Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

And what exactly am I supposed to respond to from Dr. Phil?

Noah Roberts46 said:😁

I honestly thought they weren't allowed to say anything at all—I mean the people actually pushing that kind of agenda. Not the ones fighting against it.

Look, I’ll say it again: where exactly did I claim that? All I did was mock those ridiculous stances. My point was simple—they have absolutely zero connection to reality, and they're the exact reason why the right wing has gained so much ground in those regions. Can we at least agree on that?

Besides, I just don't get why you refuse to see the obvious: people simply won't live in police states defined by constant surveillance. We aren't going to accept that level of control, even if it means dealing with more chaos.
Freedom isn't free. If that means paying the price in blood, then so be it. I’d much rather face that reality than deal with the government creeping into our lives through the back door with some "police state" surveillance nonsense.

Terrorist attacks are designed for one thing: to strike fear deep into people's bones. They want you feeling unsafe just stepping out to a restaurant or catching a concert. But you win that fight by refusing to give their tactics any weight. As for the bullies? You shut them down most effectively when you show them exactly how much you don't care.

Look, I’m not exactly out here campaigning for some kind of police state, but if you aren't familiar with how much time the cops in London spend on bureaucracy instead of actually patrolling the streets, you really need to do your homework. Some level of oversight is non-negotiable. Is it really "okay" with you that a specific minority moves into a city and brings along crime and terror that simply didn't exist before? Go ahead and tell the families of the murder victims and the survivors of sexual assault that this is just the "price of freedom." Everyone gets the right to move around freely, sure, but there have to be some adjustments made on both sides. In this country, we’ll end up with some kid going to prison because he learned some Nazi slogan or whatever nonsense, and suddenly there’s a massive media circus surrounding him—yet when it comes to actual terrorism, we won't even bother to comment? It's absurd.

Look, forgive me if this comes off as blunt, but your "solution" to terrorism and rising crime rates is basically just ignoring them? How exactly do you plan on staying indifferent when someone kills a family member or a close friend? To me, that sounds incredibly stupid. Surely you’ll try to do something differently or at least condemn it, rather than acting like it's just another normal part of life in New York City.

I already explained why I didn't say it. You’re still just spinning in circles, putting words in my mouth that I never uttered, flailing around without giving a single concrete answer. You're clearly an advocate for the kind of politics that will bring that "beloved" right wing back to power. Enjoy that!

I'm talking about terrorism, obviously—the kind you can't ever truly wipe out because some lunatic rampage will always pop up somewhere, cyclically...

As for crime, you fix that with better economic prospects, actual schooling, and general social support. The easiest way to fight it is by cutting off the roots that let it grow in the first place.
It's easy for you to recruit an army of kids who'll turn into thieves and criminals later—they've got nothing to lose anyway. Poverty and a lack of future prospects are the main triggers and generators for crime...

Most nations today celebrate some sort of uprising or revolution—events that, by modern standards, would probably just be labeled as terrorism... honestly, look at our own history with the American Civil War; if we had lost, they would have branded us all as terrorists and executed us for it.

Larry Fox5 said:I'm talking about terrorism, obviously—the kind you can't ever truly wipe out because some lunatic rampage will always pop up somewhere, cyclically...

As for crime, you fix that with better economic prospects, actual schooling, and general social support. The easiest way to fight it is by cutting off the roots that let it grow in the first place.
It's easy for you to recruit an army of kids who'll turn into thieves and criminals later—they've got nothing to lose anyway. Poverty and a lack of future prospects are the main triggers and generators for crime...

With people like Noah Roberts46, the "diagnosis" is always the same—they want permission for themselves, but they sure as hell don't want anyone else having it. They think whatever they believe is the absolute truth, and if someone else disagrees, they're just wrong. He doesn't get that he can travel the world or work anywhere in the EU precisely because people who have nothing to do with him and hold totally different views will tolerate his "uniqueness," more or less. Honestly, I get the feeling Noah Roberts46 has never actually lived outside the US, so he hasn't felt what it's like to be a second-class citizen. It happens even in mild ways—like being treated as some lazy outsider who won't adapt to the local lifestyle and just wants to live off welfare, simply because you're from Eastern or Southeastern Europe. It's like how Britons view Poles, who are twenty-eight times more prevalent in the UK than refugees from the Middle East "causing the rise in terrorism." Plus, the Mayor of London is Muslim, so clearly, Noah Roberts46 doesn't love them any more than the actual residents of London do.

