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re: Saban tells players to put their politics aside, they are going to White House
Posted on 4/10/18 at 2:59 pm to Prof
Posted on 4/10/18 at 2:59 pm to Prof
quote:
We can't even joke about politics anymore. Everyone is either too serious or too bitter about it. The question is where do we go from here? We have to find our way of the partisan trap we've built for ourselves somehow and yet neither side is going to give an inch right now.
Politics has become a team sport. The convergence of 24/7 news plus social media has created a toxic atmosphere. Everyone runs to their own silo and digs in. There are too many people invested in our division as well. Comedians, pundits, politicians, etc.
Everyone needs to quit bringing the knives out at the mere mention of something political.
3
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:00 pm to FairhopeTider
Well said.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:02 pm to FairhopeTider
quote:
Politics has become a team sport. The convergence of 24/7 news plus social media has created a toxic atmosphere. Everyone runs to their own silo and digs in. There are too many people invested in our division as well. Comedians, pundits, politicians, etc. Everyone needs to quit bringing the knives out at the mere mention of something political.
I'll be honest, the last 18 months have done wonders to help me concentrate on things that matter long term (faith, family, etc). While political things have always been a bit of the absurd in terms of hypocrisy and do nothingness, the last 18 months have almost been a SNL skit.
The utter abandonment of intellectual honesty in every corner of the political arena and on every side of the spectrum is just too much to even try to reason with. Nobody honestly thinks through how a position will fit into their belief system or overall ideology. All decisions are made based on winning and gaining an edge. I got to the point where I realized I literally was just laughing at explanation's for positions that people took (both left and right), and I realized there just wasn't any reason to deal with it anymore.
So, I just started reading the WSJ and listening to BBC Radio. It's been pretty frickin fantastic.
This post was edited on 4/10/18 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:08 pm to oman
quote:
If so, then so be it. But you said yourself you don't look to athletes for political commentary,
quote:
I never said that (you can go up and read, hopefully slowly, what our exchange was)
Really. maybe I can help you out then. here is what I said:
Seriously? is an athlete the first person you go to for political knowledge and opinion?
And here is how you responded:
Jesus Christ dude, you really have a problem with critical thought. Where is the fricking world do you get that idea?
You need to make up your mind if you want to look to athletes and entertainers for [political opinion or not. As for me, I have made it abundantly clear that is not what I want.
So, after reading the exchange...who has a critical reading problem?
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:08 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
I'll be honest, the last 18 months have done wonders to help me concentrate on things that matter long term (faith, family, etc). While political things have always been a bit of the absurd in terms of hypocrisy and do nothingness, the last 18 months have almost been a SNL skit.
The utter abandonment of intellectual honesty in every corner of the political arena and on every side of the spectrum is just too much to even try to reason with. I got to the point where I realized I literally was just laughing at explanation's for positions that people took, and I realized there just wasn't any reason to deal with it anymore.
So, I just started reading the WSJ and listening to BBC Radio. It's been pretty frickin fantastic.
Except for the WSJ and BBC Radio part, you just described me almost perfectly. I listen to a Christian radio station that plays music on my way to and from work, catch a few minutes of the local news just to make sure the zombie apocalypse hasn't started, and otherwise just live life. When it comes to any news other than the guy telling me what's happening with the weather or how many folks got shot in the gump (Montgomery, AL) last night, they're all lying so why bother with any of them.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:12 pm to JustGetItRight
quote:
When it comes to any news other than the guy telling me what's happening with the weather or how many folks got shot in the gump (Montgomery, AL) last night, they're all lying so why bother with any of them.
I'll add that I also don't subscribe to the "I just don't care it doesn't matter" point of view. I very much think it matters and I do still care what happens. I've just come to the conclusion it is pointless, there are more important things and there is no point in screaming into the wind about things that do not appear to be anywhere close to changing. I already do that enough with sports.
I keep up to speed with what is happening, specifically financially and world events, but when it comes down to the day to day of elections and policy fights and maneuvering of whatever.......I have no desire to even pretend to care anymore.
This post was edited on 4/10/18 at 3:15 pm
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:13 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
I got to the point where I realized I literally was just laughing at explanation's for positions that people took (both left and right), and I realized there just wasn't any reason to deal with it anymore.
All this. I've long ignored politicians but I've found myself having to read several different news sources, both left and right, to try and determine as close to the truth as possible. The agenda of both the media and politicians is pretty damn frightening, and rather exhausting to get through the bullshite.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:15 pm to FairhopeTider
quote:
Politics has become a team sport.
Yup, and just like so many popular team sports the focus has moved away from the issues and moved towards personalities and theater.
Used to be the different politicals "brands" (aka parties) actually had some policy opinion differences you could count on. Democrats and Republicans were defined by their perspective on social issues, or taxes/entitlement or military involvement in foreign nations.
Then Trump got elected and the entire Democratic party transformed into the anti-Trump party. If he cares about an issue they are on the other side, rather than being defined by beliefs in policy. Suddenly not liking Trump is considering having a political opinion by itself, and we see polls where things where each party has flip flopped on the 1990's era policies that they supported simply to line up with what Trump does or does not want.
The end result is a dumbing down of politics on both sides. Suddenly if you dislike Trump (a very low bar) you are political. Today's children will define themselves as Trump haters as if they were part of some sort of fricking rebellion when Trump's close friends and family can barely stand him in some contexts.
The fact that Saban had to say what he said proves the point- in the 1990s even the most died-in-the-wool Republican would be happy to go to a Clinton White House because of the honor of the position. Everyone with a brain knew that you didn't politicize a trip like that, because it was more about the recognition than the person.
