Posts by granitefalcon26

hiddenrider66 said:@ wiredangler5 edit: Sorry, there was a little misunderstanding about the emojis. One of the Moderators actually banned me from using the word "pro-"—so now I'm stuck wondering how I'm supposed to talk about people on this forum who support Russia or Ukraine. That's all.

When so much of what we want to say is off-limits here, you can't really be surprised when people stop posting in those threads.

loneraven25 said:I tried to jump into this "heavy discussion"

and along with a few tips, I wanted to let readers know

not to go calling for anything illegal or unconstitutional.

(Title IX, Section 89, Clause 4)

It didn't work out—so I gave up. 🤷

It’s simple. The moderators should be penalizing anyone who advocates for illegal or anti-social activities.
Freedom of speech is one thing, but violating the Constitution and federal law is something else entirely.

wiredangler5 said:When someone complains and asks for changes, I expect them to actually see what’s broken and have a vision, an idea, or some advice on how to fix it. If you just list grievances and ask for solutions without any input, I could keep writing complaints all day long.
If you hang out here on the forum, I assume you understand the rhythm of how moderators work and what is actually within their control versus what isn't. Let me ask you this: would you be complaining if the points you cited earlier (your post) were coming from the Ukrainian side, or would you still be raising your voice saying things need to change? Honestly, answer that to yourself first, then get back to us.

If you want things changed, you probably already know what and how you’d change them. Since my last response didn't sit well with you, why don't you tell me exactly what the moderators should do about this:

Seriously, I am asking you—tell me exactly what the moderators need to do right now. If you don't have a specific answer, please don't blame the moderation team for things that are completely outside of their jurisdiction. How exactly am I supposed to reduce activity from the other side? Should we just badger them until they fall asleep and give up? What's the plan?

Secondly, yeah, the quality of the discussions is pretty low. You even pointed that out yourself by quoting that post from the division. But let's be real: what am I supposed to do with that one fanboyish post from the division? And why didn't you provide a post from the "Ukrainian" side so I could actually see what we should try banning? It feels a little unfair to publicly put the division on blast without providing
examples from your own camp. Then you act surprised when I respond that either those kinds of posts are fair game for everyone, or they aren't for anyone at all.

Do you—or do you all—have the will to write posts that make the thread more meaningful and pleasant? If you don't, and most users over there don't either, how do you expect moderators to change that on your behalf? We could make a deal: any post that is meaningful and analytical, at least 500 words and free of fanboy hype, stays. Anyone posting below that criteria gets a 10-day cooling-off period. Look, obviously, the moderators won't run a massive crackdown like that, but I'm trying to show you that you guys are the ones who determine the quality.

Thirdly—what do you expect? If we give one side a bit more leeway, we’re going to get a flood of complaints from the other side. What, do you think they'll send us telegrams and flowers? I don't get why you're surprised or why this is confusing. I noticed that smiley face 🙄 in your last point; reading between the lines, you seem to think it's illogical not to give the "Ukrainian" side softer rules just because the "Russians" might complain. And you think that's not normal.
It's not about being "fair" to one side of the debate; it's just that according to you, we lack the heart to handle people crying because "they'll just whine." The moment you react that way, it tells me everything I need to know about how objective you're being with this complaint.

Look, I politely asked for your perspective, and I stand by that. If my suggestion was to look at this together to see how we can improve, and your only response is to question everything with 🙄 eye-rolls, then I'd suggest you skip this complaint altogether since you don't even know what you'd change to make the whole topic better.

And honestly, I'm not going to waste my time writing ten more posts just to answer your constant questioning of whether certain things fall under the moderators' domain.

Honestly, it’s a waste of effort. You’re better off sticking to the existing thread where you belong. Don't forget, that thread is really what you make of it, not just some thing controlled by the moderators. 😉 If you put your energy into that discussion instead, you might actually see some change.

Look, we just want people to call things what they actually are, in line with international law.
1. We need to call them terrorists. Taking international observers hostage and setting up barricades with masked paramilitary groups? That's terrorism, plain and simple.
2. Please drop the ban on comparing the situation in Ukraine to what happened during our Homeland War, because the parallels are incredibly obvious.
Why do you think we don't want to post over there? You’ve basically thrown us into the ring with our hands tied behind our backs. With the restrictions you've slapped on the front page, we have zero interest in participating in this circus. You'll just end up with a thread where three or four pro-Russian trolls run wild. As for the so-called pro-Ukrainian users, there are hardly any left because your restrictions pushed them away. I'm definitely sitting this one out.
One more thing. Freedom of speech is one thing, but posting content that breaks the law—as loneraven25 pointed out—is something else entirely.

