Posts by bluecyclist64

northerncrane4 said:Are you two seriously pulling my leg? I find it hard to believe you actually missed the point of what I wrote. You're messing with me, just admit it.

And that was exactly my intention.

The American taxpayer is stuck with a completely dysfunctional Senate and arguably the most incompetent president in our nation's history, largely because the public has been systematically numbed by the sheer volume of mindless content they consume. On one hand, you have this gymnastic war propaganda designed to humanize the military-industrial complex; on the other, there's an endless push toward hyper-sexualized "individuality" as if being provocative is the pinnacle of the human experience.

I completely agree; that was pure irony.

Who on earth are Lazić and Kožul, and what do they have to do with this discussion?
No, if I am following correctly, it's just your distaste for the whole Marvel superhero trope that's bothering you. It seems to me you're missing the total rhetorical emptiness inherent in this upcoming mess as well.

Well, damn it, of course it bothers me.
But I see no reason why I should be bothered by some singing Cats that I can't even see.
Have we really fallen this far? Are we truly so shallow that we're being offended by some damn musical? Like La La Land, rather than actual cats?
😵

northerncrane4 said:We find ourselves trapped in an era of escapist decadence, where CGI extravaganzas are churned out under the guise of achieving total visual realism, yet they remain fundamentally disconnected from any sense of actual reality.

It’s an undeniable truth: cats don't burst into song. While the concept might hold some charm in a fable, seeing it executed through heavy CGI completely shatters any sense of realism. It creates this uncanny valley effect that pulls you right out of the experience. I remember sitting in a theater back in the early 2000s watching a similar attempt at digital creature work, and the feeling was just as jarring—it felt artificial rather than immersive. When the technology tries too hard to force a fantasy onto a biological reality, the whole thing falls apart.

I honestly can't see a single reason why anyone would bother watching something like that.

I can't say I see much appeal in watching it myself, but frankly, I don't see any reason to tear something apart when you haven't even bothered to sit down and view it.

It honestly irritates me to my core just thinking about the sheer amount of money they flushed down the drain on that. It’s one of those situations where you sit back, watch the waste, and just feel a profound sense of exhaustion at the lack of fiscal responsibility.

Just imagine the frustration for American taxpayers, who are essentially footing the bill out of their own pockets to subsidize all sorts of absolute garbage in the film industry.🥳

northerncrane4 said:Honestly, what on earth am I supposed to care about some hyper-realistic, human-cat hybrids wandering around rainy streets singing ballads about lost love? It’s frankly offensive to me on a deeply personal level.

On a personal level, I find it incredibly grating when certain idiots start acting like they have some sort of profound insight just because they're quoting Lazić or Kožul. It’s exhausting.
I’ve managed to get through about half of their debut novel and sat through two episodes of *The Fuck*. Honestly? It was a complete disaster.
Once again, I can't quite bring myself to say that everything they wrote was complete idiocy.

Well, I appreciate you taking the time to address my question.

What exactly is the issue here, you lovely bunch of critics?🤷

Honestly, this actually has the potential to be quite exceptional! 👍

Charles Ramos4 said:At the end of the day, I think most rock musicians tend to get "softer" over the years, mostly because they simply aren't the same people at 40 that they were at 20. I realize that isn't a perfect metric, but even I find myself appreciating those gentler tracks more as I age—the ones I used to find tedious precisely because they lacked that raw edge.

However, Lennon actually became more biting and provocative.🎉

Anthony Carter5 said:None of those songs even come close to the level of A Day in the Life, Across The Universe, Strawberry Fields Forever, In My Life, or Tomorrow Never Knows...

Lennon certainly lost some of that songwriting magic during his solo career.

They aren't in your top tier because you clearly haven't given them a fair listen.

The songs you listed are undeniably good, but when measured against Lennon's solo work, they just don't leave the same kind of lasting impression.

Kenneth Lee79 said:Tell me, is every single taste considered top-tier? Are there no cowards left on this planet? If I understood correctly, I think that’s what he was getting at.