Larry Fox5 said:I'm talking about terrorism, obviously—the kind you can't ever truly wipe out because some lunatic rampage will always pop up somewhere, cyclically...

As for crime, you fix that with better economic prospects, actual schooling, and general social support. The easiest way to fight it is by cutting off the roots that let it grow in the first place.
It's easy for you to recruit an army of kids who'll turn into thieves and criminals later—they've got nothing to lose anyway. Poverty and a lack of future prospects are the main triggers and generators for crime...

You can't wipe it out entirely, but you can definitely scale it back. There are endless reasons why terrorist attacks happen—we could talk about it until tomorrow. But ignoring it, or refusing to condemn such attacks and acknowledge the obvious problems, is simply unacceptable.

I agree with the other part of the post. Larry Fox5, you live in Germany, don't you? From what I gather. I have friends and family over there, and they tell me people struggle with certain segments of the Muslim population because they act like they're still in their home country and show zero interest in adapting to the local culture. To be clear, I'm not saying this applies to the majority of Muslims. What I'm getting at is that they seem to face much harder integration hurdles than, say, other minorities living in Europe.

I was in Brussels a few years ago, and they literally have entire neighborhoods where the police are powerless. You see two Muslims fighting in the street and nobody reacts, even with a cop standing just two meters away. People are sleeping on the streets in front of storefronts and leaving piles of trash everywhere. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe has turned into a literal dump. Is it the same in Germany?

Now look, I'm not saying the state should just lock the doors and ban Muslims from entering. Not at all—especially since I understand how difficult it is for people fleeing wars caused by the imperialist policies of certain nations. In my hometown (think a mid-sized US city), a few families from Syria were settled, and their integration into our society has begun. I saw an article about it recently, and honestly, I think it's great; I'm happy for them. My point is simple: if you're going to invite a massive influx of people from a different culture into your country, do it smarter. If necessary, do it in smaller, more organized waves. Integrate them into society instead of just dumping them into isolated enclaves where they live separately from everyone else. Make it planned and make it high-quality. Obviously, their culture is vastly different from ours, but ignoring everything and letting whatever happens happen just because it's "progressive" is fundamentally wrong and leads nowhere.

@wiredfalcon2

It's great that you have a crystal ball and somehow know exactly what my life looks like and how I think. Please, keep going—watching you squirm is pure entertainment.

Noah Roberts46 said:You can't wipe it out entirely, but you can definitely scale it back. There are endless reasons why terrorist attacks happen—we could talk about it until tomorrow. But ignoring it, or refusing to condemn such attacks and acknowledge the obvious problems, is simply unacceptable.

I agree with the other part of the post. Larry Fox5, you live in Germany, don't you? From what I gather. I have friends and family over there, and they tell me people struggle with certain segments of the Muslim population because they act like they're still in their home country and show zero interest in adapting to the local culture. To be clear, I'm not saying this applies to the majority of Muslims. What I'm getting at is that they seem to face much harder integration hurdles than, say, other minorities living in Europe.

I was in Brussels a few years ago, and they literally have entire neighborhoods where the police are powerless. You see two Muslims fighting in the street and nobody reacts, even with a cop standing just two meters away. People are sleeping on the streets in front of storefronts and leaving piles of trash everywhere. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe has turned into a literal dump. Is it the same in Germany?

Now look, I'm not saying the state should just lock the doors and ban Muslims from entering. Not at all—especially since I understand how difficult it is for people fleeing wars caused by the imperialist policies of certain nations. In my hometown (think a mid-sized US city), a few families from Syria were settled, and their integration into our society has begun. I saw an article about it recently, and honestly, I think it's great; I'm happy for them. My point is simple: if you're going to invite a massive influx of people from a different culture into your country, do it smarter. If necessary, do it in smaller, more organized waves. Integrate them into society instead of just dumping them into isolated enclaves where they live separately from everyone else. Make it planned and make it high-quality. Obviously, their culture is vastly different from ours, but ignoring everything and letting whatever happens happen just because it's "progressive" is fundamentally wrong and leads nowhere.

