It's truly a different way to exist. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. And then sometimes a global network of power brokers is exactly that too. It can lead to madness.
The rabbit hole goes way deep. This cynicism you've learned applies to ALL reality. Not just politics, but religion, your daily life, the reflection you see in the mirror. Are you a person, or just a meatbag carrying around recursive algorithms in a wetware computer? What do you see when you look up at the stars?
Some people here are learning about the real Nihilism.
"But Bobf, Jordan Peterson told us Nihilism and post-modernism is bad!"
Well, like everything else, language is an inefficient means of expression. "Liberal" doesn't mean the same thing as when Washington uttered the word. "Conservatism" is muddied at best. Real philosophical Nihilism isn't about "not caring because it all doesn't matter." It's about acknowledging that you're a bug on a single rock in the cosmos, and you may not have all the faculties needed to "see" what's really there.
This way isn't for everyone. Some turn to violence. Others turn to apathy (again, the most popular response). And yet, some see it as an excuse to attempt to learn secrets, and impose their own human will upon this crazy universe, in whatever fashion they see fit. Your mileage may vary.
Never stop questioning.
"But muh porn posts!"
Moralists, I don't give a fuck about your pseudoscience psychology about how porn is destroying the brain. Going outside is potentially more deadly than internet porn.
"But muh Jesus!"
Christians, I don't give a fuck about your Bronze Age mythology. Your own state-sponsored church destroyed the writings your own contemporary philosophers wrote (Gnosticism).
"But muh relevance!"
Larpers, I don't give a fuck about your goddam man-child outrage at any post that isn't about BREAKING NEWS or election fraud. This site has already been updated to accommodate a variety of topics.
"But muh spam!"
Welcome to the fucking internet, boomers. Spam happens.
"But muh non-ending rally for Trump!"
So some people are posting thots dressed up in MAGA gear. Oh my stars! Titties sell. Marketing 101.
"You're a giant douchebag Bobf!"
Yep.
Which generation is "our" generation? I get the sentiment of your post, but I never put much stock into how sociologists name the "generations."
Things get complicated in this modern age. My favorite analogy is that America is the 21st century Rome. Rome was also complicated.
The issue isn't weakness, it's complacence. Productive members of our society are being productive. Why should they sacrifice their hard earned gains for slackers? But not everyone "not productive" is a slacker, a few got fucked by incompetent governance. But not every producer recognizes this.
Some slackers recognize opportunity, and want to be heroes, to graduate to producers. Some leaders are threatened by producers, and want to shut them down. Some producers recognize opportunity, and want to eliminate leaders to take their place.
Again, shit gets complicated, quickly. My point is, is that everyone is complacent with this arrangement. This gladiatorial combat to the death we all want to have with each other, to establish the pecking order of our little tribes.
There's no simple answers to any of this. I think our ancestors would marvel at the fact that the common man can get porn and the sum of mankind's knowledge on their smart device. Would they be ashamed? I'm not so sure. The struggle was likely similar, but the context is completely different.
I didn't type one word about "oppression," you have me confused with another poster. I also didn't praise plain clothes detectives, UC, or federal agents in any way. I simply put things into perspective for you, and you're understandably upset about it.
If you're so angry about your lack of appreciation, then change professions. Software development is the only STEM field where you don't need a degree to get hired, or earn a bunch of certifications to be taken seriously. You just need a solid Github portfolio, and understand how to solve problems. You'll make several times the amount of revenue, won't have to deal with the dregs of humanity, and can benefit the species with something useful. Good luck.
You're obviously quite triggered, that you were correctly called out as walmart security. Your job isn't hard. Doing surgery is hard. Writing code is hard. Designing machine parts is hard. You basically break up fights, haul away drunk/high people, and generate revenue for the state through citations. All the smart and really violent crime is handled by police that don't wear uniforms. You babysit humanity, and expect a medal. You're a joke.
I don't worry about being oppressed. I'm just calling it like I see it.
And you describe exactly why most uniformed LE are basically the walmart security of the state. Uninspired schleps there to collect a paycheck.
"I've got a family to feed and I have to listen to my employer, so fuck your rights."
