Posts by Edward Fisher86

Jacob Sanchez7 said:We need to drive out the trolls with music! 😁

You've got to believe in something
It's a lonely universe
Be careful what you wish for
Cause your improvement might be worse
Birth is a missing persons file
It's a case of role reversal
Life is a play, sometimes I can remember the rehearsal

I'm kidding, but in all seriousness, stop taking life so damn seriously.*

Paradox* is just reality—two sides of the same coin existing at once. Of course you feel confused. But what can I do for you? Better to just listen to some music and feel good than to overthink yourself into an early grave. ^^
Or, if you insist, go ahead...

Confused? 🤣
Are the ones who actually think the confused ones to you?

What is this, some kind of cult or 🤷

restlessdriver42 said:The reality is that we are all just searching for a way to navigate life that feels right—whatever that means when it comes to finding a little more fulfillment.

Now that the moderators have given me the green light, I feel comfortable clarifying that this thread was started solely to offer a bit of inspiration for anyone who might resonate with it. My intention wasn't to spark an argument or attempt to justify these perspectives, as doing so would actually undermine the entire point.

Personally, astrology doesn't hold much water for me, but I’m certainly not going to jump into those circles and tell people they're being foolish, Haha. What would be the point of that? If it works for them and brings them peace, then so be it. They've found their answers there, and since they aren't shoving it down my throat or forcing me to join in, I see no reason to interfere.

Great, so what’s the issue with actually answering some questions?

And now I'm getting hit with new ones, like "what defines a better life for you, me, or them?" etc., so we can actually dive deep instead of just staying at a hahahehe level.

Since I got the green light from the moderators, I feel free to say this thread was started purely as potential motivation for people who see themselves in it. It wasn't my intention (at least for me) to argue or try to justify those desires and thoughts, because that feels like it goes against the whole point.

An undefined topic—you have plenty of these on this forum, where people just write down their thoughts or link songs if they don't want to debate anything they post.

Astrology might not make sense to me, but I'm not going to start an argument with people by telling them it's nonsense Hhaha and letting them keep self-deluding themselves. What would be the point?!? If it works for them and makes them happier, fine. They found their answers there, and it doesn't hurt me or force me to join in... so why bother...

🤷 😁
I commented and asked, but got no response; does that mean nobody knows how to back up what they write?

By the way, something caught my eye in that story of yours about the shoe clerk:

"(Otherwise, she's a wife, a mother of three, an accounting manager at a university, and so on... but that clerk didn't know... that she was someone who could be 'trusted')"

Is the person you described incapable of cheating or betraying?
An accounting manager and a married woman is blindly trusted? Auj aj🤣

Come on, at least try to clarify this, because it seemed to me in your first post you were advocating for trusting people and such, and this just doesn't fit the narrative.
It seems to me that's selective trust, with boundaries drawn based on marriage, motherhood, or social status...

Jacob Sanchez7 said:Saying someone is more spiritual than someone else is like claiming one person has more carbon in them than another. It just doesn't make sense.

So, take this as my response: http://youtu.be/pwZMzT1kpU4?t=21m30s

Is this directed at me? 🤷

Your "response" is pretty condescending, using lines like consider this, or whatever... 😁, as if people should just keep peddling self-delusions like my mind is clear and whatnot...

Jacob Sanchez7 said:@rustymaker5: free will
That’s the crux of it. Every soul is free to choose its own path in this life, and every soul is free to learn its lessons on its own terms.
People love to meddle in others' business sometimes, always coming up with excuses for it... various rules, social codes, morality, and all those rigid ideologies being shoved down our throats. Just because we believe we're being "righteous" doesn't mean we have any grasp on the actual reality of what's happening. Maybe she found her peace through that death... who knows? We can't.

Perhaps the best move is simply to let go—to leave her alone and find some peace for ourselves too.

By choosing an explanation like that, do you actually feel at peace? Does karma truly cover up all the bullshit in this world?

To me, that feels like turning a blind eye, or to put it more gently, it's just the easiest way to deal with the darker side of existence. Fine, everyone has their own model.
But still, every single time, I find myself wondering... if you're all so spiritual, does it never occur to you to acknowledge some form of injustice toward lives that were cut short against their will? (The whole... maybe it was meant to be, maybe it wasn't thing from the previous quote)... it's just so cruel, it's hard to imagine anything being worse.🤷
It's not like you can bring them back, but a little bit of pietá, for instance.

restlessdriver42 said:I am not entirely convinced that these "rotten apples" outnumber the "good" ones by such a massive margin.😁

I have never encountered any data or comprehensive study that actually proves this. It seems to me that this negative assumption is silently reinforced by the fact that bad news is much louder and easier to spot than the quiet, beautiful moments.

