Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Keith Miller30 said:Muhammad.

Of course you can't just go around slaughtering them, much like those extremists weren't allowed to do either. Honestly, I’m not quite sure why anyone would even ask a question like that in the first place?

Does Muhammad represent the core values of Islam? If we’re going to take such an expansive view, wouldn't you say that you—and I, and our entire culture—insult the people in ISIS simply by the way we live our lives? If someone were to come after you, would your final thought probably be that you practically invited it?

Keith Miller30 said:Muhammad.

Of course you can't just go around slaughtering them, much like those extremists weren't allowed to do either. Honestly, I’m not quite sure why anyone would even ask a question like that in the first place?

It's because on most right-wing sites—you know, the ones leaning toward the old-school, ultra-traditionalist crowd—there's this underlying subtext suggesting these people got exactly what they deserved, and that we shouldn't bother offering any support whatsoever.

Perhaps some people fail to realize that we aren't necessarily supporting specific content, but rather the principle that one should be free to speak without fearing for their life.

As Byron once pointed out quite eloquently, civilization truly began at the exact moment when someone decided to insult another person instead of simply cracking their skull open.

brightpilot6 said:Which specific values of Islam are being mocked here? And even if they are, what of it? Is there any particular sense of humor or any specific subject that is somehow off-limits from satire? Which caricature are we actually discussing?

Personally, I find it just as distasteful when people write about politics and end up insulting my common sense, which is one of the most important principles I hold dear. Am I allowed to take them out back and finish them off for that?

👍
Exactly, it makes me sick when people try to force their beliefs on me and expect me to just sit there and take it without questioning them.

But seriously, it’s hilarious how people are trying to justify why a single drawing is enough reason to kill a man. 🙏🙏

Noah Roberts46 said:It’s honestly nauseating how much media hype they're generating over this, especially when way more civilians have been getting slaughtered by that same organization in Syria for years now. And let's be real—the French have basically been bankrolling ISIS this whole time. So much for their principles.

Wait, do you actually live in the West? Thank God you get to sit back and quote things aimed at people living in the West while they're getting killed—I say that coldly, mind you, and I wish I didn't have to, but what can you do? People like that are just like that. But when it happens right here at home and hits us directly, of course there’s going to be an outcry.

Sorry, but it’s not the same thing whether I help someone and then they come and kill me in my own country versus some guy over there killing his own people in his own country.
Dammit, if we lived in a perfect world we wouldn't even have to have this debate, but clearly we don't, and look, it's obvious that a hell of a lot of kids and civilians are dying and I feel for them, but what are you gonna do? We obviously can't change that.

Robin Fox2 said:The constant mockery of Gerrard's slip on the United forum is absolutely nauseating; it’s high time for a complete purge...

No, I couldn't care less, but my intentions are perfectly clear.

🤣🤣🤣

brightpilot6 said:Does Muhammad represent the core values of Islam? If we’re going to take such an expansive view, wouldn't you say that you—and I, and our entire culture—insult the people in ISIS simply by the way we live our lives? If someone were to come after you, would your final thought probably be that you practically invited it?

It's because on most right-wing sites—you know, the ones leaning toward the old-school, ultra-traditionalist crowd—there's this underlying subtext suggesting these people got exactly what they deserved, and that we shouldn't bother offering any support whatsoever.

Perhaps some people fail to realize that we aren't necessarily supporting specific content, but rather the principle that one should be free to speak without fearing for their life.

As Byron once pointed out quite eloquently, civilization truly began at the exact moment when someone decided to insult another person instead of simply cracking their skull open.

I am not insulting them through my lifestyle. If I were attempting to impose my way of life upon them, defending their customs while mocking what they hold sacred, then I would truly be insulting them. That is why I refrain from doing so, even though one could interpret the connection between Muhammad and Aisha in a rather disrespectful context if they chose to.

brightpilot6 said:Does Muhammad represent the core values of Islam? If we’re going to take such an expansive view, wouldn't you say that you—and I, and our entire culture—insult the people in ISIS simply by the way we live our lives? If someone were to come after you, would your final thought probably be that you practically invited it?

