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He wants a world in which we're more alienated from top-to-down decisions which affect our lives than we already are.
That's.... scary. |
I don't see how that could possibly go wrong.
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Sarah Palin looks like a brown haired barbie doll. Someone I know said that awhile back.
It is obvious that she has no idea what the word, "Rogue" means. |
She doesn't stand for that "education and smartness" nonsense. What a rogue.
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What I'm saying is that most of the population will vote for who looks prettier and who can talk more convincingly, what I'm trying to do is find a way to make that impossible, because, even if you don't like it, stupid people get to vote as well. Now that I think about it, radio would be a great way to do this assuming they didn't just go off about some irrelevent shit like what 'mamma' always said. I'm just tired of politicians being celebrities. I know for a fact that a few people I know of voted for Obama strictly because he was black(half way, anyway), and younger than Mccain. Even though I support Obama, I wanted to smack them. |
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I'm not a dog. I'm a big cat. I've just been bored lately.
But I will level with you here, What you are suggesting is, in a nutshell, the total removal of the human element from political elections. Look, you can't control how a politician appeals to people. You can yell "OMG HACKS!" but to actually place legislation which would prevent voters from knowing their ethnicity/religion/region and the like would have disastrous consequences on the process. Leadership isn't simply about policy and implimentation, it's about inspiration and unification behind a common goal. People are always going to vote for stupid reasons and regulation is not a tonic against this. What does help, is Education and information management. Making sure your candidate gets the right message out to enough people who are smart enough to see through the bullshit the other side is spinning. This is the best way to limit the impact of stupidity and prejudice on the system. You can be tired, and fed up with the way people behave, but laws aren't going to change anything. Similarly Amunet can be outraged with how the electoral process is handled, but her removing herself from that process will only encourage it to continue the way that it has. |
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Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost. John Quincy Adams Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote. William E. Simon |
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ok, back to work. Good Morning everyone! (Well it's morning here anyways) Despanan, the first subject I will touch on is my abstaining from the voting process. Ok, maybe you're correct in thinking that by me doing nothing, I'm allowing the system to continue in the same fashion which I claim to hate so much. That's obvious and logical, however, my whole point is that I do not believe that we as the people of the United States of America have a say any longer. At one point this was a true democracy, at one point, the people did partake in the decisions our government makes. Now, I think the government keeps that illusion going, but honestly, I truly think that the voting process in which the vast majority of this country takes part in, is a waste of time and effort. There are people who make our decisions for us now. What my whole thing is about is the lack of honesty and integrity within our government. It's proven almost daily, because if this were a true democracy, then the outcries of the population would be heard, and there would be solutions not prolonged waiting periods due to whatever "red tape" they claim to have to go through. and yes, this may be another "generalization" in your eyes, but my dear friend, open your eyes, don't tell me you can't see what a corrupt system we are in. To be frank, I don't want to waste my time or energy on a FAILED system. They're keeping us out of chaos, but just barely. This country is headed for a revolution, I know it, a lot of people do. I don't want to plan to "BLOW UP" our government. That is just a cliche and it's been proven as failure. As for sitting on my ass and doing nothing, that's not entirely true, I'm talking about the problems, engaging other people, and not only here on this site. My job is to get people to open their fucking minds, get out of this stupid routine we've all been forced into since CHILDHOOD, and start thinking for ourselves. IE: Who decided we needed credit to live our lives the "right way" ??? Who decided that healthcare should only be available to those who can afford it??? WHO DECIDED that your race or gender or social standing or education level decided your career aptitude? We live in an era of NO, and YOU CAN'T when what we need to be hearing is affirmation in ourselves as individuals and as a people, is YES, and YOU CAN. Our country was founded on the principals of freedom. The definition of freedom to me is having the ability to live without fear, pursuing success but not at the cost of another person(s) livelihood. Freedom of oppression by those who would try to confine us in a little white picket box. I am defined by the steps I take in life. One of them is not to waste my time on things that no longer work. If you can't agree with that, then the least you can do is respect my choice. As for my guitar and pictures, neither one is relative to the topic at hand, they are different parts of me as an individual and someone of your intelligence should know better than to go off on a tangent that has nothing to do with what we're discussing. I know that I am one person, I know that something should be done, however I am patient enough to wait until I know when and how to act in whatever situation arises. I don't need to protest or petition to prove my points, and I would rather not waste energy on something that is not going to reach anything other than deaf ears. I am a free thinker, I belong to no one, I do not believe our system works, and I don't really know what will work, but something will change, and it will change soon. This isn't about our present politicians, this is about the fact that we have been going in a circle for years and I'm choosing to step out of that circle to observe, and act as necessary. If you believe this to be a "dangerous" or un-ethical way of life, that's your choice, but then again, you're the one still in the circle. I'm going to end this discussion here, because I don't really feel the need to explain myself further, if you don't get how I feel now, you never will and that's ok. I've done what I needed to do. Truly best regards Despanan, thank you for engaging this conversation further. always, Amunet |
