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Things You Just Can't Understand

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by snowy, Jun 25, 2014.

  1. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    With all due respect, you were an itty bit militant on that topic in this forum. If you expressed your views with the same enthusiasm in real life, you ought to expect some pushback.
     
  2. arkana

    arkana Very Tilted

    Location:
    canada
    How long ago was that? Almost all the scrutiny I was under was out of an attempt to understand my deviation from the norm. You return to the norm (or at least something that allows people to tell the story you are "normal") and still I get "why??"

    Pushback against me no longer something unusual? I don't understand. I don't understand why not just acceptance.

    Actually I get it. It's the story people want to get straight and compartmentalized. Strike it off the list.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2014
    • Like Like x 1
  3. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    Looks like 6 months.

    The Politics, Economics, and Ethics of Hunting | The TFP


    My daughter is vegan, I'm as "live and let live", as it gets. However, if you take a holier than thou approach and change direction, someone is going to point it out to you.

    Note that you posted this in "Things you don't understand". It seems really obvious to me.
    Do you read acceptance in what you wrote 6 months ago?
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2014
  4. arkana

    arkana Very Tilted

    Location:
    canada
    Ok I see. Thanks for doing the research on my activities. Did you read that thread? Because it looks like I was discussing hunting and the ethics attached to it. To call that militant is excessive and seems like I hit a nerve. I wouldn't call argument against someone's position a lack of acceptance.

    I have *never* taken a holier than thou approach on the subject of veganism. If you feel that way, you are projecting something on to my position. The mere fact that you are "living and letting live" about your daughter's situation suggests you see it as a deviant lifestyle.

    Would you like me to delete my initial question now that I understand it?
     
  5. AlterMoose

    AlterMoose Slightly Tilted

    Location:
    Pangaea
    The romance built up around White Castle. The latest commercial to infect my TV shows a couple getting engaged, with the ring baked into & protruding from the top of a slider bun. Now, I realize this is a stupid ad and not documentary footage, but I cannot for the life of me fathom why they accept Valentine's Day reservations every year.
     
  6. Borla

    Borla Moderator Staff Member

    I just reread through much of that thread. Admittedly I focused mostly on your posts and my own. You can call my perspective skewed a bit if you like, but I found some of your comments pretty extreme. You used the word 'genocide' to describe killing animals for food. It's been a few years since I got my 'A' in Etymology, but I'm pretty sure 'genos' specifically means a race or type of people. To extend it to animals is a fringe or extreme view IMO.

    You also made inferences in that thread that everyone should know you'd chime in because of your beliefs, that you knew you were contrarian and were just posting to poke at the topic, and your overall tone seemed (and this is merely personal perception, so take it for what little it is worth) seemed to be condescending to anyone who wanted to eat meat, let along harvest their own.

    I couldn't care less about making a huge debate about this. Your way of stating your argument in that thread doesn't make you a bad guy. Now that you eat meat it doesn't mean you are right or wrong for changing your viewpoint, and if anything maybe only made that and a few other discussions more interesting.

    But I'm merely pointing out that I can see where @Stan got his perceptions about your viewpoint.
     
  7. snowy

    snowy so kawaii Staff Member

    It's true. I was vegan for a couple of months once. Any time it comes up in conversation, people have to understand the why. This was three years ago now, yet it still comes up now and again.

    Also, y'know, tone doesn't come through well here on the Internet. I've had the great fortune of meeting @arkana, so I feel that I have a better understanding of the kind of tone he was likely going for when he made those comments. Whether or not they're preachy is open to interpretation. We've had some great face-to-face conversations about personal choices, and not once did I feel I was being preached at; believe me, I do know some very preachy, judgy people.

    I think that another thing at play here, whether we realize it or not, is that our dietary choices of all kinds are commonly judged, as we pass judgment on the dietary choices of others, when we should just let it go and let people eat what they want to eat. In hand with that, while others may not be judging our dietary choices, we may feel judged regardless due to a position held by another person.

    Related to this, I just can't understand why people won't let others be themselves. My MIL pointedly asked me on Saturday if I'd had my thyroid tested. Why would I do that, I asked. Due to weight gain, she replied. Sudden weight gain. Um...well, my weight gain wasn't exactly sudden. It crept up 30 lbs over 3 years--10 lbs a year isn't exactly sudden, and it can pretty much be chalked up to being in graduate school, not exercising as much, and eating whatever was at hand; sometimes, eating well is expensive and time-consuming (GASP). I explained that I don't really mind my weight so long as I feel healthy and can do the things I want to do, as being too thin (150 or lower), I feel constantly hungry and grumpy. I get that she hates her body; I wish that she would understand that I DON'T HATE MINE, and I never will. I love my body. I have fantastic legs, really nice boobs, and a great ass; I have a bit of a tummy, but my husband loves it, so whatever.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2014
    • Like Like x 1
  8. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    Many of those people are Masters of the Unapologetic Apology. They will admit to being wrong, sort of in a very general roundabout way, and they always qualify their "acknowledgement " and"apology" in such a way to shift some of the "blame." I have been known to comment, and post, "That's about the lamest excuse for an apology that I've ever heard."
     
