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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Bye Bye Abortion

« on: June 25, 2022, 03:50:58 PM »

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2022/06/24/how-americans-really-feel-about-abortion-the-sometimes-surprising-poll-results-as-supreme-court-reportedly-set-to-overturn-roe-v-wade/amp/

This article gives a good overview of where people's opinions stand on abortion. Broadly speaking the number is around 60% favoring the legality of first-trimester abortion, but there's a lot of nuance. Close to 90% believe abortion should be legal if the woman's life is in danger, or the child is the product of incest, or if the child would be born malformed. And support drops sharply with age; old fogies like Action80 pretends to be are a lot more likely to be against it.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Bye Bye Abortion

« on: June 25, 2022, 03:43:42 PM »

I feel like the timing of this might have been a  gift to the Democrats for the mid-term elections? I mean, it's true, the only way to fight this is by legislating; and the Democrats have five months to get that message across. This was a MASSIVELY unpopular decision; 70% of the country feels a woman has the right to choose what they do with their own bodies. The Supreme Court has given the Democrats just enough time to get the message out that only by maintaining (and building?) on their lead in Congress can voters have a hope of protecting that right, while ensuring that the decision will still be very fresh in voters' minds.

Between licking the leader of an insurrection's boots and allowing him to control their party and just continuing to make unpopular, backwards decisions, the Republicans almost seem like they're trying to sabotage themselves going forward.

70 percent, uh?

I am sure the polls you refer to are totally legitmate.

It may be closer to 60%. It's a strong majority anyway.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Bye Bye Abortion

« on: June 25, 2022, 03:13:15 PM »

I feel like the timing of this might have been a  gift to the Democrats for the mid-term elections? I mean, it's true, the only way to fight this is by legislating; and the Democrats have five months to get that message across. This was a MASSIVELY unpopular decision; 70% of the country feels a woman has the right to choose what they do with their own bodies. The Supreme Court has given the Democrats just enough time to get the message out that only by maintaining (and building?) on their lead in Congress can voters have a hope of protecting that right, while ensuring that the decision will still be very fresh in voters' minds.

Between licking the leader of an insurrection's boots and allowing him to control their party and just continuing to make unpopular, backwards decisions, the Republicans almost seem like they're trying to sabotage themselves going forward.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: President Joe Biden

« on: May 25, 2022, 01:57:58 PM »

It's interesting to see people who are themselves firmly opposed to gay rights criticize politicians for having not always supported gay rights. It might seem completely nonsensical at first, but you have to remember that right-wing political discourse isn't so much focused on reason and logic as it on just trying to own the libs in any way possible.

The point is that it's less likely that Biden changed his mind and more likely that he restated certain positions based on popularity. The old guard of the DNC by and large flipped the switch on their gay rights stances in order to appease voters and not necessarily because they think gay marriage is acceptable. You should always be incredibly suspicious of some politician that changes their mind on an incredibly controversial subject after one side becomes much more favorable to their voter base than the other.

It's the same reason he keeps bringing up things like student loan forgiveness. It's popular. It brings in votes. He doesn't actually care about it one way or another and he isn't going to run around fighting for it.

He doesn't have to care about either issue. That's really not important. What's important is that he politically exercises the will of the people he represents, and as you point out, he does so smashingly.

I don't think shifting perspective because that's what your constituents are doing is the "wrong reason", as honk suggests. Really it's exactly what he should be doing.

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Arts & Entertainment / Re: Just Watched

« on: May 12, 2022, 08:40:05 PM »

I liked it.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Bye Bye Abortion

« on: May 03, 2022, 11:09:39 PM »

I raise you an Obama speech.


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02UKgnjvk2tS5AmDv43aQGRcUdbueZbeYEiveMBL2WXaE6iX8LRmBYMJdVRpjToiQCl&id=100044322825129

Stuff like this kind of glosses over the issue as it's seen by conservatives and might point to why they refuse to see it this way. Obama talks about intensely personal decisions, but to conservatives against it it's nothing less than murder, which no one would argue is something that shouldn't be against the law.

I'm not justifying it, I just think that a real dialogue about this issue needs to weigh both perspectives, otherwise it's just preaching to the respective choir.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Bye Bye Abortion

« on: May 03, 2022, 08:53:28 PM »

Checkmate, atheists

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Suggestions & Concerns / Re: Let's use the site-wide theme in CN

« on: April 26, 2022, 08:55:14 PM »

RIP Blanko. Nevar forget.   

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Suggestions & Concerns / Re: Let's use the site-wide theme in CN

« on: April 26, 2022, 04:11:21 PM »

I'm in favor of changing the theme. It's annoying trying to look at a thread in CN on my cell, and garbage threads or not people do post there.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: What religion do you practice?

« on: April 24, 2022, 05:03:41 PM »

NeoQuasiDeism

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Arts & Entertainment / Re: Superhero Movies & Comics General

« on: April 24, 2022, 03:14:28 PM »

https://cosmicbook.news/batman-destroys-zack-snyder-justice-league-hbo-max

More evidence that the popularity of the Snyder Cut is vastly overrated and was just amplified by an extremely vocal minority.

