Posts by Morgan Fox6

The real issue is that other people just don't see that bond you think you have with them, so... I guess you’d actually have to put in the work there.
If you look at it this way.
Say you run this little experiment—like a year-long study—with an introvert, an extrovert, and one totally neutral person. So, you basically have this tiny social circle...
The introvert ends up doing everything just to help that neutral person out, while the extrovert is basically just using them.
After a year goes by, that neutral person has to make a choice about who to kick out of the group.
And they’re gonna ditch the introvert.

Then, you get that reaction from the introvert—which might look like hate, or frustration, or maybe just being ungrateful, etc.
Because, honestly, for that neutral person, there was never really a deep, emotional, human connection with the introvert.
To that neutral person, the extrovert was the one providing "protection" through the social group, whereas the introvert just kind of stayed in their own shell, even though they were working entirely in the neutral person's interest.

See, the introvert doesn't really satisfy those secondary life needs for the neutral person. Even if, in my little imaginary experiment here, they technically provide them, they aren't *fulfilling* them the way the extrovert does.

So, I guess you either need to start hanging out with people who are on your same "mental level," or you just have to start putting more effort into others.
Then that feeling that the whole world is out to get you might just... disappear.

Jason Campbell70 said:The USSR isn't the one suffering here.
The USSR had enough weapons and gear to fight three wars.

America didn't.

The US Army certainly didn't lack equipment or munitions; they just lacked common sense.

What did we have in 1995 that the US Army didn't have in 1991?
Lessons learned, better training, and MPRI.

If the West wanted Greater Mexico, Greater Mexico would exist.
I never questioned that.

True. Banac is a right-winger through and through.

But I don't think that holds up, because if you look at when those American-Canadian forces moved into Canada with the West basically giving them the green light, they could have taken over the whole country...
Except, well, the West stepped in and stopped them. And honestly, I guess it's just because you can't really maintain control over a population today without having that specific nation's blessing.

Now, if someone had tried to move against the edges of America—areas that are, you know, ethnically and historically 100% American—then things would have been a different story entirely. It’s a sad reality, I guess, but it's the truth. Slobodan Maddox was terrified of a full-blown war if he touched ethnic American territory, mostly because that would have turned into absolute hell for the Mexicans.

So, maybe that’s why there's so much resentment from other regions that went through the war; they couldn't touch us because we were 100% American. That's my take, anyway.

And all those times our sons lost their lives in your neck of the woods? People don't seem to hate you for that. They act like it's totally fine.

Sforza Aspang said:Who exactly are you talking about?
.

I’m talking about the Americans living on American soil.
I mean, their grandfathers actually fought in the Austro-Canadian Empire and for America just so we could have the borders we have today... and now you're coming here lecturing us about a "pure" America!?

Whenever you say stuff like that, I can't help but think of those old classics from the new fossils:

The whole article seems built on two main theories: the influence of American interests and the fact that Europe hosts some of the largest strategic bases in the world.
Maybe it wasn't the original plan, but I guess the USA definitely has the power to exploit whatever situation is currently unfolding.
They aren't necessarily the cause of every single thing happening globally, though they always seem to be present, looking out for their own interests.

Destabilizing mainland Europe and its eastern neighbors... well, that’s not exactly a new story, is it?
Some people use this to justify everything from World War I and II to the Lowe conflict in the North America.
The real issue here is that mainland Europe, working alongside Russia, essentially forms a self-sufficient unit that the "world" doesn't actually need.

There’s this theory that goes like this: whoever controls the territory stretching from the Atlantic to the Urals, owns the world.

If you want a symbolic fact that backs up the idea of destabilization in mainland Europe and Western Asia, just look at who is threatening to leave the EU most right now.

And I suppose you could drag the situation in Ukraine into this theory too. If Russia wants to remain a global player instead of being swallowed up by a continental Eurasian superpower, they have to show some teeth.

Maybe even the Greek crisis can be explained away this way, since the Greeks were basically handed loans without any real collateral.
It's just more destabilization, I guess.

So, this whole bit about Lowe talking about the destabilization of mainland Europe isn't exactly a brand-new concept. It's not like it's some sudden conspiracy theory like the article suggests. His take on the North American situation fits pretty neatly into what we might call "alternative perspectives."

