CheckEmoji Community · the emoji forum
🏠 Home 🆕 What's new ❓ Unanswered 🔥 Popular 📡 RSS Members 👥 0 online log in · register
Home › Thomas Morgan67 › Posts

Posts by Thomas Morgan67

26 posts shown.

Sean Hall20 said:As for the Jewish community, from what I’ve gathered, it seems like all the Jewish politicians and power players are pushing for open borders within the European Union and the USA, while keeping Israel’s borders tightly shut.

The Jewish people are arguably one of the most brilliant groups in human history, if not quite the most intelligent.

I am certainly no fan of Israel's foreign policy—I find myself criticizing them quite often—but you have to admit they play their hand incredibly smart in many arenas. We can argue about their political maneuvers all day, but the bottom line is this: they will endure, while most other nations will likely crumble.

They are truly exceptional, whereas much of Europe is... 👎
Hate speech in signatures? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
I generally prefer to stay out of these debates, but I suffer from some serious professional biases when it comes to matters like this.

I’m going to provide three examples inside quotation marks and italics, followed by four possible public interpretations derived from different versions of this text, each altering the original meaning.

It’s much like that unfortunate misplaced comma in a Pity poem...

"Smart people learn from the mistakes of others, fools learn from their own, and Americans don't even learn even from their own mistakes."

Americans are worse than fools. It’s all because of that one little "even"...

"Smart people learn from the mistakes of others, fools learn from their own, and Americans don't learn from the mistakes of others."

Americans are just like fools. They are on the exact same level. They are fools.

"Smart people learn from the mistakes of others, fools learn from their own, and Americans don't learn from mistakes."

Americans fall outside both of those categories. They aren't smart because they don't learn from others' mistakes, yet they aren't stupid because they don't learn from their own.

Or perhaps Americans simply never make mistakes at all.

Because we lack specific information regarding the author's actual intent, we can't definitively conclude what their stance is on failing to learn from anyone's mistakes. Perhaps the author is suggesting that Americans don't make mistakes at all. Consequently, we cannot determine if the author views Americans as fools, as being worse than fools, or if they were simply trying to point out that Americans are perfect.
Moderator bias: Is it real? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Kimberly White63 said:But how do you even decide who counts as neutral? Take me, for example—on the political spectrum, conservatives label me a liberal, while liberals just see me as a conservative.🤷

That’s a great point. It shows you're actually trying to look at things through a more realistic lens than those people who let their emotions drive them, strictly following the ideological boxes they've been shoved into.

Let's be honest, though: at the end of the day, ideology is what ultimately shapes and defines a person.
What's the character limit for DMs? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
I’m jumping in to support this request. The character limit is barely half a decent post, which is honestly such a massive bottleneck when you're trying to have an actual conversation that goes deeper than just describing someone's anatomy.
Why is Microsoft tolerating this kind of nonsense? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
I won't linger too long; I think I need to address a few specific points here.

Richard Nelson84 said:Point 4 is really the only contentious one. But looking at the context, it’s clear those labels mentioned in that section aren't directed at you, so they shouldn't result in a ban. The only thing I take issue with in that part of the post is this hey Sarah Stewart72 bit, because he clearly wrote that just to get under your skin, though it isn't technically against the rules.

Exactly. Those "labels" weren't meant for Sarah Stewart72, and I ended that thought with a cheeky hey Sarah Stewart72 just to be provocative.

The person in question doesn't seem to realize that her previous insinuation—where she attacked "my imagination"—was incredibly insulting.

This isn't the first time she's done this, and I'm certainly not the only one she's targeted.

Anyone else with half as much self-control as I have would have gone after her verbally for that.

Just because you might want to tear him apart doesn't mean it'll go unpunished.

And that is precisely where the core of the problem lies. Her biggest struggle is her inability to insult someone "properly." In other words, she's worried about being penalized if she actually attacks her interlocutor. So instead, she resorts to the lowest level of provocation, often crossing the line with insinuations that she presents as facts, labeling people as some sort of manic individual. She does this constantly.

Finally, I don't think this is about the post you linked, but rather some private feud between you two. If you read the posts in this thread, it's obvious you two just can't see eye to eye.But I don't really care. If you can't resolve your disagreements, just use the ignore button. Or learn that people aren't always going to agree with you.

It really isn't; at least not from my end. I don't know her, nor have I ever had a private conversation with her.

It’s just a repeating cycle. Argument; disagreement; insults; playing the victim; argument; disagreement; insults; playing the victim...

Sometimes she even skips the first two steps entirely...

I won't dwell on it too much...

Since she was the one who opened this thread, I'd like to take this opportunity to ask that we consider her entire history here on Microsoft.

casualcanyon3 isn't a problematic user at all (which is something that definitely cannot be said about Sarah Stewart72), and I have never once seen casualcanyon3 personally insult anyone. I mean, I haven't seen it...

