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Sorry to comment twice on a thread...but after thinking more, I really feel this is a dangerous precedent. The internet has been largely dominated by a few com

by axaxs 9y ago

Sorry to comment twice on a thread...but after thinking more, I really feel this is a dangerous precedent. The internet has been largely dominated by a few companies. I'd go as far as to call them nearly ubiquitous. When these companies start pushing political views, and start banning or otherwise blocking dissent, it becomes dangerous. What if, in retaliation, farmers of the Midwest banned shipments to California? Sure they'd survive, but not as conveniently. This is how civil wars start, and I think the two sides should start recognizing this and not pandering to the loudest voice.

chrisstanchak 9y ago
This is terrifying.
jacquesm 9y ago
> This is how civil wars start, and I think the two sides should start recognizing this and not pandering to the loudest voice. You're roughly 9 months late with that comment.
- axaxs 9y ago
  The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
  - j2kun 9y ago
    The "second" best time would be the instant following the first best time! :) That leaves a continuum of "next best times" in between the first best time and now that one could have planted a tree.
    - axaxs 9y ago
      Haha...the first time I read that proverb I thought the same thing, but I still like the message. I've thought about rewording it a bit like "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The best time to plant a tree is now.". What do you think, too confusing?
jdoliner 9y ago
> This is how civil wars start This is what civil wars look like. Politicians being shot, people calling for the assassination of a sitting president, public institutions deciding which side they're on.
- MollyR 9y ago
  Are you saying we are in a civil war ? I dont want to believe it, but . . Republicans were shot at by an alt-left radical. Scalise was in the ICU. Another alt-left radical Clayton Carter murdered a GOP committee member in front of his wife. Mainstream Media is completely politicized An alt-right radical murdered Heather Heyer a protester. Today a missouri state senator Nadal called for the assasination of a sitting us president. It also trended on twitter. Twitter did nothing. The only thing that gives me hope of deescalation is both the right and left media is finally denouncing violence on both sides. CNN pundits and FOX pundits are all denouncing ANTIFA and the alt-left, and the alt-right and racists.
  - j2kun 9y ago
    "Alt-left" is a fabricated term that does not refer to a movement. It creates a false equivalency between white supremacists and people who protest them.
    - jdoliner 9y ago
      So would you describe the person who shot Scalise as mainstream left then?
      - acdha 9y ago
        There have always been deranged lunatics. The question is whether he was part of or influenced by a larger movement, which doesn't seem to be the case. Similarly, do you have anyone defending his actions the way some of the neo-Nazi groups have? As a comparison, Timothy McVeigh was quickly condemned by just about everyone and is often used as an example of a lone wolf. This guy will be remembered as a [thankfully less successful] left-wing counterpart.
nl 9y ago
This is a sensible comment. In March 2017 Foreign Policy magazine (which is known for boring political analysis) polled a set of national security experts, and the consensus likelihood of civil war was 30% within the next 15 years. It's got worse since then. Civil leadership of the armed forces is weakening, states are repudiating federal laws, the Republican party no longer exists as a unified block. [1] http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/28/what-are-the-chances-of-a-second-american-civil-war-a-best-defense-update/ http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/28/what-are-the-chances-of-...

by axaxs 9y ago

chrisstanchak 9y ago

This is terrifying.

jacquesm 9y ago

> This is how civil wars start, and I think the two sides should start recognizing this and not pandering to the loudest voice. You're roughly 9 months late with that comment.

axaxs 9y ago
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
- j2kun 9y ago
  The "second" best time would be the instant following the first best time! :) That leaves a continuum of "next best times" in between the first best time and now that one could have planted a tree.
  - axaxs 9y ago
    Haha...the first time I read that proverb I thought the same thing, but I still like the message. I've thought about rewording it a bit like "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The best time to plant a tree is now.". What do you think, too confusing?

jdoliner 9y ago

> This is how civil wars start This is what civil wars look like. Politicians being shot, people calling for the assassination of a sitting president, public institutions deciding which side they're on.

MollyR 9y ago
Are you saying we are in a civil war ? I dont want to believe it, but . . Republicans were shot at by an alt-left radical. Scalise was in the ICU. Another alt-left radical Clayton Carter murdered a GOP committee member in front of his wife. Mainstream Media is completely politicized An alt-right radical murdered Heather Heyer a protester. Today a missouri state senator Nadal called for the assasination of a sitting us president. It also trended on twitter. Twitter did nothing. The only thing that gives me hope of deescalation is both the right and left media is finally denouncing violence on both sides. CNN pundits and FOX pundits are all denouncing ANTIFA and the alt-left, and the alt-right and racists.
- j2kun 9y ago
  "Alt-left" is a fabricated term that does not refer to a movement. It creates a false equivalency between white supremacists and people who protest them.
  - jdoliner 9y ago
    So would you describe the person who shot Scalise as mainstream left then?
    - acdha 9y ago
      There have always been deranged lunatics. The question is whether he was part of or influenced by a larger movement, which doesn't seem to be the case. Similarly, do you have anyone defending his actions the way some of the neo-Nazi groups have? As a comparison, Timothy McVeigh was quickly condemned by just about everyone and is often used as an example of a lone wolf. This guy will be remembered as a [thankfully less successful] left-wing counterpart.

nl 9y ago

This is a sensible comment. In March 2017 Foreign Policy magazine (which is known for boring political analysis) polled a set of national security experts, and the consensus likelihood of civil war was 30% within the next 15 years. It's got worse since then. Civil leadership of the armed forces is weakening, states are repudiating federal laws, the Republican party no longer exists as a unified block. [1] http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/28/what-are-the-chances-of-a-second-american-civil-war-a-best-defense-update/ http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/28/what-are-the-chances-of-...