[Slack Tide]

One thing I like about this forum is that it's a nice place for me to organize a point with feedback from you guys. My brother came out from sunny San Diego for my father's wake and funeral. He's a good person, not a scumbag at all. However he is very liberal, big into AA, a lot of Zen, Yoga, organic this and that; not me at all. I'm a Republican Catholic teacher/bar owner. He mentioned to me how he has changed since having COVID. He says his memory is not what it used to be (53 years old, fit and sober) and that he looses track of things etc. Which to me was remarkable. His side of the aisle wanted COVID to be the Goliath of all time. So he was all about 2 masks, every vaccination you could get, lock downs, on and on......and then he gets it. He was absolutely distraught while he was "sick." Then he got over it and rather than rejoice and be grateful that it was no big deal, he is further validating the seriousness of COVID by believing that his perceived memory issues are from COVID. So, he falls for the hype of his media and party, which resulted in him nearly having a breakdown when he got it and now that it's over, he's vigilantly looking after effects as if he wants to believe it was worse than it was! I'm so intrigued by this circle of logic.

 

[HNTFSH]

One thing I like about this forum is that it's a nice place for me to organize a point with feedback from you guys. My brother came out from sunny San Diego for my father's wake and funeral. He's a good person, not a scumbag at all. However he is very liberal, big into AA, a lot of Zen, Yoga, organic this and that; not me at all. I'm a Republican Catholic teacher/bar owner. He mentioned to me how he has changed since having COVID. He says his memory is not what it used to be (53 years old, fit and sober) and that he looses track of things etc. Which to me was remarkable. His side of the aisle wanted COVID to be the Goliath of all time. So he was all about 2 masks, every vaccination you could get, lock downs, on and on......and then he gets it. He was absolutely distraught while he was "sick." Then he got over it and rather than rejoice and be grateful that it was no big deal, he is further validating the seriousness of COVID by believing that his perceived memory issues are from COVID. So, he falls for the hype of his media and party, which resulted in him nearly having a breakdown when he got it and now that it's over, he's vigilantly looking after effects as if he wants to believe it was worse than it was! I'm so intrigued by this circle of logic.

Sorry to say that I can't help but believe there IS something wrong with him but it's not COVID related. My wife is also a very nice person. Vegetarian (not vegan), extremely active (run, walk, hike like it's a religion), works at a Church, high values and hated Trump. By all signs, she should be a liberal and probably even likes that "term". "Liberal" can have a nice connotation and to her, so can "left". She's left handed therefore probably associates that term with a physical trait which makes her up. BUT...her thinking and reality is totally RIGHT! Values, economy, true altruism, morals, fairness and fiscal responsibility. She's on the right and doesn't even know it. 🤣 She, however, thinks of "Right or Conservative as "Trump" though.

So your brother (IMO) = brain washed. His interests align with many people who are freakin' wacko. So what may be 'wrong" with him is the loss of ability to be a 'free thinker". COVID is his master, as is the crowd he likely hangs with that are equally as impaired.

Most liberal looking people I see, young or old, just want to "belong" to something larger than themselves because they are not comfortable WITH themselves. And they blame everybody and everything on that. In this case, it sounds like "COVID".

If it helps, tell him a just 60 Conservative bumpkin from Ohio told you he can't always remember where he left his damned car keys and I didn't get COVID.

 

[Slack Tide]

There was a woman on TV recently. Our new disaster Mayor Adams ordered the disassembly of the rows upon rows of tent cities in NYC. This woman was standing in front of her zillion dollar Brownstone screaming at the cops for attempting to tear down one of the many tents that was basically on her stoop. She was screaming that "he is my neighbor! What are you doing? Those are his belongings!" And poking his head out of the tent was some skinny, Frank Zappa looking guy who was probably a physics professor at NYU. When they got him out, they picked up the tent and dozens of needles fell out all over the sidewalk. Now, how is this woman paying what she pays to live there and advocating for a guy to live in a tent and piss on her steps day in and day out? And she was not alone, the entire neighborhood was outside berating the cops. I just don't get it. I'm not into walls and private associations etc. but I'm also not about to degrade my community in some apologetic attempt to right a social wrong.

 

[Specklebelly]

I am the same age as your brother and am also seeing memory loss. But it is age related and nothing to do with COVID.