And if we aren't using his metric, whose should we be using? Yours? Sure, art is subjective; it isn't a hard science. But let's play devil's advocate: should we insult Johann Sebastian Bach, or perhaps put Bach on the same level as someone like Brena? If you take that stance, someone will inevitably snap back and say, "Your own concept of quality is the only metric," or "You're confusing art with mere preference."

😉

What's going on, Ševa? Talking to yourself again?

Anthony Carter5 said:It's someone else, I just don't care for that song.

It’s a shame that’s his only solo track... 🥳

Let's be honest here—Lennon was a hundred times more intense as a solo artist than he ever was with the Beatles. The fluff is gone; all that's left are heavy hitters. And don't even get me started on his political engagement.

Bryan Rogers87 said:Ah... you're also arguing with someone who thinks Lennon was just a one-hit wonder who only became famous because of Imagine 🙂 and that without Yoko Ono, whom he rode the coattails of to achieve fame, nobody alive today would have even heard of him. 🙂

Perhaps there might be some truth to that argument as well.

Anthony Carter5 said:Why wouldn't I be able to?

The reason is actually quite simple: if you were truly an artist, there is a high probability you would respect your peers rather than just tearing them down without any real justification.

Anthony Carter5 said:He’s just as much of an artist as Bare is.

I wouldn't say they're on the same level, though there's no denying they both possess artistic talent.
I highly doubt you could make that same claim about yourself.

Drew Long76 said:If this turns out to be some derivative rip-off of Red Sparrow, then I’m definitely sitting this one out. Honestly, Red Sparrow was such an absolute disaster that it's almost impressive—it was truly nothing short of tragic.🙂

Thanks, man. If you're telling me that Red Sparrow is a dud, I'll go ahead and pull it off my watchlist right now.👍

I saw what Ančica posted in the preview... Good grief. Honestly, I feel like I’ve seen this exact same thing play out a hundred times before.🥱

What exactly did you expect from Shaft 2019...🤣

Regardless, I suppose I'll give it a watch.🕺

placidorca16 said:Our friend Letec left you a comment over in Philosophy regarding her take on all this, so go ahead—have a read:

Huge thanks to Letec for her support, her principles, and for standing up as a woman and a feminist—proving that her name won't be used to serve someone else's dirty agenda, despite the moderator's unfortunate attempts here!🧐🙂

I appreciate you quoting Letec, who holds some partial influence within the PŽK. It’s quite obvious, though, that Andrew Booth29 was completely out of his depth when he attempted to misrepresent her perspective on the matter.
It’s the exact same Andrew Booth29 who’s been advising you to steer clear of him following everything that’s gone down lately...
What kind of trouble are we talking about here, Andrew Booth29? Are the mods actually going to come after my friend placidorca16 just because I’ve been acting like a bit of a jerk? I have to wonder—is there some sort of database you guys maintain where you track users based on how questionable their friends might be?

Andrew Booth29 said:I think I’ll take the advice of my esteemed colleague Letec—it’s probably for the best—and I’m asking the forum administration to please remove me from the moderation team for both forums I currently oversee. Thanks...

What would Grunf say to that? "Better to retreat with honor than to win like a coward."
You’ve run out of things to say, and let’s be honest here—it’s getting obvious. That loss clearly eats at you far more than any loss of honor or integrity ever could.
Fair enough, I think you're onto something there. I'm on board with the idea.👍

briskwalker10 said:Good God!

Whether it’s a literal flood or some metaphorical locust plague, whatever chaos decides to descend upon us—you can always count on him to be the one reliable constant.😈

Brian Gray5 said:So, basically, this lady believes humans—women included—evolved from animals simply by hooking up without any social strings or moral hang-ups attached? Good for her for being so liberated. And good luck to her husband, assuming he managed to snag her during that "animalistic" phase. He must be feeling pretty zen, much like Šeks, having such a free-spirited and independent woman by his side.

Why not? I get the impression his wife is absolutely thrilled.

Dammit, you banned user; I think you need a much stronger impression to realize you should stop addressing me altogether.