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You're not doing shit, kid. Want to help? Join a fucking union, volunteer at a community center. Host social forums and workshops. Help the green party. But fucking get over yourself if you believe that you're 'opening people's minds' when you're this immature. |
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Like you actually know a goddamn thing about me?! Oh and by the way, if being part of a union was an option for me, don't you think I would jump all over it. Fuck off. Think before you speak, or make judgment calls because your ignorance is pretty fucking apparent after that last statement. Oh and how do you know that I don't practice in environmental works, or that I am one of the main contributors for a local charity here in Mass, or that I spend every waking moment doing whatever I can to benefit OTHER people instead of caring about my FUCKING HAPPINESS! SO jump off a fucking bridge. It's been a horrible day, and most definitely not the day to make callus, unfounded and just plain FUCKING STUPID comments! Go kill yourself please. |
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You know what, I think I see where this is going... Quote:
Then you tell me I need to "Open my eyes"...oh please, don't let this be going where I think it's going... Quote:
You're in what, The North Eastern United States? Arguably one of the wealthiest areas of the strongest nation in the first world. You have no friggin' idea what chaos is. As for moving towards revolution...we're not. Idiots like Glenn Beck and Alex Jones pretend that we are because that's what gets ratings and votes: The Republican attack machine managed to scare morons like you into compliance (by either voting for them or not voting at all), but we're no where near a revolution, because quite frankly, even at the worst of this depression, things really aren't that bad. Also, "Blowing things up" is not a clich'e, it's terrorist action. As I said before if you really believed what you say is true, you would be a terrorist, so either you don't believe it, or you're massively lazy, or you're a coward. Quote:
Also, from what I can see you don't really have an open mind, and you certainly don't think for yourself. Whether you admit it or not, you're letting the republican attack machine think for you: "Oh God! Everything is going to hell! Welcome to Obama's America! We're all screwed!" You may never vote for them, but they've scared you into not voting, which is just as good. Because of them you, like Deadman, and Vidicatedxjin and every other conspiracy-minded moron in the world twist your mind in on itself until you're locked into an endless loop of stupidity. Do you even realize how idiotic what you're claiming really is? I mean you actually think that we don't live in a free society, right? That our system has "failed" and that people's votes "Don't matter". That the billions of dollars, and years of work, spent on nationwide political campaigns are, on every level, an elaborate smoke-screen to hide the fact that a shadowy group of cynical white men sit around deciding our fate. Do you have any idea how hard it is to run a political campaign? Do you have any idea how many people would have to be involved, on such an elaborate fucking coverup. We're talking MILLIONS of people, all intentionally lying and devoting their lives to that lie so that a bunch of sociopathic white guys in washington can get rich. That's insane. That is not the thinking of a rational person. Honestly, this mindset makes it seem like You are suffering from some young person's variant on "Mean World Syndrome" Quote:
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Like it or not, the world is not a flowers and crayons kindergarten fantasy where all points of view are correct, and all ways of looking at the world are opinion. You choice is based upon laziness, faulty evidence, poor reasoning, and fear. It is wrong. There is no way around this. Quote:
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Think about it. Open your mind. It's going to be hard, but if you do, you'll be glad you did, and you'll stop actively fucking me over. And that concludes our first lesson. -Despanan |
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The thing is, I'm not parroting this stuff. I was never raised in a dominant party, I was raised to have my own opinions. I rarely watch the news or campaigns or anything of that nature anymore. Maybe I am overly paranoid, but to me, that's what saves my mind from outside corruption and influence. I don't trust anyone but myself to take care of me and the people I care about. They use my money that I work for, to do what?! I pay my taxes like a good American, in fact I don't usually complain but I've had it. If ever I do turn on the news or read the paper, no matter what, the state of our country is like a bomb going off in my face. I just read what Jill posted about Mexico. That stuff happens here too. I live in New England, and hey its prob rich in some places, but sure as hell not where I live. You can't trust the law (police, lawyers, judges) and I KNOW this for a fact because I was in Law Enforcement personally. I mean where I live now, they had just another couple cases (cliche cop shit) where the cops were stealing, and using excessive force, and taking drugs and putting them back on the streets.. blah blah blah sounds like the norm right?