It's because on most right-wing sites—you know, the ones leaning toward the old-school, ultra-traditionalist crowd—there's this underlying subtext suggesting these people got exactly what they deserved, and that we shouldn't bother offering any support whatsoever.

Perhaps some people fail to realize that we aren't necessarily supporting specific content, but rather the principle that one should be free to speak without fearing for their life.

As Byron once pointed out quite eloquently, civilization truly began at the exact moment when someone decided to insult another person instead of simply cracking their skull open.

Look, let’s be clear: I don't support any kind of assassination, and I believe the men who committed those atrocities are foolish, uneducated, and completely miss the point of their own faith. There is absolutely nothing that can justify their actions, so there is no need to try and steer the conversation in that direction.

Peter Thompson4 said:👍
Exactly, it makes me sick when people try to force their beliefs on me and expect me to just sit there and take it without questioning them.

But seriously, it’s hilarious how people are trying to justify why a single drawing is enough reason to kill a man. 🙏🙏

Wait, do you actually live in the West? Thank God you get to sit back and quote things aimed at people living in the West while they're getting killed—I say that coldly, mind you, and I wish I didn't have to, but what can you do? People like that are just like that. But when it happens right here at home and hits us directly, of course there’s going to be an outcry.

Sorry, but it’s not the same thing whether I help someone and then they come and kill me in my own country versus some guy over there killing his own people in his own country.
Dammit, if we lived in a perfect world we wouldn't even have to have this debate, but clearly we don't, and look, it's obvious that a hell of a lot of kids and civilians are dying and I feel for them, but what are you gonna do? We obviously can't change that.

People are people, that's how I see it. Honestly, I don't think whatever is happening in France is going to impact us much anyway; the current immigration trends are targeting the wealthier nations, so we don't need to lose sleep over it. Besides, the West brought this situation on itself by constantly meddling in the politics of the Middle East. We all feel for the people who died—they had every right to mock whoever they wanted, and these others shouldn't have fought back—but I don't get why everyone is acting so surprised. It's as if nobody remembers that France was one of the main supporters of those very same terrorists. Now, nobody wants to point that out; suddenly everyone is united in fighting the exact same people. It's unbelievable how quickly things are forgotten.

Thank God, because honestly, I feel for every single person involved, but this is just how things are and they’re going to stay that way for a long, long time (discrimination is real). This whole thing you're talking about is just some "pink world" fantasy. But look, to make a long story short, any time one living being takes out another is pointless and stupid, but killing someone over religion? That is hands down the absolute dumbest thing humans have ever done in their miserable history.

Religion is really just one of those countless theories that lacks any actual scientific backing or solid evidence, which makes it pretty easy to poke fun at or criticize. I mean, thinking that some crazy idea carved into stone thousands of years ago is so sacred that you can't even question it—and then getting personally offended when someone tries to analyze it—that’s just plain silly, I guess.

Personally, I’m almost allergic to religious fanatics. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against what anyone chooses to believe, but I can't stand seeing propaganda shoved in my face everywhere. It's especially annoying when people try to make excuses like, "Hey, they insulted Jesus with that comic too, not just Muhammad." 🙏

I mean, they're insulting a guy who supposedly rose from the dead and basically set a world record on the bench press by lifting a stone off a tomb. I doubt that's going to be bothering him much, honestly. 🙏 🙏

I’ve been reflecting on the nuances of our recent discussions, and I find myself wondering if we aren't all searching for a similar kind of clarity amidst the noise? It seems to me that when we strip away the superficial layers of debate, we are left with a much simpler question of intent. Is it possible that we focus too much on the individual components rather than the cohesive whole? I would be curious to hear how others are navigating these complexities. kaže:
Religion is merely one among countless theories that lack any foundational scientific basis or empirical evidence, leaving it wide open to both scrutiny and healthy criticism. Is it not somewhat absurd to regard an idea etched into stone thousands of years ago as sacred beyond question, treating any attempt at rational analysis as if it were a personal insult? To cling to such ancient notions with such rigid intensity seems, quite frankly, rather foolish.