@wiredfalcon2

It's great that you have a crystal ball and somehow know exactly what my life looks like and how I think. Please, keep going—watching you squirm is pure entertainment.

Seriously, who isn't feeling the weight of terrorist attacks? Who’s actually ignoring them? You have no idea how much you're just talking nonsense. Like, everyone alive condemns terrorism in Europe. And then Noah comes along and goes, "well, we shouldn't refuse to condemn it." Give me a break.🤣

Here’s the Mayor of London, claiming this is just "part of life" in a major metropolis. He spends more time lecturing us about online Islamophobia than actually addressing the terrorist attacks. It’s unbelievable. We live in a city where the police seem more interested in arresting internet trolls than catching the criminals out there stabbing people in the streets. And look, I don't even have to be literal here—the lack of condemnation is evident in their actions alone, not to mention the blatant ignoring of the situation. But clearly, that doesn't bother you, since you haven't uttered a single word about these actual problems in any of your posts. You're just offended that I'm mocking extreme liberalism, which is obvious because you clearly identify with it.

Stop trying to psychoanalyze my thoughts; it’s a pathetic defense mechanism used to avoid any real discussion. At least Larry Fox5 actually writes about the issues. You? You just get triggered. 👍

wiredrider9 said:Are you actually serious about faith being a "choice"? lol. You think it's okay to roast a religion but not a person? Please. People poke fun at anyone who's super short, or giant, or way too skinny, or overweight, or even just has weird ears. It's all the same thing.

Look, I’m really not the type to go around making fun of people for just existing, you know? But if I absolutely have to pick something to tear apart, I'm going after the ridiculous path they chose to take, not who they are as a person.

And that’s exactly where we run into the damn problem!

wiredrider9 said:The level of stupidity required to think you're born gay is just... wow.😉

I honestly don't even know where to start with this nonsense because it's just one thing after another with people like this, and frankly, I'm getting pretty tired of dealing with such absolute garbage! 🤦

So look, gay couples fought tooth and nail to be treated as equals in society, and now that they actually are, suddenly everything is "wrong" again. It’s hilarious how everyone else gets to wiggle out of their responsibilities, but they’re the only ones stuck holding the bag. Well, guess what? You wanted equality. You got it.

What's even the issue here? Why should they be treated any differently? They asked for equal rights, and they're finally getting them. 🤷

Because equality isn't just a free pass; it means you have to deal with both sides of the coin.

They want all the perks without any of the consequences, but that's just not how the world works, buddy. ☕

Noah Roberts46 said:You can't wipe it out entirely, but you can definitely scale it back. There are endless reasons why terrorist attacks happen—we could talk about it until tomorrow. But ignoring it, or refusing to condemn such attacks and acknowledge the obvious problems, is simply unacceptable.

I agree with the other part of the post. Larry Fox5, you live in Germany, don't you? From what I gather. I have friends and family over there, and they tell me people struggle with certain segments of the Muslim population because they act like they're still in their home country and show zero interest in adapting to the local culture. To be clear, I'm not saying this applies to the majority of Muslims. What I'm getting at is that they seem to face much harder integration hurdles than, say, other minorities living in Europe.

I was in Brussels a few years ago, and they literally have entire neighborhoods where the police are powerless. You see two Muslims fighting in the street and nobody reacts, even with a cop standing just two meters away. People are sleeping on the streets in front of storefronts and leaving piles of trash everywhere. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe has turned into a literal dump. Is it the same in Germany?

Now look, I'm not saying the state should just lock the doors and ban Muslims from entering. Not at all—especially since I understand how difficult it is for people fleeing wars caused by the imperialist policies of certain nations. In my hometown (think a mid-sized US city), a few families from Syria were settled, and their integration into our society has begun. I saw an article about it recently, and honestly, I think it's great; I'm happy for them. My point is simple: if you're going to invite a massive influx of people from a different culture into your country, do it smarter. If necessary, do it in smaller, more organized waves. Integrate them into society instead of just dumping them into isolated enclaves where they live separately from everyone else. Make it planned and make it high-quality. Obviously, their culture is vastly different from ours, but ignoring everything and letting whatever happens happen just because it's "progressive" is fundamentally wrong and leads nowhere.

