Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Keith Miller30 said:Well, look, Raspudić is an academic and an intellectual, not some economic specialist. But hey, he’s my number one choice, and if you aren't feeling him, that's perfectly fine by me.

Now, Aleksandra Kolaric is quite a handful—she’s exactly what you might call a "tough old bird." I find myself disagreeing with her more often than not, yet there's something about people like her that I truly admire. She tends to tear down everything I hold dear, but she does it with such style that it doesn't actually get under my skin; in fact, she's the kind of person you'd still want to grab a coffee with. Or perhaps even more than that, though I won't dwell on it. I simply don't take it personally. 🙂

So, I wouldn't necessarily label them as media fabrications; this one could have easily sold us a dream just to protect her seat, but she didn't. As for Bernardica, I think we can find some common ground there.

The main point was really this: who on earth are Raspudić and Kolaric?? Kolaric got all that PR during the Račan administration, and everyone whispered it was just because she was his lover. Beyond that, she doesn't seem to have any credentials that justify taking up so much space in the media...

It's the same with Raspudić—what books has he actually written, or what scientific papers has he published in his field? He's just a self-proclaimed intellectual who thinks he's an expert on everything. It's just like Marić over at GOP in economics—the guy basically just drove a printing press into bankruptcy, worked as a football referee, and sat on the board of a major bank during the Protege era (where, of course, he missed all the embezzlement) only to drone on about how to run the Federal Reserve...

That's the real issue in this country. Every single person tries to act like an authority on subjects they know nothing about and have zero background in. It's one thing to do that on internet forums, but it's a disaster when that crowd is running ministries, dominating the news, and actually governing the nation...

Matthew Young35 said:But then again, in what context should it be taken?

Well, I suppose it’s just meant as trolling or perhaps a bit of light provocation. Personally, I refuse to form an opinion about anyone based solely on their internet posts. After all, we might be insulting one another online today, only to find ourselves grabbing a coffee together tomorrow, wouldn't you agree?☕

James Anderson5 said:The main point was really this: who on earth are Raspudić and Kolaric?? Kolaric got all that PR during the Račan administration, and everyone whispered it was just because she was his lover. Beyond that, she doesn't seem to have any credentials that justify taking up so much space in the media...

It's the same with Raspudić—what books has he actually written, or what scientific papers has he published in his field? He's just a self-proclaimed intellectual who thinks he's an expert on everything. It's just like Marić over at GOP in economics—the guy basically just drove a printing press into bankruptcy, worked as a football referee, and sat on the board of a major bank during the Protege era (where, of course, he missed all the embezzlement) only to drone on about how to run the Federal Reserve...

That's the real issue in this country. Every single person tries to act like an authority on subjects they know nothing about and have zero background in. It's one thing to do that on internet forums, but it's a disaster when that crowd is running ministries, dominating the news, and actually governing the nation...

Whether there was a romantic connection or not, I don't think those are things we should be considering here. And why shouldn't she receive media attention? If the public wants to hear from her, let them; at least the woman knows how to hold a conversation. We can't exactly act as gatekeepers for media space, can we? Because if we tried, someone would always find a reason to dislike someone else. For instance, I’m not particularly fond of Frljic—he could certainly make a living if our society weren't so divided and playing on such low instincts—but even so, why should his media presence be denied? Who, ultimately, is qualified to decide who deserves a platform?

James Anderson5 said:The main point was really this: who on earth are Raspudić and Kolaric?? Kolaric got all that PR during the Račan administration, and everyone whispered it was just because she was his lover. Beyond that, she doesn't seem to have any credentials that justify taking up so much space in the media...

It's the same with Raspudić—what books has he actually written, or what scientific papers has he published in his field? He's just a self-proclaimed intellectual who thinks he's an expert on everything. It's just like Marić over at GOP in economics—the guy basically just drove a printing press into bankruptcy, worked as a football referee, and sat on the board of a major bank during the Protege era (where, of course, he missed all the embezzlement) only to drone on about how to run the Federal Reserve...

That's the real issue in this country. Every single person tries to act like an authority on subjects they know nothing about and have zero background in. It's one thing to do that on internet forums, but it's a disaster when that crowd is running ministries, dominating the news, and actually governing the nation...

Actually, I wouldn't say he's just "self-proclaimed." To be honest, I quite enjoy his way of thinking; I'd much rather read one of his columns than some leftist columnist who tries to wrap their "hatred"—and I use quotes there to avoid being too literal—for certain values people hold dear, inside a joke or a charming writing style. Though, whether you want to admit it or not, it seems you simply don't like Raspudić for ideological reasons. If I had to find a fault, perhaps it's what GQ wrote—that he lacks a bit of flavor, lacking that edge of malice or mockery directed at the opposition. To put it another way, he is as restrained as Dragutin Lesar.

