Remember when...

[LBDamned]

Remember when covid section was like a raging inferno?...

Dozens upon dozens of passionate, intense views posted hourly...

What a wreck society was in those days ... the aftermath isn't 'much' better...

Weird time that was.

[twinfin]

I will be forever grateful for the trusted alternative sources for information that were in place for me ahead of covid. Because of those alternative sources, I was able to keep ahead of the propaganda coming from all levels of government and the captured, popular media.

It was a challenging time with an absolute flood of official government, media and medical community disinformation warfare against the truth. Trustworthy alternative information streams along with good instincts kept me on the correct path.

The new information warfare game will be in trying to hide what was done. We must never forget what was done and by who. Now, more than ever, it is critical to turn away from the popular press and find alternative sources of information.

[ibanezfoo]

Remember when covid section was like a raging inferno?...

Dozens upon dozens of passionate, intense views posted hourly...

What a wreck society was in those days ... the aftermath isn't 'much' better...

Weird time that was.

Now there is Ukraine

[user120312]

I remember when I wasn't skeptical of nearly everything emanating from government and industry, particularly media. Then the Watergate operation and propaganda machine happened. Oddly, even before that, once I was old enough to choose what went into my body I said no to shots.

Being a life-long skeptic has its costs, particularly where relationships are concerned. When the default is everyone lies, it's hard to build trust and be trusting. That's a decided negative. OTOH, old and still alive

[LBDamned]

Now there is Ukraine

I wouldn't know, if it weren't for the couple threads here... I don't read 'em though.

Ukraine isn't nearly as impactful as the covid fiasco.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

...It was a challenging time with an absolute flood of official government, media and medical community disinformation warfare against the truth. Trustworthy alternative information streams along with good instincts kept me on the correct path...

It's what I referred to on many occasions as 'muddling the message.'

Some of it was tied to 'good' intent. Some was tied to 'nefarious' intent. Much of it was tied to perception of profitability, what have traditionally proven to be pursuits of McGuffins, and 'story telling;' i.e., enhancement of the 'medical industry' and CYA rather than a true emphasis on the 'public good.' Very little was tied to conveyance of 'the Truth' and a good part of that, even from the 'best intentioned' sources, was tied to a lack of actual information and knowledge. Even now, we are still looking for objective source materials rather than theories 'spun' from bits and pieces.

In some respects, it's why those who claim this thing was turned into History's largest 'experiment' are not entirely wrong and on a variety of levels. It's also why so much has yet to be resolved in that there's not necessarily a single 'motive' which constituted what this became and, despite what many here choose to believe, not all the motives were entirely nefarious. But, that too was a major part of the source of 'fuel' for the 'raging inferno.' Just as with many other things, a singular person or 'reason' to blame is much easier to grasp than a mix-mash of motives which contributed to what, thus far, continues to be a convoluted outcome.

...Being a life-long skeptic has its costs, particularly where relationships are concerned. When the default is everyone lies, it's hard to build trust and be trusting. That's a decided negative. OTOH, old and still alive

It's not that 'everyone lies.' It's that so few know and actually tell the Truth. That's what being a 'skeptic' is (or should be) about... Being an Absolute Skeptic...

...The level-headed skeptic, the critical rationalist, does not doubt that there is truth to be had, but thinks that it may be had only by making a lucky guess...

A geographer once gave me a similar line...

A good deal of the meaning of area lies beyond scientific regimentation and is found in the aesthetic.

I don't think that's the original quote, but that's what I remember him saying. Remember...

[sd_shooter]

Never forget:

https://conservativeplaylist.com/2021/12/18/memory-hole-virtually-every-major-health-official-in-the-united-states-has-claimed-that-covid-shots-stop-the-virus/

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Never forget:

https://conservativeplaylist.com/202...top-the-virus/

There were many health officials who were... skeptical and attempted to say so.

We even had raging debates on this site and a crucial component of those debates was... check your premises.

