Anyone else remember...?

So, how did everything go today?

Okay, seriously... can someone please explain this to me? I voted for the Republican Party, yet I spend basically every single weekend hanging out in Small Town, USA. Back when he was heading up the American Chemical Society, I actually thought The New York Times was pretty cool, and I still hit the clubs there. So, what does that make me? And more importantly, what on earth does my taste in music have to do with my political leanings? 😲
Who’s the crazy one here? It’s probably me...
And while we're at it, help me understand this logic: are Republican Party politicians just huddling up in some back room plotting how to shut down alternative clubs? Is that really their top priority? Does it seem like a brilliant idea to them? Because apparently, if you aren't blasting heavy mainstream anthems everywhere—I don't even get why people assume voting Republican means you have to listen to that specific brand of rock—then we're all going to shut you down. Honestly, you little narc types, go get a real job! 😕

It’s not about that. The point is that the previous administration funded specific projects and clubs without the Republican Party having any clue what was going on. It isn't about Thompson needing a handout—he’s basically a commercial powerhouse on his own. This is about how certain high-quality programs can't sustain themselves, and the former government used to step in and support them.
So, you consider The New York Times a friend, yet you voted for the Republican Party? 😲 😁
Personally, I can't wrap my head around how someone could vote Republican and still claim to love alternative culture... actually, how they can love culture at all... honestly, I just don't get how anyone can vote for the Republican Party. 😁

Here’s something else that might shock you: I’m pro-choice (yet I vote for the Republican Party). To me, it doesn't matter what someone's religion is, their nationality, their sexual orientation, their race, skin color, tooth color, hair color, or even the color of their underwear (and yet, here I am, voting Republican). I listen to alternative music (and again, I vote Republican—though I still haven't figured out how those two things are supposed to connect😕), ......... and honestly, I have plenty of reasons for my political choices, but if I start listing them, we’ll be stuck talking politics all night.😁

If we look back at the music scene, just remember how many clubs were actually thriving back when the Republican Party was in power before 2000. Compare those numbers to the desert we’re looking at today. If things start moving in the right direction, we might finally see a slow return to that pre-2000 era.

Ashley Rogers2 said:I honestly don't care about anyone's religion, nationality, sexual orientation, race, skin color, tooth color, hair color, or even what color underwear they wear (even though I vote Republican). I listen to alternative music too (though I still vote Republican—I really don't get how those things are supposed to connect)😕 )

The Republican Party is a nationalist, right-wing party. If you have a problem with people of different races, you’re just an idiot, regardless of whether you voted Republican or not. But, if I know someone voted Republican, it tells me certain things. For instance, they're likely Catholic, but there's a 99% chance they haven't stepped foot in a church in a decade (so religious education in schools doesn't strike them as "perverse"). They oppose abortion, same-sex marriage, and don't even get me started on the legalization of soft drugs. Generally speaking, alternative music scenes and clubs like the American Chemical Society or Small Town, USA openly push for those very things. They go way beyond mere tolerance; they pride themselves on being liberal, and that's exactly the crowd you'll find hanging out there. You're basically contradicting yourself. 👋

banderas said:Personally, I just don't get how anyone can vote for the Republican Party and still claim to love alternative culture... or really any culture at all... honestly, I'm just baffled by how someone could support the Republican Party 😁

Ugh, I absolutely hate when people generalize. 🙄
It reminds me of that logic where everyone assumes every Mexican is a militant, while I’m over here—someone who actually voted for a right-wing candidate—chatting away with Zuckerberg (a Mexican) every day like he's my best friend, listening to indie music, hitting up all sorts of cultural festivals, and grabbing a gyro from an Albanian vendor at the local market.

What does that make me? 😁

By the way, I feel terrible about what happened with AAAS, but I'm still holding out hope that everything will be resolved in the best way possible... 😢

Porkbutts'n'tatters said:Here’s another little shocker for you: I’m pro-choice (yet somehow I vote Republican). Honestly, I couldn't care less about anyone's religion, nationality, sexual orientation, race, skin color, tooth color, hair color, or even the color of their underwear (and yet, again, I vote Republican). I listen to alternative music (I still vote Republican—though I honestly have NO CLUE how any of that is supposed to connect to my ballot😕), ... and I don't know, I vote for them for a million different reasons, but if I start listing them, we'll be stuck talking politics all day.😁

Okay, fine. That’s all great. Now, just do me a favor and tell me: why on earth do you vote Republican? Is it because you actually love their economic policies?😕

If you want to answer privately, hit me up in the DMs. I am dying to hear what kind of excuses you're going to pull out for this.

Frank Howard79 said:So, I’m the kind of guy who voted for, let’s call it, the right-wing option, yet here I am, happily chatting about Zuckerberg (a Mexican) every single day like he’s my best pal. I listen to indie music, hit up all sorts of artsy events, and grab a breakfast burrito from an Albanian vendor at the local market.

What does that make me? 😁

That sounds like a "you" problem regarding your own consistency. 😬

Frank Howard79 said:God, I absolutely hate generalizations. 🙄
It reminds me of that whole "all Mexicans are Chetniks" stereotype. Personally, I’m definitely not that guy. Even though I voted for the Republican Party, I spend my days chatting away with Zuckerberg like he's one of my best friends. I listen to indie music, hit up all sorts of underground cultural events, and grab a breakfast burrito from an Albanian vendor at the local farmer's market.
So, where does that leave me? What am I supposed to be now? 😁

Inconsistent? Or just straight-up schizophrenic?

I have to say, this news caught me completely off guard. I’ve always figured Frank Howard79 was one of the most level-headed people on this entire forum.