If she is capable of provoking a conflict with someone like casualcanyon3, who I find to be a fairly peaceable person whose debates rarely escalate into fights, then I think there isn't much more I need to say.

And yeah... It's fine to butt heads. It happens to everyone, and it's perfectly normal. The problem arises when a wolf enters the pack and starts acting that way toward everyone; or at least, most of them.
Why is Microsoft tolerating this kind of nonsense? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Sarah Stewart72 said:Why would I call out systematic insults? Especially when they keep happening. It would be nice if you stopped addressing me altogether; I certainly won't be addressing you. If I achieve that through this thread, then I’ll consider my goal met.

Hmm... So, basically, I have to "react" to something I fundamentally disagree with just because it happened to come from you.

This is a public forum. You can't demand that I ignore every single thing you write. Besides, you and I already "battle" enough over at Microsoft. P.S. I should mention something here. Even now, I skip quite a few of your posts that I would normally comment on if they were written by anyone else. I know where this is headed, and sometimes I really don't want to ruin the discussion for everyone else. I'm not always a Grinch.

Just out of professional curiosity, I can promise to try and structure my responses so they don't trigger an emotional reaction from you—even when you start doing it again (and you definitely will).

So, I'm curious to see how long it takes before you revert to this same tone. I assume it'll be until our next disagreement; but fine...

With one small exception: next time, I'll be the one opening a thread like this, filled with links to your posts.

To keep the "game" fair, I won't use the links I already have saved (I assumed we'd reach this point since neither of us backs down easily in a fight). Today is October 1st, 2015.

"Hodie mihi, cras tibi."
Why is Microsoft tolerating this kind of nonsense? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Sarah Stewart72 said:I saw this coming from a mile away. It’s the classic blowout. Thomas Morgan67 jumped into another thread about six months ago using this exact same tactic, systematically attacking me in almost the identical way.

Look, you don't need to apologize, and I'm certainly not asking you to.

What would be fair is if you didn't resort to these low blows during our mutual "banter"—which, let's be honest, is pretty obvious at this point.

If you want to go toe-to-toe with me in this thread? Fine. Go ahead. But don't start whining when I give you exactly what you dish out. Your only real issue here is that you aren't allowed to "hit" me without consequences. Now, suddenly, you're looking for help...

Regarding the post you reported on this thread; I wasn't even talking about you in my first message. That should be clear to everyone.

Despite that, you openly insinuated that I want to silence women just because I don't pledge my total allegiance to one specific political party. This isn't even the first time you've pulled that.

Every single time, you fall back on the same tired routine and make the exact same insinuations.

And calling this a "fight"? You're the one who lit the fuse, hoping you'd get a free pass to provoke and insult people while your opponent isn't allowed to defend themselves in kind.

And no, you aren't being neutral, because you can't simply ignore our very first confrontation.
Why is Microsoft tolerating this kind of nonsense? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Regarding those first six points from the original post that Doticna flagged as problematic, I am more than happy to defend them at the request of the moderators and admin. I can provide context for each one to show exactly where they came from.

I’ll be the first to admit that my tone was provocative; however, it was merely a reaction to her blatant rudeness, which has been going on for quite some time—honestly, far too long.

Since she openly lies during these discussions and spreads misinformation that is incredibly easy to debunk, her only remaining tactic is to bury herself in those lies and launch direct attacks against anyone talking to her.
Why is Microsoft tolerating this kind of nonsense? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
This is in response to this post.

When I address her directly, she bypasses me entirely, using third-person commentary to try and bait me into a reaction.

It’s a perfect example of what happens here, where a participant in the thread I'm debating completely misinterprets my posts.

After I respond with a correction, she replies like this, without even attempting to rectify what is an obvious mistake. Of course, this isn't a one-off; she's been doing this intentionally for quite some time, and not just to me.

I don't feel I owe her anything, to which she responds in this manner.

Given that she has a very long history of conflict here at Microsoft, it really shouldn't come as a surprise that someone eventually decided to push back.

And how does she handle it? She instigates conflict, insults people, belittles her peers, and acts condescendingly—only to play the victim when people give her a taste of her own medicine.

Since she frequently engages in sexist outbursts, such as in this instance, I would like the Microsoft moderation team to weigh in on this matter.

Honestly, I don't think there is anyone on Microsoft who hasn't been annoyed by Sarah Stewart72's sheer audacity and nerve. The only issue being highlighted here is that I actually decided to stand my ground.

Not too long ago, I asked one of the moderators why this particular user seems shielded from the same strict penalties any other user would face. She assured me it wasn't about protection, but promised that if she noticed the patterns I mentioned, she would discuss the situation with the rest of the team.

