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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#324226: Aug 18th 2020 at 5:57:11 AM

I don't know what the point of these ads is anyway when you can just skip them after five seconds. They become a nuisance timer. Sometimes they just interrupt a video midway through a sentence.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#324227: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:00:27 AM

The point of the ads is so that YouTube can provide hours of free content to us entitled consumers. Do you think Google is running this out of the goodness of their hearts or something? Never mind the creators who make it their livelihoods.

Edited by Fighteer on Aug 18th 2020 at 9:00:45 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#324228: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:12:36 AM

[up] One person using an adblocker doesn't equal the end of Youtube.

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#324230: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:14:43 AM

[up] Then why get on the case of a single person using adblocker?

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#324231: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:16:05 AM

It's a little more than just one, though.

Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#324232: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:17:29 AM

Because it's not just a single one.

That's like saying 'Me alone not voting isn't going to cause Trump being re-elected.'

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#324233: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:17:44 AM

Because I'm a moderator of a website that is almost entirely funded by ad revenue and struggles because of ad blocking? Because I value the continued existence of content sites like Youtube? Because I don't respect the "it doesn't hurt anyone if I do it" argument?

The risk isn't that Google will run out of money. The risk is that it will decide it's unprofitable to continue running Youtube due to all the ad blocking and take away our toys. Nice Job Breaking It, Hero!.

I have no respect for the people who hold out their ad blocking like they're some kind of vigilante heroes of the Internet. I have one myself, but it's strictly to stop malware, and I disable it on sites that I value.

And yes, to bring this vaguely back to being on-topic, it's analogous to people who refuse to vote. Civic participation is a right but it's also a duty.

Edited by Fighteer on Aug 18th 2020 at 9:20:48 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#324234: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:38:00 AM

Onto actual important political news...

Trump Says He’ll Seek a Third Term Because ‘They Spied On Me’

22nd Amendment and all that, but it's yet another showing that Trump attempts to seize power permanently.

House Democrats will vote on giving Postal Service a $25 billion boost

Democrats are wanting to fund the USPS and adapt a version of the Delivering for America Act to prohibit some of the changes De Joy has pulled. Republicans of course, are against it.

Edited by ScubaWolf on Aug 18th 2020 at 9:39:28 AM

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#324235: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:43:18 AM

Worst part, he's not trolling; he's completely serious. He wants to remain in power indefinitely, probably to avoid jail. This is one of many, many reasons he cannot be allowed to win in November.

Edited by speedyboris on Aug 18th 2020 at 6:43:21 AM

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#324236: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:43:46 AM

Point taken, Fighteer, thanks.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#324237: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:49:17 AM

[up][up] This is also why I want the Democrats to put their foot down and actually start using the Republicans loopholes against them. They want to play hardball, then let's play hardball. Then upon taking office in January, permanently plug up every loophole used so NOBODY can use them ever again.

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#324238: Aug 18th 2020 at 6:57:42 AM

Sometimes I envy Trump's sheer gusto in bragging in the face of factual evidence against his claims. I wish I had that level of confidence

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#324239: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:01:31 AM

Just run Republican. That's the only thing you need to have a large portion of americans to follow you unquestioningly.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#324240: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:19:06 AM

It's more like run Republican AND declare your unwavering support for Trump.

i'm tired, my friend
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#324241: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:19:08 AM

On another topic, what's everyone's thoughts on the idea of replacing The Star-Spangled Banner with a different anthem? (for those unaware, the song has gained controversy lately because its author owned slaves at one point and made racist comments)

Personally, I wouldn't mind if America the Beautiful took its place, I always preferred that song.

Edited by speedyboris on Aug 18th 2020 at 7:23:41 AM

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#324242: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:19:53 AM

Don't much care either way.

i'm tired, my friend
Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#324243: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:21:06 AM

I don't really care for anthems in general.

Though the soviet one sounds nice.

Edited by Forenperser on Aug 18th 2020 at 4:22:59 PM

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#324244: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:23:11 AM

It's worse than that, actually. He brags about the corrupt and illegal things he is going to do. He is going to try to steal the election any way he can and he tells you about it beforehand.

This is an old Trump tactic in general: when he does something shady or outright illegal, he does not deny it or try to cover it up, no, he boasts about it publicly.

And the thing is, it actually kind of works. People are less scandalized about these things because he does not try to cover it up, giving a false sense that what he does not not actually a big deal. This is part of why he so resistant to scandal: he simply creates an impression that there is no scandal to hide at all.

Trump is a combination of Accidental Truth, Sarcastic Confession, and Cassandra Gambit.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
thok That's Dr. Title, thank you! (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Non-Canon
That's Dr. Title, thank you!
#324245: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:27:59 AM

The point of the ads is so that YouTube can provide hours of free content to us entitled consumers.

Is there a thread where it would make sense to talk about the current model of internet advertising and the flaws with it? (Roughly it's the television model, but without some of the things that make that model work for television.) In theory such a discussion could fall under the Computer thread or the Economics thread, but neither one quite seems correct to me.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#324246: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:28:44 AM

> Though the soviet one sounds nice

Liberty Prime has entered the chat

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#324247: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:36:57 AM

Y'know I wonder something, if trump loses this November will he stick around till January or would he just bolt when as soon as the news comes in that his days in office are numbered?

Resileafs I actually wanted to be Resileaf Since: Jan, 2019
I actually wanted to be Resileaf
#324248: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:38:22 AM

Depends on how much support he believes he can get to convince his supporters that they need to rise up against Democrats.

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#324249: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:43:19 AM

No way he would leave early. Those couple of months are enough time to set fires on his way out, purely out of spite.

ShadowWingLG Since: Dec, 2013
#324250: Aug 18th 2020 at 7:45:05 AM

If Trump loses in November I fully expect to do everything in his power to keep from doing the standard 'Changing of the Guard' duties between presidents and trying to skip attending the Inauguration.

I give him a 50/50 odds of either bolting for Florida the day after the election, or trying to hole up in the White House.


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