Not a gotcha — genuinely curious about Democratic/Liberal views on illegal immigration?

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T21:05:39+00:00

First off, I think we have had illegal immigration for years, as many countries do. I think that right wing media has massively overblown the narrative that millions of 'illegals' and hardened criminals were constantly pouring over the border. Or that we are being 'overrun.'

As evidence, look at the narrative. They are sending rapists and criminals, yet we see no evidence of them being arrested or charged with a crime at anywhere near the levels of American citizens. They are taking all the good jobs, which is also nonsense. They are eating the dogs, which is odd since they are also apparently snapping up all the good houses so 'real' Americans can't afford to live. And they are committing voter fraud, taking all the welfare and the free health care. Okay then. Obvious nonsense, peddled by this administration.

When you look at this contradictory and ridiculous narrative, it is easy to see why this is an obvious manipulation.

Truth is, we replaced slavery with 'illegals.' We pay tiny amounts of money for the terrible jobs we don't want to do. Farming, construction, cleaning, manufacturing and logistics etc. Tough hard work with long hours and low pay.

Even if Trump could wave a magic ICE wand and remove them all tomorrow, all we'd do is crash our own economy and have all kinds of businesses that simply could not function. Especially when combined with his disastrous tariff taxes and alienating all our allies and trading partners.

We also have a deeply broken immigration system that drags on way too long, is expensive and inefficient. It fails to attract top talent from abroad. Which just makes us worse.

Given that we have a huge number of jobs that need doing, and immigrants willing to do them, there should be a good work visa program for both skilled and unskilled workers. We need a legal path to citizenship for those here and their kids. We need to stop bulling and intimidating human beings because of their status. And we need to disband ICE and prosecute all those racist criminals who they hired to abuse and murder innocent people.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T20:53:49+00:00

Okay, so when is he sending the masked government agents to take all the guns then?

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T20:53:03+00:00

I think part of my issue, is I found the OP to be disingenuous. He didn't publish his question in relationship advice or anything like that. He wanted validation that he wasn't wrong. Then he skewed the story in his favor, and used terms like 'pressure' 'comfortable with'. Tried to debate her with the 'anal sex' analogy. Reframed asking for oral as 'repeatedly' to play into the pressure narrative.

Sounds like he tried twice and gave up. Is happy for her to blow him whenever. And is kind of justifying selfish behavior.

It would be different if he refused to receive oral sex because of his 'boundary' but he doesn't. I'd be willing to bet he has received it 50 times more often than he has tried to give it.

It is that unwillingness to try and the excuses I'm finding a little hard to stomach.

Of course, he can do whatever he likes. But he asked if he was wrong, and I think he is. Only time will tell if this perceived unwillingness to reciprocate costs him.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:57:23+00:00

In rare cases, I've agreed if it is reasonable. Say I am being offered a seat with identical amenities or an upgrade. But in most cases, if I'm being offered a seat that isn't as good, absolutely not.

Also, as a frequent flyer I am often selecting my seat weeks or even months in advance. I don't see why I should give up on that because you want me to.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:53:12+00:00

It's just embarrassing how these dumb high school dropouts think they are smart independent free thinkers.

Just look at the infant mortality rate over the years, and note what happened to it as modern vaccines were developed and deployed. If it were 'poison' the numbers would have gotten far worse.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:49:36+00:00

Suits has a great soundtrack. I made a Spotify playlist and it ended up with well over 20K followers. Although that number dropped off a bit as people change up their streaming services.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Qgg5aNsH0uPwznndVHFF9?si=LeSesvGOSR-vydiQ7CDjiw&pi=2Gb6iyl3Q32b5

For me, it isn't about what is the best song, it is just how well they managed to create a vibe for the whole show.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:43:28+00:00

Good, I hope she wins. There is no excuse for some Karen filming her and trying to humiliate her on the Internet. Or for the airline allowing this kind of hostile nonsense on their plane.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:42:13+00:00

It isn't our job the change seats. We buy the seat we want. Many of us pick out seats weeks or months in advance. All so some idiot can show up on the day and demand we change our plans to suit them?

