Chit-Chat: The Feels

[tres bien]

Quote

 

It would be funny if this wasn’t the same guy that when asked by Kristen Welker on Meet The Press yesterday “do you have to uphold the Constitution?”

Answered “I don’t know “

Edited Monday at 02:52 PM by tres bien

[annzeepark914]

5 minutes ago, tres bien said:

It would be funny if this wasn’t the same guy that when asked by Kristen Welker on Meet The Press yesterday “do you have to uphold the Constitution?”

Answered “I don’t know “

He really doesn't know & that's what's so scary. Trump is more and more like that daft guy in *Being There*. It's obvious that the GOP is propping him up in the oval office just to get their kind of laws, rules & regulations passed. 

[Absolom]

He sounds like early stage 5 dementia.  He's gone beyond MCI. This is the stage where family should be looking for memory care or at late stage have already picked the place and have the relative in that facility's assisted living so the resident can get adjusted and have regular visits within memory care to ease the transition. My mother lived with me during that stage.  It was late stage 5/early stage 6 when I had no choice but move her.  

[chitowngirl]

Would the movie tariffs effect things like Hallmark movies and American shows shot in Canada?

[Ohiopirate02]

47 minutes ago, tres bien said:

Per Variety January 16,2025

Donald Trump names Sylvester Stallone Mel Gibson and Jon Voight as “Special Ambassadors to Troubled Hollywood whose goal will be to bring back business lost to foreign countries “

”It is my honor to announce Jon Voight Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone to be Special Ambassadors to great but a very troubled place, Hollywood CA”

” They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood which has lost business over the last four years to foreign countries BACK BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” 

These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears and will get done what they suggest. It will again be like The United States of America itself. The Golden Age of Hollywood!”

Apparently he has no clue that he issued this clueless message months ago. I like how it’s all Joe Biden’s fault and oh yeah can someone get Louis B Mayer on the phone?

Yes, Mel Gibson is just the actor/director you want when your purpose is to bring back American film making. An Aussie who's biggest hits and award winners were set and filmed in Scotland, Mexico, and Italy.

[Lugal]

2 hours ago, bluegirl147 said:

There are different types of privilege.  White people have privilege when being pulled over by the police. Men have privilege when walking alone at night.  Rich people have privilege pretty much in any situation.  President Obama had privilege being POTUS but he was hated by a lot of people in this country because of the color of his skin.   Also there is a difference between being aware of your privilege and using your privilege. The people that annoy me the most are those who clearly have privilege and deny it.  Acting like they are the victim. 

I agree, but I would point out that being privileged on one axis is not necessarily privileged on all.  Except Obama didn't have privilege, he had power, which is a different animal.

[bluegirl147]

6 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Yes, Mel Gibson is just the actor/director you want when your purpose is to bring back American film making. An Aussie who's biggest hits and award winners were set and filmed in Scotland, Mexico, and Italy.

Not to mention his antisemitism and misogyny.  

[Absolom]

Trump's mental executive function is shot.  He'd no longer be safe driving, if he still drove.  Balancing a checkbook would be beyond him.  If attention is going to be paid to failing mentally capabilities, then it needs to be applied equally.  Plus just as many jobs have mandatory retirement ages, the US presidency also appears to need one. 

[Ohiopirate02]

9 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

Not to mention his antisemitism and misogyny.  

There are many in Hollywood who have been willing to overlook these in Mel and also his homophobia.

[EtheltoTillie]

22 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Yes, Mel Gibson is just the actor/director you want when your purpose is to bring back American film making. An Aussie who's biggest hits and award winners were set and filmed in Scotland, Mexico, and Italy.

However, odd fact:  Mel was born in NYS and lived here till he was maybe 12 and his nutty father took the brood to Australia!  So he is an American-born citizen.  Still the guy who has managed to alienate everyone in Hollywood so no not a great advocate.  Has he really gotten many people to work with him lately? 

Edited Monday at 03:44 PM by EtheltoTillie

[Lugal]

23 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Yes, Mel Gibson is just the actor/director you want when your purpose is to bring back American film making. An Aussie who's biggest hits and award winners were set and filmed in Scotland, Mexico, and Italy.

