Koi (like the fish - not Koi-Jana Hoever) - The new Random Thoughts Thread

Shit. I have a lot of cousins. Should I be worried?

 

in 2016 I overheard a young lad (20-ish) at my gym talking about Pizzagate and the MSM hiding the story. I had no clue what the story was so asked him to explain.

heaviest lifting that day was getting my jaw off the floor. all I could do was laugh at him and walk away shaking my head.

I thought he was just an idiot kid till the QAnon thing reared its head. God save us from feeble-minded morons.

 

The guy on my team (who is otherwise a genuinely nice, kinda country dude) told me in no uncertain terms that 90% (!) of celebrities and politicians were involved in a secret pedophile cabal and they drink the blood of young children (when they sacrifice them) because their blood has something that keeps them looking young. He then proceeded to show me pictures of all the celebrities during COVID lock down and how they all have aged horribly (Will Ferrell, etc.). He also said that Barack Obama was actually gay and Michelle Obama was a trans man. He then showed me a video of Michelle on an episode of Ellen. She was dancing (as they tend to do on that damn show) and they took a close up of her pants where it appeared like a dick was flopping around in there. Again, it would be hilarious if it wasn't terrifying. Since I knew where this was going, I asked him the ultimate question which was, "who will save us from these evil people?" His answer won't shock anyone but I'll give you 2 guesses who our hero is...

 

Good posts by Sammy and Terp on this phenomenon. The really interesting (or scary depending on your perspective) bit is the number of otherwise reasonably bright, rational people who get caught up in these wild conspiracy theories birthed and gestated on social media. Back in the 90's those of us in the lying for profit business (marketing) were trying to work out how to deal with the new internet world of horizontal communication that was displacing vertical sources of information. The sociological phenomenon of increasing cynicism with formal authority (vertical, top-down) sources of information (governments, big media, corporations, churches, universities) coupled with the greater availability of "alternative" horizontal sources convinced more and more people that the "truth" was out there somewhere and that the web would provide the truest answers for them.

Fast forward to today, where large numbers of people are relying almost exclusively on horizontal sources for their truth, but not applying critical thinking any more than they did in the "old days" to what the internet loonies are putting out. Ergo Q-anon, Pizzagate, etc, etc. Some people are just dumb. But many others just aren't prepared to think through and assess what they're reading. Crazy.

 

This is pretty much word for word what I have heard from people. I had the same reaction. But it is out there and has developed its own perverse legitimacy. The kinky element of it is really alarming. An underlying theme is the attempt by the "dark forces" out there to break down traditional gender roles and identity to create a new androgynous world. Yikes.

 

In the end, people believe what they want to believe. Some (hopefully most) of us can cut through that part of our brain that wants to believe something when that want sacrifices critical thinking and logic. Others turn that part of their brain off (if it exists) in order to believe "their truth." Whether that's religion, a political/cultural stance, or something more batshit like this Q crap.

Hell, I consider myself to be a very rational and critical thinker and even I've found myself falling in this trap in regards to COVID and how (we think) it's spread/how serious it is.

 

Wow! I’m buzzing right now, on a real high. Just got back from Istanbul...!

I was scrolling through the sports channels and stumbled on a show called Champions League Archives. 2 extended highlight matches. 2005 was one of them. Took you right into the game with comments from the players.
Maldini in 51 seconds. Then 2 from Crespo. And me remembering half time beating my head on the otterman and hearing these groans and realizing it was me. Then Stevie's header, Smicers long shot through a forest of legs. Then Xavi’s penalty. Phew!

There was no way we would lose after that. D’Jimmy’s long legged stop on the line. Carra’s blocking Maldini, Jersey’s double save from Chevchenco.
Then every PK. And 2 more saves from Dudek. The one off Chevy wrapping it up in delirium.
I’m stoked still



oh the other game was Bayern Munich v manure. 99.9% Bayern vs 2 kicks in added time and manure won. Ho Hum!

 

You cant run a democracy if your demos is that much misinformed

 

Just out from trump controlled CDC a new easy home test for the virus. Better than sipping bleach.

 

The more I'm reading, the more I'm convinced that Trump and his minions are going to attempt a coup (let's call it what it is) if the election is in any way close. And perhaps even if it's not.

* He has been discrediting the Post Office and fu*cking up the delivery of postal ballots for months. Any and all postal votes will now be suspect.

* He has been demanding that election night results be taken as the final, and not allow the counting of postal, early and provisional votes.

* He is floating the idea that in swing states with a local GOP (super) majority that the State House and Senate dismiss the results of the vote (due to apparent fraud) and appoint its own slate of loyal electors to the Electoral College.

* He has spoken of the need for a Federal election task force to supervise polling stations, especially in Democratic areas (read: imtimidation).

* And needless to say, the packing of the courts with judges who seem to be judged more on their loyalty to Trump than adherence to the Law and the Constitution.​

At the moment, I'm reasonably well convinced that in a free and fair election, Biden wins; this may change, but as things stand, it's Biden. However, I do foresee a Trump coup d'etat.

 

Been worried about that for a year now. Think it's important that everyone makes a sincere effort to vote in person. Vote early. Don't trust these mail in ballots unless there's literally no other option.

 

Not arguing with you but that's exactly what Trump wants to depress the mostly-Dem mail in voting.
As soon as the in-person voting starts in earnest watch for the Repubs to spread stories about huge Covid outbreaks coz of lineups!

 

The Republicans have also cornered the market in depressing in-person voting by removing polling stations and personnel in urban areas (increasing in suburban and rural, therefore no overall reduction in numbers. See! Magic). Furthermore, they will work the Covid-19 fearmongering also.

When polling stations are overrun with huge lines, it's going to require Democrats to go to court to keep them open past time, leading to more shouts of fix! And the understanding and benevolence of the local judge who may or may not have been appointed by the GOP. (cf the Wisconsin primary), all the while having a GOP lawyer arguing against allowing people to vote.

 

Good post by hubba. We can now get information from a dizzying array of sources. Which creates the need to spend some time and effort critically examining what we read and hear, accepting nothing at face value. Google Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit - a primer on applying critical thinking effectively.

 

Watched a fascinating documentary called “Connected” on Netflix. Highly recommend the episode titled “Digits”. Blew my mind.

We need to run all social media posts through Benford’s Law. The rise of fake news and digital manipulation is super worrisome. If we have no baseline for truth, we have no basis for discussion.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benford's_law

 

Biggest problem I come across when discussing COVID is the "false dichotomy". In particular, COVID doubters in favour of total reopening tend to emphasize the economic hardship of lockdown as one of their rationales; anyone not in favour of immediate reopening must be a mask wearing economy destroyer; the word "lockdown" is used in every sentence. This totally ignores the massive grey area in the middle where economic reopening can be pursued while still taking advantage of easy/non-intrusive anti-COVID measures. False dichotomy.

 

Yup. Caused by the spinning of the situation by both Republicans and Democrats for their own political agendas. Accept neither version at face value - the truth is somewhere in the middle ground without the hyperbole, distortion and in some cases absolute B.S.

 

sorry to switch topics but I have a small request of any of the mods.

can you please edit the title of this thread to show Hoever's real name (it's Ki not Koi)? drives me nuts every time I see it. thanks.

sorry about the interruption. carry on with real stuff......

 

Seeing as you’ve brought it up, what has Koi got to do with anything???

 

Don't be Koi about it, tell us what you really think...

 

scale it back, man.