 

[HNTFSH]

There was a woman on TV recently. Our new disaster Mayor Adams ordered the disassembly of the rows upon rows of tent cities in NYC. This woman was standing in front of her zillion dollar Brownstone screaming at the cops for attempting to tear down one of the many tents that was basically on her stoop. She was screaming that "he is my neighbor! What are you doing? Those are his belongings!" And poking his head out of the tent was some skinny, Frank Zappa looking guy who was probably a physics professor at NYU. When they got him out, they picked up the tent and dozens of needles fell out all over the sidewalk. Now, how is this woman paying what she pays to live there and advocating for a guy to live in a tent and piss on her steps day in and day out? And she was not alone, the entire neighborhood was outside berating the cops. I just don't get it. I'm not into walls and private associations etc. but I'm also not about to degrade my community in some apologetic attempt to right a social wrong.

It's the cool and caring thing to do! Berate the cops! There are SO MANY people just out-of-touch with reality and yes, some "white or rich" guilt exists. I hate when people are offended for someone else, just so they feel "woke". It's a serious character flaw.

 

[Rat Creek]

It's the cool and caring thing to do! Berate the cops! There are SO MANY people just out-of-touch with reality and yes, some "white or rich" guilt exists. I hate when people are offended for someone else, just so they feel "woke". It's a serious character flaw.

^^^^^This^^^^^

The odd thing to me is she is okay with him living on the street, shooting up and no doubt stealing to feed the habit, but when the police force him to join society, get help or just move on, well, that is just too much. It is bizarre and irrational, and very progressive.

Slack, sorry about the loss of your father. That sucks.

 

[Slack Tide]

Thanks Ratty,
He went into the hospital after a slight fall where he bumped his head on a carpeted floor at his assisted living place. He went to the local hospital and he was awake and alert, eating upright in bed with a knife and fork etc. The next day I went to visit and he was out cold. They said that he was agitated and trying to get out of bed so they gave him an Ativan which is an anti psychotic, heavy drug. I finally got him out of that after 3 days and he was rebounding. Next thing I know, he tested positive for COVID and was moved yet again. A guy with dementia and a concussion was moved 7 times. First a blue room, then a yellow one, with a room mate, now he's gone, look out the window and see a tree, now a brick wall. That would tax any one of us. Anyway, he faded further and further and it was time for hospice. He was made comfortable and he died on Easter Sunday. Mom hasn't been gone even a year. They are together and that's ok by me.

 

[Slack Tide]

And Rat, what's the LGB community?

 

[HNTFSH]

They are together and that's ok by me.

 

[Botiz630]

Sorry to hear about your father slack. Mine passed 20 some years ago now and it still impacts me.

On the covid stuff. I don’t know, I just wish we could all acknowledge that different people feel differently about it, and that that could be okay.

I spent the two years of covid working inside different manufacturing plants every day, full of people and activity. Constantly around large groups of people and in close quarters. My life didn’t change a bit. I spent the entire time scoffing at people who let it control their lives. I never got it, and truly believed that if I could do what I was doing and not get it, than it couldn’t be possible for me to get it. I never got vaccinated, only because I completely believed I couldn’t get it. It wasn’t anything political.

Then I got it last November, and it took me about to the point of wishing I was dead. I was very sick for two weeks. I still consider myself young and I’m in pretty good shape, strong as an ox. If not for that I think I could have been in real trouble. I remember clearly, being near the point of tears wishing so badly that I had taken it seriously and gotten the vaccine. It’s been many months and I still have some symptoms.

So now, I don’t get too bent out of shape by folks who go overboard with it. And I regret the way I thought about folks who did, along the way.

 

[HNTFSH]

Slack - my Dad passed two years ago at 93 and I talk with him more now than when alive. If there's even a chance he can "hear me" I want to make sure he knows how much I continue to honor his love. I know many feel the same about theirs. I am his "eternal life" as are my children and every family member that follows.

The Covid thing. I feel like it really exposed many ugly things about our society and highlights the issues we face. The political aspect of Covid is/was extremely scary. It's hard not to believe that it was weaponized politically and how devastating and dangerous that is. Scarier yet is how many people are gullible enough not to see and understand that. It is extremely concerning.

I got my two shots and one boost. Covid was real. It was in my best interest (hopefully) based on what I could discern. Am neither pro or anti vax, do what you think is best for you. Beyond that...one only has to look at factual evidence, beginning to end, to see the political weaponization of the virus. The fact that people buy-in hook, line, and sinker frustrates me.

When I see or meet anyone "too far left" (whatever than means) I really question their sanity or confidence in themselves. You of all people see where the education system has headed forming young minds. Gender identity in the 3rd grade? That's flat sick. I've silently unfriended a few people I really, really like who have bought into the woke cultural because we have little to talk about that doesn't somehow touch on kids, current events, etc. I'd rather part ways in silent attrition than degenerate a once fun relationship. They (like your brother) really are "great guys" I just can't deal with my disappointment in them.