Consider this example... I share a small story about a clerk who goes out of her way to help a customer find the perfect shoes, only to have someone dismiss her as uninspiring—sweeping her kindness under the rug without giving her a single thought.

Meanwhile, we obsess over stories of crime until our entire worldview is painted in shades of black.

Consciousness, in my view, is the primary driver if we want to see any real progress. We must train ourselves to notice those quiet, small flickers of light. By doing so, a person can shift away from a pessimistic outlook—a state of mind that, ironically, tends to breed even more negative circumstances.

Some argue that the soul forgets its previous mission specifically so we aren't distracted from our current life. It is a bit like knowing your mother was once someone else's wife and how she passed away—it would be quite a burden, wouldn't it? Haha! Now I have wandered into reincarnation territory... but ultimately, we don't know and likely never will. It might be best to accept that uncertainty and focus instead on what we actually control: ourselves.

It isn't about counting the bad apples; it's about the sheer amount of rot they create.

rustymaker5 said:I’m only typing this out so it doesn’t look like some of you are actually right—because there exist people who simply don't feel the need to jump every time someone throws an insult or a provocation their way.
Look, personally, I just don't have that itch, even if Sanja Dalaj thinks my silence is just some fake, pseudo-spiritual act. But hey, that’s her take, and honestly, I don't have the energy to obsess over her opinion of me.

The fact that I don't dive into every petty argument or join in on those group pile-ons against certain members doesn't mean anything other than that's just not who I am, and frankly, it's none of my business. If anything, I think the people who live for that kind of drama are usually just dealing with their own deep-seated issues, since it seems like only broken people feel the need to tear others down just to get a little boost for their own egos.

The truth is, the reason I even brought this topic up today is because the constant bickering on this chat is getting ridiculous, but I clearly overestimated things... I assumed that basic cognitive ability would be enough for people to grasp both the purpose here and the chance we have for some elementary, decent human communication.

I wouldn't even be bothering with this if I didn't see how my lack of reaction is being twisted into something completely opposite from what it actually is... though, I have to admit, seeing that is pretty stinging.
Stay sane out there in your neck of the woods! 😛

Btw, Executioner, you've completely lost your way...

Hmm, 🤔 I wouldn't be so quick to throw those kinds of labels around.

Regarding that point about staying quiet, I’ll just add that in certain situations, choosing to stay silent can be just as hurtful—it can easily be perceived as an attack or plain old rudeness.

By that same logic, those who fail to act might be dealing with their own personal issues, but at the end of the day, I couldn't care less; having a million problems doesn't give anyone a free pass to hurt others.
They belong in the same category as those who make their hostility much more obvious.

silversailor said:You can't just walk up to a moderator and tell them to stop calling the situation on their own forum by its actual name.
Like I've already pointed out, almost every single one of your posts contains both issues.
If you think someone is trolling or derailing, just report them properly.
The rules apply to everyone equally.

😁
And you're claiming it was a duplicate post? That’s another falsehood, because it wasn't a duplicate—you actually went in and edited the content.

However, I am happy to ask why something qualifies as trolling.

So, silversailor, why exactly was my post considered trolling?

By the way, regarding the "off-topic" accusations 🙂
Since you keep repeating yourself, feel free to point out exactly where I'm trolling or going off-topic, just so you aren't talking to thin air.
I only brought up those other posts to highlight the inconsistency in how moderation standards are applied, specifically regarding why my post was wiped for being "trolling," which you still haven't explained.
I have nothing to report. I'm simply doing my part, and I see how things are going for you over in the Comments section.

I'm waiting for an answer to the bolded part.

silversailor said:I never said quoting was a sin; I just pointed out that almost every single one of your posts involving quotes has been nothing but trolling, provocation, and derailment.
You could just as easily call the post I deleted "off-topic"—which is also grounds for removal.
I answered your question, and if you choose to misinterpret every single sentence I write, that’s on you.

It isn't my place to label it off-topic. You deleted that post because it was trolling.
So go ahead, explain exactly where the trolling happened.

By the way, it wasn't off-topic either. And if you're going to claim something is off-topic, you should probably clear out your own relevant posts first.

(As for my other posts, quit labeling them as trolling; I have zero interest in digging up old threads just to prove a point about your arbitrary criteria).

🤦

silversailor said:Postove I just returned it to him. Look, I'm saying this for one single reason—so we can stop this constant back-and-forth and so you don't walk away thinking I have some personal vendetta against you or that I'm just cherry-picking your posts to delete. That simply isn't the case.

But let’s be honest: you’re absolutely right. Enough with the constant finger-pointing at everyone else. Look, your posts have been a complete mess—everything from random tangents to total nonsense—and yet, I never once handed you a disciplinary warning or hit that delete button.

