That’s generous. I’d go with “penal” system, because they only care about taking and punishing. No justice without reform, rehab, and introspection.

Ohhh. I didn’t notice that bit. Same.

Yes. I mean this as more of a, “I trust him so little that I automatically pick up the smallest detail and assume he is still lying.”

I would normally give someone the benefit of the doubt.

Well, as much as I’d love to believe him, I can’t. I start immediately asking questions, like, why is every word either all caps or start with a capital letter except for the word “negative”? Could be the way that lab does it, but almost nowhere else seems to.

Did someone hurt you?

Edit: checked your bio. Someone definitely hurt you.

They are being shot at. Injuries requiring hospitalization with a chance for permanent disability isn’t “performative.” I can hope but can not trust enough people remain in the police and national guard who are willing to prevent escalation.

Source 1 of many: https://abc7.com/post/protester-marshall-woodruff-shot-eye-rubber-bullet-during-no-kings-day-rally-downtown-los-angeles-saturday/16768659/

As to civil war, I lived in a place where multiple people were hopeful for civil war to start and another place where my high school teacher joked on Facebook about open season on liberals and needing bodybags. I feel a need to prepare for the scum around me, since several are already impersonating ICE officers or killing people.

Welcome to war, where human rights are optional and at the discretion of a select few. People will cheer for death like it’s a gladitorial arena, while others act to mitigate as much suffering as possible. Still others will turn away in disgust and become recluse. No answer is correct; at least until the victor writes the history.

My only (personal) recouse is to focus on my impact at a community level, and hope that I get enough power, money, or influence to eventually do more.

I wish there was an actionable alternative.

I’m willing to be one counterexample in the sea. I am absolutely benefiting from both past American imperialism and the current sales of arms that keeps allowing more atrocities. I used to feel guilt about it, but that didn’t solve anything; neither did staying silent. If all the other loud, noisy, opinionated people in my country can’t keep their mouths shut, I view it as a minor responsibility to at least make them use critical thinking (if possible). I’m saving your comment to show people irl. Hope you stay safe.

+1, ADHD and will forget to drink anything until I start feeling low BP. Usually good at feeling hunger thankfully.

Well, hard water means it could be Ca+2 or Mg+2 ions, but it doesn’t have to be. Any metal or mineral in a “high” concentration (often as a dissolved salt) would make water hard. e.g. Salt water is hard compared to tap standards.

The water for the above user certainly could have been corrosive, or an allergic reaction could be the explanation. With a rural, rock ravine environment, any number of minerals could be in the water. You’re also more likely to get other contaminants like toxins in water not properly tested and treated.

Got it. Like Rattatouie Rat said, “change is nature, dad.”

Claiming a basic false thing as something true and saying that everyone keeps trying to gaslight you might work. Same as the stackexchange effect, people will engage to correct you more than anything else. Making it relate to insulting a large group would probably help too ig.

You saying “In bad faith” = i cant I am not trying to meaningfully disagree with you

You can prove it’s in good faith by explaining your resoning. i.e. How is it worse, specifically? How will they possibly “sort their own mess out”?

If you don’t want to, that’s fine. Spouting empty platitudes is all I’ve read the past two responses. Any more will be met with shitposts by me to match your energy.

Ahh yes, because that solves the bystander effect which is why Kitty Genovese did not die from being stabbed in 1964. Also why the Uvalde police are heros for not participating in that school shooting. /s

You still haven’t explained any of your reasoning, so I will assume it is in bad faith.

Finally, your quote is about interpersonal conflict, not violence and murder. Mr. Dyer was a therapist.

Can you please elaborate on that connection from your perspective. I imagine there must be some context I am overlooking.

Willful ignorance of atrocities does not have any chance of stopping or slowing them. Source: Russian Gulags, North Korea, US native women murders/trafficking, Auschwitz.

Yes. The only tatoo idea I have for myself involves dice, chains, and the words “Let’s tempt Fate.” While I would prefer an ideal situation, it’s taking too long. I will support any act that brings aid, supplies, or more notoriety to the plight of Gaza. Even Al-Capone had a soup kitchen for the hungry Chicagans of the Great Depression.

Ty for the response. Glad to see another actually doing groundwork. Love all three bulletpoints, though it is really dejecting so many states have banned the use of ranked choice voting. Been advocating for that system for over a decade, myself.

Edit: oh, forgot to mention that it’s easy for the internet to assign blame to those that protested voting the last election cycle, but that’s only because they view people that voted FOR Trump as a lost cause already. I’m not willing to stop having serious conversations with those people, and more personal outreach would be my only bulletpoint to add.

I mean, it’s fight and risk dying or stand aside while family, friends, neighbors, and children are dissappeared. I know what I would prefer in that imaginary scenario and am definitely not advocating for people to be violent against the national guard, ICE, or other federal organizations.