[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Cause, on 09 May 2023 - 03:51 PM, said:

I saw Greg Abbot addressing this latest shooting. He was saying that mental illness is the problem and that we as a country should get right onto fixing that. Its painful, almost comedic if not so serious. The obvious question being, why didnt you get onto it 3 months ago after the last mass shooting.

The increasing frequency of the attacks will only highlight the inaction that follows each one.

And the Republicans will 'fix it' by... banning SSRI's and other (still legal) drugs and providing ample funding for what many of them probably regard as the only truly effective treatments: thoughts and prayers. (Thoughts about Jesus &co, of course. After all, that's what sanity is, isn't it? And clearly mental disorders are disorders of thinking: therefore, thoughts. Cogito ergo Jesus...)


Starting (in Texas) by putting the Ten Commandments in every classroom, Supreme Court precedent be damned.

[QuickTidal]

I will never ever understand the gun fetish in the USA.

Like never.

The few I've met IRL who own guns always seemed to be like "But what if _____ happens? You'd be happy to have a gun then!".....like.....no....in Canada we don't live in constant fear of everyone around us, and don't feel the need to defend ourselves preemptively just in case.

The only reason I've even SEEN a real gun is because my brother-in-law used to be a cop, and he has hunting rifles as a civilian. He barely uses them.

America is a deeply fucked up place.

[Gorefest]

A 14-year old girl shot at while playing hide and seek. Someone shot because they rang the wrong door bell. A lady shot inside her car for accidentally pulling into the wrong driveway.

I mean: surely some people in the US must start to realise they are living in a nightmare hellhole? How is this not even making ripples? Is everyone so numbed out that this is the new normal? Man, the US is a scary place to live. Don't let your kids play outside, they might get killed from accidentally kicking a ball in a neighbour's yard. Utter insanity.

[Abyss]

Cause, on 09 May 2023 - 03:51 PM, said:

I saw Greg Abbot addressing this latest shooting. He was saying that mental illness is the problem and that we as a country should get right onto fixing that. Its painful, almost comedic if not so serious. The obvious question being, why didnt you get onto it 3 months ago after the last mass shooting.

The increasing frequency of the attacks will only highlight the inaction that follows each one.

If he believed the mental illness thing he would support tighter licensing for guns. To keep them away from the mentally unwell.
So, yah, I call bs.

[Gwynn ap Nudd]

QuickTidal, on 09 May 2023 - 04:34 PM, said:

I will never ever understand the gun fetish in the USA.

Like never.

The few I've met IRL who own guns always seemed to be like "But what if _____ happens? You'd be happy to have a gun then!".....like.....no....in Canada we don't live in constant fear of everyone around us, and don't feel the need to defend ourselves preemptively just in case.

The only reason I've even SEEN a real gun is because my brother-in-law used to be a cop, and he has hunting rifles as a civilian. He barely uses them.

America is a deeply fucked up place.

Not disagreeing with you on the US gun sentiment but, if you lived in a rural area you would see guns more often. There are 30 odd guns per capita in Canada, which is a fair number of guns. Still much less than the US and much more heavily weighted towards long guns. I've been around people carrying guns a few times, but it has always been someone carrying a rifle or shot gun. Typically when I've had to visit a remote work site in bear country.

[Primateus]

Gorefest, on 09 May 2023 - 10:57 PM, said:

A 14-year old girl shot at while playing hide and seek. Someone shot because they rang the wrong door bell. A lady shot inside her car for accidentally pulling into the wrong driveway.

I mean: surely some people in the US must start to realise they are living in a nightmare hellhole? How is this not even making ripples? Is everyone so numbed out that this is the new normal? Man, the US is a scary place to live. Don't let your kids play outside, they might get killed from accidentally kicking a ball in a neighbour's yard. Utter insanity.

After Sandy Hook, the "gun-rights activists", and pretty much most the republican party over there in Americaland more or less decided that 20+ children dead was a small price to pay for having the "right to bear arms". You think those peanuts you mentioned are going to change their minds?

They. Do. Not. Care!

This post has been edited by Primateus: 10 May 2023 - 04:42 AM

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 10 May 2023 - 02:00 AM, said:

Cause, on 09 May 2023 - 03:51 PM, said:

I saw Greg Abbot addressing this latest shooting. He was saying that mental illness is the problem and that we as a country should get right onto fixing that. Its painful, almost comedic if not so serious. The obvious question being, why didnt you get onto it 3 months ago after the last mass shooting.

The increasing frequency of the attacks will only highlight the inaction that follows each one.

If he believed the mental illness thing he would support tighter licensing for guns. To keep them away from the mentally unwell.
So, yah, I call bs.

Again. They could be putting a lot more money into actual MH services to help people. But they won't. They just need a convenient distraction.

[Abyss]

Rant deleted.
I hate that this is happening.

[Macros]

I always miss the rant posts!