And one fact that really shows how little anyone cared about stopping the war in Canada was the way they sent over retired aristocrats just to have a bit of fun.
One author actually described the people who were supposed to be stopping the violence in Canada exactly like that.

And some folks say the world's policeman didn't show up to enforce order... honestly, who knows what would have happened.

Charles Lopez3 said:while those local cops are busy using their "backcountry tactics,"
there’s just no way to make things better.

And then there’s this thing people call civil society... I mean, if it actually exists, why doesn't it have any real power to oversee, recall, or actually penalize anyone?

Like, say a job in Germany pays someone around $1,600, but back home you get paid the same amount as someone working in Germany for $3,200.
It's like socialism in action, right? Everything leveled out...

But I guess it isn't just socialism at work, because the wages for people who would make $1,600 in Germany are being controlled here by this public establishment—which, honestly, feels like a hand-me-down from the old communist establishment.
Kind of wild, isn't it?

The old-school establishment basically forces wages in their sector to stay flat, even for people competing in the global market and bringing money in!

So, a woman moves to Sweden for work, and the first job she lands is one that would pay $1,600 in Germany.

But back home, for that exact same role, she'd need a specific degree and would still be paid the same as someone operating on a global scale.

I mean, I think the issue goes a bit deeper than just some local judge...

Take Finland, which everyone thinks is the gold standard for education. There, college is basically just an extension of high school. But here, there's this huge push from the intellectual crowd to scrap the current system and make higher ed way more intense again because they claim the current setup is a failure.

One question though... if the system is a failure, isn't it really the people running it?..
Are we supposed to believe a new system will magically work just because the same people are behind it?

Looking at it through an American mindset, are you saying responsibility lies with some abstract concept like "the system" instead of the actual individuals running it?

What else can I say besides, long live Appalachia? At this rate, our weather forecasters will probably start blaming the sun for not shining bright enough just so their forecasts stay accurate.

Appalachian mentality🙂

It’s definitely not just happening here. I mean, part of why things work in the West is because there’s this balance—employees take ownership, while management focuses on loyalty and, you know, having decent people skills.
But honestly, that rarely actually works out in practice.

I once worked in an environment where responsibility sat entirely on the manager's shoulders, and if they tried to pass any of that onto the staff, it was basically just a suggestion at best.
And let me tell you, in a setup like that, I never really felt like I became "part of the team," and I ended up clashing with another department.
As a reward for my efforts, I got handed instructions from that other department to basically dismantle our entire system. So, I did it. And my coworkers helped too. It's all a big circle of favors. That other department just makes up work for themselves, and then gets approved for three months of labor in just one month.

In return, when someone needs to be pushed out, everyone just stays quiet and keeps their heads down, right? Is that how the game is played?
It's all just one big loop..

I actually called out that other department in front of everyone for sending me those instructions to wreck the system, and then I got hauled into the boss's office. I told him, "Look, this is my responsibility."
The boss just looked at me and said, "Okay, fine. Just be smarter next time."🙂
Which is exactly why that guy is making millions..

Then there was this one colleague of mine—he wasn't great at communicating, or maybe he just seemed that way to others—but he was perfectly integrated into the group. He kept trying to push for professional growth and better ways of doing things, but he couldn't survive his probationary period.
Because every single time he tried to assert his will—strictly for the good of the company, mind you—he didn't realize that it just made everyone else look stupid, and they felt forced to follow his lead.
They canned him right after his probation, without a cent of severance...

He used to tell me about his time working in New York; he said Americans will stab you in the back and laugh in your face while they do it, whereas here in the Mediterranean, it's much more casual.

Man, this is the Mediterranean for you. You find the strongest guy in the pack and you just kiss his ass. There's no room for individualism here; the second you show any, you're finished.

I think I’ve finally landed on this conclusion, where I just see the world through this lens of abstraction.
Abstraction is basically just finding the common thread within everything you look at.

When I look at people's faces, I don't really see individuals, I just see comparisons of facial structures.
And honestly, even when I've had a few drinks—which helps, I guess—it doesn't change anything, I can't escape reducing everything down to an abstraction.

I used to think this was some kind of high-level intelligence, but maybe it isn't? It feels pretty average, so why am I seeing things this way?