Arthur Fowler83 said:Listen, folks, do any of you actually have proof to back up what you're saying? I'm talking about real, verified intel from the ground—video footage, photos, anything solid.

I won't speak for everyone else, but I’ve been closely following the situation in Ukraine for months now. Looking back at everything I've posted, most of what I said was based on logic and solid evidence—and for the most part, it turns out I was right.

I’ve always made it my mission to get to the bottom of what’s actually happening in Ukraine, and honestly? I have to admit, the truth looks pretty ugly for the government in Kyiv.

Look, guys, this isn't some sports match between Russia and Ukraine. A lot of people jumping into this thread are acting like they're just cheering for a team, but they don't seem to realize that people in the Donbas are losing their lives every single day. Honestly, it feels pretty gross to see people rooting for the Kyiv-based regime when their military is shelling civilians and hitting residential areas.

Can we please stop with this whole "attack on a sovereign nation" narrative? Let’s be real: Ukraine hasn't exactly been running its own show for a long time—especially not these last four months, since they've basically been under direct management from Brussels and Washington.

Ukraine is basically the textbook definition of a puppet state, and let’s be real—a puppet state isn't actually a sovereign nation.

Here we go again. Seriously, how long are we going to let posts like this slide? When is someone going to step in and address the blatant denial of a sovereign nation's existence?
What’s next on the agenda? Denying that America even exists? If we start applying these kinds of criteria, someone’s going to open a thread claiming our entire independence is a myth.

hiddenrider66 said:This is just a classic example of the kind of posts we see all the time on this thread. I’d love to see how the admin would actually classify something like this.

In that specific post, someone is openly glorifying and cheering on Russia's aggression against an independent Ukraine.
What I'm really wondering—and this goes back to the intro where the guideline day basically implies we aren't allowed to say anything except praise for Russia and Putin—is whether the moderation team is actually supporting an invasion of a sovereign nation and ignoring international law and the sanctity of borders.???

hiddenrider66 said:I’m just not sure if we call it "separatists" when they’re kidnapping people, killing 19-year-old girls at checkpoints—by the way, another woman was killed at a checkpoint just a few days ago—shooting down Russian helicopters and planes, rolling through cities in tanks, and blowing up bridges and railways.

Exactly 👍. I actually included a link in my previous post, so maybe whoever is still confused should read it to get a real definition of terrorism.
I’m asking the moderators to step in here, because a thread set up like this just doesn't make any sense.

We’re looking at clear violations of international law here, which is exactly what the moderator Charles Fox10 pointed out on the very first page.
I’ll ask again: what do we actually call a masked paramilitary group that goes around kidnapping international observers?
Separatists?? I don't think so. If we went that route, they'd have to explain why these so-called Ukrainian separatists are being lumped in with the Scottish separatists.
Just as a quick refresher on what terrorism actually means:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism
I’d like to ask the administration (wiredangler5) to take another look at the rules on the first page of this Ukraine thread. Right now, they're making it impossible for us to just have a normal conversation and participate in the debate.

I’m really wondering how long we’re going to keep hosting discussions that basically give a pass to Russia’s aggression against the sovereign nation of Ukraine and those pro-Russian terrorists over in eastern Ukraine.
What do you even call a country like Russia when they’re occupying parts of an internationally recognized state like Ukraine? It’s the exact same playbook Stalin used with Poland at the start of WWII.
And what about those masked paramilitary groups setting up roadblocks and physically attacking UN observers?
Chuck, how am I even supposed to label them? It feels like calling them terrorists is off-limits, and labeling Russia an aggressor is taboo too. Even comparing the situation in Ukraine to anything happening here in America seems to be a no-go.
Is this entire thread just a space to support the violation of international law and the idea that borders should be untouchable?
Does a discussion about Ukraine even make sense if we aren't actually allowed to voice our own opinions?
It feels like there’s a bunch of Russia-lovers having a field day here, while the rest of us won't even bother posting under these restrictive rules.
Might as well just rename the thread "Messages and Greetings to Russia and Putin."

