AnthonyB's recent activity
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Comment on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shoots and kills a woman during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown in ~society
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Comment on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shoots and kills a woman during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown in ~society
AnthonyB Link ParentThere are a lot of ways to alleviate the stress of watching your country descend into madness - go for a walk, hug a kitten, binge watch tv and eat copious amounts of junk food, etc. etc. However,...There are a lot of ways to alleviate the stress of watching your country descend into madness - go for a walk, hug a kitten, binge watch tv and eat copious amounts of junk food, etc. etc. However, in my experience, the best antidote for those feelings of dread and anger is to be around people who feel the same way and want to do something about it. A lot of organizations still have remote meetings and there are plenty of ways you can contribute without even having to leave your house!
I know I'm repeating something that has annoyed a lot of people, but one of the most important things right now is to have a bold and functional opposition party. The primaries are just around the corner...
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
AnthonyB Link ParentSome of my favorite community members got banned, but honestly, they kinda had it coming.Some of my favorite community members got banned, but honestly, they kinda had it coming.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
AnthonyB Link ParentOh wow that thread brings back memories! I don't think the two threads are entirely unrelated, but I think there is an important difference between one's idealogical position and one's perspective...Oh wow that thread brings back memories!
I don't think the two threads are entirely unrelated, but I think there is an important difference between one's idealogical position and one's perspective based on their identity/lived experience. The first thread (the one you posted) is more 'these are my ideas, and I don't like it when people attack them and talk over me.' The second one is more 'this is my life, and I don't like when people debate it like it's an idea.' Either way, I think Diemos summed it up well in this comment from the first thread:
There aren't many people that want their interaction with a community to feel like a constant debate where they have to defend themselves all the time.
I think Tildes has done a really good job addressing the issues that were presented in the first thread while maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry and "just curious" bullshit. The second thread presented issues that are a lot harder to navigate. I think it's safe to assume that everyone here wants to cultivate a space that allows for discussion and feels welcoming to all, but that's easier said than done. I don't know the exact reasons why so many formerly prominent voices from the second thread left or cut back significantly, but I do think their absence has resulted in a noticable vibe shift, especially in threads like this.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
AnthonyB Link ParentThere's a thousand ways for us to explore that issue, but none of them would come close to the ultimate post on this subject. From my perspective as a casual observer over the years, it seems like...If these sorts of threads keep popping up, and Tildes continues to shed people from marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds and/or with other perspectives, then it does say something about the "homogeneity" here.
There's a thousand ways for us to explore that issue, but none of them would come close to the ultimate post on this subject.
From my perspective as a casual observer over the years, it seems like Tildes has consistently drawn new users from the same well. Meanwhile, those with different perspectives/experiences tend to fade over time. There have been many users like you and @DefinitelyNotAFae who have passionately discussed complicated issues related to politics and identity. Unfortunately, it seems like they eventually get banned after losing their patience, or they tune out and show up now and again in more lighthearted discussions.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
AnthonyB Link ParentHistorically, threads like this often resulted in the departure of various users from marginalized backgrounds. It's a bummer because we've lost a lot of insightful users with underrepresented...Historically, threads like this often resulted in the departure of various users from marginalized backgrounds. It's a bummer because we've lost a lot of insightful users with underrepresented perspectives. It's always been an issue and there used to be a lot more navel-gazing on these matters, but ever since the massive influx of users in 2023, the general perspective seems to be more homogenous.
I don't think there's anything wrong with exploring issues like this, even if the topic is presented in a clumsy manner, but there's a reason why the vibe is the way it is.
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Comment on 2025 NFL Season đ Weekly Discussion Thread â Week 18 in ~sports.american_football
AnthonyB (edited )LinkThat Steelers-Ravens game was an all-timer. Ravens fans would have a strong case against the 49ers as the team with the most soul-crushing defeats in the 21st century if not for the fact that they...That Steelers-Ravens game was an all-timer. Ravens fans would have a strong case against the 49ers as the team with the most soul-crushing defeats in the 21st century if not for the fact that they have delivered their fair share of soul-crushing defeats in route to a couple of Super Bowl wins (I'll never forgive you, Rahim).