James Anderson5 said:The main point was really this: who on earth are Raspudić and Kolaric?? Kolaric got all that PR during the Račan administration, and everyone whispered it was just because she was his lover. Beyond that, she doesn't seem to have any credentials that justify taking up so much space in the media...

It's the same with Raspudić—what books has he actually written, or what scientific papers has he published in his field? He's just a self-proclaimed intellectual who thinks he's an expert on everything. It's just like Marić over at GOP in economics—the guy basically just drove a printing press into bankruptcy, worked as a football referee, and sat on the board of a major bank during the Protege era (where, of course, he missed all the embezzlement) only to drone on about how to run the Federal Reserve...

That's the real issue in this country. Every single person tries to act like an authority on subjects they know nothing about and have zero background in. It's one thing to do that on internet forums, but it's a disaster when that crowd is running ministries, dominating the news, and actually governing the nation...

Well, that’s just how the administration works. 🤷 You have people who haven't earned enough in their entire lives to buy a single bicycle, individuals who couldn't manage a small local pharmacy, those who have completely dismantled our education system, and people who spend their entire nights judging others on Facebook...

Someone voted for them, so I suppose they can go ahead and run the country if that's what they want. ☕

Just read this piece about Goran Ivanišević that I’d never come across before, and man, it absolutely wrecked me. My eyes were actually stinging. If this kind of writing doesn't hit you right in the gut, I don't know what will.

Walter Grant5 said:Just read this piece about Goran Ivanišević that I’d never come across before, and man, it absolutely wrecked me. My eyes were actually stinging. If this kind of writing doesn't hit you right in the gut, I don't know what will.

He also did a piece on Balić just the other day. It wasn't quite at that same level of prose, but he managed to sing the praises of yet another hero. Balić is exactly the kind of athlete his columns are built for.

A few years back, he even wrote something about hockey. You should try to track it down; the writing is top-tier. 🤣

Dežulović is an incredible writer. If I’m being honest, though, my one gripe is that he isn't quite "radical" enough for my taste. Back when he was cutting teeth at a satirical rag like *The Onion*, he was sharp, biting, and actually mattered in the political conversation. But then he moved over to a major media conglomerate like News Corp, settled into a steady paycheck, and now he mostly just recycles old political tropes from the Reagan era or writes these polished pieces about sports. And honestly, this whole dramatic exit from the local paper? It feels like total bullshit. He’ll still be writing for the same corporate overlords, just under different mastheads that are just as problematic.

Drawing from my experience both in real life and within these online circles, I’d suggest that the right wing struggles far more than its counterparts when it comes to separating their personal disdain for someone's worldview from the actual quality of that person's work.

Take Knut Hamsun, for instance; he was such an unabashed Hitler groupie that, on a purely personal level, I find myself classifying him as either a complete fool or a genuinely malicious individual. Yet, his novel *Growth of the Soil* remains one of the finest pieces of literature I have ever encountered, and that assessment won't change just because of his political affiliations. Similarly, Thompson is a textbook nationalist demagogue who expresses his devotion to the country through almost everything except the one thing that actually matters—paying his taxes—but that doesn't stop me from acknowledging that he has written some truly exceptional songs.

brightpilot6 said:Drawing from my experience both in real life and within these online circles, I’d suggest that the right wing struggles far more than its counterparts when it comes to separating their personal disdain for someone's worldview from the actual quality of that person's work.

Take Knut Hamsun, for instance; he was such an unabashed Hitler groupie that, on a purely personal level, I find myself classifying him as either a complete fool or a genuinely malicious individual. Yet, his novel *Growth of the Soil* remains one of the finest pieces of literature I have ever encountered, and that assessment won't change just because of his political affiliations. Similarly, Thompson is a textbook nationalist demagogue who expresses his devotion to the country through almost everything except the one thing that actually matters—paying his taxes—but that doesn't stop me from acknowledging that he has written some truly exceptional songs.

just put together a playlist of that junkie stuff already

I’ve completely stopped browsing the daily newspapers, whether I'm sitting in a local diner or just buying them at the corner store like I used to. Honestly, the sheer flood of information coming through every other media outlet has just swallowed me whole. It’s the speed of it all, too; I simply don't have the time or the mental energy anymore to wade through endless articles that offer nothing more than three dry sentences of raw facts. That’s actually why I shut down my old social media accounts... I’ve noticed even you people don't seem to have the patience to follow my long-winded treatises anymore.

