Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Jesse Sullivan5 said:bluebison47 just confirmed—we are officially rotating over to literature!

🤣

It’s good to see you back, sir.

Jacob Morgan said:There are some great stretches in there, sure, but I have to admit it gets a bit tedious at times—especially when it starts leaning into those grand universal claims. They aren't necessarily wrong, but maybe the delivery just didn't sit right with me. I suppose it might be because I went in with such high expectations, especially since I've heard nothing but praise for it from people whose taste in literature I actually respect.

With Hemingway, it was almost the exact opposite; I practically had to force myself to pick up his work, and then, once I did, I was just completely floored.

Anyway, I'll give Sapiens a look soon enough, now that the local libraries are finally opening back up.

Man, what a mess!

Amanda Evans2 said:🤣

It’s good to see you back, sir.

🙂

urbanhawk17 said:because you said they were all "hard workers."

If I misunderstood, my bad.

Glad to see you're pro-Sunday shifts. 👍

Since I am editing this after the fact, let me clarify my position. I have no inherent issue with employees working on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Fridays, provided that these individuals are being compensated fairly for their labor, have voluntarily consented to such terms via their employment contracts, and those contractual obligations are strictly honored.

I fail to see how these bans will achieve anything meaningful, other than providing more fuel for endless, pointless arguments.

restlesssurfer97 said:Look, if we’re spending 10 days hitting up the local shops, then we’re spending another 20 days down at the beach, simple as that. I don't know how you're not catching on, buddy.

The subject here is retail work and similar sectors. In all honesty, these tend to be some of the lowest-paid positions with the least amount of protection, mainly because if you were to lose your job tomorrow, you could probably find something else stocking shelves at a local Walmart. These individuals are often exploited for very little compensation.

When I am working my own job, I feel as though I am performing labor every single day, yet I am compensated fairly for it. It seems to me that these people work all year round for almost nothing. Perhaps we could at least demonstrate a small amount of empathy without resorting to hollow moralizing.

Noah Perez2 said:Since I am editing this after the fact, let me clarify my position. I have no inherent issue with employees working on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Fridays, provided that these individuals are being compensated fairly for their labor, have voluntarily consented to such terms via their employment contracts, and those contractual obligations are strictly honored.

I fail to see how these bans will achieve anything meaningful, other than providing more fuel for endless, pointless arguments.

I’m in. Count me in.

Noah Perez2 said:Since I am editing this after the fact, let me clarify my position. I have no inherent issue with employees working on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Fridays, provided that these individuals are being compensated fairly for their labor, have voluntarily consented to such terms via their employment contracts, and those contractual obligations are strictly honored.

I fail to see how these bans will achieve anything meaningful, other than providing more fuel for endless, pointless arguments.

so we're basically giving it the green light then

Jacob Morgan said:so we're basically giving it the green light then

Heh.

It is quite curious how those who once loudly proclaimed themselves as "hardcore leftists" suddenly find themselves acting as the frontline defenders of massive corporate interests and unregulated market freedoms.

Under socialism, nobody ever worked for free—and on Saturdays, they barely even bothered to show up until noon—so one has to wonder what caused such an abrupt and convenient shift in ideology for these individuals.

Good grief, what has the world come to?

Noah Perez2 said:Heh.

It is quite curious how those who once loudly proclaimed themselves as "hardcore leftists" suddenly find themselves acting as the frontline defenders of massive corporate interests and unregulated market freedoms.

Under socialism, nobody ever worked for free—and on Saturdays, they barely even bothered to show up until noon—so one has to wonder what caused such an abrupt and convenient shift in ideology for these individuals.

To your misfortune, there are a few of us here who remember that back in the eighties, working on Sunday wasn't even banned.
In cities like Chicago, there were convenience stores that stayed open until 10:00 PM every single Sunday.

When the Church last tried to ban Sunday commerce a few years back, absolutely nothing was open except for gas stations; naturally, those stations started selling bread and milk, and the lines stretched for miles.

