I was excited to return and exchange ideas on Hubski. To discuss current events, etc. We are living in what has to be the most interesting time in human history. Huge, titanic shifts in politics the world over, the advent of AI, blockchain technology and the increased ability for human space exploration. Wow! What a time to have discussions. There will, no doubt, be varying opinions. We could have robust debates re public policy, technology and finance. Think Christopher Hitchens v Buckley. But that seems impossible here, now.
User OftenBen posted an article about a 14 year old girl that was denied being placed on a heart transplant list because her parents refused to have her get the Covid vaccine. I’m muted in the discussion, so I cannot make comment there, which is fine. This is a tool we built here so that people can curate their experience. In the past I have used this tool to mute spammers and people that are overtly hostile/vulgar. The link to the post is here..
My overall point in that thread is that we no longer need to exclude anyone from anything because they don’t have the covid vaccine. I also make the point that her parents are nuts for not getting her vaccinated in order to get on the heart transplant list. As a father, I find that choice insane. I stand by everything I wrote there and would be glad to have my thinking challenged. Maybe my mind would be changed? It happens often.
But instead a hubskier replied with
- Go fuck yourself, dipshit.
- suck Joe Rogans cock daily
Then, a Hubskier ButterflyEffect whom I’ve interacted with off and on for the better part of a decade replies to that post with empathy for this hubskier, saying, “ appreciate your citations, too bad it’s not going to get through to him. your problems, my problems, and the problems of people tng doesn’t interact with on the daily, might as well not exist.”
What have I ever done to elicit such harsh condemnation?
I’ll be leaving Hubski, with the exception of an occasional Pubski, posting bad original music, and the weekly music thread. -which is such a gift. Thank you for keeping that going rezzeJ
For the record, I did not support Harris or Trump for President. No matter who would have won, I would have hoped for their success as it relates to advancing our countries and our citizens interests. And I would have been critical of either when their policies ran afoul of what I think is best for our country.
Below are the tenants I have always held dear and always will:
1. Peace. Avoid war at all costs.
2. Freedom of speech and expression. Anti censorship.
3. Personal liberty. As long as you’re an adult and aren’t infringing on someone else’s liberties or breaking the law, you be you!
4. Anti corporate corruption. We need a constitutional amendment to repeal citizens united.
These are things I have always believed in. I go out of my way to help my friends and community the best I can. I donate money to causes I believe in. I give of myself, but could certainly do more here.
It’s a hard time politically for me. There are things in the current administration that I am in favor of and many I am not. It’s hard because so many people want you to proclaim that you’re a supporter of “X”, or Y.” It’s turned into such a tribal battle. And if you’re not a liberal and staunchly anti everything this administration does, well you’re, “sucking Joe Rogans Cock,” and people you once thought rational and kind will get behind that sentiment. It’s a scary time. For all of the hand wringing re totalitarianism as it relates to Trump -and some fear there is warranted - the side that has been the most hostile and resistant to any dialog re policy has been the left in my recent experience. When every person that expresses dissent from modern liberal orthodoxy is called a Nazi, an idiot or is said to think that people they disagree with are, “problems to them,” how can we interact?
I am a man without a party. But I am not a man without convictions. And I say with complete sincerity, I love this country, I love my countrymen and I feel it’s my duty to challenge and be critical of all of our public servants, dem or republican, Trump, Kennedy, Biden, Harris, all of them. But if you like any of those politicians and their policy proposals and I don’t, I won’t think you’re evil. I’ll be glad to have a civil conversation with you.
I’m super disappointed with Hubski right now. The interactions I’ve had have largely been gross. In short, I’ve not changed all that much, but Hubski certainly has.
Good luck out there. Be kind. Be curious.