Sarah Stewart72 has been provoking, insulting, and acting superior on Microsoft for a long time now. I refuse to simply turn a blind eye to it, even if it means facing a permanent ban.

And yes, regarding my comment:

Thomas Morgan67 said:Usually, when people try to shut down these types, it's treated like they're trying to stop a ballistic missile or something equally extreme.

responds with:

Sarah Stewart72 said:Are you letting your impulses run wild against Thomas Morgan67? 🙂

Link to the full post

Since this isn't an isolated incident, here is how Doticna compares to the rest:

Sarah Stewart72 said:My salary is nearly $5,000, genius.

That’s exactly why I choose my battles carefully. I have zero interest in losers. And honestly, that is absolutely no reason to get worked up.

Link to the full post

It is always, always, and always the same thing: conflict, provocation, and insults.

All you have to do is glance at her profile; if you scroll through just the first five pages, you'll find more than enough evidence to support exactly what I'm talking about.
Men - is this a forbidden topic? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
William Bennett53 said:And please, don't forget, my friend William Bennett53, that true rights are about people, not customs or ideologies. 👍

There have been some rather interesting reflections and compelling arguments posted here. And since there’s no real rush, why not let the moderators of the politics forum take their time to discuss them?

I couldn't agree more. At the end of the day, they say "ideology is the opium of the masses." Or was that said about religion?...🤔

It doesn't even matter, because the distinction lies solely in how you view the concept—whether it's God, depending on your perspective. While religion sees an idea within God, ideology sees God within an idea.

But enough for today. I'm going to go freshen up and catch an episode of The Mentalist.

Goodnight, everyone, and please, don't rush to any conclusions.
Men - is this a forbidden topic? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Michelle Evans said:Why should I be upset just because you're making assumptions about my history on this forum? 😁 Just as I can't see your ancient profiles, you and everyone else can't see mine either. Keep that in mind next time you decide to compare someone's tenure to your own... 😉

It's enough to say that the matter has been raised and a final decision will be posted once the moderators reach an agreement. If there hasn't been an update, it simply means they haven't settled on it yet. Until then, people should be free to post here—as long as they aren't being insulting or veering completely off-topic. In fact, it's better this way. Reading different perspectives actually helps us refine our own views...

The main thing is that work is actually happening on it. There's no need to rush; we'll likely be dealing with southerly winds quite often these days, and even the Parliament of the Republic of Dubrovnik doesn't convene during a southern gale.😉

I believe that my colleague briskotter13, as well as Zachary Turner6, and the other members waiting for an answer, are at least remotely as patient as I am; therefore, they won't have any issue waiting for a ruling from the administration and moderation team.

I just hope you'll be guided by the idea that women's rights don't jeopardize men's rights...

My mistake. What I meant to write was that I hope you'll be guided by the idea that men's rights don't jeopardize women's rights. A slip of the pen.🤦

And I hope you'll always keep in mind that ideologies certainly have their ways.
Men - is this a forbidden topic? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
lonebadger6 said:briskotter13, you've made a solid point here, though there are certain parts that just don't add up or frankly make no sense to me...

That might amuse you, but it leads nowhere and just ruins the discussion for everyone else.

The bigger issue arises when someone tells a truth we simply don't want to hear or that doesn't align with our views. That's why terms like misogyny, misandry, and things like that are used—they're just tools for people in a higher social position to silence their critics.

That’s a pretty strange take. Are you saying misogyny, misandry, and all that stuff don't exist? That they only exist to shut someone down?
On topics like this, I've seen plenty of falsehoods and plenty of truths that aren't politically correct, but I've rarely seen actual misogyny.

I honestly don't know what to say to that... 🤔

The fact that a forum user claims most inventions came from the male side isn't misogyny, it's just the truth.

Sure. The problem is if that user uses it to imply men are smarter, more capable, or better, without considering the underlying factors that led to that. At that point, it borders on misogyny, which by definition isn't just hatred, but also belittlement. So, we end up with the idea that the claim itself isn't "the truth," because it's never just the claim alone. There's almost always an accompanying message that is wrong and offensive.

On the flip side, would claiming a woman is beaten every 15 minutes be misandry? Because the Department of Justice statistics show an interval of exactly 90 minutes. Or is it misandry to say there were 75 rapes last year, but estimates suggest only one in every 15 cases of men being slandered was reported?

It depends on the context. And stormyraven14 mentioned earlier that the issue is how these topics are always driven by the same users using the same rhetoric. If all of you arguing about this right now showed up in both places to "dominate," then moderating would probably be much easier. But when the "others" absolutely dominate, sometimes locking the thread is the only real solution...

So, if someone reads a claim online and repeats it without adding generalizations—no, that's not misandry. If they follow it up by saying all men abuse women—then yes, it is. And if they keep banging their head against the wall after receiving an argued rebuttal—it's definitely misandry.

