Posts by frozenbison42

Bernie Sanders

Oh, such brilliant intellect on display here.

Get out of here, Jacimovic.
Yeah.
A woman!!!

Sure, but there’s something truly infuriating about being stuck in a corner where you're faced with pure stupidity. You either call out the author and get banned, or you try to address the nonsense itself and end up looking like a complete idiot in the process. And honestly, why bother insulting the author anyway when most of them are just regurgitating garbage from unreliable sources to begin with?

Richard Wilson4 said:Everyone seems so European to me, like they're all Ashkenazi. Is there really not a single Sephardic person or a Jew from an Arab country leading a party? 🤷

I mean, they make up about 50% of the Jewish population anyway...

well, who actually knows...

Maybe they aren't there because they can't handle the competition. Or maybe it's because someone specifically doesn't want them there. It could be anything, really.

Carol Newman2 said:Look, this is still a subreddit that covers all sorts of topics, including the Middle East where Israel plays a major role. The whole reason foreign media focuses on election developments is to get a closer look at what life is actually like in those countries.

If you're not interested, you don't have to follow this thread. 🤷

Pay a little more attention to how this sub works; we've covered plenty of elections where discussion and interest in those nations developed. For example, we talked extensively about Ukraine even after their elections were over. This specific thread will serve as the foundation for a new mega-thread dedicated specifically to Israel. Elections are just the catalyst for opening up these larger, collective discussions.

I agree, and as per usual, I'm being dramatic. 🙂

But hey, my point still stands regardless. Until the elections are wrapped up, it's all political maneuvering, which makes finding an unbiased source incredibly difficult. And trying to interpret the raw numbers? That's even harder. Honestly, you almost have to live there to truly grasp what these figures actually signify.

slybison8 said:If you don't believe that analyzing other people's decisions is a worthwhile pursuit, then maybe it would be best if you didn't join these kinds of discussions in the future.

And if you do decide to participate, I would kindly ask that you refrain from looking down on those who are putting in more effort than you to ensure the topic remains meaningful for discussion.

Ultimately, what Israelis or Jews in general think about the analysis of their own elections isn't really our concern. We are curating this conversation specifically for the visitors of Reddit.

Thanking PL

PL

Alright, fair enough. My apologies for the impulsive provocation. Honestly, I don't think I can contribute anything constructive here anyway.

I’m just hoping this doesn't devolve into the usual mess. With a topic like this? There are zero guarantees. I know I went overboard in that thread about Mostar, even though I tried my best not to—tried not to act like I was demanding people pay for sins they didn't commit. But let’s be real, I wouldn't have even been able to push that hard if I didn't personally know a bunch of people on both sides and actually heard their stories firsthand. However, in this specific thread, I can't participate without losing my cool, because I don't live in Israel. I don't know more about these elections than you guys do; we're all reading the same American news outlets.

Carol Newman2 said:EXIT POLL:

Republican Party (conservatives) 31
Democratic Party (liberals) 19
National Union
NationalUnion/Jewish Home (religious-nationalist) 12
Shas (ultra-religious) 11
Hatnuah (liberals/centrists) 7
Meretz (socialists/greens) 7
Shas (ultra-religious) 6
Hadash (socialists) 3

RIGHT-WING 61:59 LEFT-CENTER

The Right-wing really fell short this time.

😂
I told you there isn't an election happening, yet here you are bringing up socialists and some random Arab group. Get a grip!
☕
😂

But seriously. Things will get better. The economic crisis will wrap up, everyone will finally chill out, Palestinians will go right back to voting for old man Mahmoud (Abbas!), Israelis will return to the Labor Party, blah blah blah. Boooring.

Carol Newman2, look, I know it sounds like I’m downplaying your point... but honestly, obsessing over other people's elections never leads anywhere good. That exact kind of analysis—mixed with a little provocation—just reinforces the average Israeli's belief that there isn't a partner for peace. And listen. If someone actually pointed out how completely incompetent Fatah has been in every single arena, and how that should have been said after the great leader Arafat passed away—maybe they wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions.

Look, the whole situation is basically a stalemate. You’ve got one side pulling for Hamas and the other pushing for the far right. At this point, arguing about it here is just spinning our wheels.

It’s the same old story, isn't it?

I genuinely respect how much everyone here feels their sense of justice is being stepped on—really, I do—but this issue is way too tangled up for a bunch of armchair politicians on an internet forum to untangle.

That’s just my two cents, a little warning from me to you. As for the rest of you, do whatever you want. If you still feel like wasting your precious time on this, be my guest.

There aren't even going to be any elections there! It’s all just Zionist lies!

😂

Or, if there even is one... let's be real, there probably isn't.

