@billhike posted:Talk about misreading.
I just rewrote my response above to follow your suggestion that I reread what I wrote in the Passover thread. I don't think it will matter because of your blind hate for me. But it will give you an opportunity to use some other emojis if you wish.
True story: I had a really difficult neighbor who thought everyone was a jerk here because they all gave her a hard time. I tried to explain to her that if so many others were giving her a hard time maybe It was her that was the problem not them? Then she moved away and left us. Her replacement taught us all what a real jerk could be. I wish we had the old jerk around here instead.
I don't mind being disliked, or even hated, but I do when it's for something I didn't do. I guess that's my final word.
Whenever I look at this stream, I am amazed at the vitriol posted here from people who should know better. It is not enough to spout their views on things, mostly political, but they have to attack anyone who might disagree with their views. Everyone should strive to be better than this. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum and with some of those who are on the opposite side, I am able to have reasonable discussions of political views. For those who are unable to have a rational discussion, I avoid having any discussion. It is not worth it. Try to be better.
@thistlintom posted:Whenever I look at this stream, I am amazed at the vitriol posted here from people who should know better. It is not enough to spout their views on things, mostly political, but they have to attack anyone who might disagree with their views. Everyone should strive to be better than this. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum and with some of those who are on the opposite side, I am able to have reasonable discussions of political views. For those who are unable to have a rational discussion, I avoid having any discussion. It is not worth it. Try to be better.
Agree. While I enjoy participating in political discussions here and pointing out Trump's nonsense and the harm he's doing to the US and the rest of the world, I don't like the vitriol. Let's keep it civil.
@thistlintom posted:Whenever I look at this stream, I am amazed at the vitriol posted here from people who should know better. It is not enough to spout their views on things, mostly political, but they have to attack anyone who might disagree with their views. Everyone should strive to be better than this. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum and with some of those who are on the opposite side, I am able to have reasonable discussions of political views. For those who are unable to have a rational discussion, I avoid having any discussion. It is not worth it. Try to be better.
I'll admit it, respectfully and without vitriol, I have a hard time having a reasonable discussion when I see my country going down while led by a racist, bigoted, teller of thousands of lies, sexist know-nothing demagogue. (I know you don't like my mantra of listing this man's serious flaws that make him unfit for the presidency, but I don't believe I've ever seen you even try to refute the facts I've brought up here in the past to support my views.) There were not two equally valid viewpoints in pre-1860s America (You're for slavery and I'm not so let's agree to disagree) and there certainly isn't today.
@thistlintom posted:Whenever I look at this stream, I am amazed at the vitriol posted here from people who should know better. It is not enough to spout their views on things, mostly political, but they have to attack anyone who might disagree with their views. Everyone should strive to be better than this. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum and with some of those who are on the opposite side, I am able to have reasonable discussions of political views. For those who are unable to have a rational discussion, I avoid having any discussion. It is not worth it. Try to be better.
I tried this approach...didn’t really go well with folks here. I try not to be a name caller, but fail at times. No reason people just cannot have different view points.
I have said many times...that I despised Hillary so much that there was only one choice. And on top of that, I agree a lot more with Republican ideology than a democratic one.
I agree a lot more with Republican Idiot-ology than a democratic one.
Fixed it for Napa
@flwino posted:I agree a lot more with Republican Idiot-ology than a democratic one.
Fixed it for Napa
and there we go....
Love to egg him on
@thistlintom posted:Whenever I look at this stream, I am amazed at the vitriol posted here from people who should know better. It is not enough to spout their views on things, mostly political, but they have to attack anyone who might disagree with their views. Everyone should strive to be better than this. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum and with some of those who are on the opposite side, I am able to have reasonable discussions of political views. For those who are unable to have a rational discussion, I avoid having any discussion. It is not worth it. Try to be better.
This
I miss the old days on these boards. When I first joined almost 20 years ago I met so many amazing people, many of whom I consider friends, had some amazing times and tasted some fabulous wines, all the while learning and growing my love and appreciation of same. The boards don't feel that way any longer, hence the fact I don't hang around or post much any more.
