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Brad's avatar

I think it's important to note the role of gender ideology in the increasingly widespread "grooming" phenomenon. If a child can consent to sex reassignment surgery, it pretty much follows that they should be able to consent to anything. The logic used to legitimize pediatric sex changes gets left-wing spazzes right up to the precipice of a rationale that also legitimizes sexual encounters with children.

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baker charlie's avatar

"All boundaries are conventions waiting to be transcended".

Written atop the baby blue and baby pink stripes of the trans flag, it was held up in Parliament Square at last weekend’s pouty shitfit.

And there, in black, white, pink, and blue, is the end goal of trans ideology. A world without boundaries, where access to women and children is a right, and any dissent is framed as being part of a bigoted or even genocidal agenda.

quote from https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/trans-culture-is-rape-culture

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A.'s avatar

There are Machiavellian tactics well worked-out for almost anything a person of evil-ish persuasion might wish to lure other people into.

The WOKE and Neo-Marxists would have a great deal of talent here.

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Susan Morris's avatar

Hinting at this becoming cultural reality began some years ago...red flags should continually be raised. Thank you!

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Jack's avatar

Everyone has moved on from the “Trans” issue except for you MAGA fuckwits.

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Brad's avatar

You're doing great, Jack. Please continue.

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John Duffner's avatar

When the left is on offense: it's the most urgent civil rights struggle of our time.

When the left is on defense: why do you weirdos care about such a small issue?

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Dave Slough's avatar

Awesome and so damn true

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

If it is indeed "the most urgent civil rights struggle of our time," it's surely due to the concerted MAGA propaganda campaign conjured out of thin air to address a non-problem.

Courtesy of MAGA grifter and Master of Propaganda:

Christopher Rufo.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

It's a denial, closeted sort of thing with this cohort. It's embarrassing, really. It's simply past time for them to seek help for this. Immediately.

Really. Seriously.

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Salusa Secundus Snape's avatar

Heh heh… true, but credit where it is due: it was Trump’s election that actually turned the tide on the national obsession over this fringe issue. The good news is that fewer liberals obsessing over trans issues means less fuel for Magats.

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Jack's avatar

When you bring up your own personal hang ups about an article that’s about social media apps who have pedos meeting kids. Im willing to bet that most of those pedos are not trans or even give a fuck about gender ideology. Why don’t you just add the Catholic Church in there. I bets there’s way more priests trolling online for kids than Transgender ideologues.

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Mark "Trouble Monkey" Collen's avatar

Well, at the moment the p is still available in the LGB Etc alphabet soup, but that can't last long. Probably the only people that have safely got a letter reserved are the zoonecrophiles😘.

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Cynthia's avatar

While I disagree with most of your assessment, I will point out the queer spaces online are super trendy for youth, especially cartoon and art depicting relationships that are not heteronormative. While I do NOT think the non-normative things being depicted are a risk factor in themselves, I absolutely do think that the trendiness factor creates a vector of risk for youth being exposed to predators. Put another way, child predators lurk in spaces that youth are drawn to, especially if there is a chance they can get those youth into a private conversation or space. To reiterate - trendy spaces are risky!

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Jack's avatar

Did he say anything in the article about gender ideology? That’s something that you added because you are obsessed with it. People like you take any opportunity to link anything bad that happens to and somehow blame it on a the smallest percent of the population.

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Brad's avatar

Please cite evidence that I'm "obsessed" with it.

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Andy's avatar

I see nothing wrong with any man doing what men were engineered to do: protect women and children. If that makes you “obsessed” to some morally misguided troll then wear that badge proudly.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

"I see nothing wrong with any man doing what men were engineered to do: protect women and children."

lol. What, you some sort of medieval peasant?

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P.S.'s avatar

Jack appears to be the obsessed one & angry too. Sort of like one of those trannies..

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Ann Robinson's avatar

PS and Gnomon, do you two really think you are serving the best interests of “ trannies?" With friends like you, who needs enemies?

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Brad---I'm afraid that Jack has the photos in his possession.

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Jack's avatar

Really ? That’s important to note? Gender ideology has nothing to do with this article. You maga snowflakes find any excuse to fit your obsession with trans people into everything.

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Brad's avatar

You're right, Jack. Gender ideology has nothing to do with grooming. Well done. Brilliant. Fantastic. Superb. Quite the mental titan.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Hey, Brad---got a hot academic tip for you. Grooming? See: the Republican Party, MAGA "christians," (see: the clergy), and the Catholic Church (see: the clergy).