It’s also true that... Your communication style was nothing more than pure trolling.Until it’s been moved. Moving on to a new thread, She was being provocative and clearly went out of her way to stir the pot among the other forum members.
Looks like you’re reaching the end of this thread. The quality of the writing has finally started to improve.Honestly, I don't see any reason why she shouldn't just stick to that approach.

The question is: Why on earth did you delete my post? Look, I’ve been sitting here thinking about this, and honestly, I don't know where to even begin with the sheer absurdity of it all. It feels like we're just circling the drain at this point. So, where exactly am I supposed to be seeing the trolling here? Later on, you can go ahead and lay out all the specific reasons for the return.

There’s a massive debate going on over on the forum regarding quotas. Honestly, I don't see what everyone is making such a big deal about. What exactly is the issue here? 🤷
This whole situation is an absolute joke. Seriously, can someone from the admin team please weigh in on this mess? Is it a crime to quote someone now?

What are we talking about? Everything. Was that mentioned in all of my previous posts?

Even if I had been trolling by pivoting to a different topic, that wouldn't change the fact that my point remains exactly what it was.

Just so everyone is on the same page, those posts were off-topic, which is why they—along with everything else—got moved over to this new thread. As for why there were so many of them? Because it was allowed. There was clearly a reason for the volume, just as there was a reason for moving them all here in the first place.

I’ve been writing this entire time. Alright.You didn't actually like the substance of it. Personally, I still feel pretty much the same way about certain parts of it. It’s all just a collection of phenomena.I’d probably find myself asking the same questions over and over again. Is that going to be an issue? Or are we all just going to end up tearing each other apart regardless?

The constant insults directed at this forum, the admins, and everything we stand for have become impossible to ignore. It’s honestly exhausting to watch. Keep that between us; there's no need to go posting it publicly, just like we don't do that ourselves.

You can’t just hide behind the rest of this forum or the admins; you’re an individual here, and you need to step up and explain your own actions.
I’m not even trying to insult you. You’re just being incredibly stingy with your responses to everyone else on this board. It’s getting excessive.

Look, you don't have to post those publicly; it’s not like any of us are out here broadcasting our business to the world.

What exactly are you even talking about? 🤷

🙂 I’m still waiting on a response.

What exactly qualifies as trolling in that specific post?

It would be fantastic if potential moderators actually passed a basic social skills assessment. Just a thought.

This isn't right—it’s not just that he refuses to offer an explanation, which he never intended to do anyway, but even the admins aren't bothering to respond 🤦.
Why are people like this even being kept on the platform when they clearly lack any semblance of communication skills? What specific actions, what choice of words, or what kind of tone 🙄 was supposedly the issue? At the very least, there should be some level of engagement here.

There is absolutely no way this could be labeled as trolling under any criteria, let alone strict ones. What kind of trolling are we even talking about? It was a normal conversation. We just got a little carried away, is that it?

Edit:

So, "trolling" occurred in the deleted post, which is why it was removed, but then the post is restored because _________???
That’s all I’ve got. Thanks.

Is silversailor really going to refuse to explain themselves? 🤷

silversailor said:Look, I said what I had to say. If you’re having trouble processing it—take it up with the admins.

The admins can't explain why you decided to delete my post for no reason, only to bring it back a day later.
So, why was my post deleted in the first place?

And regarding my very first post—wasn't the situation exactly the same there when I asked who I was supposed to be talking to?

A few questions for the moderators:

Is silversailor actually allowed to play games like this and pull posts whenever they feel like it?
Is it acceptable to just flat-out refuse to provide an explanation when one is requested?
How am I supposed to know how to act next time if there's no transparency?
🤷

silversailor said:You’re trolling. You are trolling dangerously. Calm yourself down before you find yourself facing some actual consequences.
Aside from just trolling, you’re actively trying to provoke everyone else on this board.

So, because you’ve decided I’m just some troll, you went ahead and wiped my entire post? It was completely harmless, yet you pulled the trigger the second I hit submit—acting like a total coward by snatching it away mid-flight and then hiding behind your moderator status.

The very definition of trolling includes provocation, which means there isn't really any way to separate the two. Aside from the fact that...
Who exactly am I provoking? If someone is feeling personally attacked by a comment left on their own post, then they need to do themselves a favor and learn how to handle criticism with a bit more grace.

We aren't going to feed the trolls on our platform, and we certainly aren't starting now.

Look, I’m not going to start dropping links to actual trolling posts right now—honestly, I don't think you'd appreciate seeing whose comments I'm actually digging up.
Show me where I’m trolling.
If that were actually true, he would have slapped me with a ban by now instead of just deleting a perfectly normal post.

I hope I made myself clear.

You didn't answer me. You're dodging the question: Why exactly did you delete my specific post?

I noticed this thread was popping up on my feed, so I had to ask—is someone actually playing games with these posts? They just get deleted and reposted without a single word of explanation.

Look, I’m sorry, but I don't buy the "it was an accident" excuse for a second.