But now we have huge fricking morons with no real political opinions, just opinions on personality, who want to "make a statement" by being an arse because that is who they are. These are the same people who in 1995 wouldn't be able to name five US Senators with a gun to their head, and probably still couldn't despite being "woke," because the bar to feel involved is way too damn low.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:16 pm to Rhino5
quote:
The agenda of both the media and politicians is pretty damn frightening, and rather exhausting to get through the bull shite.
I think Saban actually said the other day how you could turn on 2 separate news network at 8 PM, listen to them discuss the exact same story and come away not even realizing they were discussing the same set of events.
It's just nauseating. There are 1 or 2 shows where smart people go on and just talk and debate and challenge each other (SE Cupp is one of them) that I occasionally watch, but other than that I don't even sniff those channels. It's nauseating echo chamber poison.
This post was edited on 4/10/18 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:21 pm to Irons Puppet
quote:You are 100% correct IP, every coach in this conference and I'd venture to say in the surrounding conferences would've done the exact same as Coach Saban.
How would it have been received in Alabama if they would have refused to go or he allowed players to protest in any way? Saban did what every coach in the SEC would have done, most would not have advertised it.
As far as his actions getting "advertised"....every damn thing the man does gets advertised, from what he eats for breakfast to watching the Weather Channel every morning to his pickup basketball games at lunch, etc. Every time he responds to a reporters question his response gets advertised, analyzed, and critiqued to the finest detail. This is no different.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:24 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
Cool. Nobody is asking for him to get a Nobel peace prize. We appreciate the way he runs our program. I'm sure Gus is awesome too and you appreciate what he does. Thanks.
I think you get it, but are reluctant to admit it. Every Coach would have handled this situation the exact same way. Coaches know their fanbase better than anyone and the only Coaches who might have done differently would have been from a deep Blue State.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:25 pm to RT1941
This problem would be much more interesting if Cal had won the football NC.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:29 pm to Irons Puppet
quote:
I think you get it, but are reluctant to admit it. Every Coach would have handled this situation the exact same way. Coaches know their fanbase better than anyone and the only Coaches who might have done differently would have been from a deep Blue State.
Reluctant to admit what, exactly? Most college coaches would tell their team they are going? I have no reluctance to admit that.
Yes, they would. Again, nobody is asking for Saban to get a medal here. If Kirby Smart was doing the same thing (which he would) or Gus Malzahn (which he would) we'd all be saying that was a solid move.
Anything else?
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:29 pm to JustGetItRight
quote:Swap your Christian radio for 104.9 The Gump (alternative music) and you both described me to a tee.
Except for the WSJ and BBC Radio part, you just described me almost perfectly. I listen to a Christian radio station that plays music on my way to and from work, catch a few minutes of the local news just to make sure the zombie apocalypse hasn't started, and otherwise just live life. When it comes to any news other than the guy telling me what's happening with the weather or how many folks got shot in the gump (Montgomery, AL) last night, they're all lying so why bother with any of them.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:29 pm to oman
quote:
This problem would be much more interesting if Cal had won the football NC.
It will be much more interesting for Villanova in a few months
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:31 pm to oman
To deny, cardboard, that Trump raises the level of assholeishness to new and incredible heights is to be naive as hell.
There wouldn't be an issue with going to see Carter, or the Bushes or Bil Clinton, or Obama, because none of those folks would have had the PERSONALITIES, not the POLITICS, that this clown has shown over and over -- at events like this.
Do you think any of the other Presidents would have used the occasion of a ceremony honoring Code Talkers to make a Pocahontas joke? No, because while all of them had the chance to demean the office through policy or scandal, none of them seemed to enjoy demeaning the office for no reason whatsoever.
There wouldn't be an issue with going to see Carter, or the Bushes or Bil Clinton, or Obama, because none of those folks would have had the PERSONALITIES, not the POLITICS, that this clown has shown over and over -- at events like this.
Do you think any of the other Presidents would have used the occasion of a ceremony honoring Code Talkers to make a Pocahontas joke? No, because while all of them had the chance to demean the office through policy or scandal, none of them seemed to enjoy demeaning the office for no reason whatsoever.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:31 pm to RT1941
quote:
Swap your Christian radio for 104.9 The Gump (alternative music) and you both described me to a tee.
What is strange to me is that more people haven't tapped into people's desire for emotion free, serious discussion of things with people who hold sincere, deep idealogical positions but also aren't afraid to debate them with other people.
Obviously there just aren't as many of us out there as it may seem, or people of that disposition aren't as rabidly loyal to watching/listening to shows as those who watch/listen to Hannity and whatever rotating garbage is on MSNBC.
This post was edited on 4/10/18 at 3:32 pm
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:32 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
other than that I don't even sniff those channels. It's nauseating echo chamber poison.
Same here. All it's done is pushed me away and want less government intrusion into people's lives.
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:36 pm to Rhino5
quote:
Same here. All it's done is pushed me away and want less government intrusion into people's lives.
Agree, but then the people claim to agree with that philosophy also want the government to be the decider on who can marry, what language everyone needs to speak and injecting the police and homeland security into every nook and cranny of our lives. Look at all those snowflakes says the guy who can't watching 6 black guys take a knee during the national anthem.
And on the flip side you have those who want everyone to have the right to do what they want, unless that right offends a class of people they see as having a right to not be offended, and this it's not allowed because you are a racist/classist/genderist/natavist/etc.
It's things like that. It's just.......I can't fvckin handle it. There is nothing on this planet that grinds my gears more than blatant intellectual dishonesty, and it's basically what is running the country these days. Fvck it.
This post was edited on 4/10/18 at 3:37 pm
Posted on 4/10/18 at 3:40 pm to tigerskin
I hate it that I like Saban more times than I care to admit...and this is one of those times. Bravo, Coach.
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