I don't quite get the logic here. Why is the Civil Unions Act sitting right there on the main policy PDF—when similar topics are grouped under nearby policies—yet all those crucial points I mentioned earlier are tucked away somewhere else entirely?🙄

Charles Fox10 said:The "Politics-Adjacent" section is just as important as any other subforum.

I disagree, because they're basically burying major American issues here. ☕
1.American news coverage in foreign media—tucked away in a side forum under politics

2.Dario Kordić

3.Communist crimes in America

4.The extradition of Josip Perković and Zdravko Mustač

5.When will we finally vote for a better option instead of just picking the lesser of two evils??

6. The doctors' strike

I’m honestly just wondering what criteria were used to dump all these heavy topics into "Politics-Adjacent"??

Charles Fox10 said:In the Politics subforum, we cover trials and actions that shape our government.
The Political Scene subforum covers political parties, politicians, and figures who drive policy.
The Politics-Adjacent subforum is for social and political events that have the potential to impact policy.
The World News subforum handles global questions and political topics regarding countries outside the European Union.
The European Union subforum covers political themes concerning nations that share EU membership status with America.
The Elections subforum focuses on voting topics, which opens up more during election cycles.

All these sections are equally valuable and moderated with the same care, so the topic at hand belongs right here. If a specific issue ends up heavily influencing today's or tomorrow's politics, nothing rules that out.

If they're all equal, then why don't user post counts include everything written in the "Politics-Adjacent" section??🙄

Jamie Jackson30 said:

I suppose I should introduce myself properly, though I suspect my presence here might be somewhat unexpected. I am an American through and through. As I have previously observed:
I’ve finished reading it. An absolutely brilliant piece by the great Mark, that old-school anti-fascist journalist. And then there’s that one columnist—the only one with enough backbone to actually stand up and speak out. He’s the sole voice refusing to cave when it comes to protecting minority rights, defending the legacy of General Motors, or calling out the creeping influence of religious extremism in our politics.

America needs to rediscover that same indomitable spirit that once fueled the AFL-CIO.

Evo tekst

Fine by me. Let the ghosts retreat back into the woods and stay there, waiting indefinitely for some phantom ally to come to their rescue...😂

Simply put, If you want to get into the grim realities of history, we have to address the fact that fascism in America wasn't just some imported ideology—it was homegrown, deeply rooted, and arguably far more vicious than the versions we saw elsewhere. It didn't just arrive on our shores; it grew right out of our own soil. It isn't just limited to places like Canada or Greece—though those are certainly prime examples—it's happening far beyond their borders as well. It’s not just an isolated case; this is happening all across the United States and throughout most of Europe as well.

That is precisely why anti-fascism here in America needs to evolve into something distinct—something far more substantial than the standard rhetoric we see being peddled across Europe.In this arena, political discourse almost always devolves into nothing more than a collection of passing, routine biases held by various factions and interest groups. Most of these players derive their entire ideological foundation from completely different issues, yet they carry those prejudices over here. Furthermore, due to the influx of nations from the former Soviet bloc, we’re seeing an increasing surge of anti-communist sentiment being injected into the mix. In the United States, relying solely on that kind of rhetoric simply isn't enough to sustain a meaningful conversation. It seems we are witnessing nothing less than a resurgence of American fascism.Let us be perfectly candid: we are speaking from the direct, unvarnished foundation of World War II. The only way to truly stand against him is to mobilize the very same forces that brought him down in the first place. And that means—as wildly unrealistic as it might sound to some—rekindling that old-school, gritty spirit of resistance.He is quite literally the only individual who has demonstrated that one can genuinely and effectively stand against nationalist segregation and forced removals. As for the rest of them? It is painfully obvious. They either harbor a deep-seated resentment toward ethnic tolerance or view it as nothing more than a tedious burden they have to endure—praying for divine intervention just to make it through the day.