This is what ticks me off the most, all of the behavior exhibited by our "authority" figures has become accepted by society as the norm, and its normal. Everyone I know lives in fear all the time, fear of living their lives the way they want to, intead of what has been deemed appropriate for them. Yes I am afraid sometimes when I can't see a clear path in front of me, I'd be lying if that weren't the truth, but I don't want fear to debilitate me from living and loving my life. Every person has the right to be happy, to live without trauma of loss of their lives whether it be financially, emotionally, or physically, but everyone is stuck in this "fear" because that's the only way they know how to live. I don't have people just losing their jobs, and mind you, this isn't the only place I've lived, and I don't need to be physically present in a place to know and understand some one else's trials, to feel sorrow for them. It breaks my heart to see the bullshit that we all put up with just to be fucking successful. Life has nothing to do with success. It's about learning, and being open to others. Helping, caring, understanding. Love. But we're too busy focusing on all this bullshit around us, that we have no time left to live. The country I want to live in, and more importantly, the world I want to be a part of, is one that people stop using their crutches, of peace (not just physical) but peace of mind. There is so much good in the world, but it's constantly overlooked by all of these negative things that are made to be more important than they really are. I guess we will differ for now in our views Despanan. I just want to love my life, and help other people love theirs, and that is my main priority. |
It doesn't matter if you're parroting or not, you're still a tool, and the opinions, be they your own or otherwise are still wrong.
We don't differ in our views, in fact I think we hold similar values as to what's important. As I've mentioned, I'm an artist too, I feel the calling that you feel and I have the same views. Where we differ, is that you seem to be refusing to accept the world for how it truly is. Your paranoia, (which you admit you have) is not a virtue. It does not protect you. It's tempting to think that but all it does is twist your perceptions and cause you to behave irrationally. I mean look at your posts, every thing that you have cited as evidence in this argument is little more than an emotional appeal to stereotypes. You are emotionally responding to the political environment, and you are allowing your fear to twist your mind in on itself. Despite your intentions and values, when you do this, you hurt yourself, you hurt your career, you hurt me, and you help people like George Bush, you play right into the hands of people like Carl Rove. We are living at a very key time in America. The public has been anesthetized for YEARS. Post-Vietnam through Nixon and Reagan and Bush and Bush again, we grew soft and fat and complacent. The W. Bush years allowed the republicans to play the politics of fear and kept the democrats neutered and gutless, so much so that the liberals who did have balls ended up going off the deep end, and embracing ridiculous, radical politics (Like Anarchism) which will never be implemented and thus, turning their unintentional support to the republicans, and one year ago, the Americans said "Fuck it", took the first step against that fear, and put things in place for some meaningful change. Now the republicans are screaming, they're playing the politics of fear, and The Right is screaming into your ears and you are playing right into their hands. I have lost friends to paranoia. I know it when I see it, and judging by your posts, you know it too. I think you know that your stance doesn't make sense, and I think you know that your world-view is twisted. Now I have been (as I promised) increadibly brutal with you, and I apologize if I hurt your feelings. I would never talk to someone like this IRL, however, that doesn't make what I'm saying untrue. And I will be dammed if I see another person from my generation choose apathy without raising a din. You have stuck your head in the sand. Despite all your values, and all your intentions, that's where you are, and that's where you will remain until you grow up. Unless you find the strength to un-knot your mind and see the world how it really is, accept it, and change it, you will remain an oxygen thief, and you will remain a tool to be used and discarded b y the finks and the charlatans and the other wastes of humanity. I hope you can pull this off, because you know what? Things aren't that bad. You're still white, and first-world, and you have opportunities that people in Haiti will never enjoy. You have power, Does this mean you can you change the world at your own whim? No. Are things going to be easy? No. But at least you'll be part of the solution and not part of the problem, and at the very least please stop trying to convince others to adopt, you're insane fucking political world view. Anyway, I hope for the best for you, but it's not going to happen unless you change something profound within yourself. Good luck, and until you do, I will continue to take you to task for every bit of bullshit I see come out of you.l |
Holy crap Amunet, you spew out more sweeping generalizations that Deadman, and until I read this thread I would have thought that impossible.
