Posts by Amanda Lee42

Back in my younger days, I used to drink it straight from the fridge without a second thought—honestly, no limits—but these days? Well, even a little bit triggers cramps and stomach issues for me. Meanwhile, my older brother and his buddies have been sipping on it like water for years, yet they somehow manage to stay lean while putting away half a liter or even a full liter every single day. It’s quite a mystery, isn't it?

I suppose those dedicated athletes probably just have much higher requirements for it to keep up with their training

As for myself, I barely touch it anymore; I’ve become a total fanatic when it comes to yogurt and artisanal cheeses instead

brighttiger6 said:Where does all this hatred come from? It's directed at someone you don't even know—someone who isn't going to make your life any better or worse regardless of how much you loathe them!

That’s exactly what I’m wondering too—just try to wrap your head around the sheer level of animosity people must feel toward someone they actually know in person...

Jason Chase94 said:Yeah, he basically sold his soul like a total traitor.

I have this feeling that you all get way too worked up over that specific phrase—is it just me? 😉 😁
Keep this up for a few more rounds and we might actually end up seeing this whole debate blow up on ESPN 😬 🤣

Look, man, there are always nuances to consider...
By the way, I haven't the slightest clue who you're referring to here.😉

rapidbison42 said:As long as I am paying my taxes here in the USA, I don't care how much more "American" some expat living abroad claims to be than I am.

But wait—do they actually get a say in things, or do they not have voting rights at all???😁
I wouldn't take away a single thing from them, honestly. 😉 🤣

zale said:You act like some sort of ideological clone of those "brotherhood and unity of all peoples" types,
Amanda Lee42...

Well, thanks for the compliment 😁 😁
I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more people like that—honestly, if there were more liberal women and decent men who aren't prone to extreme tendencies in my neck of the woods, I'd take them in any quantity imaginable.🤣 🤣

Maybe you should have considered moving abroad once you hit adulthood.
Canada makes finding asylum incredibly easy...

Lol, are you actually implying that those living overseas—the diaspora—are somehow less American than you are?😁 😁 😁

rustystag7, I wish you a peaceful night
though, knowing my luck, the baby will have me up by 6:00 or 7:00 AM tomorrow—
and honestly, these endless debates just keep me wide awake...👋

Wait... what exactly are we talking about here? I feel like I missed a beat—or perhaps several. Is there a specific topic at hand, or are we just drifting through the conversation? I'm all ears, though I might need a little more context to properly weigh in. Any thoughts? 👍 🙏 🙏 🙏

zale said:As I was saying....🙄 🙄

Take a long, hard look in the mirror at home.
I am certainly not the one at fault here if you all sound to me like you’ve been intoxicated by those self-proclaimed "virtues of nationalism"—though I suppose I should soften the blow and call it "patriotism," since most of you probably wouldn't even recognize yourselves if I described the darker side of it.

When we look at what people associate with nationalism lately—and I mean really look at it—it's almost always tied to intolerance and being completely unable to stomach anyone else's existence, isn't it?
And honestly, that is exactly the vibe this entire thread is giving off.

Now, patriotism isn't the same thing as nationalism, even if some folks in this discussion seem to conflate the two; a true patriot generally stands up for rights and the freedom to make choices without being clouded by prejudice.
But, well, I won't waste any more of my time on this, given how much of it feels like a repetitive loop,

live and let live.

Brandon Castillo4~ said:If you're suggesting we just toss out nationalism, what about patriotism? What about love for one's country? Do you actually understand the nuance between those terms? 🙄

Some people tend to conflate the two—which is exactly how rustystag7 sounded to me...

Sandra Baker512 said:Good grief, what an absolute idiot.
How can anyone just toss patriotism aside like that???
Honestly, try to purge that level of sheer stupidity from your mind—you poor, misguided soul—because it was nothing less than pure patriotism that built this entire nation, you absolute brute. 🤮
Just take Duje by the hand and both of you can go jump in a lake.

And frankly, looking at your upbringing, it’s no wonder crime rates and violence are climbing across the country; it’s all thanks to people with heads made of solid granite...

Ever heard the phrase "live and let live"?

As I was saying, my bad

Money just vanishes into thin air like that—and honestly, what you manage to pull in isn't even that much when you consider how many years of sheer grind you had to put in.

Professional swimming is a career, plain and simple.
It’s a job you do to make a living,
and frankly, you don't really care who your employer is
as long as the paycheck clears...

So, maybe just take a step back here and drop that whole patriotic angle? Let's be real—patriotism doesn't put food on the table, unless you're a politician looking for votes...

I honestly can’t wrap my head around someone selling themselves out for a paycheck at just twenty-five—especially when they have the talent to earn that much, if not more, on their own!!

You remind me of some kid from the local neighborhood who... well, you know, he's always hanging around the local sports bars.

Just think about it for a second—really try to see things from his perspective. Being a pro athlete is an incredibly risky business; one bad injury or a sudden slump and your entire career vanishes overnight, leaving you forgotten by everyone. It’s so much easier to sit there and lecture others on morality when you're likely being supported by older relatives—you haven't exactly tasted the grind of the big leagues yourself, have you?
My apologies if I'm off base here.

If he manages to snag some gold medals, I bet even the President would step in and grant him honorary citizenship.
Look at it this way—it’s basically an investment. He isn't quite ready for the big leagues just yet, so let companies like ExxonMobil and others wait a year or two while he polishes his skills. Think of it as training; he'll eventually return as a fully realized asset, perfectly primed for the American marketing machine to take over.🤣

zale said:Don't sweat it. I don't want to. It’s pointless—besides, you simply don't have the bandwidth for it.

Honestly, I just can't stand those who lack conviction in their own arguments—people who resort to passive-aggressive jabs as a fallback defense when they're cornered. It seems basic decency isn't quite your speed, so frankly, I haven't the slightest desire to continue this debate.

zale said:There’s just a lot you don't seem to grasp about life.

I can't help but feel a little uneasy—as if you're trying to lecture me on how the world works...

Daniel Chavez14 said:Utopisticki! 😢

But really—what is actually wrong with that idea? Borders... they just serve to divide us, don't they? All those wars and bloody conflicts—they're sparked by lines drawn on a map. Even here in America, it’s heartbreaking to see people clashing over sports rivalries—like when fans from different cities clash at a game, or when you're just trying to watch a match and everyone is busy labeling who belongs where or who isn't a "true" local. It feels like all these divisions are just manufactured,
isn't that just the way things are?

Besides, we’re all going to end up assimilated into Europe anyway—so, in a hundred years or so, does it even matter where someone's roots lie? At that point, all that will count is the caliber of their character, their actual results, and the path they took to get there.

I suspect you might be miscalculating the situation here—it’s highly probable that the Hooters crowd will be jumping all over him once he proves himself, trying to lure him back with all sorts of enticing offers (at least, based on my experience with Copa and how they operate). Depending on the kind of results he delivers, that kind of capital could go a long way toward his own professional development—and who knows? Perhaps this is simply Duje Draganja-prodana's little scheme to bait more donations from folks who share your perspective, just to ensure he stays firmly planted right where he is...