The Energon Pub

Thank you seibertron. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. ‘Til all are one!

I work at a CBS Network affiliate. The pandemic hasn't changed my work schedule at all, so I'm still exposed to this stuff forty or more hours a week. I didn't want to come to one of my favorite entertainment sites and talk about the news of the day. But the problem is, if you spend your life avoiding politics, eventually you'll still have to address it, and by then it'll probably be too late. So here goes:

It bothers me when people who spend their lives learning to research disease and viruses are dismissed by those with louder voices. "Rona's a hoax!" "It's not that bad!" "Stay at home orders are a conspiracy!"

It also bothers me when people dismiss the experiences of others whose viewpoints they couldn't possibly see. "You're not still being subjugated, you choose to live that way!" "We already solved your problem, things are better for you than you say!" "Your social movement is a conspiracy!"

The problem that I see in both situations is confirmation bias. It's that habit of a person to only accept information that supports their viewpoint, and to ignore whatever conflicts with it. Everyone has it, but it's stronger in some people than in others. It's why we have people that think that all animals are intelligent because their dog seems so smart. It's why we have climate change deniers after four decades of being told about global warming. It's why we have people who think that Affirmative Action is bad for whites despite their being no data to support that.

It's why we still have racism in the twenty-first century.

As a straight white male, the only thing I'm actually qualified to say about the experiences of minorities is that I'm not qualified to speak on that; only they are. But I will say this: there is no global conspiracy towards anything. There are no secret plans to falsify centuries' worth of information so that a cabal can seize money or power. The closest thing we have to that are our international businesses, and they're pretty open with their plans to seize money and power, and the public is pretty okay with that for some reason.

If there's any kind of harmful global movement, it's apathy, and that hurts all of us because it keeps us from growing as individuals and as a society.

Glarryg

Yes, everyone's lives matter. Of course, all lives do indeed matter. No one said they didnt. Disproportionately, black people are killed by police at a much higher percentage than they should be when compared to other races. That is one of the major issues here. That is why we are focusing on black lives matter today.

Glarryg wrote:I work at a CBS Network affiliate. The pandemic hasn't changed my work schedule at all, so I'm still exposed to this stuff forty or more hours a week. I didn't want to come to one of my favorite entertainment sites and talk about the news of the day. But the problem is, if you spend your life avoiding politics, eventually you'll still have to address it, and by then it'll probably be too late. So here goes:

It bothers me when people who spend their lives learning to research disease and viruses are dismissed by those with louder voices. "Rona's a hoax!" "It's not that bad!" "Stay at home orders are a conspiracy!"

It also bothers me when people dismiss the experiences of others whose viewpoints they couldn't possibly see. "You're not still being subjugated, you choose to live that way!" "We already solved your problem, things are better for you than you say!" "Your social movement is a conspiracy!"

The problem that I see in both situations is confirmation bias. It's that habit of a person to only accept information that supports their viewpoint, and to ignore whatever conflicts with it. Everyone has it, but it's stronger in some people than in others. It's why we have people that think that all animals are intelligent because their dog seems so smart. It's why we have climate change deniers after four decades of being told about global warming. It's why we have people who think that Affirmative Action is bad for whites despite their being no data to support that.

It's why we still have racism in the twenty-first century.

As a straight white male, the only thing I'm actually qualified to say about the experiences of minorities is that I'm not qualified to speak on that; only they are. But I will say this: there is no global conspiracy towards anything. There are no secret plans to falsify centuries' worth of information so that a cabal can seize money or power. The closest thing we have to that are our international businesses, and they're pretty open with their plans to seize money and power, and the public is pretty okay with that for some reason.

If there's any kind of harmful global movement, it's apathy, and that hurts all of us because it keeps us from growing as individuals and as a society.

Glarryg

This is one of the best posts here today. Thank you for sharing.

Then its a problem with the police system of one specific country. There's no need to burn and loot, its like people want an excuse to be shot at by the police. Oh wait, maybe they do.

Thanks Siebertron. This website has been a hugely important part of my life for a long time. I run a couple of Transformers Twitter accounts, and as someone else mentioned, it's weird to just keep doing the same normal content right now... I always joke with my friends, you can tell something is serious when the news reaches the transformers world, and I'd say this certainly is that. Its been great seeing folks come out of the woodwork to support you on this. (I've got, what, three other posts here?) And as someone else mentioned again, it's disheartening to see some folks who seem to have missed the point, although I want to say loudly and up front, I'm glad Siebertron is a place where we can have adult conversations about this, and folks can express disagreement and work through it together. In any community, there will be folks who don't agree, and that's one of the great things about community. And I find myself wondering what the folks who are lurking on this one think today. I don't know what it would change but... I don't know. Normally I lurk here, and today I wanted to say... something, even if it is incoherent, even if the only dog I have in this fight is I'm a fellow human being. I guess... This place is valuable to me, and you all are valuable to me, and I hope you all make it through this safely, and that we can keep being a community.