Like the idea that all cops are corrupt. I know that to be false. You meant most cops are corrupt? I also know that to be false. My ex was a deputy sheriff for a while. Are some cops corrupt? Yes. As some politicians and priests and doctors and CEO's and engineers are corrupt. Here and in other countries around the world. But that's an aspect of human nature in general. In my experience you can check any subset of humankind and find a sizable minority of them would be engaged in immoral and unethical behavior. But it is a minority. The broad brush you've painted all law enforcement officers with, well it's insulting and they don't deserve that kind of disrespect. I'm not going to try to address all that B.S. you laid out. Others might feel up to it. But I post a couple of quick-hit thoughts. One: Your assertion that you refuse to take in information from the news or campaigns so you can't be corrupted or influenced is just disappointing. You can choose to take in information from a variety of sources, and then weight that data out. You sift out the extremist views and then have info that lets you decide what you need to be active about. Otherwise you're no better than an ostrich with it's head in the sand. Despanan is right about this just being lazy. Two: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead In the recent Massachusetts Senatorial election, a republican took the historically democratic seat in a move that suprised analysts. But it wasn't republicans that put him in office. It was a small minority of active, independent people who made that happen. I site this not because it heralds a new dawn for one political party. Analysts are now saying that both parties are concerned that there is an educated, motivated group of independent voters who are making it increasingly difficult for incumbents of either party to hold on to their position. A minority of informed, independent voters are making an impact. And other things are happening around the country. Houston just became the first major U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor. Change is in the wind. There are ... possibilities. Be part of the change you want. Or do not participate, but then don't brag about your ignorance and apathy. |
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Thanks again, until next time.... Amunet |
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as for everything else, just read what I wrote to despanan. I'm going home.... goodnight |
Most of your ire seems directed at the federal level of government. My advice is to get involved on the local level. It is actually pretty remarkable what red tape they have to put up with (red tape that is set up so that people cannot abuse their power) and it is surprising how much public input helps to move things along. Above all else the actions of local government are the ones that most affect your daily life so if you want proof that citizen input matters then at least look into your local government. Just don't make them FoIA everything or else all of the staff aids will hate you because a lot of time gets eaten up that way and, in my experience, people abuse it fairly often.
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HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE HER OF NOT PARTICIPATING IN HER LOCAL GOVERNMENT?!!! YOU DON'T KNOW HER! GET OFF YOUR GODDAMN HIGH HORSE!
Am I right, Amunet? I find it so revealing that you didn't actually tell us what you reall do, but rather you only bitched about me assuming you don't do anything. I am also amused at the fact that you didn't even address my calling on your bullshit bluff that America was once a perfect democracy. You rather went to a bitch fit in which you only blamed me for assuming too much about you, and not about (and this is important) being wrong about you. |
Heel Alan.
She's had enough for now. No point in berating her further. If she says something else that's dumb, go for it, but I think she's gotten the point. Lets all just go flame Deadman that's always fun. |
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Alan, I helped found and volunteer for a national based program that helps kids who have the desire to join service type careers, it's called the "Explorer's" program... and the one I helped found is in the NH area called the "Explorer University" which is a college like program in a para-military environment that lasts a weekend but usually takes a year to plan out. It's held annually in the fall. I've been with them since the first year 5 years ago. I also helped with a local MA charity that my label put together to fight and fundraise for three organizations, with a compilation album, and all sales will completely benefit these organizations. They are: The Immune Deficiency Fund, The National Ataxia Foundation, & The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation Check them out and donate if you feel like contributing. My label "RMR Music" is the site for this compilation called "Project Cure" One of our artists, Hope Rising, is the main founder of this compilation along with the RMR label owner, Mark Eshbaugh and she started this program because she has had to live every day of her life with children that suffer the diseases she fights so hard against. As for environmentally, in my home I try to use energy efficient lighting, recycle, reusable bags, I do whatever I can on a small level, help clean up, etc... I may not be the green party poster girl, but with what I can afford to do, I do. I'm tired of this pissing contest Alan. I have nothing left to say to you. Just that you should be careful in assuming that someone does nothing when you have no basis for truth in that statement, so to avoid looking like an asshole, keep that opinion to yourself. and I'm sorry for blowing up at you yesterday, I shouldn't have said some of those things, I let my emotion get the best of me. So I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings or ego or whatever for speaking out of line. Thanks. Also, Solumina, I would like to try to get involved again in local politics, I used to write the meeting minutes for the Town Selectmen a few years ago, and I didn't like it back then because there was a lot of abuse of power, but I'm in a big city now so I'm sure it's different, less bs stuff here. I don't know. Thank you for the suggestion. in conclusion... I may not do everything that I could possibly do, but not for lack of trying, I'm human, I make mistakes, I'm wholly willing to admit them or to try something different. My experiences thus far have not been anything less than disheartening in the political field. We'll see what the future brings. Amunet. |
Have you ever heard the expression "digging yourself a hole" Amunet?
You're way below the intelligence level required to stand a chance in a debate with Despanen. |
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Kissarse!!
