New and experienced climbers over 50 #36

Li Huwrote:

You’re not wrong. People are irrational about their decisions. If the folks on this thread really wanted the elections to have turned out differently, they should have done much more before the elections. I believe that I was the ONLY person warning of what would happen, and I can go back to all those posts and see the cool reaction to those. As far as I’m concerned, we all got what we deserved.

But since it turned out the way it did, make the best of it.

What’s important to me is free trade, as much as possible anyway. I’m also not a Republican…

I know this doesn't relate to me, as I communicate from afar, but really, how do you know WHAT peeps were doing outside of this thread? And even if one was very very very active on this thread, how many people do you think would be reached, both directly and indirectly? 

For all you know, others on this thread may have been camped on Mt T's lawn at Mar-a-lago every night pleading with him via a loudspeaker, or organising events, or attending rallies etc etc etc.

I don't know if it's wonderful you can all buy iPhones you can afford, now that the tariff on Chinese goods is relaxed or if it's NOT wonderful because the whole damn country would 'save money' by NOT being able to afford iPhones. I get a bit confused. 

At least you're getting a new plane for your leader. 

I wonder if it comes complete with booby traps, spy cameras and tracking devices? One can only hope. No no! I mean, one can only hope NOT. See? I'm Confused.   

Ward Smithwrote:

Me too.  The great thing about being generally on a strict keto diet is that I can go off the rails once in a while with no problem.  Pizza is the thing that gets me.  It used to be ice cream, but it has been at least a year since I have had it.

I did keto for a while. Ate duck breasts swimming in duck fat for lunch. Cheese wrapped in prosciutto. Fat, fat and more fat. Even worked it where I could have two very low carb beers a night! Lost weight and fat and found thought processes were much clearer. But I can't stick to anything, really. In my entire life the only thing that's 'stuck' is climbing. Oh, and my marriage, that's still a thing. Thankfully. I think? in all honesty if I wasn't married I'd be completely off the rails. I'd be a very very well dressed bum. Stoned at breakfast and drunk by lunch but well attired.  

John Gillwrote:

Rather than castigate those who seek to find some glimmer of hope in the current administration, work to correct the deficiencies of the other party. Or, continue to rail against your fellow climbers for capsizing your ship in the Gulf of America.

This.

The continual, unending circular firing squad/eat your own phenomenon is truly disturbing. And perfectly explains why the irrationality of politics will only change from red to blue when Trump finally leaves office (or finally kicks it).

apogeewrote:

This.

The continual, unending circular firing squad/eat your own phenomenon is truly disturbing. And perfectly explains why the irrationality of politics will only change from red to blue when Trump finally leaves office (or finally kicks it).

No. The people who support Trump are adults and have agency. No one forced them to do it. All the rest is just rationalization.

Li Huwrote:

Official, I’ve been the victim of every sort of racism and offensive treatment, now of being a bot?

Got it, I’m not white so my opinions don’t count.

Bye.

Li, I think you spent too much time on the golf course with your Maga buddies. I'll admit some of the Trump Admin messages are acceptable but it seems they almost always do the opposite of the message. I'd love to hear your thoughts on him saving all those poor south Africans while denying sanctuary to anyone of color.

apogeewrote:

This.

The continual, unending circular firing squad/eat your own phenomenon is truly disturbing. And perfectly explains why the irrationality of politics will only change from red to blue when Trump finally leaves office (or finally kicks it).

A real problem to me is the never ending insulting of the other party's followers,  especially on the internet.  I believe it has fueled a cult like following and the smarter, more well read and educated side should know better. 

M Mwrote:

A real problem to me is the never ending insulting of the other party's followers,  especially on the internet.  I believe it has fueled a cult like following and the smarter, more well read and educated side should know better. 

As you have noted, this behavior is used by both sides- it alienates and divides in politics, and right here in this thread.

