strange headache
Banned
I swear, I'm so f*ckin' tired of this hypocritical hyper-partisan bullcrap. Both comments were stupid and way below an acceptable level of public discourse, but those insults have become par for the course in today's negative campaigning mentality of American political culture. Each election devolves into a billion dollar bipartisan mud slinging contest, with each side gasping in shock when the other side said something insensitive. Since the last presidential election, the American people seem to be locked into a state of permanent political warfare and all this bile is slowly robbing them of all common sense. All this because of a stupid tweet and an equally as stupid TV segment? That's enough to make you ready to destroy somebody?
The proportionality of justice
Yes free speech is a basic human right and yes nobody should be deresponsibilized from the consequences of his words or actions. But the proportionality of justice still applies, the basic principle that conveys the idea that the punishment of an offender should fit the crime. These past few days I've seen people gleefully throwing that principle out of the window, spitefully clamoring for the harshest of punishments while dehumanizing their target upon which they bring their partisan wrath down upon. Not because it is just or fair or right, but because it's happening to a person from the opposite political border. It's outright sickening!
The bipartisan hypocrisy
Time and time again, I've seen people switch sides and apply the same arguments that they've been vehemently denying before, only because this time it fits their narrative. Principles don't mean anything when they are only upheld when convenient but quickly broken when they apply to people you don't like. Hypocritical attitudes like that don't make you good people, it makes you opportunistic sycophants. Don't you ever dare coming to my doorsteps claiming moral superiority through your hollow virtue-signaling. You are the reason why we are in this ever escalating cultural conflict. Or need you remind you of Stephen Fry's wise words?
Do I like Trump? Hell no! But in-between the cracks of your black and white view of the world, dare I express the notion that literally comparing him to Hitler is an affront to the historical atrocities of WWII and the Third Reich. Do I like Hillary? F*ck no! She's just as corrupt as her corporate cronies, but neither do I believe that she's literally Moloch, just another run of the mill career politician radicalizing her voter base for political gains. All this hyperbole does nothing but bring incredible damage to people's perception of reality and their ability to co-exist. In-between these hardened frontlines, people from all walks of life lose their livelihood while being crushed by the overzealous political troopers on social media and other discussion boards. Each victim completely stripped of their humanity with people gleefully celebrating the fallen ones as a victory for their own side.
Rules for thee, but not for me
How many times have I seen liberals and their beloved celebrities hurl insults like "orange baboon", "the son of an orangutan" or a "syphilitic twitter monkey" but suddenly act all sanctimonious when some of that vile bile is hurled back at them? How many times have I seen republicans defend their right to free speech, but are quick to silence those who do nothing else but take a knee? Don't you even dare pointing fingers at the other side, this is the culture that you've helped create, turning a blind eye to the people and their families to whom it brings pain and suffering, all in the name of your righteous cause. And you think of yourselves as the good people? HA! Your sense of civility and humaneness only extends so far as your own tiny social bubble.
The identity game
All your identity games are nothing but a thin veneer to excuse the atrocities of your own side. "Oh, but she's a woman, so her insults aren't as bad" or "that person is oppressed, so it's okay to 'punch up'", you know the deal. Either you promote equality and hold everybody to the same standards, or you don't. There is no in-between, no exception, no special privileges when it comes to public discourse and the dialectic exchange of ideas. Your identity doesn't grant you liberties that are denied to others and all your virtuous posturing for equality means f*ck all, if you keep going down that path.
There is a reason Lady Justice is blind, because the rule of law applies to everybody in an equal manner. Your identity driven sense of justice is nothing but a wicked and distorted abomination of what true equality really means. And for what? Only because you believe that the social contract is a zero sum game, that different social groups must engage in merciless struggle against each other for limited social privileges, jobs, money and resources. For every person you don't like that you can drive out of business, somebody in your favor can grab its place.
The culture war
Let's not kid ourselves, both comments were absolutely inane and below the belt. But this isn't about discussing the quality of these comments, it's not even about what is fair and just. This is about creating pretext in order to ostracize the political and ideological opponent from public view and/or society. All those who came railing against Roseanne, but are now defending Samantha Bee and all those who came to defend Roseanne and are now asking Samantha Bee to be fired, you are nothing but hypocrites eaten up from the inside by your own self-righteous bile and wrath. You may think that you're on the "right side of history", but you are all that is wrong with this world. And of all the people out there, you are the most dangerous ones, because you think that your righteous cause excuses your atrocious and hypocritical behavior.
Let other places be consumed by their own self-righteous rage, happily celebrating when others lose their jobs, their livelihoods, the ability to support their loved ones no matter who they are. Let others pass these kinds of destructive judgments that ultimately are not theirs to make. This, this is not want I wanted newGAF to be like and if we cannot overcome that despicable, hateful mentality that rejoices in the damages brought upon others, this place could just as well have stayed oldGAF, because it would ultimately be the same anyway.
