Bring it on Elon!

Did you know we don't have freedom of speech in this country, we have freedom of expression? I feel I should have known this but have only recently learned of it.

Legally freedom of expression includes "any activity of seeking, receiving, and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used." Speech, of course is limited by various laws.

And yet, what Caleo said was ‘bullying’?

MayBee70
Allira often posts ( and jokes) on the declutterring thread.
You’re reading more into her post than was there.

Can we all agree that not all opinions and thoughts are equal. Some thoughts are born out level-headed & thorough research, while some are made from ignorance, poor reasoning, and/or misinformation.

If you agree, than logically, some thoughts ARE superior to others.

Laughing at the line "educate yourself" saddens me, and honestly scares me because I know you're far from alone in that sentiment.

Critical thinking is a skill, and is highly crucial for a democracy to function, as people should be making well-reasoned, well-informed votes (i.e. the correct vote). Otherwise corrupt charlatans will be voted in.

What would be a nicer way to say, you're wrong? Because sitting silently and pretending your thoughts are equal isn't an option when the entire future of the world is at stake.

And quit putting words in peoples mouths with pointless hyperboles. No-one said we want to be like NK where only one opinion is allowed.

All I/we want is critically thinking, well-informed, opinions.

Allira

MayBee70

Does sounding superior amount to bullying?

It can. It's a generalisation anyway.

If the threads are all about what we had for lunch, decluttering, do we like Yorkshire puddings with turkey etc GN could become anodyne and boring.

It's interesting to read the views of others even if we disagree and there are some posts which do come across as condescending and superior.

I should look to your reading matter if I were you
Is that acceptable?
It does come across as intolerant of others' views imo.

So are you implicating that the decluttering thread is anodyne and boring? Isn’t that a bit superior?

Allira

MayBee70

Does sounding superior amount to bullying?

It can. It's a generalisation anyway.

If the threads are all about what we had for lunch, decluttering, do we like Yorkshire puddings with turkey etc GN could become anodyne and boring.

It's interesting to read the views of others even if we disagree and there are some posts which do come across as condescending and superior.

I should look to your reading matter if I were you
Is that acceptable?
It does come across as intolerant of others' views imo.

I agree it can come across that way, I would not make that kind of comment ‘ I should look to your reading material if I were you’ to any poster.

Nobody listens to the educate yourselves line anymore, I just laugh.

MayBee70

Does sounding superior amount to bullying?

It can. It's a generalisation anyway.

If the threads are all about what we had for lunch, decluttering, do we like Yorkshire puddings with turkey etc GN could become anodyne and boring.

It's interesting to read the views of others even if we disagree and there are some posts which do come across as condescending and superior.

I should look to your reading matter if I were you
Is that acceptable?
It does come across as intolerant of others' views imo.

I don't know what you have been listening to David49 but Keir Starmer has often spoken of using the best of already existing resources and expertise from private industry, the state, and charities. He has talked about using the strengths of each sector to address key issues.

Change and improvement did not end with Thatcher. Far from it.

We are all allowed to have our own views.

Denigrating a GN poster because their views are different is neither clever nor funny!

Does sounding superior amount to bullying?

MayBee70

I don’t regard Caleo as a bully.

Saying ‘look to your reading matter’ does come across as sounding superior.

I don’t regard Caleo as a bully.

Caleo

Fried GreenTomatoes, I think you have been influenced by some unidentified source. I should look to your reading matter if I were you.

I actually feel quite embarrassed to be a member of a forum that includes members who bully others for stating their views.

Yet here I am.
Because Gransnet is more than that.

DropppedOut

I don't understand how a critique of late-stage capitalism was perceived to be a call for socialism.

I also don't understand why successful 1st world countries with more socialist policies are completely overlooked (e.g. nordic countries).

I also don't understand how it's hypocrisy to criticize a system I was a born into. Especially when the criticism is more than valid and earned.

Early stage Capitalism is great and all (like during cowboy times). It drives innovation, and healthy competition between competitors is great for everyone as they try to outdo each other with better products.