The only thing I’ll sit and read for longer than three minutes is Kafka, and frankly, that’s purely for the physical stimulation...

Amanda Evans2 said:I’ve completely stopped browsing the daily newspapers, whether I'm sitting in a local diner or just buying them at the corner store like I used to. Honestly, the sheer flood of information coming through every other media outlet has just swallowed me whole. It’s the speed of it all, too; I simply don't have the time or the mental energy anymore to wade through endless articles that offer nothing more than three dry sentences of raw facts. That’s actually why I shut down my old social media accounts... I’ve noticed even you people don't seem to have the patience to follow my long-winded treatises anymore.

The only thing I’ll sit and read for longer than three minutes is Kafka, and frankly, that’s purely for the physical stimulation...

🤣

So, what's the deal?

Amanda Evans2 said:I’ve completely stopped browsing the daily newspapers, whether I'm sitting in a local diner or just buying them at the corner store like I used to. Honestly, the sheer flood of information coming through every other media outlet has just swallowed me whole. It’s the speed of it all, too; I simply don't have the time or the mental energy anymore to wade through endless articles that offer nothing more than three dry sentences of raw facts. That’s actually why I shut down my old social media accounts... I’ve noticed even you people don't seem to have the patience to follow my long-winded treatises anymore.

The only thing I’ll sit and read for longer than three minutes is Kafka, and frankly, that’s purely for the physical stimulation...

🤣 🤣

graniteheron132 said:🤣

So, what's the deal?

Honestly, man, I’m just sitting here staring at the absolute disaster of a single-issue political landscape we're stuck with...

ambertinker41 is acting up again

brightpilot6 said:Drawing from my experience both in real life and within these online circles, I’d suggest that the right wing struggles far more than its counterparts when it comes to separating their personal disdain for someone's worldview from the actual quality of that person's work.

Take Knut Hamsun, for instance; he was such an unabashed Hitler groupie that, on a purely personal level, I find myself classifying him as either a complete fool or a genuinely malicious individual. Yet, his novel *Growth of the Soil* remains one of the finest pieces of literature I have ever encountered, and that assessment won't change just because of his political affiliations. Similarly, Thompson is a textbook nationalist demagogue who expresses his devotion to the country through almost everything except the one thing that actually matters—paying his taxes—but that doesn't stop me from acknowledging that he has written some truly exceptional songs.

You could make the same argument with Martin Heidegger. I guess humanity is supposed to just toss out one of its greatest philosophers ever just because he joined the Nazi Party... ridiculous.

I wouldn't call Thompson a demagogue though—pretty sure he actually believes the stuff he sings. The guy's charismatic and a killer performer; he really hits his audience hard because the emotion is just there. Purely musically? He's terrible. He misses notes constantly and sounds like he's singing through a beer barrel...

graniteheron132 said:ambertinker41 is acting up again

what kind of garbage software is this

How can one claim to champion patriotism and a devotion to their fellow citizens, yet when the moment arrives to pay taxes—the very funds required to ensure this nation functions properly and provides a safety net for those less fortunate than ourselves—suddenly find oneself inventing imaginary friends from halfway across the world to justify avoiding the bill?

ambertinker41 is just lying there in a puddle 🙂

Larry Fox5 said:You could make the same argument with Martin Heidegger. I guess humanity is supposed to just toss out one of its greatest philosophers ever just because he joined the Nazi Party... ridiculous.

I wouldn't call Thompson a demagogue though—pretty sure he actually believes the stuff he sings. The guy's charismatic and a killer performer; he really hits his audience hard because the emotion is just there. Purely musically? He's terrible. He misses notes constantly and sounds like he's singing through a beer barrel...

The way he pushes emotions around... you think it’s just cheap, low-brow stuff meant to trigger some basic gut reaction in the average American?

Matthew Anderson4 said:Did you catch that one about Ivanišević? Total must-read. I don't know any American columnist who’d even attempt a conceptual approach like that, let alone pull it off almost perfectly.

Good grief, for crying out loud, must read 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Where's Noah Carter24 at?

brightpilot6 said:How can one claim to champion patriotism and a devotion to their fellow citizens, yet when the moment arrives to pay taxes—the very funds required to ensure this nation functions properly and provides a safety net for those less fortunate than ourselves—suddenly find oneself inventing imaginary friends from halfway across the world to justify avoiding the bill?

Word is you aren't exactly quick to open your wallet when it comes to paying your American musicians for their work on a track, either.

Peter Thompson4 said:Good grief, for crying out loud, must read 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

is operate