfortunately no. i almost signed up this year but i am not ready to race at that level yet (i did two "easier" trail 50k's this past year, but mist is another level). after my brain surgery in fall 2014, i lost 12+ years of endurance training and it has been very slow getting it back.

i will get back to the mist in the next year or two as i have finished 8 and need two more finishes to get my 10 year finisher jacket.
Well, let me know. (The Mountain Mist finish line is within a couple of blocks of my house.) What brain work did you have done?
 

92tide

TideFans Legend
May 9, 2000
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Well, let me know. (The Mountain Mist finish line is within a couple of blocks of my house.) What brain work did you have done?
i had a benign tumor removed. turns out i ran two ultras (mist 2014 was one of them) with that thing lodged in there without knowing it.
 

TIDE-HSV

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Oct 13, 1999
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You, maybe. I stay as far from that particular color as I can.
Probably a good time for a joke about orange. A guy went into his doc, complaining that his genitals had turned orange. The MD started probing into his recent background, asking for his routine the last several weeks. He said no, that he hadn't done much since he got divorced except sit on his couch, watching porn and eating Cheetos... :D
 

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