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

QuickTidal, on 09 May 2023 - 04:34 PM, said:

I will never ever understand the gun fetish in the USA.

Like never.

The few I've met IRL who own guns always seemed to be like "But what if _____ happens? You'd be happy to have a gun then!".....like.....no....in Canada we don't live in constant fear of everyone around us, and don't feel the need to defend ourselves preemptively just in case.

And yet:

QuickTidal, on 30 March 2023 - 05:35 PM, said:

So a young man (16) was stabbed to death on the TTC at Keele Station last week as he sat on a bench. The attacker was arrested. this is not new, and we've been having MAJOR trouble with methed-out, mentally unwell people on the transit since COVID and there have been a large number of attacks and incidents...I see them daily, and in many cases I get off the subway and grab the next one if I see someone who unsettles me. Fuck politeness. I definitely don't feel safe like I used to, And I have lived in this city and used this transit for 20 years now.

Granted, that isn't the same as 'constant fear of everyone around us' (home invasion, etc.).

If you were an expert marksman and you had a handgun, would you feel safer on the subway?

In Canada you'd effectively be taking a gun to a knife fight; so if no one else on the subway had a gun (or effective body armor---heavy plate or otherwise), you could be king of the subway (at least until the Mounties come galloping):

Quote

Had a Very Philly Moment where I got on the subway and went to sit town and a (likely) homeless man a row back yelled "YO! This my domain! Sit with the subjects!" And I noticed that indeed everyone in the car was sitting on the opposite side. He had a headband with a crudely cut out I guess crown held in place by it.

So I went and sat on the other side and he saluted and said "that's respect".'

Jamie Curcio - Had a Very Philly Moment where I got on the subway...

You could be that guy!

Of course it's not the best answer (that would be killer nonlethal robots, of course)---it's a terrible 'answer' that should be outlawed---but least some of the appeal is understandable. Though IDK why so few people apparently wear body armor or carry effective shields (camouflaged or otherwise---an obvious Level IV ballistic shield might make one a target...). OTOH iirc Canada outlaws carrying anything that could be a weapon for the express purpose of self-defense. (And yet this doesn't seem to have resulted in an unusually large number of Canadians becoming great martial artists... so much for government intervention!) In all seriousness though, I do think some nonlethal weapons should be allowed, and better ones should be developed (ideally with some sort of very-hard-to-tamper-with AI monitoring and surveillance to prevent their misuse).

The Go* of much of the Bible repeatedly enacts or commands mass murder. So I'd guess that some of the appeal of firearms is the ability to fulfil what some might view as the highest ethical calling: to be like Go*. (Perhaps (just like Go*) punishing those who have gone against whatever 'moral code' the shooters believe in (or use to rationalize their desires...).)

[Gorefest]

Go* can go f* himself, pardon my French.

[QuickTidal]

Azath Vitr (D, on 10 May 2023 - 05:20 PM, said:

[size="2"]

QuickTidal, on 09 May 2023 - 04:34 PM, said:

I will never ever understand the gun fetish in the USA.

Like never.

The few I've met IRL who own guns always seemed to be like "But what if _____ happens? You'd be happy to have a gun then!".....like.....no....in Canada we don't live in constant fear of everyone around us, and don't feel the need to defend ourselves preemptively just in case.

And yet:

QuickTidal, on 30 March 2023 - 05:35 PM, said:

So a young man (16) was stabbed to death on the TTC at Keele Station last week as he sat on a bench. The attacker was arrested. this is not new, and we've been having MAJOR trouble with methed-out, mentally unwell people on the transit since COVID and there have been a large number of attacks and incidents...I see them daily, and in many cases I get off the subway and grab the next one if I see someone who unsettles me. Fuck politeness. I definitely don't feel safe like I used to, And I have lived in this city and used this transit for 20 years now.

Granted, that isn't the same as 'constant fear of everyone around us' (home invasion, etc.).

If you were an expert marksman and you had a handgun, would you feel safer on the subway?

In Canada you'd effectively be taking a gun to a knife fight; so if no one else on the subway had a gun (or effective body armor---heavy plate or otherwise), you could be king of the subway (at least until the Mounties come galloping):

Dude no. I have taken the subway for two decades every day, twice a day, sometimes more. Do I feel unsafe? Sure sometimes, and recently quite frequently. Do I feel like people being "armed" is the answer....holy fuck no. My gods. In Canada, even on the subway I know my chances of encountering someone with a gun are next to nil...just becuase we have sketched out methheads being dangerous on the subway, and stabbings and attacks occur...doesn't mean that the stupid RW talking point of a "good guy with a gun" is valid.



Also, you understand that Mounties are just Federal guys and we have regular police everywhere else, yeah? Like Canada is not a stereotype.

[Macros]

What are you on aboot?


Same in the UK and Ireland.

Even on the drunken night bus in London I don't feel threatened

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 10 May 2023 - 06:13 PM, said:

What are you on aboot?


