Posts by electricmason8

Sam Alvarez4 said:Why on earth would anyone think the Turkish elections are "the most important elections in the world this year"? 🤔

They aren't even close to being the most significant elections in Europe, let alone globally...
Whatever the Turkish people decide, that's their business. It has very little, if any, impact on EU member states.

I've seen some major news outlets framing the situation this way, and if I'm being honest, I actually think I agree with the sentiment.

Look, if those Turks decided to let 3 million Syrians flood into the EU—people who have homes there—I’d definitely change my tune about this having no connection to anything. Then there's the fact that NATO is essentially regrouping if the opposition wins (especially with Sweden joining the alliance). Plus, if the opposition takes over, building pipelines directly from the Middle East to Europe becomes a much smoother process. Basically, they become more politically stable if there's a change in leadership. Turkey also carries significant weight regarding what happens in the North America, which matters in the broader clash between East and West. There's even talk about the potential reunification of Cyprus. On top of that, Turkey has a massive hand in the situation in Libya, which clearly affects Europe. ...and so on.

So, this isn't just some minor side note. It's not like voting for mayor in some tiny town in the Midwest.

It’s all incredibly tight, and honestly, the first round is already shaping up to be a head-to-head showdown between just two candidates. We might see our winner emerge before we even hit the second round.

That said, these elections matter immensely to us because they dictate the entire trajectory of what happens here in the US. There are plenty of valid reasons why people are calling these the most consequential elections on the planet this year.

Ashley Vaughn79 said:I can't even imagine it. 😁
I get the impulse, since someone behind a screen can become so dear to you, but still... when you're standing face-to-face, you're looking at a stranger. 😁

I'm not really a hugger in general, and I don't love being touched by people (except for my inner circle)... but I'd likely just end up shaking hands too. 😬

Even if the date went perfectly? (Assuming there actually was a date)

Sam Jones8 said:So, let’s say you finally meet up in person with someone from an online forum—someone you actually care about a lot. Can you even imagine just jumping in for a hug the second you see them? Like, what if the vibes just click instantly and—bam—you’re hugging? 😁
But realistically, isn't that person still basically a stranger to you at that exact moment?

Personally, I can totally picture it happening. 🤷

Though, knowing me, I’d probably just stick to a handshake.

It really boils down to how much you've talked online. That said, I’m also leaning toward a more formal approach since meeting up is basically starting from square one.

Rachel Richardson said:Look, wiredfox is sweet—really—but you can't just go around hugging someone against their will. 🤣

Take a closer look at what I was actually responding to. Maybe then my point will actually make sense to you. 😁

wiredfox said:I’m honestly not really much of a hugger myself

Let others be the judge of that. 😛

Sure, 24 hours feels like a blink of an eye. But I’m not going to sit here and claim it's impossible.
The reality is, once a virus gets inside your system, it’s officially part of you—even if the infection doesn't immediately flare up or show symptoms (if it shows anything at all).

Don't overlook one massive factor here: back when we were kids a few decades ago, the general pace of life was palpably slower.
Nowadays, everyone is trying to juggle four different things at once while simultaneously juggling long-term plans that stretch out years into the future. It creates this constant, suffocating sense of running out of time and being in a perpetual state of rushing—a feeling that honestly just didn't exist before, whether you were a kid or an adult. 🙂