Leaving New York City

[Sweet]

17 minutes ago, rkbabang said:

Those are different issues.  I agree with keeping biological men out of women's sports for safety issues and not giving drugs and surgery to minors for the same reason minors shouldn't be allowed to get tattoos.  Sure there are nuts on every side, but many conservatives are nuts in the other direction.

 

Nuts on both sides of this for sure.

[Castanza]

34 minutes ago, rkbabang said:

Those are different issues.  I agree with keeping biological men out of women's sports for safety issues and not giving drugs and surgery to minors for the same reason minors shouldn't be allowed to get tattoos.  Sure there are nuts on every side, but many conservatives are nuts in the other direction.

 

How are they different issues? The same people doing the drag story time with kids are the same ones out in the weekends saying we need to let kids get gender affirming surgery without the parents consent. 
 

Washington Stage just passed bill 5599 that gives parents no recourse if their kid wants to run off and get gender affirming surgery. Who exactly do you think is pushing these ideas. 

 

Your view of the situation in scope is about the same as an ostrich with its head in the sand. You said you would take your kids to drag story time. Great…are you also taking your kids to strip clubs? Are you good with local ministers coming in to school to have Bible story time with kids? Something tells m you’re not. Maybe we should bring in some crack heads and they can demonstrate how to properly pack a crack pipe and then blow the smoke up someones ass. There ARE things in society that are NOT appropriate for children. Sexual material is most definitely one. Drag is sexual in nature. 
 

The majority of the issue is the dishonesty around the facts. And the forced/shady nature of discussion, much of which is happening without parents consent. I pay taxes for public school and I have a stake in knowing that the school is teaching proven science and facts and that the teachers/counselors working there aren’t “grooming” my child and the. Telling them to not tell their parents. 
 

Replace this trans ideology sharing in the above example with say drugs. If teachers were telling kids to “explore” drugs without actually giving them any, but showing them all the resources they need to do them and acquire them; and then telling them to not say anything to your parents would you not be outraged? It shouldn’t be happening for ANY topic outside of the school curriculum that is supposed to be public knowledge. 

[mcliu]

This thread is a reflection of the problem facing the US and the West.

A conversation about the decay of our cities evolves into a discussion on transgenderism.

Both sides are passionately engaged in topics that affect a very small % of the population.

If only the same amount of energy and passion was devoted to matters that affect the majority of the population like improving our cities, health care, education, lowering crime and substance abuse.

I think what we need from our leaders is just a dose of common sense. Like this guy: 

 

[Gamecock-YT]

You know it's interesting being on the other side of the world since the beginning of the year, and being out of the country for most of the past 18 months, that the news cycle is different when you're either at the very beginning of trends before they take off or they're already 12 hours in the past and people have already started moving on to the next 'item'. But it's funny you guys keep talking about protecting kids but everyone is glossing over that not even 3 weeks ago, 3 kids and 3 adults were shot at school. Then what, not even a week ago someone shot up an office in Louisville? Another 6 people murdered. We're not even a year from the Uvalde school shooting where 19 kids were murdered.

 

But the narrative is/was never how about fixing/solving that, it's devolved into politicians getting kicked out of the state government and this weird bud light/transgender story that's triggering people. But it sure seems like you guys are eating it up. It all gives the appearance of smoke and mirrors to blind you from what's happening in front of your face.

 

It's gotten to the point I might not come back to live in the US. As a quasi-outsider it borders on insanity watching what is going on. 

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by Gamecock-YT

[Castanza]

9 hours ago, Gamecock-YT said:

You know it's interesting being on the other side of the world since the beginning of the year, and being out of the country for most of the past 18 months, that the news cycle is different when you're either at the very beginning of trends before they take off or they're already 12 hours in the past and people have already started moving on to the next 'item'. But it's funny you guys keep talking about protecting kids but everyone is glossing over that not even 3 weeks ago, 3 kids and 3 adults were shot at school. Then what, not even a week ago someone shot up an office in Louisville? Another 6 people murdered. We're not even a year from the Uvalde school shooting where 19 kids were murdered.

 

But the narrative is/was never how about fixing/solving that, it's devolved into politicians getting kicked out of the state government and this weird bud light/transgender story that's triggering people. But it sure seems like you guys are eating it up. It all gives the appearance of smoke and mirrors to blind you from what's happening in front of your face.