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:: shakes head in disgust ::
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Well, it seems we've all in agreement of how TOTALLY BADASS I am, so lets make that the new topic of this thread.
Each of you needs to come up with twelve reasons why you'd let your children pledge undying fealty to me. I want it on my desk no later than Friday morning. GO. |
Well, you look like Eddie Vedder...
I R winnar? |
I still say he looks like that guy at uni we call Smeagol.
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If I remember correctly, you have good facial hair.
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...as much as I hate politics, I must care about them.
In a democratic representative republic, voting for candidates is the most say we really get in the legislative process. That's why I feel its important to follow issues, policies and decisions, made by my representatives. :) Some times it feels like the democratic process "isn't working", usually that feeling comes when one's favored candidate didn't win, or some stupid piece of crap policy was put into place. I assure you, however, that with enough real pressure, changes can be made. Its all just a matter of finding a whole bunch of people who feel the same way you do. |
Politics affects who I am legally allowed to love and enjoy a consensual sexual relationship with.
Politics affects how much my food costs and where it comes from. Politics affects whether I can speak, travel and associate freely. Politics affects the level of care I'll receive if I'm ill or injured, and how much it will cost me. Politics affects my bodily autonomy, choosing whether I can have access to abortions or not. Politics affects whether I have access to a good public transport system or not, and how much it costs. Politics affects whether I'll ever be conscripted into the armed forces. Politics affects how much I'll get paid, and whether it'll be enough to live on. Politics affects every single detail in our lives. You can hate it and try to ignore it or try to distance yourself from it, but you can never escape it. Pretending you can is ignorant and smacks of head-in-sand denial of reality. Engage with it, and just *maybe* you'll be able to do something to change your world for the better. At least you'll start to understand why things are the way they are. Personally, I don't hate or love politics. That's like saying I love or hate the existence of trees or water- politics is just a fact of life, it's how you choose to engage with it that makes the difference. |
^ what she said ^
And choosing not to have a political opinion is an expression of a political opinion. It does not mean you have to like it. |
Almost, but not quite. It goes beyond that: not having a political opinion is an impossibility, precisely because any conscious decision regarding politics is a political decision.
Deciding to have no political opinion is like deciding to have no human characteristics; you can't so long as you're human. |
By the way, do check out the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. It's about the human aspects of terraforming Mars, and the possible paths it could take- the attempts by transnational corporations to use it as a big rock full of resources regardless of the residents' views, the revolutions and attempts to gain independence from earth, the factionalism and revolts within Martian society itself, the clashing of viewpoints between those from earth and still tied to Terran politics and economics, and those born on Mars who set themselves apart from Terra.
And other, equally human aspects as well- relationships, arguments, personal vendettas, falling in love, aesthetic decisions on the future of the red planet. Worth a read, and may reinforce how everything can be political- breeding, breathing, travelling, building, social evolution and more. |
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Lol. Aw come on, you know there's some truth to that there statement... =) especially for me right now. I'm being a very whiny emotional bitch this week.
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Politics is gay. Politicians everywhere are epic failing, especially the ones that wanna take away our rights n' stuff. Soon there will be no more politics. People will just live for the lulz.
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Maybe it's the fact that I'm a little juiced, but that actually cracked me up.
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I never believe in politicians.
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It would be so much better to see people taking a stand, however futile, than just rolling over like a dog. |
What have YOU done?
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I'd guess he hasn't even tried to do anything seeing as there have been plenty of protests, most haven't been very large but at least they happened.
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Not to mention that even if there isn't anything going on at the moment, you can make something happen. Someone has to get the ball rolling, might as well be you.
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You think you're justified in being a fucking bitch by saying that all women are whiny bitches. That's either sexist or fucking stupid.
Sexism itself is fucking stupid. Ergo, you are stupid either way. |
I WAS BEING SARCASTIC! or are you so stuck in your own little world that you honestly believe I think that all women are bitches and whiny... JESUS FUCKING CHRIST people.
get over it Alan. Stop trying to turn everything into a debate. It's old. Go practice your "I know all" bullshit with someone who wants to listen. An old saying comes to mind.... something about nobody cares how much you know, just how much you care... Unless everything is beneath you and you can't be bothered to care about anything other than yourself or your close minded opinions. I don't care how much education you have, it's obviously apparent you have a lot to learn about life, and people, because from your posts I can see that all you do is berate others who you don't believe are worthy to be in your "online" presence. Give me a break. next please |
Holy shit, I didn't know I had that much influence in your mood. And yet you bitch about precisely the fact that I feel I have that effect.
Please don't be a hypocrite. |
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Yeah, most pricks usually have an effect on most people's moods. |
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