Just to point out that Mel Gibson was born in Peekskill, New York.  His father (a whack job in his own right) moved the whole family to Australia when he was twelve to avoid his eldest son getting drafted for Vietnam.

Edit: EtheltoTillie beat me to it!

Edited Monday at 03:45 PM by Lugal

[EtheltoTillie]

1 minute ago, Lugal said:

Just to point out that Mel Gibson was born in Peekskill New York.  His father (a whack job in his own right) moved the whole family to Australia when he was twelve to avoid his eldest son getting drafted for Vietnam

Jinx!  I just posted same thing.  Did not know it was about the draft.  Very interesting!

Edited Monday at 03:46 PM by EtheltoTillie

[Ohiopirate02]

4 minutes ago, EtheltoTillie said:

However, odd fact:  Mel was born in NYS and lived here till he was maybe 12 and his nutty father took the brood to Australia!  So he is an American-born citizen.  Still the guy who has managed to alienate everyone in Hollywood so no not a great advocate.  Has he really gotten many people to work with him lately? 

He was never really punished by Hollywood. People like Jodie Foster and Robert Downey Jr. have been his friend through it all. He may have lost leading roles, but he's been able to cobble together a career with smaller roles and still direct a couple of movies. If anything, he lost work due to his erratic behavior and not for the ideas he espoused. He's also teamed up with Mark Wahlberg for far too many projects (IMHO), but I can see how those two assholes have become work friends at the minimum.

[bluegirl147]

23 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Trump's mental executive function is shot.  He'd no longer be safe driving, if he still drove.  Balancing a checkbook would be beyond him.  If attention is going to be paid to failing mentally capabilities, then it needs to be applied equally.  Plus just as many jobs have mandatory retirement ages, the US presidency also appears to need one. 

And this is what is so infuriating.  We heard about Biden's mental decline, and he did have some, but the media is ignoring Trump's obvious decline. He is literally going to be a mad king.

[EtheltoTillie]

BTW, thanks to @Lugal for providing a link to the fascinating blog Encyclopedia of American Loons.  I am definitely going to be subscribing to that one! 

[tearknee]

Australia rightly applied a mandatory retirement age for judges in a constitutional amendment. Ageism (and other isms) are often too broadly applied by the left/far left -- having some 80 year old Judge who rocked to Buddy Holly and treats texting on smartphones as having been just discovered in the wild is not good. And then we have Strom and Robert Byrd...

[Dimity]

5 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

And this is what is so infuriating.  We heard about Biden's mental decline, and he did have some, but the media is ignoring Trump's obvious decline. He is literally going to be a mad king.

Biden's 'mental decline' is, at least IMO, the normal decline almost everyone experiences to some extent as they age.  Nothing that would require specialized care, or a secure unit in assisted living!

Unfortunately for him the little lapses happened on the world stage whereas for the rest of us our "why the hell did I come upstairs?" moments happen in private.  

Trump's decline is monumentally different.  But then he always has to go bigly so there you go. 

[peacheslatour]

A social worker being carried out of NY Rep Lawler's (R) town hall. Notice how they always pick on women? I wonder why they don't do this to men?

[tres bien]

Yesterday Trump issued a new MAGA

Make Alcatraz Great Again

He is “directing the DOJ FBI and Homeland Security to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuild ALCATRAZ”

”Reopening ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of law order and JUSTICE”

Alcatraz closed in 1963 after serving as a federal prison for 29 years. It was too expensive to keep open costing nearly 3 times more than any other federal prison due to its location. All food water and supplies had to be shipped in

It’s been a museum since 1973

I don’t want one republican if there are any left telling me that all of anything he says or does is normal and that they afraid of him. He’s bonkers

Edited Tuesday at 12:20 AM by tres bien

[peacheslatour]

1 minute ago, tres bien said:

Yesterday Trump issued a new MAGA

Make Alcatraz Great Agy

He is “directing the DOJ FBI and Homeland Security to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ”

”Reopening ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of law order and JUSTICE”

Alcatraz closed in 1963 after serving as a federal prison for 29 years. It was too expensive to keep open costing nearly 3 times more than any other federal prison due to its location. All food water and supplies had to be shipped in

It’s been a museum since 1973

I don’t want one republican if there are any left telling me that all of anything he says or does is normal and that they afraid of him. He’s bonkers

He probably watched The Rock over the weekend.