At least soldiers understand some form of duty and the risk inherent with violence. Your argument is specious. LE is not some kind of compulsory service. If you sign up to protect and serve, then that's exactly what you should do. This is why everyone actually likes firefighters. Otherwise, go do something more suited to your mercenary attitude, like selling cars.
"Manipulating" the system is just behaving while you're detained, and having a few thousand bucks to spare for decent representation. LE fully deserves the name-calling. You clowns wouldn't be spit on if you actually acted like heroes.
Oh since you've seen "zero posts" it must be true. What a joke. Antifa is nobody, made of up nobodies. They are propped up by friendly DA's and LE that doesn't care, because their bosses told them to. Remember when this site cheered DHS in military gear showing up to detain them in unmarked vans, during the assault on the federal court houses? They were helpless.
I can defend myself just fine. The real question is, do I want to defend complete strangers, or some nebulous concept of "freedom," just so I can look cool on the internet? You have a narrow view of reality, if you think everyone should just drop what they're doing and come defend "muh democracy."
You've been warned FOR DECADES about this. Everyone with above room temperature IQ told you about the entrenched aristocracy. A president was assassinated likely for his views on these people using the republic as a store front. But now, all of the sudden, you're ready to throw down? AFTER the mass surveillance state has been established? AFTER the established powers of an unchecked security apparatus?
GOOD JOB Cletus. You people are TOO LATE. You get chewed up in the meat grinder now, for your troubles, just as "they" likely planned.
This is the essence of the Black Pill. I'm sorry (not sorry) if this news sucks for you, but that's how reality works. There's a tiny sliver of probability that something different happens on the 6th. It would be great if a Golden Age kicks off, and all the Bad People have their heads put up on spears in front of the White House.
It just isn't likely. Everyone simply isn't smart enough yet.
Likewise, the tough guy "let's kill all the commies" bluster is getting old. It takes more balls to be discerning, and then post contrary opinion on this dopey web site, than to be YET ANOTHER Super Patriot calling for violence.
Only stupid people are peddling the false dichotomy of "if we don't do violence then we get enslaved forever." That's not how any of this works.
Maybe they are silent because there's nothing left to say. Any valid criticism is dismissed, and you call them a bunch of playground names.
You guys will get your 15 minutes of fame shortly, next year on jan 6th. Some of you will get arrested, others will be featured on b-roll clips for the predictable MSM outrage.
Then things will go on. But at least you got to LARP with some people watching. You can post it to your channel and get some more followers.
The Founders were wealthy, land-owning aristocrats that also negotiated support from an established Old World foreign government for arms and munitions.
You guys are just normal folks, coming together in common cause, over a web site.
Reality can be complicated.
These questions are way too cogent for a bunch of angry man-children.
This is why I maintain that a Civil War will be the end of the USA for all time. Complete degeneration into warring tribes, for the scraps of a once great empire.
People actually think the utilities will still be on and the grocery stores open. Our marine philosopher king above looks forward to stopping by taco bell after a hard day's work of killing commies. It's bad comedy.
Send in the military? C'mon now. It's like you guys WANT to conform to the leftist stereotyping of "fascist."
You do not want the military sent in. They will lock down everything, you included. Checkpoints. Curfews. Green zones.
Top comment says: "this country will be reborn!"
Yeah, into a sad shadow of the CCP, except YOU are the baddies. How do we determine, exactly, who the "traitors" are? People that have opinions you don't like? Do we send every American citizen with Chinese background into internment camps? Do we have tribunals? What if the evidence isn't strong enough and acquits someone? Are then the judges traitors? Do we utilize the NSA apparatus to spy on everyone? If so, how are you different from the so-called Deep State?
The thing that annoys me most about these reactionary posts is the severe lack of thought put into them. If one faction of the body politic demands the military go in and remove political enemies, THAT'S NO DIFFERENT than what you fear from the leftists. THINK for fucks sake.
You either believe in liberty, or not. It comes with inconveniences, as Thomas Jefferson once quoted.
I get it. You're emotional. The left is emotional. A bunch of immature, whining, first-world crybabies not getting their way. What we need is a new method, not the old ones.