My Broncos somehow secured the #1 seed, thanks in large part to the 32nd place
OaklandLas Vegas Raiders, who somehow managed to beat New England in week one. I'm still in shock. I try my best to be a faithful Boliever, but I don't think they are good enough to win, nor are they good enough to actually be the 1-seed. That honor belongs to the Pats, who kicked the shit out of bad teams and played well against the handful of good teams they faced. However, when you look back at Denver's season, there was really only one legit loss. They had a bad 7 minutes against the Chargers in a game where they had the lead, and they were a missed ~40 yard FG/a rare leverage call away from beating the Colts. Anything can happen, I guess.Off the top of my head, the only other 1-seed I can remember being this shaky is the 2008 Titans, who somehow managed to go 13-3 and had their own surprising 10 game win streak. 2008 is a decent comparison to this season in that the final standings were quite different from preseason expectations, plus the absence of the league's boogyman. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of lower seeds advance like they did in 2008. On that note, I am not thrilled about the seeding in the AFC. The two teams I most want to see in the Super Bowl are the Broncos (obviously) and the Bills. I was hoping they would manage to face each other in the AFCCG, but that would require a Chargers win in NE and the Bills beating the red-hot Jags. It's certainly plausible, but even if that does happen, the Chargers are probably the last team I want Denver to face in round 2, and the Bills would have a hell of a time going up against the Texans. Should NE and Jacksonville win, the team I'd want to see in round 2 is the Steelers. Then again, I could see them pulling off a 2012 Ravens/2008 Cardinals magical run for the aging superstar. I'm glad I have some money set aside for emotional hedge bets.
I have no idea what to expect or what I want from the NFC. As an LA guy, I wouldn't hate to see the Rams make another run, nor would I have any issues with a 49ers run given their Denver connections (Lynch, Shanahan, McCaffrey). Come to think of it, I don't have any qualms with the Packers, Bears, or Panthers, either. Looks like we're getting Eagles v Seahawks in the NFCCG.
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Comment on 2025 NFL Season đ Weekly Discussion Thread â Week 18 in ~sports.american_football
AnthonyB Link ParentThe jets not forcing an interception all season is going to be a legendary record for years to come. Who knows, it could last another 4-5 games. It's especially humiliating when you consider the...The jets not forcing an interception all season is going to be a legendary record for years to come. Who knows, it could last another 4-5 games. It's especially humiliating when you consider the fact that they have a defensive head coach who was a great DB in his playing days.
On the plus side, he can spin it to make his playing career more impressive. In 13 of his 15 playing seasons, Aaron Glenn had more interceptions than the combined total of the 2025 NY Jets.
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Comment on What are some stories of progressivism gone wrong in implementation? in ~society
AnthonyB Link ParentRelevant portion of a PBS documentary on American policing from a few years ago. Shoot first, ask questions later.I also don't think they are poorly trained (in that they don't get it), I think they are just trained poorly (in that we pay out the nose for horrible training practices). My cousin became a cop in 2017. He was eager to tell me about how he was trained. What do you do when there are 2 on 1? You shoot them. What do you do when a perp grabs your tazer? You shoot them. What do you do if you're being approached from behind? You shoot them. What the fuck. He had shot and killed 2 people within like 4 years. We train our cops, just to react violently.
Relevant portion of a PBS documentary on American policing from a few years ago. Shoot first, ask questions later.
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Comment on What was it like for you and your partner when one of you was losing a parent "slowly"? in ~life
AnthonyB LinkMy (now ex) partner and I both experienced the slow loss of a parent at the same time. Don't worry, we broke up for other reasons. Like JXM said, there were a lot of variables which made our...My (now ex) partner and I both experienced the slow loss of a parent at the same time. Don't worry, we broke up for other reasons. Like JXM said, there were a lot of variables which made our experiences quite different, so giving specific advice is difficult because it depends on the people involved.
For example, my family is fairly close and the circumstances required more of my attention and support. I would leave for extended periods to help out, and when I got back, the last thing I wanted to do was talk through it. My ex, on the other hand, is not very close with her family, and she stayed away (per their suggestion), but needed to talk about it more often to process the loss.