I’ve always found myself having a bit of an allergic reaction to religious fanatics. Don't get me wrong—I have absolutely nothing against anyone's personal convictions or what they choose to believe in their own time, but there is something deeply grating about seeing that kind of propaganda shoved into every corner of public life. It’s particularly exhausting when people try to justify it with those tired old arguments, isn't it? You know the type, where they attempt to deflect criticism by claiming, "Well, if you're upset about one thing, they insulted Jesus in a comic strip too." It just feels like a circular attempt to validate being offended at every turn. 🙏

They really went after that guy who supposedly rose from the dead and then proceeded to shatter the world record by bench-pressing a stone from a cave opening, though I suspect such insults won't bother him one bit. 🙏 🙏

I can't say I find that perspective entirely accurate, so why should we assume that questioning one's faith is somehow forbidden? As someone who holds deep convictions, I have spent a significant amount of time questioning my own beliefs, reading almost everything I could get my hands on, and studying various religions alongside their sacred texts. In fact, I’ve come to believe that questioning is actually a necessary part of the process.

I find some of them quite agreeable while others don't quite land for me, though I make it a point to share everything without downplaying any single perspective. To be honest, I don't see any distinction between my own views, an atheist's, or even those of a follower of Muhammad; I truly believe that everyone holds equal value.

Peter Thompson4 said:Thank God, because honestly, I feel for every single person involved, but this is just how things are and they’re going to stay that way for a long, long time (discrimination is real). This whole thing you're talking about is just some "pink world" fantasy. But look, to make a long story short, any time one living being takes out another is pointless and stupid, but killing someone over religion? That is hands down the absolute dumbest thing humans have ever done in their miserable history.

I honestly think it's less about religion and more about politics, though frankly, I couldn't care less about the religious aspect.

Noah Roberts46 said:I honestly think it's less about religion and more about politics, though frankly, I couldn't care less about the religious aspect.

Look, there is just no way massive global shifts like this happen based on one single "guideline," so politics definitely has its hands in this, but people are being brainwashed for entirely different reasons that politicians then exploit and justify however they see fit to serve their own agendas.

Keith Miller30 said:

I’ve been reflecting on the nuances of our recent discussions, and I find myself wondering if we aren't all searching for a similar kind of clarity amidst the noise? It seems to me that when we strip away the superficial layers of debate, we are left with a much simpler question of intent. Is it possible that we focus too much on the individual components rather than the cohesive whole? I would be curious to hear how others are navigating these complexities. kaže:
Religion is merely one among countless theories that lack any foundational scientific basis or empirical evidence, leaving it wide open to both scrutiny and healthy criticism. Is it not somewhat absurd to regard an idea etched into stone thousands of years ago as sacred beyond question, treating any attempt at rational analysis as if it were a personal insult? To cling to such ancient notions with such rigid intensity seems, quite frankly, rather foolish.

I’ve always found myself having a bit of an allergic reaction to religious fanatics. Don't get me wrong—I have absolutely nothing against anyone's personal convictions or what they choose to believe in their own time, but there is something deeply grating about seeing that kind of propaganda shoved into every corner of public life. It’s particularly exhausting when people try to justify it with those tired old arguments, isn't it? You know the type, where they attempt to deflect criticism by claiming, "Well, if you're upset about one thing, they insulted Jesus in a comic strip too." It just feels like a circular attempt to validate being offended at every turn. 🙏

They really went after that guy who supposedly rose from the dead and then proceeded to shatter the world record by bench-pressing a stone from a cave opening, though I suspect such insults won't bother him one bit. 🙏 🙏

I can't say I find that perspective entirely accurate, so why should we assume that questioning one's faith is somehow forbidden? As someone who holds deep convictions, I have spent a significant amount of time questioning my own beliefs, reading almost everything I could get my hands on, and studying various religions alongside their sacred texts. In fact, I’ve come to believe that questioning is actually a necessary part of the process.

I find some of them quite agreeable while others don't quite land for me, though I make it a point to share everything without downplaying any single perspective. To be honest, I don't see any distinction between my own views, an atheist's, or even those of a follower of Muhammad; I truly believe that everyone holds equal value.

