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ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
While on Facebook yesterday, I noticed that almost half of the postings, either sponsored or not, were of a political nature, and the comments associated with most of them involved insults from members of one political persuasion directed toward members of another. I am assuming that few, if any, of these people actually knew the person(s) at whom they were directing their insults. Wherever "supporting information" for one point of view was posted, it always seemed to be only part of the story, and this was constant, regardless of political affiliation. I guess the internet makes it that much easier to perform inadequate research more quickly and efficiently...
I remember the day when politicians were sworn enemies on the floor of Congress, but were best buddies outside of work. There was respect for one another. It was like brothers who graduated from rival schools attending an athletic event involving those schools. They wear their colors and trash talk during the weeks leading up to the game, and at least one of them is upset following the game for a time, but they are still brothers and do not hold a grudge afterwards. Why can't we be more like that today? Is the amount of hatred and disdain that I perceive today's politicians have for each other real, or is it an act? Do you think this is something that today's technology has either created or at least exacerbated? A couple of comments and observations: 1. I have always wanted whoever was "in office", whether or not I voted for them, to be the best President, Congressman, Judge, Supervisor, Councilman, or whatever, that we ever had. I don't have to agree with them; I just want them to have the best interest of their constituency at heart, without a personal agenda, and to work their tails off to prove that they covet our respect and deserve our support. To want any less lessens the opinion that the rest of the world has of our ability to be the responsible "leader of the free world". 2. I have always wanted whoever was in office to be truthful and responsible first of all (at least where matters of national security would not be compromised). In many ways, they should WANT to be MORE truthful and responsible than the average citizen. When they aren't it is our responsibility to call them out on it. They work for us. 3. I think that all of our elected officials should put the needs and rights of US citizens ahead of the needs and rights of non-citizens. I would expect nothing less if I were a resident of another country. There are processes in place for them to become citizens if they want these rights. (I realize that this comment can be re-molded and ba$tardized to say something that I do not mean, so please refrain from doing so.) 4. I think that all of our elected officials should be more intelligent than the average citizen. 5. I think that our elected officials should be the examples of responsibility to which all of us should aspire. 6. ALL elected officials should strive to be worthy of the trust we place in them.
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
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On Jun 8, 2015, ClintonMagus wrote: ClintonMagus, that was your first mistake! |
ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
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On Jun 8, 2015, arthur stead wrote: Yep, I get on there once or twice a month, whether I need to or not...
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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mastermindreader 1949 - 2017 Seattle, WA 12586 Posts |
Believe it or not, I don't allow ANY political or religious commentary on my Face Book pages. People who put up political diatribes and insult others are de-friended immediately.
My private pages are for friends, family and fellow mentalist. My public page is for promotion. None are for politics. Most of my friends are in one area of show business or another, and as a group, tend to be very liberal- if only because we usually work for a very diverse demographic and with other performers of different national and cultural backgrounds. But there are some arch conservatives in there. I've never understood or agreed with their politics, but we still have a strong bond as fellow performers. So that's what we talk about. The only people I really can't stand are those who sometimes attack me as a performer because they don't agree with my politics. Some of you might recall the thread here in which someone tried to denigrate one of my opinions because, as a "fake mind reader," I was obviously a liar. (The irony was that the same guy had "mentalism" listed as a performing specialty on his profile. ) |
LobowolfXXX Inner circle La Famiglia 1196 Posts |
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On Jun 8, 2015, ClintonMagus wrote: In some circles, #4 is considered to smack of elitism.
"Torture doesn't work" lol
Guess they forgot to tell Bill Buckley. "...as we reason and love, we are able to hope. And hope enables us to resist those things that would enslave us." |
rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
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On Jun 8, 2015, mastermindreader wrote: As usual, Bob likes to embellish a bit. I'm pretty sure this is the quote he is referring to: "I got a hint for a few of you. When someone tells you they can read your mind, they're not being completely honest with you! :Smile:" Notice the smile at the end? That meant is was said with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Notice I didn't call him a "fake mind reader". If you read my profile, you'll find I list "Mentalism" as an interest, not as a performing specialty. This is not to say that I didn't say Bob was being dishonest in an earlier post. I did. But I don't find that unusual as the above post kinda proves my point. So, as to the OP. Why can't we at least like each other? I believe it's much easier to dislike someone that you've never met and only know through what you've seen them post on the internet. You get a very one sided view of someone that way. That's why facebook, (and the Café) can get so nasty I suspect. |
rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
Again, in regards to the OP. There are a few individuals on the web (and here), who have the remarkable ability to almost always respond with grace and civility regardless of the comments to them. Woland was one such individual as is LobowolfXXX. Magnus comes close but now and then he can be set off. Unfortunately, I'm no where close. I admire those who are capable of such temperment.