Edited Monday at 04:26 PM by peacheslatour

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, peacheslatour said:

He probably watched The Rock over the weekend.

I assumed they need a place to keep all the politicians, reporters, lawyers, social workers, union leaders, teachers and librarians they will be rounding up in the coming years.  Step Two on their road to fascism.

[mariah23]

46 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

There are many in Hollywood who have been willing to overlook these in Mel and also his homophobia.

Timely discussion on Mel Gibson today.  He’s mentioned in this Buzzfeed article I read today.  Go to the section on Winona Ryder.  My eyes popped out.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/celebrities-forced-to-hide-their-ethnicity

[Affogato]

40 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

A social worker being carried out of NY Rep Lawler's (R) town hall. Notice how they always pick on women? I wonder why they don't do this to men?

Because women are on average lighter and the center of gravity is lower, which balances their weight when carried by a group. 

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

Trump's mental executive function is shot.  He'd no longer be safe driving, if he still drove.  Balancing a checkbook would be beyond him.  If attention is going to be paid to failing mentally capabilities, then it needs to be applied equally.  Plus just as many jobs have mandatory retirement ages, the US presidency also appears to need one. 

Reagan was suffering from Alzheimers at the end of his term. 
with 47 it has seemed obvious for some time that he has a problem. It may be concealed bt his tendency to be petty and kind of stupid un general. 

Edited Monday at 04:46 PM by Affogato

[peacheslatour]

30 minutes ago, mariah23 said:

Timely discussion on Mel Gibson today.  He’s mentioned in this Buzzfeed article I read today.  Go to the section on Winona Ryder.  My eyes popped out.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/celebrities-forced-to-hide-their-ethnicity

"An oven dodger"? JFC.

[Dimity]

5 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

"An oven dodger"? JFC.

I remember that.  I thought then that his career was over.  Should have known better. 

[SoMuchTV]

To the posters who were discussing/wondering about things like editorial cartoons being taken down, there is a post earlier in this thread that may help us understand why and how to avoid it:

 

[peacheslatour]

17 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

To the posters who were discussing/wondering about things like editorial cartoons being taken down, there is a post earlier in this thread that may help us understand why and how to avoid it:

 

I feel discriminated against! I don't know how to to do links. Somebody here explained to me once but I just got a new computer that runs Microsoft instead of Chrome so it doesn't work.

[EtheltoTillie]

I'm not sure I understand that either.  I remember that posting originally and I was confused even then.  When you post the cartoon, isn't it a link in itself?  Anyone else have better information?

@peacheslatour I think even if you are using Microsoft Edge as your browser, it would be no different from Chrome--if you are working off an actual computer and not a mobile device.  You can copy the URL from your search window and paste it into the Primetimer posting box you are using.  And it will be a link.  Does this help?  Even a mobile device will give the same capability. 

Edited Monday at 05:39 PM by EtheltoTillie

[Cementhead]

The hits keep coming.  So now he wants to make Hollywood great again and also make Alcatraz great again.  And also take Greenland from Denmark one way or the other and cherish them.  And also maybe or maybe not follow the constitution, he'll check with his great lawyers and get back to us on that one.  I learned all of this in the last 2 or 3 days against my will because he is impossible to avoid. 

To all the repubs who said Biden was too handsy with the ladies, how are we all feeling about the guy who creepily talks about all the people he wants to cherish?

 

[Dimity]

1 minute ago, Cementhead said:

I learned all of this in the last 2 or 3 days against my will because he is impossible to avoid. 

  Every time I open my FB or click to a news channel either on TV or on the Internet there he is leering out at me.  That miserable orange face scowling out at the world.  He's like a persistent rash, you can't get rid of him no matter how hard you try.

