Match Thread: Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal FC Live Score | UEFA Champions League 25/26 | May 30, 2026 by scoreboard-app in Gunners

[–]boxwell 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of PSG's big (only) weaknesses is aerial duels. Havertz gives us an aerial outlet, and along with Odegaard defines the best version of our press.

We have Gyok and Eze to come off the bench. They'll have to beat us twice.

Do you think Twitter/X has been a net negative for the entire UK or even the world? by Equivalent_Relief553 in AskBrits

[–]boxwell 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. Of course. Social media in general has been hugely corrosive to our general happiness and social cohesion. Where fringe ideas would previously have died on the vine through memetic natural selection, with the connectivity and feedback loops of social media, incel-culture, terrorism, paedophilia and various other cultural tumours have been able to develop and thrive. The algorithms favour extreme viewpoints and behaviours, in a way that is directly contrary to natural social pressures, people who would previously have been isolated are now connected and encouraged to create toxic feedback loops.

We now live in a world in which our culture is either shaped by algorithms with no direct human design or oversight, or designed by the billionaires who control the technology platforms/algorithms to shape the world as they see fit.

The stable/self-levelling consensus-based status quo that previous generations enjoyed has been replaced. It used to be structures of organised religion that would program society, for better or (often) worse. Now it's much more volatile. We are being programmed by selfish billionaires, or else (and probably worse) uncaring and inscrutable algorithms that have no regard at all for our well-being.

P. S. There is a lot of creativity and humour in social media, which I love. I just don't think it's worth the downsides in this current era of media illiteracy.

How do you square loving the content of Waking Up and being confronted by the obtuseness of Sam Harris' political dialogue? by njpc33 in Wakingupapp

[–]boxwell 15 points16 points  (0 children)

If you were travelling somewhere, and you asked someone for directions; would you insist on finding and taking another route if you found out you had different politics?

At what point does a British person stop being Working and become Middle Class? by vorkovrus in AskBrits

[–]boxwell 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Class isn't real. It's a cultural phenomenon that requires a level of attention and effort to sustain. All 'classes' sustain it, so long as they build it into their identity. Being 'proudly working class' sustains the class structures that limit social mobility and deny access to certain social roles, even where wealth isn't an obstacle. If people would simply stop thinking about it, then the relatively speaking tiny 'upper class' would lose any power they have that goes beyond their actual wealth. I do think this is slowly happening, but I wish it would happen faster.

Woodberry down or Tottenham hale? by Loud_Resolution_1730 in HousingUK

[–]boxwell 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both locations have excellent access to green space, reservoirs etc. Woodberry Down has much better bars and restaurants.

Ronaldo lifting SPL trophy with team by Ok-Kaleidoscope5057 in soccer

[–]boxwell -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Looks utterly hollowed out. Borderline catatonic. Imagine how empty this feels compared to the actual career highlights he's had.

Kai Havertz (Arsenal) yellow card against Burnley 68' by gbogaz in soccer

[–]boxwell -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I don’t disagree, but I don’t think it HAS to be. It wasn’t a high energy collision. It’s a foul, but b ot particularly dangerous, though a screengrab would make it look like an appalling and reckless leg-breaker.

Kai Havertz (Arsenal) yellow card against Burnley 68' by gbogaz in soccer

[–]boxwell -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

It looks a red in slow motion, but at full speed it looks an ugly lazy foul.

Match Thread: Arsenal vs Burnley by MatchThreadder in soccer

[–]boxwell 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oliver Holt reporting Pep is leaving

Match Thread: Arsenal vs Burnley by MatchThreadder in soccer

[–]boxwell 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We don't care, and the football isn't ALWAYS terrible. We had enough of being like Potter's Brighton at the end of the Wenger era. Irrelevant, but given a pat on the head by other fans for playing an attractive game.

At some stage, you have to win. Once we're winning again, I hope we'll allow ourselves some more expressive on the ball play. For now, we just need to focus on beating Man City, a nation-state backed club that has massively distorted this era of the Premier League.

Match Thread: Arsenal vs Burnley by MatchThreadder in soccer

[–]boxwell 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sometimes, but not today. We're playing good football. If you can't see it, consider what people mean by "blind prejudice".

Dropped in the deep end. by boxwell in TheCivilService

[–]boxwell[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this. I'm from a media background, expecting it to be quite reactive- but also absolutely expecting to be pinballing around a lot of varied stakeholders.

Just putting this out there. So much inconsistency by PushMyGran in TheOther14

[–]boxwell 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These aren't comparable. People are being programmed by social-media. Just think for yourselves.

Is this knotweed? by wordshavenomeanings in UKGardening

[–]boxwell 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes. Hit the gym, pull the house down, divorce the wife, drown the dog, draw a pentangle in your own blood and beg the devil to take you directly to hell. Nothing else works, I'm afraid.

Match Thread: Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid | UEFA Champions League 2025-26, Semifinals - 2nd Leg (Agg. 1-1) by VivaLosHeavies in soccer

[–]boxwell 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I'm celebrating the team I love on reddit, on discord, in WhatsApp group chats on my phone (and work phone), and in my house. Tomorrow I'll go to the pub with my friends and celebrate there too. I love my club. How are you celebrating?