And just for the record, even though you didn't ask, saying that violence against women doesn't exist—or that it's minimal, or claiming that physical abuse against men is exactly the same level—is pure misogyny... though I suppose the Government and those lizard people in power would prefer we keep that quiet, so I'll spare you the lengthy explanation of why that's true...

Because we women are just so much weaker and more delicate, right? And apparently, any bit of criticism directed our way is automatically labeled misogyny... Is that your way of telling us we're just less intelligent and incapable...

You’re digging way too deep into this and drawing some pretty massive conclusions, when really, the truth is just much more mundane... and it happens over and over again. These kinds of threads, if I recall correctly, almost always spiral into total chaos right from the jump. It isn't usually people like briskotter13 or Thomas Morgan67 causing the mess... it's more like "felixxi." Not just a few outliers, but a glaringly obvious majority. Which makes it perfectly logical, even predictable, that the whole discussion just turns into a rant against women.

Aside from that first thread where things actually stayed civil before devolving into total chaos... everything else opened up from the jump just served as an excuse for people to be misogynistic...

So, I have a question here, and I promise I’m not trying to start a fight or be difficult... Why don't you, Thomas Morgan67, or anyone else just start a thread the normal way so we can actually have a conversation like everyone else does on here...
So, Nancy Tirelli dropped some sexist nonsense. It could be about her specific comment, or just a general rant. But it’s always the same pattern in those first few posts: "Nancy Tirelli said this and that, which is horrific, being a man in this country is the worst thing ever, if a man had said it everyone would be ringing the alarm bells, we're the ones under threat, women can get away with anything, soon they'll have a permit to beat us up..." It gets to the point where you can't tell if the issue is actually what Tirelli said, or if the real problem is that you aren't allowed to say things like "women are stupid," "women belong in the kitchen," or "she deserved to be assaulted because she wore a mini-skirt"... I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get my point...
It seems perfectly normal to me that a thread this open-ended gets shut down right at the start... and just to be clear, I’m speaking strictly as a regular user here, not as some moderator over in the Politics section, nor did I close it myself, nor was I even asked about it...

Even if they’re being insulting, I honestly just want to figure out where all that negativity is coming from, so maybe I can actually help change whatever it is that's eating people alive...

That's lovely. I'm not being sarcastic at all...
Insulting people is against the rules on Forum.hr, and honestly, I’m all for that... You’re more than welcome to have your own opinion, but trying to have a real debate about it feels pretty pointless when we both know nothing is ever going to change...

The whole point of this forum is to have different opinions and actually talk about them...

Yeah, let's stick to sharing opinions and having actual discussions... instead of just making things up or hurling insults at each other...

This is actually a really solid piece on this subject... I was just scrolling through this piece on the Houston Press about how much the local arts scene is struggling right now... it really makes you wonder if all that effort to keep culture alive is even worth it when the funding just isn't there anymore...

Some things just aren't matters of opinion. Just like anywhere else in the world, there isn't a single human rights charter or any Constitution out there that actually grants absolute freedom of speech... it's nothing more than a complete myth.

I get the feeling...

Trust me, your gut is lying to you. You don't have to take my word for it, but you've definitely got the wrong impression...

I am always happy to help put together a discussion thread on just about any topic. I’m even willing to start the thread myself if that helps. I don't necessarily have to be the one driving the conversation or participating heavily once it's up, but I am more than happy to get the ball rolling.

The real issue starts almost immediately after a thread is even opened. Any topic deemed "ideologically inconvenient" gets hit with instant censorship. It feels like they try to shut down specific parts of the discussion entirely. They’ll allow us to talk about certain subjects, sure, but only under such strict oversight that you’re essentially walking on eggshells. They give you just enough rope to participate, provided you never, ever touch their "sacred cows."

This needs to be stopped, and that can only happen if the moderation team and the Forum.hr administration actually have the will to step up and do something about it.

Believe me, you’ve got it all wrong. You don't have to take my word for it, but you are definitely misreading the situation.

I have a feeling the woman has a very good intuition about this...😉

lonebadger6 said:Just to be clear, I'm speaking as a regular user here, not as a moderator over in Politics, so my influence on this is exactly the same as yours... 🙂
Generally, I agree that any kind of number-padding should be penalized. I recently posted over in the Attorney General thread that I personally think we should penalize both those who deny the horrors of Jasenovac by citing negligible or insulting figures and those who claim there were 700,000 victims...
The same logic applies here.

The pay-gap is a bit more complicated, at least from where I'm sitting. The media constantly pushes the idea that women earn less on average without providing any real context, so I suspect most users reaching for that argument aren't acting out of malice or trolling, but genuinely believe it's true. Though, I highly doubt anyone actually thinks the levels of physical violence between genders are comparable...

Exactly. That’s what briskotter13 referred to when she called it "the thing we all know."