I have no idea why the mods don't react to the fact that you're just a clone of a permanently banned user, nor does it particularly bother me. However, I am certain you remember me telling you quite explicitly to stay out of my life. It was an exceptionally perceptive and polite request, made without any unnecessary drama.

Andrew Booth29 said:I’d love for my esteemed colleague bluecyclist64 to actually elaborate on his position here. Is he suggesting that women are incapable of evolving into higher beings while men can? Or is he arguing that neither gender has that capacity? Honestly, whatever his answer turns out to be, I suspect he'll have quite a lot of explaining to do at the next Communist Party USA meeting. He’s either being a total sexist or a complete reactionary.

First off, let's clear the air for the benefit of the other forum members: neither of us holds the other in any particular esteem.
The evolution of the female being is explained in exhaustive detail on the following pages, so I have nothing further to contribute there.
Slow down with those jokes about "party meetings"; I don't belong to any political party or faction. Perhaps you're smelling the ghost of the Communist Party USA, which was the one to grant women equality back in the mid-20th century? If that's the case, I suppose I can understand your aversion and distaste for "the party."

placidorca16 said:Yeah, I saw that later. It’s funny how they can't see why they shouldn't bother engaging with some random guy who thinks women are "lower beings" and all that—I'm guessing if a woman had said the exact same thing about men, it wouldn't have gone "unnoticed."👎

And why on earth should she care? You can see his name is "Andrew Booth29." Just by looking at the handle, you can tell he doesn't give a damn about gender identity.
To me, that sounds extremely gender-unidentified, unlike "Northwind," which is quite clearly a female name...🤣

Andrew Booth29 said:Nowhere in this post does it say that women are lesser beings. This PDF is about philosophy—specifically, it’s about the human being reaching a higher state of consciousness, where one transcends the biological, the material, or the purely instinctive. That’s clearly evident in the dilemma presented by the thread starter. On one hand, you have the biological role; on the other, you have external freedom. Given how powerful maternal instinct can be—an instinct that is notoriously difficult to suppress—abortion serves as a way for a woman to escape the patriarchal trap and her assigned gender role. In fact, Simone de Beauvoir proposed a very similar thesis. So, really, you're just barking up the wrong tree regarding this dilemma.

Come off it, this isn't an economics lecture.😒

Whoever in this quote...

(image)

...fails to see the insult and the misogyny, they shouldn't be a moderator.

There is no such thing as women evolving into a "higher being" in any sense. I'm not a feminist; I'm a traditionalist. And the position of us traditionalists is that human beings are equal regardless of sex, race, or nationality.

This is incredibly offensive, and I stand by my colleague placidorca16.

Grace Sanders24 said:Synecdoche, New York City—that is a heavy, punishing film. I honestly can’t imagine who would actually sit through the whole thing without feeling completely drained. It’s the kind of movie that stays with you, long after the credits roll, leaving you with plenty to talk about.🍿

I can't say I'm surprised, though I suppose I should be. To be honest, there’s a certain weary familiarity in hearing those words. It reminds me of a rainy Tuesday back in Seattle, sitting in a dim corner of a coffee shop, watching people walk past the window with nothing but resentment in their eyes. Some things never change. If this is how we're starting, then so be it.

And just like that, my psychiatrist managed to convince me that I hadn't actually watched the movie at all—that the whole experience was nothing more than a vivid dream.🕺

Patrick Martin said:So you spend all this time acting like you’re too good for the West and looking down your nose at how Americans live, only to turn around and admit you've been munching on their most iconic 20th-century symbol this whole time. Real smooth.

Look, I’ll be the first to admit it—I’ve definitely downed my fair share of those local sodas. And honestly? They weren't even close to being worse than Coke. Not even a little bit. 🤷

Oh, you poor, misguided soul...🤦

I am certainly not "criticizing" the West; I am simply being brutally honest about how much it sucks.

The reason is simple: I have nearly half a century of actual life experience under my belt now. When I was a kid, Coca-Cola actually tasted great. In other words, I was a sucker back then—which puts us at complete polar opposites on this issue.

Patrick, let’s be realistic here—you lack intellect, you lack education, and to put it bluntly, you are as dim-witted as they come.

