m308gunner

Welcome to VGS Yogurtstorm! Glad you found your way over.

Welcome old timer!

I leave for a few days and the logo changes?!? 

14 hours ago, Link said:

I agree. It is what he does, he is an agent of chaos. Where we diverge is that he doesn’t seem to find that problematic and I do. Although as noted below, I can’t tell for sure. 

Well I’ve managed not to be accused of relying on slander and insults, but sure. We’ve gone back and forth too much. I’ve cut it off because I realized we are NEVER going to stop “talking past each other” as he put it. Mainly my issue is he says what he doesn’t think (Trump is not a moral leader, I don’t like everything he does, I don’t watch Fox News) and not what he does think (???) so how can we ever talk about anything and hash out the viewpoints. I had more questions about things he said but left many by the wayside as even farther afield than we have been. 

So what? Should we only talk about The Donald in this way and not that way? I think the notion that impeachment is likely to fail was covered pretty early on ITT. So do we kill the thread, or continue? Which real issue should we talk about, there are many. 

  I understand your frustration and respect your wish to put an end to the conversation.  

4 hours ago, Link said:

I’m referring to Greta Thunberg. Who you said ought to be ignored by anyone except her parents because she is a child, in the thread about her. For you to also wave away characterization of The Donald as a psychopath because it is like being a teenager, when he is the president, sounds somewhat inconsistent to me.

Was not saying you’ve cast aspersions here. I hope that you don’t think I have cast any either, as my intention is just to pin down your statements.

Yes, I do feel that my opinions on politics are reasonably structured and clear. And I believe I have good grasp on those of other people I know. In many cases I don’t find that very difficult, even when we disagree. You have been another story. Which is fine, but you can’t blame me for trying; it’s very much like the bias check you perform. Or attempt, anyway.

   Ah, I see. Thank you for the clarification. 

  To be clear, the comment was a bit tongue in cheek (which I understand you do not always approve of depending on the context). I do not mean to wave away similarities between the list and Trump, merely to point out that many a teenager, in the course of their development, will be prone to exhibit multiple traits mentioned in said list, sometimes at the same time. It might be fair to state that Trump exhibits multiple symptoms that properly diagnosed psychopaths also exhibit (it might even feel good to do so if one is not feeling charitably inclined towards the man), but it would be foolish to attempt to make a definitive clinical analysis from afar, especially given the more extreme antisocial manifestations true psychopaths exhibit.

  As to my thoughts on ignoring emotional children (Greta) in the course of crafting legislation to combat climate change and how that is linked to your diagnosis of Trump... I might need you to plot out the common threads or inconsistencies, cause all I've got right now are: Greta is a teenager who relies on emotional speeches to drive her message - teenagers exhibit psychopathic tendencies - Trump exhibits psychopathic tendencies. It kinda reminds me of the old "Hitler had a dog, and you have a dog, so you're as bad as Hitler" motif.  

Why hello there handsome.

On 1/2/2020 at 9:47 PM, Link said:

...

Would you say that is a backlash? Perhaps he is here to help cancel the left? 

Is it not possible Birther Trump was created by the Tea Party’s reaction to the Jeremiah Wright “scandal”? 

...

 I would say the pendulum of societal norms swings wide these days and both sides should give it a rest.

I hadn't kept track of the Jeremiah Wright issue. Hmm... *reads a wiki*

There's alot of layers to that one, but I couldn't say Trump's ascension has/had too much to do with it. 

17 hours ago, Link said:

But a teenager exhibits opposite symptoms and you say she should be ignored as a child. Cute.

You say you don’t like the guy, but you continue to rationalize away any critique of him. This is why I tried to get at the roots of your belief system yesterday.

...

 I'm not sure what you are trying to say with your first statement, or why your would characterize something I said as "cute". Am I taking crazy pills, or have I yet to cast aspersions on anyone in this thread, while getting a decent amount thrown my way?

