question about "the left wing"

[amZo]

Bottom line, high school sports are a great thing.

I think so.

I just get angry when people object on my behalf regarding my choices. Sports are in most schools because it's desired. There are some schools that ban them because it's desired. Just move to a school district that meets your needs. I'll never understand what makes a person feel they can decide for me. Wait, I do, it's called egomaniacal urges mixed with a healthy dose of narcissism. But what causes these things? I wish I knew. Born that way?

[kariann330]

I think so.

I just get angry when people object on my behalf regarding my choices. Sports are in most schools because it's desired. There are some schools that ban them because it's desired. Just move to a school district that meets your needs. I'll never understand what makes a person feel they can decide for me. Wait, I do, it's called egomaniacal urges mixed with a healthy dose of narcissism. But what causes these things? I wish I knew. Born that way?

See i feel that exact way when someone says i shouldn't be able to own an AR15, or a 30 round magazine, or any firearm for that fact. Yes i understand not everyone is comfortable around them, which is why they stay locked in a safe....yes i understand that some people just don't like, or enjoy gun sports, which is why i don't talk about them with people that don't.  I just wish that in the end i can still end what i want, bought with my hard earned money, and if someone doesn't like it....simply change the channel ya know.....don't like them, don't buy them and so on.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

The human psyche can be quite fragile at times, and for some people, simple harmless things can 'trigger' an over-the-top 'explosive' reaction-even in people whom it is felt should be able to control their emotions...

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/13/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/

Was the shooter carrying his weapon with him (as protection) because of the other recent shooting at a cinema in the US ...

Sadly paranoia can tip one over the threshold of sane rational thoughts... 

Metta Zenda

[TerriT]

I think so.

I just get angry when people object on my behalf regarding my choices. Sports are in most schools because it's desired. There are some schools that ban them because it's desired. Just move to a school district that meets your needs. I'll never understand what makes a person feel they can decide for me. Wait, I do, it's called egomaniacal urges mixed with a healthy dose of narcissism. But what causes these things? I wish I knew. Born that way?

Because, ultimately, they believe they are superior and that they know what's best for everyone else. It's the same on every issue from table salt to light bulbs to shower heads to red meat to guns. It doesn't matter what the topic is. This thread could pose the same question on anything and the answer will always be the same. "I don't like it so you can't have it." And when they can't convince you of their rightness, they proceed to take your choices away. They can't convince people to stop eating french fries, so they try to ban trans fats or whatever. They can't ban guns so they try to ban bullets. It's endless in their quest to meddle constantly in other people's affairs.

It's no different to me than being lectured about going to hell because I'm trans or having sex before I'm married or whatever. At least I'm only being judged by God. The left insists on taking my guns away to satisfy their own ego. But I don't run around trying to tell anyone they can't say or do something because I disagree or don't engage in whatever it is. What in the hell gives me the authority to decide that? Nothing. I don't begrudge anyone of their success and I don't judge my hippie Berkeley friends.

And yet, when it's all said and done, I'm constantly harassed for not paying my fair share, or for eating the wrong foods, or for enjoying the wrong books and it never ends. Even my rights are condemned. How can this be? How can people who fight for their rights and demand that "X" is my right, be the same people to seize my right to protect myself? How do you reconcile disarming the citizen at the end of the government rifle? How do you reconcile the condemnation of the police state yet demand all guns be in possession of the state? It all makes my head explode.

I have to admit, there have been some thoughtful and considerate posts over the last 5 pages and while I don't have the time to engage in all the details and obviously I would disagree with a sizable portion of them, I've found this thread to be entertaining and wanted to chime in again. Whatever, I'll probably get it closed down now.

[MadeleineG]

I think so.

I just get angry when people object on my behalf regarding my choices. Sports are in most schools because it's desired. There are some schools that ban them because it's desired. Just move to a school district that meets your needs. I'll never understand what makes a person feel they can decide for me. Wait, I do, it's called egomaniacal urges mixed with a healthy dose of narcissism. But what causes these things? I wish I knew. Born that way?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you aren't calling me an egomaniac.

