Gotta say, I'm with BoP on this.

El Pit wrote on Mar 10, 2025, 08:29:
<snipped for brevity, nothing more>
BoP, I think you're a well educated but very frustrated guy who could help many people with your knowledge (like helping a monkey like me to understand Linux). But I won't push you, buddy. You're old enough to live life as you want it, I'll respect that.

Here's the thing, you're falling in to the binary trap of "either/or". I don't hate the man, I am absolutely disgusted by him. I neither like nor hate him because both are opposite sides of the same coin. I simply refuse to render aid to someone so incredibly disgusting.

I find no merit in the "But he's people" argument. Again, there are 8.2 billion of us on this planet. "People" is an invalid argument in my view as we are neither special nor rare.

I also think Beamer brings up an excellent point. With technology, "community" (for whatever value of "community" one ascribes) is no longer limited to what and whom is within walking distance. None of my friends live in this state. They're all over the States and world. Most of the people on this site that I exchange ideas with are not even in the same state I am in. Ergo, I can become a part of, and contribute to, a community that I actually care about that is far flung.There's no longer the necessity to tolerate the intolerant living next door to me simply because I have no other alternative.

You can't peace, love, and kumbaya your way out of a situation where an oppositional force is actively hostile toward you or those you hold dear. To put it another way, pretend for a moment you're a dog (the very best type of people). You exist to guard a flock. A flock you deeply care about. It's why you were bred, it's what you are trained to do, and it is whom you are down to the most nascent fibre of your being. Your flock are unable to defend themselves against wolves. But you can. Now imagine the wolves show up one day and they have made their intentions very clear that they are going to go about killing and eating as many of your flock as they can. Are you going to trot out to meet them, tail wagging, and hope that if you just care about them enough, they won't do everything they've said they are going to do? Or are you going to take them at their word and place yourself between them and your flock?

Because, realistically, that is your only option. You can't care and understand someone out of their bigotry and stupidity, especially if they are deeply committed to it and you, or those you love, are the targets of that bigotry and stupidity.

I'm not frustrated. I'm tired. I'm tired of a great deal of things. I want to preface this by saying that I do not think you, in particular, El Pit are doing this. But one of the things I am most tired of is people whom are not in the conflict standing on the sidelines and telling those who are in the conflict how they should engage. My belief is that if a person is not taking the hits on behalf of themselves or others, they need to sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up. No amount of Kantian ethics or pacifistic philosophy is going to change the fact that it is, in fact, a conflict with deadly repercussions and that, like all conflicts, there will be blood on the field. You can't get in to a fight and expect to not both take and cause damage. I wish it were different but history and human nature is replete with examples of where that is not only simply not true, it is suicidal to think so.

But as tired as I am, I can't not fight. There are too many people I love that would be negatively impacted if I stopped fighting. If that means letting some racist MAGAt motherfucker die as part of that conflict, so be it. I can live with that. Because it means their death allows people who just want the right to exist in safety the opportunity to do just that.

Beamer wrote on Mar 10, 2025, 09:10:
Also, we have no clue what Gene Hackman's home was like, do we? I think they news said $3MM. In some parts of CA, that's a 3 bedroom shack on an eighth of an acre. In other parts, it's a home completely out of view from the street.

He lived in Santa Fe, NM -- not CA. I did read one report mentioning the value of his home, but I don't recall the number. I do recall the report saying it was significantly less valuable than the houses on adjoining properties.

As for not knowing your neighbors while it might be somewhat generational, I suspect it also varies with personalities. I turn 63 this year and have lived in my house for 20 years. The people directly south of me, with 15-20ft separating our houses, I don't even know their names. The most interaction I've had with them is silently waving at them when we both outside at the same time. The ones to the north, I did know the father of the previous family living there but pretty much only because he worked with a long time friend of mine. The current family, I don't recall even ever seeing them yet. So, yeah... if any of my neighbors were in distress, I would have no idea.

I'm a millenial, and millenials very famously want as little to do with neighbors as possible, partially because it often seems like only obligation can come from it (hey, neighbor, mind watching my dog or buying my kid's horrible school fundraiser chocolate?), and partially because we don't need that community. Unlike our parents' generations, we don't have to rely upon expensive long distance telephone calls to keep in touch with old friends, so without technological limitations our community can be much more widely distributed, for better or worse.