I suspect an earnest, talented junior historian like yourself could churn out a 3-volume study on chud "grooming" whose only footnotes would simply reference...the Republican Party, MAGA "christians," (see: the clergy), and the Catholic Church (see: the clergy).

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Well, then, Mr. Brad, tell us: what is the relationship between "grooming" and gender ideology?

Or rather, better still, the MAGA Theory of Gender Ideology and Grooming, as it might be taught at Hillsdale College in beautiful Hillsdale, Michigan?

In bullitt points, please.

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Ann Robinson's avatar

"the MAGA Theory of Gender Ideology and Grooming, as it might be taught at Hillsdale College"

I'd be very interested in your specifics on this.

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Curious and Concerned's avatar

To me, the point is that "Liberal" values lean over so far backward to allow anyone to do anything "because people should be free and all treated as equals" exists in a world where gravity no longer reigns and there are no consequences for doing anything, and people who suggest there should be consequences are now fascist and prejudiced.

This may well be true in the world of online gaming, for example, but in the solid physical world the results are, ironically, consequences which said liberals complain about out of the other side of their mouth. Physical, emotional and mental damage.

"Earth to Liberals, come in please!" A key part of responsible life down here is about healthy boundaries, but there seems to be a growing movement that says "Boundaries Bad, Complete Freedom Good." Sooner or later, those chickens come home to roost, and I'd rather live in a city or town with clear, honest, responsible, healthy boundaries. There is indeed a healthy limit to "Do whatever you want" freedom.

To be clear, this is where trans ideology, and the acts and responsibilities of all of the willing co-participants who are wiling to take advantage of minors for fun and especially for profit, should be part of this conversation. Teachers and guidance counselors etc. who encourage minors to explore their true gender and take hormone blockers and especially those who do so outside of the realm of parental rights are essentially groomers. It certainly makes sense to include this in the online protection of young children.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Dolt.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

A cloudy mind is a good thing to waste.

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Ann Robinson's avatar

Do you agree or disagree? Why? Use examples.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

See: Trump, Donald

"...but there seems to be a growing movement that says "Boundaries Bad, Complete Freedom Good."

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P.S.'s avatar

Yes, pretty soon it will be OUR turns to do whatever we please. It could turn ugly..

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

It's already ugly, asshole.

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P.S.'s avatar

Yo momma...

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BeadleBlog's avatar

Gender ideology is sociopathic child abuse.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

I thought gender ideology was how the MAGA Republican-diddlers laundered their sociopathic child abuse for tax purposes.

That's why Trump and Musk are gutting the IRS. Seriously.

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Ann Robinson's avatar

That seems quite a leap.

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KAM's avatar

Brad makes a cogent argument.

You say, "Nuh-uh!!"

Counter his argument, or don't. But until you do, expect disrespect.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

It's not an argument. It's cheap propaganda. And one either ignores propaganda, or derides it publicly.

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Jack's avatar

Thank you

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jtragic's avatar

This fucking world has officially jumped the shark.

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BananaSam's avatar

Yes, well said. Awesome profile photo as well. Damn I miss ... decency.

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Lawyers Guns & Money's avatar

I don't know if I would describe the lack of coverage as odd. It's totally on-brand for a corporate media landscape that ignores things it doesn't want to discuss, and pile on and hound issues that seemingly are not that important.

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Stxbuck's avatar

This is true. Non-confrontation of touchy social issues-urban crime, grooming, tranny-school bs-has been the core belief of the D party, especially in it’s blue city bastions.

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Feral Finster's avatar

I don't have FB, but I am amazed at how bad the social media algos in general sometimes are. Judging from the ads I get, I am apparently a black woman who is dissatisfied with her haircare options, either that, or I am a Hindi-speaking woman with a love of celebrity gossip.

Lately, I think the algos seem to think I am a Latina workout fanatic. I mean, I like playing and hunting, but I am a tom who doesn't speak Spanish.

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Isaiah Antares's avatar

I once had a Facebook account. It figured out that I was a nerd pretty quick.

Then I post _one_ comment in (broken) Spanish, and FB suddenly decides that I'm Latino as well.

They started showing me ads for Han Cholo. ^_^

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JD Free's avatar

Whatever you do, don't list living space for rent. You'll spend the rest of your life bombarded with left-wing "kill all the landlords" marketing.

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baker charlie's avatar

I follow a certain amount of stuff on you tube and you tube has at various times assumed my religion, my sex and ethnic group in ways that have made me laugh out loud. I chalk it up to my extremely wide and varied tastes and research.