I've left Hubski a few times. Mostly because y'all were ignoring bad actors and telling me I was being mean and over reacting. Honestly the bad taste has never left my mouth. If you feel like stopping, I'm here to tell you that you should. Staying here when it's pissing you off isn't worth it. I have come and have each time ended up being less involved that previously in the community, I still get something out of it but just not as involved. Take that break, hope it's not forever but maybe a hard disconnect would be good for you. I'm just have a little bit to say about the heart. As someone who knows a recipient of a heart transplant rather well, all caution has to be taken when you have a heart transplant. You are expected to get all possible vaccinations. You are expected to live your life in a cautious manner that will reduce exposure to pathogens. You are supposed to avoid shared bathroom situations, including having roommates. Your life changes a lot when you have a donated heart. Your immune system has to be suppressed because your body wants to kill that fucking heart cause it does not belong to you. Because of your compromised immune system any disease or infection is a real big deal. Competition for that heart is massive, getting it is a big deal. Chances are you wont get a heart and if you do don't expect to live to a ripe old age. Getting that heart is like becoming an astronaut it's really hard and if you get there the pressure and responsibility level is massive. If you won't stop drinking, smoking, if you are over weight, if you won't get all your vaccinations than you don't qualify. Someone else is going to do all those things and the chance that they get a few more life years out of that heart are more than likely. There are more people who need a heart than there are hearts, that heart will not go to waste. The journey of my friend and his heart is just epic. His friends have spent thousands of hours helping him get there, helping him stay alive. I'm just a tiny part of that story and I've supported him financially and physically many many times. The amount of man hours that go into keeping him alive is somewhat astounding. He would never not get a vaccine or have a beer or a smoke, it's 100% dedication for the rest of his short days, he's already made further than many people hoped. The story of the girl is sad but it's not unreasonable. I think the person who was mean to you probably has had to go through a lot when it comes to their heart. It's hard to understand the difficulty that entails, it's a lot of time, fear, suffering and uncertainty. I have some sympathy. I also think that person is a dick otherwise in many ways but WTE. I'll leave you with a song until next time. Be glad if/when you come back.My overall point in that thread is that we no longer need to exclude anyone from anything because they don’t have the covid vaccine.
meh.
Appreciate the thoughtful comment, cgod. The point I was clumsily trying to make is that the covid vaccine, like the flu vaccine, isn't terribly effective and I no longer think it should be mandated, in general. However, I am DEF not a physician and if the reason that a heart transplant recipient should get the vaccine is because even though it is only nominally effective, it's still a safeguard, that tracks In short, it's okay to question the need for medical mandates. it's a conversation worth having. Vaccines are BIG business in the US. As a Pharma company, getting your drug on the vaccine schedule is the golden ticket. Every newborn is your customer, there is no risk of liability. That sort of incentive is corrupting. We should be skeptical. Having said that, vaccines are among our greatest achievements. Amazing science/medicine I am rooting for your friend. If he has a go-fund-me, post it here. I'd be glad to help and perhaps others would too? Thanks for the song, while I take the Hubski hiatus, I'll be checking in on that weeklymusicthread. See you there. Onward!I've left Hubski a few times. Mostly because y'all were ignoring bad actors and telling me I was being mean and over reacting
You were right. wasoxygen was right and so many others. Please accept my (I think I can say, "our") apology. As someone who knows a recipient of a heart transplant rather well, all caution has to be taken when you have a heart transplant.
I am sure that these precautions are well warranted. Again, and with emphasis, I think this young women's parents are FUCKING INSANE for not getting her vaccinated in order to get a heart transplant. Full stop. If you won't stop drinking, smoking, if you are over weight, if you won't get all your vaccinations than you don't qualify
Makes sense. If you're not willing to take these measures, and someone else is, then the more compliant person should become the custodian of that new heart. The story of the girl is sad but it's not unreasonable.
The most unreasonable part are the parents. I tried to make that point and simultaneously point out that if I could go back in time I wouldn't have had my children (thankfully not in need of a heart transplant) get the covid vaccine. Not because I am anti vax. My kids are fully compliant with the vaccine schedule, but because it's unnecessary. They're healthy and not in any danger from Covid. I wouldn't have had them get the hpv vaccine at birth either. Why? They're not in any danger of contracting hpv as a baby. But the others, I would do again. My father-in-law, he should definitely be getting the covid vaccine. He's older and not in the best shape. I think the person who was mean to you probably has had to go through a lot when it comes to their heart. It's hard to understand the difficulty that entails, it's a lot of time, fear, suffering and uncertainty. I have some sympathy. I also think that person is a dick otherwise in many ways but WTE.
And I could have empathy for that person, if they weren't such a complete asshole. So much anger these days and LOT's of assumptions. "If you think this, then you must think this." It's exhausting.
I am conflicted between carrying out my original mission in starting this place, and the knowledge that we have been collectively altered (if not hacked) by social media in a way that few would deem positive. I love my MAGA aunt and my MSNBC uncle. Thank god they found pickleball as a medium to preserve their sibling relationship, because it seems everyone they listen to is telling them how truly awful the other is. I used to identify with the left, not just for their social progressiveness, but because intellectual discussion was their pickleball. My aunt and uncle aren't awful. I bought a HAM radio.