The 4th Estate Thread Has Surrendered

[LordMortis]

Damn you new page!!!!

"...I always wanted something more than 50 hours every week
And a paid vacation on the jersey shoreline"
And he said
So when ambition turns into competition
I'll never be the better man

[YellowKing]

My mom invited a couple of her friends over one time to a cookout we were having. We had the cornhole boards set up in the backyard, so he and I started playing. I won the first game and he got upset. Like close to pitching a temper tantrum. He kept apologizing and saying "Sorry, I'm just really competitive." I thought it was weird so we played again, and I won again.

All through eating he kept pouting about it (keep in mind this is a 60-year old man). He kept saying, "rematch after we eat. Rematch after we eat." So we finished eating, we play again, I kind of half-heartedly played and he won the third match. At this point his wife was ready to go and he was like, "No, I have to keep playing until I win, best 3 out of 5." He literally would not leave until he beat me. (I threw the last couple of games just so he'd go home). Even then he kept boasting about his "comeback" and how I got beat on my own boards.

I really can't stand people like that, and I never invited that dude back to my house. I've never been that way. I think games are just fun, and you win some, you lose some. It's about the experience for me.

It's the same reason I'd never coach youth sports. My daughter played soccer in elementary school, and I'd see parents literally cussing the coach out for not standing up for a bad call, or for pulling a star player out and putting in someone who had been riding the bench. It was 8-year old girl's soccer, not the World Cup. Absolute insanity.

[LordMortis]

I really can't stand people like that, and I never invited that dude back to my house. I've never been that way. I think games are just fun, and you win some, you lose some. It's about the experience for me.

I can be horrible sport but I'd much rather play any game that is just thoroughly enjoyable than one where my competitive side rears its ugly head... Most of the time... But what's worst is where a beautiful game morphs into a competitive game over time and it still has its hooks in me.

I often enjoy games that I know I suck but enjoy playing. Darts was a prime example. I never win. ever. But I loved the company and the drink and just having a great time jawing and throwing. If I was at all good, that competitive side might creep in and ruin it.

[TheMix]

Hopefully I'm not as bad as YK's acquaintance... But I long ago figured out that I don't like how I become when playing competitive games. More precisely, when losing competitive games. My response has been to avoid them wherever possible. I much prefer playing co-op games (which is why my game collection is 90% co-op).

I do recall one time playing with someone that "had to have a winner". I think we'd played a couple games (I don't recall what we were playing), and it was tied. So I said "great, let's move on". He demanded that there had to be a winner. So I said "okay, you win". That did not go over well.

[Isgrimnur]

Billy Joel - Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

[GreenGoo]

My mom invited a couple of her friends over one time to a cookout we were having. We had the cornhole boards set up in the backyard, so he and I started playing. I won the first game and he got upset. Like close to pitching a temper tantrum. He kept apologizing and saying "Sorry, I'm just really competitive." I thought it was weird so we played again, and I won again.

All through eating he kept pouting about it (keep in mind this is a 60-year old man). He kept saying, "rematch after we eat. Rematch after we eat." So we finished eating, we play again, I kind of half-heartedly played and he won the third match. At this point his wife was ready to go and he was like, "No, I have to keep playing until I win, best 3 out of 5." He literally would not leave until he beat me. (I threw the last couple of games just so he'd go home). Even then he kept boasting about his "comeback" and how I got beat on my own boards.

I really can't stand people like that, and I never invited that dude back to my house. I've never been that way. I think games are just fun, and you win some, you lose some. It's about the experience for me.

It's the same reason I'd never coach youth sports. My daughter played soccer in elementary school, and I'd see parents literally cussing the coach out for not standing up for a bad call, or for pulling a star player out and putting in someone who had been riding the bench. It was 8-year old girl's soccer, not the World Cup. Absolute insanity.

Some games are fun because of the competition and striving to defeat your opponent. It's letting go of that drive after the game is finished and celebrating together that shows true character. This is taught in grade school. Learning how to control yourself is part of the growing and maturing process. Being a good sport whether you win or lose is integral to being a good person. Competition without sportsmanship is just a war to the death. Who wants that during a cookout?

Honestly, I would have told the guy "No, I'm tired of playing this game. It's for children anyway". When he insisted on staying until we played, I would have immediately told him to go home, he's overstayed his welcome. Any more push back and it's "get off my property". He's not my friend. I don't even know him. I didn't invite him. Get the fuck out. Now.

There's a limit to how much I'm willing to bend to accommodate pushy people. On my own property? It's not very far, even as a polite host.

Sounds like bravado and making shit up, but no. I once told my own mother to get off my property because of how she was behaving. A stranger? Easy.