@wiredfalcon2

It's great that you have a crystal ball and somehow know exactly what my life looks like and how I think. Please, keep going—watching you squirm is pure entertainment.

Brussels looks more like an Arab city than the heart of Europe. I haven't seen that much garbage in a European metropolis in a long time. Outside the city center, it's mostly Belgians, and even in the center, it's similar. But take the area by the FlixBus station, for example—it’s basically a mini ghetto. You've got weed being smoked and needles everywhere, and the police aren't even close. I was literally the only white guy surrounded by Black guys, and let me tell you, it wasn't exactly a comfortable feeling. It's not like anyone did anything to me personally, but it creates this heavy sense of unease. And then there was this one guy who tried to pick a fight with me. But yeah, the central station area is just full of drugs and needles and nothing happens. That’s Brussels for you.

Then I went back to Germany and realized that Germany is, in essence, still a white country—an ethnically homogeneous community. And honestly, my god, German cities are dirty, but Brussels makes them look spotless by comparison.

As far as Muslims go, most of them are Turks. They’re normal people. The problem is the Arabs. They don't want to, and frankly, they can't, adapt to Western values. They just have their "Allah spoke" mentality and refuse to budge.

But then again, the other day I see four Chinese kids speaking perfect German; I mean, these kids were raised in Germany and everything is totally normal. They’re essentially "original Germans," just of Chinese descent.

On the flip side, I work at this one facility, and I really feel for the Turk there. These attacks by lunatics in Hanover and Stuttgart... people don't talk about those attacks nearly enough. But they happened.
He immediately feels threatened, acting like it's an attack on Muslims specifically. It seems like Muslims always play the victim, and honestly, they’re often responsible for their own situation because the expectation is always that the host should adapt to them, rather than them adapting to the people who welcomed them.

If you go to the Maldives, you aren't allowed to carry a Bible or a cross, and you certainly can't bring pork. That's because of the laws on the islands, plain and simple.

But if you told Muslims they couldn't carry a Quran in some European country, they would scream about being persecuted and oppressed.

That's what this is: hypocrisy. And I hate it.

When you're in Rome, you act like a Roman. End of story.

When it comes to the whole gay community, I honestly feel like they’re getting way too much media coverage lately. Look, do whatever you want with your life, nobody is coming to stop you, but what is with all this constant noise in the news? It feels like we're being bombarded by a group that makes up maybe five to ten percent of the population at most.

It’s not like I’m afraid of gay people or anything; they're just people like anyone else, right? But could you please just not remind me of your lifestyle choices every single day? I get it, I see it, it’s fine—you’re gay, whatever, that’s cool. Just leave me alone and let me live my life without the constant lecture.

nimbleranger52 said:Brussels looks more like an Arab city than the heart of Europe. I haven't seen that much garbage in a European metropolis in a long time. Outside the city center, it's mostly Belgians, and even in the center, it's similar. But take the area by the FlixBus station, for example—it’s basically a mini ghetto. You've got weed being smoked and needles everywhere, and the police aren't even close. I was literally the only white guy surrounded by Black guys, and let me tell you, it wasn't exactly a comfortable feeling. It's not like anyone did anything to me personally, but it creates this heavy sense of unease. And then there was this one guy who tried to pick a fight with me. But yeah, the central station area is just full of drugs and needles and nothing happens. That’s Brussels for you.

Then I went back to Germany and realized that Germany is, in essence, still a white country—an ethnically homogeneous community. And honestly, my god, German cities are dirty, but Brussels makes them look spotless by comparison.

As far as Muslims go, most of them are Turks. They’re normal people. The problem is the Arabs. They don't want to, and frankly, they can't, adapt to Western values. They just have their "Allah spoke" mentality and refuse to budge.

But then again, the other day I see four Chinese kids speaking perfect German; I mean, these kids were raised in Germany and everything is totally normal. They’re essentially "original Germans," just of Chinese descent.