 

It's gotten to the point I might not come back to live in the US. As a quasi-outsider it borders on insanity watching what is going on. 

 

 

Well if you want to fix shootings in this country you address the things that have changed and lead to the issues over time. Since Kennedy the mental institutions have gone the way of the Dodo. Instead of reforming them they simply got rid of them. Depression, anxiety, suicides, prescription drug use, street drug use all are at or near all time highs and way above other areas in the world.
 

Im not 100% opposed to some type of gun reform or licensure system, but it needs to be done correctly and at the end of the day I don’t think it’s going to be the most fruitful course of action as it’s a bandaid solution to an underlying issue. 

 

- Mental health issues

- Drug and gang related issues

 

Sebastian Junger has some really interesting work in these areas. 

Questions and observations he makes. 
 

- lots of countries have lots of guns 

- lots of countries have crazy people
- most of the senseless mass shootings happen in Middle class areas. They don’t happen in inner cities 

- suburban areas are where people can most easily isolate themselves. There is often less communal activities outside of Church. 
- depression and anxiety and prescription drug use grow in tandem WITH and increase in wealth. 
- technology and social media have drastically increased the ability to isolate and as a result the increase in depression/anxiety and use of prescription drugs
 

Its a really interesting observation that literally the American Dream type life is where you’re most at risk for a mass shooting. But you’re probably less likely to get mugged going to the store or to experience other forms of crime. 

 

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by Castanza

[Gregmal]

1 hour ago, Castanza said:

really interesting observation that literally the American Dream type life is where you’re most at risk for a mass shooting. But you’re probably less likely to get mugged going to the store or to experience other forms of crime. 

Yup. Like mentioned a bit back, the better life gets for people, the more it seems like folks need to come up with problems. In itself, a mental disorder. The school shooters and the transitioning teenagers with identity issues….very often happen to be….middle class white kids. 
 

You can see gangs are a derivative of poverty. Some of this other stuff, a derivative of things like boredom or levying high expectations on someone not able to handle it. Ever heard of the alcoholic housewife?

[cubsfan]

It’s so interesting that some claim this impacts only a “small” portion of the population, when in fact, it targets the entire US education system. That the public is just noticing is a testament to the absolute stealth of the movement over time. It’s been virtually hidden from public view INTENTIONALLY while it gained steam amongst educational administrators- and is now firmly established as gospel in our schools/colleges.  Now that it has been exposed- you’re seeing the culture war - and laws being passed lickity-split to protect parents rights. On the opposite side, you’re seeing the same, as Oregon ( @Castanza post) and California obliterate parental rights that oppose the transgender ideology.

 

such is the insidious nature of the movement, which is now being fully exposed.

 

So much for it doesn’t impact me.

 

It pays to dig into the issue and figure it out.

Edited April 16, 2023 by cubsfan

[rkbabang]

When I see people saying things like "those same people are the same people" and making it sound like this is some monolithic group with all the same goals it reminds me of 30 years ago when I first started paying attention to politics the conservative boogeyman was homosexuals with the "gay agenda".  Oh my god the gays all want homosexual sex to be considered normal and they are telling our children this.  They want the ruin marriage by being able to get married!  It all sounded like bigotry to me back then and this all sounds like bigotry to me now.   Same thing a generation or two earlier with "mixed-race" relationships.  History doesn't repeat, but it sure rhymes.

 

[mcliu]

23 hours ago, Gregmal said:

Yup. Like mentioned a bit back, the better life gets for people, the more it seems like folks need to come up with problems. In itself, a mental disorder. The school shooters and the transitioning teenagers with identity issues….very often happen to be….middle class white kids. 
 

You can see gangs are a derivative of poverty. Some of this other stuff, a derivative of things like boredom or levying high expectations on someone not able to handle it. Ever heard of the alcoholic housewife?

Not sure if life is getting better for most people. This feels more like the govt/media's way of distracting us from the real issues.

[cubsfan]

So interesting how some people want to rip on conservatives because of the ultra aggressive and evil transgender activists.

 

To which I’d say;

 

If you don’t believe in protecting children, then you have no morals.