Suggesting that choice should be unbound is terrifyingly dangerous.

Participation in society entails a tacit commitment to maximizing overall social utility. Freedom is the privilege to select one's own means of achieving that goal, but that goal entails the establishment of a measured balance of rights, privileges, and prohibitions.

What those are and how strictly they are protected, regulated, and enforced is a matter for continuous discourse, should honour no status quo (i.e. 2nd amendment rights), and should never be decided by any one person, but through the coherent integration of strong arguments.

Honour sacred cows and you'll die hungry.

[amZo]

I've found this thread to be entertaining and wanted to chime in again. Whatever, I'll probably get it closed down now.

Oh I doubt that, you make very good points.

I sometimes wish I could just become someone like Mayor Michael Bloomberg for like two minutes just to see what thinking their way is like. I can't do it nor can I comprehend it. Why would I care if someone drinks a soda larger than 16 ounces? People can drink gasoline for all I care, I don't advise it though. 

[MadeleineG]

Oh I doubt that, you make very good points.

I sometimes wish I could just become someone like Mayor Michael Bloomberg for like two minutes just to see what thinking their way is like. I can't do it nor can I comprehend it. Why would I care if someone drinks a soda larger than 16 ounces? People can drink gasoline for all I care, I don't advise it though. 

Society is social engineering by definition. It's just a question of whether we prefer to take agency or depend of dumb luck. I'll trust the reason of scholars over the benevolence of gangsters almost any day.

[amZo]

Society is social engineering by definition. It's just a question of whether we prefer to take agency or depend of dumb luck. I'll trust the reason of scholars over the benevolence of gangsters almost any day.

Okay then, good luck with that. 

[Cindy]

Moderation

Healthy discussion is healthy, nothing wrong with that at all. I think this thread has been great, opinions have been discussed and debated.

I also don't agree with many of the opinions but if everyone shared mine I'd be bored ->-bleeped-<-less.

Don't worry about expressing yourself as long as you are inside ToS, which basically means respect for opinion not agreement.

Cindy

[Shantel]

This from Canada:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/03XEUPfD0qM

[kariann330]

I gotta say i have really been enjoying this thread, and im also kinda shocked that it has lasted this long without getting locked lol.

[Shantel]

I gotta say i have really been enjoying this thread, and im also kinda shocked that it has lasted this long without getting locked lol.

There's no reason why anyone should be so willfully opposed to any subject that they would intentionally camp on a thread for the sole purpose of getting it locked like what happened to the "Prepper" thread. If we are all adults, there's no reason we can't be civil to one another and if not then we should recuse ourselves and move on.

[DriftingCrow]

I keep seeing a lot of "they" in reference to liberals.

While it seems like the majority of gun control advocates are liberals, there are also conservatives as well who'd like to see more regulation.

I work at a very political (Republican conservative firm) where the majority of the conservative partners think guns should be tightly regulated or out-right illegal. They also live in rural areas. It may seem a little strange, because they outwise seem to follow the conservative platform of being anti-tax, anti-LGBT, anti-Big Government, anti-Obama. . . .

Maybe I missed a few posts or something but I thought it was cleared up earlier that not all gun control or anti-gun advocates were all liberals, but it seems like that was forgotten.

[kariann330]

I keep seeing a lot of "they" in reference to liberals.

While it seems like the majority of gun control advocates are liberals, there are also conservatives as well who'd like to see more regulation.

I work at a very political (Republican conservative firm) where the majority of the conservative partners think guns should be tightly regulated or out-right illegal. They also live in rural areas. It may seem a little strange, because they outwise seem to follow the conservative platform of being anti-tax, anti-LGBT, anti-Big Government, anti-Obama. . . .

Maybe I missed a few posts or something but I thought it was cleared up earlier that not all gun control or anti-gun advocates were all liberals, but it seems like that was forgotten.

