Do you even realize you're insulting everyone's intelligence by oversimplifying everything? How can you claim someone’s being misled just because they don't share your exact worldview? That’s basically the hallmark of conspiracy theories, which—let's be honest—isn't exactly a badge of honor. Also, if The New York Times is the beginning and end of the world for you, just remember that even the most powerful outlet in America isn't gospel to everyone else. It's just one newspaper with a specific circulation. Giving it god-like status is honestly a bit childish, though I bet Pavić would love the ego boost. 😁
You're trivializing real issues, failing to connect the dots, and instead of actually debating, you're just trying to preach. That’s where you lose me.
And who exactly are you "conservatives"? 😁 Don't you see how pointless it is to hide behind broad labels that don't even really exist? You think it gives you more "weight" in an argument, or at least that's what you want people to think. In America, we don't really have a clear-cut left or right wing. Our political parties aren't properly defined. Sure, the Democratic Party is trying to follow the standard left-wing playbook, but on the conservative side, things are way more disorganized.
@Tactum "Conservatives" need to get it through their heads: their specific flavor of patriotism isn't some universal law that everyone else is forced to follow or stay silent about.
To you, Ante Gotovina is a hero; to someone else, he’s not. Period. Everyone has the right to share their take and back it up, but there's zero reason to lose your mind just because someone disagrees with you.
Asking to ban different perspectives isn't "patriotism." If anything, shutting down criticism and ignoring the right to disagree actually does more harm than good to the country and our society.
*you could swap this out for any other sacred "war hero" figure.
The real issue is how we tend to turn regular people—actual flesh and blood humans—into untouchable saints. That’s our flaw: this habit of blindly praising people and putting them on pedestals. It leads to cults of personality where one individual is treated as everything, and without them, everything falls apart. Obviously, that's just not how reality works.
The mods over at Politics are solid, they really put in the work, and Ryan Vaughn7 is easily one of the best.
But man, the influx of aggressive trolls who don't get what a "discussion" actually is is getting out of hand. It’s that classic case of the loud bullies scaring off the reasonable people. Every time a thread touches on the American Civil War or anything involving the old South, it turns into this chaotic shouting match. It drives away the people who actually have something valuable to contribute, leaving nothing but absolute garbage posts behind.
This thread is a perfect example. You’ve got a user named duliba basically terrorizing anyone who dares to say something that doesn't fit their incredibly narrow—and frankly, chauvinistic—worldview. But here's the kicker: as long as he isn't posting something straight-up psycho like when another guy said someone "needs a bullet to the head" (that post is still up, weirdly enough), he just keeps trolling and effectively nuking the whole conversation.
Or look at DEFENSE, who explicitly stated he doesn't want any Southerners returning at all. How is a real debate even possible then? He and plenty of others just flat-out deny reality. That’s a terrible foundation for a discussion.
A lot of other folks find things problematic too, whether it's about the returnees or other issues, but hey, that’s life. Whether we like it or not, those people are coming back. Exelon is going to be privatized, and government salaries are going to drop. Screaming about how it shouldn't happen is useless, but we should at least ask people why they think it will happen instead of shutting them down for having an opinion.
And then you have guys like Captain Rubish—who rarely posts, which is a shame because he knows his stuff regarding international law—who has to bail because the level of discourse just isn't there. It doesn't matter if the rest of us dislike what he says; the guy presents actual arguments, cites legal rulings, and sticks to the facts. How is that a problem? If you stumble upon someone who actually knows what they're talking about, why not use that chance to learn something instead of just insulting them because you disagree?
I honestly think the criteria for what counts as trolling needs to be tightened up, especially for those notorious users whose only contribution is pure destruction. We really need to crack down on ad hominem attacks, specifically where people start questioning someone's patriotism or throwing their service in the American Civil War in their face just because they disagree. You guys have improved on this, but it’s still happening—especially with some veterans who seem to think their service gives them a free pass to aggressively attack anyone with a different perspective. There are exceptions, sure, but the loud ones are hard to miss.
Bottom line: don't be afraid to hand out more bans.
Sarah Wilson95 said:I think you're exaggerating a bit; the topic itself is fine since it deals with the period leading up to the start of the American War of Independence, and it's clearly worth discussing if we want to avoid the pitfalls currently being set by the sitting administration—especially with elections on the horizon. While the author could have perhaps framed the opening post and the title a little differently, all in all, this doesn't really fall into the category of spamming about Canada or labeling the former president or specific politicians.🤷
Ultimately, whether this thread evolves into something completely unhinged or stays a productive, normal discussion that doesn't fundamentally alter the nature of the war or subsequent events depends entirely on how the moderators handle it.
If we try to have a normal debate about recent history here, we're just going to end up annoying half the people who hang out in this sub every single day. If that's not how it's going to go, then either shut it down or move it over to the History section. Over there, the mods have shorter fuses, there's way less trash and trolling, and discussions actually stay within some kind of reasonable boundaries.
I don't really get why those guys are such a problem for you. They haven't even held any positions in this country where they could actually pull off the stuff you're blaming them for. And isn't someone like Škegro also an issue? I mean, he's been playing the game one way or another since the early 90s.
Shoutout to the politics mods. 👍 My only gripe is that they’re a bit too soft when it comes to letting all these trolls run wild (both the leftists and the righties—though those guys are way more primitive). They absolutely wreck every single thread. Honestly, once I see certain usernames pop up, I already know exactly what kind of nonsense they’re going to spout, no matter what we’re actually talking about. 🙄
He totally ignored the minority because most people were against selling the apartment when things are at their absolute worst. Instead, they wanted a moratorium and this genius idea to rent out a room to rake in some serious cash and dodge bankruptcy.
