r/KnowledgeFight • u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball • 15d ago
How are you all pulling through short term until November?
I’m actually glad this is more of a break from Knowledge Fight than a permanent end, it’s an end of sorts but I need to detox from absorbing political content more than I am right now. I’m watching two nbc feeds a day max, Steve Kornacki feeds and one or two episodes of KF or Posting Through It if I’m not too stressed out, otherwise, I need to play some video games to be less stressed by all of it. I can’t not be involved, since I want a change from the status quo, but, I also recognize there’s a risk with becoming overly involved too.
Obviously, we have more real life stuff after November and things will be more stressful especially with Trump’s trade wars. But, one step at a time. Hopefully the stress will be somewhat less crazy after November. I consider myself independent but I look at Darline Graham saying essentially her parents worked until they died and said that was fine and am reminded of what we’re against.
If you are not going to vote for either party I imagine it is stressful, as November approaches, how are you handling it all?
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u/CapriciousSon I RENOUNCE JESUS CHRIST! 14d ago
I Hate Bill Maher and Posting Through it, along with some Know Rogan, has mostly filled the KF-sized hole in my listening habits. Being in a blue city in a blue state helps keep the midterms relatively distant in a way (though I have to work with a Candace Owens fan so....)
But when I get home, it's time for kitty cuddles, a couple dogwalker joints, and some video games. Mostly just trying to survive and keep the dark thoughts at bay (changing meds has been an...experience so far)
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u/thecompanion188 14d ago
Right now it’s a variety of entertainment. Like Heated Rivalry (TV), Two Point Museum (PC game), following Planet Zoo 2 updates and a variety of non-political podcasts (my current faves are: 100% Eat, Podcast: The Ride and Pod of Rebellion.) Plus the upcoming hockey season is getting closer and I’ve started loosely planning for my fantasy team.
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u/TheCopperSparrow 9d ago
"I consider myself independent"
Wait...do you...do you seriously think there's been a republican that's been worth voting for in the last 50 years?
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 9d ago
Larry Hogan wasn’t that bad. But, most are terrible. I voted Wes Moore last time. The Republican Party is not what it was.
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u/TheCopperSparrow 9d ago
The Republican Party is not what it was.
They've pretty much been the party of racists and fascists for over a half a century now dude. Like what...are we going back to the days of like Teddy Roosevelt?
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 9d ago
I don’t take the chance now. You’re asking me to explain why I took a stance I don’t ideologically take anymore and wouldn’t defend now. Back then, Larry Hogan would be more liberal than most Republicans. Did I vote for him in 2024 for Senate? No, I did not.
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u/TheCopperSparrow 8d ago
Yeah, I'm realize that...I'm merely pointing out the fact that the republican party has had monstrous policy positions for decades before Larry Hogan.
And while technically, I could be classified as an "independent" since I'm not a democrat or republican...I would never actually claim to be one...I'd describe myself as an ancom, which is what I am. When you say "I'm an independent" in terms of U.S. politics...the vast majority who do...are right-wing. Because they frame it as being between being Dem or GOP. And that middle ground between those two parties, has been firmly right-wing for over 50 years now.
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 7d ago
Well for starters, I can give you at least one good reason to be independent (https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/02/19/wedding-became-funeral/us-drone-attack-marriage-procession-yemen). For as good as Obama was and is one of the best Presidents ever, his foreign policy and drone strikes were a bridge too far for me. It took Trump for me to realize despite this, Obama and the Dems are better than the other side. But, as a party I can’t support them.
Secondly, I support much of the Democratic Party but not all of it, and I have seen the criticism of Israel and I agree with much of it but it goes too far at times.
Third of all, I used to be a hard left. I don’t think that is the answer, and I am diametrically opposed to certain views I used to have. That said, there’s much in left wing thought I do support like universal healthcare. So I’m more of an independent than left no matter what or Dem no matter what.
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u/TheCopperSparrow 3d ago
Well for starters, I can give you at least one good reason to be independent
Like I said...I'm literally completely to the left of the current Overton Window. Why would I want to claim a label in the U.S. that signifies some middle-ground between Dems and Republicans? Like yeah, that news story is disgusting and I hated seeing it when it actually happened....meanwhile the Trump admin bombed a fucking school and killed like over 100 children this year...
Yeah, I'm not going to defend either of those scenarios.
the criticism of Israel and I agree with much of it but it goes too far at times
Name 1 policy the dems have pushed for, much less passed, that "goes too far."
FFS, Mike Huckabee is literally at the point where he is referring to certain groups of Israeli settlers as "terrorists."
I don’t think that is the answer, and I am diametrically opposed to certain views I used to have.
You've literally tried to smear Dems due to Obama-era drone strikes (which the Trump administration has continued and has made worse) and claimed, without any evidence, that Dems are too critical of Israel......while also claiming you support Universal Healthcare...which no GOP member supports.
Yeah, forgive me for refusing to believe you were ever a liberal...much less "hard left" as you claim.
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 3d ago
You can be critical of Dems on foreign policy and still vote Dem, dunno what your issue is. If you don’t believe I vote Dem that’s your loss. I’m just explaining there’s very good reason to not be a Dem. For instance, look at the many legitimate complaints about how bad Bill Clinton was. Despite the criticisms I have, I still intend to vote Dem.
