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MC Fresh Breath

Certifiably Surly
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Everything posted by MC Fresh Breath

  1. You answered me, so I'll just weigh in a bit more. Thank you for the kind wishes. I have no idea about the DM thing. I also would assume he didn't wish to troll me. I don't think I purposely turned them off and he's not on my ignore list. Again, I welcome any honest interaction. In perusing the Anastasis and reaction posts I have to be careful lest I be hypocritical. But I would say there wasn't much in the way of discourse or dialogue going on at that point. Instead there was anger and sniping. Having sometimes spent months away from this place, either due to being busy or due to politics and life just depressing me, I don't personally find a week off to be all that big of a deal. And I get the concept of a cool off period. Hell, I have to take cool off periods kind of often lately (edit: in life, I mean). And while some may be celebrating him being gone, based on my personal experiences here, I would interpret it more as people celebrating a calmer discussion without the need to score internet gotcha points (and yes, some are going to say that's the same picture). But that's admittedly me. Either way, take care.
  2. Well, you're right in that I don't think most of us here are on "opposite" sides. But the sides were compassion and thoughtful engagement. I opened myself up to this thread in front of a group of people. Some of whom very deservedly could have slammed me for my past interactions with them. Instead they treated me kindly and respected what I was going through. So add humility to my side. And gratefulness. If you want to dissent on those qualities, well I won't attack. But would prefer not to engage. And I realize when I write that I'm kind of painting you in a corner. I can't speak to the Anastasis conflict since I wasn't a part of it. But then I wonder what other "side" you think is being silenced. My takeaway is honest discourse can be still be had. What's yours?
  3. Don't assign to much goodness to me Brisket. I was an asshole to many of you in the Israel thread. And I do overall still feel the way I felt back then about that subject. But I could should have approached it different or even better maybe left it alone. I apologize for being a dick (to you and others) even if I think my overall opinions on the matter are the ones I still hold. Because an emphatic Yes to the thoughtful listening and compassion that troph and Hank are discussing. That's where politics for me just doesn't jibe currently with humanity. It gets in the way of our compassion and our intellect most days. Not to turn this into a me thread but I am an atheist who is finding some good knowledge in the writings of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh. The concept being compassionate listening. And also of course letting go of the past and the future and only trying to live in the very present. Boy that's hard, but boy do I want to learn to do that. And by being that person then I focus on loving the child who is in front of me right now. Not the child I loved and read stories to yesterday. Not the girl who loved it when I randomly did Father daughter days and took off work. And if the child in front of me right now identifies as something other than what I knew, then I will love that person. At the same time, I want to protect that person as best I can from permanent harm that could be made in the heat of the moment. I am nowhere near the teenager I was. Thank fuck social media didn't exist back then to document my every rash moment. And thank goodness none of my mistakes were permanent. Because again I feel the teenage years are perfect for exploring the fundamental question of "who am I?" But Thích Nhất Hạnh was also political. If I could learn how to engage politically while still being compassionate, it would be a brand new me. Because I tend to just angry and depressed instead and randomly lash out. But this particular subject, as we've stated a lot today, shouldn't be political at all. And it is a family issue. Compassion is never wrong in those matters.
  4. all this. all of it. making science and health issues political has been a problem in this country for some time. and it only got worse with the current regime.
  5. Thank you for the kind reply. And I appreciate your story. I hope its obvious that I would never question other's trans identity or needs. We are loving our child the best we can, and so far our connections still seem good. We try to focus on that. And we're also aware that the "loss of the child" is a grief we would face anyway, regardless of gender. They have to leave the nest after all. Well that's our issue. And I cannot claim an answer obviously. I just personally feel parents should have a say in their child's medical care and decisions. I don't know at what point that line gets crossed, but I know it scares us.