The proportionality of justice
Yes free speech is a basic human right and yes nobody should be deresponsibilized from the consequences of his words or actions. But the proportionality of justice still applies, the basic principle that conveys the idea that the punishment of an offender should fit the crime. These past few days I've seen people gleefully throwing that principle out of the window, spitefully clamoring for the harshest of punishments while dehumanizing their target upon which they bring their partisan wrath down upon. Not because it is just or fair or right, but because it's happening to a person from the opposite political border. It's outright sickening!
The bipartisan hypocrisy
Time and time again, I've seen people switch sides and apply the same arguments that they've been vehemently denying before, only because this time it fits their narrative. Principles don't mean anything when they are only upheld when convenient but quickly broken when they apply to people you don't like. Hypocritical attitudes like that don't make you good people, it makes you opportunistic sycophants. Don't you ever dare coming to my doorsteps claiming moral superiority through your hollow virtue-signaling. You are the reason why we are in this ever escalating cultural conflict. Or need you remind you of Stephen Fry's wise words?
All this has got to stop, this rage, resentment, hostility, intolerance, above all this with us or against us. A Grand-Canyon has opened up in our world, the fissure, the crack grows wider every day. Neither on each side can hear a word that the other shrieks and nor do they want to. While these armies and propagandists in the culture wars clash, down below in the enormous space between the two sides, the people of the world try to get on with their lives, eternally baffled, bored and betrayed by the horrible noises and explosions that echo all around. I think it's time for this toxic binary zero sum madness to stop, before we destroy ourselves.
Do I like Trump? Hell no! But in-between the cracks of your black and white view of the world, dare I express the notion that literally comparing him to Hitler is an affront to the historical atrocities of WWII and the Third Reich. Do I like Hillary? F*ck no! She's just as corrupt as her corporate cronies, but neither do I believe that she's literally Moloch, just another run of the mill career politician radicalizing her voter base for political gains. All this hyperbole does nothing but bring incredible damage to people's perception of reality and their ability to co-exist. In-between these hardened frontlines, people from all walks of life lose their livelihood while being crushed by the overzealous political troopers on social media and other discussion boards. Each victim completely stripped of their humanity with people gleefully celebrating the fallen ones as a victory for their own side.
Rules for thee, but not for me
How many times have I seen liberals and their beloved celebrities hurl insults like "orange baboon", "the son of an orangutan" or a "syphilitic twitter monkey" but suddenly act all sanctimonious when some of that vile bile is hurled back at them? How many times have I seen republicans defend their right to free speech, but are quick to silence those who do nothing else but take a knee? Don't you even dare pointing fingers at the other side, this is the culture that you've helped create, turning a blind eye to the people and their families to whom it brings pain and suffering, all in the name of your righteous cause. And you think of yourselves as the good people? HA! Your sense of civility and humaneness only extends so far as your own tiny social bubble.
The identity game
All your identity games are nothing but a thin veneer to excuse the atrocities of your own side. "Oh, but she's a woman, so her insults aren't as bad" or "that person is oppressed, so it's okay to 'punch up'", you know the deal. Either you promote equality and hold everybody to the same standards, or you don't. There is no in-between, no exception, no special privileges when it comes to public discourse and the dialectic exchange of ideas. Your identity doesn't grant you liberties that are denied to others and all your virtuous posturing for equality means f*ck all, if you keep going down that path.
There is a reason Lady Justice is blind, because the rule of law applies to everybody in an equal manner. Your identity driven sense of justice is nothing but a wicked and distorted abomination of what true equality really means. And for what? Only because you believe that the social contract is a zero sum game, that different social groups must engage in merciless struggle against each other for limited social privileges, jobs, money and resources. For every person you don't like that you can drive out of business, somebody in your favor can grab its place.
The culture war
Let's not kid ourselves, both comments were absolutely inane and below the belt. But this isn't about discussing the quality of these comments, it's not even about what is fair and just. This is about creating pretext in order to ostracize the political and ideological opponent from public view and/or society. All those who came railing against Roseanne, but are now defending Samantha Bee and all those who came to defend Roseanne and are now asking Samantha Bee to be fired, you are nothing but hypocrites eaten up from the inside by your own self-righteous bile and wrath. You may think that you're on the "right side of history", but you are all that is wrong with this world. And of all the people out there, you are the most dangerous ones, because you think that your righteous cause excuses your atrocious and hypocritical behavior.
Let other places be consumed by their own self-righteous rage, happily celebrating when others lose their jobs, their livelihoods, the ability to support their loved ones no matter who they are. Let others pass these kinds of destructive judgments that ultimately are not theirs to make. This, this is not want I wanted newGAF to be like and if we cannot overcome that despicable, hateful mentality that rejoices in the damages brought upon others, this place could just as well have stayed oldGAF, because it would ultimately be the same anyway.
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