President Biden: The NEW one and only politics thread

UPChip · Aug 24, 2024

UPChip said: ↑

This is an interesting discussion.

I'm 40, male and single. (Thanks journalism!) And my unique contribution to this debate is that I was introduced to the works of Jordan Peterson by a woman, of all people. And before you cluck your tongues, she fought lung cancer for 3+ years and died a year ago last week in her 30s and though I didn't buy into any of Peterson at all, I miss her a ton every damn day. Anyway, my appraisal of it was that his oeuvre is about 1/3 Boy Scout Manual pablum (make your bed, pet friendly animals), 1/3 semantic gobbledygook and 1/3 right-wing grievance. To some degree that whole worldview felt like church with all of the God and Jesus parts stripped out somehow. Discipline for the sake of one's own selfish benefit. Acting like a Neanderthal to garner the attention of others and gain the affection you crave but are too masculine to admit.

And I don't need any of it. I govern my conduct the way I do because I want to serve God and be an effective representative for God in my community and represent my family well, full stop. It has not made me more attractive to women or put much money in my pocket. My faith teaches me that doesn't matter. So much of what sucks about modern American right-wing Christianity is that they believe that by imposing their faith on others they can claim status or earthly benefit by making both the world and God in their image. To some degree, I give Peterson and some of the other cementheads out there credit for not trying to co-opt God in their charade. A lot of "muscular Christianity" types don't have that kind of restraint.

What I will say is that a 21st-century man does carry a lot of responsibilities my predecessors didn't. For example, a couple weeks ago I was doing my usual weekend run/walk in the neighborhood and came up on a pair of girls, probably high school age, walking on the sidewalk. I was the one who crossed the street, even though I couldn't catch the goddamned ice cream truck much less lay hands on these people if I were so inclined. And though we are working toward equality of opportunity between the sexes, there is not an equality of threat, for lack of a better term. Poin threads notwithstanding, the overwhelming majority of sexual assaults are done by men on women, as are the overwhelming majority of workplace sexual harrassment, discrimination and intimate partner violence situations. And because of that, I, as a 40-year-old single, straight man, have to account for that in my conduct. And though it's necessary, sometimes it's mentally taxing. When I go to the Y and some 20-something shows up in tight workout pants and a midriff-baring top, current convention dictates it is my responsibility to avert my gaze or risk being branded a creep, much less react viscerally. If I do find someone I am comfortable making a move on, it is my responsibility to determine if she is single, willing to be hit on, of appropriate age and that I am not improperly abusing any potential power over her to initiate that conversation, lest I risk my reputation and potentially my employment. I don't think those responsibilities fall very often, if at all, on my female peers. Probably about 10 years ago, Tom Brady was on SNL and he was in a one-joke sketch that satirized 1950s workplace training videos and the one joke basically was "It's not sexual harassment if you look like Tom Brady." So, I do think in everyday life, average looking dudes who are just being dudes do often get treated like a suspect class, but probably for good reasons.

I have been directly accused in my shop of contributing to our organization's problems recruiting and retaining female journalists because "the sports guys" (and some of my superiors) discuss sports too loudly and too frequently in the office in casual conversation. If I am getting a rough ride, so to speak, from a fellow female employee, my toolbox of potential defenses of my self and my work is much smaller because I am a man. And that's just the way it is. More often than not, I can get over it. One of the great things about journalism is there's always a job to do somewhere, especially when you need to cool off. But not everyone can process their feelings that way, nor do they have things like personal faith (or even strong family or professional role models to emulate) to put those kinds of things in perspective, and I don't totally blame them if they view it as oppressive. I view it as necessary responsibility, but there are guys who are just trying to live their lives and be honest about their feelings and motivations who get treated as threatening because women who have suffered at the hands of their peers since time immemorial do not have the luxury of treating them as innocent until proven guilty.
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I just realized (and I realized a couple days after my birthday in January) that I totally blew an opportunity to deploy

Liut · Aug 24, 2024

UPChip said: ↑

This is an interesting discussion.