Sounds like you got yourself a bit of a double whammy, which can be especially tough when you aren't actively experiencing something remarkably similar. My only suggestion is to think of yourself as scaffolding. You aren't there to bear the weight of the grief, or process things for your partner. Instead, you're just there to provide modest support when needed. The rest of the time, you should do your thing and continue being the person that your partner chose to have in their life. The important thing is that you're there and they know that you're there when they need you.
Also, maybe this is just a weird thing we had in common, but my partner and I both agreed that comments in the spirit of, 'Damn, that sucks,' are a lot better than, 'Omg, I'm so so sorry.' I don't know, something about "I'm sorry" triggered the reflexive "It's ok/thank you," whereas 'that sucks' evoked the superior 'I know, right?!' response.
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Comment on US strikes Venezuela and says its leader, Nicolas Maduro, has been captured and flown out of the country in ~society
AnthonyB LinkTrying to mentally prepare myself for the tidal wave of justifications and critiques about the process instead of the act itself. In times like these, I like to imagine what the response would be...Trying to mentally prepare myself for the tidal wave of justifications and critiques about the process instead of the act itself.
In times like these, I like to imagine what the response would be if you took the exact same scenario and replaced the US with China. Turns out that a lot of liberals had a tankie buried deep in their heart this whole time.
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Comment on Grok AI generates images of âminors in minimal clothingâ in ~tech
AnthonyB Link ParentMerriam-Webster's word of the year 2026: Ephebophilia.Merriam-Webster's word of the year 2026: Ephebophilia.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
AnthonyB (edited )LinkMy family was took turns choosing holiday movies last week and I had the pleasure of introducing them to The Holdovers. It's a lowkey Christmas classic, which I'll probably throw on every other...My family was took turns choosing holiday movies last week and I had the pleasure of introducing them to The Holdovers. It's a lowkey Christmas classic, which I'll probably throw on every other year.
On top of that, I saw Marty Supreme yesterday. Not at all what I expected despite seeing the preview several times this year. That alone made it worth the cost of admission.
Spoilers for Marty Supreme
I thought it was going to be more of a sports movie/relationship drama, like Rocky for ping pong. I was quite surprised when it turned out to be a longer, fuller Good Time. I'm one of the few who enjoyed Good Time more than Uncut Gems, but Marty might have the edge. My only issue is that it felt like there were 2-3 too many hijinks. Also, I love a heart-racing thriller with a killer soundtrack as much as the next guy, but I hope Josh Safdie mixes it up a little bit going forward. Oh, and it kills me that Mr. Wonderful was good in this, even if he was playing himself. -
Comment on Not-so-humble brag: What are you proud of that you don't normally get to talk about? in ~talk
AnthonyB Link ParentCongrats! Are you still working with kids, or did you have a major career change?Congrats! Are you still working with kids, or did you have a major career change?
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Comment on Mohammed Ibrahim's stolen year: the newly freed sixteen-year-old Palestinian American shares his first account of 9½ months in Israeli military detention in ~society
AnthonyB Link... ... ...Sixteen-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim told me he was hungry every minute of every day during his nine and a half months in Israeli military detention. The pain in his head and stomach was so constant he couldnât sleep, though that would have been difficult anyway under fluorescent lights left on twenty-four-seven. He shared a six-person cell with ten other boys, ages fifteen to seventeen, and some of them moaned and cried all night.
Still, one day boredom overtook hunger. The boys saved scraps of bread from their meals, mixed them with water, and shaped them into chess pieces. They scratched a board into the concrete floor, set the pieces out to dry, and within a few days had a complete set. Mohammed told me he played three matches and won all three. The fun lasted about a day before they were caught.
Guards stormed the cell, filled it with pepper spray, beat the boys with sticks and shields, and confiscated the chess set. They were left choking and crying on the floor, as they often were, with nothing to flush the chemicals from their eyes. It burned everywhere, especially on their scabies, which for many had turned into infected, open sores. The guards also took their mattresses, so theyâd be sleeping on bare metal bedframes again. Similar punishments followed when they made playing cards from the cardboard of toilet paper rolls. Or when they did pushups. Or sang. Or laughed. The boys in Israeli military detention are forbidden from being boys.