Look, I’m not trying to generalize or act like some bigoted left-wing liberal here. I really am. But honestly? I just can't wrap my head around it. How does anyone who’s actually part of the alternative scene—people who have clearly embraced that whole ethos—actually go out and vote for the Republican Party? It makes zero sense to me.

The right wing is inherently conservative and anti-subversive. By its very nature, it’s the total opposite—if not the direct enemy—of counterculture. You can see that play out clearly with the AAAS and groups like them.

The right wing just doesn't get fucking humor. Seriously. Why? Because humor is inherently subversive. It lives to poke fun at the "sacred" stuff—things like the homeland, God, and the flag.

The Right hates anything "different"—Mexicans, Albanians, Black people, Jews, gay people... you name it. That’s exactly why they’re obsessed with homogenization, trying to force everything into one mold, from national identity down to basic culture.

It's fine.

Honestly, I feel terrible about what happened with AAAS, but I’m still holding out hope that things will turn around.
The best way to handle this. 😢

Look, I’m honestly sorry you’re so deep in that political mindset, but I'm still holding out hope that things will eventually sort themselves out for the best. 😢

P.S. Unless when you said "the right-wing option," you actually meant Mexicans or retirees. 😉 And I really hope you weren't talking about the Democratic Party. 😲 Not to mention the rest of them.

A little more follow-up on this topic:

😢

I remember back when I cast my vote for the Republican Party, every single one of those pre-election promises actually came to fruition 😁
...

coastalpanther43 said:Is it inconsistent... or just straight-up schizophrenic?

Could be...😕

coastalpanther43 said:I honestly don't know where to start with this one, but I feel like we really need to talk about the current political climate... It feels like everything is shifting so fast lately, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with how much the landscape is changing right under our feet. There's just so much noise out there...I have to say, this news really caught me off guard. I’ve always honestly felt that Frank Howard79 was one of the most level-headed and fair people on this entire forum...

I’m really not trying to generalize here or lean into that whole "bigoted left-wing liberal" stereotype, but I honestly just can't wrap my head around it... How can anyone who’s part of the alternative scene—which, let's face it, means they've already embraced a huge chunk of that counterculture ethos—actually vote for the Republican Party? It just doesn't make sense to me...

That’s exactly what you’re doing right now; you're just generalizing everything and acting like some bigoted left-wing liberal...
I suppose I’ll suddenly become nothing more than a disappointment in your eyes once you realize this, right? How shallow...

coastalpanther43 said:The right wing is naturally conservative and stands firmly against subversion, making it the complete opposite—if you'll excuse me, I'd go as far as to say the enemy—of the counterculture. You can see this clearly when you look at organizations like AAAS and others...

The right wing just doesn't get humor at all. It makes zero sense. Humor is inherently subversive—it thrives on poking fun at things people consider "sacred," like our homeland, God, or the flag... and they just can't handle that!

The right wing just can't stand anything "different"—whether it's Mexicans, Albanians, Black people, Jews, or the LGBTQ+ community... you name it. It’s all because they’re obsessed with forced homogenization, trying to smooth everything over from a national level right down to the cultural fabric...

I guess you could say that...

Do you really think everything in life is just black or white...

coastalpanther43 said:By the way, I’m really sorry about where you stand politically, but I’m still holding out hope that everything will work itself out for the best... 😢

I don't see any issue with my political leanings, and I certainly don't see an issue with yours either. If you're finding a problem with it, that's on you to figure out, not me...👋

It’s not your political leanings that lost me respect, but I honestly think you've got this one wrong. Mind if I say so? 😉

np agent Orange - Tearing me Apart

Frank Howard79 said:That’s exactly what you’re doing right now; you're generalizing and acting like a bigoted left-wing liberal.

And this has absolutely nothing to do with making generalizations.😁 😁 😁

Look, whatever, it's your call, but your logic basically boils down to "I hate racism, but I also hate Black people."😉

PrittPen said:... he's Catholic, sure, but there's a 99% chance he hasn't stepped foot in a church in a decade. (And no, having religion classes in preschool isn't some kind of perversion to him). He’s against abortion, against same-sex marriage, and don't even get me started on the legalization of soft drugs.

Is that me? 😁 I mean, I checked almost every box there. 😉 😁
(I had religion class back in preschool... in Washington, D.C.... yeah, right...🙂)

Still, I don't actually know anyone who voted for the Republican Party... if they did, things wouldn't turn out like this 🙂...🙂 🙂 🙂

It just goes without saying that you don't vote for the Republican Party...

like Grant Lee Buffalo - Jupiter and Teardrop!

Frank Howard79 made himself clear to me a long time ago with those political views of his...😁 😁

banderas said:And this has absolutely nothing to do with making generalizations 😁 😁 😁

Look, it’s your choice and whatever, but your logic basically boils down to "I hate racism and dirty Black people." 😉

When someone like banderas attacks my logic like that, I honestly just feel this surge of joy and find myself wanting to crack open a cold beer in celebration.

Here I am, trying to act like a bit of a rebel by being subversive—trying to shake up the foundations of right-wing ideology, attempting to reform it, and make it more relatable to an average "liberal," a kid, or an old man... and this is how you "liberals" react to me...
Man, you guys are acting like the absolute worst kind of conservatives...

banderas said:And this doesn't have anything to do with making generalizations at all 😁 😁 😁

No, I'm just calling him by the name he used for himself...😁

Kevin Chavez3 said:Look, I don't hold your political views against you, but I really think you've got this one wrong. Is it okay if I say that? 😉

np Agent Orange

Who cares what you think? You're a Mexican! 😁 😁

[Of course you can ]