[GreenGoo]

To be clear, it's ok to be disappointed when you lose. Even pissed off. But not at your competitor! YOU need to do better next time, not be angry someone is better than you. At that point you need to let go of the past and focus on the future. Train harder. Practice more. Compete regularly. For things that MATTER. Cornhole (lol? I assume these are beanbag toss?) does not matter. That guy must be insufferable. And his poor, long suffering wife. Ugh.

Here's a clue (to people in general). There is ALWAYS someone better than you. And winning doesn't mean shit, unless there are stakes, and even then, most stakes are minor and meaningless in the big picture anyway. Are you going to spend your life angry because more skilled people exist? Are you going to celebrate because you beat someone who wasn't even trying? Why? What for? These people are broken, in my view of the world.

I am a fierce competitor. During COMPETITION. So I understand the drive and mentality involved in trying hard to win. It's having your entire mental state depend on your success over minor things that is damaging to you and those around you.

Gloating is ugly. It's not a positive character trait.

I spent a LOT of my life striving as hard as I could to win. I was Canadian insufferable. I've learned from it. Being competitive and being a good sport go hand in hand. Some people forget (or never learned) the second part.

edit: and of course I have times when I'm a poor sport. But I try to get over it fast, and I'm absolutely humiliated by my behaviour afterward.

[Smoove_B]

Another winner on the NYT opinion page

I suspect plenty of you will disagree with this column, but it’s deeply felt. By all means we should call out Donald Trump, but the impulse to disparage ordinary Trump voters strikes me as unfair, counterproductive and reflecting the condescension that the educated often feel for the less educated.

This man is the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and he's suggesting that I respect people voting for someone that (at best) is looking to end American Democracy.

[LordMortis]

This man is the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and he's suggesting that I respect people voting for someone that (at best) is looking to end American Democracy.

Not all Trump voters but at best they see someone trying to end democracy and stick their heads in the sand because reasons. And also I try not demean Trump voters but MAGA? In the immortal words of Vinnie "I got no more use for dis guy." If you ever want to come back, maybe we can talk, depending on how odious your actions were, but you are already a bridge too far for which to reach out. I not only "demean" but most importantly, I avoid you. I want to not be around you. I don't want to hear you. I don't want to try and talk to you anymore. If you run a business, I want to choose someone else to provide that good or service.

[Alefroth]

Another winner on the NYT opinion page

I suspect plenty of you will disagree with this column, but it’s deeply felt. By all means we should call out Donald Trump, but the impulse to disparage ordinary Trump voters strikes me as unfair, counterproductive and reflecting the condescension that the educated often feel for the less educated.

This man is the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and he's suggesting that I respect people voting for someone that (at best) is looking to end American Democracy.

I wonder if he'll do a piece on demeaning liberals.

[GreenGoo]

I wonder if he'll do a piece on demeaning liberals.

Or threatening violence.

[Blackhawk]

MAGA I demean. Regular (R) voters I do not. I've known too many voters on both sides that don't follow a single thing that happens - they just check the box at the ballot, and tune out the news for the next two or four years. We've already discussed about how viewers of certain news outlets don't ever hear the negative sides of what Trump does, and never hear the positive sides of what the (D)s do. They have reason to believe that Trump is genuinely best for America. And then I realize that only a third of Americans follow any news at all.

I blame the willful. I don't blame the ignorant for anything but their ignorance. Blaming some of them would be like blaming the victims of a scam.

But those who embrace the MAGAism? That's different. Screw those guys.

Now, proceed with the lashes that inevitably follow any divergence from The OO Path.

[YellowKing]

I 1000% agree with Blackhawk's take. I didn't read the article, so I'm neither condemning nor defending the guy's stance. But there are varying degrees of Trump voters. Some of my closest friends in real life are people who voted for Trump. Most of my family. Not because they're bad people, but because they're A) religious and think Republicans are the religious party and Democrats are anti-Christian, B) were raised to always vote Republican and have never considered doing anything else, C) victims of Fox News propaganda and years of Republican psych warfare, D) don't have a damn clue about anything in politics. I'm sure there's other reasons I'm leaving out.

I know there are some on this board who would have me disown my entire family and burn every friendship I have over politics, but I won't be doing that.

[gbasden]

I 1000% agree with Blackhawk's take. I didn't read the article, so I'm neither condemning nor defending the guy's stance. But there are varying degrees of Trump voters. Some of my closest friends in real life are people who voted for Trump. Most of my family. Not because they're bad people, but because they're A) religious and think Republicans are the religious party and Democrats are anti-Christian, B) were raised to always vote Republican and have never considered doing anything else, C) victims of Fox News propaganda and years of Republican psych warfare, D) don't have a damn clue about anything in politics. I'm sure there's other reasons I'm leaving out.