I like keeping them guessing though, LOL.

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Billy Bob's avatar

The latest version of the old TV show, “What’s My Line”…keep ‘em guessing🤭.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Didn't you post this same comment, verbatim, a few months ago?

I believe you did.

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Gilgamech's avatar

Great reporting Matt. Reporting the unreported and underreported stories.

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Victoria Bell's avatar

Apart from the obvious Zuck-profit disaster unfolding before our eyes, I gotta point out that Soros' money appears to have been well-spent in Boasberg.

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A.'s avatar

Just to be clear on categories and definitions -- though I think everyone realizes the harm -- Pedophilia is a subset of Psychopathy.

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Glitterpuppy's avatar

Evil triad

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Amandus Colver's avatar

Has pedophilia been assigned a letter in the alphabet yet? I keep hearing the term youth attracted person. Have they become an official gender yet?

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Paige McCormick's avatar

I see Minor Attracted Person in academia. Critical Queer Theory at its finest.

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baker charlie's avatar

Add a new one, POCD. Pedophilic Obsession/Compulsion Disorder.

But the dear lambs would never hurt a child in real life.

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A.'s avatar
May 16Edited

Well, in the UK, two particular politicians had been pushing it since the 70s. A group known as PIE. And they got away with it.

"How did the pro-paedophile group PIE exist openly for 10 years?"

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Artemus Gordon's avatar

Not a letter but there was an organization devoted to pedifilia, let's just add it here...

LGBTQIA2S+NAMBLA

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Salusa Secundus Snape's avatar

Oh… those guys! I thought you were referring to the Church.

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Artemus Gordon's avatar

Ha! NAMBLA is "dissolved", but the church is still going strong..

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Salusa Secundus Snape's avatar

Think of this, also: When have you ever heard of a person who was arrested for child molestation having been an actual member of NAMBLA? Is there even one case? Compare that to the Catholic Church.

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A.'s avatar

It is not just the Catholic Church having such issues. The Anglican Church is almost as bad, and they are Protestants.

Then you have any number of religious cults -- often rightwing and definitely non-Catholic -- investigated for child molestation. These rightwing crimes match the leftwing child grooming by the WOKE.

You find it on both sides of the spectrum, in religious settings and in secular settings. It is just that there is a whole big gang out there of people who gleefully diss on the Catholic Church at any and every opportunity, without bothering to put this in context.

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Artemus Gordon's avatar

Well, NAMBLA was a much smaller organization and has a shorter lifespan than "The Church" but they had their share of arrests.. In 1977, there was one big sting arrest by the FBI, when they actually performed their function, where 24 individuals in MA were arrested prompting the founding of NAMBLA, but there have been a few directly associated over the years. There was a sting in 2005 in which 3 of the arrests were men who were associated with NAMBLA and there are others. The church has been in business for a long long time and has a lot of members there's a lot more history and chance for wrongdoing. And don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not defending the church! (Just another nail in my coffin on the way to hell!)

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Anonymous's avatar

There is much more abuse coming from public school employees than by Catholic clergy.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Dr. Miguelito Quixote Loveless, that you? And is the rumor true?

That even though you're not an inch over three feet tall, you're hung like a thoroughbred?

Do tell.

And by the way, Art and Jim are gay, dude.

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Thunder Road's avatar

There seems to be room there: LBGTQP+.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Not yet.

They're still known as the "Republican Party" but the new logos and marketing campaigns are in the pipeline.

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Anonymous's avatar

You're deeply mistaken. The Republican Party isn't the one supporting putting sexual content like Gender Queer in schools. Those were the other guys.

You are evil to spread lies.

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norica's avatar

I would argue that pedophilia is a form of demonic possession that is rationalized by sane people as mental disease.

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A.'s avatar

I think that the Cluster-B disorders are the portal through which evil enters the world. Which is why I often discuss them.

But it seems that very few others have caught on yet to this importance. "Narcissism" is just seen as the current trendy fad in Psychobabble on the internet.

Not so.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Dunning-Kruger effects are certainly nothing to sneeze at either...

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Well then, let us get to the exorcisms.

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A.'s avatar

Well, I have witnessed Shadow Possession, with severe personality change. It is a Jungian concept. The story of Jekyll and Hyde tries to capture it, but the reality is even more chilling. Like a Night Terror come to life. It may be the last thing that some witnesses see in their lives, from these predators.

Shadow Possession is what earlier societies or more primitive societies used to call demonic possession. And I am not sure that they were wrong.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

"Well, I have witnessed Shadow Possession, with severe personality change..."