[rkbabang]

7 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

So interesting how some people want to rip on conservatives because of the ultra aggressive and evil transgender activists.

 

To which I’d say;

 

If you don’t believe in protecting children, then you have no morals.

 

 

Protect "the children" from what?   Roving gangs of trans kidnappers?   The anti-gay conservatives said the exact same thing a generation ago about homosexuals, and two generations ago about brown people.   Protect the children my ass.  I spent more of an effort to protect my kids from religious conservatism than I did from gays and trans people.  In fact we looked for opportunities to introduce our kids to people who were different.  Both our kids turned out straight and non-trans (like 90+% of the population does), but they certainly knew that we'd have accepted them regardless of how they chose to live.

 

[cubsfan]

^^ Like mentioned many times: you choose to ignore the basic lies that the movement is premised upon:

A man can become woman just like that.

 

No harm done?

 

Blacks are inferior 

Gays are perverts

Men can be women 

 

all boldfaced lies

 

Teach your kids whatever madness you like - they’re your kids 

 

And you’re outraged at conservatives wanting to protect their children from lies…,what a joke

Edited April 17, 2023 by cubsfan

[rkbabang]

8 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

^^ Like mentioned many times: you choose to ignore the basic lies that the movement is premised upon:

A man can become woman just like that.

 

No harm done?

 

Blacks are inferior 

Gays are perverts

Men can be women 

 

all boldfaced lies

 

Teach your kids whatever madness you like - they’re your kids 

 

And you’re outraged at conservatives wanting to protect their children from lies…,what a joke

 

 

I've never understood why, for the most part, people who understand the benefits of capitalism and support small government and property rights are for the most part bigots and the people who celebrate personal freedoms are for the most part collectivists of some stripe (socialist, democratic socialist, commies, etc).   What's even rarer then trans people is people who support all forms of human freedom.  And unfortunately that's no joke.

 

[Gregmal]

End of the day, my house, my rules. My judgement…which is what I’ve lived and died by my entire life. To each their own. If people have a problem with how I live I’d simply ask them why they feel it’s their business? 
 

Reminds me of an incident maybe a decade ago. After I started my own business I had my own office and would always bring my dog to work. To get there obviously he sat in the car. One time I had to run a quick errand and I decided to run into Staples to grab some office supplies. Given it was 55 degrees outside and I’d be no more than 5 minutes in the store…I left my dog in the car. I come out and some whacko lady is on her phone screaming about how someone locked a dog in a car and she then starts yelling at me and I just look at her and calmly said “bitch, my dog probably eats better than your kids, although I’m skeptical you even have any kids if this is how you spend your time. Either way, don’t worry about him”. And I left. Why does everyone need to worry about everyone else’s business. Just be meticulous and robust about handling your own.

[Dinar]

7 minutes ago, rkbabang said:

 

 

I've never understood why, for the most part, people who understand the benefits of capitalism and support small government and property rights are for the most part bigots and the people who celebrate personal freedoms are for the most part collectivists of some stripe (socialist, democratic socialist, commies, etc).   What's even rarer then trans people is people who support all forms of human freedom.  And unfortunately that's no joke.

 

That's not true.  You confuse celebrating personal freedom with imposing your views on others.  I would never impose my views on others, while many (not all) of homosexuals, transexuals, and essentially all of socialists/communists want to impose their views on others.  

[cubsfan]

^^^^ Right on, let’s celebrate genital mutilation and teach this to all the other children as their way to permanently change their sex and solve their identity crisis.

 

After all - it’s a free country

 

What nonsense.

 

while you’re at it - go back to teaching the world is flat.

[Castanza]

Back to the city stuff. A society with zero consequences. How exactly does this not drive people out? 
 

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by Castanza

[cubsfan]

^^^^ Social justice and liberal tolerance at it's best.

 

Lovely.

 

No harm done...

[dealraker]

To Japan?  $20-some thousand gets the door open.  
 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/realestate/japan-empty-houses.html

[Parsad]

10 hours ago, Dinar said:

That's not true.  You confuse celebrating personal freedom with imposing your views on others.  I would never impose my views on others, while many (not all) of homosexuals, transexuals, and essentially all of socialists/communists want to impose their views on others.  