Same in the UK and Ireland.

Even on the drunken night bus in London I don't feel threatened

Indeed. I think it's a distinctly American thing, ingrained in even those who aren't gun nuts that having one is probably better than not having one in case your neighbour or some rando pops off...

They've been taught that the gun is the ultimate protection...meanwhile I would feel less safe in the vicinity of a gun. We are visiting wife's friends in the States over the summer and I know they have a gun and they keep it locked up, but I will still feel entirely unsafe with it being in close proximity to me and my family for the time we are visiting....it certainly doesn't make me feel safe that they have one the way I assume it makes Americans feel safe.

Again, Americans and their guns are a bizarre relationship.

[Tiste Simeon]

Macros, on 10 May 2023 - 06:13 PM, said:

What are you on aboot?


Same in the UK and Ireland.

Even on the drunken night bus in London I don't feel threatened

I remember some idiot American on Reddit was spouting off about how the UK is some Muslim hellhole that has areas where no whites are allowed and some guy was like "well I live here and you're wrong." The American was like "walk around by yourself with a bottle of wine in *area of London* and we'll see whose right!"

So the guy did. He filmed himself with a bottle of wine and proved where he was (I don't remember the part of London but the American had clearly been fed too many right wing lies) and what time it was

The video was about 10-15 minutes long, incredibly boring and I watched every glorious second of it.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Tiste Simeon, on 10 May 2023 - 08:59 PM, said:

Macros, on 10 May 2023 - 06:13 PM, said:

What are you on aboot?


Same in the UK and Ireland.

Even on the drunken night bus in London I don't feel threatened

I remember some idiot American on Reddit was spouting off about how the UK is some Muslim hellhole that has areas where no whites are allowed and some guy was like "well I live here and you're wrong." The American was like "walk around by yourself with a bottle of wine in *area of London* and we'll see whose right!"

So the guy did. He filmed himself with a bottle of wine and proved where he was (I don't remember the part of London but the American had clearly been fed too many right wing lies) and what time it was

The video was about 10-15 minutes long, incredibly boring and I watched every glorious second of it.

Was it the guy who wrote this by any chance:

Quote

When will women feel safe on UK streets?

[...] it's not just harassment and assault that have been pushed into the spotlight like never before, it's serious violence against women and girls, and, in the worst cases, murder. Conspicuous and horrific cases like the deaths of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, sisters who were repeatedly stabbed in a park in north-west London last year, and,Julia James, the PCSO killed while walking her dog in woods near her home [...]

When will women feel safe on UK streets? | Crime | The Guardian

Or this yesterday:

Quote

Women should be involved in the design and maintenance of the UK's parks to tackle "unfair and unequal" safety fears, researchers have said.

[...]

The work, commissioned by the mayor of West Yorkshire, [...] and carried out by Leeds University, involved interviews with more than 100 women and girls, with most saying they found parks to be unsafe. [...]

"[...] after dark, [...] as many as four out of five women in Britain say that they would feel unsafe walking alone in a park, compared to two out of five men. [...]

Women should help design UK parks to tackle safety fears, says study | Violence against women and girls | The Guardian

Granted, the drunken night bus (no relation to the Night Parade?) is not a walk in the park....

Of course only allowing women to carry guns (or swords, pole-axes, etc.) is not a good answer either.

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 10 May 2023 - 10:13 PM

[Tsundoku]

One of the differences I have noticed between the USA and other western nations that have at least a modicum of firearm possession and use: most of the rest of use don't fetishise firearms to the extent that what appears to be the vast majority (although is probably "just" a loud significant minority) of Americans do.
Seriously, you'd think their entire identity and penis length is based around it. And the size of their ute, I suppose.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 11 May 2023 - 06:25 AM

[Abyss]

Azath Vitr (D, on 10 May 2023 - 09:57 PM, said:

...

Of course only allowing women to carry guns (or swords, pole-axes, etc.) is not a good answer either.

Counterpoint: allowing women to carry pole-axes is a brilliant idea. Extendable pole-axes. With tasers.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 11 May 2023 - 01:19 PM, said:

Azath Vitr (D, on 10 May 2023 - 09:57 PM, said:

...

Of course only allowing women to carry guns (or swords, pole-axes, etc.) is not a good answer either.

Counterpoint: allowing women to carry pole-axes is a brilliant idea. Extendable pole-axes. With tasers.

Well now you're just talking about the Dora Miljae....and I can support.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 11 May 2023 - 01:34 PM, said:

Abyss, on 11 May 2023 - 01:19 PM, said:

Azath Vitr (D, on 10 May 2023 - 09:57 PM, said:

...

Of course only allowing women to carry guns (or swords, pole-axes, etc.) is not a good answer either.

Counterpoint: allowing women to carry pole-axes is a brilliant idea. Extendable pole-axes. With tasers.

Well now you're just talking about the Dora Miljae....and I can support.

See also: Fish Speakers.