We know. And we would like you to get some help for the condition.

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A.'s avatar
May 18Edited

I think you are one of the nutters who has infiltrated here, are you not?

And I can see from your bio. that you think very highly of yourself. I suppose someone has to.... You would have trouble scraping-up that assessment of your talents from others, after all 😁.

Next time, have a go at AI for deciphering the big words and concepts I use. Even AI seems to have a better brain.... Just saying.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

That tracks with the Republican congress.

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James Schwartz's avatar

It’s because these fuckers are all part of a cabal that promotes human indecency. Ask Zuckerberg if he will ever allow his own kids to use Facebook or IG and his answer will be NEVER! Social media has been the downfall of society and should be destroyed. If anyone has one reason that it somehow benefited mankind I’d love to hear it. It’s a cesspool of human delinquency that does nothing but mine your data and sell it to the highest bidder while sucking you into an algorithm to keep you engaged to waste your life.

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Tom High's avatar

The downfall of society has been the ever-increasing power of the corporation. Social media is a piece of this.

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Theresa Thompson's avatar

And failing education.

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Tom High's avatar

Yes, but again, at the behest of corporate interest. Cogs for the machine; not critical thinker citizens.

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BD's avatar

You cite corporate interest, but conveniently leave out our rotten education establishment, teachers unions, and democrats (the "party of education").

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

A Rufo acolyte.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Musk, that you?

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Tom High's avatar

Your reading comprehension skills stink.

Your public policy acumen is atrocious.

Your tribal allegiance is hilariously stupid.

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BD's avatar

Cute response.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

The failure of our schools is a symptom of our failing State and an unavoidable by-product of autarky and extreme income equality.

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flipshod's avatar

I'm Gen X and for me, FB is like what Bell Telephone used to be. It's how I talk to my scattered friends (and btw ads are easily blocked). And realize that millions of people have essentially written autobiographies that are sitting on servers controlled by Zuck. I think Meta should be broken up into its constituents parts and FB should be nationalized and integrated into the USPS. More generally, all personal data should belong to the person, not the guy who own the servers.

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James Schwartz's avatar

I, too and Gen X. We now have a group text and use private, paid for email. We mostly all have our own domains too which is another way to own your data. Look into that. There are also some blockchain companies coming out that solve the owning data issue but they are still a bit wonky.

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Gnomon Pillar's avatar

Said Mr. Schwartz, while STILL wading through the cesspool of human decency and human delinquency, assisting Big Data with the theft of his personal data---as he strokes gently, gently the purring algorithm on his lap.

You're simply not engaging the algorithms effectively. Don't blame it on the algorithms.

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James Schwartz's avatar

You must believe you’re some kind of writer as you stand next to your old typewriter and wax poetic on comments that people make. If you’ve nothing constructive to add may I suggest you get busy with that typewriter?

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No Use For a Band/Name's avatar

"Cardi B enthusiasts will meet other Cardi B enthusiasts and people who like gummy bears will see gummy bears."

In a more perfect world, anyone who was enthusiastic about Cardi B would be matched with a tree shredder.

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Gilgamech's avatar

Is ATW back on?

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Kurt's avatar

still sick?

Where’s my Friday weekly run down of the end of civilization with Walter and Matt?

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Ellen's avatar

Been checking for it all day. Sigh. After nothing Monday, I am feeling a little withdrawal-ish. Need a fix of perceptive, incisive humor, and my non-bedtime story.

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Lawyers Guns & Money's avatar

It must be tough to do what Matt does. He'll never be able to have a 2-week vacation, and forget about that 3-4 week European special. We'd all be back here getting frustrated.

I totally get your withdrawal-ish feeling.

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Ellen's avatar

Agreed, and thanks.

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BookWench's avatar

Not yet.

Should be back next week.

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Gilgamech's avatar

Thank you, my good wench!

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cottonkid's avatar

Your total highjacking of this comment mirrors what my brain has been doing to me all week. I didn't realize I'd become "dependent."

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Amandus Colver's avatar

I don't think I can make it through the weekend without ATW.

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norica's avatar

I'd be sick too, if I had to research this article and discover the ugliness of some creatures.

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Kelly Green's avatar

Some tech bros have no souls.

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memento mori's avatar

I'd say the bigger story here is most of media has no soul. Why is this not a headline story considering the potential # of minors who have been lured in by groomers on these sites? I think I know why (see e.g., the reference to QAnon coverage).