So I'd have no clue if one of my neighbors was in distress. I have no clue how often they come and go. I would have no clue if their lights are on at unreasonable times because I'm in bed at unreasonable times, and also, my unused bedrooms have lights on timers that may be on at unreasonable times, anyway, so maybe they do, too. I honestly spend very little time looking at my neighbors' homes or thinking about what they're up to in order to discern patterns. Most of my looking out the window is to the back of the house, and I'm fortunate that I can't really see any neighbors' homes from my back yard in spring and summer, when I'm out there. My neighbors just aren't all that interesting to me. Contrast that with my parents who go to dinner with theirs frequently, who have weekly mahjong with them (those groups are about the same age as them and had kids about the same age), or the one neighbor a few years older than me that has an annual homemade wine party they get invited to, or the new neighbors a few years younger than me that the homes adjacent to theirs (all 70+) held a welcoming party for them. No one knocked on my door when I moved in, nor did we knock on anyone's. Knocking on doors feels very, I don't know, JW? We actually did have a neighbor do it a few weeks ago when a tree of hers fell on my fence, and she left a number, but when we tried to text it it was a landline. So she came back a few days later, I saw and answered, we had a nice chat for 3 minutes about gardening, and will see each other again in a few years. I'm cordial to all the neighbors and wave hello, give king sized candybars at Halloween, but feel like things can end there.

Also, we have no clue what Gene Hackman's home was like, do we? I think they news said $3MM. In some parts of CA, that's a 3 bedroom shack on an eighth of an acre. In other parts, it's a home completely out of view from the street.

Burrito of Peace wrote on Mar 10, 2025, 06:56:
You want me to show compassion and empathy to...that?

I would react if I would see their house staying dark in the evening even if I knew they're in. Or the lights staying on for 24 hours even during daytime. Because idiots in distress are also people in distress.

Burrito of Peace wrote on Mar 10, 2025, 06:56:
Simply because we share a common DNA structure?

Yes and more than this. Because we're human beings. We're highly developed social animals. And if we don't show compassion even to idiots, then this is the very moment we're getting closer to becoming like them. And I don't want to be like those MAGA morons, so I got to be better than them, and by this I don't mean an economical (i.e. power) competition like President Manbaby and his billionaire buddies understand every "social interaction" to be. If I want to make a difference, I'll need to be different and not like them. Don't get me wrong: I don't spy on my neighbors. But if I see a door staying open for hours, lights staying on in the house for 24 hrs, I will go and ask if something's wrong. And they do the same for us. This is how a community should work IMO.

Hating each other is a big step into the direction of violence. And then, there will be no winners, only losers.

When I was younger, a former girlfriend was working for a social welfare org and was trying to resocialize young criminals. It was a very frustrating and also a bit dangerous job that she absolutely loved. The reoffending rate was extremely high but each stupid and aggressive little idiot that was actually picking up a REAL job after months or even years of therapy was a big win for her. One kid even became an artist and, as I am happy to see, still is doing sculptures to earn his money. He is, of course, a very, VERY rare example but I always saw and see this as a sign that for some people, there is a way out of the situation they often put themselves into (including MAGA jerks). The biggest challenge is not to be rich and powerful and bully the whole world, the biggest challenge is to not give up on people (and society). It's especially hard right now and can drive me crazy and can switch on my trolling mode from time to time when I am too frustrated with the BS going on. But (Fox Mulder, can I borrow this?) I want to believe that we can make things better in the end and can bring back even the hyperaggressive knuckledraggers to their senses. Prepare to be disappointed very often, El Pit. I know you would say that.

BoP, I think you're a well educated but very frustrated guy who could help many people with your knowledge (like helping a monkey like me to understand Linux). But I won't push you, buddy. You're old enough to live life as you want it, I'll respect that.

Burrito of Peace wrote on Mar 10, 2025, 00:13:
I guess that depends upon what timeframe counts as "recently". It's subjective to most people so it would have a wide range. Was it six months ago? A year ago? Three weeks before death?

Yes, of course. Unfortunately I don't recall the time frame given. Just that my reaction given what happened was the relative's statement seemed suspect.

El Pit wrote on Mar 10, 2025, 02:22:
Even then, BoP, I would at least take a look from time to time. Even MAGA idiots are people. And I want to be better than them which means no segregation, no arrogance, when it comes to a life-or-death-situation. They might think that this is a weakness but IMO it is a sign of being human. Even an enemy I would not wish a death like Hackman had.

People are people. Being one isn't significant in and of itself. As a species, we're not special or unique or rare. There are 8.2 billion of us.

I mentioned a close friend in my reply to Tact. She's an out and proud lesbian that I have had the good fortune to be friends with for several decades. She's also well in to her 70s. I love her as I would an older sister. Do you know what a MAGAt would do to her if they thought they could get away with it? Since I live in Gilead I am all too aware. I won't waste my time or effort there. They bring nothing positive or value in to the world. My friend, however, has worked her entire life for the welfare and rights of IDD people. She has made a positive contribution in the world. I get in contact with her once a week at minimum to check on her. Moreso if she's ill.