For anyone hoping that the popularity of the Snyder Cut would result in HBO Max releasing an "Ayers Cut" of the original Suicide Squad, I wouldn't hold my breath.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trans athletes

« on: April 24, 2022, 03:07:27 PM »

https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-swimming-news-strip-michael-phelps-of-his-medals-fan-believes-legendary-swimmer-had-the-same-biological-advantage-as-lia-thomas-calls-it-unfair/

I've read so many articles trying to justify Lia Thomas's involvement in women's swimming that have made arguments like this. Another one mischaracterized the argument against it by erroneously pointing out that the entire controversy is simply over the fact that she's, like, just really, really good.

No!

I'm sorry. They can have their pronouns, I have no problem with that. They can also use whatever bathroom they want as far as I'm concerned. I have no problem with trans people. I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself and want nothing more than for everyone to be accepted and to feel comfortable with who they are. It almost makes me feel guilty for actually having my own opinion on this issue.

This isn't as black and white as all that.

Lia Thomas doesn't have the same biological advantage that Michael Phelps did. When she swam as a man, she was mediocre. When she swam as a woman, she was number 1. The issue is not that she's "too good". The issue is that we know where she landed competitively as a man, and she SUCKED. So you really can't convince me that the biological differences aren't as great as I'm making them out to be. In Lia Thomas we have solid empirical evidence that a trans athlete ranks much, much higher as a woman than as a man. In her case, the difference is transparently obvious. And I think that, more than anything else, is why she's been such a poster child for those who are against it.

If the biological differences were really so miniscule, all team sports would be coed. Where are all the trans football players, anyway? How many female to male trans people are competing on men's teams?

Sorry, these arguments don't fly.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Questions about Zeteticism

« on: April 22, 2022, 09:41:48 PM »

This is incorrect. In the US there is a presumption of innocence until one is proven guilty. That is not the same thing. Assuming anything heading into a trial is a thing to be avoided

.

Assume and presume are synonyms.  They mean the same thing.

verb (used with object), pre·sumed, pre·sum·ing.
to take for granted, assume, or suppose:
I presume you're tired after your drive.
Law. to assume as true in the absence of proof to the contrary.
to undertake with unwarrantable boldness.
to undertake (to do something) without right or permission:
to presume to speak for another.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/presume

No, they don't. They are similar. But assumption implies that one is sure of something without sufficient reason. Presumption does not carry that connotation.

If innocence was assumed there would be no trial.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Questions about Zeteticism

« on: April 22, 2022, 06:45:02 PM »

But there is an assumption of innocence, and it is up to the prosecution to disprove that assumption.  At least that is how it works in the US.

This is incorrect. In the US there is a presumption of innocence until one is proven guilty. That is not the same thing. Assuming anything heading into a trial is a thing to be avoided.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Hey, Congrats Sean

« on: April 22, 2022, 04:12:47 PM »

https://people.com/tv/sean-hannity-becomes-longest-running-cable-news-host-breaks-record-previously-held-by-larry-king/

Hey, congrats Sean. You've managed to become the longest running cable news host in history, despite both you and your network clarifying several times over the course of your career that what you do isn't truly classifiable as "news" (I would call it propaganda, of course, but I think you and your cronies found a more respectable sounding way to put it). A staggering achievement, and yet another sign that the end times are near. It's time to repent if you believe that will help you folks.

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Arts & Entertainment / Re: Superhero Movies & Comics General

« on: April 22, 2022, 03:49:50 AM »

Maybe they'll get Grant Gustin to play him. There seems to be some demand for it.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Are the American police out of control?

« on: April 21, 2022, 05:19:05 PM »

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/20/us/santa-ana-police-music-ordinance/index.html

My takeaway: if you have an encounter with the police, and they are playing loud music, they are planning to deal with you inappropriately. This is disgusting and I sincerely hope it's outlawed across the board.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: FL GOP are homophobic crybabies

« on: April 07, 2022, 12:32:28 AM »

Well one good thing about this law. It's like how Obama reminded us that there are still vicious racists out there. A lot of people seem to like to pretend to be friendly to those of the LGBTQ+ persuasion, it's kinda in vogue.

Anyone defending this law is doing it from a place of bigotry. They think they can make it sound righteous (Think of the poor children!). But you don't make an effort to defend this law in any way unless you're a bigot. There's no reason to; unless you are a bigot who is afraid the gay will rub off, you have no reason to think it necessary.

So it's rooted some of those fakes out. Shown their true colors.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: FL GOP are homophobic crybabies

« on: March 24, 2022, 10:24:27 PM »

The biggest hypocrites in the world are the libertarians, lol. Keep your government out of my business, unless it's something I think you should govern. lol I can't even

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Arts & Entertainment / Re: Just Watched

« on: March 24, 2022, 07:23:03 PM »

I think it's ridiculous to think of it as Oscar-worthy, but No Way Home was still pretty good, almost everyone who has seen it responded.

Saddam saw a meme about how Batman has better visuals than NWH so that is probably the basis for this most recent hot take.

I was wondering where it came from. Saddam just repeats what the critics are saying so often this review legit came out of left field.