  6. Against my better judgement I'm going to wade in for a hot second, then probably wade back out. The subject of rapid onset gender dysphoria is hotly debated and depending on where you sit is where you wind up viewing things. That said, I hope none of you parents have to experience it. Hate linking to amazon so here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/is-my-child-trans-a-guide-for-parents-stella-o-malley/20225435?ean=9781634312486&next=t I'm about as far left as it gets. I'm the true whacko lefty in terms of the majority of my views. But when my previously very feminine daughter who never exhibited one iota of having previous gender dysphoria decided she wanted a new name and new pronouns, I'm now somehow maga for not affirming that self diagnosis. There is no other health issue where a child could tell you something and you would be forced to accept it. If your child came up to you and said they thought they had breast cancer and wanted some chemo and a masectomy would you just affirm that? And very few people understand what you're going though. And then yeah, you go too far into trying to find sympathetic ears and you wind up in maga land. Because goddamned mental health and medical issues are politicized in this country. That book summarizes a lot of issues I can't fully debate or argue well here. There are multiple reasons the NHS ended gender affirming care for youth. As to my personal situation, my child found a group of friends that accepted her. All of them young teen girls who are now all 'boys' with new names and costumes. And binders. And the leader of the group is on testosterone already. There's also plenty of non-gender specific mental issues that were already in the mix with this crew. Anorexia, cutting, suicidal ideation at times. Most of which seems to be done for the 'look at me' affect but what parent can ignore any of this. And mine was in therapy before she decided to 'come out.' And sorry, but Ana is right about the social media aspect to it all as well. And the high amount of this crew in such a small town that somehow all are gender dysphoric at the same time never previously showing symptoms sure seems strange. I also think its connected to the fact that they are well middle to very upper middle class white kids who haven't had an real struggles in life. So now they get to have one. And they get to be celebrated. And they get to support each other. At the same time if their parent don't immediately affirm, then we're transphobic bigots. We also have very first hand knowledge of a set of friends who had kids that actually exhibited trans signs at an early age. we all thought "yeah that tracks." That child went on the puberty blockers and grew breasts (male to female). Now as a high school graduate regrets everything and wants to be male again, and is now sterile for life. And that's a child we thought tracked as trans. Our own child absolutely never exhibited anything like it. Was the pink, and barbie doll girl from an early age (at the time much to the chagrin of my wife). Not one friend that we've told has come back with "yeah, that tracks." Most have been befuddled and can't believe it. Many have said "that's just a trendy phase now." I'm not looking for nor do I deserve sympathy from anyone here. But this has my wrecked my wife. She's lost her daughter, at least for the moment. And lost her to something that feels absolutely fake. Absolutely not who she is deep down. It has thrown into a deep depression, and much anger. It plays on my mental health now all the time as well. We feel thoroughly helpless. I have tried to be neutral about it. I use the new name but not the new gender. But something we are aligned on is no hormones or surgeries until our child is a self supporting adult. But I'm in Oregon where at the age of 14 she can go around us and get it done anyway. Wonderful. I have seen too much to think children should self diagnose, get immediate affirmation, and then get medical treatment. Treatment that can cause real long term damage. And the arrogance in folks who think they know the child you have spent their whole life with is astounding. So yeah, I'm against medical intervention for this with youth. And I fucking hate MAGA.
  7. https://5calls.org/issue/elon-musk-opm-gsa-takeover/ Don't just bitch on the internet. Use your voice.
  8. Elon Musk is a Nazi, so let's keep using his platform and posting links to it.
  9. different option i use a lot now: install this --> https://www.stremio.com/ (you can click ‘sign up with email’ and then the ‘Guest login’ button appears and you don’t have to enter email) plus this(just click install button): https://stremio-addons.com/usa-tv.html best streaming i have found.
  10. Yeah it runs the gamut. Lots of new to me stuff on it, and I've enjoyed trying those out.
  11. https://www.kmhd.org/article/2024/12/11/best-of-2024/
  12. different option i use a lot now: install this --> https://www.stremio.com/ (you can use 'guest' login to not use your email) plus this(just click install button): https://stremio-addons.com/usa-tv.html best streaming i have found.