'Till All are One.

Seibertron wrote:Yes, everyone's lives matter. Of course, all lives do indeed matter. No one said they didnt. Disproportionately, black people are killed by police at a much higher percentage than they should be when compared to other races. That is one of the major issues here. That is why we are focusing on black lives matter today.

But one wonder why most of the police brutality and killings are done in blue states run by Democrats?
And the black community keep voting them in for reasons.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Yes, everyone's lives matter. Of course, all lives do indeed matter. No one said they didnt. Disproportionately, black people are killed by police at a much higher percentage than they should be when compared to other races. That is one of the major issues here. That is why we are focusing on black lives matter today.

But one wonder why most of the police brutality and killings are done in blue states run by Democrats?
And the black community keep voting them in for reasons.

To be frank I don't think either of us have a say when it come to the nitty gritty of American party politics, especially at the state or city level.

Bravo to Seibertron!

This shouldn't be a controversial statement. Black lives Matter. That's it. That's the statement.

Michael Che has a great piece about this in his standup posted here.

Just stop with the All Lives Matter stuff. Everyone knows that. No one is saying they don't. People see Black Lives being treated as less valuable, and are speaking up against this falsehood. If people just saying Black Lives Matter (seriously, matter, that's it, how is that offensive?) gets you angry, one has to wonder why?

If a few protesters going rogue and looting upsets you so much, how do several cops doing the same not upset you? If all cops aren't bad due to this, how are all protesters bad?

I've seen a meme recently that goes to this.
"Look, it's terrible black people are getting killed by police, but the property destruction has to stop"
can be easily and rightly flipped:
"Look, all this property destruction is terrible, but police have to stop killing black people"



[youtube]https://youtu.be/2Q5ctljPg20[/youtube]

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Yes, everyone's lives matter. Of course, all lives do indeed matter. No one said they didnt. Disproportionately, black people are killed by police at a much higher percentage than they should be when compared to other races. That is one of the major issues here. That is why we are focusing on black lives matter today.

But one wonder why most of the police brutality and killings are done in blue states run by Democrats?
And the black community keep voting them in for reasons.

LMAO, Citation needed! Arizona is far from a blue state run by Democrats. Don't pull out statistics unless you got proof.

-Kanrabat- wrote:
But one wonder why most of the police brutality and killings are done in blue states run by Democrats?
And the black community keep voting them in for reasons.

Probably because blue states have more cities and thus denser populations. The larger the police force the larger the chance most of them are going to be corrupt no matter how squeaky clean the chief’s record is. All you gotta do is look at all the footage of peaceful protesters of all colours being mercilessly grappled and attacked by cops with hidden name tags and missing body cams, firing rubber bullets directly at people when they should have been trained to use them properly, and using tear gas which is banned in warfare, and you know these cops aren’t trained or have the restraint or morals to do their jobs properly. People on all sides are getting shots to the head and arrested, which is why those funds are important for bailing out protestors. Everyone can benefit from a reduction in police brutality, white black hispanic asian republican or democrat, but the main victims of this brutality are the ones spearheading the campaign, hence black lives matter.

Cops are supposed to protect us, not act as firing squads on innocent people. They are not Jury and executioner like judge dredd. That’s the bottom line, and all I really have to say on the matter.

aronjlove wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Yes, everyone's lives matter. Of course, all lives do indeed matter. No one said they didnt. Disproportionately, black people are killed by police at a much higher percentage than they should be when compared to other races. That is one of the major issues here. That is why we are focusing on black lives matter today.

But one wonder why most of the police brutality and killings are done in blue states run by Democrats?
And the black community keep voting them in for reasons.

LMAO, Citation needed! Arizona is far from a blue state run by Democrats. Don't pull out statistics unless you got proof.

Key word is "MOST."

New York and California being prime examples.

Also, stop excusing the current riots. There is NO virtue in this. No excuses. At all.

Hey remember when you people were saying we had to be on lockdown and were cheering the government and law enforcement on how we had to be 'lawful citizen' and anyone trying to stage a protest was some dangerous lunatic who wanted people to die? Oh and the lethal virus was very real we had to stay indoors. Now suddenly its okay to riot and protest or assemble in mass to chant in support. Remember when we called conspiracy nuts people who said the virus didn't exist?

Did the virus magically disappear?

Short Circuit wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:
But one wonder why most of the police brutality and killings are done in blue states run by Democrats?
And the black community keep voting them in for reasons.

Probably because blue states have more cities and thus denser populations. The larger the police force the larger the chance most of them are going to be corrupt no matter how squeaky clean the chief’s record is.

Yup. Definitely a key problem. Because when the cops and the populace don't know each others, no one care about each others. No matter their color.

Still, Democrats keep pushing weird policies that look good on paper but won't help anyone.
As Tim Poll keep saying, "It's complicated".