[Cementhead]

2 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Every time I open my FB or click to a news channel either on TV or on the Internet there he is leering out at me.  That miserable orange face scowling out at the world.  He's like a persistent rash, you can't get rid of him no matter how hard you try.

Ain't that the truth!  I would give anything to see all media and news organizations IGNORE him for even just one day.  Not report on anything that he says or does and watch what happens.  His power would start to die because he is like a cockroach.  Quit shining a light on him.  Keep him in the dark.

But..... I watched a surprisingly very frank conversation between Jake Tapper and Seth Myers just days before the election and they both admitted that a win for Donald Trump was a win for their shows and networks.... it's always about the money. 

[PRgal]

You know what I rarely see addressed when we talk about privilege?  LINGUISTIC PRIVILEGE.  This is something I rarely see and hear in DEI seminars, likely because it centres around workplaces where everyone can function in the local language.  However, this fails to address A LOT of communication issues elsewhere (e.g. in schools, where parents may have challenges helping their kids with schoolwork/projects because they don't understand what's being asked for.  Or when they're speaking with teachers to get help for their children such as an IEP (or understanding the need for an IEP)).  It's also important in healthcare, but hospitals tend to be pretty good at getting interpreters.  Also, there are local terms that an expat (or new immigrant) might not be familiar with.  For example, many Canadians didn't realize that "root" has a TOTALLY DIFFERENT MEANING in Australian English, one that is NSFW.  I've brought these issues up before in DEI groups, but again, it's brushed off with a focus ONLY on "appearance" (i.e. race).  I really don't understand.

[bluegirl147]

15 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

how are we all feeling about the guy who creepily talks about all the people he wants to cherish?

By cherish he means control. He wants an empire. I think in his mind he thinks I can have more countries than Putin or as Trump calls him Vlad.

[Cementhead]

38 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

By cherish he means control. He wants an empire. I think in his mind he thinks I can have more countries than Putin or as Trump calls him Vlad.

Oh, yes.  He wants to conquer the world.  Or, in the case of Canada and Greenland specifically, cherish us by taking control of our natural resources.  Thankfully us Canadians have so far dodged being cherished.

Edited Monday at 06:44 PM by Cementhead
added a thought

[Eri]

19 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

The hits keep coming.  So now he wants to make Hollywood great again and also make Alcatraz great again.  And also take Greenland from Denmark one way or the other and cherish them.  And also maybe or maybe not follow the constitution, he'll check with his great lawyers and get back to us on that one.  I learned all of this in the last 2 or 3 days against my will because he is impossible to avoid.

Don't forget his recent discussions with Rwanda confirming an "early stage" of talks with the Trump administration to accept migrants deported by the US. 

'His comments come after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that Washington was "actively searching" for countries that would take in "some of the most despicable human beings".'

Ugh, can he volunteer as tribute? 

[Dimity]

2 minutes ago, Eri said:

'His comments come after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that Washington was "actively searching" for countries that would take in "some of the most despicable human beings".'

If we take this as an actual fact how many countries are lining up to do this?

"Pick me, oh pick me, sir."  Jeeze....

Edited Monday at 06:14 PM by Dimity

[PRgal]

2 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

Oh, yes.  He wants to conquer the world.  World wide domination.  Thankfully us Canadians have so far dodged being cherished.

I'm hoping that PP doesn't get a seat in that byelection.  I'm seeing posts where people are saying that they should get as many independents as they can to pull another Carleton.  But unlike Carleton, that riding covers a huge geographic area and is DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE.

[Dimity]

5 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

Thankfully us Canadians have so far dodged being cherished.

Nasty and proud of it!!!!

