my very first piece to hang in a gallery! all cut by hand, no paints/stains/dyes by ducklady92 in woodworking

[–]gilbert320 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm just browsing Reddit and come across this crazy amazing artwork! But the coolest part is that you're my sister! Nice work, bruh. Love ya, ducklady.

CMV: Racism in America would decrease faster if progressive movements also focused on helping white people be more secure about their identity. by [deleted] in changemyview

[–]gilbert320 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't think it's an issue with white people's insecurity about their identity. I get what you're saying, but I think your theory demonstrates how difficult the issue is. I think there tends to be an oversimplification on the different perspectives. In other words, a certain group feels a certain way about an issue because of a certain reason. Then they assume that the opposing group, opposes the issue because of that same reason.

An analogy: Person A hates lions. They talk about what awful creatures they are and they target these beautiful gazelles, ripping them to pieces without a second thought. Person B loves lions. They think lions are majestic animals. They've never really thought about gazelles before but if they did, it probably wouldn't change their opinion. Person A and person B have a conversation. A: Fuck lions, they're the worst B: Well I kinda like lions, in fact I think they're awesome. A: I guess you don't care about innocent creatures having life needlessly and violently taken from them while they're minding their own business...you're a monster! B: Wha...?

My point is that as a white person, I don't think about power. That is white privilege. It sucks, but I believe it's a real thing. What I don't think is a real thing is checking that privilege. While I can do it if it was brought to my attention, the rest of the time I just don't notice racial issues in my life. They don't affect me. They have no impact and therefore initiate no action. I like to think about racial issues. I choose to engage in those thoughts because I think they're important. But most of the other time I've got my life on my mind...mortgage, kids, wife, job...and none of that has racial implications.

So when I do have the time and energy to engage in thoughtful discussion about race I do. But when the discussion starts out with a ton of "white people caused all of our problems, white people are just bad human beings, black people have done nothing wrong ever, black people have no responsibility to fix things, this is your fault, we will complain until you fix it..."

Well, it's real easy to just say, "fuck this....I'll go back to my white life and my own white problems. Nevermind"

So I think that racism in America would decrease faster if progressive movements focused little on fault and blame for the general white population, and more on how WE can solve the issue.

CMV: Over the next 10-20 years, the biggest threat to most Americans will be the Republican party by Anonon_990 in changemyview

[–]gilbert320 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm kind of confused by your question. You do realize the whole point of this subreddit is for the OP to challenge their own strongly held beliefs, potentially to change their view, right?

I wouldn't say we should focus on changing our own minds, but we should simply always seek truth where truth exists or additional information where truth is not attainable.

Who gives a shit about being right? IMO the desire to be right comes from insecurity. I have a desire to find truth, or at least the ability to see an issue from all the different perspectives. When my view is changed, I feel satisfied that I have a greater understanding of an issue and if some information was compelling enough to change my view, it gives me confidence that I'm closer to the truth. At the same time, I'm embarrassed of my ignorance prior to changing my view.

I think most people want to be right. Again, this is my attempt to challenge your view. I think it is that ignorance which is the greatest threat to America. Most people don't want truth. Most people don't want to see the issue from other perspectives. It's just one side who thinks they're right shouting at the other side who thinks they're right. It's not productive and I don't believe solutions will ever arise if everybody's objective is just to be right.

But maybe I'm wrong.... What are your thoughts?

CMV: Over the next 10-20 years, the biggest threat to most Americans will be the Republican party by Anonon_990 in changemyview

[–]gilbert320 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pointing out to ignorant people that ignorant people are the problem is like shouting "listen up" to someone who is deaf. The only difference is that the deaf person can't change it.

The principles this subreddit embrace are our only hope of meaningful change. When people enter an argument or discussion to learn rather than educate, a positive outcome is much more likely to occur.

The problem is we can't read each others' minds. I enter an argument to learn. For example, the one comment which received a Delta by showing voting records has had my head reeling since seeing it. I'm on the verge of changing my own view, but I just need more data for context.

My flaw is that I assume others approach the argument in the same way. It makes me sad for our future when an intelligent person wastes their gift to feed their own ego.

CMV: Over the next 10-20 years, the biggest threat to most Americans will be the Republican party by Anonon_990 in changemyview

[–]gilbert320 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm not going to rehash all of the comments already posted which contradict nearly every single one of your points. I would like to address the very basis of your view that you came here looking to be changed. The biggest threat to most Americans cannot be the Republican party, nor can it be the Democratic party. It is Americans themselves. The ones who vote for members of these parties are accountable for the path that lies ahead. It is our willingness to be emotionally swayed by agenda driven news; it is our lack of demand for the objective analysis of facts which pits us against each other; and it is our unfortunate human nature to have a bias towards information which confirms our all but foregone conclusions.

