Done means done. I just wanted to make it clear that I read your last word.

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 22:22:
I told you that the "big boy pants" remark was a joke. I said that the very next sentence.

Oh! Well you're an absolute moron.
That was just a joke! Don't get crazy on me. Humor is good!

Are you sure that you are not being over emotional?

Oh, good, this again.

And yes, if you think that cutting funding to a program and lining kids up against a wall and shooting them until they are dead are the exact same thing then you are thinking like a simpleton.

Nobody has said this, not me, not Gates ... yet it's the crux of your weird argument.

Friends? The hell are you on about out? I'm the emotional one?
We disagree about whether something is hyperbole or not and you're debating whether we're friends.
You a wild one man

I told you that the "big boy pants" remark was a joke. I said that the very next sentence. Are you sure that you are not being over emotional? Because otherwise I don't know how you could have missed that. And yes, if you think that cutting funding to a program and lining kids up against a wall and shooting them until they are dead are the exact same thing then you are thinking like a simpleton. If you have a different perspective than the one I assumed, then say that and I will never make that assumption again. But instead you wish to belabor the point rather than clear it up with one line. That's how you debate someone whom you don't respect in my book. I'm done now, seeing as how being right is apparently more important than being friends.

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 22:02:
I don't like implying. If you think that I mean to say something either I will say it outright or conversely ask and I will tell you plainly.

To whit; yes I think you let yourself be manipulated by Gates. But no, I don't think that you are floundering. If I am wrong on the first, tell me I'm wrong and that will literally be the end of the discussion. Just remember, this all started because someone took issue with an offhand comment I made. If it seems like I am trying to bow out, that's because I am. I don't like arguing. "Agree to disagree and move on" is my motto. I don't need to be right or be the arbiter of anything. But I would prefer it if you would answer my points instead of trying to classify me as this or that.

Well here's a recommendation regarding disagreeing and moving on...
It doesn't involve telling a person who disagrees with you that because they disagree with you that they're thinking like a simpleton.
And it doesn't involve telling them to "put on their big boy pants and try again."

But the craziest part to me is still making an overture to context and nuance and then in all caps saying, "he's not ACTIVELY killing them". No shit

I don't like implying. If you think that I mean to say something either I will say it outright or conversely ask and I will tell you plainly.

To whit; yes I think you let yourself be manipulated by Gates. But no, I don't think that you are floundering. If I am wrong on the first, tell me I'm wrong and that will literally be the end of the discussion. Just remember, this all started because someone took issue with an offhand comment I made. If it seems like I am trying to bow out, that's because I am. I don't like arguing. "Agree to disagree and move on" is my motto. I don't need to be right or be the arbiter of anything. But I would prefer it if we would just speak to each other's points instead of trying to classify each other as this or that. That's the biggest reason I have always hated debating liberals.

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 21:54:
I wasn't implying that I don't want to ever talk to you. I meant on this specifically.

Right, on this specifically... I'm thinking like a simpleton according to your criteria... Yet, you continued the discussion.

That last sentence was a joke; don't jump my shit. I also strongly believe that laughter can fix almost anything.

Not sure what you mean by that. But it just seems like you're bowing out and trying to make it seem like I'm floundering.
You also did that in two previous posts in this thread by trying to imply that Gates played my emotions.
I've had this opinion about closing USAID long before this article, and Gates statement, hyperbole or not, is not the reason I'm discussing this with you now.

I wasn't implying that I don't want to ever talk to you. I meant on this specifically. If I haven't blocked you by now after decades of your signature passive aggression I am never going to. I value insightful intelligence far more than I value being agreed with. Especially since you have changed my mind on more than one topic over the years. Just not this one. Put your big boy pants on and try again tomorrow.

That last sentence was a joke; don't jump my shit. I also strongly believe that laughter can fix almost anything. I'm no longer interested in defending the comments I made that you cherry-picked. BORING.

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 21:42:

"The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one."

Correct me if I am wrong, but is this not a direct quote from Gates in the interview? It's not Ars claiming that. It's Gates saying that. That is 100% a manipulative, hyperbolic statement meant to garner anger from emotions as far as I am concerned. I'm sorry that me giving a shit about words and their meanings and knowing when someone is being manipulative comes across as me thinking that I am right and everyone else is wrong or that I am the arbiter of context and nuance to you. It's no sweat off of my brow because I can't tell you what to think anyway. Block me I guess?

