Politics

The land of accusations

Posted on by backuphill

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American ideals are dying and it is a perplexing conundrum.

The very foundations of our country were set up so that abuses by the government, or government aided abuses, would be avoided. The Founders of the country knew all too well that when the government can abuse it citizens it has too much power. Or, at the behest of citizens, it can be used to persecute other citizens. We have, for all intents and purposes, come full circle on one of the abuses the Colonies complained about when they wrote and published the Declaration of Independence for all the world to see.

Innocent until proven guilty.

In our current society, it no longer exists.

All it takes these days are accusations, a pointed finger, or a social media wildfire. The media sets out to convict people in public opinion before charges are even filed. Gone are the days of proof. Gone are the days of evidence. Gone are the days of committing an actual crime. If you stand accused, or have an allegation lodged against you, you are guilty. Plain and simple.

Our systems isn’t perfect and there can always be improvement, but in my mind we are headed in the wrong direction on this issue.

Oh, you must be exempt from traffic laws

Posted on by backuphill

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Wanna know who is exempt from traffic laws? Cops, apparently.

You see them speed all the time on the highway. You see them make a flagrant u-turns in traffic. You see them park on the side of the road (especially on overpasses) with a portion of their vehicle in traffic. You see them park in “No Parking” or “Fire” zones. You see them park on sidewalks. You see them using their computers and their cell phones while driving. You see them not use their signals properly. So, they must be exempt, right?

I was always under the impression that the only time they were exempt from traffic laws was when they had their lights on and were responding to a call. They don’t even have to have their siren on, but they at the very least had to have their lights on. Otherwise, I was under the impression they should act as though they are the same as any other citizen. Well, we clearly and regularly don’t see this happen, right?

So what gives? I have never had a law enforcement official clearly explain this to me. When asked if they are exempt from the law, they say no but they can’t explain why it is acceptable why they violate traffic laws on a regular basis. Anyone got an answer?

Lunch at the park

Posted on by backuphill

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I see you, dude.

I see you in your jacked up, shiny, big tired, over-sized pickup, that you’ll never take off road. Your windows down and engrossed in some kind of reading. But…

But, before I noticed you in that truck I SMELLED you. Yes, I smelled you!

Yeah, your stench is undeniable and totally recognizable. Because while you are sitting there with your windows rolled down, the breeze is wafting the smoke of that joint in your hand all over the other people sitting in their cars trying enjoy their lunches. Thanks, jerk.

Then after we have all suffered through your bad habit, which is illegal to smoke in public, you start your vehicle and drive off, also illegal. Nice.

I guess there are very few places you can go these days without having to deal with this sort of entitled, “it’s my right,” behavior. No courtesy for others, just “all about me.”

#smh

Clickbait and Google News feed

Posted on by backuphill

Click bait 1

The clickbait around here is so obvious it hurts. The screen shot of the Google News feed from a few days ago is a prime example. All of the news articles are about the same topic, on the same day, but one of them is using the “clickbait” title tactic.

Click bait 2

CNN should know better than this, but I guess that is what we can expect when you’re desperate to compete. Notice all of the other headlines are pretty much the same, but CNN takes it to the next level of sensationalism. Also, when you look at the timing of the article – “one hour ago” – you can clearly see that it wasn’t “just tweeted” or “something new”. Again, it is an under-handed and dishonest attempt to get traffic on their site. Pure clickbait and there is no way of defining it any other way.

The fact that is stands out so obviously is disturbing, though I suppose if you get your news via social media or something similar there is probably no point of reference and you probably would click on it. CNN once used to be a reliable source of news info, but as you can see headlines like this make it a “less than news service.” You can also see why so many people bash on CNN for being a terrible purveyor of news and information.

People need to stop “consuming” this crap. It is time for CNN to go away because it’s desperation is showing.

* Discussion for another time: The Hill is the only balanced reporting on the list above.

 

Scouring history for offense

Posted on by backuphill

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I have got to say, we are some kind of stupid trend as a society.

There are people (trolls) out there scouring the historical Twitter posts (or other social media) of “celebrities and stars” so they can be “outted” as having offensive ideas/beliefs or having said something offensive.

Really? Like no one has times in their past where they said something offensive? Like no one has had an episode in their lives where they had poor judgement? Like no one has said something in jest or made a statement about something while they were showing off to their friends? Or, like no one has ever said something they didn’t believe just to get a reaction out of other people?