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Shaun's avatar

"Why is this not a headline story considering the potential # of minors who have been lured in by groomers on these sites? I think I know why..."

Groomers not covering groomers? Color me surprised...

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A.'s avatar

Then you would have to get into the idea of "What is WOKE? Why do people fall to it?"

Which is pretty complex. Not easy answers.

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A.'s avatar

There are many Psychopaths amongst them. They tend to gravitate to power and wealth.

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the long warred's avatar

The Father must return and be feared.

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A.'s avatar

Well, yes. We need the father role. Most definitely. It can go off the rails in some persons at some times, but to attempt to banish the father altogether leaves you in the same bad situation as trying to banish religion.'

Accept and relish the good in these roles.

These are manifestations of unconscious archetypes. When suppressed, they come roaring back as bottled energy. And you do not want to be in the way.

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the long warred's avatar

I’m not sure it’s a role

The Roar returns

For they banished nature but he has returned

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A.'s avatar

I agree that it is not just a role. It is far more. It is an archetype manifested in the human family system.

But not many people apart from me go around using such terms.

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Salusa Secundus Snape's avatar

Settle down, Professor Peterson.

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Joe T's avatar

Humanity will look back on the age of social media (not social networking) with horror at what we willingly subjected ourselves and our kids to. I went off social years ago when it moved beyond simply being a tool to stay connected, and I'm grateful I and my kids have not been guinea pigs for greedy tech executives, who it should be noted generally don't allow their own children to use their products and services. That's telling in itself.

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Tim Hartin's avatar

“Boasberg cut off the cross”

Why does this whole thing, not just Boasberg’s attempt to shut down the inquiry, remind me of the recent kerfuffle in CA, where the Dems fought tooth and nail to keep solicitation of 16 and 17 year old minors for paid sex as a misdemeanor rather than a felony?

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A Pragmatist, SE Wisconsin's avatar

Surprised that "Boasberg cut off the cross" doesn't get more attention.

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Theresa Thompson's avatar

"There's nothing wrong with an 18 yr. old senior paying $20 to a 16 yr. old sophomore for sex at lunch period". That happens all the time doesn't it? Lol

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Brandy's avatar

Maybe social media needs to go altogether. How many children should be victimized? And, it's not just sexual. I think any form of it has broken brains. I actively try to only use Substack, though NOTES is still social media. Of course, that would put the gatekeepers back in charge and that's the worst possible solution. I just don't know if it's worth any of it. We've given up our privacy to these vultures in a way that would have seemed impossible when I was young. My son had a situation with a groomer-type person when he was 14. He was questioning if he was trans!!! We put a stop to that immediately and thank goodness. He forgot all about it in two weeks and moved on to other stupid shit teenagers do. There are monstrous people online.

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baker charlie's avatar

I'm glad you were able to protect your son.

Broken brains indeed. The majority of the upcoming generation has the attention of a goldfish and no ambition to be anything but an influencer or content creator.

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Brandy's avatar

Many parents have forgotten there will be 1000 friends. That's not their job. There is only one set of parents, if that, and they need to do their job. The parents are on the phone from day 1. I've watched them. It is horrible.

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Ellen's avatar

Wow. Just - wow. Then again, it's not too hard to believe Zuckerberg would put Facebook's interest ahead of children's safety, alas.

As for media coverage, there's been a lot of pedophilia-love circulating around social media, with some apparently very influential types (leftists, of course, of the most putrid modern variety) saying how brave people are who say children's rights include not only surgical gender change but full-on sexual relationships - with adults.

Disgusting, disturbing, but pedophilia seems to be the newest sexual frontier, with, as usual (and not always wrongly, but in this case unquestionably so), the hardy pioneers lionized like they were real-life James T. Kirks (who today would, if a new creation, be reviled for toxic masculinity).

Sometimes this 67-year-old is glad she won't be around in too many coming decades.

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the long warred's avatar

They’ve been pushing this since the 1970s…

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Safir Ahmed's avatar

If Meta was able to identify "groomers" it could certainly have suppressed them by not accelerating the algorithms. It took only several years before they started to fix the problem.

If I send a young girl to to a "groomer" you don't think they'd haul me to jail?

These Big Tech companies have billions in profits, billions for expansion and acquisition efforts, but protecting teenage girls from sickos gets a "meh" response?

They need to be shut down, and the executives who looked the other way need to be criminally prosecuted.

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the long warred's avatar

Groomers aren’t a threat, they’re revenue.

(No, I don’t agree, I analyze).

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