What made you mad today?

[MacPhantom]

I think the reason people have such a hard time discussing or debating religion and politics in a civil way is that most people hold opinions or beliefs about both that are based on emotion rather than logic or fact, and the essence of debate is a logical examination of a set of facts. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with holding views based on emotion; it just doesn't lend itself to scrutiny or criticism. Often, people have a hard time realizing that a criticism of a belief or opinion is not the same as criticism of the believer.

If you can't debate without taking a counterpoint personally, it's probably best not to engage to begin with. For me, maybe it's a birth defect, but I never take anything personally. I love to argue and debate, because I love the order that comes about from the progression of a logical argument formed by premises that lead with necessity and certainty to a conclusion.

If A, then B.
If B, then C.
A
____________
Therefore, C.

That's a thing of beauty right there!

I love politics, but I understand why most people don't. They wonder how a bunch of rich guys in suits in Washington D.C. have any relevance to their daily lives. I love it because of the impact it has on our lives in so many ways that we don't even think about.

Take the "Net Neutrality" debate. The telecom industry wants to be able to decide how fast or slow different internet websites load for their customers. Say, for example, that Verizon owns shares in Overstock.com. They can make it so that Overstock.com loads twice as fast as Amazon.com, essentially trying to get you to go to one site more than the other. Now, in D.C., one side has proposed the "Internet Freedom Act". Sounds great, right? Except the "freedom" is the freedom for telecom companies to do exactly what I just described. It gives them the freedom to decide which content is more accessible to YOU. The other side is proposing "Net Neutrality". It's a new government regulation. Oooh, big government...Sounds horrible, right? Except what it does is regulate the telecom companies, making it illegal for them to speed up or slow down your access to websites based on what they want you to see. It's the government stepping in, taking away industry's right to push you towards or away from web content of your choosing.

Now that's a decision politicians are debating in Washington right now! That's something that effects every single one of us! That's what politics is... a million different issues that effect us, and we get the power to pick who decides the issues.

When politics is just about name-calling, or fear-mongering, it's no wonder most people tune out. But it doesn't have to be about that. It can be about a civil exchange of facts and ideas.

[Spookymufu]

I have no problem discussing the issues, at times I enjoy it. I may disagree with someone over their party line affiliation, I will tell them what I think and then we move on, I dont hold it against them usually.......As long as the discussion doesnt degenerate into name calling or "you're a bleepity bleep bleep" or "your an idiot for thinking like that" type of stuff. as long as it's civil, maybe with a little kidding or harmless jabs, I'm fine with it.

[adrian]

i just try to never get into it because frankly i just get so bored of it lol like litterally.. its like sitting in church on suday morning listening to a preacher with TERRIBLE crowd speaking abilities... i just kinda drown him out... it's just a form of A.D.D. i guess..
as far as politics go.. yea.. . there are MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of things those guys are handling that we'll never see the first word on.... i'm just glad its not ME up there hahahaha so as far as i'm concerned.. all of my opinions will probably just be based on "i'm walking down the street today, what do i see?" you know? then i'll move on bc i just don't really care too much about it lol

[Spookymufu]

I was dropping of the oldest boy at the college today and I stopped to let him out and some stupid woman decides to pass by me on this little driveway, so I pull forward to leave just as she decides to pass me and she almost nailed the side of my van.....sheesh, she could have sat behind me for a few seconds while the boy jumped out and shut the door, but no, she was in such a hurry she had to shoot around me and almost cause an accident. I felt a little better tho because we both left the college and just happened to go the same directions, I think she thought I was following her because she made a left turn with out putting on her signal maybe trying to "fool" me but I wasnt even going in that direction, so I hope she went out of her way trying to get me not to follow her causing her to waste time she thought she was saving by going around me.

[MacPhantom]

Were you double parked, Spooky? Double parkers make me mad.

[Spookymufu]

not exactly......

[adrian]

i double park TO make people mad bwa hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa

[Pumpkin_Man]

MacPantom has a point. Some times when you are in a small drive way, it's hard for other vehicles to get around you, but I have seen people double parked on numerous ocassions when there was no excuse for it. It also erks me when I am in a crowded arking lot, and some bafoon deliberately takes up two parking stalls by strattling the lines so nobody can park next to him. But one of the most erksome situations of them all is when we have our "Harvest Days" festival at the end of September, and some moron parks in my spot in front of my house. I actualy had a guys car towed awa for that. It was a brand new escalade, and he was fit to be tied when I told him that I had his car towed. But TOUGH TACOS! To make things worse for him, I had no idea where the car was towed to. All I could tell him was what towing company towed it, and where they were based. It was a real cluster blank for him, but at least he will think twice the next time he's tempted to take someone's spot in front of their house.

Mike

[NeverMore]

.
It's not making me mad but it sure is making my buddy mad because he just called me up bitchin and moaning.

I hate people who threaten to jump off a bridge and cause the freeway to be closed down, disrupting traffic for miles in each direction. This is the second time this week.

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/b ... grove.html

[Spookymufu]

MacPantom has a point. Some times when you are in a small drive way, it's hard for other vehicles to get around you
Mike

see thats my point, she had no reason to try and get around me, I was there for about 4-5 sec to toss the kid out, she could have waited a few sec and we would have went on

[NeverMore]

I actualy had a guys car towed awa for that.

Was it a public street with an unmarked curb? He could have had you and the tow truck operator arrested if it was. I would assume this is consistent no matter what ton you live in.

Since I live on a commercial street I finally paid to have a 20 minute zone placed in front of my house. I still need to call parking enforcement but if I know someone is gonna park there for a few hours I will. Ain't worth it if it's any shorter. Problem is, they have to show up, mark the tire, wait 20 minutes (usually an hour or so), then come back and write the ticket. If the car still hasn't moved by the next time they come around, then they'll have it towed.

[NeverMore]

I hate people who threaten to jump off a bridge and cause the freeway to be closed down, disrupting traffic for miles in each direction. This is the second time this week.

She jumped.

Says paramedics performed CPR on her and took her to the hospital. Condition unknown. As bad as she thinks her life was before, it just got a whole lot worse.

Hint: If you're gonna jump off a bridge choose a tall one, like the Coronado or Golden Gate bridge.

[MacPhantom]

Weather report said rain on Saturday.

[NeverMore]

.
Found out I have to work late Friday and Saturday. Grrrrr!!

Sposed to go to the Haunted Trail and Haunted Hotel tonight but I'm in a foul mood and
not sure I want to go. Who am I kidding? I'll go. Watching the girls get scared will cheer
me up.

[Spookymufu]

The morning news show was playing Christmas songs.....