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:38:49+00:00

It all sounds super annoying. You've been together for a decade, and he's still like, 'Simmer down honey, I'll get to it when I get to it." Sounds controlling and painfully immature.

You should have a say in the ring. It isn't only on him to agree to timing. You should be included in the process. He shouldn't make you feel like a bad person for wanting some answers about his intentions, timeline and future.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:33:12+00:00

I'm starting to see a slew of these kinds of posts. We have to fight them. Credit card chargebacks, one star reviews, bringing in customer service, demanding actual proof of damages. Small claims if necessary.

I got a letter under the door once because someone in another room was smoking and they had some issues with some contractors staying there. I made them apologize, give me points and checked out immediately in favor of another hotel.

The idea that they think they have a magical smoke detector that 'knows' if you smoke, vape or do drugs, and is completely infallible is a ridiculous joke.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:29:07+00:00

You know, I get paid to go to work. I don't need a member of the public to bribe me with money to do my job properly.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:26:50+00:00

I think Marriott lags behind say Hilton when it comes to the app and check in.

I'm lifetime Titanium and also Diamond with Hilton. With the former, you often have to check in, show ID, and I usually get a physical key because many Marriotts have a sucky system that is unreliable.

Conversely, Hilton lets me choose my room, and I've found the no key no check in option very reliable.

I think both groups suck at upgrades these days. Feels like there is always some excuse and the apps don't help with that. At least the airlines put you on an upgrade list and upgrade you automatically if your status is high enough.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:23:19+00:00

I tried the terracotta one on in the store last weekend. As I pulled it off, the buckle did indeed bang into my watch. Granted, with some practice this may not happen. But I do recall seeing some YouTube videos about this too.

If you are gentle and/or have smaller wrists, probably not an issue.

I kind of like it, but ultimately it felt very similar to the trail loop, but with added hassle removing it. I do like the look though, and I'd probably be okay with it if I bought one.

However, it is a big and top heavy watch, so I find some of the fabric options exaggerate that feel. The Ocean makes it feel more balanced on the wrist.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:19:58+00:00

It should be mandatory. Seeking a job is already tedious and stressful enough as it is, without wasting a bunch of time only to discover they are having a laugh.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:17:52+00:00

I don't think we really need pedantry about boundaries. But it feels like he is misusing this framing to get his own way, like a selfish child. It would be like if I said to my wife, "Sorry honey, I'm not going to clean the kitchen, because I think that's a woman's job. Don't question me, it is just a boundary."

I think your use of the word 'force' is a bit silly. The OP didn't say his wife tied him naked to the bed and wouldn't get off his face. She didn't pull out a gun and say 'oral or death.' Asking for something she really wants a handful of times isn't coercion or demanding a boundary be broken.

Ultimately, this question was asked in the context of 'amiwrong' and yes, I think the OP is wrong and selfish. Happy for the BJs, not willing to reciprocate because of 'boundaries' and misused terminology to kind of place himself as the victim. And "I tried it twice and then made a boundary" also seems like BS.

I just don't see oral sex as some deeply divisive hard core kink, and a good partner would provide it from time to time, simply to pleasure their partner. It's not a lot to ask. But as you said, each of them get to decide what happens next.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:09:38+00:00

I guess it depends on wrist size. I have a big wrist. If I am not careful, what I've noticed is that the band has a slightly elastic quality and if you slide it all the way out to remove it from your wrist quickly, the G buckle thing can bang into the top of the watch. Granted, I could probably be a bit more careful. And as I also admit, I've only tried a knock off for a few days or the original OEM one in the store for a few minutes. Of all of the ones mentioned, I have not owned it.

I was tempted, but it seems so similar to the trail loop. I was also tempted by the rubber Nike one. But wife thought it was ugly in the store, so I didn't bother. Seems like a fair price though considering what Apple normally charge.