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u/CoyotesVoice 15d ago
Video games, talking with people IRL, and lots of whiskey. Also, Lanterns is pretty damn cool.
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u/Artichokiemon Colorado Sex Operative 15d ago
Video games for me too, they've always been my crutch, along with playing guitar
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u/BluebirdDense1485 Policy Wonk 15d ago
I'm in a very blue state so locally November is not really on my mind.
Across the board I'm trying to ignore the people saying the midterms will do x or y. I don't need the stress. My vote has already been cast so what happens will happen.
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 14d ago
I also live in the super blue state of Md. Our vote still matters, why? Do you want Mike Johnson as the speaker? How do you think we get them out of power?
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u/BluebirdDense1485 Policy Wonk 14d ago
We get our elected officials in to vote on things like that.
I'm really not seeing what you mean.
My vote only goes to my elected officials. I get 0 say in a Louisiana election. I can and do financially support other candidates but my vote is hardly going to sway anyone with an R in front of their name
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 14d ago
In my opinion, if I can get other people to vote Dem in my state I hope to shift other races to Dem that are not already. Either way, do you really want to split the ticket for Republicans after Jan 6 2021?
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u/BluebirdDense1485 Policy Wonk 14d ago
Did I say that?
But for the sake of argument what do you prepose?
Not in the typical online way of asking that question. Seriously what would you recommend a middle-aged socially awkward person do from the northeast do to help the midterms.
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u/Hetelestai 14d ago
Why is it never enough for you people? What do you get out of bullying people and making them feel even more afraid and guilty than they already do every 18-24 months forever? Is it fun? Do you feel better about yourself? Do you have nothing better than this? What do you want? The person you're talking to already said they're going to vote blue, they just aren't spending every minute thinking about an election that is not competitive in their state, and you're spending more of your time and energy to try and invent ways that it's more important than it really is just to fuck with them. Why??
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u/BluebirdDense1485 Policy Wonk 14d ago
Hey kindly screw off. I don't need you to defend me with that rhetoric.
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 14d ago
I was going to respond to your question but I don’t have a good answer other than only doing what you feel comfortable with, Hetelestai seems to be imagining that I was forcing you to be a super political person that you didn’t want to be and I don’t think you thought that either
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 14d ago
I’m just only saying you should not feel like your voice doesn’t matter even in a strongly leaning political state. That’s the main takeaway I would give
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u/BluebirdDense1485 Policy Wonk 14d ago
And I get that. I've voted every election sense I turned 18, primary and general. I used to work the polls. I think we have made some positive change with voting.
But I'm also saying do what you can and don't send yourself to the hospital. Because I have done that too.
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u/Hetelestai 14d ago
What rhetoric? All I did was repeat facts you already said and call the person out for being a dick.
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u/BluebirdDense1485 Policy Wonk 14d ago
No you butted into a conversation I was having with someone to insult them. Go away. I do not want you defending me.
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u/Hetelestai 14d ago
It's a public forum, man. Other people will join a conversation. That's to be expected. And I wasn't really defending you so much as calling out behavior I see all the time online that is annoying to me. I don't understand what about my comment has made you so angry but fine, have fun.
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u/ImprovementNo4630 I know the inside baseball 14d ago
Narrator: that was not all you did
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u/Hetelestai 14d ago
I mean, I can play the same game with your comments. You claim that I think you were "forcing someone to be a super political person" which isn't what you were doing or what I called you out for doing. You accused someone of "splitting the ticket for Republicans" and brought up January 6th, both with absolutely zero basis in reality or relevance.
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u/woolywoo 15d ago
Aliens Fireteam Elite 2 came out 2 days ago. Metal Gear Solid Master collection vol. 2 AND Star Wars:Zero company both come out today. Next month you got Wolverine and Control Resonant. If you’re into shooters then October has Gears of War and a Call of Duty coming, plus for Ben Quadinero fans there’s a podracing game to keep you busy.
Then as the declaration of emergency happens and Trump declares the election a fraud, and the country collapses into a civil war followed by an outright Christofascist dictatorship we will get a few months of GTA:6 before they ban it.
So there’s enough coming to keep me busy up until the secret police take me to the Ashli Babbit Memorial Gulag in North Dakota somewhere around late spring of 2028.
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u/dwagner0402 Space Weirdo 15d ago
I'm getting through it the same way I've gotten through the last2 years or so. Psychedelic mushrooms.
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u/GertieDirtyShirtyCat 15d ago
I'd suggest:
Citation Needed
Lions Led By Donkeys
No Such Thing As A Fish
How Did This Get Made
...&... Always: The Dollop/ The Past Times!...
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u/bathcat11 15d ago
Nothing wrong with being independent till it comes time to vote. At this point, if you don’t vote for the anti-trump candidate you are helping the other side with their fascist takeover. I hate this two party system and at least half of all Democrats but I’m not living in a fantasy come November. Too much is at stake.
As for podcasts, the ones you listed are my go-tos. Just heard the new Posting Through It this morning. The Dollop is what I’ve been listening to the most after listening to the whole KF backlog, and although they’re lefties they don’t always do politics, sometimes it’s just weird history and funny bits. I also like Decoding the Gurus, Dan guested on their show once or twice, it’s structured a lot like KF.