Disappointing, and too bad.
Agree
The board has gone down hill. The regulars never show up any more. Had a few great off lines with folks I met here.
Anti-Semitic incidents in U.S. hit record high in 2019, report says
I met this rabbi in the picture at an event about year ago. I did not know at first who he was, but when I shook his hand it was wrapped with a blue cloth. Later I found out it was because he was missing a finger or two. As I said two days ago, starting in 2017 anti-Semitic attacks rose at their greatest rate since tracking was begun by the Anti-Defamation League. They have continued at this pace for the last three years. There was only one major change our country has experienced during that time frame and that's the presidency of a man who regularly spews venom and hate toward minorities.
Sigh...
@Vino Bevo posted:I miss the old days on these boards. When I first joined almost 20 years ago I met so many amazing people, many of whom I consider friends, had some amazing times and tasted some fabulous wines, all the while learning and growing my love and appreciation of same. The boards don't feel that way any longer, hence the fact I don't hang around or post much any more.
Disappointing, and too bad.
If you stay out of this particular thread I think you'll find that nothing has changed here except the numbers of participants has gone way down. This thread is the one place that WS has allowed political discussions (which I didn't even discover for years because I never visited this thread.) And yeah, political discussions, particularly in these times, can get very heated. So why not just change the channel?
Seems to me that this thread is a necessary outlet through which those of us who wish to do so can share their political views (and other thoughts that are off topic) without interfering with other topics. Much like the former Madder Than Hell forum.
And yes, if the comments on this thread, one of dozens of threads here I would note, offend anyone then just ignore it. Much like one might ignore tv channels that offend or don't interest them.
That said, I reiterate that there is no need for vitriol or name calling of our fellow forumites.
@Vino Bevo posted:Sigh...
I know, the rise in hate crimes in this country is quite shocking.
@bman posted:Seems to me that this thread is a necessary outlet through which those of us who wish to do so can share their political views (and other thoughts that are off topic) without interfering with other topics. Much like the former Madder Than Hell forum.
And yes, if the comments on this thread, one of dozens of threads here I would note, offend anyone then just ignore it. Much like one might ignore tv channels that offend or don't interest them.
That said, I reiterate that there is no need for vitriol or name calling of our fellow forumites.
I'll just never understand it. I'm on another forum with a member that just posts (to me) unbelievably ignorant things. So you know what I do? I don't read them anymore. It's quite easy.
@Vino Bevo posted:This
I miss the old days on these boards. When I first joined almost 20 years ago I met so many amazing people, many of whom I consider friends, had some amazing times and tasted some fabulous wines, all the while learning and growing my love and appreciation of same. The boards don't feel that way any longer, hence the fact I don't hang around or post much any more.
Disappointing, and too bad.
Yep
@flwino posted:Agree
The board has gone down hill. The regulars never show up any more. Had a few great off lines with folks I met here.
Can't have it both ways. You are big part of the downhill slide.
@bman posted:Wow. Without your constant baiting while avoid any constructive discussion, this thread would be much more civil.
The hypocrisy is strong in this one!
Really...I am not baiting anyone. And I generally am not a name caller at all. I put up quite a lot of alternative thoughts for discussion only to get bashed for not being in group think with the rest of you.
@bman posted:Wow. Without your constant baiting while avoid any constructive discussion, this thread would be much more civil.
The hypocrisy is strong in this one!
There is plenty of hypocrisy to go around. In one sense you are right that the thread would be more civil without Napa as there wouldn't be anyone who is willing to voice views different from all the progressive bullies here with to bash.
@thistlintom posted:There is plenty of hypocrisy to go around. In one sense you are right that the thread would be more civil without Napa as there wouldn't be anyone who is willing to voice views different from all the progressive bullies here with to bash.
Ew, progressives, (By they way I'm not) evil wicked people. However, if the definition means being against (here we go TT, one day you'll really have to try and refute some of them) racism, bigotry, sexism, know-nothing-ism, anti-science, mocking of the disabled, mocking of POWs, demagoguery and lying daily on a monumental scale, then I guess I'm one of them. Didn't think any of those things I've been against for all my life could be taken to be controversial EXCEPT for people who support, or engage in, one or more of those things.