The problem is with late-stage capitalism. Where the capitalists have amassed enough wealth to literally buy out the government, ensuring they control the rules that run our society. It's a major problem because they will use those rules for profit, more often than not, at the expense of everyone else.

This causes issues on a micro & macro level as they trash their communities and the environment, all for more money. They will never stop unless forced to, as they will never have enough money.

I don't understand this capitalist worship, as if we would all be bumbling, clueless idiots if it weren't for their graceful hand guiding us.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Fried GreenTomatoes, I think you have been influenced by some unidentified source. I should look to your reading matter if I were you.

I too find the term 'B----it 'is too obscene. It's not simply the anatomical implication it's that the user probably does not even know why it's an obscenity.

“This is kind of a naive take. Look up the Citizens United law, lobbying, Super PACs, and who really owns the mainstream media outlets.”

It comes back to bite them, Johnson backed by media frenzy convinced voters for Brexit, 8 yrs later resulted in the largest Labour majority ever.

Citizens Law, it is unfair that elections can be skewed by large donations to parties, it’s easy to restrict political donations, its media coverage that the problem. In the recent GE the BBC gave Reform massive free publicity, far in excess of its importance.
How would “you” control the media

I want to add, there's a good reason people were glad to see a health insurance CEO get shot dead. If our voices were actually being heard, their predatory system wouldn't be in place. America spends the most out of any country on healthcare, yet we have abysmal (health) results.

Given what I've said about late stage capitalists buying out the government (including sources of information), the will of the people is no longer present in government.

David49

“The problem is with late-stage capitalism. Where the capitalists have amassed enough wealth to literally buy out the government, ensuring they control the rules that run our society. It's a major problem because they will use those rules for profit, more often than not, at the expense of everyone else.”

That’s not a threat because in a democracy (US) voters would force a change in government, in a dictatorship (China) the government actively controls personal empires, personal wealth is only allowed if you tow the party line.

In the case of Musk, Gates or Bezos the government could swat those at will, as it is they all benefit the US economy greatly

This is kind of a naive take. Look up the Citizens United law, lobbying, Super PACs, and who really owns the mainstream media outlets.

“The problem is with late-stage capitalism. Where the capitalists have amassed enough wealth to literally buy out the government, ensuring they control the rules that run our society. It's a major problem because they will use those rules for profit, more often than not, at the expense of everyone else.”

That’s not a threat because in a democracy (US) voters would force a change in government, in a dictatorship (China) the government actively controls personal empires, personal wealth is only allowed if you tow the party line.

In the case of Musk, Gates or Bezos the government could swat those at will, as it is they all benefit the US economy greatly

“The problem is with late-stage capitalism. Where the capitalists have amassed enough wealth to literally buy out the government, ensuring they control the rules that run our society. It's a major problem because they will use those rules for profit, more often than not, at the expense of everyone else.”

Ok, well I just don't think anyone should be dying because they couldn't afford insulin (something that costs cents to make), just for an obscenely rich person to just become richer.

“I also don't understand why successful 1st world countries with more socialist policies are completely overlooked (e.g. nordic countries).”

That surprises me.

Nordic countries have large natural resources they are exploiting, all have small populations so can well afford to have a prosperous lifestyles

I don't understand how a critique of late-stage capitalism was perceived to be a call for socialism.

I also don't understand why successful 1st world countries with more socialist policies are completely overlooked (e.g. nordic countries).

I also don't understand how it's hypocrisy to criticize a system I was a born into. Especially when the criticism is more than valid and earned.

Early stage Capitalism is great and all (like during cowboy times). It drives innovation, and healthy competition between competitors is great for everyone as they try to outdo each other with better products.

The problem is with late-stage capitalism. Where the capitalists have amassed enough wealth to literally buy out the government, ensuring they control the rules that run our society. It's a major problem because they will use those rules for profit, more often than not, at the expense of everyone else.

This causes issues on a micro & macro level as they trash their communities and the environment, all for more money. They will never stop unless forced to, as they will never have enough money.

I don't understand this capitalist worship, as if we would all be bumbling, clueless idiots if it weren't for their graceful hand guiding us.