So, we claim to "know" things, but we almost never stop to ask ourselves how or why we actually know them in the first place.

The media essentially constructs our entire reality. Because of that, it’s completely natural that we turn to them for guidance and place our trust in their reporting during times like these. They effectively dictate what we "know," yet you rarely hear anyone stop to ask where that information originated, how it was verified, or why we’re being told it’s the truth in the first place.


Zachary Turner6 passed along a really solid comparison to a similar situation earlier, linking back to that piece about male intellectual superiority.

Why is it that citing the media is considered perfectly normal on one hand, but doing the exact same thing on the other is labeled as trolling, going off-topic, or inciting hate?

I already know what the answer is, but I’m curious to see how the "authorities" on this forum weigh in.

It’s happening again. They just keep shutting down threads regarding that sexist comment made by one of our Congresswomen.

It’s honestly pretty ridiculous that you actually have to ask for permission just to start a new thread.

What are we actually doing here?

Our goal here is to reach an understanding with the Forum.hr administration. We are hoping to gain their approval to open a new discussion thread focused on ideology—specifically how it shapes our society and impacts the daily lives of everyday Americans.
Despite the fact that asking for permission isn't exactly standard practice when you want to start a new thread, here we are.

So, here is the scenario we find ourselves facing. Predictably, once we request permission to proceed, the response is that this is a "critical issue" riddled with loopholes—a topic that serves as a breeding ground for misogyny.

Nobody bothers to actually define what they mean by misogyny, but whatever; let’s move on (below).

After labeling the subject as a potential hotbed of misogyny right out of the gate, there is an immediate suggestion regarding how such a topic *should* be approached. Essentially, pressure is being applied to anyone looking to start the discussion, nudging them toward a compromise. They want us to temper our political stances because, apparently, holding a differing view is "dangerous" to the integrity of the conversation itself.

In this situation, a person who starts a thread—feeling lucky just to have been granted permission to discuss something that a mentally and socially healthy society would debate without hesitation—will likely seize the opportunity to play it safe. To avoid conflict, they will attempt to open the topic without presenting provocative views, facts, or even mere indications. They will aim for a level of discourse that fosters a false sense of harmony, carefully avoiding any challenge to the status quo currently being served up by mainstream media.

What is actually happening here?

It is self-censorship.

Once the average person has endured public shaming, ridicule, mockery, labeling, bans, and persecution, they are forced to bow down once again and say, "Yes, sir." This happens because "the authorities" do not permit any viewpoint that deviates too far from the socially accepted norm. (And for those who might try to argue that most people don't actually feel this way: the percentage of people actively supporting such a stance is irrelevant. What matters is the compliance with a subtle majority, which is used to manufacture a false consensus.)

The majority is irrelevant because the majority doesn't make the decisions.

Even if a topic is allowed to live under strict conditions, it inevitably leads to the suppression of debate and the silencing of questions that the "authorities" deem ideologically unacceptable.

This brings us to the crucial moment. Either we reach an agreement and allow for the opening of a truly provocative discussion, or you will simply issue a blanket ban on anything you deem ideologically incorrect or politically incorrect.

The ball is in your court—the leadership of this forum. Make a decision. Discuss it among yourselves, reach a verdict, explain your reasoning, announce the decision, and leave space for us to respond or ask follow-up questions.

I believe we have laid all our arguments out on the table. Now, it is your move.

If this continues on its current path, the only outcome is for the discussion to be moved to an off-topic section, which will lead to its inevitable closure, leaving us once again without a concrete answer.
Men - is this a forbidden topic? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
lonebadger6 said:In principle, you're spot on, but the issue is that this specific way of arguing frames feminism as the dominant ideology in American and global society, which eventually spirals into misogyny and turns into nothing more than a festival of pure hatred toward women...

Just as people would be called out if they claimed the U.S. Government was racist, xenophobic, or Nazi, suggesting we live in a feminist utopia where men are being persecuted is really just a slightly less loud form of trolling...

There are certain areas of life where women face disadvantages, and there are certainly, quite clearly, areas where men are left behind too. Why discussions about women's struggles thrive here while topics regarding men's setbacks never seem to gain traction—well, that’s a question the Forum.hr administration isn't interested in answering...

You've put together a very high-quality, well-argued post, so I highly doubt you need me to explain that there is no conspiracy against men on Forum.hr, though I'm sure even a superficial glance at a topic from "each side" would give you the answer...

I agree. When people criticize feminism, they often fall into this trap of framing it as this massive, all-consuming ideological force. It’s a bit of a stretch to claim it's the dominant ideology controlling everything, because that ignores the bigger picture. In reality, feminism is just one piece of a much larger puzzle of shifting social values and evolving ideas. To suggest it’s the singular idea dictating the direction of society is, frankly, a little ridiculous. It's simply one part of a much broader spectrum of societal change.