This entire discussion has spiraled completely off course.
The mandate regarding Sunday closures was handed down by the task force tasked with fighting the coronavirus.
A supposedly sacred and infallible task force.
A group that was ostensibly here to properly combat and manage this pandemic.
But the very moment they decided to throttle the economy while simultaneously permitting religious processions, any semblance of logic or trust in this committee vanished. Honestly, I don't think anyone with half a brain can take them seriously anymore.
Implementing these Sunday restrictions as an epidemiological measure only reinforces my long-standing belief: this isn't about public health experts managing a virus; it’s about much more dangerous agendas at play.
I have been saying this since day one of this task force's existence, and it becomes more glaringly obvious with every passing day.

We aren't just talking about the usual seasonal debate over Sunday business hours that pops up whenever the Church makes its presence felt.
This is a conversation about unilateral decisions made without any dialogue—decisions that bear almost no actual relationship to the "fight" they keep preaching to us about.
This supposed fight against the pandemic.

How exactly is working on a Sunday more epidemiologically hazardous than working on a Saturday under the CDC's guidelines?
It's infuriating. Someone please explain the logic...

How on earth do you expect to stamp it out? 🙏

The Anderson unit has been completely stripped from its mount. 🙏

Matthew Young35 said:To your misfortune, there are a few of us here who remember that back in the eighties, working on Sunday wasn't even banned.
In cities like Chicago, there were convenience stores that stayed open until 10:00 PM every single Sunday.

When the Church last tried to ban Sunday commerce a few years back, absolutely nothing was open except for gas stations; naturally, those stations started selling bread and milk, and the lines stretched for miles.

It is possible you are correct; after all, you are a considerably older gentleman than I am. ☕
And when did the socialists rest after a forty-hour work week if not on the weekend?

Frankly, this entire debate regarding retail doesn't affect me much. I typically complete my major grocery shopping on Fridays; if I run out of something, I simply wait until Monday. It is unlikely to be anything vital enough for me to forget, so it is no big deal.
Between work and everything else, wandering through shops on the weekend is hardly a pastime or a necessity for me.

If this issue bothers you, then what can I say? Fight for your rights, and try not to get too worked up—it won't do you any good. ☕

Good grief—there is simply no way I am hitting this Powerball jackpot.

Rachel Cooper3 said:Good grief—there is simply no way I am hitting this Powerball jackpot.

Have you actually given it a shot?

Man, if they make another one of those documentaries about Nike vs. Under Armour, I’m totally out.

Amanda Evans2 said:This entire discussion has spiraled completely off course.
The mandate regarding Sunday closures was handed down by the task force tasked with fighting the coronavirus.
A supposedly sacred and infallible task force.
A group that was ostensibly here to properly combat and manage this pandemic.
But the very moment they decided to throttle the economy while simultaneously permitting religious processions, any semblance of logic or trust in this committee vanished. Honestly, I don't think anyone with half a brain can take them seriously anymore.
Implementing these Sunday restrictions as an epidemiological measure only reinforces my long-standing belief: this isn't about public health experts managing a virus; it’s about much more dangerous agendas at play.
I have been saying this since day one of this task force's existence, and it becomes more glaringly obvious with every passing day.

We aren't just talking about the usual seasonal debate over Sunday business hours that pops up whenever the Church makes its presence felt.
This is a conversation about unilateral decisions made without any dialogue—decisions that bear almost no actual relationship to the "fight" they keep preaching to us about.
This supposed fight against the pandemic.

How exactly is working on a Sunday more epidemiologically hazardous than working on a Saturday under the CDC's guidelines?
It's infuriating. Someone please explain the logic...

Bravo!
You just hit on exactly what’s driving me insane.

They’re starting to lose their grip—first with the mice, and now with the concept of working on a Sunday.

That's precisely what I'm writing about.

Noah Perez2 said:It is possible you are correct; after all, you are a considerably older gentleman than I am. ☕
And when did the socialists rest after a forty-hour work week if not on the weekend?

Frankly, this entire debate regarding retail doesn't affect me much. I typically complete my major grocery shopping on Fridays; if I run out of something, I simply wait until Monday. It is unlikely to be anything vital enough for me to forget, so it is no big deal.
Between work and everything else, wandering through shops on the weekend is hardly a pastime or a necessity for me.