On the flip side, I work at this one facility, and I really feel for the Turk there. These attacks by lunatics in Hanover and Stuttgart... people don't talk about those attacks nearly enough. But they happened.
He immediately feels threatened, acting like it's an attack on Muslims specifically. It seems like Muslims always play the victim, and honestly, they’re often responsible for their own situation because the expectation is always that the host should adapt to them, rather than them adapting to the people who welcomed them.

If you go to the Maldives, you aren't allowed to carry a Bible or a cross, and you certainly can't bring pork. That's because of the laws on the islands, plain and simple.

But if you told Muslims they couldn't carry a Quran in some European country, they would scream about being persecuted and oppressed.

That's what this is: hypocrisy. And I hate it.

When you're in Rome, you act like a Roman. End of story.

You're a racist.

They tripped him up, just trying to get a rise out of him.

🤣 🤣

wiredfalcon2 said:Classic OP, two steps away from a total ad hominem attack. Typical move for people who can't think—when you run out of actual arguments, just start calling people names because you think it counts as an insult. 🤣

Look, kid, I don't care about banning cultural events. But if the guy running the show is pushing fascist ideology and posing next to a swastika, please, don't cry about it when someone calls him a fascist. That should be the bare minimum of decency. Either own being a fascist or stop whining like a little girl when someone calls you out on it.

So you think when you run out of actual arguments, you can just pivot to attacking someone's religious beliefs? Why on earth would you take it personally if I called you gay? Honestly, I just got the impression you were a homo, so if you want to label me a hetero, I really wouldn't be offended... 🤷
That's just who you are...

The way this "kid" tries to argue says everything you need to know about his intellect; it’s just people like him attempting to lecture others when they're clearly outclassed in any real debate...

Since when does burning a couple of effigies make someone a Fascist? Would you call me one if I torched two rats instead? It seems like you all crave equality so badly, yet you whine like little girls the second things get real... try showing some backbone for once. All this whining because Zoran Milanović hired an advisor who isn't a fan of certain extremists, and now everyone’s crying about effigies and calling people Fascists... honestly...

nimbleranger52 said:When it comes to the whole gay community, I honestly feel like they’re getting way too much media coverage lately. Look, do whatever you want with your life, nobody is coming to stop you, but what is with all this constant noise in the news? It feels like we're being bombarded by a group that makes up maybe five to ten percent of the population at most.

It’s not like I’m afraid of gay people or anything; they're just people like anyone else, right? But could you please just not remind me of your lifestyle choices every single day? I get it, I see it, it’s fine—you’re gay, whatever, that’s cool. Just leave me alone and let me live my life without the constant lecture.

Look, I used to work with two gay guys, and both were great. Constant joking around, no issues there. But when they step out onto the street, people look at them differently. Even when I'm walking with them to grab a coffee at Starbucks, I notice it. It isn't necessarily that people are looking with horror, but because they have a more feminine vibe or dress differently, heads turn. Honestly, it annoyed me, even if I admit I might have glanced back myself if I were in their shoes.

Now, if those two ran into a tougher crowd—which isn't hard to find in certain parts of the US—or just some old-school types, they’d probably deal with some discomfort. These guys face that stuff on a weekly basis. They're used to it, I guess, but they'd still prefer it didn't happen.

They know they're different, and well, life happens. They also don't really care for Pride parades; in fact, they actually despise them and think they're just unnecessary nonsense. I tend to agree.

When I jokingly suggested organizing a "hetero pride," they told me a gay pride would definitely protest against it. That's hypocrisy, I suppose. They expect respect for themselves, but they aren't interested in respecting others.

And they aren't the only ones. There are plenty of examples like that.

I personally have no issue with Arabs, but if you insist that I wear long pants when I visit an Emirate, or if you point out that certain subways have separate sections for women and children—and I respect those rules—then maybe you should respect our values too.

It’s the same thing with gender equality. We recently saw an ad here where a man was dressed like a mattress next to a woman, with a caption like "if you're bored, just replace him." I honestly think if that ad had been reversed, it would be a completely different story. To me, the ad was a decent joke, but it's unsettling because I know how people would react if the roles were swapped.

Look, let’s be honest: mocking someone’s beliefs isn't exactly the same thing as symbolically burning members of a (pretty vulnerable) minority at the stake.

I keep seeing people crying about how "satire is dead." But really, what exactly is satirical about setting fire to those gay people and their child?