I know there are some on this board who would have me disown my entire family and burn every friendship I have over politics, but I won't be doing that.

I can absolutely understand you not doing so. For me, when I was told that it would have been better for my wife to have died and my son not been born because she shouldn't have been allowed to abort the dead fetuses in her uterus, I cut those family members out of my life with a quickness. Some people who vote R don't know any better, some have simply been given permission to express their hateful ideologies about LGBTQ people, immigrants, women or minorities. I have no patience or space in my life for people like that.

[LordMortis]

I can absolutely understand you not doing so. For me, when I was told that it would have been better for my wife to have died and my son not been born because she shouldn't have been allowed to abort the dead fetuses in her uterus, I cut those family members out of my life with a quickness. Some people who vote R don't know any better, some have simply been given permission to express their hateful ideologies about LGBTQ people, immigrants, women or minorities. I have no patience or space in my life for people like that.

Heh, my parents are still in cognitive dissonance over this (and just about everything else). They know they'd literally be absent a daughter sans an abortive procedure but they still vote the way they vote. Not so coincidentally this was about the time I shut down political talk. They aren't MAGA but if that and COVID deaths in the family doesn't hit home and then nothing will. I thought for a moment Shady Vance being a thrall for Thiel with his work over on midsized banking might break through but The 700 Club influence is just too strong.

Edit: Tried a new walk this morning. Passed a sign read "Make Liberals Cry Again" In the driveway was car business billboard car for an auto parts supplier. They are now on my no fly zone and I may even start asking if other places use their parts, because fuck them. If you want to advertise how much of an asshole you are along with promoting your business. Congratulations.

[Zarathud]

I know there are some on this board who would have me disown my entire family and burn every friendship I have over politics, but I won't be doing that.

I classify it under recognizing that people are flawed, even those who I love or related to. My dad’s family is large (42 first cousins) and many live in rural Republican Illinois/Wisconsin. A group are akin to Opus Dei Catholics. My brother is an underemployed stoner who believes every internet conspiracy like Rogan. I don’t disown them, but I won’t talk politics with them because it’s not going to help. It does limit our closeness at times.

But I do think they’re ignorant and hurting America, despite their good intentions. I learned to talk to everyone, while keeping my own opinions and using my brain. I’ll defend my views heavily without pushing them on others.

Sometimes that’s pointing out we have gay relatives, or immigrants in the family. Or asking why Trump has a bad business reputation or has to cheat on his taxes to be successful in real estate. Or while I can pay insulin for 2 diabetic kids, they couldn’t. I figure the occasional reminder liberal city folk aren’t inhuman monsters helps counter Fox News.

[Carpet_pissr]

I occasionally remind my father that he seems fine with accepting his social security every month, as well as using Medicare. I admit that he paid for half of that when he was working (not sure about the actual math there, but I think employees pay half and employers pay half), but still, it's an entitlement, organized and funded by our government.

Side note: my wife (if you can call her that) works for state government, and does a lot federal grant writing. Our current asshole governor refuses to let anyone in state govt use the term "grant" though, because he says that smacks too much of handout. Can't remember the silly word they have to use instead (when communicating internally).

[Holman]

I occasionally remind my father that he seems fine with accepting his social security every month, as well as using Medicare. I admit that he paid for half of that when he was working (not sure about the actual math there, but I think employees pay half and employers pay half), but still, it's an entitlement, organized and funded by our government.

Side note: my wife (if you can call her that) works for state government, and does a lot federal grant writing. Our current asshole governor refuses to let anyone in state govt use the term "grant" though, because he says that smacks too much of handout. Can't remember the silly word they have to use instead (when communicating internally).

"Freedom Funding"

[hepcat]

My mother never used to talk politics. Especially with me. But lately she's been scared by Trump's rhetoric into believing that there are murderous immigrants waiting around every corner to attack her. It's become a constant refrain from her in ever increasing frequency.

Today she broke her one rule with me and outright asked me who I was voting for...then immediately realized what she'd done and started to say "never mind, I shouldn't have asked".

But it was too late....

I let loose the floodgates and let her know that my hatred of Trump was profound and based on decades of listening to his masturbatory retelling of his own greatness, his extravagant (and easily disproved) lies, his danger to our country via his inability to accept defeat...even if it meant burning down the very institution he claims to be trying to save, and that I think Melania is a tramp (that last one kind of just got tossed in with the rest of my outburst).

Her response?

"Masturbatory?"

[waitingtoconnect]

If it’s not in the scrabble dictionary it’s not a word hepcat.