Skritz wrote:Hey remember when you people were saying we had to be on lockdown and were cheering the government and law enforcement on how we had to be 'lawful citizen' and anyone trying to stage a protest was some dangerous lunatic who wanted people to die? Oh and the lethal virus was very real we had to stay indoors. Now suddenly its okay to riot and protest or assemble in mass to chant in support. Remember when we called conspiracy nuts people who said the virus didn't exist?

Did the virus magically disappear?

But OF COURSE it did!

-Kanrabat- wrote:

aronjlove wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Yes, everyone's lives matter. Of course, all lives do indeed matter. No one said they didnt. Disproportionately, black people are killed by police at a much higher percentage than they should be when compared to other races. That is one of the major issues here. That is why we are focusing on black lives matter today.

But one wonder why most of the police brutality and killings are done in blue states run by Democrats?
And the black community keep voting them in for reasons.

LMAO, Citation needed! Arizona is far from a blue state run by Democrats. Don't pull out statistics unless you got proof.

Key word is "MOST."

New York and California being prime examples.

Also, stop excusing the current riots. There is NO virtue in this. No excuses. At all.

Ah hahahahahahhahahahahhaha. This country was literally built by old white dudes who said "**** the cost of tea" and rioted and killed cops and revolted and ****. So, basically, rioting is literally the most American way of expressing anger.

The American revolution was a secession movement from an oversea power. Its violence and fighting had a minimal effect on the already existing infrastructure of the would-become-United States. You people are actively destroying your own buildings and infrastructure, destroying your communities. This is not the same.

How the hell does a Canadian like me understand this better than an American?

aronjlove wrote:Ah hahahahahahhahahahahhaha. This country was literally built by old white dudes who said "**** the cost of tea" and rioted and killed cops and revolted and ****. So, basically, rioting is literally the most American way of expressing anger.

This doesn't make it right.

Because when it's YOUR home, YOUR things YOUR neighborhood, that will get destroyed "for the cause", you will do one marvelous 180° backflip in .05 seconds.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

aronjlove wrote:Ah hahahahahahhahahahahhaha. This country was literally built by old white dudes who said "**** the cost of tea" and rioted and killed cops and revolted and ****. So, basically, rioting is literally the most American way of expressing anger.

This doesn't make it right.

Because when it's YOUR home, YOUR things YOUR neighborhood, that will get destroyed "for the cause", you will do one marvelous 180° backflip in .05 seconds.

Agreed. Anyone cheering for riots better hold their goddamn stance once it gets to their house and burn it down. You can't cheer for other people to burn things down and go 'Oh no, not in my home I'm an ally I swear!'. It doesn't work like that, people. I thought the French Revolution would be better taught to people on how revolutions turn bloody and end up as bad as what started. They're call revolution for a reason.

If people think I am a monster for thinking that this will heavily backfire and ruin people's lives, if not take them, then so be it. Call me a monster.

Thanks for this, Seibertron. Great post.

A few thoughts...

Peaceful protest (a la Kaepernik) didn’t work. Talking hasn’t worked. This is how you make the world listen, by taking action.

The USA was founded upon an uprising, upon two revolutions against terrible oppressors - firstly against the British, then against those who would continue slavery. To those opposed to these riots, I say this - if it wasn’t for people rising up for the greater good, fighting for a noble cause, the USA wouldn’t even exist right now.

And really, if you’re seeing people fight back against the systemic oppression and abuse of the black community and your first thought is “...but what about the property damage?” then maybe it’s time for a rethink. You can mend broken things, you can TRY to mend a broken system, but you can’t mend broken people.

And Antifa is not some sort of militant organisation, it’s a philosophy. It’s not an army, it’s a way of thinking. Antifa literally means anti-fascist. Those brave Americans who fought in WW2 were anti-fascists. I’m an anti-fascist myself. If you claim to be anti-anti-fascist then what does that make you...?

It’s all a matter of perspective - what you might call a terrorist, another man might call a freedom fighter. Nelson Mandela was once accused of terrorism, now he’s seen as an example to follow.

NWA were right about the police.

Yes, because the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is incredibly democratic, right? It must be, it says so in the name!

...

I'll just put this comment here I made on someone's fb post:


There is a systematic and systemic problem with everyone tbh.

Also, I hate everyone equally, so there's that.



This rioting hurts the message more than it even helps. The overzealous COVID crap has already harmed small businesses, and violent little cowardly thugs hurting innocent small business owners is not gonna do squeedily squat.

Black Hat wrote:Yes, because the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is incredibly democratic, right? It must be, it says so in the name!

Sometimes an orange is just an orange, though.

Yeah, if you watch enough Fox News and angry YouTube videos and follow the wrong people on Facebook, then the easily-fooled might well come away thinking that an orange isn’t actually an orange at all. Especially when they want to believe it to be not so.

But as long as it’s in someone’s best interest to turn the orange into a boogeyman, to steer attention away from their own misdeeds, then people will continue to smear oranges.

When in actual fact, oranges are tasty, and a good source of vitamin C.

...