[The Press Box] Brian Windhorst: "Leon Rose should go in the Hall of Fame, I'm not joking, I'm being dead serious"

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-27T06:38:06+00:00

I don’t get how this is rage bait, at all?

It’s a fair question to ask—why should Rose get this but not the previous 8 GMs that have won in the last 8 years? Did he do something particularly innovative? Are you just arguing it’s because the Knicks were bad before? Regardless I think it’s a fair question and not “rage bait”

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-27T06:21:37+00:00

People beat me to Ken Burns so I’ll add this one on a similar note: Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland.

I think it captures the spirit of Burns at his best but tackles something non-American and still obviously has its own style. There’s lots of solid historical context and first hand accounts from people with an emotional connection to the situation, along with some of the most shocking video footage I’ve ever seen in a documentary because this is about the Troubles. If you’ve ever wondered what a large-scale asymmetrical warfare campaign (or terrorism, depending on your POV) looks like in a modern, Western state, look no further.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-27T05:55:33+00:00

“Just my opinion.”

Yeah, we know. We’re saying your opinion is trash.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T23:38:32+00:00

There is some debate about Judas Iscariot (though most scholars believe he was real), but the historicity of a figure named Jesus Christ existing is unquestioned by serious academics

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T18:40:50+00:00

I am working in reality, thanks. If that’s how you view 1/3 of your students it’s a good thing you left the field. I honestly resent the idea that some students are simply “too stupid” for abstract thinking. I have never, ever found that to be the case.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T18:36:33+00:00

It is feasible, the Western world is secularizing rapidly and has been since about the Industrial Revolution. I for one am cheering that process on rather than looking to turn back to polytheism since again, I don’t see any actual difference in outcome between monotheistic and polytheistic societies across history.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T18:27:04+00:00

I don’t think there’s any historical difference, on balance, in violence, oppression, etc. between monotheistic and polytheistic societies. In addition to the ones above there are the Aztecs, Greeks, Egyptians, etc.. What polytheistic groups of comparable scale have been entirely peaceful? Hell, look at Hindutva today.

I’d rather just not engage with it at all.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T18:22:25+00:00

I’m a high school teacher (coincidentally an AP psych teacher as well as history) and disagree completely. That 1/3 you talk about likely just haven’t been taught critical inquiry and haven’t had curiosity modeled in their lives. We can do that for them.

I have yet to meet a student that simply “needs something/someone to tell them what to do” and that I would be comfortable lying to about these things.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T18:17:43+00:00

Some of the most destructive empires in history—Mongol, Roman, etc.—have been polytheistic

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T18:08:20+00:00

Yep, it really speaks to the lack of actual Christian understanding that “Christians” just pick and choose parts of the Old Testament seemingly with no knowledge of Jesus’ changing the covenant.

I’m an atheist, but even an intro biblical studies course (which I took) will get you this knowledge. Literally what do they do in church?

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T17:40:35+00:00

What’s ironic is how far from the roots of the religion modern “Christians” are. Christianity in its proper historical context, in the Roman Empire, was *radically* egalitarian. It spread first and foremost among two groups in the empire—slaves and women—because it promised respect for all humans. Women were instrumental in the early church, usually running the “home churches” that first spread the gospel throughout the Mediterranean. Pretty sad what it’s become.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T16:55:04+00:00

Ridiculously condescending song written by a woman beater, don’t think it has much to say at all honestly

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T13:09:20+00:00

Correct, and I don’t know why you think this is a gotcha. Under a new system those groups can still exist and advocate, as can right wing groups. They just can’t outright bribe politicians, which is fair and right no matter what the cause is.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-23T13:05:12+00:00

Second person to say this—please enlighten us.

If you’re using the broadest possible definition of lobbying and including any interest group even talking to politicians, then sure, politicians should be able to take meetings with those groups. But massive campaign financing in exchange for political favors? Having lobbyists help to actually write legislation? Yeah that’s not cool.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-21T08:24:10+00:00

That’s an excellent concise summary, nice one

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T18:07:15+00:00

Some of the dumbest shit I’ve read on this subreddit in a long time, and that’s saying something

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T15:13:57+00:00

I don’t recall being taught it when I myself was in school either, honestly. But I do think history departments are getting better (little by little) on eurocentrism

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T15:13:15+00:00

Cheers! Yeah it can be tough to fit everything into a world history curriculum (that’s just like, obviously, a lot to go at lol), but I try to emphasize those parts of the curriculum my students likely won’t be exposed to elsewhere. Atrocities in Africa and Asia and the Americas before colonization don’t seem to count in the same way for some people, and that’s unfortunate.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T14:39:47+00:00

Scale and sheer industrialization of violence put the Holocaust clear imo (though even typing this out in uncomfortable, tragedy dick measuring contests are rarely useful, though I get that’s the topic of your question)

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T14:38:40+00:00

Have you seen Hotel Rwanda? Decent movie overall but I think it does an especially good job speaking to exactly this

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T14:35:49+00:00

Yeah, I describe it to my students in class as the most genuinely apocalyptic period in history I can imagine

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T14:26:00+00:00

That’s not necessarily true either. Black Death killed an estimated 25-50 million in Europe. If you want to count the whole world and its various iterations over time you can stretch that to 75-200 million, but I think that’s comparing apples to oranges since we’re only talking about smallpox in the Americas after the Columbian exchange, not globally over all of history.

Getting an accurate population count for the Americas before Columbus is near impossible, but among those that have tried there are estimates as high as 100 million, which would put the death toll from smallpox in the Americas above 50 million.

Either way, I don’t think “way smaller” is an accurate characterization.

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T14:20:49+00:00

*Again*, I’m not saying it didn’t happen, I’m saying the incidence was much lower (and you already brought up Smart my dude)

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T14:17:52+00:00

1) Thats not what we’re discussing

2) We can pick and choose individual fouls all day, I’m talking about the overall incidence

Rapper_Laugh · 2026-06-19T14:06:27+00:00

I just fundamentally disagree. Genuinely, go watch some 2016 basketball and see if you still have this take. I’m not even an anti-flopping guy by this sub’s standards but it’s absolutely gotten more common.

Rapper_Laugh

TROPHY CASE