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Mohammed told me that on February 16, the night he was abducted from his home in Al-Mazraâa ash-Sharqiya, soldiers blindfolded and zip-tied him, threw him face down onto the metal floor of a military jeep, then kicked him with heavy boots and beat him with their rifles as they drove. It was around 3 a.m., and he didnât know where they were taking him. They arrived at a military compoundâlater identified as Ofer army campâwhere he said he was pulled from the vehicle and forced to sit on the ground, still blindfolded and zip-tied, while soldiers continued to beat him on his head and all over his body. He had no shoes or socks. From there, he was frogmarched across sharp rocks to the police station a few hundred meters away.
They pulled his blindfold down and put him in a chair. He asked to speak to his parents and they refused. He was never offered a lawyer. It was freezing in the room, he said, and he had no coat. Across a table, two masked men with machine guns accused him of throwing stones at an Israeli car. He denied it. He told me the interrogator threatened that if he didnât confess, he would instruct the soldiers to beat him again. Eventually, Mohammed said, he broke. âI couldnât handle it anymore,â he told me. He admitted to throwing a stone, which he maintains he didnât do, but not to hitting anything. When it was over, he said he couldnât walk and was dragged into a holding cell, where he would remain for the next several weeks.
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On March 10, Mohammed was transferred to Megiddo, a military detention center that BâTselem, an Israeli human rights organization, has described as part of a ânetwork of torture camps.â (âWhen we got off the bus,â one detainee told BâTselem, âa soldier said to us, âWelcome to hell.ââ) The severe overcrowding was the result of policies overseen by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has boasted about making conditions significantly worse for Palestinian prisoners. At the moment, Ben Gvir is leading a push to legalize the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism offenses, a category defined broadly under Israeli law, and has signaled his support by wearing a gold noose pinâclosely resembling the yellow hostage ribbonâon his lapel.
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One of his cellmatesâ17-year-old Walid Ahmad, whom he quickly grew close toâwas visibly sicker and weaker than the others when Mohammed arrived. Skin and bones, Mohammed told me. He had severe diarrhea, couldnât keep food down, and shivered constantly. His skin was covered in scabies, which was ripping through the prison, leaving all the boys infested and scratching themselves raw. The boys worried about Walid, begged the guards to let him see a doctor. They refused.
On March 22, twelve days after Mohammed arrived at the prison, Walid collapsed during their daily trip outside the cell, falling face-first and splitting open the bridge of his nose. A pool of blood formed around him. The boys rushed to help and were pepper-sprayed. Mohammed said Walid remained conscious for about two minutes, looking around, scared, before losing consciousness again. A guard then arrived and dragged Walidâs motionless body across the floor by his hair.
Four days later, the boys learned that Walid, who was never charged with a crime, was dead. Back home, Mohammedâs family heard that a teenage boy had died in Megiddo and spent an entire, unbearable day trying to determine whether it was him; instead, they learned it was a boy from a neighboring town. An Israeli surgeon who observed Walidâs autopsy reported that the 17-year-old showed signs of prolonged starvationâextreme weight loss and muscle wastingâalong with untreated colitis and scabies. A prison medical report also revealed that he had complained to the prison about inadequate food since at least December. His body has still not been returned to his family.
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Mohammed Ibrahim's stolen year: the newly freed sixteen-year-old Palestinian American shares his first account of 9½ months in Israeli military detention
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Comment on Are you still using social media? in ~tech
AnthonyB LinkInstagram: Back in 2012, my friends were trying to get me to create an Instagram account. That was when it was like early twitter, but for pictures. I swore then that I was going to go down with...Instagram: Back in 2012, my friends were trying to get me to create an Instagram account. That was when it was like early twitter, but for pictures. I swore then that I was going to go down with the ship that is Facebook, but I ended up caving about six years later. I moved around a lot during my 20s, and I wanted a convenient way to stay in touch with the friends I made. I mostly use it to watch my friends' stories, post stories of my foster kittens, and plug in for the occasional brain rot session via reels because I'm too old for tiktok. It's like alcohol. An occasional drink with some friends isn't the worst thing in the world, but it can get out of hand fast and doing it every day will destroy you.
