Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Justin James10 said:I've already gone through that. Let's be honest: Americans are stuck in a massive rut, we all know it. Wouldn't enlightened absolutism actually 🤦

Whether you like it or not, that’s basically been the reality here for about the last 28 years, with maybe a few tiny exceptions. With a crew like this running things, there's no way we're ever going to see the kind of democratic processes or even a halfway normal government that you or I would actually want

https://www.nytimes.com/news/usa/...---450351.html

Justin James10 said:It seems easier for you to accept someone being executed for one reason over another. Look, that might be how you feel, but I don't see how that makes it a fact. Imagine if we had to rank whether someone was shot because of their race versus their social class? Does that even make sense? 🙄

And since you want to bring up one class dominating another... what actually changed after the fall of America? It’s just the same story: a small minority of "approved" people dominated society all over again. Families with the wrong background—people who weren't members of the Party—were treated like second-class citizens rather than first-class. Are they supposed to just stay silent about the terror they endured? Should they just listen to fairy tales about a better life now? 🙄

I never said Marshall was Stalin. My point is simply this: I find the cult of personality in the 21st century baffling. You'd think we would have outgrown that kind of thing by now, wouldn't you?

Man, Marshall was great. Don't talk about the legend of America like that. 👍

Justin James10 said:Is liberal capitalism in America actually working? 🤣🤣🤣

All we need now is for some Western libtards to show up here and clash with the current right wing; honestly, I’d rather just shoot myself.

James Anderson5 said:Whether you like it or not, that’s basically been the reality here for about the last 28 years, with maybe a few tiny exceptions. With a crew like this running things, there's no way we're ever going to see the kind of democratic processes or even a halfway normal government that you or I would actually want

https://www.nytimes.com/news/usa/...---450351.html

Honestly, those guys aren't even the main issue anymore; they're just "living dead" relics from some tiny backwater town, so what can you really expect besides outdated opinions? The massive, glaring problem is actually the youth and the fact that most of them don't want to actually work—they just want to land some cushy government job and sit around doing absolutely nothing. Instead of being ashamed of themselves, or better yet, instead of steering clear of those lazy options, they should actually want to work hard, gain some real skills, and try to actually build something meaningful with their lives.

And what happens? Well, let me quote this one young guy for you:

I’ve got a bigger head than Mojo Jojo, but I’m not looking for handouts because I know if I tried to pull any strings, it would blow up in my face since someone always has more influence, or someone always has a connection to a guy who has an even bigger connection to the biggest guy of all, the one everyone calls Todo because he pretty much runs the whole damn country.

Peter Thompson4 said:Honestly, those guys aren't even the main issue anymore; they're just "living dead" relics from some tiny backwater town, so what can you really expect besides outdated opinions? The massive, glaring problem is actually the youth and the fact that most of them don't want to actually work—they just want to land some cushy government job and sit around doing absolutely nothing. Instead of being ashamed of themselves, or better yet, instead of steering clear of those lazy options, they should actually want to work hard, gain some real skills, and try to actually build something meaningful with their lives.

And what happens? Well, let me quote this one young guy for you:

I’ve got a bigger head than Mojo Jojo, but I’m not looking for handouts because I know if I tried to pull any strings, it would blow up in my face since someone always has more influence, or someone always has a connection to a guy who has an even bigger connection to the biggest guy of all, the one everyone calls Todo because he pretty much runs the whole damn country.

Last year, I came across some public opinion poll in Cleveland, and the most desirable employer was the government 😁 Well, obviously. The average salaries are way higher than in the private sector, job security is basically absolute, and you usually don't have to work hard at all. But if you try to start your own business, it feels like walking through a minefield because you're constantly exposed to fines for every little thing. So, what's there to think about? 🤣

James Anderson5 said:Last year, I came across some public opinion poll in Cleveland, and the most desirable employer was the government 😁 Well, obviously. The average salaries are way higher than in the private sector, job security is basically absolute, and you usually don't have to work hard at all. But if you try to start your own business, it feels like walking through a minefield because you're constantly exposed to fines for every little thing. So, what's there to think about? 🤣

That whole thing about salaries is largely a myth. A girl I know works for the government on minimum wage and she can't wait to get out. A friend of mine too—and even a buddy of mine in an IT department within the public sector makes less than average.

James Anderson5 said:Last year, I came across some public opinion poll in Cleveland, and the most desirable employer was the government 😁 Well, obviously. The average salaries are way higher than in the private sector, job security is basically absolute, and you usually don't have to work hard at all. But if you try to start your own business, it feels like walking through a minefield because you're constantly exposed to fines for every little thing. So, what's there to think about? 🤣

You’re talking about having a conscience that shouldn't be up for "valuation," but hey, that's just how the culture works here. If someone isn't bored to tears by doing absolutely nothing all day or feeling totally intellectually dead, then fine.

If that's your thing, go for it.

Since I already quoted one gentleman, I might as well quote another:

It's not all about the money.

Anthony Jackson2 said:That whole thing about salaries is largely a myth. A girl I know works for the government on minimum wage and she can't wait to get out. A friend of mine too—and even a buddy of mine in an IT department within the public sector makes less than average.

Why on earth would IT professionals settle for minimum wage when working for the government?

