Breathe

@Scholar I agree with a good deal that you said here, but I'd like to distill it down a framework that I've come up with. Morality is a tricky subject, so I don't want to get lost in the weeds there, but without opening that can of worms I will say that I have values. I align my political views with those values. And yes, I will speak out when I disagree. I will also walk away when once I sense that I'm not getting through to someone. At some point you have to recognize that your own views change. This also means that other people's views are susceptible to change. If you really get that, then you understand that it's fine for people to have opposing views. People are where they are at and there's little you can do about it. Also, it's good to recognize that how you see things now isn't how you'll see things in the future. If you don't get that, then you will never grow. There has to be some semblance of self-doubt, the willingness to challenge yourself, to open up to the possibility that you may be wrong. And lastly, be ok with ambiguity and patient for the truth to reveal itself. Back to values... I value kindness, equality, and truth. I will call people out if they are not acting in accordance with those values, but I will also hold my self accountable if I'm not doing so myself. The latter is easier said than done. Why is this important? Because it prevents me from becoming ideological, limits my tendency to see things through the lens of my own biases, and lends itself to a more harmonious life. @saif2 Good question. Refer to the values I listed above... Corruption proof values.

@SOUL did a much better job at articulating what I was thinking but I'll try to come at this from a slightly different angle and perhaps add a little something... The definition of "right" and "left" has been fluid over time and means different things depending on culture. it's changed over time in the US and I doubt that most people can agree on what each encompasses. We're given to sets of values and there's no room for deviation. Example, if i believe in trans rights, am pro-life, and am firmly against gun control am I right or left? To lump people into two categories is too simplistic. Also, my observation is that people don't really know where they stand. I meet plenty of people who identify as right but when you inquire, they really espouse left wing values, or at the very least, have contradicting ideas. I know one person who thinks that businesses should not be regulated, but also believes people should be eating healthy food. So, on one hand, a mega corporation should not be restricted from putting pesticides on foods, but also believes that pesticides should not exist in food. This is ignorance. People who identify as right or left are basically given a set of beliefs and values without realizing they have no idea what they actually think or believe. What I'm trying to say is that to base a study on people who lack intelligence and self-awareness doesn't yield any meaningful results.

First thing that's given me any hope in a while

@zazen I'm glad you see it. When the tariffs eliminate jobs and when AI replaces the remaining jobs, what's next? Well, people will be poor. What's next? Well, people will resort to crime to survive. Then what? Well, they will be imprisoned. And guess what? It will be good for business. Private prisons get paid, they also get free labor. FUCK YEAH AMERICA, THE AMERICAN DREAM. ANYONE CAN MAKE IT. EVEN PRISON CAMP CEOS.

@carterfelder I have no interest in teaching you how to learn

Protests are breaking out everywhere. But Saturday is going to be off the hook. He's already saying that he'll come after anyone that protests on his birthday, lol. How do you think Trump will respond? Which cities do you think are going to be met with force? I'm thinking Portland, Seattle, SD, SF, Chicago, NY. Maybe others, I dunno. I hope protesters can remain peaceful. Shit could get ugly in a lot of places. Also, this is pretty damn funny... Not sure if it is real but saw it posted elsewhere. Seat fillers are needed in Washington to pump Trump's ego: https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tlg/d/washington-seat-fillers-needed-june/7857143452.html

I used to eat at that restaurant. I left SD a couple years ago, cool that you know it. Best pizza! He's strong, I admire him for that. But his actions have been questionable lately. Didn't he meet with Bannon on a podcast? I don't know what the fuck that was about. 1) Rape, citing an insurrection, tax fraud, money laundering, cozying up to mobsters, collusion with Russia, friends with epstein 2) You took the bait. The anti-woke agenda was meant to distract you from the above. Distract and deflect, that's Trump's survival strategy. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU TOOK THE BAIT. YOU SHEEP He's gutting the constitution, privatizing institutions that help people, creating policies that will kill and impoverish millions of people, destroying jobs, etc. The leopard will eat your face too. It's unfortunate that you won't see any of this until it does. But I guess that's how the cookie crumbles. ( SHRUG ) WAKE UP That was strategic. They killed it because they knew he'd have nothing left to run on. That and woke-ness. @carterfelderstill would have taken the bait though.

@DocWatts What is your take on protestors vandalizing shit and launching shit at police? Don't we want peaceful protests? I'm not sure how it all started but shit like that is going to antagonize Trump. We know he'll retaliate and we know what that would likely lead to. Just curious what you think about all of that.

Feeling good isn't a bad thing. Certain pleasant qualities actually pull you deeper into silence. If you don't practice in the Buddhist tradition this may not make sense, but the Buddhists explicitly cultivate certain factors as a vehicle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Factors_of_Awakening

This is fascism.

Let me preface this by saying I have been a tech professional for more than a decade and got my start in cybersecurity. I wanted to kick-start a discussion about what the new administration might mean for users who source psychedelics using legally questionable means. First, if you have engaged in what I referred to above, what you may or may not have done is known. At the very least, AI can figure that out with ease. Not hard. Your Tor/Tails usage, Signal, VPN, banking, Bitcoin, ProtonMail, and XMR transaction have all raised flags. Any packages that may have arrived in the mail have been photographed. it is not difficult to conclude what those packages may contain given how easily it is to associate online activity. There is no-one here on this forum, and I mean that literally... NO-ONE, who has the technical know how to be invisible online. If you think you're invisible, I guarantee you that you have made mistakes, and are likely still making them. Some of you may be aware that palantir is compiling a database of all US citizens in order target and/or blackmail dissent. This is an older article and I don't feel like digging up a new one. This should give you an idea of where this may be going... https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-database-palantir-dystopian-alarm-2079688 Surveillance at this point is ALL PERVASIVE and shit is way more sneaky than you can imagine. Does this mean that you are a target, or that you will or have been profiled? I can't say. It all depends on who the administration may deem an enemy of the state. Given who Trump clearly admires and aspires to be, consider the possibility we may be headed in that direction. Interpret this information as you please. Be careful out there.

I think this post answers my question... https://bsky.app/profile/ruthbenghiat.bsky.social/post/3lr2ukpoef22m

Damn, shit is looking wild in LA. Trump is sending in the national guard These protests do not look particularly peaceful. Isn't this the shit the administration has been waiting for to escalate their agenda? From the lens of authoritarianism, what is happening here?

I used to live right down the street from that restaurant. Great pizza. Pretty wild.