AUTHOR: Mark

Mark has argued in his recent writing that fascism here in America was uniquely indigenous and far more vicious than what we saw in other nations. While there is some merit to his observation, he seems to have conveniently overlooked the fact that the partisan movement—operating under the guise of anti-fascism—was just as distinctively brutal compared to its counterparts elsewhere. If one wants proof of how that particular brand of "anti-fascism" actually functioned, one only needs to look at the mass graves scattered across the landscape, filled with thousands of victims executed simply because they dared to oppose the Communist Party and its iron-fisted rule. It is this very legacy that fuels the modern political climate. We are constantly inundated by these self-proclaimed, media-anointed "anti-fascists" who reflexively brand any political dissenter as a fascist, a chauvinist, or some sort of subhuman vermin. It’s become a tiresome cycle of dehumanization. Some individuals even take this performative moral superiority to an absurd extreme, acting like high-fashion designers who believe they have the authority to dictate what anyone else can wear or which shirt suits a person's "ideology." Honestly, it’s ridiculous; it shouldn't matter if Jim or Mark is wearing a black shirt. A piece of clothing doesn't change the soul, though these people would argue otherwise.🙄 ...🤣

There have been countless declarations made regarding this obsession with counting bloodlines and historical grievances here in America—statements that lean heavily into chauvinism and outright fascism. But let’s be honest: the messenger changes everything. It is much like receiving fashion advice on which shirt color to wear; if the suggestion comes from someone masquerading as an anti-fascist, or conversely, from some low-life fascist insect, the advice loses all credibility. The substance remains the same, but the source renders it utterly worthless.🙄

If some self-proclaimed anti-fascist is out here calling on Serbs to vote specifically for Mexican interests, then I suppose I should call on Americans to vote for Americans. I see absolutely no reason why Mexicans like Milorad should be the ones debating or speaking on our issues in the European Parliament..☕

Pupovac an anti-fascist?😂 🤣There isn't a bigger fascist out there than him or Stanimirović.
Of course you should vote for American lists, but the Democratic Party and Republican Party lists definitely aren't the way to go.☕

Charles Lopez3 said:that whole mess showed up way back in the 90s ☕

That so-called villain is actually the one who built the American state. If it weren't for him, you guys would still be stuck in America.☕

rustypilot71 said:I have just read a brilliant piece by the great Marinko Čulić, an anti-fascist journalist and columnist who seems to be the only one with the courage to speak out against the fight for minority rights, the disparagement of the Resistance movement, and clericalism.

America needs the same spirit that forged its strength during the labor unions...

Here is the text:

Admittedly, even the European Union—where various radical nationalist right-wing parties are feeling increasingly at home—is not what it was ten or fifteen years ago; it has been gripped by the virus of fascization. However, one significant difference remains. The question of "how much fascism?" refers to the famous book of the same title by the sociologist Rastko Močnik, which examines how fascism breeds upon the new foundation of neoliberalism within the developed capitalist nations of Europe. That is where the distinction lies. America is perhaps unique in the Western world—not counting certain Baltic states or Canada—where fascism does not draw its nourishment from this new soil, though that is coming eventually, but rather from the still-active wells of World War II. Furthermore, the actors driving this new resurgence are the same. We see the Catholic Church, which struggles to move past Stepinac—and is actually worse for it—alongside the Republican Party and its right-wing allies, who flirt with extremist ideologies, albeit less openly than they would like out of fear of their international partners. Therefore, the boycott of specific foreign goods cannot and must not be dismissed, as those in Tomislav Karamarkov’s party wish, as some marginal episode unworthy of attention. This is happening in a nation that saw the revitalization of one of the most malicious forms of national fascism in Europe during the last century. Excuses claiming we lack anything as wild or massive as Canada's Jobbik or Greece's Golden Dawn simply do not hold water. Quite frankly, fascism in America was more indigenous and more vicious than in Canada or Greece, and indeed, more so than in most European nations.

Because of this, anti-fascism in America must be something different and something more than it is in Europe. Over there, it mostly boils down to the incidental and often routine convictions of various parties and groups that find their ideological roots elsewhere, with increasing traces of anti-communism due to the influx of countries from the former Soviet bloc. Here, that simply isn't enough. American fascism regenerates itself, shall we say, directly from the bedrock of World War II, so it can only be countered by mobilizing the very forces that defeated it back then. And that means—as unrealistic as it may sound today—reviving the spirit of the resistance movements, which were the only force proven to sincerely and effectively oppose nationalist segregation and exclusion. Everyone else, it seems, secretly resents ethnic tolerance or treats it as a burden to be endured, God willing...