@thistlintom posted:There is plenty of hypocrisy to go around. In one sense you are right that the thread would be more civil without Napa as there wouldn't be anyone who is willing to voice views different from all the progressive bullies here with to bash.
TTom, as it happens one of the things I enjoy most here and on other social media is hearing from people who disagree with me. Last thing I want is an echo chamber. You and I have had a couple of spirited discussions which I appreciated, as you actually made counter points rather than attempts to bait. Ditto my recent encounter with csm here, someone I actually have met and know and like.
Napa has done that in the past as well but for the past few months, perhaps years, I don't recall a comment that can be called anything but baiting, or anything that makes an effort to actually rebut a point made here. I and others have gone to some length to use facts to back up our arguments but I just made a quick search of Napa's posts here going back to the beginning of the year and I see pretty much nothing but baiting.
Add in his defence of clearly outrageous actions by Trump such as taking kids away from their families, putting them in cages and then losing track of who they are and how to get them back to their families and it's not hard to see why Napa takes the flack he takes.
@bman posted:TTom, as it happens one of the things I enjoy most here and on other social media is hearing from people who disagree with me. Last thing I want is an echo chamber. You and I have had a couple of spirited discussions which I appreciated, as you actually made counter points rather than attempts to bait. Ditto my recent encounter with csm here, someone I actually have met and know and like.
Napa has done that in the past as well but for the past few months, perhaps years, I don't recall a comment that can be called anything but baiting, or anything that makes an effort to actually rebut a point made here. I and others have gone to some length to use facts to back up our arguments but I just made a quick search of Napa's posts here going back to the beginning of the year and I see pretty much nothing but baiting.
Add in his defence of clearly outrageous actions by Trump such as taking kids away from their families, putting them in cages and then losing track of who they are and how to get them back to their families and it's not hard to see why Napa takes the flack he takes.
Ok...semi-fair point if you take it that way...but you may interpret another viewpoint as baiting. I’m not. Often I prefer to point out the double standard most of you have and the media. It’s shocking and pretty disgusting. Do you all not see it or recognize it? Or are you all in on your blind hatred.
Ever see a video or two on college campuses where the host reads Trumps words but they don’t tell the young idiots who said it....and they all agree it sounds reasonable...until they reveal who said it.
@napacat posted:Ok...semi-fair point if you take it that way...but you may interpret another viewpoint as baiting. I’m not. Often I prefer to point out the double standard most of you have and the media. It’s shocking and pretty disgusting. Do you all not see it or recognize it? Or are you all in on your blind hatred.
Ever see a video or two on college campuses where the host reads Trumps words but they don’t tell the young idiots who said it....and they all agree it sounds reasonable...until they reveal who said it.
Given the fact that he never shuts up and has often tweeted dozens of times a day, odds are that he would come up up with the odd rational thought. So what? Proves nothing, especially balanced against the millions of crazy and dangerous things he's said.
And why do you suggest college students are idiots?
The discussions above have made me ruminate about something. I've often said that even if I disagreed with someone here online, that wouldn't stop me from sitting down with them face to face, and enjoy sharing a bottle of wine. I still believe that. I'd love to sit down with both Napa and TOM someday, though probably not at the same time.
That said, my best friend is a man who loves to entertain. Often times when he invites me over, I discover that I'm only one of many guests at his house that evening. There is a certain "gentleman" that his wife keeps inviting (she's a bit of a social-climber), whom I cannot stand. He is a local, small-time politician who thinks that pearls continually drop from his lips and everything he touches turns to gold. I've never met someone so in love with himself. I've shared wine with him on several occasions over the years, and the funny thing is, he never remembers me. (Not important enough, I guess. Just someone in the crowd.) I never call him out on it, as it would be bad form at a function; but every time, as soon as he realizes that I'm not going along with his BS like the rest of the crowd, you can see the change come into his eyes. They become cold and lizard-like, and he soon finds a reason to leave for another party (and to a more receptive crowd, I assume). That I can't abide sharing wine with this guy, even for a small amount of time, bothers me a little bit, I guess. Feels like a character flaw in me.
