And I didn't have the option of telling him to stuff it.

(Not out loud, anyway)

As a patient gets therapy every day for weeks, I got to know their spouse or family or friends who brought them.
Some spouted such nonsense but I couldn’t really say anything that sounded argumentative.
I was beside myself and my stomach would clench…..
Eventually I learned to smile really big and say, “Oh, I see that differently.”

I echo your sentiment. I’m 14 months your younger. That person is sad and lonely and full of hate because of only one person. Himself.

I feel like I'm well-insulated against it, because I grow considerably more Left as I age.

Many of my former classmates have drifted steadily rightward over the years, though. It's baffling and infuriating.

An organized crime party that has no platform buys into a criminal presidency....that blows my mind.

I’ve shifted further left over the years, also. Working a union job (APWU) for decades and reading material like Mother Jones and Jim Hightower has educated me.

That is what pillows are for!

You can use it however you like.
🤗

Truth be told, I wake up every day wondering what new thing I will learn.

Last edited Wed Mar 27, 2024, 12:34 AM - Edit history (1)

(Got the date wrong when I posted, yeesh!)

Happy Birthday to both of us!

And ain't it great to know that not all of us "old fogies" are buying what FoxNoise and the GOP are selling!

If I have spent 3 minutes on Fox or alt RW sites over the past 30 years, it wasn't on purpose.

I forgot what today’s date was, d'oh!

Best wishes for your next rotation around the Sun

I’m not far from that one, myself! Hope you had a MOST satisfying day!

Although I’m not in the same boat. I was in the Netherlands on Monday, Belgium Tuesday, France yesterday, back in Belgium today, Holland tomorrow, and have to run down to Spain on Monday. My biggest disability at the moment is my inability to slow down like I was intending to. If I ever start spouting nonsense like that guy, then lock ME up, since it’s my taxes, in part, that pay for the money that HE lives on.

A synergy between microplastics, pesticides and electromagnetic smog.

Long after Chump finally croaks (please let it be soon!) we'll still be dealing with these demented old farts.

This problem will get worse, I think.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/unm-researchers-discover-microplastic-in-placentas

But I think it's more of an overall unhealthy American lifestyle (little or no exercise and shitty diets/processed foods) that many middle class and poor people alike are prone to. Think about the world when these 70 year olds were in their 40's. I'm 61, and started working for myself 17 years ago. Didn't get rich - but have been able to make my own schedule - eat healthy - get sunshine whenever I wanted. I'm MUCH healthier and more informed than most of my peers in age and income. I will say I'm pissed off - but in the opposite direction from the old fart mentioned in the OP.

TFG weaponized it, in part, by rejecting the science of immunology and excoriating those in the field.

PBS is airing The Invisible Shield now — highlighting the growing problems.
https://www.pbs.org/show/the-invisible-shield

Fortunately, they are no doubt kind enough and sensible enough to ignore his racism and hatefulness and take care of him anyway.

I wouldn't be so kind myself. I guess he's lucky.

My sense is that he saw me, a middle-aged white guy working in a service trade in western PA, as a kindred spirit.

I take care of my dad and his neighbors cannot help spewing their s__t at me. I guess because I look like them.

Are keeping him from getting more benefits.

When Trump first oozed to the surface, the fanatics in my town were positively gleeful. And when I pointed out that he and his fellow Republicans would be coming after their medicare and social security, they laughed and called me a triggered libt*rd.

I'm 75 and getting calluses on my fingers from drumming up support for Biden and Harris and key issues on these pages (and elsewhere)

I *WELCOME* immigrants to California to do the jobs that feed the country and that nobody else will do.

And I detest illegals who storm the Capitol Building and conspire to substitute fake electors for real ones, and the people (Ronna something or other) who materially assist in their illegal schemes. And let's throw in unindicted ring-leaders, awaiting an Attorney General with cojones enough to bag the BIG elephants and not just petty losers.

liked having someone to talk AT not with.
I see that a lot with my geezer friends. When they have a captive audience they just rattle on and on and no space for a response from the other person..
Too bad he was a reich wing asshat..
m

While I'm there as a contractor, I'm basically their employee, and it's grossly inappropriate to put an employee in a position where they must either agree, remain silent, or else challenge the site owner's views and thereby expose themselves to repercussions.

I've compiled a number of neutral-ish replies that don't really take a stand one way or the other (eg., "Yep, crazy times" or "Hard to believe" or "I've heard about stuff like that" etc.) but the only time I actually discuss politics is when the site owner is clearly on the Left (Michelle Obama's book on the coffee table, a "Hate Has No Place Here" sign in the yard, or--in one case--an 3' x 4' poster of Ruth Bader Ginsburg). In those cases I like to signal where I stand on things so that they aren't worried about a crazy Trumper puttering around in their basement.

obviously no one took your job as you have been supported by the taxpayers for 20 years..

Kinda cold response to him I know but I like to shut the loons down quick.
That way they know where I stand.

I used to have people of a similar demographic just walk up to me in public places and start talking to me as if we were both at the Trump rally last night. I would quickly inform them that they don't want to go there with me. I tell them I spend at least eight hours a day studying and discussing politics, and I will make a fool out of them in short order. There hasn't been one of them who didn't walk away immediately.

I say this used to happen because it hasn't happened since a day in early November in 2020.

They believe the narrative that they ARE the majority. They have bought the rw bullshit for so many years and within their information bubble that is all they hear. The belief is rw IS the majority and therfore any win by the liberal side must have been aided by nefarious influence.

And stupidity...lack of critical thinking skills plays a huge part...

. . . would tell anyone who was in earshot how "Muslim immigrants get $1,800 a month from the government, food stamps, free medical care, and free housing . . . " I refused to engage with her, always moved away, sat across the room, ignored her. She died three years ago, an event on which I will not comment.

One of my RWNJ neighbors who I see in the elevator from time to time is frightened that he might catch the lubrul from me.

I remain an active liberal who does GOTV and other work for the Democratic party.

Good for you!!! Bye!!

Twice I had to very carefully answer back as 1) I was in a cab by myself, 2) in the laundry room in my building w the good super's drunk friend who was bigger than me.

The other times a more assertive response.

When they prattle at me, it’s with a “we’re all on the same page, right?” vibe, which is annoying but seldom actually threatening.

But in your case, there’s the added implication of danger if you speak out, or even if you simply don’t confirm the person’s views. And let’s be honest: the person with those views already has a pretty shitty attitude toward women, and they tend to have an aggressive personality type, especially in matters of politics, so it must be even more challenging to navigate that exchange safely.

Ugly times, to be sure. The worst are full of passionate intensity, as they say.