[Freyland]

It wasn't couched well enough.

[Holman]

A little sympathy could have cushioned the blow.

[hepcat]

If it’s not in the scrabble dictionary it’s not a word hepcat.

My copy even has "auto erotic asphyxiation".

It wasn't couched well enough.

Oooh, nice.

[Zarathud]

Even my wife’s 90 year old aunt (a former Catholic nun) has heard of JD Vance’s couch fuckery. And thinks it’s hysterical.

I found out recently my dad was not a fan of Trump’s bragging back in the 80s. Back then, he had the Trump monopoly game, Art of the Deal, and even steak. Until my dad mentioned he got all those things from my grandfather, I didn’t realize the joke — my grandfather had been trolling him for years with Trump gifts. Grandpa’s sense of humor was rooted in the Friar roasts. If you ever mentioned you didn’t like something, Grandpa would store it away for his gag gifts at Christmas. It’s a shame he passed before Amazon shopping, he would have found some epic things there.

[Blackhawk]

If it’s not in the scrabble dictionary it’s not a word hepcat.

It's in the Scrabble dictionary.

[Skinypupy]

An apt summation of the current state.

[Pyperkub]

An apt summation of the current state.

Please stop just posting Twitter links - our Brazillian OO'ers can't see them (and many of us don't want to go there at all). quoting the text is pretty easy (or just copying it if posting from a phone...)

[LordMortis]

Please stop just posting Twitter links - our Brazillian OO'ers can't see them (and many of us don't want to go there at all). quoting the text is pretty easy (or just copying it if posting from a phone...)

I'd never ask people to stop but I do lament xhitter is embedded. I feel like seeing it hot linked somehow gets legitimacy from me helping it continue to live. I'd much rather see something like bluesky or mastadon or something embedded. Alas, the world will never revolve around me and my desires.

[The Meal]

At least these are looks with full text available in the embed. My least favorite are the xitter images of text which get cut off at the sides so you can’t read the full thought without going to the actual xitter page post (I assume). Those never get read (and are only rarely responded to).

[LordMortis]

At least these are looks with full text available in the embed. My least favorite are the xitter images of text which get cut off at the sides so you can’t read the full thought without going to the actual xitter page post (I assume). Those never get read (and are only rarely responded to).

That doesn't happen from the the PC AFAICT but what does happen in they post 3 lines and then "..." so if you'd have to click to see the whole thing. I don't engage. *shrug* Whether real or imagined, I don't want to contribute to the legitimacy of the platform. I'm petty.

[waitingtoconnect]

The other issue for me is the list of who used to work for trump who has spoken out against him and the media compares that with Tim Walz brother, RFK jnr or Gabbard who were never near that kind of power.

Similarly trump has been convicted of felony charges which somehow equals Hunter Biden or Tim Walz drink driving as a young man.

[Blackhawk]

I get the clipped pictures all the time on Firefox PC.

[Kraken]

I get the clipped pictures all the time on Firefox PC.

+1

[Grifman]

FAFO:

[Isgrimnur]

The terms of the settlement were not immediately known. The deal comes hours after jury selection got underway in a Wilmington, Delaware, courtroom ahead of opening statements scheduled for Monday.

[Unagi]

At least these are looks with full text available in the embed. My least favorite are the xitter images of text which get cut off at the sides so you can’t read the full thought without going to the actual xitter page post (I assume). Those never get read (and are only rarely responded to).

That doesn't happen from the the PC AFAICT but what does happen in they post 3 lines and then "..." so if you'd have to click to see the whole thing. I don't engage. *shrug* Whether real or imagined, I don't want to contribute to the legitimacy of the platform. I'm petty.

It does, I'll point it out the next time we see one. I'm sure you see it too.

[Max Peck]

Please stop just posting Twitter links - our Brazillian OO'ers can't see them (and many of us don't want to go there at all). quoting the text is pretty easy (or just copying it if posting from a phone...)

I can't see anything in the Xitter embeds. The embed prompts me to "Disable any adblocker and tracking prevention" and I just nope and move on unless I'm sufficiently intrigued to click through to see the actual Xitter post.

[Jaymann]

NYT endorses Harris as the only choice for President

Of course they had to include some garbage about: She needs to provide more detail...

But endorsement is endorsement.

[Grifman]

Hillary’s emails vs Trump’s attempt to overturn the election:

[YellowKing]

For most of the day yesterday while the Jack Smith doc should have been top news, CNN's headline article was about the three challenges the Harris campaign was now facing (Middle East, dock strike, and hurricane). Most damning list of crimes ever revealed about a presidential candidate, but sure let's talk about all the challenges the Harris campaign faces.