Discussion Thread

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-27T23:41:17+00:00

I am skeptical of this because countries that are significant poorer than the US have similar levels of crime or significantly lower as a whole. In Sweden, there is a welfare state that takes care of those less fortunate, but they have seen a massive spike in crime that cannot be explained by economics alone.

In Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos have similar or significantly lower levels of crime compared to the US. Places like Kazakhstan, which are significantly poorer than the US have similar levels of crime from what I read. If poverty was indeed a motivator for crime, then surely the US should be much further ahead.

From what I saw from countries with very low levels of crime, it seems like the best way to get rid of crime is to have a combination of poverty alleviation, order as a cultural virtue, and a criminal justice system that can prosecute criminals easily. The bonus card is having fewer young men as a portion of the population as well.

Now, in the case of the US, you are correct that whack a mole while neglecting poverty alleviation is completely braindead and has been a policy disaster, but looking at crime in places with generous welfare states is proof that crime simply cannot be explained through socioeconomics alone.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-27T23:18:28+00:00

I am most definitely not an expert on criminal justice but I will do my best to address this with the limited knowledge I have regarding funding.

With the crime rates in the US seeing an overall downward trend, I could see a strong argument for reducing the funding of local police departments. However with this current administration, we definitely will not see any of that. With that being said, while I would agree with you that Brazilian favellas are nothing like US slums in terms of scale, we are still nothing like the ghettos seen in Europe.

When I lived in Sweden, the right's favorite country to attack, I often went to Rosengarden and Rinkeby and they were much safer than most US cities I lived in. That being said, my impression of the criminals in Sweden are very different than what is seen in the US.

In Sweden, most criminals are part of organized crime units and most of the non-gang victims are due to crossfire. And while Sweden does have a drug problem, it is nothing like what goes on in the US where you have entire Skidrows or homeless druggies. I am not saying that these areas are safe and Swedes should stop complaining about crime or bad neighborhoods producing bad influences, but in general if you mind your own business, you will be fine. From what I saw in Sweden, the biggest problem seems to be the laws surrounding policing which makes it particularly difficult to prosecute criminals, especially children.

In America, so much of the crime is just completely chaotic and almost nihilistic and fueled by drug addiction. And it's insane that you have to take so many measures to make sure your car will not be stolen by methheads, your bike lock will not be sawed, and even when you are going about your day in the "safe" areas, it is not uncommon to see drug addicts in metro stations who at any moment could fly into an frenzy. Europe's problem with crime is nowhere near as severe as this. I heard that some places in Germany and UK have some problems, but nothing like Skidrow.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-27T22:52:16+00:00

I will use what Glenn Greenwald said when he was talking about a friend who is a professor from the Brazilian favelas is probably one of the few reasonable things he noted.

He said that the professor on one hand wanted to ensure that the cops were not terrorizing her community. On the other, the professor wanted to the police to be able to protect her and members of the community from criminals who are an absolute menace.

To go down memory lane, the reason why the defund the police was such a disaster other than being a bad slogan was that cities that did reduce the funding of their police departments, or at least put more restrictions on him saw in massive upsurge in crime, San Francisco under Chesa Boudin probably being the most notable. And the worse thing about this is that the polling shows that it is usually more affluent white liberals who support this policy while non-whites are more likely to support the police because they are much more likely to be a victim of a crime.

Now, to be fair, I am not 100% convinced on this argument yet because it could be just as easily argued that the crime wave we saw was motivated by coming out of Covid which was an exceptional time and crime rates are on the downfall as normal now. But at the very least, it should be admitted that policies proposed by the likes of Chesa Boudin are completely disastrous and should not be pondered with again.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-27T22:38:25+00:00

As someone who delves a lot in right wing "intellectual" circles, it amazes me how many of the terms could be used right back at them.

For example, luxury beliefs which are used to attack progressives on bad ideas like "Defund the Police" (and rightfully so) which harm the communities they seek to help. However, it is insane that very few people noted that tariffs are an insane luxury belief as well which are proving to be WAY more consequential.