  9. arkana

    arkana Very Tilted

    Location:
    canada
    Thanks Snowy,

    It's unfortunate people felt condescended to. That is an unfortunate effect of challenging the belief of what the norm is. "Hey this thing you all believe is really harmful to the planet." It happens when you say the same things about coffee (which I drink), cell phones (which I use), and cars. Is there a way of engaging with the new ideas without seeing them as an assault on your way of life? I know I risk condescension by saying that.

    I know vegans who feel they are better people for it. I don't feel that way, but there are better and worse actions and I'd like to find out what actions lower my footprint and cause less harm, and possibly, adopt them as habits.

    This last little volley has become more about me, my ego and what conflict it is attracting in the egos of others. Even if it was about the issues, it's the wrong thread. I won't continue down this road.
     
  10. Chris Noyb

    Chris Noyb Get in, buckle up, hang on, & be quiet.

    Location:
    Large City, TX
    There are people who are so empty & unhappy--regardless of their socioeconomic status--that "anger, resentment, and grudges" are what keeps them going. I have cousins who thrive on conflict, they can't live normal lives.
     
  11. GeneticShift

    GeneticShift Show me your everything is okay face.

    While we're at the topic of veganism, I don't understand why there are vegans/vegetarians who force their lifestyles on their cats and dogs.

    I am fully supportive of friends and family with vegan/vegetarian diets, and fully understand that humans can live without animal proteins and animal by-products in their diets. Unfortunately, cats can't, and there are people that refuse to suspend that for the health and well-being of their pets. It is possible to feed a dog a vegan diet, but it needs to be highly monitored and can be extremely dangerous for the health of the animal.

    If you disagree with the diet that your pet has to consume, why get one?
     
    • Like Like x 4
  12. DamnitAll

    DamnitAll Wait... what?

    Location:
    Central MD
    The term "compassionate conservative." As in, the fact that the apparent need to distinguish it by pairing those two terms together speaks volumes to me about the nature of the second.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2014
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    "[...] the only difference between compassionate conservatism and conservatism is that under compassionate conservatism they tell you that they are not going to help you, but they are really sorry about it." — Tony Blair
     
    • Like Like x 3
  14. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    As in, "I'm sorry it sucks to be you..." :rolleyes:
     
  15. hamsterball

    hamsterball Seeking New Outlets

    Cultural differences while I'm on my vacation are at odds with my US upbringing (not all are bad):

    1) I'm used to the US/British order on the street where you stay to your right. In Austria, people just walk wherever, so you're constantly dodging oncoming pedestrians.

    2) The practice of waiting to be seated (US) doesn't apply here in most restaurants. You just take a seat and wait to be attended to.

    3) In the US, you get used to an ordered progression in restaurants: your order is taken, your food is served, then the check arrives. Here, you have to ask for the check. You will not usually be bothered until you ask for it. I kinda like that.

    4) Security and energy consciousness are greater than what I've been used to at home. Here, you can't activate your hotel elevator without your room card. In many places, you can't activate the room lights without your room card. Wind mills and solar panels are seemingly everywhere.

    5) When shopping, I take it for granted that my purchases will be bagged. Here, in many stores, you have to request a bag, and you may need to pay a surcharge for it (So far, about 0.30 Euros).
     
    • Like Like x 1
  16. ralphie250

    ralphie250 Fully Erect Donor

    Location:
    At work..
    Why I can't have a bigger penis
     
  17. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    You can. However, you might not be attracted to the guy that it is attached to.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  18. ralphie250

    ralphie250 Fully Erect Donor

    Location:
    At work..
    facepalm.... yes you are right.


    let me rephrase, why can't my penis be bigger?
     
  19. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    @arkana, I can't speak for anyone else but I was interested in why you're no longer vegan because you're my friend and because for as long as I've known you veganism has been a core part of your identity. I think it's normal for friends to take an interest in such a major lifestyle change.

    As for penis size, I'm personally quite comfortable with the size of my penis. It's not a massive meat club that sends women running in fear. It's served me well over the course of my adult life, and so long as I get no complaints I see no reason to care if it measures up to the next guy.

    I think men do themselves a disservice by getting caught up on size. Learn to love your penis, ralphie. It might not be the biggest, but it's yours. There is no other quite like it.

    I don't understand people who get stressed over petty things. Slow traffic. A waitress who spills your drink. Someone taking longer than 30 seconds at the ATM. These things don't actually matter. Your life isn't actually adversely affected. And even if it is, there's nothing you can do to change it. Why get so worked up about it?

    I saw a man recently, sitting in his truck at a stop sign, and screaming furiously at the little old lady in the crosswalk to hurry up and walk faster. I cannot understand this level of... anger? Impotent fury? Pent up stress and pressure?

    I don't even know. I can't imagine what exists in that man's life that causes him to lash out like that.
     
  20. arkana

    arkana Very Tilted

    Location:
    canada
    Aww.... thanks friend!