On top of that, those of us who didn't see it his way actually got a semi-official warning from the moderator to quit arguing about his plan to rent out a room just to boost income.
@Lawrence Wright7 Wishing you nothing but the best with your sales and good luck moving forward. Also, props to you for staying real despite being surrounded by a bunch of random internet trolls. I think you made the right call here—it’s definitely better for your own peace of mind.
Seriously, don't mess around with your hormones. For the love of God, don't go self-prescribing stuff. Especially not for something as minor as travel. It should only be done if it’s absolutely necessary and ordered by a doctor you actually trust—not just some random GP who hands out prescriptions without even checking your bloodwork first.
Lawrence Wright7 said:Thanks.👍 I really appreciate the support. Honestly, it’s nice to actually get some encouragement for once, unlike most of this forum where it’s just a constant, mindless chorus of "sell, sell, sell... just dump the burden and move on." It's exhausting. So, I've made my decision; I'm not selling this year. I'm going to fight. I'll take on tenants, deal with the summer tourist rush, pick up extra side gigs... whatever it takes. I'm still sitting here waiting on a final word from the local government regarding the moratorium, and I'm just hoping... praying... for a slightly better tomorrow. 😛
Don't forget to factor in all those costs for the tenants you're planning on, whether they're long-term renters or just summer tourists.
And honestly, nobody here was telling you to "surrender." People were just sharing their own perspectives and what they would personally do if they were in your shoes. Just by posting, everyone was backing you up, regardless of the advice they gave.
Kimberly Nguyen said:Come on, give him a break already... just let the guy try renting it out to some tenants... He literally said he moved out to the West Coast to fix his health issues (and this current situation is part of that struggle)... But seriously, let him at least attempt it... I highly doubt he’ll end up selling for anything less than what he originally dropped on the place... If my memory serves me right, he paid about $1,100 per square foot back then.
Where did you even get the idea that selling an apartment means moving back to the Midwest? It's not like you can't live in a rental in California. 😕
As for the debate, can we please stop pushing our own agendas? If you feel like everything has been covered, then just close the thread. We really only have two options to talk about here.
signum is spot on here. The real question is whether grinding through survival mode like this actually helps you keep up with the mortgage on a house meant for a family of three, when you're out here flying solo now.
Unlike before, you’ve gotta be more realistic about how you're gonna navigate things moving forward.
At the end of the day, nothing matters more than staying healthy.
Saving money is huge for you right now, but if all that effort just gets you to a "break-even" point without any actual cushion for when things go sideways—and we both know they can hit out of nowhere—then you're basically just spinning your wheels.
Most financial advisors suggest building up an emergency fund that covers at least 3 to 6 months of basic living expenses. Basically, enough cash to keep your head above water while you hunt down a new job or find some side hustles.
On top of that, you really need a little "buffer fund" for those random headaches, like when your car breaks down, you need an emergency trip to the dentist, or your water heater decides to quit on you. That extra stash should be scaled to whatever your actual budget looks like.
Living without a safety net is honestly just playing with fire. I always say that once you start working, you should start tucking away a little bit immediately. As you earn more, you can upgrade your lifestyle, sure, but don't blow your entire first paycheck trying to live like you're in a luxury commercial.
Hey, you aren't losing everything, for crying out loud. 😕 At most, you're just getting rid of that heavy weight around your neck that's dragging you under. Just picture this: no more crushing debt, and you get a totally clean slate starting right now.
Plus, you won't be chasing after money that isn't worth your health.
Look, try finding some condoms that don't cause that stinging sensation, because honestly, I don't see what else would help besides that. You could also try tracking your fertile window using something like the Billings method. There are seriously a million different brands out there today; I bet one of them will work for you.
Also, you might want to look into balancing your flora down there (get that ecosystem in check :p), so maybe try taking Lactogyn. Hormonal birth control can really mess with your vaginal pH levels.
An IUD is an option, though if my memory serves me right, they usually don't recommend them for women who haven't given birth yet.
And hey, give your doctor some credit for looking out for you. Pills are fine, but it's still playing with hormones, which can lead to "post-pill amenorrhea"—and trust me, that is a huge pain in the ass.
Or, maybe it’s just time to start thinking about having a baby and figure out your contraception situation for the next 10 months or so. 😁
So this is how the moderators pull an April Fools' prank. 👎 Those days are long gone. Most of those old-school posters aren't even around anymore, and honestly, neither are the mods. This place is just a stripped-down version of a forum, exactly how some nerds would imagine it, which explains why their jokes are so lame.
I gotta say, it’s a little gross. Every single actual complaint gets shut down instantly, yet this half-baked joke is allowed to stay up.
The PDF Social Science section is one of those rare little havens on this forum where actual experts—mostly linguists—still try to give serious answers to questions. It’s also one of the few spots that hasn't turned into a total playground for everyone and their mother.
Look, I don't care about swearing. You can curse all you want; what actually gets to me is stupidity, shallowness, and this idea that literally anyone can just chime in on any topic.
They can't. And honestly, they shouldn't.
This whole tabloid-style craze that hit the forum has become pretty terrible. Not every PDF needs to be left wide open to a free-for-all, especially when it has "science" right there in the title.
If we're talking Social Science, then the moderation should be handled by people in those fields who actually know their stuff. We have plenty of great contributors here who bring so much to the table because they're well-educated and actually think before they type. It's a shame that even here, we've seen this kind of "encroachment," where the wild crowds end up chasing away the professionals.