If this is going to be the trend and we are going to go back and vilify people for things they did in their past, then we better just fire EVERY comedian alive, even our favorite ones. We should scour every past performance and just ax them on the spot – because I am sure they probably said something insensitive, politically incorrect, racially or sexually offensive, ageist, blah blah blah…

How about we judge people on their present rather than their past? And, how about we leave history as history – then learn from it rather than scrub it clean or hide it.

#smh #thisisridiculous

Social (and media) double standard

Posted on by backuphill

I am sure you’ve seen it. You’re probably wondering how in the hell it can only cut one way…

People losing their jobs. Reputations ruined. Companies destroyed. Stocks punished. TV shows cancelled. Public apologies issued.

The media chirps about this or that, a perceived injustice or slight. Social media ablaze with trolls who spout hatred and stir fear. Both seeking “justice” but really only picking and choosing certain things to make an issue of.

Some seem to get a free pass and others are vilified. Some communities cry foul over language used by others, but then use the language they just condemned themselves.

Instagram supposedly has “community standards” but they appear to be subjective as some hate is singled out and some hate is not. Some language is banned and some is not. How can it be ok for some but not others?

If you’re gonna eliminate the problem, there can’t be a double standard. Otherwise, the problem will always exist. I have always been a proponent of free speech and I always will be, but it is frustrating to see that the freedom only goes in one direction. There is no scorn over the posts above, instead they continue to gain followers.

What do you think? Should the accounts above be given a free pass for the language they use or held accountable like the rest of society?

Tea party of therapy

Posted on by backuphill

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Let’s have a tea party!

Not one of those tea parties that you see WordPress that has a bunch of rules and lets you promote your blog. No one really goes out and looks at those blogs. Those parties are nice, but really all anyone is trying to do is get more hits and more likes on their blog. I mean, let’s be honest about it, shall we?

So, let’s do something different. At Piss and Moan, we vent about things that irritate us. We complain about stuff that isn’t right. We bitch about things we wish were different. We fantasize about the way it should be and tell the truth, rather than the way it actually is and lie to ourselves and others.

Anyway, this tea party is for you. Here is your chance to let it all out. Let go of something that you have wanted to get off your chest but don’t have a place to do so. Tell me! I’m safe, but I can’t promise I won’t Piss and Moan about your comment, or lack thereof. (You’ve been warned.)

Rules? Pffst! There are none. No topic is off limits and no limit on topics (if you have more than one, post them all!).

Now, get too it. Let it go. I promise, you’ll feel better in the morning.

Freedom requires responsibility

Posted on by backuphill

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Well, it was July 4th yesterday, as most of you are aware I am sure (at least my U.S. readers). That’s right, a celebration of our independence and freedom. However, the independence and freedom we were celebrating yesterday also comes with some responsibility.

I am generally not opposed to freedom, though I also am a believer that if you allow people to be stupid by choice, well, they’ll take advantage of it. I mean, most people have common sense but there are way more people out there that lack it and, quite frankly, probably run from it. That is a discussion for another day…

Anyway, we did something out of the ordinary and didn’t stay close to home. Instead, we went to a big city, with lots of people. I like to people watch and my general sense that people are dumb was confirmed, as usual.

In Washington, pot (weed, marijuana, ganja, whatever you wanna call it) is legal. Not only is it legal, but if you are 21 you can pretty much smoke it openly (though technically it is illegal in public, no one enforces it). As such, people use their freedom (or is it take advantage of their freedom?). Yesterday was no exception.

The sad part is that it was in the open, with lots of people (many of whom by the looks on their faces) who didn’t smoke, AND with children in close proximity. When I say children, I mean from infant to teens. Not just their own kids, but other families’ also. When I say close proximity, I mean within 2 feet all the way up to 30. Needless to say, there were lots of people getting the second-hand smoke and many were not pleased about it.

I am not on board with smoking, anything, but I recognize people will do what they want to do if allowed to. I am sure these people light up often in their own personal space, where it should be kept. BUT, if you have children or there are children around then you should refrain. PERIOD. If you choose to do it to your own body, fine. Secondary smoke is not acceptable, especially if the littlest are exposed and they have no say in the matter at all. Yes, I could have gotten up and moved. I get it. However, I am sure the children of these particular people are subjected to that second-hand smoke on a regular basis, especially since they so boldly and openly smoked right there with hundreds of others who were not smoking.

It makes me sad, really. Thoughtlessness prevails, again. Responsibility fails, again. Freedom isn’t always a good thing and stupid people prove it, again.

**Trigger warning: This post may cause rage. Best solution, common sense. If you have it, then the rage is probably appropriately place. If you don’t have it, then you are probably part of the problem.**