When it comes to misogyny, I view it primarily as an individual issue. To be honest, I find it a bit ridiculous to frame misogyny as a broad, systemic social problem, especially in this day and age.

This brings up the issue of misogyny—specifically, how we create socially acceptable discrimination. It’s fueled by a small group of people, yet it creates this illusion where their hatred starts to look like the consensus held by the majority.

The issue works exactly the same way on both ends. The fundamental flaw in the system is that it tends to flag only one side as potentially dangerous or difficult to manage, while an identical phenomenon is happening on the other end—yet the system completely ignores it or downplays the threat. A part of this systemic failure lies with the HRC; for the HRC to survive as a social institution, it feels compelled to mirror the patterns of the majority, or rather, the masses shaped by the overarching system that dictates their meaning. I can go into more detail about that on a different thread if one pops up later on the forum, as I don't want to pull focus from the actual problem here.

Just as much as people should be called out for claiming the American government is racist, xenophobic, or Nazi-aligned, it’s just as hollow—if not a bit more annoying—to suggest we live in some feminist utopia where men are being persecuted.

Sure. In principle, that’s how it works. But once again, we have to address the underlying ideological assumptions—specifically, the agenda being pushed by the people who actually exist on Forum.hr or work to "maintain" it (the moderators and the Forum.hr administration).

What we’re discussing here is a phenomenon that has been present in every human society since the dawn of civilization. There are actually very real, logical explanations for why this happens.

There are certain chapters in life where women are unfairly disadvantaged, and there are certainly other chapters where men are the ones being left behind. It's interesting to observe why discussions about the struggles facing women seem to thrive here on the forum, while topics centered on the disadvantages men face never quite seem to gain any traction. It’s an observation, really—not necessarily a question meant for the moderators.

I agree that, as human beings, we are systematically disadvantaged—regardless of gender—and face discrimination on various other grounds as well.

The part I can't get behind is that final point. To me, this falls squarely on the shoulders of the moderation team. When you look at any given issue, moderation essentially boils down to three distinct stances. First, you have the affirmation camp—those who back everything up. Second, there’s the negation camp, the ones constantly pushing back. Then, there is the third option: a truly neutral position. In my view, maintaining that third position is nearly impossible. It's incredibly difficult to stay objective when you're fighting against basic human nature—our tendency to let emotions take over, our reliance on ingrained behavioral patterns, ideological indoctrination, and constant propaganda. There is also this deep-seated desire to belong to the crowd, to align oneself with the system, one's upbringing, or what some call "education." Personally, I prefer to call it obedience training. It doesn't really matter if the majority opinion is actually grounded in truth or if it's just a masterfully crafted illusion; most people will still gravitate toward it.

You’ve put together an incredibly high-quality post here, and your arguments are exceptionally well-reasoned.

Thanks!

Honestly, I find myself doubting whether I even need to explain this to you: there is absolutely no conspiracy against men on Forum.hr. I’m certain that if you actually took the time to look deeper instead of just skimming one thread from "each side," you'd have your answer.

I absolutely agree that there isn’t some grand conspiracy against men happening here on Forum.hr. If we had threads that allowed us to openly question certain social phenomena without being shut down, these issues would be thoroughly debated and dissected under those specific topics.

Look, I feel forced to try and condense my train of thought here just to get the point across.

I truly believe that most of the time, neither the moderators nor the Forum.hr administration likely act out of malice—though I’ll leave room for the possibility that I've misjudged you all. Rather, your actions seem to be the result of socially conditioned principles, essentially serving as a "public service announcement" for the values our society expects us to uphold.

The manufactured "consensus" has played a massive role throughout history in fueling that illusion of societal progress—this idea that we are actually advancing on a moral, ethical, and humanitarian level. In reality, these consensuses are just tools used to keep those at the bottom of the social ladder in line. It’s a way to manage the masses. At the end of the day, an obedient person is a useful person.

It’s for the exact same reason I start making noise whenever any discussion on the Politics board begins droning on about "paid shills" posting on the forum. These people aren't propaganda mercenaries; they are victims of propaganda, regardless of which direction it's coming from. I also lose it when people start generalizing the views of women or men as monolithic groups. They aren't "programmed"; they are victims of programming—specifically, the false societal narratives that the general public either ignores entirely or simply doesn't know exists. Most people just pick up fragments of these ideas, much like how most people form an entire opinion just by reading a single headline on a news site. Look, these are repeatable phenomena and psychological methods, and honestly, information regarding them is more accessible today than ever before. It really comes down to how much we actually want to learn about them and how we choose to approach it. Ultimately, it's a question of our own "obedience."

So, let me wrap up this last section with a quick summary.

I believe that by taking a neutral stance, we can approach a discussion regarding the phenomena mentioned above from a position where both sides of the scale remain balanced, free from social biases and ideological illusions.