I'm 40, male and single. (Thanks journalism!) And my unique contribution to this debate is that I was introduced to the works of Jordan Peterson by a woman, of all people. And before you cluck your tongues, she fought lung cancer for 3+ years and died a year ago last week in her 30s and though I didn't buy into any of Peterson at all, I miss her a ton every damn day. Anyway, my appraisal of it was that his oeuvre is about 1/3 Boy Scout Manual pablum (make your bed, pet friendly animals), 1/3 semantic gobbledygook and 1/3 right-wing grievance. To some degree that whole worldview felt like church with all of the God and Jesus parts stripped out somehow. Discipline for the sake of one's own selfish benefit. Acting like a Neanderthal to garner the attention of others and gain the affection you crave but are too masculine to admit.

And I don't need any of it. I govern my conduct the way I do because I want to serve God and be an effective representative for God in my community and represent my family well, full stop. It has not made me more attractive to women or put much money in my pocket. My faith teaches me that doesn't matter. So much of what sucks about modern American right-wing Christianity is that they believe that by imposing their faith on others they can claim status or earthly benefit by making both the world and God in their image. To some degree, I give Peterson and some of the other cementheads out there credit for not trying to co-opt God in their charade. A lot of "muscular Christianity" types don't have that kind of restraint.

What I will say is that a 21st-century man does carry a lot of responsibilities my predecessors didn't. For example, a couple weeks ago I was doing my usual weekend run/walk in the neighborhood and came up on a pair of girls, probably high school age, walking on the sidewalk. I was the one who crossed the street, even though I couldn't catch the goddamned ice cream truck much less lay hands on these people if I were so inclined. And though we are working toward equality of opportunity between the sexes, there is not an equality of threat, for lack of a better term. Poin threads notwithstanding, the overwhelming majority of sexual assaults are done by men on women, as are the overwhelming majority of workplace sexual harrassment, discrimination and intimate partner violence situations. And because of that, I, as a 40-year-old single, straight man, have to account for that in my conduct. And though it's necessary, sometimes it's mentally taxing. When I go to the Y and some 20-something shows up in tight workout pants and a midriff-baring top, current convention dictates it is my responsibility to avert my gaze or risk being branded a creep, much less react viscerally. If I do find someone I am comfortable making a move on, it is my responsibility to determine if she is single, willing to be hit on, of appropriate age and that I am not improperly abusing any potential power over her to initiate that conversation, lest I risk my reputation and potentially my employment. I don't think those responsibilities fall very often, if at all, on my female peers. Probably about 10 years ago, Tom Brady was on SNL and he was in a one-joke sketch that satirized 1950s workplace training videos and the one joke basically was "It's not sexual harassment if you look like Tom Brady." So, I do think in everyday life, average looking dudes who are just being dudes do often get treated like a suspect class, but probably for good reasons.

I have been directly accused in my shop of contributing to our organization's problems recruiting and retaining female journalists because "the sports guys" (and some of my superiors) discuss sports too loudly and too frequently in the office in casual conversation. If I am getting a rough ride, so to speak, from a fellow female employee, my toolbox of potential defenses of my self and my work is much smaller because I am a man. And that's just the way it is. More often than not, I can get over it. One of the great things about journalism is there's always a job to do somewhere, especially when you need to cool off. But not everyone can process their feelings that way, nor do they have things like personal faith (or even strong family or professional role models to emulate) to put those kinds of things in perspective, and I don't totally blame them if they view it as oppressive. I view it as necessary responsibility, but there are guys who are just trying to live their lives and be honest about their feelings and motivations who get treated as threatening because women who have suffered at the hands of their peers since time immemorial do not have the luxury of treating them as innocent until proven guilty.
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Several super takes. Respect. And sorry about your friend.

garrow · Aug 24, 2024

LOL. All they got are lies lies lies

Fact check: RFK Jr. claimed Biden was mentioned just twice at the RNC. It was nearly 400 times

wicked · Aug 24, 2024

I probably shouldn't worry about RFK's Trump endorsement, but for some reason it's a bit concerning. Can't put my finger on why.

Maybe the weed is just making me paranoid. Who knows.