Lying Zionists, for heaven's sake! Honestly, what is it with them?

If I were Canadian, I’d probably just say this: Dolfi Zidek really did a solid job holding things down for the team, it’s just a shame he didn't get to see the whole thing through to the end.

☕

Linda Ward3 Asks:
I’ve been noticing something lately about the West—there seems to be this massive, relentless shift toward extreme individualism. If you look back at history, once the Industrial Revolution hit and those large, extended family networks started splintering, we at least held onto the concept of the traditional family for a while. But how did we get here? It feels like widespread decadence caused tradition to lose its grip, trading long-term values for immediate gratification and fleeting pleasures. Eventually, even the nuclear family started falling apart. You see it everywhere: skyrocketing divorce rates, the push for total child autonomy, and that relentless spirit of capitalism that somehow manages to seep into every single corner of our lives. And let’s not even get started on the technological revolution. We’re basically mindless consumers of it, moving through a digital landscape without even realizing how much it’s reshaping our brains. When you stack all of that up, you end up with this massive, overwhelming trend toward... well, looking inward. Is anyone else feeling this isolation, or is it just me? To oneself.It’s all about that relentless, almost cult-like devotion to self-belief and your own "potential," isn't it? We’re told to obsess over our individual paths to success, sacrificing every waking second to nothing but the grind. It’s like we aren't allowed to have a hobby or a moment of stillness unless it somehow feeds into our personal brand. And the pressure? It’s suffocating. If you dare to stop pedaling—if you step off that treadmill that society has so carefully laid out for you—you’re immediately branded a failure. A loser. Someone who simply isn't "cut out" for modern life. Is it actually ambition, or just a cleverly designed trap to keep us running until we collapse?😕

It’s perfectly normal, really, for a person to take all those subconscious pressures they aren't even aware of and twist them into some sort of "core value," eventually spiraling into a bit of a narcissist. You’re just trying to survive, right? So you end up doing everything under the guise of self-improvement, thinking you're building a better version of yourself when, in reality, you're just performing. What most people don't realize is that they're turning themselves—and their own needs—into a total grotesque. These aren't even your actual, primal desires; they're just things imposed on you from the outside, or at least handed to you by modern society. Isn't it strange how we spend our whole lives polishing an image that wasn't even ours to begin with?

In the spirit of modern society, I honestly don't think there's any room left to complain about how narcissistic everyone has become.

But wait—what if you aren't actually the only one who sees this? What if it’s not just a "you" problem, but a collective thing? Like, what if people in modern society simply find their own version of equilibrium within the chaos and just... decide to roll along with it? Is that how it works? Does everyone just find a way to sync up with the madness and call it a day?

The progressives in this country love to preach that the life we lead is entirely on our own shoulders—that we're solely responsible for our own outcomes. And honestly? I used to buy into that. I really did. I actually looked at anyone who didn't share that mindset as being, well, limited. Narrow-minded, even. But now? I'm starting to wonder if I was just being naive. Is it really that simple?

It’s only when it hits you out of nowhere—that sudden, jarring realization that absolutely nothing in this world is guaranteed, not even the life we're living right now—that you actually start to think. You know? You just sit there and wonder...

Maybe this constant internal friction—this heavy, crushing resistance I’ve been feeling throughout this entire diet—isn't actually some kind of cosmic punishment or bad luck. Is it possible I'm just digging my heels in because I can't stand how people act? Is that what this is?

If an average person grows up surrounded by garbage music, sooner or later they’re just going to get used to it. It becomes background noise; you eventually forget how bad it actually was. Now, if you’ve got a slightly more sensitive ear? You won't forget. You can't. But I suppose you eventually just learn to settle for the reality that decent talent is hard to find. Is that just how it works?

What actually happens when someone who truly understands great music hears something terrible for the very first time? Especially if they have a sensitive ear? Is it just an annoyance, or is it a genuine sensory violation?

As someone who’s just visiting, I’ve spent some time observing how people interact around here, and honestly? It was pretty stomach-turning. I’m not saying I’m pointing fingers at anyone in particular—I think I was actually being way too polite to even attempt to blame them—but man, it was unpleasant. I guess I just have a bit of a sensitive streak; I think I inherited that from my parents, well... let's just say I saw things that made my skin crawl, even when they had absolutely nothing to do with me.

Now that I’ve actually grown up, looking back at everything, it hits me... that resistance we felt was actually against our own decadence, just like you pointed out. It feels like the weight is on us now to shield our kids from it. Because if we raise a generation that has absolutely no clue what it means to be human, they’re just going to end up tearing each other apart. And honestly? Capitalism won't be the villain in that scenario—we will be.

