Damn, I miss playing golf. Had to quit about 10 years ago because of lower back issues. I still watch it religiously.
I guess to me that's actually part of the problem. People take any slight way too damn seriously. In your day you came right back at it with fists ready. I get it, you're a sign of the times. People today are the same as you, they're a sign of the times in that they've been conditioned by leaders and those in powerful places that the way to "win" is not by actually being just and fair and reasoned but by bullying those you can while creating your own storyline narratives that further your own beliefs and agendas and you join up with others who share your similar sentiments. Strength in numbers is always a thing. People used to at least pretend to be doing what they did for the greater good for everyone. We all know that's dishonest and usually it was for those involved's personal gain or paying back favors.. but at least there was a decency attempted and an effort put in to trying to help everyone no matter how absurd. They wrapped the gift even if what was in the box was unpleasant. No gift wrap anymore. Nowadays it's not decency. It's not cooperation. It's not rising tides raise all ships. It's crush your enemy in any way possible while ignoring reality and pushing your agenda. You just gotta find the key notes to hit on incessantly that fires up the mob mentality and you've got yourself an extremist army. That can be an army that does volunteer work for you. It can be an army that campaigns for you and your causes. It can be an army that is at rallies and wants to wreck shit. They come in all forms and tenors. Might makes right has always been in our DNA sadly. Whatever steps we took to civility and decency has been almost entirely undone. It's just reality. If someone attacks me which happens plenty on all the different boards I've frequented for the past 25 years, I always try to reply with facts, wit, and reason. If they're receptive to discussion they don't have to agree with me in the end. That's a person I want to engage with further on all topics because they can teach me other views outside my own bubble. I want to be educated. More often I'm just attacked further. I know that person all too well. They're not here to learn or listen, they're here to stand up on high and proclaim their profound knowledge to help educate all of us clearly lacking in the deep insight they certainly have plenty of. And they can't wait to tell everyone how they see things, how right they are, and why. Those people are everywhere, have always been everywhere, and have been emboldened for years now to just fuckking educate the idiot masses with your loud voice. And if they don't learn, just get louder. And louder. Excessively repeat your same tired points. It's educating in the your mind. Actually, psychologically it's called conditioning. Very different thing. They use that tactic because they've been conditioned themselves, they just don't know it. If you look in the mirror and don't see all the flaws that exist in you that you want to work on everyday to be a better man/person then I wonder what exactly you're doing in life? Accepting who you are? Stopped working on you? We're either getting better or we're getting worse. Today you can tell the difference between those two people pretty quickly in a lot of ways. It's never too late to adjust your perspective and demand more from yourself. You'll feel better about you. And when someone attacks you it won't really bother you or sting you because you know it's not true. You can rattle off three or four things you do everyday to improve yourself and thus everyone around you everyday. If you're reaching into your distant past to justify yourself, why is that? You can affect the world positively just in everyday pleasant and positive interactions. That creates self worth. It's great if you did awesome things ten years ago, but we don't live in the world of ten years ago. We do that and we're Les Miles or Bo Pelini. Too stubborn, too proud, too convinced they know everything and that their way while successful in the past will always be. No. Life changes everyday. Change with it or be left behind. Those left behind tend to be pretty bitter and don't want to let go of what they had.. while still refusing to change. We can always be better. This is not directed at anyone here specifically. Just my take on people and how we've changed over the years through a myriad of interactions, forums, and contexts.
Cool it you two, and @Kikicaca is already moving in with @COTiger so @Brian will have to wait for that shit show to end first