Facebook: I have an account that I never log into unless I randomly think of someone I went to highschool with, which happens maybe three times per year. I would get rid of it if not for the fact that it's a time capsule for my late-teens/early 20s.
Twitter: I signed up for it back in 2008 and hardly used it. But then a few years ago I started following some journalists and a handful of people in the commentary sphere. I have a really nice balance right now for news that I wouldn't come across any other way, plus some random sports people left over from the early days who make noise on Sundays. I have no idea why I followed him in the first place, but Trey Wingo posts all the time and I don't have the heart to unfollow him. I don't check replies, post, or comment on anything, and I won't call it X until I absolutely have to. A lot of people hate it, and I can see why, but I actually get more out of it than any other platform.
Reddit: What was once my favorite is now the worst of the bunch, imo. Every time I stray from my intended destination, I end up getting slop like alignment chart fills or overconfident rambling from some of the dumbest people on earth. Reddit used to poke fun at YouTube comments, but now it's a site that is mostly YouTube comments. Excluding Google results, the only reason I still go there is to check /r/billsimmons because it is bizarrely tailored to me. Decent sports/pop culture talk, the occasional left-leaning political digression, and an ocean of esoteric memes and references made for dumbass 30-something guys like myself who listen to Bill Simmons but hate Boston teams. It's the apex mountain of my reddit experience, it just is!
Tildes: I've been here for most of its existence. It's changed quite a bit, but I still like it here. Sometimes there are moments when it reminds me of the early reddit days in that there are random interesting articles and people who are a lot smarter than me commenting on things I know nothing about. People usually put effort into their comments, and while it may not always seem like it, I try to put some thought into what I post. I dunno. It beats yelling into the void. Plus it's small enough to recognize usernames, which I like because it really feels like a little community of strangers.
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Comment on Jon Stewart is our only hope in ~society
AnthonyB LinkI get it. It's got 2016 vibes to it, but I get it. John Stewart has that outsider, no nonsense thing going and he appears to be good communicator, or, he is on his show, at least. Meanwhile,...I get it. It's got 2016 vibes to it, but I get it. John Stewart has that outsider, no nonsense thing going and he appears to be good communicator, or, he is on his show, at least. Meanwhile, voters are disillusioned with politicians, the Democrats have done a poor job meeting the needs and demands of their base, and they have done an ever poorer job building up the next wave of leaders within their party. Though in their defense, the Gerry Connolly thing was a total shock. I mean, who could imagine that a 75-year old cancer survivor would die so quickly? But if you're looking for the bright side, one small benefit to this is that future candidates are unknown and therefore have room to improve. Even AOC, whose net favorables are slightly higher than Trump's still gets a 'no opinion' from ~30% of voters. And no matter who the candidates are, the election will almost certainly boil down to the gut feelings of a few hundred thousand morons spread across 4 or 5 states after an all out media blitz. The likelihood of someone breaking through the partisan divide, fueling a monumental shift in Congress, and actually passing substantial legislation is pretty low. Oops, I was supposed to be optimistic.
Looking back at the bright side, it is very early. If you asked Republicans about who they should run back in December 2013, the answer would not be Donald Trump. Instead, you'd hear names like Chris Christie, Rick Santorum, and Bobby Jindal. In fact, the conventional wisdom then was that they should NOT be so racist. Ha!
Same goes for Democrats in 2005. Outside of Illinois, very few people knew who Obama was. And just this past year, we watched a no-name 33 year old Muslim socialist turn into a national figure over the course of about six months. Not only that, he helped make "affordability" go from a third-place issue in a NYC primary to the national issue. Things change quickly.
Besides, we might not even have an election in 2028, so there's no use worrying about it now ;)
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Comment on 2025 NFL Season đ Weekly Discussion Thread â Week 16 in ~sports.american_football
AnthonyB Link ParentIt will be a while, but yeah. The Wikipedia article has all the important info. It's supposed to be a retractable roof, but I doubt they'll ever have it open for snow games. It's a bummer, because...It will be a while, but yeah. The Wikipedia article has all the important info. It's supposed to be a retractable roof, but I doubt they'll ever have it open for snow games. It's a bummer, because those dark, cold, snowy games are my favorites.