Like many others in this thread, I had strong opposition to some of Li Hu's views (and for that matter, Donald Thompson's), and I share the same sense of dread and great concern many have expressed here about the current 'leadership' of the country. However, some recent responses have involved ad hominems and (apparently) accusations of being a bot- this is precisely the same divisive behavior that has brought this country to where it is today, and will continue as long as people choose to communicate in this manner. 

There are some great thinking minds in this thread- I'd like to hear more of those thoughtful thoughts about the issues, and much less comments that are directed at individuals.

From last night’s Springsteen concert.

apogeewrote:

As you have noted, this behavior is used by both sides- it alienates and divides in politics, and right here in this thread.

If someone calls me a liberal I don't consider it an insult even though many conservatives use the term as a pejorative. But I support liberal policies so the definition is accurate and I'm not insulted by it. OTOH, with a few exceptions, which I'll get to later, if you call someone a racist they'll be insulted even if they support racist policies. That's where rationalizations come in. Or when they can't rationalize something they pretend it doesn't exist. A good example is the difference in they way white South African and Afghan refugees are being treated by the current administration. Or closer to home a few years back here in NC someone ran for the state legislature as an explicit white supremacist. He wasn't insulted by the label. And he won the Republican primary by a wide margin. Note it wasn't a choice between him and a Democrat. He beat another Republican who I might have policy disagreements with but who didn't seem like a terrible person. Calling him a racist was just a statement of fact that he openly admitted to. But what of the people who voted for him? How do you find common ground with them?

Like many others in this thread, I had strong opposition to some of Li Hu's views (and for that matter, Donald Thompson's), and I share the same sense of dread and great concern many have expressed here about the current 'leadership' of the country. However, the recent responses have involved ad hominems and (apparently) accusations of being a bot- this is precisely the same divisive behavior that has brought this country to where it is today, and will continue as long as people choose to communicate in this manner. 

I don''t think MP is infested by bots just yet so I accept that Li Hu is a real person. That being said bots are a big problem on many social media platforms and I expect that's just going to get worse as LLM's improve. Hell Zuck said last week that Meta is working on AI chatbots that can be "friends" with people.

. . . he would deride us, playfully. I think he wanted better from us, more genuine clarity of thought. We are like toes cramped in a common ill-fitting muria. 

Emil Briggswrote:

I don''t think MP is infested by bots just yet so I accept that Li Hu is a real person. That being said bots are a big problem on many social media platforms and I expect that's just going to get worse as LLM's improve. Hell Zuck said last week that Meta is working on AI chatbots that can be "friends" with people.

There are already apps available that let you talk to your 'friend' bot out there.  And I really wish people would stop calling this AI, there is no Intelligence involved at all.

We are enjoying the incredible Spring weather here. 

philip bone wrote:

What would Werner say?

Channeling my inner Werner...

Over indulgence of fixing the mind on such mundane topics as this will make you fail at the crux

Or perhaps...

Check your stool when you go number 2. If it sinks you give a sh#t. If it floats you are above it all .....

Emil Briggswrote:

I don''t think MP is infested by bots just yet so I accept that Li Hu is a real person. That being said bots are a big problem on many social media platforms and I expect that's just going to get worse as LLM's improve. Hell Zuck said last week that Meta is working on AI chatbots that can be "friends" with people.

There are more bots on here than you would think, they just get deactivated quickly usually. I do doubt Li Hu is a bot, though I have to admit  while trying to understand where he is coming from with his views, more than once, at least 1/4 seriously, wondering if he was some sort of Chinese propagandist (sorry dude, just the way it seems sometimes). I do agree with apogee's suggestion of trying to keep the more divisive subjects as depersonalized as possible to keep communication channels open (not always easy of course)

Jan Mcwrote:

There are already apps available that let you talk to your 'friend' bot out there.  And I really wish people would stop calling this AI, there is no Intelligence involved at all.

You are correct there is "no Intelligence involved" so yes I should stop using the hype terminology.

I keep wondering who this Al is. Horseface? Big AL?

philip bonewrote:

I keep wondering who this Al is. Horse face? Big AL?