Nope not forgotten about or overlooked....hence the saying "A guns only enemies are POLITICIANS and rust" but when you look to the media, or online groups such as One Million Moms For Gun Control, or even the Facebook groups supporting banning guns or for increased gun control.....most of them are very democrat, liberal democrat, or very rarely socialist connected groups.
Now look to Facebook pages like Cold Dead Hands, I Still Hate Obama, Gun Girls, Patriot Nation and Tea Party Patriots, all on the Molan Labe ( Latin for come get them) and the anti gun control side of the coin, they are all very republican and conservative aligned pages. Yes I Still Hate..... may have been started by two democrats but they all have the feeling that the party "left them" due to talks of banning, confiscating and so on.

I guess it's true tho that the media only reports what it wants to....kinda reminds me of a picture i saw recently. One picture taken head on at an anti gun rally makes a group of gun supporters (all open carrying) look like a crowd of bullies....same picture from a different angle shows that they were all posing in front of a flag for a group picture....yet the media only showed one side of that picture.....ill let yall guess which one.

[Shantel]

When it comes to firearms ownership it's pretty clear that plenty of liberals own them just as conservatives do so liberals shouldn't be vilified over the gun issues. It's clearly become more the nemesis of the liberal politicians and policy makers who are in diametric opposition to everything conservative and visa versa, which only serves to create more division between the two parties, and is a good reason why the whole lot of them should be fired. This is equally as much akin as the usual black "leaders" who claim to speak for all black people which is clearly not so and they then become a catalyst for more division between blacks and white as they roil the crowds and create more controversy and thus more division.

Real thoughtful discerning adults don't behave like that and those who do just lower themselves to the mob mentality where there is no civility or reason.

[amZo]

I keep seeing a lot of "they" in reference to liberals.

There are tendencies of groups but very few absolutes for sure. Point well taken.
........................

Regarding gun control, I saw a good report on John Stossel's program last night. It demonstrated how hard it is to get a gun permit in New York City. He went thru huge amounts of paper work and effort, plus a fee of $400 (nonrefundable).

Despite the fact he's a public figure and was able to give the city proof of death threats made against him for his libertarian views, the city rejected his application for a gun permit citing he didn't provided adequate proof of need for one. Clearly, this is unconstitutional and it's abusive of citizens. In the end, it makes them criminals because if your life is being threatened, you're going to have to break the law and get a gun anyway.

Many gun regulations are backdoor methods of outright bans. That's what too many people don't understand.

[MadeleineG]

Many gun regulations are backdoor methods of outright bans. That's what too many people don't understand.

Strategic legislation is a tactic used on both sides.

[DriftingCrow]

Many gun regulations are backdoor methods of outright bans. That's what too many people don't understand.

Are we talking about regulations such as mandatory background checks or waiting periods, or ones that prevent civilians from buying/selling certain types of guns (like the military grade ones)?

I don't really see how something like requiring all sales to have a criminal check run, or preventing these quick sales at gun shows without a waiting period (which is required in some states) is a backdoor method to being an outright ban.

I can see how other regulations could lead to an outright ban following a slippery slope analysis.

[MadeleineG]

I can see how other regulations could lead to an outright ban following a slippery slope analysis.

[gennee]

I have no problem with people wanting to protect themselves. I can own a gun but I choose not to. Gun control doesn't deal with the underlying issues of crime, joblessness, and lack of opportunity. When people do not have these, they resort to crime. Couple that with anger and hopelessness they feel then you have a volatile mix.

Regarding the mass shootings such as Sandy Hook, in every case the perpetrator(s) were on anti-psychotic drugs. The vast majority of these medicines have horrible side effects which include suicidal thoughts, confusion, and that the people may be hearing voices.THIS is the point NOT brought by the media. They won't because big pharma controls medicine today. The bigger crime is that normal behavior is being pathologized  and these dangerous drugs are prescribed for children.