I'm fairly sure I have mentioned this story before but when my wife and I bought this house, we had the floors, cabinets, countertops, and bathrooms ripped out and redone. Our work crew was entirely Hispanic which, being in Texas, is not at all unusual. This was to be a month long project so I'm there onsite every day for consultation if they have questions. Good, hard working group of guys. They even helped lift Mrs. Burrito in her wheelchair in to the house once because they hadn't yet replaced the wheelchair ramp. One day, I'm sitting in the backyard working on my laptop when the crew boss comes up and says "Senor Burrito, policia are up front looking for you". I go up front and the cop asks me if I am the owner of the house. I confirm that I am and that I am having renovations done. Cop sighs and tells me that someone called in a 911 call that a "gang was looting the house". In broad daylight. With a dumpster in the driveway filled with construction debris and work trucks parked in the driveway and along the street. Cop radios it in a false alarm and takes off. This guy whom I have never met waddles up after the cop leaves and introduces himself then says "Sorry about that. I called the cops because I thought those wetbacks were looting your house!" And then that motherfucker laughs about it like it's some sort of goddamned joke.

You want me to show compassion and empathy to...that? Simply because we share a common DNA structure? When my first encounter with them is them making the job and lives of the people doing work for me harder? No. Hell no. They can die in agony and misery, covered in their own effluvia. They've done nothing to earn my compassion and empathy by failing to be even a moderately decent human being. Because it isn't just a difference of opinion, it's a difference in ethics and morals. For as grumpy and irascible as I am, I won't fuck over other people and I refuse to assist anyone who does. Even at their death. They made their bed, they can damn well lie in it.

Burrito of Peace wrote on Mar 9, 2025, 16:59:

What if you don't care about your aged neighbors because they're Trump worshiping MAGAt racists?

Even then, BoP, I would at least take a look from time to time. Even MAGA idiots are people. And I want to be better than them which means no segregation, no arrogance, when it comes to a life-or-death-situation. They might think that this is a weakness but IMO it is a sign of being human. Even an enemy I would not wish a death like Hackman had.

Mr. Tact wrote on Mar 9, 2025, 20:35:
Not that it really matters, but for the record, that was incorrect information from initial reports. The dog was actually in a closet.

I was surprised by the information that only 10 people had died of Hantavirus in the state in the last five years. I thought it was a bigger problem than that. Also while it is clear Gene wasn't really cognizant of his condition and situation as he died days after his wife without leaving the house and on an empty stomach -- I read a report that a family member reported that recently he was "fine" without significant issues. That seems highly unlikely....

Where the dog died doesn't change the fact that it did so horribly. At least not to me.It's unfortunate that the initial report got it wrong.

There was a pretty big outbreak of Hantavirus in the four corners area in the 90s, if I am recalling my history correctly. A close friend was living in the area at the time and was telling me, long before this story broke, about the fear and, sadly, prejudice that went along with it at a local level.

I guess that depends upon what timeframe counts as "recently". It's subjective to most people so it would have a wide range. Was it six months ago? A year ago? Three weeks before death?

Burrito of Peace wrote on Mar 9, 2025, 16:59:
Poor thing most likely died of dehydration while trapped in that crate.

Not that it really matters, but for the record, that was incorrect information from initial reports. The dog was actually in a closet.

I was surprised by the information that only 10 people had died of Hantavirus in the state in the last five years. I thought it was a bigger problem than that. Also while it is clear Gene wasn't really cognizant of his condition and situation as he died days after his wife without leaving the house and on an empty stomach -- I read a report that a family member reported that recently he was "fine" without significant issues. That seems highly unlikely....

El Pit wrote on Mar 9, 2025, 13:03:
Oh my God! How Gene Hackman died after his wife had passed is pure horror. May they both rest in peace. People, if you got old relatives and/or neighbors, please look after them at least weekly. It's just a few minutes of your spare time that can save lives.

What if you don't care about your aged neighbors because they're Trump worshiping MAGAt racists?

For me, the most terrible aspect of that story is how one of the dogs died. Poor thing most likely died of dehydration while trapped in that crate.

Oh my God! How Gene Hackman died after his wife had passed is pure horror. May they both rest in peace. People, if you got old relatives and/or neighbors, please look after them at least weekly. It's just a few minutes of your spare time that can save lives.

My wife has been a "Shadow & Jackie" voyeur for quite some time...;) Great to see three hatchlings that have a great chance of making it...;)

They've said that due to plentiful food in the area the eaglets tend to mess with each other less when the pecking order is established and all get enough food. I checked the cam last night before shutting down the computer and it seemed like the last eaglet was a late night escape because it was around 11 Pacific that they were seen. Checking in on them has been a nice escape from the human shitshow going on.