That's why I said earlier that much of what transpired was tied to enhancement of the 'medical industry' and CYA rather than a true emphasis on the 'public good.' If one believed in the premises, then those beliefs were reflected in the statements proffered. If one didn't and, instead, was more interested in enhancement of the 'medical industry' (or self-enhancement) and CYA, then 'revision' became the order of the day. This differentiation is hinted at in your article...

...On television and in corporate press outlets, there is a giant, ongoing memory-holing operation related to the once-promised idea that mRNA shots would stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

While they now claim otherwise, every single major government health official and pharmaceutical executive has claimed that COVID shots stop the virus...

In other words, be careful pushing an indictment of an entire industry due to the actions of a few. As I said, just as with many other things, a singular person or 'reason' to blame is much easier to grasp than a mix-mash of motives which contributed to what, thus far, continues to be a convoluted outcome. The real trick is to differentiate between the 'necessary,' the hysterical, and the nefariously motivated where steps are taken to mitigate, eliminate, or ameliorate the latter two, while moving forward with the first by maintaining 'trust' in the industry, but questioning the motives behind those who sit in the positions of power; i.e., remember Reagan's advice...



As we've seen, such is not an easy task. But, as the Osmonds used to suggest, we need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water...

[user120312]

w and actually tell the Truth. That's what being a 'skeptic' is (or should be) about... Being an Absolute Skeptic...

I can use Tony "Fauci lies and people die" as an example. Did/does Fauci lie all the time? Likely not. Would you trust him? Why or why not?

Rinse and repeat for any other human. Note I didn't state or opine 'everyone lies all the time', just that everyone lies. You have, I have, everyone we've ever known has. It doesn't have to rule us, sure. The hard part, since no one to my knowledge is a mind-reader, we don't know for sure when people are lying and when they're not. Hence, that slogan Regan once used.

I modified the slogan Reagan once used; now it's 'verify then perhaps trust', particularly where humans in positions of power and authority are concerned. If we're not equals in the power matrix, I'm suspicious. Decades of interactions with humans fuel that suspicion. Covid reinforced that baseline. It also kept me alive and healthy. I'm good with that. Popularity and power have never been marked pursuits

[alpha_romeo_XV]

New today - Sage Steele settles free-speech lawsuit with ESPN, leaves network
It ain't over till its over

https://theathletic.com/4781334/2023/08/16/sage-steele-espn-lawsuit-settlement/

Mrs Steele was offered $500,000 to settle out of court by ESPN. I hope she countered for more.

Here's what she said that got her temporarily taken off the air and forced to make an apology for saying it.
"I got my shot today. I just ? I didn't want to do it. But I work for a company that mandates it, and I have until Sept. 30 to get it done, or I'm out."
"I do know, for me personally, I feel ? I feel like defeated."
"I think vaccine mandates are sick. I think they're scary to me in many ways."

[gcvt]

This forum is much more easily manageable now.

[therealnickb]

One need not be as skeptic to spot bull shat. Just listen to all the words. Pay attention. Think.

The Covid narrative much like global warming was debunked early and often. That’s why the stories keep changing. It had nothing to do with science evolving.

[bigbossman]

This forum is much more easily manageable now.

Yeah - that ship is now steaming full speed on Ukraine. He finally got the adoring admirers he so desperately sought.

[Epaphroditus]

The sad part is the worst is yet to come.

[sigfan91]

I can use Tony "Fauci lies and people die" as an example. Did/does Fauci lie all the time? Likely not. Would you trust him? Why or why not?

Rinse and repeat for any other human. Note I didn't state or opine 'everyone lies all the time', just that everyone lies. You have, I have, everyone we've ever known has. It doesn't have to rule us, sure. The hard part, since no one to my knowledge is a mind-reader, we don't know for sure when people are lying and when they're not. Hence, that slogan Regan once used.

I modified the slogan Reagan once used; now it's 'verify then perhaps trust', particularly where humans in positions of power and authority are concerned. If we're not equals in the power matrix, I'm suspicious. Decades of interactions with humans fuel that suspicion. Covid reinforced that baseline. It also kept me alive and healthy. I'm good with that. Popularity and power have never been marked pursuits

“Everyone lies.”

— Dr. Gregory House