No matter how hard I try to look at you all, I just see abstractions; I never actually see *you*.
And when I drink, I'm trying to ground myself, to get back down to earth, but even then, I find myself searching for those patterns.
It's just what I do, I guess. It's my normal.

Everything feels so rigid sometimes, though I suppose we Americans have our own way of being blunt, too.

I've tried different ways to stop, you know, like telling yourself "don't light that cigarette," but it just creates this internal pressure, and nothing actually changes.

Maybe it’s just schizophrenia, maybe... but calling a genuine ability to abstract "schizophrenia" feels kind of lame, doesn't it?

With imported cigarettes, imported beer, and working these export jobs... I don't think it's a mental illness. I think it's something else that's right there, even if I can't quite pinpoint it.

The logical explanation would be some undetected level of intelligence, like high EQ or social IQ, but if I say that, then I'm just using "schizophrenia" as an excuse to feel special.

So, getting back to what we were actually talking about... why does everyone look down their noses at used goods?
It’s this weird psychological thing, I guess, where people feel like they have to demand so much respect for stuff that isn't new.
But maybe it's because that gear was originally owned by the heavy hitters—you know, those top-tier brands—and that's why it feels different.
Using second-hand stuff just kind of brings you down, I don't know.

Andrew Castillo10 said:Then just learn how to swim, man! Just go out there and practice! What’s holding you back? Or just learn how to stay afloat!!
So basically, "I have to face everything alone" just means you're totally on your own and lonely.
And if you aren't willing to let anyone in, doesn't that mean you're perfectly fine being solo???

I almost drowned, honestly, which is why I feel like I need someone by my side... but I've just been conditioned to handle everything solo.
And is that really my downfall? Just because I come with all these little quirks and hang-ups? Is that my death sentence?

Andrew Castillo10 said:Aha
The brain is basically just a massive collection of tiny little modules that aren't smart on their own—you couldn't say any single one of them can actually "think." But once you get all those modules
wired together, some kind of intelligence starts to emerge from the network...

You're my hero

Well, I guess if I'm supposed to be an idol, you should probably help me work on my swimming skills then.
I mean, there has to be some kind of point to all this idolizing stuff, right? Because if there isn't, what's even the point of doing it? It feels kind of useless, I guess.

I really hope that wasn't sarcasm, because honestly, I just don't have the energy for that kind of nonsense.
Isn't it just... weird, being like that?

Andrew Castillo10 said:Man, there is just so much negativity packed into every single sentence here

Honestly, stop letting other people drain your energy
Why even stress about someone else being able to swim when you can't? Or why worry if they got a new iPhone while you had to save up and buy yours yourself? It’s all just noise... life is weird like that
Look, I don't know how to fly a plane, and I'm definitely not planning on being an astronaut...
Being a pilot was never my dream, and traveling to space wasn't exactly on my bucket list either—just some crazy thing I never cared for... some people think it's cool to buy a one-way ticket, but if you ask me, those folks aren't playing with a full deck. Like, why would I head to Mars just to die there?😁 What's the reason? Honestly, I have no clue. I'll give it some thought once I get back... oh wait, I'm never coming back
I don't envy them one bit!
When I wanted a new phone, I bought it myself. And if I ever decide to smash it against a wall, well, I did it—done and dusted. But that kid over there? He can't even throw his phone because his dad won't buy him a replacement...

Could you maybe clarify those "verses" of yours? I'm trying to figure out what the poet is actually getting at
To me, you just sound lonely, abandoned, or maybe just left to your own devices, and frankly, it sounds exhausting. Am I wrong?

Anyway, what I’m actually curious about is how he plans to improve those swimming—well, let's call them "skills"—you know? See what this whole crowd has done to me?

Andrew Castillo10 said:Man, there is just so much negativity packed into every single sentence here

Honestly, stop letting other people drain your energy
Why even stress about someone else being able to swim when you can't? Or why worry if they got a new iPhone while you had to save up and buy yours yourself? It’s all just noise... life is weird like that
Look, I don't know how to fly a plane, and I'm definitely not planning on being an astronaut...
Being a pilot was never my dream, and traveling to space wasn't exactly on my bucket list either—just some crazy thing I never cared for... some people think it's cool to buy a one-way ticket, but if you ask me, those folks aren't playing with a full deck. Like, why would I head to Mars just to die there?😁 What's the reason? Honestly, I have no clue. I'll give it some thought once I get back... oh wait, I'm never coming back
I don't envy them one bit!
When I wanted a new phone, I bought it myself. And if I ever decide to smash it against a wall, well, I did it—done and dusted. But that kid over there? He can't even throw his phone because his dad won't buy him a replacement...