[Ohiopirate02]

20 minutes ago, PRgal said:

You know what I rarely see addressed when we talk about privilege?  LINGUISTIC PRIVILEGE.  This is something I rarely see and hear in DEI seminars, likely because it centres around workplaces where everyone can function in the local language.  However, this fails to address A LOT of communication issues elsewhere (e.g. in schools, where parents may have challenges helping their kids with schoolwork/projects because they don't understand what's being asked for.  Or when they're speaking with teachers to get help for their children such as an IEP (or understanding the need for an IEP)).  It's also important in healthcare, but hospitals tend to be pretty good at getting interpreters.  Also, there are local terms that an expat (or new immigrant) might not be familiar with.  For example, many Canadians didn't realize that "root" has a TOTALLY DIFFERENT MEANING in Australian English, one that is NSFW.  I've brought these issues up before in DEI groups, but again, it's brushed off with a focus ONLY on "appearance" (i.e. race).  I really don't understand.

Why would anyone running a serious DEI seminar waste their time with this when there are more important things that need to be discussed? It's slang and what happens when a language travels the world. I was curious and looked up what the Aussies mean when they say "root" and this is a total nonissue. It's not like it's a slur.

[Dimity]

41 minutes ago, PRgal said:

However, this fails to address A LOT of communication issues elsewhere (e.g. in schools, where parents may have challenges helping their kids with schoolwork/projects because they don't understand what's being asked for.

In Canada with its emphasis on French immersion in schools this is a problem faced by many parents not just parents whose first language may not be English or French.  Somehow people cope.

[PRgal]

4 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Why would anyone running a serious DEI seminar waste their time with this when there are more important things that need to be discussed? It's slang and what happens when a language travels the world. I was curious and looked up what the Aussies mean when they say "root" and this is a total nonissue. It's not like it's a slur.

The NSFW thing was just an example and also something people might need to be aware of (e.g. newcomers) in the workplace.  As for the other issues, it's important to address for people in said industries to be aware of (e.g. in education.  I've found that many seem to NOT know.  I've also seen this in volunteer groups where most volunteers are more than two generations removed from the old country.  Heck, even those who are two generations removed might overlook these issues (especially those who were not in close contact with their immigrant grandparents.  Or their families came to the country already having been exposed to the language and integrated fairly well with the new culture).  This comes from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.  There's a REASON why I organized a mental health in Asian communities seminar many years ago and why I encouraged my family to support a cause that they were VERY RELUCTANT to move ahead with.  It was a win on my part, convincing my dad to do that.  If it weren't for that seminar I more or less forced him (and my mother, too) to attend, I don't think I would have come close.  

[EtheltoTillie]

https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/trump-pete-rose-hall-of-fame-rob-manfred-a303e497?st=mryBz2&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Important business for Trump today--making sure Pete Rose gets elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  From one felon to another, I guess.  Pete Rose served prison time for tax evasion.  I guess Trump could pardon him. 

Edited Monday at 06:53 PM by EtheltoTillie

[PRgal]

15 minutes ago, Dimity said:

In Canada with its emphasis on French immersion in schools this is a problem faced by many parents not just parents whose first language may not be English or French.  Somehow people cope.

If you're already speaking one of the official languages and at least partially went through the school system here, you'd at least be familiar with how things work (outside of assignments).  There are other issues in the world of education, such as finding other help for your children, understanding that learning challenges doesn't mean your child is stupid, etc.  And then there's a world of socialization with other parents.  I've been away from the public/separate system for too long and never experienced it as a parent, so I don't know what it's like.  In my world, there are  parent socials organized by the school and or grade rep and grade parents host a chat group.  In my son's class, we have the chattier people (e.g. me and a few other parents...LOL) and there are those who remain silent (e.g. my husband).  I've also noticed that many who ARE silent are those who are newer to Canada and don't speak English as their primary or home language.  I met up with a couple whose son is also in Grade 1 at a donor event recently and I had a feeling they were hoping I that spoke Mandarin.  I do not and the conversation with them was awkward.  I tried offering to set up a playdate, but they seemed reluctant.  It's not like that with English-speaking parents.  I feel badly for them.