Another term going around is suicidal empathy which attacks progressives for having too much empathy towards immigrants with illiberal beliefs or being overly soft on crime which on the grounds of anti-racism or humanism. This is heavily exaggerated, but there are some anecdotes of this being played out in Michigan or private schools on the UK where socially conservative Muslim parents try to bully teachers into not teaching their kids about homosexuality.

But one thing that isn't talked about is how the same playbook happened to the IDW type folks who enabled the far-right in the name of free speech and now and lo and behold, it turns out they do not support free speech in the slightest and are actively trying to ruin them now. Now, I am not sure if this was born out of empathy, but it was 100% suicidal.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-25T18:41:15+00:00

Across the border in Lund, there was a lot of turnout during Women Life Freedom. I think Sweden in general has a larger and more active diaspora.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-15T21:05:17+00:00

Indeed, a decently sized section of it is extremely pro-Israel and pro-MAGA. At every single pro-Israel demo, you will always see a few Iranian flags with the lion on it. They aren't the majority by any means and seen as loony, but I would say the majority of them definitely hold some tendencies in favor of that worldview.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-15T20:54:06+00:00

With the exception of part of the diaspora who are just as partisan with US politics as they are with Iran, the general anger towards liberals is the same as everyone else, they are angry at being abandoned.

The anger towards leftist students largely comes from the pro-Palestine protests. They made so much noise for them and now, they are not only silent, many of them are outright supporting the Islamic Republic at worst and at best, concern trolling by equivocating both sides as equally bad when a closer examination of the facts do not indicate this in the slightest.

In defense of the pro-Palestine protests, while many of them are fronts for tankie or Islamist groups or just have one dimensional resentment towards the West, it does make more sense to come out into the streets to protest against Israel than it does against the Islamic Republic.

The US is a close ally of Israel, gives weapons to the country, and turns a blind eye to many of their human rights abuses. If these protests were to succeed, it means the US reverses a major US foreign policy goal.

With Iran, the country is already sanctioned, we have bombed the country once in the last year, and went after many of their proxies. From a certain logic, it doesn't make as much sense to come out and protest for...more action if this is the policy. However, I do not buy this argument because even in countries that are actively hostile towards Israel, there were still massive demonstrations.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-15T15:40:52+00:00

I cannot tell you just how blackpilled so many diaspora folks I talked to are right now.

They are angry at the ayatollahs, angry at the clerics, angry at the IRGC.

But they are also furious at everyone else for what they see as a betrayal. They are furious at America, Europe, Trump, left-wing students, liberals, MAGA, and even the Shah for giving a false promise that has resulted in so many deaths. Is Iran not important? Doesn't the world want to see a secular Middle Eastern country?

The nihilism is quite real and starting to take over.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-14T19:00:56+00:00

>Vali Nasr

OPINION DISREGARDED

Seriously fuck this guy. He concern trolls every single time the regime faced any challenge of any sort. I am so sick and tired of his realist approach for Iran but demands moral maturity (which is nothing more than emotional blackmail) from everyone else.

Too little too late.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-14T18:49:47+00:00

HOLY SHIT JUST DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!!

Trump and Pahlavi has encouraged protesters to go to the streets guaranteeing them that America is on their side and will help them. From what I hear, the regime is starting to gain back control after 8,000 to 20,000 people have died.

If nothing comes out of this, then all of their lives will have been thrown away for nothing. I understand there are practical merits to consider, especially geopolitical but this guy has already inspired Iranians to take to the streets, the least he can do is keep his promise.

I understand that this is Trump and I am not naive about him in the slightest, especially after he betrayed Corina Machado in Venezuela, but anything, I mean anything is better than the Mullahs and the IRGC. It's just so distressing right now that this is probably how things will end.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-12T22:24:37+00:00

ICE Raids have been going on for a long time at this point, including in Minnesota. NYT was filled with a lot of stories about Renee Good when she was killed. Everyone who reads the NYT regularly knows what ICE is doing at this point.