Rachel Johnson11 said:Narcissism is all about dosage. If modern society tried to eradicate it entirely, we’d essentially be breeding a race of termites. You need a certain level of it; honestly, it's often the engine behind progress that actually benefits everyone in the long run. I'd argue that countries like Denmark or Sweden are leading the way when it comes to balancing narcissism, humility, and altruism during upbringing. Of course, hitting that perfect sweet spot is an impossible task.

But where do we actually draw the line?

It’s pretty obvious, right? No single person can love the entire world. But you absolutely have to love the people in your immediate orbit. First and foremost, it’s your family and your friends—they should come before anyone else, and there’s no such thing as a sacrifice being too great for them. As for everyone else walking around out there? Well, you just give what you can, whenever you can manage it.

We’ve merged several threads into one massive discussion hub where you can vent about everything you feel is broken regarding modern society, this world, modern life, the West, and all those similar concepts. Please respect the same rules that apply to the rest of the sub-forum. Thanks for understanding. 🙂

The Psychology Mod.

I’m speaking directly to those of you who either live in the West or deal with Westerners enough in your professional lives to actually have an opinion on it.

Have you noticed—like I have—that narcissism in the West has become totally commonplace? And more importantly, is it actually increasing?

With every passing generation, it seems more and more people are becoming completely swallowed by their own egos. Everyone treats their personality like a sacred relic; they view themselves as infallible, and any critique of their persona is treated as a literal desecration of their freedom.

If we set aside blaming the economic system ("capitalism") or our political structure ("modern democracy"), we’re still left with the cold reality that Americans have turned into a collection of tiny kings or even minor deities, each ruling their own little kingdom. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve realized that under these conditions, sorry, but no friendship or human connection can actually survive. Would you believe me if I told you that even parents aren't considered more sacred than "Me and My Stances" anymore? So much for the commandment "Honor thy father and mother," right?

So, how do we reverse this disgraceful downward spiral?
I’m asking you as fellow travelers—someone from Georgia, untainted by this specific brand of Western narcissism and not yet brainwashed by an American education system that insists narcissism is the engine of progress. (That whole idea is monstrously stupid, and frankly, it goes way beyond capitalist theory, which suggests that society should ideally be driven by self-interest.)

(There are plenty of people here who are convinced of this, and they aren't to blame; when faced with such a seductive argument about "freedom" and "living your truth," the human mind is often defenseless. In the end, we always end up back at the same old pattern: small-minded people are narcissists about trivialities, while the "great intellectuals"—the big thinkers—are ultra-narcissists; but narcissism itself? It's universal.)

steelpanther722 said:Could someone translate this into American English? Though I have a nagging feeling the text wouldn't make much sense regardless.

Funny how that works—everyone who actually wants to understand me seems to have zero issues.
If you're struggling to follow, feel free to shoot me a DM.

Anyway, you're back at it with the insults again. Fine, be that way.

rowdyowl said:Dammit, Power, I almost sent you the bill for my laptop. I nearly spat out my soda reading this. 😁 😂

Well, duh... I didn't even notice; autocorrect just went rogue on me. 😍

Alright guys, at least now I know we're all friends. 🙂

If you really want my take, I’d say there will come a day when Americans who identify as Christian finally say "enough is enough." They'll stop letting people play that old "divide and conquer" game against them, pull together, and actually act as a unified front. And once they do? People might actually start listening to them for a change.

rowdyowl said:This is potentially dangerous for Christians. Getting more deeply tied to Syria is a bad move. If Turkey actually decides to intervene and topple the Assad regime, they’re going to find themselves in a very tough spot.

Staying neutral, like they did back in 2006, would be the smartest play.

Oh, come on, rowdyowl—if only being neutral was actually an option over there!

Everyone needs allies. And Christians? They seem to have the fewest of them. It looks from everything I see that they're the most insignificant players in the Middle East; they don't seem to have any leverage, so they just grab whatever friend happens to pass by.

It's a mess: some pick Israel, others side with the Palestinian movement, some flip-flop between Israel and Hezbollah, and then you have the Syrians in Iraq who, in my opinion, often just choose death because they're every bit as stubborn as the Muslims. (I honestly feel for them; when you're like the Copts, you aren't just protecting a faith, you're trying to preserve an entire culture. Most of them fled to the West a long time ago).