Could you maybe clarify those "verses" of yours? I'm trying to figure out what the poet is actually getting at
To me, you just sound lonely, abandoned, or maybe just left to your own devices, and frankly, it sounds exhausting. Am I wrong?

I could take the route of just ignoring everything, but I won't. Does that make me unhappy? Yeah, probably.
But I'm out here looking for happiness because I feel like I can actually achieve it, so it wouldn't be so bad, I guess.
If I asked you, like, "Hey, do you want the chance to run at 40 miles per hour?" would you take it? Probably not, right? Because you know there's a risk involved. And that's the thing—what do you want? Less risk? That's how I feel too, but how do you actually get there?
Less risk and being happy?

Andrew Castillo10 said:Man, there is just so much negativity packed into every single sentence here

Honestly, stop letting other people drain your energy
Why even stress about someone else being able to swim when you can't? Or why worry if they got a new iPhone while you had to save up and buy yours yourself? It’s all just noise... life is weird like that
Look, I don't know how to fly a plane, and I'm definitely not planning on being an astronaut...
Being a pilot was never my dream, and traveling to space wasn't exactly on my bucket list either—just some crazy thing I never cared for... some people think it's cool to buy a one-way ticket, but if you ask me, those folks aren't playing with a full deck. Like, why would I head to Mars just to die there?😁 What's the reason? Honestly, I have no clue. I'll give it some thought once I get back... oh wait, I'm never coming back
I don't envy them one bit!
When I wanted a new phone, I bought it myself. And if I ever decide to smash it against a wall, well, I did it—done and dusted. But that kid over there? He can't even throw his phone because his dad won't buy him a replacement...

Could you maybe clarify those "verses" of yours? I'm trying to figure out what the poet is actually getting at
To me, you just sound lonely, abandoned, or maybe just left to your own devices, and frankly, it sounds exhausting. Am I wrong?

It's not just that I do everything by myself. It's not even the loneliness or the feeling of being deserted. It's the fact that I have to go through everything entirely on my own. That's what loneliness and abandonment really mean to me.

And even if you offered to be my companion in theory, I'd probably turn you down one way or another. Because the only way I really understand is being alone.

I had this little moment of grace recently... there was this stray cat, just meowing at me, and I ended up taking him in and feeding him. It felt good, finally being able to actually help someone, I guess.
I think I was just satisfying my own need for control, you know? Helping out a cat like that.
It sort of fed that need for power I have.
Just by taking that cat in and giving him everything I possibly could.

I wonder if that's how I was raised—as the kind of person who gives everything away without even thinking about themselves..?

Imagine spending your entire life feeling like everyone else in the room is just... fundamentally smarter than you.
It’s honestly such garbage.

I went for a swim at Central Park the other day, and I mean, I almost drowned. I still don't really know how to swim properly, but, well, I didn't die. I made it back to the edge.

I’m always that guy. The one who doesn't know what's going on. The one who isn't going to screw you over or mess with your life because, well, I'm just an idiot.
I'm stupid.
I had to buy my own driver's license, my own phone, my own car... nothing was handed to me. My uncle didn't give me a dime, and he still wonders about me today—he thinks I'm a lost cause, wondering how someone like me can actually manage anything.

Am I just dumb? Because nobody bought me a phone. Nobody guaranteed me love. No one ever really cared about my feelings, either.

Sometimes I feel this surge of hatred for all of you, but I really don't want to hate you.
I just want to be one of you, but it’s just not happening...

I carry this anger inside me, and it's all because of some jerk who wants to tell me where I belong.

There are moments when I just want to scream that this world is my place and I should be the one making the rules.
But I don't want to become that kind of person, because then I'd just be one of them. Though, maybe my truth is the only reality that matters.

Maybe everyone else should just submit to my truth, instead of me having to bend to theirs...