That is why I still prefer Moe and Hassan, who sat through Bruce Lee movies with me, over someone like you or any other mindless American.

Coca-Cola... You really are something else...🤦

Patrick Martin said:For me, that whole complex was even deeper because I remember that specific feeling of pure bliss* whenever my relatives would fly in from Germany with suitcases packed full of the best candy, chocolates, and sodas. It was this weird, unclassifiable sense of 🕺

...I was drinking Coca-Cola...

I've been reading your stuff since ☕

*read: low standards

And honestly, what is the actual issue with Coca-Cola? What was I supposed to drink as a kid, grape juice?🤔

Patrick Martin said:I’ll probably have the whole bucket of popcorn finished before the trailers even wrap up 🤦

It’s futile to lecture today's younger generation about those struggles. They haven't a clue what it was like back then, living through the dark days of communism when a dictator like Marshall could practically snatch the food right out of your mouth. Trying to explain it to them is like trying to teach Pavlov's reflex; once you see food, you feel this primal, desperate urge to devour it immediately. It becomes an instinct. You never truly know when the secret police might burst through your door and seize your last meal just to line the pockets of the elite—to feed the families of people like Špiljak, Bakarić, or Josipović.

Speaking of movies, I first started heading to the cinema back in 1974, usually with someone in tow, though by 1976 I was making my own way there. I remember sipping on a Coca-Cola and looking at the snacks they sold; honestly, that stuff was for suckers. They charged way more for a bag of popcorn than you’d ever pay at a local grocery store.
Growing up, I was always painfully self-conscious about any kind of bodily noise—whether it was the sound of someone crunching too loudly on food or, even worse, the social catastrophe of passing gas. It felt mortifying. But I suppose I can't expect myself to change now. I’m not going to suddenly transform into one of those typical American types who lacks any semblance of discipline, someone who can't make it through two damn hours without needing a constant influx of calories just to function.
Eating in a movie theater is absolutely revolting to me. I can't help but wonder if this distaste stems from my upbringing—being raised with such a staunchly secular, old-school American ideological background.🕺

Ethan Barrett22 said:In your previous post, you were singing a different tune— trying to justify insults in an attempt to—in your own view—"combat toxic propaganda."

Insulting others is a violation of the rules and there is simply no excuse for it.
The forum exists specifically for the exchange of ideas and opinions. Everyone has the right to express themselves, provided they don't break the rules.
If you find yourself at odds with someone, try to explain your reasoning if possible or just ignore them. But you cannot resort to insults.
You are well aware of this, yet for some reason, you are attempting to defend a person who hasn't written a single post on this subforum without being abusive or resorting to ad hominem attacks.

On a side note:

You should be able to prove this.
Between spreading panic and fear-mongering, and especially the claim that someone’s forum activity caused someone's death, you are making massive assertions and serious accusations of libel for which you can be held accountable.
I honestly don't see any need to force this into the conversation here. 😉

The female user was simply pointing out a blatant breach of the rules, and she is entirely within her rights to call for sanctions regarding the insults because there is no justification for verbal abuse.

And this constant pivoting and insinuating is a tired tactic I've seen a hundred times before. It's a predictable move by a small handful of individuals who want to derail the discussion into personal vendettas just so everyone forgets the actual reason this thread was started— the insults.

Calling you a malicious charlatan isn't even an insult or libel.
If anyone deserves to be penalized here, it would be you and the other bullies, certainly not those who are merely pointing out the spread of harmful misinformation.

Be careful that someone doesn't take offense and retaliate, because forum anonymity won't protect you from the law. It is a shame the owner lacks the will to appoint a sensible moderator to clean this up and restore order.

Laura Chavez93 said:A continuation of my previous point: just a few days before the March 31st deadline, I get a call from my local JPMorgan Chase branch—they claim they need a photo of my ID because the old one expired, asking me to send it over... I sent it via email, but really, is it necessary to resort to threatening an account freeze over such a thing?🙄

A real man would have told them where to shove it and just switched to a different bank altogether.

They can take that threat and stick it right up their ass, that's what they can do.☕