  13. Behind on surly/this thread so not sure how your search is going. I left Texas in 2019 for Central Oregon (Bend). I love it here but one of the biggest weaknesses in the area is a complete lack of diversity. Oregon is very, very white. Portland is a bit better but has its own issues. Some of the demographics are slowly changing but I have heard too many sad stories about the racism in the area from people of color. Just a head's up and not meant to be discouraging.
  14. sure thing "honored to have their support" maybe go check Stewart's reaction, which is what hers should have been. I'm out. Enjoy the cult.
  15. Of all the strawmen you set up, calling me the problem is actually maybe dead on. Guess I was the problem when I voted for Obama Guess I was the problem when I voted for Hillary (while quietly holding my nose) and then being told later that I (well, and Russia) was at fault for her loss because I liked what Sanders had to say. Guess I was the problem when I met with Lloyd Bentsen. Guess I was the problem when I volunteered for Beto. Guess I was the problem when I marched with women against Trump. In all those things perhaps I really was the problem as I thought perhaps things could be changed from within and pushed left. As drone bombings continued, as Guantanamo was never closed, as war increased, as bipartisan agreement always meant a larger Pentagon budget. As corporations were bailed out while consumers were left to rot on the vine. As now the candidates over who is most conservative (fracking, border, Israel). Oh, and I'm fucking lazy says the asshole with 11.8k posts on this board. Says the douchebag who would rather insult a character he's created in his head and then proceed to lecture that character on how politics work. Who has no knowledge of my participation and what sides I worked for. Sure, I'm the naive one. Fuck you, you anonymous no nothing pussy.
  16. Nope. Haven't watched Dore in forever. He's on off the rails looney that actually is way more right than supposed left. Oh, and fuck you again.
  17. fine, i'll go find another progressive that makes the same points. i'm sure they'll be blessed by the anti-russian propaganda concerned. and yeah, genocide would be a stupid single issue for sure. not that i have to justify myself to you, sydney.
  18. AOC's speech at the convention and has shown exactly what she is. Another bright eyed who goes in and the system corrupts. But have known that for a while. Calling Pelosi mama bear and caving on so much, well as you note its workign out for her. And Omar is in a unqiuely safe space for the moment. Lulz. I'm selfish and lazy? Because I engaged here? WTF kind of reasoning is that? Who the fuck are you besides some random anonymous online prick? You know nothing about me. What I do or don't do. The one thing you get right is the left is bad at politics. They're fractured and often lack coherent organization. But the money and the two main parties do nothing to help that. And the rest of your random off putting rant is even worse. Go to bed gramps. And fuck you too while I'm at it.
  19. No my defense was I didn't go to RT to find her posts. And then I put two articles that are apparently all garbage because there's a line about Ukraine being a US proxy war in there and apparently RT put some of her older stuff up at some point in time. Therefore, all points invalid. OK. I'm a big ol russian stooge.
  20. Also, since I have the russian research crew's attention, could someone let me know real quick if Putin is funding these guys or not? You know, before I become part of the problem and do that electorialism thing. https://votesocialist2024.com/ I'm not as in tune as some of you comrades folks. oh, and before you all get too much heartburn going. don't worry, my State is going blue no matter who, so I only really just upset the apple cart here apparently.
  21. Lol there it is. I tend to think the threats come from the owners themselves. But you know, that's just crazy talk.
  22. I love the honesty always, Sydney. Appreciate you always engaging in a genuine fashion. I didn't cite or quote RT. I quoted a substack post. RT at times has apparently carried her posts. Which apparenlty anyone is able to do. Thus, I'm a russian influencer pushing a Putin perspective. Like Brisket said, Putin would be against fracking.
  23. Those two sentences back to back are pretty funny. In that upcoming Presidential election which candidate will stop sending arms to Israel. Has the Pentagon budget gone up or down with bipartisan agreement? I know, Bernie and a couple of others were against it Was it good or bad that AIPAC ran out two members of 'the squad' recently. Oh wait, that's a Putin thing, right?
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