In my view, if you want to humiliate people with stunts like that, go ahead—but at least have the guts to own it instead of hiding behind the label of "satire."

As for Silvan’s take on "when in Rome..." I couldn't agree more. Cultural diversity and freedom? Sure, absolutely. But there has to be a limit, specifically a limit where you stop threatening the core value system of the society you’ve just entered. If you want to argue that women should stay off the road, demand they cover up, marry off daughters at twelve, or insist on the right to mock my own convictions, then maybe you should just head back to where you came from.

The same standard should apply within our own ethnic groups, too, yet unfortunately, some people seem to think those rules only apply to immigrants or minorities. We have people who moved to Washington, D.C. twenty or thirty years ago who still act like they're living in some isolated village, whether it's a total lack of basic etiquette or just a refusal to function within the social fabric of this country.

urbanhawk17 said:Look, I used to work with two gay guys, and both were great. Constant joking around, no issues there. But when they step out onto the street, people look at them differently. Even when I'm walking with them to grab a coffee at Starbucks, I notice it. It isn't necessarily that people are looking with horror, but because they have a more feminine vibe or dress differently, heads turn. Honestly, it annoyed me, even if I admit I might have glanced back myself if I were in their shoes.

Now, if those two ran into a tougher crowd—which isn't hard to find in certain parts of the US—or just some old-school types, they’d probably deal with some discomfort. These guys face that stuff on a weekly basis. They're used to it, I guess, but they'd still prefer it didn't happen.

They know they're different, and well, life happens. They also don't really care for Pride parades; in fact, they actually despise them and think they're just unnecessary nonsense. I tend to agree.

When I jokingly suggested organizing a "hetero pride," they told me a gay pride would definitely protest against it. That's hypocrisy, I suppose. They expect respect for themselves, but they aren't interested in respecting others.

And they aren't the only ones. There are plenty of examples like that.

I personally have no issue with Arabs, but if you insist that I wear long pants when I visit an Emirate, or if you point out that certain subways have separate sections for women and children—and I respect those rules—then maybe you should respect our values too.

It’s the same thing with gender equality. We recently saw an ad here where a man was dressed like a mattress next to a woman, with a caption like "if you're bored, just replace him." I honestly think if that ad had been reversed, it would be a completely different story. To me, the ad was a decent joke, but it's unsettling because I know how people would react if the roles were swapped.

It didn't strike me as funny in the slightest. I remember seeing it back near the Madison Square Garden area.

I just gripped the steering wheel tightly and kept my eyes fixed on the traffic light, pretending I hadn't noticed the billboard, nor her watching it, nor the way she later cast a questioning glance in my direction. ☕

Now everyone is acting all sympathetic toward those "poor gays in rural Alabama" after this crackdown.

I mean, have any of you actually been out in the sticks?🤣

What did you expect? That they'd build some kind of pride monument there?😁

🤣

Paul Martinez73 said:So you think when you run out of actual arguments, you can just pivot to attacking someone's religious beliefs? Why on earth would you take it personally if I called you gay? Honestly, I just got the impression you were a homo, so if you want to label me a hetero, I really wouldn't be offended... 🤷
That's just who you are...

The way this "kid" tries to argue says everything you need to know about his intellect; it’s just people like him attempting to lecture others when they're clearly outclassed in any real debate...

Since when does burning a couple of effigies make someone a Fascist? Would you call me one if I torched two rats instead? It seems like you all crave equality so badly, yet you whine like little girls the second things get real... try showing some backbone for once. All this whining because Zoran Milanović hired an advisor who isn't a fan of certain extremists, and now everyone’s crying about effigies and calling people Fascists... honestly...

The guy was literally posing next to a swastika, and now you're asking me why it's not unfair to call him a fascist? 🤦 Honestly, it's wild how everyone here ignores the fact that besides two gay guys, a straight kid got burned too. What did those kids ever do to you? 🤷

wiredfalcon2 said:The guy was literally posing next to a swastika, and now you're asking me why it's not unfair to call him a fascist? 🤦 Honestly, it's wild how everyone here ignores the fact that besides two gay guys, a straight kid got burned too. What did those kids ever do to you? 🤷

How would you even know that? ☕