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Post by John B on Jan 7, 2021 11:05:15 GMT -5
Well, I have wishes in one hand; not sure what to do with the other.
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Post by Russell Letson on Jan 7, 2021 12:24:29 GMT -5
This notion has been burbling around the back of my mind for a while, but watching yesterday's antics has brought it into focus: some of what went down was a kind of cosplay. That's a term originally from science fiction and fantasy fandom, the practice of dressing up in COStumes like one's favorite characters and PLAY-acting accordingly. Its deep roots are in masquerade balls--later competitions--held at SF conventions. Star Trek and Star Wars enthusiasts supercharged the activity, and eventually it broke free and became its own subculture. (It's also partly rooted in kids' games--playing at being a cowboy or a soldier or Zorro or Superman.)
Anyway, the overwhelming majority of the mob that actually broke into the Capitol were young to middle-aged men, tricked out in Trumpist regalia and outdoorsy or paramilitary gear. It's a look familiar from pro-gun rallies: cammo, body armor, belts festooned with tactical everything (flashlights, ballpoint pens, Kleenex), and the iconography of the loonie Right (Gadsen or Confederate or Thin Blue Line flag heraldry). And their behavior, beneath the yelling of slogans, struck me as frat-boy party behavior. Hey! We've invaded the dean's office! Awesome! Hold my beer while I sit at Pelosi's desk!
These guys have entered into an imaginary world in which they are doing battle with forces of darkness. The asshole who posted a photo of himself with his feet up on Pelosi's desk had a Facebook account under the name "George Reincarnated Patton" and wrote that he wasn't afraid to die "covered in someone else’s blood." He also supported various Qanon notions.
There's an organization (again, with strong ties to science fiction) called the Society for Creative Anachronism--historical re-enactors who create imaginary historical characters, dress up in armor, and have mock battles. These Trumpies and Qanonists are re-enactors living in an alternate reality. And lacking the sense of humor and dedication to real history that marks the SCA.
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Post by epaul on Jan 7, 2021 13:06:14 GMT -5
Myth and Ritual. Can't live with it, can't live without it.
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Post by majorminor on Jan 7, 2021 13:11:54 GMT -5
Myth and Ritual. Can't live with it, can't live without it. ...but sometimes both
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Post by epaul on Jan 7, 2021 13:16:30 GMT -5
That's one of our more beautiful rituals... but it all got started because of a screwup.
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Post by majorminor on Jan 7, 2021 13:27:47 GMT -5
That's one of our more beautiful rituals... but it all got started because of a screwup. Maki The Terrible accidently kicked over a bucket of seal oil at the wrong time?
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Post by howard lee on Jan 7, 2021 13:37:29 GMT -5
Y'all know where I stand, but Trump did instruct his fan boys 'to go home, go home in peace.' There ya go. After saying "I love you", and "you are special people".
Calling them "special" is an insult to people with Down Syndrome, people on the spectrum, and the mentally challenged.
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Post by Jawbone on Jan 7, 2021 13:49:00 GMT -5
"Calling them "special" is an insult to people with Down Syndrome, people on the spectrum, and the mentally challenged." Yep, 50% of the American people are like that. Are you trying to out do Hillary? How can you assume you're right when 50% disagree with you?
"This notion has been burbling around the back of my mind for a while, but watching yesterday's antics has brought it into focus: some of what went down was a kind of cosplay. That's a term originally from science fiction and fantasy fandom, the practice of dressing up in COStumes like one's favorite characters and PLAY-acting accordingly."
But the notion didn't surface during the Seattle and Portland 'protest'? Mon always told me I can't have it both ways. And what does burbling mean.
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Post by howard lee on Jan 7, 2021 14:07:38 GMT -5
"Calling them "special" is an insult to people with Down Syndrome, people on the spectrum, and the mentally challenged." Yep, 50% of the American people are like that. Are you trying to out do Hillary? How can you assume you're right when 50% disagree with you? [...]
Nope. If I have inadvertently outdone her, outdoing her was not my intention. I believe in our Constitutional right to free speech and our right to protest—peacefully. 50% of the American people can disagree with me if they like; they are as entitled to their opinions as anyone. I don't assume I'm "right." But I was brought up with a code of ethics and morality, and those comprise the compass that has guided my life.
I simply do not condone violence, from either direction, left or right. Our sitting President instigated a mob action (insurrection?) that threatened the workings of our government and democracy, as well as the safety of elected officials who are sworn to carry out those duties, and I don't find the perpetrators of that action or what they did particularly special. Also, it seems to me that more often than not, violence has been used to overthrow authoritarian demagogues, not the workings of a democratic process.
But my point was that people with Down Syndrome, people on the spectrum, and the mentally challenged are often referred to as "special." I was advocating for them, since I have yet to know of anyone in either of those groups on this forum. I would not lump yesterday's rioters in the same three groups, and that was my meaning, since the President told all his supporters they were "special."