Slacker · Aug 24, 2024

Alma said: ↑

Your dismissiveness smacks of ideology
more than current thought process around it.
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LOL. ... You tell 'em, Smacky!

Starman · Aug 24, 2024

wicked said: ↑

I probably shouldn't worry about RFK's Trump endorsement, but for some reason it's a bit concerning. Can't put my finger on why.

Maybe the weed is just making me paranoid. Who knows.
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Well under semi-normal circumstances, the Kennedy family collectively and of course RFK Sr. are considered utterly iconic in the Democratic Party, but I think yesterday's joint statement by five of his siblings raking him over the coals give Dems pretty much complete carte blanche to blast Junior. I would guess in fairly short order cousin Caroline will join the chorus.

I expect Fatfuck will dump JV Dunce within a week or so and add Junior for the stupid-publicity-stunt value.

Spartan Squad · Aug 24, 2024

UPChip said: ↑

I just realized (and I realized a couple days after my birthday in January) that I totally blew an opportunity to deploy

Click to expand...

I’ve been dropping this in my class regularly this past year especially when kids teased me for something I did because I’m middle aged.

cyclingwriter2 · Aug 24, 2024

Republicans when a denounced mentally unbalanced Kennedy family member supports Trump: THIS IS HUGE!!! GAME CHANGER!

Republicans when Trump’s family members, former cabinet members, staffers, the only other living former Republican president and scores of long-term Republicans denounce Trump: “never heard of them.”

Cosmo · Aug 24, 2024

Deskgrunt50 said: ↑

I think about this quite a bit. Because I'm pretty addicted to my phone too. But I think it helps being at an age where there was life before smart phones. I KNOW when it's getting to be too much. I KNOW when to put it down and "touch grass" as the kids say.

But even for me, it's like a reflex now. And it's a habit that I'm really trying to lessen. I've been fortunate to take a few trips this year that took me places where it was easy to avoid looking at my phone all the time. Sure, the fact that I was on the trip made me happy. But that was coupled with, to a lesser extent, the fact I wasn't staring at my phone all the time. And where news is presented in calm, facts-only matter and not the firehose of anxiety that it is here.

I think for a lot of people, it's an addiction that's as hard to break as drugs and booze. The mandate the companies have to create engagement is pretty similar to what drug dealers do.
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I know I've said this before on some post here, but I'll iterate. It pisses me off to no end when I go to hang with people at happy hour and as I try to strike up a conversation, they're on their phones. I dunno what they're doing. Playing games. Buying shit on Amazon. Whatever. The entire point of going out is to actually engage with other human beings, but so many people just sit insulated at the bar on their phones, talking to no one. Why even leave your house?

garrow · Aug 24, 2024

"Ya ever wonder why so many right-wing politicians have family members who so openly and publicly oppose them? Trump, RFK Jr. Paul Gosar? Now, it may be simply a case of just familiarity breeds contempt. Or it could go deeper than that. Perhaps their policies, as vague or nonexistent they may be, bring up too many old family wounds. Thanksgiving must be a real blast, coming so soon after election day. Well, good night...and pass the potatoes."

Deskgrunt50 · Aug 24, 2024

Cosmo said: ↑

I know I've said this before on some post here, but I'll iterate. It pisses me off to no end when I go to hang with people at happy hour and as I try to strike up a conversation, they're on their phones. I dunno what they're doing. Playing games. Buying shit on Amazon. Whatever. The entire point of going out is to actually engage with other human beings, but so many people just sit insulated at the bar on their phones, talking to no one. Why even leave your house?
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Maybe they're reading sj.com!

Yeah, that bugs me too. My wife and I pretty much have a "no phones" rule when we go out. Sure, we'll look stuff up in a discussion or have to pull up a menu with a QR code. But we want to spend the time engaging with each other and friends. Talking! What a concept!

I get really, really annoyed by people walking slowly on the sidewalk (in front of me) with their faces buried in their phone. And that is constant in NYC.

Slacker · Aug 24, 2024

2muchcoffeeman said: ↑

Oh, good lord ... are we gonna have to sit in the woods
wearing loincloths and beating drums all weekend?
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Yeah, goddammit, don't let up now, SJ!

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