Well some in Trump's inner circle think it's A1 - like steak sauce.  

For those who claim there is no intelligence, I would ask you what your definition if intelligence is?  I would say there is nothing artificial about it.

Lori Milaswrote:

I'm feeling encouraged.  Ever since climbing the project route (it will have a name soon), I'm reflecting on possibilities.  I expected hard climbing to be well behind me by now, just by virtue of being old.  I'm watching 'the riptide of decay' sweep through the lives of my family and friends, as though it is inevitable sooner than later.  

Wait, did you send your chimney to slab problem?  If so, huge congrats!  Obviously i too am struggling to keep up with all the posts here. 

I have lost track of this thread... someone went sideways in the gym and wished they hadn't. (was it Gabe?) The one thing I feel about aging is the need to be more intentional than ever.  I am working on honing down EVERYTHING to more minimal... less supplements, less extraneous activity, less negative (or even positive) distractions.  Saying no to fun things that could end REALLY fun things.  

It was not me, it was Ward, but it just as well could have been, as i did exactly the same stupid thing last time i was at the gym. I just got lucky, hit the holds okay and sent the problem, then went back to the training i should have been doing. 

Ward, hope you recover quickly and fully. 

GO

Thanks GabeO, I am doing well and mostly back to full speed.  My training plan includes doing the kilter board at 50 degrees at least once a week, but I am going to hold off on it for a while still and just get on the set boulders tomorrow (not the sideways dynos though!).

Emil Briggswrote:

If someone calls me a liberal I don't consider it an insult even though many conservatives use the term as a pejorative. But I support liberal policies so the definition is accurate and I'm not insulted by it. OTOH, with a few exceptions, which I'll get to later, if you call someone a racist they'll be insulted even if they support racist policies. That's where rationalizations come in. Or when they can't rationalize something they pretend it doesn't exist. A good example is the difference in they way white South African and Afghan refugees are being treated by the current administration. Or closer to home a few years back here in NC someone ran for the state legislature as an explicit white supremacist. He wasn't insulted by the label. And he won the Republican primary by a wide margin. Note it wasn't a choice between him and a Democrat. He beat another Republican who I might have policy disagreements with but who didn't seem like a terrible person. Calling him a racist was just a statement of fact that he openly admitted to. But what of the people who voted for him? How do you find common ground with them?

I don''t think MP is infested by bots just yet so I accept that Li Hu is a real person. That being said bots are a big problem on many social media platforms and I expect that's just going to get worse as LLM's improve. Hell Zuck said last week that Meta is working on AI chatbots that can be "friends" with people.

So, voting can often come down to something as simple as who is listed on a ballot first, lol! But, let's assume a bit more thought. What if what matters to you, particularly, is more of a single issue? Pro/anti abortion, pro/anti immigration, any kind of thing involving your own stuff. Then, yeah, it just might be someone you may even find repugnant as a human.....but they get the thing done that matters to you.

People bring up Hitler having support, at first. OMG! How could they have voted for Hitler!!! But, he wasn't a horrible Hitler monster until some hindsight was available. And... Germany was beat to shit during and post WW1, it's economy was in total shambles, and it's currency was worthless.

So yesh, maybe, just maybe, the dude who promises you won't need a wheelbarrow of cash just to buy a loaf of bread to keep ypur kids from starving, might, just might, get your vote. Not knowing, or maybe even with knowing, that he would be that Hitler we all know and love (to cite).

Squashing opponents into near oblivion isn't always a terrific long term plan.

H.

Anyone hear the Supreme Court opening this morning? NPR had it live. Way more interesting than I would have expected! And, the minutia on both sides, was good. I get it, now. I hope the larger issue gets addressed eventually though, and that, I hope goes down in resounding flames! But this procedural thing matters a bunch, too. Can courts (or a single judge) step in, slow an executive order? 

Like the curse goes, "May you live in interesting times.", lol!