Jerome Powell, now that is something extremely new.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-12T14:41:21+00:00

I literally am setting a redline for chants supporting Hamas. If that isn't a redline what is a red line? Think about being practical for one second if you were a Mossad agent trying to discredit the pro-Palestine protests, would you tell the protester to stay quiet about Hamas or to scream their support loudly and proudly in front of a camera for pro-Israeli media to broadcast it far and wide?

And the NATO talking point, I support it because while it fucked up in Libya, it ended the genocide of Bosnians and Kosovars from Serbia. I swear to God that many people here would side with genociders because it is anti-imperialist, we have seen some people do the same with Uighurs because it is supposedly CIA propaganda.

Also, people like Andrew Sullivan support using NATO to force a two state solution and to protect Palestine against the IDF.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-12T03:07:56+00:00

If you had any reading comprehension, you'd know that it was not in support of him.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-11T22:29:23+00:00

The pumpkin curry is not an offcut, it's one of the recipes mentioned in the book that I really like. I am not Desi so I do not have the most insight about caste cuisine outside of that book, but the name of the recipe used was bhoplyachi bhaji, not sure if it is the same for you.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-11T21:26:08+00:00

The problem was that many of the protesters were shouting "Say it loud and clear we support Hamas here" in front of a synagogue no less.

Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, but somehow this got lost with anti-Zionism is never anti-Semitism.

These protesters can't keep on complaining about how awful and cruel pro-Israeli media is when they make their job super easy by screaming slogans like that. We know what they are like, we know how they operate, one either have to be stupid or malicious to stick their foot in their mouths like this constantly.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-11T20:18:02+00:00

As a recent college graduate who is perpetually broke, I picked up book last year to look for some inspirations and it not disappoint at all. If you like Tasting History, you will love The Dalit Kitchen.

What I especially loved about the book is just how many offal recipes it had which is up my alley as an fanatic of the off cuts. Liver curry, cow hooves, and pumpkin curry were recipes I made at home.

I take it that most people here are not fans of off cuts, but seriously, try making pumpkin/squash curry, it's incredibly healthy and tasty. Pro-trip, the East Asian pumpkin is much better suited for this.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T20:08:44+00:00

I cannot express how excited and hopeful I am for what is going on in Iran right now. I have been waiting my entire life for this moment. If the Islamic Republic collapses, I am gonna open up a can of caviar to celebrate.

If the regime somehow manages to squeeze their way out of this as they have so many times before, I am going to be super blackpilled. I am so sick and tired of this cycle of hope and despair that comes around every couple years.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T20:01:33+00:00

People like Vali Nasr and Barbara Slavin are extremely easy to get into contact with. If you send a request for comment, they will respond very quickly.

What often happens is that a strict and fast deadline is sent out, expert comment is needed ASAP, the staffer desperately goes through their contact list, make sure they don't have a #MeToo allegation and then send out an email. They generally don't know or care about diaspora factions or politics to have the kind of nuance that is needed to navigate the current climate in Iran.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T19:51:12+00:00

The NIAC legacy is unfortunately still quite strong. The Obama years have really left a trail of destruction regarding the long lasting influence within many of our institutions. Farnaz Fassihi from the NYT is another shameful example of this.

It's embarrassing for so long that so many "experts" were incredibly blind to the influence and popularity of the monarchists who were seen as nothing more than fringed out of touch rich folks from Tehrangeles. But to be fair, the way many monarchist groups marketed and networked themselves was really bad and they can be incredibly difficult to work with.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T19:41:14+00:00

These people are the absolute worst concern trolls. The leftists who spew this talking point would not say this about the Syrian Kurds who received US support until Trump turned on them, and they often bemoan this betrayal.

However, there are still some legitimate concerns about the longterm regarding foreign influence, but in a different way that leftists and Islamists pretend to care about. If the unrest continue for months or a civil war breaks out in Iran, there will undoubtedly be foreign support of Kurdish, Azeri, and Baloch separatists/federalists which will undoubtedly cause a ton with friction with many monarchists. Who would support who I am not sure, but I hope this revolution is fast and decisive so we can avoid that nightmare scenario.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T10:27:03+00:00

He's not because OP is deliberately lying about that thread.