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Comment on 2025 NFL Season đ Weekly Discussion Thread â Week 16 in ~sports.american_football
AnthonyB (edited )LinkI have a few more Bo-themed songs in the chamber for when (if?) the Broncos win, but I didn't have one/couldn't think of one for a loss. I guess I need to listen to more sad music. Not much to say...I have a few more Bo-themed songs in the chamber for when (if?) the Broncos win, but I didn't have one/couldn't think of one for a loss. I guess I need to listen to more sad music.
Not much to say about this one. Jacksonville is good and the Broncos were due for a stinker. Denver's defense needs to make a few tweaks, especially with the loss of Brandon Jones. They are not going back on fraud watch, and it's still too early for fraud advisory, so maybe it's fraud outlook for now. I wish I felt better about a Thursday night game against KC's third string QB, but it's Christmas and weird shit happens. It should be an easy get right game, but can't shake this feeling that Denver will be playing for the division title in week 18. Probably should've put a few bucks on LA last week as an emotional hedge, I'm sure the payoff would've been nice.
Still, what a week! That Thursday night game between the Rams and Seahawks was an all-timer, then we were treated to another fantastic game between the Packers and Bears. The AFC still has a ton of possibilities and somehow the 49ers control their own destiny. This is one of the best seasons in recent memory.
Edit: I cannot stress enough how much I hate the fact that both Denver and KC will be dome teams in the near future. Arrowhead and Mile High were two iconic stadiums (even though Mile High isn't really Mile High anymore). At least the Waltons are paying for Denver's monstrosity. The KC move to the Kansas side of things will probably go down as one of the biggest WTF con jobs in history.
After 24 hours of seeing the partisan reactions to this incident, I'm starting to think we might have crossed a line that we can't go back from. At least not without something catastrophic happening.
The video evidence and the witness testimony are about as clear as you can get. Renee Good did not pose any threat, and the ICE agents clearly escalated the situation and shot her without just cause. After these unidentified masked men shot her, they denied her potential life-saving treatment from a nearby doctor, and their vehicles prevented first responders from arriving on the scene as quickly as possible.
This should be met with universal condemnation; however, Republicans and right-wing commentators are justifying it. They're calling her a terrorist and saying she was trying to kill the man who shot her, as if there isn't clear fucking video of the incident that shows otherwise. They say that the agents intervened after she was blocking traffic, but video shows other unmarked vehicles pass by and witnesses say she was waving them past her. The contradictions alone are completely insane, yet, somehow, people are buying it. They're literally seeing things that aren't there. My bar was already incredibly low, but this is truly unbelievable.
The most obvious comparison I can think of is George Floyd's murder. When George Floyd was murdered on video back in 2020, there was immediate bipartisan condemnation of the officers involved. There was no getting around it. Republicans and Democrats alike expressed horror at what they saw on video. Trump tweeted out condolences and said the FBI would bring the officers to justice. Even police organizations were critical of the officers. Police organizations! It was only after the initial protests when we started to see right-wing efforts to minimize the brutality or justify the actions of the police, but even that was more on the fringe. Conservatives would work tirelessly to tarnish George Floyd's reputation in the ensuing months/years, but the vast majority of the partisan divide that summer was centered around the protests.
What we are seeing right now is on a whole nother level. It's as though there isn't a video. The conservative response to this echos the responses we saw in the wake of Michael Brown or Trayvon Martin. In addition to the absence of video, those responses can be largely credited to the lack of empathy that stemmed from this country's deep seeded racism and society's constant implicit criminalizing of the existence and actions of young black men. That problem has plauged this country for 250 years, and obviously there have been some non-linear, incremental improvements, but at great cost. However, now it seems that lack of empathy has extended beyond race and socioeconomic conditions and into political differences. Apparently, no amount of video evidence can overcome it, either.
Where do we go from here if we can't agree on what's right in front of us?