So, here’s the real question: how much can we actually expect to get out of Forum.hr?

Chloe Martinez7 said:off
this kind of bolded stuff passes on Politics.
it slips through

Joseph Bailey41 writes

Good grief, you guys have tools, warnings, bans, three hundred different ways to punish people. Just judge hate speech based on what it actually deserves.

The reality is that on many threads, the very first post that deviates—saying "off-topic," etc.— should immediately be "flagged" or penalized

but that implies one thing: there aren't enough moderators.
Because threads would need to be monitored 24/7/365.

Or—when the mods show up, say, in the morning or whenever they find a neglected thread, they'd have to wipe all the inappropriate content, hand out points, warnings, and so on.
Then, after a week of total dictatorship, 🙂 maybe people would finally start thinking before they type.
Then the mods relax a bit, and someone inevitably decides to restart the whole cycle of strict rule enforcement.

So, either we'll learn some civility, or we'll just find a different forum where we can argue and troll to our heart's content.

Forum.hr has already become a dictatorship. Decisions from the top aren't born out of any actual consensus among the community, nor is there even an attempt to build a concept of mass agreement. Instead, they use autocratic methods to force us into accepting their "rules" and laws. They don't even bother hiding behind a fake democratic facade; it’s clearly just a tactic driven by the fear of being rejected or the inability to satisfy everyone's whims.

I think it actually works in my favor that both the moderators and the Forum.hr administration have openly stated that this isn't some democratic institution. It’s private property. By saying that, they’ve made it crystal clear: the political reality of this digital space is shaped by the views held at the top.

Don't get me wrong. I don't have an issue with that kind of dictatorship, provided it doesn't interfere with my personal or professional interests—which, on a forum like this, is essentially impossible.

That’s why I’ve always advised the guys debating topics like feminism or men's rights. My advice was always the same: your goal should be to nudge the moderators toward a compromise. You also have to be willing to meet them halfway. You can't just stubbornly insist your view is the universal truth on a private platform where the leadership nurtures social or ideological assumptions that differ from your own.

Again, please don't misunderstand me; I don't have anything against those guys, nor do I have anything against the moderation team. However, I occasionally find myself compelled to speak up when I feel people are misinterpreting certain issues or providing flat-out wrong answers. Of course, there's always the chance that I might be the one in the wrong.😬
Men - is this a forbidden topic? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
The fundamental issue with all these threads is the attempt to link misogyny directly to any criticism leveled against feminism as an ideology.

Ideological assumptions are nothing more than the product of indoctrination, whereas sex is simply the result of a biological lottery that no individual can influence (at least, not yet).

Because of this, we have to separate critiques of an ideology from critiques based on race, nationality, or gender diversity.

At its core, every ideology targets a specific group of people to serve as both its primary motivation and its alibi for the actions taken by ideologically indoctrinated groups. Some have chosen race (Nazism), some have chosen class (Communism), and others have chosen gender (Feminism).

Therefore, conflating misogyny with criticisms of feminism is merely a convenient excuse to enforce censorship and maintain a politically correct illusion—whether we are talking about the society in our physical surroundings or the community within our virtual spaces.

I have posed this question several times: is it even permissible to debate feminist ideology or to direct criticism toward an ideological movement that calls for legislation that directly harms men?

I have never received a clear answer.

So, I am asking again. Does Forum.hr permit a discussion regarding the ideology of feminism?

Is it acceptable to discuss the political aspects of the problems men face—problems that are the direct consequence of laws crafted by ideological groups that claim to represent women?
Immigration discussion in Women's Corner in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Joseph Bailey41 said:Thanks, ma'am/miss/comrade—you can call me Dad if you want!

If I actually take on this moderator gig, I solemnly swear to protect the borders of Europe from the onslaught of barbaric online chatter. I’ll be handing out bans to everyone—homophobes and their opposites, intellectuals and idiots, the loudmouths and the wallflowers, the leftists and the rightists, and all those people who just flip-flop constantly... but I won't do it based on quotas. It'll be strictly on merit! Yeah, pure merit. I won't even delete posts; I'll just leave them up as a testament to either the author's honor or their utter shame. I'll only lock threads temporarily, just long enough for the waves to settle down, and I'll make sure all participants get subsidized lodging at the local Motel 6...

Is that enough of a platform, or do I need to go out and collect five hundred signatures first?

🐔

Consider this my signature. You've won me over with your sense of humor and your knack for irony.
Thread locked for no reason? in Feedback & Suggestions ·
I believe we should consider this topic closed to prevent it from devolving into a typical shouting match filled with forced emojis or irrelevant links.

If participants choose to ignore actual arguments while instead accusing one another of bad faith, then there is simply no point in continuing the discussion. Although I feel I owe a response to the user who was banned, I won’t be providing it here.