If this issue bothers you, then what can I say? Fight for your rights, and try not to get too worked up—it won't do you any good. ☕

Regarding the first bolded part...
Yes, I am right.
☕

Regarding the second bolded part...
Then why are you even writing about it?

As for the rest...
Is anyone actually forcing you to go to the store on a Sunday? Is there some kind of mandate compelling you to shop on a Sunday?
And this "fight"... What kind of fight are we talking about here? I'm fighting to get a paycheck, for God's sake. Retail being open on Sundays isn't a priority for me, just like it isn't for most people, yet the church immediately seized upon it.
Am I allowed to be pissed off about it?

Matthew Young35 said:Regarding the first bolded part...
Yes, I am right.
☕

Regarding the second bolded part...
Then why are you even writing about it?

As for the rest...
Is anyone actually forcing you to go to the store on a Sunday? Is there some kind of mandate compelling you to shop on a Sunday?
And this "fight"... What kind of fight are we talking about here? I'm fighting to get a paycheck, for God's sake. Retail being open on Sundays isn't a priority for me, just like it isn't for most people, yet the church immediately seized upon it.
Am I allowed to be pissed off about it?

It is possible you are right regarding the operating hours of local convenience stores; I know for a fact that the small neighborhood markets back then rarely operated on Sundays, and major shopping malls didn't even exist, so nobody was complaining about it. Regardless, there is still no explanation for how such a massive pivot occurred among you leftists—how you suddenly decided to defend big capital and corporate chains like Walmart overnight, rather than fighting for the interests of workers and their right to rest?
Is that supposed to be the priority according to your worldview?

Do not attempt to lecture me with this nonsense about protecting the "little guy." It is perfectly obvious that the corporation reaps all the profits from retail, while the worker is merely a tool used to achieve them.

What I want to know is how you changed your mind so drastically and so quickly; you still haven't answered that.

I am writing about it because it was the subject of our discussion, and I have already provided my conclusion. To be clear: I am not advocating for work bans, but if stores are banned from Sunday operations, frankly, I could not care less. It would have zero impact on my lifestyle, nor would it bother me personally. Understood?

And what exactly would you try to retroactively ban based on my conclusion? If my writing bothers you, you have the option to use the ignore button or simply log out.

Matthew Young35 said:Regarding the first bolded part...
Yes, I am right.
☕

Regarding the second bolded part...
Then why are you even writing about it?

As for the rest...
Is anyone actually forcing you to go to the store on a Sunday? Is there some kind of mandate compelling you to shop on a Sunday?
And this "fight"... What kind of fight are we talking about here? I'm fighting to get a paycheck, for God's sake. Retail being open on Sundays isn't a priority for me, just like it isn't for most people, yet the church immediately seized upon it.
Am I allowed to be pissed off about it?

It seems you have lost the thread of a rational discussion. Forcing someone to the store? Who, whom, when, or how?
The Church exploited it? When exactly did the Church officially pass a law banning retail on Sundays?

Am I allowed to be annoyed by discussions where the interlocutor foams at the mouth with ideological projections and hatred, rendering them incapable of composing a single articulated sentence?

☕

Jacob Morgan said:I’ve already had someone suggest this one to me, so maybe give me a few more details.

I actually stumbled upon it while browsing some book reviews on Goodreads, and honestly, I have no clue why I hadn't picked it up sooner; it seems right up my alley. I'm just finishing up The Unbearable Lightness of Being now, and I guess I can't say I'm particularly impressed, especially considering how much hype this thing always seems to get.

You’ve just earned an automatic spot in my personal hall of fame.

I didn't touch a single word by Hemingway until I was thirty, and then suddenly, I stumbled upon his work.

Good grief.

That level of artistry, that profound window into the human psyche through a depiction of old-world Americana... it all flows through these stunning sentences, with a rhythm and vocabulary so vivid it feels like you're looking at a moving painting.

I’ve devoured his entire body of prose since then, likely more than once.

Perhaps I'm being a bit dramatic, but to me, Hemingway is the ultimate master of the craft.

If you're looking for more, I’d highly suggest checking out Steinbeck’s East of Eden, or sticking with Hemingway’s own The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms. I could talk about this for days.