@mneeley490 posted:The discussions above have made me ruminate about something. I've often said that even if I disagreed with someone here online, that wouldn't stop me from sitting down with them face to face, and enjoy sharing a bottle of wine. I still believe that. I'd love to sit down with both Napa and TOM someday, though probably not at the same time.
That said, my best friend is a man who loves to entertain. Often times when he invites me over, I discover that I'm only one of many guests at his house that evening. There is a certain "gentleman" that his wife keeps inviting (she's a bit of a social-climber), whom I cannot stand. He is a local, small-time politician who thinks that pearls continually drop from his lips and everything he touches turns to gold. I've never met someone so in love with himself. I've shared wine with him on several occasions over the years, and the funny thing is, he never remembers me. (Not important enough, I guess. Just someone in the crowd.) I never call him out on it, as it would be bad form at a function; but every time, as soon as he realizes that I'm not going along with his BS like the rest of the crowd, you can see the change come into his eyes. They become cold and lizard-like, and he soon finds a reason to leave for another party (and to a more receptive crowd, I assume). That I can't abide sharing wine with this guy, even for a small amount of time, bothers me a little bit, I guess. Feels like a character flaw in me.
I don’t see how not enjoying socializing with disingenuous phonies as a character flaw in you. Sitting there with a fake smile and nodding along would make you one of them.
@bman posted:Given the fact that he never shuts up and has often tweeted dozens of times a day, odds are that he would come up up with the odd rational thought. So what? Proves nothing, especially balanced against the millions of crazy and dangerous things he's said.
And why do you suggest college students are idiots?
It certainly was way too broad and general of a statement...but when they agree with the words / premise, then disagree with them once it is revealed who uttered them...seems to me that they were not WOKE enough and are only faking it.
@mneeley490 posted:The discussions above have made me ruminate about something. I've often said that even if I disagreed with someone here online, that wouldn't stop me from sitting down with them face to face, and enjoy sharing a bottle of wine. I still believe that. I'd love to sit down with both Napa and TOM someday, though probably not at the same time.
That said, my best friend is a man who loves to entertain. Often times when he invites me over, I discover that I'm only one of many guests at his house that evening. There is a certain "gentleman" that his wife keeps inviting (she's a bit of a social-climber), whom I cannot stand. He is a local, small-time politician who thinks that pearls continually drop from his lips and everything he touches turns to gold. I've never met someone so in love with himself. I've shared wine with him on several occasions over the years, and the funny thing is, he never remembers me. (Not important enough, I guess. Just someone in the crowd.) I never call him out on it, as it would be bad form at a function; but every time, as soon as he realizes that I'm not going along with his BS like the rest of the crowd, you can see the change come into his eyes. They become cold and lizard-like, and he soon finds a reason to leave for another party (and to a more receptive crowd, I assume). That I can't abide sharing wine with this guy, even for a small amount of time, bothers me a little bit, I guess. Feels like a character flaw in me.
I'd have a bottle of wine with you and the Old Man. Could be very fun.
Obamagate!
There are quite a few people attending college that are idiots, unfortunately
According to CNN, Greta Thunberg is an expert on corona virus
@thistlintom posted:According to CNN, Greta Thunberg is an expert on corona virus
That makes one Swede & one American [dr. Trump]
@thistlintom posted:According to CNN, Greta Thunberg is an expert on corona virus
Don't think they ever called her an expert, she's there to attract a different-than-usual audience to hear other experts. CNN had a virus town hall with Sesame Street characters for the same reason. And no doubt she is a more reliable interlocutor on the virus than Trump. Unless of course she suggests injecting disinfectant.....
@thistlintom posted:According to CNN, Greta Thunberg is an expert on corona virus
Link?
@thistlintom posted:According to CNN, Greta Thunberg is an expert on corona virus
Citation or I call BS which is a nice way of saying lying.