Sorry wiredviper19, but this thread was poorly managed, which is exactly why it had to be shut down.

I have nothing against these kinds of discussions, but I’ll say it again: there has to be a certain standard of discourse to keep a thread alive. Especially when dealing with these, shall we say, "slippery" theories...
Reported two posts but no one's responding in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Alright. I’m going to stop "spamming" this thread by trying to convince you that you're heading down completely the wrong path. I would, however, like to ask the moderators and the admin team to take another look at whether the debate style described above is actually "healthy" for the topics you cover.

I wish you a pleasant day.
Reported two posts but no one's responding in Feedback & Suggestions ·
crimsoncyclist71 said:Oh, sure, let's just turn this whole thread into a joke. 🤦

Since I don't see you having commented on a single word of the posts I reported—instead, you've just gone straight for my own history—I can't see any other explanation than that you're trying to defend someone who called an entire nation narrow-minded and backward.

Even if I were breaking a hundred forum rules, it wouldn't change a single thing about what someone else posted, nor does it change even a fraction of what was actually said in those two posts. Unless, by some miracle, you can explain how my actions somehow alter the substance of their words.

P.S. As a moderator, you really should be evaluating the content of the posts I flagged instead of nitpicking my own comments, which have nothing to do with this topic.

Look, I have a suggestion for you.

I suggest you stop labeling people with different political views as fascists, antisemites (😵), then homophobes, and finally just calling them idiots—like when you suggested I might be stupid.

I sincerely hope you received a warning for the post Dub was quoting, but I'm certainly not advocating for you to keep getting penalized.

I would much prefer it if your arguments remained focused on the actual topic regarding Ukraine, which is something far more important than shouting about extremists.

You reduce the entire discussion to a few bearded radicals, insult your interlocutors, and the other day you labeled people antisemites simply because they dared to criticize Soros, despite having zero evidence to back that up.

The war in Ukraine is about so much more than just extremist factions. It's better for the discussion if we don't force people to take sides by playing the card of "anti-Americanism"—the very same tactic you fight so fiercely in the veterans' protest threads, where you criticize the exact people you accuse of being "anti-American."

crimsoncyclist71 said:On the other hand, you have the extremists. And the Russian neo-Nazis.
Are you actually supporting extremists and Russian neo-Nazis? ☕

http://www.forum.com/showpost.php?p=5...postcount=7878

Here is a look at your actual rhetoric regarding Ukraine, yet here you are, taking refuge by attacking someone who called Americans narrow-minded.

What do you think is worse: calling Americans narrow-minded on a forum where there might not even be any Americans present, or insinuating that someone is an extremist, even when they might have lost family members to the conflict or could even be a victim themselves?

I'm not saying the first thing is acceptable, either, but please, let's bring this back down to earth.

You've been disrupting threads for days without consequence, and yet you have the nerve to deflect onto someone else.
copperhound122 said:Personally, it strikes me that the Russian courts acted against Jehovah's witnesses specifically because they receive funding similar to how illegal organizations in the US are funded—using accounts based in the USA, where their headquarters are located. That's where they fund all their propaganda, as well as the salaries and pensions for missionaries who essentially earned it through their conspiratorial activities regarding what could be called the local dominant faith within Russia, all while bypassing state institutions.

Now, if they ban Scientology too, it’s the same thing. It’s worth noting that nobody in the EU really made much noise when Germany started banning them, mostly because they don't align with institutional religions. By institutionalizing Scientology as a religion, they could potentially act just like Jehovah's witnesses or even Catholic missionaries in Africa, using it as a pretext to expand their missionary influence among people who are actually sci-fi fans but are effectively atheists or at least agnostics. People who "believe" in Jesus as God might "believe" in the existence of some divine extraterrestrial entity.

👍

That’s exactly it. Russia is gradually banning any organization that receives Western funding. They’ve realized just how much influence foreign intelligence agencies, wealthy individuals, and various interest groups can exert over a nation that allows organizations backed by Western governments, shadowy "foundations," and various "philanthropists" to operate freely.

You can't grab an octopus if you keep cutting off its tentacles.
Complaint regarding moderator action on the gender quota thread in Feedback & Suggestions ·
Susan Price30 said:.

.

🤣

What exactly do you call it when someone starts "advocating" for other users or debating whether their bans were fair?

The way you're handling this feels like literal legal defense work, doesn't it?

And there might be something else going on here... because it seems like only you and Guggenheim share this specific viewpoint, which stands in total opposition to everyone else (I’m not speculating, I'm just stating what looks like a fact).

Then why did you even bother coming here to "advocate"?
You've done it in a really nasty, troll-like way by mocking her political stance.

It seems like you and a handful of others here are actually united by the same political views. The issue is that today, political leanings seem to be the foundation for moderation, which is something that simply should never happen.