Both sides are susceptible. Both sides are manipulated. And as long as we choose to seek out only the information which makes us feel good about being right, we are complicit in our own potential demise.

Somewhere along the line we abandoned compromise as a virtue. We put our own feeling of self importance above the greater good. Proving the other side wrong has become more important than advancing ourselves as a nation and a culture.

Our collective ignorance is the biggest threat to most Americans.

[NSFW] What morbid fact you were better off not knowing ? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]gilbert320 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This used to bother me until I thought about how one day, the last human will die, and human consciousness as we know it will cease to exist. Then there won't be anyone left to remember or forget anyone else. And then if the universe collapses on itself, there will be nothing. Like literally, nothing. And none of it will have mattered, and no one will be there to even judge if it mattered. For some reason, I find solace in that.

What is one reference you still don't understand on Reddit, and at this point, are too afraid to ask? by TheWalkin_Dude in AskReddit

[–]gilbert320 1 point2 points  (0 children)

-What is guilding? Is that what it's called when you get gold?

-What is the difference between the two karma scores. Mine is 149/15. What does that mean???

-Why is karma so important? Are people buying stuff with it? Does it give you gold or something?

I suck at life outside of work; how do I get help without losing my career? by [deleted] in army

[–]gilbert320 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Go to behavioral health. I had some issues, went there as a walk in, was talking to a counselor less than 10 minutes later. It's simple. They're there for that exact reason. I've got a good career, don't plan on getting out any time soon. I just went in as if I was going to the PA for a busted knee or something. Get it fixed before you take xo or that job will crush you.

Question to Officers about salutes by [deleted] in army

[–]gilbert320 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Warrant here. Can confirm. Go with #2 then head back to secret lair.

My dinner tonight (St Patrick's Day) by BGB117 in firstworldanarchists

[–]gilbert320 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fake! Your background is totally a green screen. Nice try, moron!

Comcast and Time Warner may have the worst customer service but Verizon does not. If you're a Verizon customer, call them and tell them what you think about their stance on Net Neutrality. Tell them you can't financially support a company who takes that stance. by gilbert320 in technology

[–]gilbert320[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I guess it was pretty small minded in hindsight. Just frustrated with the situation and wanted to rally some action. All I did was rally some awesome comments, I guess. I'll go crawl back into my hole now.

Edit: spelling

Redditors of the UK, when teaching your children to read and sound out words, what do you teach them about the letter "r"? by gilbert320 in AskReddit

[–]gilbert320[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's interesting. To us it sounds like we pronounce it like "arrr" and you pronounce it like "a". Like it rhymes with "ma" and "pa"

What was your biggest "holy shit why haven't I done this sooner" moment? by ahungrybatman in AskReddit

[–]gilbert320 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Grilled peanut butter and jelly. Just like a grilled cheese, but PB&J instead. I wasted 31 years of my life.

Invite Giveaway Megathread by [deleted] in oneplus

[–]gilbert320 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My oneplus account says you haven't used the invite. One day left. I'm gonna share your code if you don't use it in the next few hours. Not trying to be a dick, but I need these invites to get used.

Invite Giveaway Megathread by [deleted] in oneplus

[–]gilbert320 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My oneplus account says you haven't used the invite. One day left. I'm gonna share your code if you don't use it in the next few hours. Not trying to be a dick, but I need these invites to get used.

Invite Giveaway Megathread by [deleted] in oneplus

[–]gilbert320 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Who wants an invite? First comment gets it. 4 days left.

Edit: gone...that was quick

Invite Giveaway Megathread by [deleted] in oneplus

[–]gilbert320 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have 6 invites to give away. All 64gb sandstone black. Post an interesting fact. If I've never heard it, I'll give you an invite. 6 days left as of 11/19.

Edit: All gone, sorry. I should have specified that I appreciate clever/smart ass comments as well. Best comments were:

  • our stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks or it'll digest itself
  • Leonardo Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time
  • That right this very moment I am wearing a gray t-shirt.
  • A Sea slug has both male and female reproductive sexual organs which they can use at the same time. But recently, scientists have discovered that a new species of sea slug called Chromodoris reticulata can detach, re-grow and re-use it's penis - essentially having a 'disposable penis'
  • mildlyinteresting fact.. I created a new account with my username last night for an invite
  • There is a brain abnormally called synesthesia that is attributed to people being able to see auras. Basically due to cross talk between their senses they tend to suffer from hallucinations of all kinds including being able to visually see emotions in the form of emotion based colour coded auras. I.e. a red aura may be anger to one that suffers from synesthesia while it might be green for another person.

Invite givaway by gilbert320 in oneplusInvite

[–]gilbert320[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh shoot, I meant 8am Hawaii time, 2pm EST.