Edited Monday at 07:04 PM by PRgal

[Affogato]

48 minutes ago, PRgal said:

You know what I rarely see addressed when we talk about privilege?  LINGUISTIC PRIVILEGE.  This is something I rarely see and hear in DEI seminars, likely because it centres around workplaces where everyone can function in the local language.  However, this fails to address A LOT of communication issues elsewhere (e.g. in schools, where parents may have challenges helping their kids with schoolwork/projects because they don't understand what's being asked for.  Or when they're speaking with teachers to get help for their children such as an IEP (or understanding the need for an IEP)).  It's also important in healthcare, but hospitals tend to be pretty good at getting interpreters.  Also, there are local terms that an expat (or new immigrant) might not be familiar with.  For example, many Canadians didn't realize that "root" has a TOTALLY DIFFERENT MEANING in Australian English, one that is NSFW.  I've brought these issues up before in DEI groups, but again, it's brushed off with a focus ONLY on "appearance" (i.e. race).  I really don't understand.

I won’t cut and paste the entire article, but AAVE is something that has been studied a fair bit, and I remember encountering a lot of articles about it at some point. It clearly did have an impact on how black children were perceived in schools, by their teachers, for example.

I remember when I moved to Canada I got stuck on the pronouciation of a few words, but it was no big deal when I learned them. I’m sure it can be difficult to navigate not speaking the language and that people who don’t speak the common tongue are disadvantaged. I imagine that the best we cqn do as a society is provide ways for people to bridge the language gap while they hopefully learn the new language, also with help. I know some schools provide classes in Spanish and bilingual teachers, although that is probably being ended as a program in the states.

More to the point of privilege is the reaction to native speakers of AAVE. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Vernacular_English

Social perception and context

Main article: African-American Vernacular English and social context

African-American Vernacular suffers from persistent stigma and negative social evaluation in American culture. By definition, as a vernacular dialect of English, AAVE has not received the social prestige of a standard dialect, leading to widespread and long-standing misconceptions that it is a grammatically inferior form of English, which linguistics research of the twentieth century has debunked. However, educators and social commentators traditionally have advocated for eliminating AAVE usage through the public-education system for a variety of reasons, ranging from a continued belief that AAVE is intrinsically deficient to arguments that its use, by being stigmatized in certain social contexts, is socially limiting.[137] Some of the harshest criticism of AAVE or its use has come from African Americans themselves.[138][139][140] A conspicuous example was the "Pound Cake speech", in which Bill Cosby criticized some African Americans for various social behaviors, including the way they talked.

9 minutes ago, PRgal said:

If you're already speaking one of the official languages and at least partially went through the school system here, you'd at least be familiar with how things work (outside of assignments).  There are other issues in the world of education, such as finding other help for your children, understanding that learning challenges doesn't mean your child is stupid, etc.  And then there's a world of socialization with other parents.  I've been away from the public/separate system for too long and never experienced it as a parent, so I don't know what it's like.  In my world, there are  parent socials organized by the school and or grade rep and grade parents host a chat group.  In my son's class, we have the chattier people (e.g. me and a few other parents...LOL) and there are those who remain silent (e.g. my husband).  I've also noticed that many who ARE silent are those who are newer to Canada and don't speak English as their primary or home language.  I met up with a couple whose son is also in Grade 1 at a donor event recently and I had a feeling they were hoping I that spoke Mandarin.  I do not and the conversation with them was awkward.  I tried offering to set up a playdate, but they seemed reluctant.  It's not like that with English-speaking parents.  I feel badly for them.

I remember being shocked to find out, when I moved to Canada in the late 

60s, that people in Quebec who were bilingual, spoike both french and english, made less money and were generally disadvantaged over people who spoke only english. That is some serious prejudice, considering. I hope it has changed. 

[PRgal]

But @Affogato, there are other linguistic issues outside of AAVE.  Such as people who speak very little English.  Oftentimes, they might be able to get basic services in their original languages, provided that it's widely spoken.  But once you need to get into specialists (for example), it could get more challenging.  And there's also culturally-targeted services (e.g. mental health...it's more stigmatized in some cultures than others.  Or fertility treatments (again, some cultures are beginning to open up while others remain super-silent.  Or they encourage false information to their children such as not disclosing that the kids are donor conceived/adopted).

[Dimity]

14 minutes ago, Affogato said:

60s, that people in Quebec who were bilingual, spoike both french and english, made less money and were generally disadvantaged over people who spoke only english. That is some serious prejudice, considering. I hope it has changed. 