Why would I block you? I'm not the one preemptively saying:
"If you can't see the difference, then you are thinking like a simpleton and I have no wish to discuss this further. Words matter. Context matters. Nuance matters. If it doesn't to you, then you and I have nothing to discuss."

I'm surprised we're still having this discussion... because I do disagree with you. It's not hyperbole to say that Musk closing down USAID is killing children through his actions.
If context and nuance mattered to you like you said, you would be able to read that article and Gates' statement and understand the meaning behind them and not play this pedantic game.

"The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one."

Correct me if I am wrong, but is this not a direct quote from Gates in the interview? It's not Ars claiming that. It's Gates saying that. That is 100% a manipulative, hyperbolic statement meant to garner anger from emotions as far as I am concerned. I'm sorry that me giving a shit about words and their meanings and knowing when someone is being manipulative comes across as me thinking that I am right and everyone else is wrong or that I am the arbiter of context and nuance to you. It's no sweat off of my brow because I can't tell you what to think anyway. Block me I guess?

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 21:19:

Sepharo wrote on May 9, 2025, 20:51:

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 20:26:
You don't need to get pissy. Gates and ARS want you to have an emotional reaction, each for their own reasons. I get it, I'm annoying. But I'm not wrong.

We disagreed over whether it's hyperbole or not and you preemptively said I'm a simpleton if I disagree with you.
This is totally your pattern.

If a drunk driver causes a fatal accident and someone describes it as "the drunk driver killed someone"
do you chime in and say, "Actually, that's hyperbole... the steering column through their chest killed them."

First of all, I would never call you a simpleton, because you are very obviously not. I said that you were thinking like a simpleton, which any of us can and will do at any given time. Secondly, if you are saying that it's not hyperbole, answer me this: is this the exact same thing as Musk getting on a plane, arriving and arming himself to the teeth, then gunning children down? Unless your answer is yes, (I don't know what to say to you if it is) saying that he is "killing children" is hyperbole said explicitly to get an emotional response because that is what people respond to more than anything else nowadays. It clearly works very well.

Musk is a vile person. But he is not a mass murderer. His obnoxious and thoughtless actions can (and arguably already have) led to people dying, but that's different from him throwing a bunch of people in a gas chamber and executing them. What I really don't like is having to continuously point out this distinction, because it invariably will come across to some as me defending him. I do not want to even appear that I am defending such a man. I very strongly believe that being fair to people whom you detest is more important than being fair to people you're neutral towards or friendly towards. Can you at least understand where I am coming from? You're the last person who I want as an enemy.

I'm thinking you didn't read the article or Gates' statement because nobody is saying what you're saying. In fact, they're saying the thing you agree with... that his actions have caused the deaths of children. But you still feel the need to call it hyperbole, when it very much is not hyperbole.
He pushed for and shutdown USAID (apparently because they slighted him on Starlink), the direct result of which will be poor children dying. He killed those children through his actions. That's exactly what Gates said.

I understand that you're coming from a place where you see yourself as the paragon of context and nuance and believe that everyone else has it wrong. Going so far as to say that unless people agree with you that they are thinking like simpletons.
This is Cutter shit, you can have a disagreement of opinions, you are not the arbiter of right and wrong.

Sepharo wrote on May 9, 2025, 20:51:

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 20:26:
You don't need to get pissy. Gates and ARS want you to have an emotional reaction, each for their own reasons. I get it, I'm annoying. But I'm not wrong.

We disagreed over whether it's hyperbole or not and you preemptively said I'm a simpleton if I disagree with you.
This is totally your pattern.

If a drunk driver causes a fatal accident and someone describes it as "the drunk driver killed someone"
do you chime in and say, "Actually, that's hyperbole... the steering column through their chest killed them."

First of all, I would never call you a simpleton, because you are very obviously not. I said that you were thinking like a simpleton, which any of us can and will do at any given time. Secondly, if you are saying that it's not hyperbole, answer me this: is this the exact same thing as Musk getting on a plane, arriving and arming himself to the teeth, then gunning children down? Unless your answer is yes, (I don't know what to say to you if it is) saying that he is "killing children" is hyperbole said explicitly to get an emotional response because that is what people respond to more than anything else nowadays. It clearly works very well.

