GreatWhiteNorth

I still wear a mask? You've just proven that you are a simpleton.

Like usual.

It's like that Tucker clown is an incredibly bad tabloid newspaper, but in living and breathing form.

Companies providing search services do agree to providing some level of "filtering" (aka censorship) for certain countries/regions/groups based on their requirements in order to be allowed to provide service (and make money) in those areas. For example, China does have well-documented requirements that search providers filter out their most ugly atrocities (Uyghurs, etc.) or they will be banned from being used in the country. So - yes. There is censorship. And it is happening behind the scenes, with no notification to the users - so, yes, it also qualifies as 'shadow banning.' Every major search provider does the same thing in order to continue to profit. It's the world we live in. Now. Those that don't... ummm.. are kind of like 3rd or 4th stringers (likely much lower, but I'm trying to be kind.) They aren't truly 'independent', they have their own target audience and cater to what that audience wants to see. So, they "shadow promote" things that their audience wants to see - even if they aren't true or real. And they "shadow ban" things that they audience likely doesn't want to see. Not just US Dem's and Rep's - that would be small potatoes - but a wide variety of other groups in countries all over the world. They do things like target Russians with pro-war & anti-Ukraine propaganda, etc., and quite effectively. They tend to be based outside the US where they can operate freely without regard for any kind of US law or regulation. They are quite independent. But - seems here's the part we agree to disagree. I have no interest in changing anybody's mind or engaging in any type of heated argument. Just friendly conversation.

Don't we all. Same to you. Be well.

Being very nearly the mortal enemies that we appear to be, it seems impossible... but I agree 100% with this message.

(1) I did EXACTLY that - I looked it up and didn't find anything, which is why I said "I haven't seen any postings yet" in my post. To be fair, it may not have been an exhaustive search, since it was late. But it was a legitimate effort. (2) I didn't, AT ALL, say you "made this up." Not even remotely close. I guessed FOX News, and I was right. You weren't ever a target here. (3) Meh, don't miss the part where I credited you with your own strong opinions and only offered the 'swayed' part as something that 'seemed' possible. (Also don't dismiss the first part of that where I posted "No offense" - which is where I was communicating that I didn't intend to offend you.) At the end of the day, I don't have any idea what the White House's perspective is on this. My instinct is that I don't agree with it. Then again, I don't know the details and I don't disagree with the WH's ability to make their own policy. Meanwhile, FOX News is their usual hype-machine trying to make something that is almost nothing into something big, while getting people riled up over almost nothing. If the visiting policy affects you, as Mike already mentioned, make your own choice. If you don't go, nobody's feelings will be hurt.

Yes, let's be honest. Only after I made the post did I realize WKN had opened an old thread. At which point I saw my post was no longer as relevant, so I deleted it. You started a kerfuffle with me over nothing. And have since seemed hell-bent on picking at it like any angry dog for no good reason. I'm not calling you names, but you keep calling me an a$$hole - maybe look in the mirror, bub.

It's not at all hard to figure out. Wasn't me. WKN cracked this 'ol thread open and I 'almost' made a post that I instead chose to delete. Next time I'm in town, maybe we sit down and discuss over a couple cold beers. I'm sure you have Bud Lite. Whad'ya say, sport?

By now, you should know I can't edit my post. Bob's finnicky that way. Look back on this thread, just a few posts - it won't take long. I didn't go after you... you were looking for it. You be you. Dunno, hard to tell from where I sit, sometimes you are OK and sometimes you are a complete fukturd.

You, making claims about legitimacy. That's precious.

Sorry you feel... umm.. incomplete. But you keep trying to make up for it - it'll do you good.

... or... maybe somebody actually did "Make This Stuff Up." I haven't seen any postings yet, so let me guess, Fox News? Even if it is/was/were true, maybe (just maybe) details involved make sense? [No offense, but it seems weird to me that you seem to have such strong opinions of your own yet also seem relatively easily swayed by Fox News and their ilk.]

I'm not so sure - but chose to not get into another one of your tedious tantrums. (Or so I thought.)

.

Why? Why would you post a link to a quote from an angry, disgraced, fired moron? It's clear that you did post it - but what's not clear is... what's your point?

I'm all for change. Seems that forward can be better. Staying still can't. Is it good or bad? meh. We shall see.

"Glorified" - I see what you're saying. I guess it depends on who is doing the promotion. If it's the people themselves, then it seems more like celebration. If it's those other than the people themselves, then seems more like glorification. Can't get around it being a messy topic - no absolutes there. It is, without a doubt, a gray area. "Second bullet" - I'm in your camp here, too (maybe surprisingly... maybe for both of us.) It is the word 'very.' I believe the 'straight' community is not quite as big of a majority as most people think. The 'non-straight' community is extremely difficult to count (for obvious reasons.) This, too, is a gray area. Final agreement - we don't need government-financed months and parades and flags dedicated to people being themselves in order to get votes for politicians. We do need the freedom for us all to have parades and flags and celebrations about who we are, regardless of the viewpoint of politicians.

Adore + able. Seems to have been caught in Bob's filter. Maybe a chance for you to ... grow your vocabulary.

I agree with almost everything in your post. Agreement is about 95%. But the part above in bold, is slightly different. It isn't FACT. It is an INTERPRETATION/PERSPECTIVE OF FACT. Is this group really being "glorified?" That isn't clear - and is worthy of discussion. Thin line between celebrating themselves and being glorified. Is this group a "very small segment of the population?' Might well not be. Hmmm - more discussion here. As far as the rest - couldn't agree more with you.

Perfect. You keep being you.

It's just a lot of bickering with little to no end in sight. To be honest, we never really did "know our way" - ever. Some like to pretend that in the old days things were simple and everything was clear. But it wasn't. Ever. We didn't lose our way - we have just found a new set of problems. And, after this, there will be another new set.

"public forum"... that is quite a contribution from the antagonistic and creatively challenged. I was wrong. It appears you can't do better than that. I had higher hopes for you. Set the bar, and you find a way under it.

WHat? Are you new? Our nemo... right here.

My post was for Bigbrog. Contrary to your posts, it is not always about you. I'm not particularly interested in your opinion - and even less interested in you rudely inserting yourself into my conversations. C'mon - surely you can do better than that.