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Post by John B on Jan 7, 2021 15:47:56 GMT -5
"Calling them "special" is an insult to people with Down Syndrome, people on the spectrum, and the mentally challenged." Yep, 50% of the American people are like that. Are you trying to out do Hillary? How can you assume you're right when 50% disagree with you? "This notion has been burbling around the back of my mind for a while, but watching yesterday's antics has brought it into focus: some of what went down was a kind of cosplay. That's a term originally from science fiction and fantasy fandom, the practice of dressing up in COStumes like one's favorite characters and PLAY-acting accordingly." But the notion didn't surface during the Seattle and Portland 'protest'? Mon always told me I can't have it both ways. And what does burbling mean. 50% of American people were not attacking the Capitol yesterday. Or 1%. Or 0.1%.
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Post by epaul on Jan 7, 2021 15:50:10 GMT -5
My wife has always called me "special"...
I kind of wish I hadn't gotten to this page.
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Post by howard lee on Jan 7, 2021 16:23:27 GMT -5
Let us not forget the Proud Girls, too. Here's an incredulous young revolutionary. What did she expect?
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Post by Russell Letson on Jan 7, 2021 16:37:03 GMT -5
So rested he by the Tumtum tree And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!
Uffish thoughts take a while to mature into regular thoughts.
Take care what bloody shirt you wave in my direction--my recollections of political theatre go back a half-century and change and include performances from right and left. (For some reason, the center doesn't do much street performing.) Nor is it safe to presume what my take on any given bit of theatre might be. But feel free to ask me what I think of the arsonist who burned down one of my favorite bookstores in Minneapolis, or the assholes who tried to burn down another.
Meanwhile, I'm starting to hear echoes of Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi! Also Remember the Maine! And always Whatabout! Whatabout! Whatabout!
Now excuse me while I find my tactical fuzzy slippers and tactical reading glasses so I can enjoy my tactical copy of The New Yorker by the light of my strategic floor lamp.
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Post by dradtke on Jan 7, 2021 16:55:01 GMT -5
Don't forget the guy with the Captain America shield, the Mandalorian helmet, and the Game of Thrones fur cape. Mixing a few metaphors, but the Pepe the Frog decal really tied the ensemble together.
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Post by jdd2 on Jan 7, 2021 17:13:23 GMT -5
I think I need some tactical ballpoint pens. Or maybe some tactical kleenex.
For me it wouldn't be completing an image, just that I gotta start somewhere...
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Post by Village Idiot on Jan 7, 2021 17:38:23 GMT -5
This notion has been burbling around the back of my mind for a while, but watching yesterday's antics has brought it into focus: some of what went down was a kind of cosplay. That's a term originally from science fiction and fantasy fandom, the practice of dressing up in COStumes like one's favorite characters and PLAY-acting accordingly. Its deep roots are in masquerade balls--later competitions--held at SF conventions. Star Trek and Star Wars enthusiasts supercharged the activity, and eventually it broke free and became its own subculture. (It's also partly rooted in kids' games--playing at being a cowboy or a soldier or Zorro or Superman.) Anyway, the overwhelming majority of the mob that actually broke into the Capitol were young to middle-aged men, tricked out in Trumpist regalia and outdoorsy or paramilitary gear. It's a look familiar from pro-gun rallies: cammo, body armor, belts festooned with tactical everything (flashlights, ballpoint pens, Kleenex), and the iconography of the loonie Right (Gadsen or Confederate or Thin Blue Line flag heraldry). And their behavior, beneath the yelling of slogans, struck me as frat-boy party behavior. Hey! We've invaded the dean's office! Awesome! Hold my beer while I sit at Pelosi's desk! These guys have entered into an imaginary world in which they are doing battle with forces of darkness. The asshole who posted a photo of himself with his feet up on Pelosi's desk had a Facebook account under the name "George Reincarnated Patton" and wrote that he wasn't afraid to die "covered in someone else’s blood." He also supported various Qanon notions. There's an organization (again, with strong ties to science fiction) called the Society for Creative Anachronism--historical re-enactors who create imaginary historical characters, dress up in armor, and have mock battles. These Trumpies and Qanonists are re-enactors living in an alternate reality. And lacking the sense of humor and dedication to real history that marks the SCA. That's perfect, Russell.
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Post by james on Jan 7, 2021 17:51:11 GMT -5
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Post by jdd2 on Jan 7, 2021 18:03:21 GMT -5
There's also the security headache--all systems and network need inspecting/checking, also for recording devices. This was a spy's dream scenario. And missing laptops, drives, etc.
Foreign intelligence agencies, right wing terrorist groups... looking at it and thinking "if those bozos could get into the capitol, imagine what we could do."
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Post by Cornflake on Jan 7, 2021 18:09:19 GMT -5
"Don't forget the guy with the Captain America shield, the Mandalorian helmet, and the Game of Thrones fur cape." The police won't forget him. It turns out that he's a well known figure around here. I think he may wind up doing some time.
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Post by Village Idiot on Jan 7, 2021 18:31:07 GMT -5
How about the shirtless guy with leather leggings and buffalo horns?
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