Can someone tell me who's responsible for wiping this and what the actual reasoning is?
silversailor?

Alright, this is great... can someone please tell me who is messing with my posts?

Someone deleted them yesterday, then someone else restored them at some random point today. I have a pretty good guess as to who it is, but I’m demanding an explanation: who is doing this and, more importantly, why?????

I'm honestly speechless. At this rate, I should probably just expect every other post of mine to be yanked away, brought back, yanked again, and so on... 🤷

Can someone tell me who deleted my post and what on earth they thought they were doing by removing it?

If possible, please link this question to my previous one so I don't clutter the board with too many threads:

I’m looking for an explanation as to why my post was deleted in the Average American Apartment thread

Since this is the first time I’ve actually dealt with a moderator who was present—silversailor, I’m not even sure who did the deleting—and since the person I reached out to regarding my post didn't bother responding until all the busybodies had finished their business, I'm asking here.

What exactly was controversial enough about this post to warrant deletion?

Quote: Fi Fi said:I wasn't asking, just thinking I might, so I could find out what people's thoughts are. 🤔

I’m not retaliating; I’m just laughing. 😁

Bob 😕
I tried to clear up some terminological confusion, but apparently, that's not going to happen.

Well, I see all the other posts were wiped out right after this thread was opened, so there’s really no point in asking the question anymore.

Thanks anyway, and I'll take the key.
🙂

I wrote my post, hit publish, and went to go edit it when... it was gone. Just like that.

Since I noticed one of the moderators, silversailor, was online, I sent over an inquiry. I’m honestly not sure if I accidentally deleted it myself while typing on my phone or if a moderator stepped in.

I haven't heard back yet, so I'm asking here.
I really don't want to repost if it was intentionally removed, especially since there were already some warnings issued in this thread, yet all my other posts seem perfectly fine.
Besides, Alice basically answered the question in her last post anyway.

Thread:

And here is the text of the post that vanished:

Quote: free spirit said:Honestly, I was expecting this "unnecessary, redundant, pointless" or "idiotic" debate to be moved to a more appropriate thread ages ago. This thing has cluttered the view even for me, and I have my settings set to 60
posts per page. I can only imagine what this does to users who have their view set to 20.
So, I am fully in favor of moving it.

I agree.
Though I think the original post should actually be that "idiotic" post from the moderator—the one that didn't offer a shred of actual advice and essentially sparked this whole useless (?) or idiotic (?) discussion, whatever you want to call it.
By the way, when the thread moves, can we also migrate the posts that consist of nothing but one or two rolling emojis? They're just clogging up the thread.☕
🙂

anela said:/cut/
But it seems everyone has a different threshold for how much "mockery" they can tolerate regarding someone else's choices.

You're misinterpreting that.
It isn't about a level of tolerance for being "mocked"—why the quotation marks? It’s about the style of communication.
Because once you start making fun of someone's choices or words, the conversation falls apart immediately.
The issue isn't whether you find something ugly; it's how you say it: do you state it directly and explain why... or do you just sneer at them?

That's why I was asking if this kind of approach is acceptable in general.

Whatever, it doesn't matter.


Does anyone know what happened? It's incredibly strange considering all my other posts are still visible.

Thanks,

Patrick Bailey4 said:I’d appreciate it if everyone stopped replying for now; I won't be picking this discussion back up until December 1st.

And I’m asking the moderators to please scrub the posts from those who are just here to mock the thread.

What kind of impact is that referendum actually going to have on this specific issue?
😲

@ otompotom

Step down from your high horse—leave the lions, the Noah’s Arks, the cats, and the dogs behind—and actually explain yourself. Give me a concrete, logical comparison between using a machine gun and how an inspector carries out their duties.

It’s actually quite simple: you identify the points of contact, subtract the outliers (and their weight), and whatever remains is the objective truth of the comparison.

This decision doesn't shift the boundaries of free speech one bit.
By all means, feel free to make your comparisons.
So, what are you waiting for? Because so far, I haven't seen any actual comparison, just a bunch of people tossing around supposed "poetic imagery."

Regarding the forum rules, the reality is that they can't possibly cover every single hypothetical scenario.
Ultimately, it falls to the moderators to decide whether something stays or goes.
For instance, if they conclude that something isn't being used to express an author's genuine opinion, but is instead being used just to stir the pot, they’ll likely react exactly like they are doing now.

@ Lord Byron

I brought up the failure of the metaphor because otompotom clung to it as if it were some beautiful expressive tool in its own right.
Ignoring the fact that a metaphor can be completely wrong. Or intentionally wrong. Or intentionally shallow.

The inaccuracy of this metaphor wasn't something that could be debated in a discussion forum because the author didn't have the slightest desire to argue their point.

I looked at another example. It was total nonsense, just arbitrary banning...