"ACTUALLY"? You're saying religion needs to be "actually" scrutinized?
So basically, anything you think you know or understand should just be constantly picked apart? If there's something out there you aren't allowed to question, then I don't even want to know what it is. It's probably some scam or a total lie. Look, I'm not trying to attack you or anyone else, because I don't give a damn about that stuff until it starts becoming a threat to me personally—and the idea that I should feel unsafe walking around the streets of America because of this nonsense is just freaking retarded. At least for those kinds of reasons.

I honestly don't even know where to start with this one because there's just so much noise out there right now, but I've been sitting here thinking about how everything seems to be shifting under our feet lately, you know? It’s like we’re all just drifting through these massive waves of change without any real sense of direction, and I find myself wondering if anyone else feels that same heavy sort of uncertainty hanging in the air, though I suppose most people are too busy chasing the next big thing to actually stop and process it. I was reading some stuff earlier—just scrolling through the usual feeds—and it hit me how much we rely on these tiny little fragments of information to build our entire worldview, which is honestly kind of terrifying when you really sit down and meditate on the implications of it all. I'm not trying to be deep or anything, I promise, I just have these moments where the sheer scale of everything starts to feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you consider how fast things move in this country compared to how they used to be. Anyway, I'm just rambling now, clearly, but I wanted to get those thoughts out there because it felt like something worth mentioning, even if it's just a random observation from my couch. kaže:
Religion is honestly just one of those countless theories floating around out there that lacks any actual scientific foundation or concrete evidence to back it up, which basically makes it an easy target for anyone looking to poke fun at it or criticize it. I mean, it’s just wild to me how people can take some ideas scribbled down on stone thousands of years ago and treat them as this ultimate, untouchable truth that's somehow beyond questioning, and then they get all worked up and take it as a massive personal insult whenever someone tries to apply a little bit of basic analysis to it, which is just plain foolish if you ask me.

I’ve gotta say, I’m pretty much allergic to religious fanatics, honestly. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against anyone having their own personal beliefs—that's their business—but the constant propaganda shoved down your throat at every single turn is just nauseating. It really gets under my skin when people start digging up those tired old excuses, like they're trying to play some kind of balancing act by saying, "Hey, wait a minute, they insulted Jesus in that comic too, not just Muhammad." It's just the same old circular nonsense. 🙏

They went ahead and insulted this guy who supposedly rose from the dead and then immediately smashed a world record by bench-pressing a massive boulder straight out of a cave opening, which honestly, I bet that kind of disrespect is going to stay on his mind forever. 🙏 🙏

Believe it or not, I actually find it even more hilarious when people start throwing around terms like "science" or acting like there’s some kind of concrete scientific evidence to back up their claims. I mean, seriously, we're talking about a field that basically spends every decade debunking its own previous existence, so what's the point? Like, which version of those theories about how the universe started is actually supposed to be the current truth? Is it the latest thing they cooked up, or just some absolute nonsense thrown together at the last minute?

Pure comedy.

Honestly, if you look at the big picture, Charlie Hedbo only really blew up and hit the mainstream because of those endless threats from extremists over the last few years, which basically turns that whole publication into just another little flyer with a circulation of maybe 45,000 copies. It’s all just satire designed with this aggressive edge meant solely to stir the pot, and I guess they succeeded, though honestly, it wasn't even that huge of a win for them. This whole situation is actually the best publicity they could have ever asked for, which is just incredibly tragic when you think about it, but I'm pretty sure deep down they were hoping for some kind of mild backlash where they could just walk away unscathed, praying to God that nobody actually got hurt while they got to keep their edge. Sadly, it totally backfired on them, and at the end of the day, you have to realize this is all just pure business and a calculated marketing move.

Peter Thompson4 said:Look, there is just no way massive global shifts like this happen based on one single "guideline," so politics definitely has its hands in this, but people are being brainwashed for entirely different reasons that politicians then exploit and justify however they see fit to serve their own agendas.

"ACTUALLY"? You're saying religion needs to be "actually" scrutinized?
So basically, anything you think you know or understand should just be constantly picked apart? If there's something out there you aren't allowed to question, then I don't even want to know what it is. It's probably some scam or a total lie. Look, I'm not trying to attack you or anyone else, because I don't give a damn about that stuff until it starts becoming a threat to me personally—and the idea that I should feel unsafe walking around the streets of America because of this nonsense is just freaking retarded. At least for those kinds of reasons.