Definitely changed.  Being bilingual is a huge advantage not just in Quebec but in most of Canada especially if you are seeking employment with the Federal government.   If you live in Quebec and only speak English you are not alone but you are probably in a very small minority now.

Edited Monday at 07:21 PM by Dimity

[Affogato]

6 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I say it's their advantage, not their privilege per this definition from this website:

https://brainly.in/question/15291692#:~:text=Answer%3A,opportunities and advantages of others.

Note the subtle difference. I don't deny that there is white privilege but I also recognize that not fitting into car seats is not privilege in the sense of being specifically denied access to something based on something about you that you can't change. It's being disadvantaged because of being significantly different from the average person. The two are not the same. Note that I don't even fit most women's clothing and it's not because taller women have privilege that my choices as a petite size are very limited. It's purely based on supply and demand, and that's very different from the concept of privilege. Companies can't cater to everyone so they default to the "average". Again, this is not about privilege at all. I don't take it personally and think that companies are snubbing me because I'm short. But if I were a black person and denied entrance to a club based on being black, THEN I would have reason to take it personally and feel snubbed and THAT is about privilege.

So anyway I doubt we're ever going to agree on this but that's my reasoning.

I never said he didn't have some white privilege. I just said it was lessened to a degree by all of his disadvantages, so it's unfair to act like white privilege is enjoyed to the same degree by all white men. It is not. And that's what white men, especially those that have experienced any kind of hardship in life are upset about. They are still being told that their white privilege trumps and negates every other disadvantage they might suffer from. And it doesn't work that way in the real world. Their disadvantages really hold them back. In my husband's case, quite a bit. And more of them are upset about this than will admit it - many of whom are educated and sophisticated, too. They keep their mouths shut because they want to be PC but in private they think differently. And that's why they are attracted to online mouthpieces that give them permission to air their true feelings about this.

I have even more personal experiences that fly in the face of the assumptions progressives make about white privilege. Being white and living in a neighborhood in the Bronx that was predominantly non-white over 40 years ago I was the victim of a lot of hate based on nothing but the color of my skin. There is only so much sympathy I can have for the people that did this to me. But I was never given permission to be upset about this. Supposedly I deserved being treated like that. I did not. I was an idealistic young woman that believed in racial equality. It's one of the big reasons I wanted to leave NYC. I got tired of being hated because presumptions were being made about me that weren't true or fair. So I bristle against presumptions no matter which direction they're coming from and who makes them.

Oh, and my husband and I were denied public assistance when we had very little income. He was working in a job selling pianos but not selling enough of them to make any money for quite a while. I had just graduated college and was working for minimum wage in a store until I could find something better, which turned out to be a clerical job at my old college, which didn't pay that well. But this was before that. Back then you had to go into the government office and meet with someone at a desk. Everyone in our local office was a POC. We stood out like sore thumbs. They treated us like SHIT, like how dare we even ask for public assistance! It didn't matter that we qualified in 20 different ways, our application was denied. We didn't even get food stamps. We had zero money in a bank account. We had no assets and we rented an apartment. In fact I was in the hole for several thousand dollars in a student loan! And we know full well why we were turned down - because we were white and it was assumed that our privilege should be enough and maybe we should go get great jobs from all our supposed "white connections" and ask our "rich" parents for money. Meanwhile neither of our parents had any money and we had no connections. I am crying as I remember this. But oh, we are told to STFU because supposedly we still had white privilege!!!!! If you don't see what's wrong with that, I don't know what else to say.

I though about bringing word definitions into it at one point, but I didn’t.  I do think that  a human resources guy can suddenly look around the staff meeting and say ‘wow, everyone here is approximately my age and appearance, we are all married with at least one child, except for Joe, who happens to be gay, but he went to the same school I did.” And it isn’t deliberate or exclusionary, it is the way people pick people. So it takes a conscious effort to do things differently. 