 I haven't rationalized away every critique of him. Sometimes I have agreed with those in this thread who have opposing views. And I'm pretty sure I've just attempted to provide a different interpretation of events than the in-thread-mainstream would tend to offer. 

  Have you ever gotten to the roots of ANYONE'S belief system (even your own) with any amount of fidelity? Cause I would think you would have to spend a protracted amount of face time with someone before you even scratched the surface.

20 hours ago, arch_8ngel said:

It is a popular logical fallacy where people redirect with a "well what about so and so" when the "so and so" isn't relevant at all to the failings of the person being discussed.

  Ah yes, I can see that being the case. 

  Personally I would like to think of it as a consensus defining detour. Kind of backing up to a previous incident or person and seeing if both sides can agree on the characteristics/interpretation of said incident before moving on. 

  Kind of like - "Are you (or I) biased, operating on a "team" mentality or a filthy commie? Let's talk about topic X to see before we return to topic Y." It's a way to see if you can agree on broader or related issues before arguing over something more specific. But that's just me, and my preferences don't amount to much in the broader scope.

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllll!!! *couldn't find a gif from Rambo 1st blood*

4 hours ago, arch_8ngel said:

Drop the "whataboutism".  Obama isn't the president right now and he isn't the one being impeached.

...

  This is a tangent, but could you tell me what you believe the definition and function of whataboutism is? It's probably the sleep deprivation, but I'm struggling to form a clear picture in my own mind.

3 minutes ago, Rhino said:

Who is this will you speak of? *Poke*

Oh, he's our poking bag. He pretends not to like it but TOTALLY does. 

Powerblade 2. Sold it a few years ago for what I thought was an exorbitant price of around $90. Oh well...

Totally not jinxing anything by saying Mystic Searches

Welcome to VGS Rhino! Poke at will!

12 hours ago, Link said:

...

* per the DSM, psychopathy symptoms include:

• Exudes a sense of superiority or arrogance.
• Impulsive and prone to taking risks or engaging in dangerous behavior with little regard to how it may affect others.
• Lack of empathy or feelings towards others or a situation.
• May display hostile, aggressive behavior, or become violent.
• Being dishonest or lying to people.
• No regard or care for what is right or wrong.
• Being irresponsible.
• Inability to maintain healthy relationships.
• Lack of regard for rules or societal norms.

...

  Well, to be fair, I know a number of teenagers (and adults) who exhibit most or all of these symptoms

Since my company is no longer on holiday shutdown I have much less time to engage in this thread. Sad! 

NES. CIB only. I only deal in absolutes.

Speaking as someone who's currently on round 3, "now you're on the trolley". Welcome back!

Aaaaaand Bump

Bump

21 hours ago, Tanooki said:

Mine is 8 and she very much still does, and we have no chimney so that isn't like a tip off here.  We don't explain how he ever breaks in over night, just that when she wakes up anything he brings is setup on the floor there, not even wrapped, and ready to go and whatever is in the stocking too.  We only wrap for personal non-Santa stuff, something the wife's family does and it seems easier having to do it that way.  She's also paranoid the elf on the shelf snitching her out as that has been kept up over the years too and moved every evening.

I just learned what the heck that elf on the shelf concept was a few days before last Christmas. True story. I imagine my daughter would assassinate that little bugger if I tried to set that up in my household

I like that tune. I like it very much.

No but I remember an article in the local paper showcasing a family that had stockpiled rations and water for the event. Personally spent the evening with some friends outdoors enjoying.. certain... naturally grown... botanicals. Yeah, that's the ticket. 

To beat TMNT for the first time. Which I literally just did. Limped my way to Shredder's room with every turtle on life support (what a friggin' ordeal that final corridor is!) and ended up trapping Shredder in a loop with Donatello. Feels good. Everything else is just gravy!

 Also hoping to get my daughter to play a game of Super Mario Bros 2 or 3 without loosing her mind in frustration