We're already living in the "simple times." Humans centuries from now will wonder how anyone survived in our barbaric age, when you needed money for survival, and people died for dumb reasons. For reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh1pfrjikkM
Our species needs to move forward. We need to get off this rock for a better perspective of our own short existence, to find some of the true nature of the universe.
You can't build rockets with a society based on agrarian survival. I mean, I understand the OP's sentiment, but advancement requires risk. We can't just keep our lives small. If that means there's some struggle, that people come up with with dopey philosophies along the way, or that you have to tolerate idiots for the time being, then it's worth it.
My hostility and condescension stems from observing people calling for violence when they have zero idea what's involved or what the consequences will be. It stems from humans who claim great knowledge and experience taking the child-like binary perception that you can only fight, or forever be enslaved. It stems from grown adults having all this time to gain perspective, and having none.
There won't be any "communist dictatorship." Most people posting on this site have already sacrificed dignity and humanity for feudal corporate serfdom. They console themselves that they'll send their kids to college, or provide themselves new toys, or be able to afford comfort.
You, and way too many others here, seem to think that tyranny can only take one form. That it's incapable of being insidious, or subtle, or even comfortable.
"A gilded, gold cage is still a prison, bobf!"
Are you sure? Maybe the prison is in our minds. Thank goodness there are heroes, such as yourself, ready to lay down their lives and what limited time they have left in this reality for things they barely understand.
Yes, I've studied all kinds of history. You don't seem to understand how things work now, today in the 21st century, and think you can explain away 150 years of difference by rattling off a bunch of nouns.
Have you studied anything besides military history?
"Oh, well, you must be frightened then."
I take it you're some armchair warrior whose never seen actual violence. What a joke.
You are exactly the kind of clownshoes dope the OP is talking about. Trying to compare 19th century Civil War America that had 1/10th the population, no mass media, no internet, no just-in-time inventory, and black powder weapons, with what's going on now, is the one of the more obtuse things I've seen written on this site.
Civil War means civil collapse. No more utilities, no more grocery stores, no more free wifi at starbucks. Stop being stupid. Go play some Call of Duty if you want to shoot the evildoers.
Martial law? Mass arrests? Seriously? I thought everyone here was about liberty?
This is site is quickly declining.
"But we gotta round up the commies, Bobf! They'll steal elections forever!"
I think everyone here needs to step back, and take some serious perspective on what you truly believe. If you want a militaristic empire, then just say so. Stop mouthing pretend values like "liberty" and "free speech."
No wonder the other side thinks some of you are fascists.
See, this is the thing. You have the same access to the same information. As humans, we like it when people package information on our behalf. In the past, when only a tiny percent of humanity knew how to read, this was a boon. Now, in the 21st century, you have the sum of mankind's knowledge in your pocket. Look up the things I've mentioned.
I followed Jones's advice and looked up is claims. He "reports" things with a veneer of alarmism, hype, and controversy. Then, to "prepare" you for the eventual calamity, you give him money for the products he sells.
When you get into the habit of research, especially with the modern convenience, you learn some of the dark truths of the human reality. Are there sinister forces that seek to enslave humanity? There sure are. But people have been writing about that for centuries. That's part of the meat grinder we're in. You don't need a prophet, or a radio show host, or a web site to learn this. You just need yourself, and some courage to learn things that make you uncomfortable.
The benefit comes with how you use this information to steel yourself.
heh heh, not "alpha" enough. You think you're the only person here that knows about fitness? Or that have friends that train in martial arts/boxing/mma?
It takes an ordinary person to get ripped, starting from zero, to lift and gain like 20-25lbs of lean muscle mass: about a year with one day on, one day off. An obese person could do it if they go on a serious keto diet, and committed to cardio during their "rest" days. With some advanced knowledge, supplements, and an even more strict, nutrient-dense diet, perhaps 6-8 months.
But you did it in 10 weeks. Sure thing. Like I said, you're like an attention-hungry MAGA thot assuring us those are her real boobs. How many ml's of test did you poke into your butt every week, mr super alpha male? What a joke.