What's interesting is that, nowadays, Christians seem better adapted to modern life than their Muslim brothers. Consequently, they tend to be wealthier and more capable of pulling the Arab world out of its current rut. Maybe that's why, whenever they're left alone, certain Muslim groups have been brutally targeting them for the last fifty years. Is it fear? Are they afraid these people might end up being allies to their enemies? In reality, they are much closer to their neighbors than Middle Eastern Christians are to Christians in Europe...

slybison8 said:The whole situation regarding the civil war in Lebanon honestly drives me crazy; I suppose it's because I actually failed my International Relations exam three times specifically because of the Lebanese section, so I still carry those traumas from my college days—whenever I see a link about this topic, I get goosebumps immediately.🙂

When I mentioned that Christians and Hezbollah are allies, I was primarily referring to their current political relations. Christians oppose the Syrian regime because they are sovereigntists regarding Lebanese statehood (and also because Christian politics is largely defined by the party of the late Rafic Hariri, which is currently in opposition), so they view Syria as a threat to that same sovereignty—though I suspect a good portion of them realize that an Islamist government in Syria would pose an even greater threat, if not to Lebanese statehood itself, then to the general security of Lebanese people, especially non-Muslims.

If there is any evidence of an informal but incredibly strong alliance, it was seen a few weeks ago during Pope Benedict's visit to Beirut. The Pope was escorted by the regular police and military forces of the Lebanese state, but at every step, he was also heavily guarded by heavily armed members of Hezbollah. Then, what was particularly striking happened at the ceremony to see the Pope off at the Beirut airport: Sheikh Nasrallah appeared, despite having been hidden from the public for years; he even embraced the Pope and spoke cordially with him for several minutes.

If one thing characterizes Lebanese politics, it is its volatility. Alliances nowhere are quite as fragile or prone to shifting partners as they are in Lebanon. Global Western media outlets, much like in any other crisis, report on things very superficially and tend to omit the truly vital details entirely. The result is a general sense of confusion. Christian politics in Lebanon is multi-layered, and I suspect Hariri's party won't maintain a monopoly on representing Lebanese Christians for much longer. It is important to note that Syrian Christians in Syria support Assad's regime absolutely and unanimously—and that is precisely the element that splits the political fabric of Lebanese Christians. Some side with the Opposition leader and the son of the assassinated Rafic Hariri, who cannot abide Assad because he is convinced the man personally ordered his father's murder; others side with the existentially threatened Syrian Christians, for whom the only guarantee of safety is keeping Assad in power. Hezbollah exploits this duality very skillfully, and during the Papal visit, Vatican City clearly signaled the direction in which Lebanese Christians should move—not toward Hariri, but toward Hezbollah.

My bad, 🙂

If I had known, I wouldn't have posted 😁

p.s. You guys are just so sophisticated—an angel waving its little wings, so cute 😉

steelpanther722 said:So, who was actually behind that bombing targeting Israeli tourists in Bulgaria this past summer?
Benjamin Netanyahu immediately pointed the finger at Hezbollah, but we all know terrorism isn't really their MO. Even Hassan Nasrallah has stated they don't go after tourists. Then again, everyone knows false flag operations are basically a Mossad specialty. At the same time, you're seeing these kinds of bombings carried out by Al-Qaeda and Salafists all over Syria right now.
If you've got any sense, you'll see the picture.

It honestly baffles me how some people from your neck of the woods—and you included—can't see how deeply insulting those accusations really are.

Look, buddy. This kind of crap happens in democratic countries too. But it's rare. You want to know why? It's because if it crossed your mind, it definitely crossed someone else's. And if it ever leaked that Israel had targeted its own people—just once, Mr. Prosecutor—it would be the end of the political careers of everyone involved, all the way up to the most incompetent cabinet ministers.

Is it really that hard to show some basic respect?

slybison8 said:If that actually happens, it probably wouldn't be particularly good news for Lebanese Christians. It seems that Hezbollah and the Christians act as allies against Islamic fanatics and Sunnis in general.

Then again, the history of the Lebanese Civil War is incredibly complex. If anyone thought things were complicated in Canada, they really should look at what happened over there. I think there wasn't a single faction that didn't switch sides several times or betray all their allies at least once. They were completely irrational.

I don't mean to harp on links, slybison8, but are you really sure about this?

Besides, how can those two groups even be allies when everyone involved already knows they'd much rather have a Lebanon free from Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah than one tied to them?

Hassan Nasrallah might be slightly less militant than the rest, but he certainly knows how to stir the pot. Just look back at when they kidnapped those bodies just to trade for their prisoners in Israel.

Alright, so I want to ask this again, in a similar vein, regarding Eastern Europe—even if we have to look past those massive border walls. What do Americans actually think about my compatriots?

And obviously, I’m not just talking about romantic interests or anything like that; I mean beyond what people usually label as "politics" over in the North America. How are Russians perceived by those who actually know them? What’s the real consensus on Russians?

They’re a lot like Chechnya. The Kazakhs told me that Russia doesn't want to show any signs of weakness, just as Putin put it.