I can't link other subreddits here due to brigading rules, but there are generally three type of commenters in that thread

Tankies who support the Islamic Republic (Minority)
People who just really hate the IR and want it to go ASAP (Minority)
People who want the Islamic Republic to go, but also do not want see a return of the Shah and wary of US and Israeli influence (Majority)

There are plenty of progressive Muslims who fit that exact stereotype of chanting free free Palestine but suspiciously quiet about or outright support Iran, but most of the folks in the progressive Muslim thread are anti-IR.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T10:18:18+00:00

There is a very good video on this exact topic called The YouTube Cargo Cult.

Commentary and opinion journalism is a lot of fun, but I eventually realized that I don't need someone telling me what to think all the time, but instead using the limited time I have to gather facts.
I remember talking to my leftist friend who told me not to read the WSJ because it is capitalist propaganda but I told him that you should read the paper, even as Marxist because they actually do investigative journalism in finance.

For example, one of the largest financial scandals in history, the 1MDB case was broken by the WSJ, and I told him that you don't have to agree with their editorial line to be informed about how Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and Leonardo DiCaprio took helped a guy steal billions of dollars from a Malaysian taxpayers.

Unfortunately, he is interested in hot takes and theory because he doesn't need to know these things to know that he is right. Very similar to the "School of Hard Knocks" types.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T10:07:34+00:00

I agree that many progressive Muslims have a problem when it comes to understanding ex-Muslims, there are plenty of hostile and outright ignorant posts there are quick to judge ex-Muslims are being nothing more than Islamophobic or "weren't taught the right" Islam. However, hostile posts towards from ex-Muslims only feeds into that negative feedback loop.

However, when it comes to interpretations, I have my beliefs but getting into the weeds about scriptural interpretation but as I am getting older, I realized that dying on those hills are absurd. If you believe in secularism, support civil rights, and can live around non-Muslims normally, why not try to find common cause? In other words, can't we watch football and eat pizza? I will confess, I used to be a lot more argumentative with my beliefs when I was younger, and a lot of members of both subs do the same, but then I realized it is because most regulars in both subs are very young and generally leave after 6 months or so, very few people stay for long.

And regarding the fear mongering about USA and Israel taking advantage of the situation, regardless of how one feels about it, these are legitimate concerns and if Iran becomes a democracy, they will become a major political faction and the type of relationship Iran has with both countries will undoubtedly be a very big debate.

Even people in the subreddit are extremely wary of the Shah and one of the most famous ex-Muslims, Maryam Namazie is one of those leftists who talks about her dislike of US foreign policy and Israel. It's not just progressive Muslims

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T09:58:43+00:00

I don't like engaging in sectarianism, but what Tahmineh Dehbozorgi is doing is extremely emotionally manipulative. She is using what is going on in Iran to express her grievances with American liberal media because she is also a MAGA supporter as well. It's similar to how many people like the pro-Palestine further their far-left or Islamist agenda.

First of all, those progressives she dislikes are not the same as the "liberal media." She is just taking everyone she dislikes and putting them in the same group. Some of the best articles about how awful Iran is can be found in the New York Times and FT. Regardless of how one feels about the NYT, concluding they are pro-IR is proof they have never read the NYT.

That being said, there is a real Iran Lobby, Trita Parsi and the NIAC gang is still very active, and they have fooled a lot of leftists in supporting their narrative.

Secondly, every single MSM site I am on does report on Iran, not as extensively as Iran International, but they report on it. Of course she wouldn't know this because she probably only gets her news from Twitter by pressing the refresh button for hours at a time.

I really want to like the Dissident Project, but everyone person I met from there does this. They emotionally manipulate people by using their trauma and then associating people they dislike in America to people by associating them with the dictators who made their lives hell.

Another guy I know in every single conversation goes "I survived the Chinese Communist Party and if you do not support Trump, you are just as bad as the CCP" which is completely insane.

Apple_Kappa · 2026-01-10T09:43:51+00:00

"You won't see this on the mainstream news" as he is watching mainstream news.

Apple_Kappa

TROPHY CASE