Public sector salaries are generally way too high—that’s just a fact. On top of that, you've got shorter work weeks, endless privileges, people doing next to nothing, constant breaks, non-stop sick leave, getting paid to stay home during holidays, and the fact that it's practically impossible to get fired.

Man, we’re working with this one government IT firm, and let me tell you, the way they distribute resources is just a total joke, not to mention their absolute lack of professionalism 🙏. For God's sake, it's like they think they're gods or something, instead of just being employees at some mid-tier IT outfit 🤣

And everyone there is swimming in cash while doing basically nothing. They learn that a+b=c and suddenly they think they're geniuses—which is hilarious because they aren't actually tech wizards, they're just acting like they're part of some elite Silicon Valley squad when they really aren't

Look, I never claimed the guy was some top-tier expert—he basically landed that role right out of college as part of a training program, and they kept him after that.

And sure, some companies might be a total paradise, but let’s be real—it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

Look, it’s pretty obvious you can’t just waltz in anywhere and start raking in the cash. Wherever you land, there's always some rigid hierarchy in place, and let me tell you, those old-timers are absolutely insatiable—they want every single scrap for themselves. But whatever, that's not even the point. I know two guys who did internships at federal agencies; they had a rough time of it, honestly, but they actually got breaks once they finally "broke in," which apparently took about two hours. One guy told me that during their lunch break, they were basically 4.4 miles away from actual work, and I was just like, "Are you kidding me?" He just nodded, said everyone wanted in, and then they’d head out for a drink at the local pub after... which is practically mandatory
.

I actually attended one of those famous professional seminars myself back when I was still hunting for a real career—let me tell you, it was an absolute waste of time. 🙏

There’s honestly nothing more unproductive than working in the public sector.

Anthony Jackson2 said:That whole thing about salaries is largely a myth. A girl I know works for the government on minimum wage and she can't wait to get out. A friend of mine too—and even a buddy of mine in an IT department within the public sector makes less than average.

There are always exceptions, but the trend is pretty obvious. I've seen plenty of this firsthand—for a lot of people, even minimum wage is too much considering how little they actually do during the day. What's even sadder is that once you climb up the ladder, things often get worse. Usually, there's one person working their tail off while five others just stare out the window all day

It's the exact same story whether you're looking at city hall or a massive corporation. There's always one skilled professional carrying the weight while five or six others just sit around gossiping and doing nothing. That said, salaries in some federal agencies are actually decent, but in local government or state-run companies and agencies, they really aren't...

Alright, I’ll just drop this here instead of starting yet another thread. This is basically my catch-all space for random thoughts. Lately, I've been thinking about Lionel Messi. Specifically, why does he score so many damn goals? It’s wild when you compare him to other elite athletes who clearly have more raw power, size, or sheer physical dominance. Look, strength, sprinting speed, or height—neither Luka Modrić nor Neymar are exactly giants—doesn't seem to be the deciding factor in soccer. But what is it? What does he have that all those other players at massive clubs are missing?

Is it his motor skills, his surgical precision, or maybe just his tactical reading of the game? The way he dribbles and tracks the flow of play is honestly bizarre. When Ćiro called him an alien and said he was operating on a completely different level than everyone else... well, maybe there was some truth to that. 🙂

Is it just pure, unadulterated genius? Because let's face it, plenty of other players train their hearts out and leave everything on the field every single match—but clearly, that isn't enough. You need that specific kind of natural talent he possesses, don't you?

Lionel Messi might not have much height to speak of, but he possesses the raw strength of a bull, and more importantly, he has mastered perfect balance—which, if you ask me, is easily the most underrated physical trait in all of sports. When you pair that stability with his explosive acceleration and that almost surreal ability to shift direction while at full sprint, you end up with a physical toolkit that is just tailor-made for football.

In short, he isn't just some player who happens to stack up trophies despite lacking a traditional powerhouse physique.

When you layer all of that on top of his incredible tactical intelligence and vision across every attacking zone, you really are looking at a lethal combination.

ruggedjackal46 said:Exactly. Half the country is still reeling from the fallout of the 1940s.

🤣
Look, man, don't go acting all high and mighty about it—it's only been 70 years, you know?☕

Anthony Jackson2 said:That whole thing about salaries is largely a myth. A girl I know works for the government on minimum wage and she can't wait to get out. A friend of mine too—and even a buddy of mine in an IT department within the public sector makes less than average.

I mean, if you're working for the government and you aren't some high-level specialist or anything, don't expect much cash. It's all about how money moves at the local level, and honestly, with the laws passed lately, there's probably going to be even more money being pocketed right there. I guess I just don't really get why people in IT would even bother looking for work in the public sector in the first place.

Honestly, it doesn't make sense to me either—especially considering he landed a gig at a major telecom firm right after that whole "expert" consultation phase 🤦

On another note: The American ruling class—specifically a huge chunk of the Republican Party leadership lately—is shamelessly claiming they can't vote to ratify the Istanbul Convention because their bishops told them not to 🙏 And people aren't even questioning it 🙏

God 🤦

Look at who's leading us—it's a miracle we're still holding it together

Honestly? The sooner we all just head south, the better off we'll be.

Sandra Johnson58 said:🤣
Look, man, don't go acting all high and mighty about it—it's only been 70 years, you know?☕

Now they’re pushing this Istanbul Convention on us, as if people have somehow forgotten the atrocities committed by the Turks back in the 15th century.