Hey ya'll, since I'm rejoining the forum, I had a message I've been thinking about that I wanted to make on my return, in straightforward manner. I don't know if this is good political strategy or whatever, maybe this is another reckless move, I still barely know how the hell anything works or what the hell has happened. But I feel like making it, so here goes.

I think most people of any group, especially in the modern world, are chill decent normal folk who just want to do their thing and enjoy life. They want to enjoy good food, good stories, good music, fun sports, and so much more, and to do it all with their friends and loved ones. They are not out to hurt anybody, at worst some have a cutthroat competitive style, but that's normal.

I want to strongly push against categorizing entire groups of people as uniform blocs, and basing that categorization on the very worst elements of those groups, and also making sweeping modern judgments and assumptions based on ancient writings and abstract symbolism. That is bullshit. That is unfair. To quote my father "There are assholes and saints in every group." Also, how many people in modern America believe in the "3/5's Compromise" that was made around the time of our founding? Zero. Well, it could be easy for one to look at the history of America and say "This is what America is, even today." Well, they could only say that if they didn't know anything about or talk to any modern Americans.

I have been learning a bit more lately about political team Red and team Blue. I think there are tons of awesome people in team blue. I think they are great, I think they are decent people. I have known a number of them through my relatively antisocial life. They are good people, kind, helpful, and caring about others. Giving in the greatest sense. Brilliant. Artistic. Passionate. Determined. These people deserve to be respected and esteemed, not attacked.

I hardly know or can see a damn thing about how the real game of the world works, it appears I have caused unbelievable destruction on team Blue. If that is the case, it strongly seems to me that the only move on the board after such an attack, is to raise up and promote the good in team Blue, of which there is a giant mountain of it. That is the move for good in the world. Once I could stop worrying about myself for two seconds (and stop cavorting about like a damn fool), this became clear to me. I attempted to make this move, it was required that I join as a card-carrying member of team Blue. I attempted to do this, I really did. It did not work out. The difficult conditions I'm under, my general lack of social skills and understanding even under "normal world" conditions, blindness about the rules of whatever this game is, and the very understandable attacks from team Blue made it so it did not come to pass.

On top of all of that, I am simply a Red at heart, I'm sorry. I've had an emphasis on red clothes for a while now; it is my Color. It is my team. Just ask my friends. That is where my heart is. I could not pretend otherwise or very well for very long. I tried, I really did. I still think there are tons of great people on team Blue, to repeat myself. The guys in my board game group are largely team Blue, from what I can tell. Those guys, especially my friend Keith who has been one of the kindest people I've met, my experience of them has been great regular folk you'd like to have a beer with (and smart to boot). If I could put those group of guys in charge of team Blue, I would do it in a heartbeat, and that would be f*cking awesome. They were a bit mean to me in our last couple sessions, but I totally get it, it's all good. They're still awesome. And tons more are just like them. I would be totally happy someday to reconnect with them and other team Blue's who things haven't worked out with. I respect and would like to be friends with a great many members of this group.

I would like to extend the same understanding to team Blue at large and any "meanness" they have been firing at me. I get it. (I think at least, I can't really tell what's going on.) Based on the destruction it appears I have caused to them and their families, if someone did that to my family, I probably would want to hurt the person who caused it as much as possible, regardless of the reasons. I respect that. I do not begrudge them for this. Frankly I am just grateful for the basics at this point. I do not understand team Blue and have not tried to understand them, I wish to try to understand them more and what has happened.

As tough as my conditions have been, a ton ton ton of completely innocent people on team Blue probably have it worse now, actually. They have done nothing wrong. They mean no harm. They never decided to take a political risk, I did. I accept the consequences of jumping in the fire like a madman. I will be fine (well, mostly I guess). It appears I have quite some support out there, for what degree that is true I am incredibly grateful. I would ask that everyone support the goodness of Blues more than me in this time, that seems to be the absolute winning move. I have rejoined my home on team Red and will do whatever that entails, but I still wish to try to operate with that spirit in mind.

Alright, I wanted to get that out, I mean it from the heart, after that I plan to mostly shut the f up and listen to my team. Carry on.

Been looking to get more into reading again

All living things have souls, some more complex than others, like comparing a fern to a cow. Humans have rational souls.

To bad this tit for tat didn't end with the Cold War:

https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/russian-scheme-infiltrate-secret-service-exposed/560308

Quick Look: Key Facts About the Case Defendants: Lee Reiber, CEO of Oxygen Forensics, and Russian shareholder Oleg Davydov

Company: Oxygen Forensics Inc., a Virginia-based digital-forensics software provider

Core Allegation: Russian ownership and software-development ties were allegedly concealed from U.S. government procurement officials

Federal Customers: U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, DHS Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Defense

Contract Value: More than $2 million in contracts and purchases since March 2022 Technology Involved: Software used to extract, preserve, and analyze digital evidence from phones, computers, and cloud accounts

Ownership Structure: Prosecutors allege Russian shareholders controlled the company through a Cyprus holding company while Russian developers continued building the software

National Security Concern: Officials reportedly stated contracts would not have been awarded or renewed had the ownership structure been disclosed

Broader Context: The case comes amid increasing scrutiny of Russian covert operations, influence networks, and intelligence-linked activities targeting Western governments and institutions

A sloth can stay under water longer than a dolphin.