Musk is a vile person. But he is not a mass murderer. His obnoxious and thoughtless actions can (and arguably already have) led to people dying, but that's different from him throwing a bunch of people in a gas chamber and executing them. What I really don't like is having to continuously point out this distinction, because it invariably will come across to some as me defending him. I do not want to even appear that I am defending such a man. I very strongly believe that being fair to people whom you detest is more important than being fair to people you're neutral towards or friendly towards. Can you at least understand where I am coming from? You're the last person who I want as an enemy.

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 20:26:
You don't need to get pissy. Gates and ARS want you to have an emotional reaction, each for their own reasons. I get it, I'm annoying. But I'm not wrong.

We disagreed over whether it's hyperbole or not and you preemptively said I'm a simpleton if I disagree with you.
This is totally your pattern.

If a drunk driver causes a fatal accident and someone describes it as "the drunk driver killed someone"
do you chime in and say, "Actually, that's hyperbole... the steering column through their chest killed them."

You don't need to get pissy. Gates and ARS want you to have an emotional reaction, each for their own reasons. I get it, I'm annoying. But I'm not wrong.

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 19:06:
If you think that then you are completely not understanding my comparison.

If you are going to hyperbolicly claim that this action is Musk HIMSELF ACTIVELY KILLING CHILDREN, then the comparison is exactly right. If you say that such a harsh and severely harmful action is contributing to the hardships that these kids are going to suffer, making it less likely that as many will survive, then I 110% agree with you. If you can't see the difference, then you are thinking like a simpleton and I have no wish to discuss this further. Words matter. Context matters. Nuance matters. If it doesn't to you, then you and I have nothing to discuss. I'm honestly tired of continuously pointing out these kinds of important distinctions. As smart as everyone here is, it shouldn't be necessary nearly as often as I have to do it.

Well, then consider me, Gates, and Ars simpletons then.
You're the only logical and sane person.

If you think that then you are completely not understanding my comparison.

If you are going to hyperbolicly claim that this action is Musk HIMSELF ACTIVELY KILLING CHILDREN, then the comparison is exactly right. If you say that such a harsh and severely harmful action is contributing to the hardships that these kids are going to suffer, making it less likely that as many will survive, then I 110% agree with you. If you can't see the difference, then you are thinking like a simpleton and I have no wish to discuss this further. Words matter. Context matters. Nuance matters. If it doesn't to you, then you and I have nothing to discuss. I'm honestly tired of continuously pointing out these kinds of important distinctions. As smart as everyone here is, it shouldn't be necessary nearly as often as I have to do it.

Prez wrote on May 9, 2025, 16:34:
It's hyperbole. If you think it isn't, let's take it further shall we? You could be living in a smaller house, driving a cheaper car, eating out less... whatever. But you aren't; that's money you could be sending to Amnesty International or the Red Cross, but you're spending it on something else. Are you killing children? I bet that money you could be sending to help people in need would have saved 2, 3, maybe even more people. But they died because you spent it on yourself. HYPERBOLE.

Musk shut down USAID. That's not hyperbole, it's a fact.
Your comparison isn't even close.

It's hyperbole. If you think it isn't, let's take it further shall we? You could be living in a smaller house, driving a cheaper car, eating out less... whatever. But you aren't; that's money you could be sending to Amnesty International or the Red Cross, but you're spending it on something else. Are you killing children? I bet that money you could be sending to help people in need would have saved 2, 3, maybe even more people. But they died because you spent it on yourself. HYPERBOLE.

Prez wrote on May 8, 2025, 19:27:
I don't really care about ultra rich old dude slap fights. I'm glad that you are supposedly doing things to help people with your unimaginable wealth Mr. Gates. But you don't get a cookie for that; it's what you're supposed to be doing. And maybe ease off of the ideological hyperbole if you insist on talking.

I mean, it's truly not hyperbole. Musk cut funding that was being used to save poor kids' lives, more of them will now die. This isn't controversial.

Oligarchs taking shots at each other would be so much more interesting if they used real guns.

I don't really care about ultra rich old dude slap fights. I'm glad that you are supposedly doing things to help people with your unimaginable wealth Mr. Gates. But you don't get a cookie for that; it's what you're supposed to be doing. And maybe ease off of the ideological hyperbole if you insist on talking.