Mike Rowe is another. Here is a latest post by Mike which I find amazing in it's civility, yet defense of his position. The guy is simply amazing. https://www.facebook.com/TheRealMikeRowe......835123:0 Hey Mike Your constant harping on “work ethic” is growing tiresome. Just because someone’s poor doesn’t mean they’re lazy. The unemployed want to work! And many of those who can’t find work today, didn’t have the benefit of growing up with parents like yours. How can you expect someone with no role model to qualify for one of your scholarships or sign your silly “Sweat Pledge?” Rather than accusing people of not having a work-ethic, why not drop the right-wing propaganda and help them develop one? Craig P. Hi Craig, and Happy Sunday! I’m afraid you’ve overestimated the reach of my foundation, as well as my ability to motivate people I’ve never met. For the record, I don’t believe all poor people are lazy, any more than I believe all rich people are greedy. But I can understand why so many do. Everyday on the news, liberal pundits and politicians portray the wealthy as greedy, while conservative pundits and politicians portray the poor as lazy. Democrats have become so good at denouncing greed, Republicans now defend it. And Republicans are so good at condemning laziness, Democrats are now denying it even exists. It's a never ending dance that gets more contorted by the day. A few weeks ago in Georgetown, President Obama accused Fox News of “perpetuating a false narrative” by consistently calling poor people “lazy.” Fox News denied the President’s accusation, claiming to have only criticized policies, not people. Unfortunately for Fox, The Daily Show has apparently gained access to the Internet, and after a ten-second google-search and a few minutes in the edit bay, John Stewart was on the air with a devastating montage of Fox personnel referring to the unemployed as “sponges,” “leeches,” “freeloaders,” and “mooches.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/…/daily-......t-bu…/ Over the next few days, the echo chamber got very noisy. The Left howled about the bias at Fox and condemned the one-percent, while the Right shrieked about the bias at MSNBC and bemoaned the growing entitlement state. But through all the howling and shrieking, no one said a word about the millions of jobs that American companies are struggling to fill right now. No one talked the fact that most of those jobs don’t require an expensive four-year degree. And no one mentioned the 1.2 trillion dollars of outstanding student loans, or the madness of lending money we don’t have to kids who can’t pay it back, educating them for jobs that no longer exist. I started mikeroweWORKS to talk about these issues, and shine a light on a few million good jobs that no one seems excited about. But mostly, I wanted to remind people that real opportunity still exists for those individuals who are willing to work hard, learn a skill, and make a persuasive case for themselves. Sadly, you see my efforts as “right wing propaganda.” But why? Are our differences really political? Or is it something deeper? Something philosophical? You wrote that, “people want to work.” In my travels, I’ve met a lot of hard-working individuals, and I’ve been singing their praises for the last 12 years. But I’ve seen nothing that would lead me to agree with your generalization. From what I’ve seen of the species, and what I know of myself, most people - given the choice - would prefer NOT to work. In fact, on Dirty Jobs, I saw Help Wanted signs in every state, even at the height of the recession. Is it possible you see the existence of so many unfilled jobs as a challenge to your basic understanding of what makes people tick? Last week at a policy conference in Mackinac, I talked to several hiring managers from a few of the largest companies in Michigan. They all told me the same thing - the biggest under reported challenge in finding good help, (aside from the inability to “piss clean,”) is an overwhelming lack of “soft skills.” That’s a polite way of saying that many applicants don’t tuck their shirts in, or pull their pants up, or look you in the eye, or say things like “please” and “thank you.” This is not a Michigan problem - this is a national crisis. We’re churning out a generation of poorly educated people with no skill, no ambition, no guidance, and no realistic expectations of what it means to go to work. These are the people you’re talking about Craig, and their number grows everyday. I understand you would like me to help them, but how? I’m not a mentor, and my foundation doesn’t do interventions. Do you really want me to stop rewarding individual work ethic, just because I don’t have the resources to assist those who don’t have any? If I’m unable to help everyone, do you really want me to help no one? My goals are modest, and they’ll remain that way. I don’t focus on groups. I focus on individuals who are eager to do whatever it takes to get started. People willing to retool, retrain, and relocate. That doesn’t mean I have no empathy for those less motivated. It just means I’m more inclined to subsidize the cost of training for those who are. That shouldn’t be a partisan position, but if it is, I guess I’ll just have to live with it. Mike |
rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
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LobowolfXXX Inner circle La Famiglia 1196 Posts |
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On Jun 8, 2015, rockwall wrote: I appreciate the thoughts, Rockwall, but even if I very rarely lose my cool, I deliberately push others' buttons too often to be singled out as an example of online civility. I'd put forth S2000 as a far better example. Heck, he's been banned 3 fewer times than I have.
"Torture doesn't work" lol
Guess they forgot to tell Bill Buckley. "...as we reason and love, we are able to hope. And hope enables us to resist those things that would enslave us." |
rockwall Special user 762 Posts |
You're correct S2000 is amazing as are a bunch of others that I didn't mention. Most of the good ones just avoid the political discussions completely!
And you may push buttons occasionally but even then it's generally as politely as possible! LOL |
Tom Jorgenson Inner circle LOOSE ANGLES, CALIFORNIA 4451 Posts |
"Hi Craig, and Happy Sunday!
I’m afraid you’ve.....but if it is, I guess I’ll just have to live with it." Wow. A new Post Of The Year. What a balanced take on it all. It was a pleasure to read, thank you.
We dance an invisible dance to music they cannot hear.
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
I don't have face-book personally and all I know about it is that is causes a lot of trouble for kids etcetera. We do have it for the bar for business more or less. I guess it's good and bad and so is place.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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