 

I'd say a higher percentage of straight people (extremists on the left and right) want to impose their views compared to the percentage of gay/trans people that do the same.  The extremists in every group get far more attention...look at MTG or AOC. 

 

Look even on this message board...more people for your argument than against are posting on the subject, even though a higher percentage of the board doesn't like this stuff being posted at all!  Cheers!

[Parsad]

7 hours ago, Castanza said:

Back to the city stuff. A society with zero consequences. How exactly does this not drive people out? 
 

 

 

You can pull thousands of such videos, while I can pull millions showing the opposite.  Shit happens everywhere.  Not saying that the courts couldn't be harder, but this is hyperbole!  Cheers!

[SouthernYankee]

"You can pull thousands of such videos, while I can pull millions showing the opposite."

 

-What do you mean by "showing the opposite"?

 

Do you mean citizens conducting themselves in a peaceful, law-abiding fashion?

 

If that is what you mean, then you are reinforcing the main point being made: LOCK UP THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW, so those who do follow the law can pursue happiness!

 

NYC started doing that in 1993, and then the rest of the country tried it as well, and we saw an amazing reduction in crime rates, and an amazing renaissance in large, urban cultural centers. That wasn't a coincidence. 

 

I guess it has to happen to more people personally before they will connect the dots like they did 30 years ago........which is why I will be moving out of NYC in the very near future. Those Democratic-voting-social-justice-warriors are going to get it good and harder without me helping to pay for it, at least with my state and local taxes. 

 

 

[texual]

Contrarian play after reading this thread: I should return to NYC.

Prove me wrong.

 

[Castanza]

11 hours ago, Parsad said:

 

You can pull thousands of such videos, while I can pull millions showing the opposite.  Shit happens everywhere.  Not saying that the courts couldn't be harder, but this is hyperbole!  Cheers!

 

LOL you're making excuses for this? Really? Pretty well documented that violent and non-violent crime is up like 30-50% since 2020 in most big cities. I understand there is crime everywhere and that the vast majority of people are law abiding. That doesn't account for the outlier events we have been seeing over the past 2 years. Continue to defund the police, hand out drugs, reduce jail time, fines, bail and this will continue to get worse. 

 

What's the ratio here that makes you feel comfortable? Is it 10:1? 

Old man sitting on a park bench feeding the Pigeons =/= 1 Target being looted

Kid giving up his bus seat for a pregnant woman =/= 1 Walmart being looted 

 

___________________

 

Throw in all the other stuff like lack of resources for the homeless or ways to mitigate it. Rent control, reduced landlord rights, wasted tax money on frivolous community pursuits and it's a decent recipe to get people to leave. 

 

Can't say it's the worst it's ever been though. Maybe just different. But perception is more easily spread today due to technology/media and that really is all that matters. 

 

Perception has never been more important in society than today. 

 

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Castanza

[Parsad]

3 hours ago, Castanza said:

 

LOL you're making excuses for this? Really? Pretty well documented that violent and non-violent crime is up like 30-50% since 2020 in most big cities. I understand there is crime everywhere and that the vast majority of people are law abiding. That doesn't account for the outlier events we have been seeing over the past 2 years. Continue to defund the police, hand out drugs, reduce jail time, fines, bail and this will continue to get worse. 

 

What's the ratio here that makes you feel comfortable? Is it 10:1? 

Old man sitting on a park bench feeding the Pigeons =/= 1 Target being looted

Kid giving up his bus seat for a pregnant woman =/= 1 Walmart being looted 

 

___________________

 

Throw in all the other stuff like lack of resources for the homeless or ways to mitigate it. Rent control, reduced landlord rights, wasted tax money on frivolous community pursuits and it's a decent recipe to get people to leave. 

 

Can't say it's the worst it's ever been though. Maybe just different. But perception is more easily spread today due to technology/media and that really is all that matters. 

 

Perception has never been more important in society than today. 

 

 

 

Not making excuses for this.  I just remember how shitty New York was in the 70's and early 80's and New York today is nothing like it was in the 70's!  Yeah, homelessness and crime are up from a decade ago, but it's still light years better than it used to be.  These things go in cycles with the economy and politics...that's my point.  Cheers!