Also, I think ‘white privilege’ may not mean the same thing as privilege. I think ‘white privilege’ doesn’t just mean that human resources subconsciously picks people like him for jobs. It means that people have received systemic advantages and disadvantages as groups for a long time (even if individuals of any sort can buck the trend) that it systemically more difficult for one population than for another.  To compare to another word there is, of course, ‘racism’ and then there is ‘systemic racism’ and they don’t mean exactly the same thing. 

[tessaray]

6 minutes ago, PRgal said:

The NSFW thing was just an example and also something people might need to be aware of (e.g. newcomers) in the workplace.  As for the other issues, it's important to address for people in said industries to be aware of (e.g. in education.  I've found that many seem to NOT know.  I've also seen this in volunteer groups where most volunteers are more than two generations removed from the old country.  Heck, even those who are two generations removed might overlook these issues (especially those who were not in close contact with their immigrant grandparents.  Or their families came to the country already having been exposed to the language and integrated fairly well with the new culture).  This comes from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.  There's a REASON why I organized a mental health in Asian communities seminar many years ago and why I encouraged my family to support a cause that they were VERY RELUCTANT to move ahead with.  It was a win on my part, convincing my dad to do that.  If it weren't for that seminar I more or less forced him (and my mother, too) to attend, I don't think I would have come close.  

The linguistics issue is real. My ex-s-i-l was born in Mexico and though he speaks English very well, spent most of his life speaking Spanish at home. That affected my grandkids too. Where you could really see it was in testing. There is a lot of implicit information that native English speakers get and others miss. 

But DEI can't cover everything, especially while everyone is trying to roll the gigantic boulder that is racism/misogyny up a hill that gets steeper every day. It isn't that we don't care about all the umbrella issues and none of them individually are more or less important. That's where people like you who are helping their particular communities are so essential. Most of us get that, though it may not be acknowledged enough.

In the case of the US, it's become clear that we must deal with the racist aftermath of slavery or it will eventually poison us all. Growing up in the Sixties, I would never have expected white supremecy to make this kind of hateful  resurgence, so I'm not very hopeful at this point.

[jessiebell]

Interesting article in today's Washington Post about how much Trump's pardons have cost us.  A former DOJ attorney who worked on pardons(fired after refusing to reinstate Mel Gibson's gun rights) says it's about 1 billion dollars after adding up what these people owed in restitution.  After someone is pardoned they no longer have to pay restitution.  One pardon was for Trevor Milton convicted of fraud in 2023 of defrauding shareholders of around 680 million.  Another was for a cryptocurrency company with a 100 million fine plead guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws, also found guilty were 4 company executives who were pardoned by Trump.

The 60 Minutes story last night on Trump going after law firms was really interesting.  I wonder how long it will take for Trump to sic the DOJ on Marc Elias as he has with former aides Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs.  

So the White HOuse is now trying to clean up Trump's 100% tariffs on foreign movies.  No one knows how this will actually work. 

We can't afford social services, research grants, health programs, etc but can afford a military parade????  Last time Trump floated this idea the cost was going to be over $90 million.    I think we could find much better ways to use that money.  SInce this parade is to "honor" the Army guess when it's time to honor the Navy we'll have submarines and an aircraft carrier floating down Pennsylvania Ave.

Trump is going to use his own money to build a ballroom at the White House.  We've gotten along for over 200 years without one.  Any contractor hired for this project better get their money from Trump upfront.

Any bets on how much the debt will increase by the time his four years are up?????

 

[Affogato]

32 minutes ago, PRgal said:

But @Affogato, there are other linguistic issues outside of AAVE.  Such as people who speak very little English.  Oftentimes, they might be able to get basic services in their original languages, provided that it's widely spoken.  But once you need to get into specialists (for example), it could get more challenging.  And there's also culturally-targeted services (e.g. mental health...it's more stigmatized in some cultures than others.  Or fertility treatments (again, some cultures are beginning to open up while others remain super-silent.  Or they encourage false information to their children such as not disclosing that the kids are donor conceived/adopted).

All of these are real issues. They require creativity and understanding from people trying to provide services, and one hopes that the people who have come to the new environment will also learn and change.