That "even" is really the only thing you can latch onto here—is it really? Honestly, those three letters are completely irrelevant in this context, so let's just move past them. What I meant was that any believer ought to study their faith deeply and strive to grasp its true essence, rather than simply following it because that's how they were raised. I don't recall the Pope ever suggesting that studying one's faith is off-limits.

I feel the same fear you do; it feels foolish, yet it's an undeniable reality that extremists and fanatics exist. It’s just that they are often people who lack insight, frequently coming from backgrounds with limited education or resources, which prevents them from understanding the true purpose of their own faith. They fail to see the point of radicalism and miss the broader context entirely because they are driven by hatred—and people fueled by hate are always the easiest to manipulate.

🤣 🤣

7:14 PM – Total chaos unfolding in this small town in the Midwest right now because someone actually found a ballot for Barack Obama stuffed in the box, so the head of the polling station basically went full lockdown mode and won't let any of the observers leave until they figure out who's responsible for this mess.

9:10 PM – It’s getting pretty intense over in that small town in California too, where apparently an Obama voter just bolted straight into the woods to evade everyone.

🤣😂🤣

The most frustrating part of this entire situation is that those brothers were already on the watch list, and everyone knew they were dangerous. Of course, I understand you can't keep eyes on them twenty-four hours a day, but still... In the end, they got exactly what they wanted, didn't they? They're walking away convinced that their killings were actually justified by their faith, believing they've avenged a prophet, and they’ll likely pass away just as they intended—only to be celebrated and held up as heroes among their own people. On top of that, if we actually managed to catch them, we'd be stuck footing the bill for them; the cost to house a single inmate there is about $135 a day, especially when the prison system is already running at a staggering 116% capacity.

This is just gold:

6:44 PM – DISASTER ON THE STICK: Four boats carrying Republican voters sank on their way back from the polls

8:08 PM – First official numbers are in—Obama is leading, but keep in mind they’ve only counted results from 5% of the cemeteries

🤣

restlesssurfer97 said:🤣 🤣

🤣🤣

So, yeah, the squid is gone. And honestly, who cares? He absolutely doesn't deserve a second term anyway. I mean, if it hadn't been Kolinda coming from that mafia-style Republican Party, and if some actually decent independent candidate had stepped up to the plate, this squid wouldn't have even made it into the second round.
Anyway, regarding the presidency, it’s genuinely embarrassing to lose a second mandate. Usually, you start out with at least a 10-15 percent lead over everyone else, so when you manage to blow that kind of advantage, it means you really messed something up. But in the squid's case, he didn't actually do anything wrong.
Just a total waste of space.

And then there's Milanovic's sarcastic little comment about how this is just "the will of the American people."

The guy lives in his own little bubble; it's honestly unbelievable how far removed he is from reality. Like, are you even aware that this result is an absolute disaster for you? When you get beaten by a hated criminal organization and your reaction is basically "the people are just stupid," man... well, sure, the people can be dumb, but how incredibly clueless are you to think you couldn't pull off a win against a guy as criminally incompetent as Karamarko and his despised band of thieves?

Are you actually realizing that you're even more oblivious than the voters? Of course you aren't.

It’s all just so sad, really, and my only real hope is that we see a solid non-partisan list emerge before the midterm elections—you know, the kind of thing being whispered about in the news lately, like Petrov and his crew. If a group like Live Wall could snag about 7-8 percent of the vote, and Walnut, which was sitting at 17-18 percent just yesterday, drops down to ten, then things get interesting.
Those are some massive swings you see from the protest voters.

Basically, about twenty percent of the American vote is just sitting there on a silver platter, waiting for a new, slightly more serious option to step up.
And if they actually got their infrastructure together and organized things properly, they could easily hit 25%. Of course, pulling that off is a tall order.
But the main thing is that these need to be completely fresh faces; you can't involve any old relics like Cacic or Kosor, because if you do, they don't stand a chance.

This is actually a pretty impressive result for Kolinda. Securing a second term should really be something you can pull off without much trouble, so when it doesn't happen, you have to wonder if you missed the mark somewhere along the way.

Just one more year to go. 🙂 🎉