Hopefully you know none of my ramble is about disrespecting your Bro, I'm just disheartened by what I feel is a disassociation with reality fueled by a very small percentage of the population but powered by socialist devils that see a path to extending their "power". This Country gets more dishonest every day and I'm truly concerned about the people in it.

I refuse to be an enabler.

 

[Botiz630]

I agree with all of that HNT, but I’m just as disturbed by the people on the opposite side of the political spectrum from what you describe. They are just as brainwashed, just as fervently insane, just in their own way vs the “other team.” More than anything, what drives me absolutely crazy is how nobody will acknowledge that their “team” is just as bad as the other. Many will say they do, but actions speak louder than words.

I’m kind of liberal in some areas and pretty conservative in others. But it such a turnoff to me to listen to some one scream “The left! The left!” Or “The right! The right!” and never show any meaningful indication that they are evolving their own position on things.

 

[HNTFSH]

I agree with all of that HNT, but I’m just as disturbed by the people on the opposite side of the political spectrum from what you describe. They are just as brainwashed, just as fervently insane, just in their own way vs the “other team.” More than anything, what drives me absolutely crazy is how nobody will acknowledge that their “team” is just as bad as the other. Many will say they do, but actions speak louder than words.

I’m kind of liberal in some areas and pretty conservative in others. But it such a turnoff to me to listen to some one scream “The left! The left!” Or “The right! The right!” and never show any meaningful indication that they are evolving their own position on things.

I agree with that too. I get tired of the vitriol and see "gaps" and "untruths" in some of those views as well. I do appreciate the humor side of it though...meme's and all because there is large truth in jest. Where I probably can't agree is the destination map of the "left" to destroy or "fundamentally change" America. While we are all swayed to some degree there seems to be quite a bit more common sense on the conservative versus liberal side of the aisle.

I texted the wife after leaving the grocery store this morning. Our favorite bottled water had increased from $4.50 a case to $6.50 a case overnight. I texted how ridiculous that increase was and the current Administration needs to go. Her reply was "it's Covid".

She's ignorant and the Left media machine is largely responsible. If I had to call foul on which "side" plays dirtier, it wouldn't be the conservatives. Gender identity classes for 3rd graders? CRT? Don't see any programs like that being deployed on the "right".

If your LinkedIn profile has He/Him and you're a 50 year old man....I'm a thinkin' you're a dumbarse. 😏

 

[Botiz630]

She can’t be that far left if she lets you buy bottled water haha.

 

[HNTFSH]

She can’t be that far left if she lets you buy bottled water haha.

It's recyclable plastic. 😂 But you're right, she's not "left" just "nice". She doesn't really get the difference. It's why as much as I liked The Donald...and found him hilarious in many ways, and admired the tireless work ethic, don't think he's the answer in 2024. He was what we needed in 2016 however to shake up and expose the swamp.

 

[SpinnerMan]

It should be about finding solutions. Solutions to making a more prosperous and civil society.

Solutions actually work. It's the definition of the word.

Once it's us and them, however you define us and them. Right/left. Black/white. It's about power and not problem solving.

We broke into us and them long ago. I'm in Nashville right now and saw one of those "empowering" "art" pieces. They used a lot of words. They theme of those words could have things I demand of you. All the words of an egomaniac.

It's not about responsibility, humility, sacrifice, forgiveness, compassion, ...

It's not about individuals doing the right thing. It's about the other individuals doing the "right" thing per my definition.

 

[cartervj]

I heard on NPR that there’s a lawsuit about recyclable plastic bottles not actually being recyclable. Instead it was a ploy by the petroleum industry to help promote themselves. Kid you not

 

[Rat Creek]

And Rat, what's the LGB community?

C'mon man!!!!

The Let's Go Brandon Community.

 

[SpinnerMan]

I heard on NPR that there’s a lawsuit about recyclable plastic bottles not actually being recyclable. Instead it was a ploy by the petroleum industry to help promote themselves. Kid you not

Most of the stuff we put in the mixed recycle bins does more harm than good if actually recycled. My wife feels good about the more crap she can put in the recycle pile. Don't tell her, but when I take it out to the recycle bin, sitting right next to the garbage bin, much of it ends up in the garbage bin Doing my part for the environment And my marriage

 

[HNTFSH]

Most of the stuff we put in the mixed recycle bins does more harm than good if actually recycled. My wife feels good about the more crap she can put in the recycle pile. Don't tell her, but when I take it out to the recycle bin, sitting right next to the garbage bin, much of it ends up in the garbage bin Doing my part for the environment And my marriage

I just don't understand, why they get so pissed off when you call them morons in a nice way.