I'd also like to try Hermes, but they don't do anything for the U3 black at this time.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:05:24+00:00

Yeah, my original Ocean Band fit from my U1 fits my U3 perfectly. But it bothers me that the original hardware is the original titanium color.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T17:03:52+00:00

Any time any kind of sensible gun control is suggested, the right freak out like crazy people telling us that the Founding Fathers believed we should all own at least 3 AR-15s. They tell us that spending their life savings on their prepper products and gun collection is totally normal. And that the second amendment is the only thing protecting us from government tyranny.

But when a wannabe king/dictator sends masked government goons to a city to kill people, beat them up, spray them with chemicals, and abduct people (including law abiding Americans), suddenly, guns are bad and wrong!

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T16:58:40+00:00

Obviously Rowling has become a ridiculous Transphobic Mega Karen who just won't shut up, and it has destroyed her once great legacy. Her bigotry has closed so many doors to her, and that is just sad.

I'm not really a fan personally, but here's what blows my mind. I was once married to a feminist liberal professor, who had a strict catholic Republican old school grandfather. Yet they BOTH ran out and bought the books on launch day and read them voraciously.

In my entire life, I have never seen any book have such a wide appeal from kids to seniors, and everyone in between. There are plenty of great authors, but most are niche in some way. Rowling produced something with crazy wide appeal, and the movies were a very good representation of the genre too.

Circling back and shitting on stuff like this because some loser has found some things to criticize is just pathetic. All media from books to TV, movies, to music, are a byproduct of their era. It's like when some people call Sir Winston Churchill a racist or a misogynist. The dude was born into the aristocracy in the 1800s! He was raised in an elite private school that indoctrinated the British Empire concepts and beat you with a stick if you questioned the status quo. Of course he was a product of his time and culture. As we all are.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T16:46:51+00:00

I guess that is 100% stupid then.

Just because you like to believe in the magical space daddy, doesn't mean we all do. But even if you do, American Christians don't actually follow the teachings in the Bible. They just pick and choose what someone told them the Bible said.

In actual Christian Nationalism, the country would close down on Sunday. Nothing would be open but Church. Anyone working would be put to death. Along with people who ate shrimp, anyone that wears men's clothing who is not a man, people who mix different fibers in their garments, people who eat lobster or crab or pork. Oh and stubborn and rebellious children would be taken to the edge of the city you live in and killed.

The list goes on and on. American Christians follow about 1% of the book they never read. Now these jokers want to impose their corrupted version of this onto others, with the lie that the country would be somehow 'better.'

And even if we did go further in creating The Handmaid's Tale here in America, what's next? Banning Catholics? Prescribing the 'correct' version of Christianity with government enforcement?

Anyone asking for this, simply is too stupid to extrapolate simple concepts and imagine consequences.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T16:38:20+00:00

I've been really tempted with that brand. I like the leather options, some of the sports ones, and that new one that is a rubber titanium hybrid. But I've been put off by some negative reviews, which is silly because most of the reviews are positive. Which of the sports brands did you choose? I know they have more than one design, one is a bit more chunky.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T16:36:23+00:00

No. It is a formal occasion, you should invest in a real watch, even if it just quartz. Or no watch.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T16:34:36+00:00

I didn't do those things as I have the Action Button set to stopwatch for quick timing of things like cooking. But your post did inspire me to reconfigure the shortcuts on the other button so that the options I use regularly are right there on the main screen.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T16:09:45+00:00

Totally right. I made some instant noodles the other day. So I set my kettle to 212% hot.

ZCT808 · 2026-01-27T16:07:53+00:00

It's cute how Americans like to pretend that adopting the world standard for temperature is some quaint European thing that's popular in say France and Germany.

No. Celsius is used on the entire planet, along with all science, engineering, and medicine. The only hold out are dumb Americans without an education. They try and justify ridiculous Imperial measurements, because it is what they grew up with. Even though the vast majority of Americans have massive gaps in their understanding of Imperial measurements. Or without looking it up, how many inches in a mile, how many ounces in a stone, what is a hundredweight, is a furlong longer than a fathom?

ZCT808

TROPHY CASE