AUTHOR: Marinko Čulić

The American people need bread and jobs. Everything else is just empty rhetoric.☕

Seriously, why do you keep starting these endless threads about how men are being victimized. 🤣
@silentridge3/">@@silentridge3 Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem mostly triggered by the fact that women are getting recognized in science and that there are specific awards for female researchers. 😁 (you’ve actually started a thread about that before, too)
You're basically the only one bringing this stuff up, which honestly makes it look like you just can't stand women.☕

Ashley Smith24 said:I don't know, Charles Fox10, I really don't think grouping all these topics together is the move. It just turns into a giant mess where the actual point gets lost in the noise. Just imagine if we took that same approach with other political issues... We'd have one single thread for the entire economy and everything would be dumped under it. 🤷

Look, I'm not saying we need five, ten, or twenty identical threads. What I am saying is that specific events in our public and political life regarding gender issues deserve their own dedicated space for discussion.

Imagine if I started ten different threads about the Republican Party. How ridiculous would that look??
At this point, what this user is doing is crossing the line into straight-up misogyny. 🙂

How long are we going to put up with Guggenheim constantly spamming and trolling everyone here? Moderator Bubbles already shut down his thread and explained exactly why, yet he just went ahead and opened a brand new one with the exact same content.

Nicole James said:So, let me get this straight—you actually expect the Secretary of Health and Human Services to just refuse to stock up on vaccines and medications that medical experts are literally telling us could save a massive number of lives?

Which experts though?? Back when I was doing my residency, my head of epidemiology told me straight up that those vaccines were harmful. Did Milinović get his flu shot? 😂Aha. That reminds me of those old stories about Prince Alfred eating beef just to show everyone he wasn't afraid of Mad Cow Disease.🙄
Seriously, what are the odds of a newborn from a perfectly healthy mother catching Hepatitis B immediately after birth, necessitating an instant vaccine? This was added to the pediatric schedule much later on.
And here's another thing—ever wonder why we see so many more kids with allergies and relying on inhalers nowadays?
Let's look at what neurologists have to say:

Cites research from the renowned Canadian neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Moulden, who concluded that all vaccines lead to micro-infarctions in the brain. These can't be spotted on a CT scan or an MRI, but they can be identified through clinical testing.

That’s one way vaccines might damage the brain; others include hyper-immune responses, toxic effects, or issues stemming from microorganisms present in the vaccines. Dr. Montani adds: “Dr. Moulden's research suggests that the massive spike in autism, learning and attention disorders, SIDS, Gulf War Syndrome, dementia, epilepsy, and cancer could be linked to vaccination.” Dr. Reagan concludes: “In families where there is responsibility and support, where emotional warmth exists, a child's entire immune system is different. You can have perfect vaccination coverage and still have poor immunity. Health is a complex thing.”

David Baker2 said:Now, I think we should also start asking Milinović exactly where he found the funds to build that massive estate of his up in the mountains of Lika. ☕

Honestly, it makes my blood boil, but people like this really ought to be dealt with as aggressively as one would handle a pack of rabid foxes—which, frankly, is exactly what they are. Whoever catches them first...

👍 I see you're also on board with that Romanian scenario I mentioned earlier.😉

Even though studies showed Tamiflu was basically useless, the US government went ahead and stockpiled 460,000 doses.
It turns out the drug is about as effective as taking Tylenol—it might dull the symptoms, but it doesn't actually cure anything. Most importantly, it didn't do a thing to lower the number of people ending up in the hospital with flu complications like pneumonia.

Governments all over the world have spent years building up massive stockpiles of anti-flu meds, just in case those pandemic predictions came true. Most of that money went straight into Tamiflu, a product from the pharma giant Roche. But now, researchers in the UK are sounding the alarm, claiming billions have been wasted because the drug isn't nearly as effective as we were led to believe.

http://north America.aljazeera.net/vijesti...rde-na-tamiflu
Once again, we’re talking about Roche—the same company our government buys questionable vaccines from.
I really want to know who's pulling the strings here and which officials from the administration or the National Institutes of Health took kickbacks to make this happen. This feels way too intentional to be just some random mistake.🙄

Alright. I’m done talking about the cardboard. My actual suggestion is that you just scrap the ability to edit posts entirely, because I honestly don't see the point in having it.