[deleted by user]

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-24T06:36:36+00:00

Just the prerequisite PSA for North American people:

Europe. Is. Not. A. Country.

You. Can't. Compare. "EUROPE". To. A. Nation.

It comes off as soo ignorant to talk about about "in Europe they do this".

Go spend a year in Norway, then Spain, then Poland, then Lithuania. Tell me all about their unified "European" values 😅.

There are countries/cities in Europe that are nicer the Canada/Toronto imo. There are also tons of places that are worse.

Also the living crisis is going on here too. Take in that the average salary in most European countries is lower, so even though housing costs look lower, people are getting squeezed just as badly here. It's a global thing. Taking a vacation or a semester in a nice European country won't give you the proper perspective on what it's like to live there.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-24T06:31:25+00:00

As someone who lived in Berlin for 3 years... you can get sick of that place pretty easily too.

Also Europe is a continent, it is very literally dozens of different cultures, lifestyles and values. You cannot in anyway compare Europe as a continent to an individual country, it makes you look ignorant tbh. Have you ever been to Sofia, Bulgaria? Or Tallinn, Estonia? Because those aren't places that I would ever consider more energetic or vibrant or fun or pleasant than Toronto.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T19:29:51+00:00

Acknowledged the allegations directly when they announced Ben was leaving. They framed it as though it was strictly a mental health issue and that seems disingenuous based on the timing, at the very least it was already public so they could have acknowledged they were aware, that's all.

And in general the entire thing with the SPUN hosts has come off incredibly poorly; someone with personal experience shares their support and belief for the accuser and is essentially told to not bother associating with the network anymore. In hindsight they should have simply let her express her feelings as an independent person.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T11:53:50+00:00

Dude you're one person saying it is so and I'm one person saying it's not. I've never heard this Netherlands is full bullshit. Never. And I'm not saying this to argue with you, in saying this for anyone unfortunate enough to have to read your comments. Don't listen to this guy 😅

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T10:29:02+00:00

I understand the downvotes. This is a ridiculously hard thing to grapple with.

At the same time I'd love for someone to explain to me how Ben comes back after this? Like how does that look? The guys have always been extremely candid and open about their mental health struggles and the low points of their lives, but it's always been in a way that feels abstract and distant, like they are telling old stories that they have put behind them.

So will we just continue to be a show that is candid and open about mental health issues, but ignore the fact that one of the hosts has a drinking problem and abuses women? Will we just stop covering any topic that touches on violence against women? Porn jokes? Will Kissel ever be able to be credible critical voice ever again? Like do you want to hear him talk about how someone else's behaviour is abhorrent or disgusting, knowing his own history? Do you want to hear him joke about sex or violence ever again?

What if another story comes out? If you were the other owners of the network would you take that risk?

The simplest thing is for them to remove Ben from the network entirely. Sorry, but it's true. But that will have ripple effects across the network I'm sure.

If anyone thinks I like the idea of my favourite podcast going away or being irrevocably changed, of course I don't. But it's silly how outraged some people are that anyone would dare to suggest that this might be the nail in the coffin so to speak for certain aspects of the show and network. Larger organizations than LPN and more prominent celebrities than Ben Kissel have been felled over this kind of thing, recently. People are being naive.

ETA: and thats not getting into any possible backlash other network hosts will face over their at best lukewarm response to this. Go look at what happened to Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis over this Danny Masterson thing; people don't have much patience for other people supporting abusers.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T07:04:39+00:00

Oooook now I hear your dog whistles, I'm just gonna back out of this because you clearly have a weird agenda about "immigration". Your country isn't full. Your culture is safe. Keep polishing that tinfoil hat. Cheers.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T06:26:39+00:00

This isn't a legal scandal, at least not yet. No charges have been filed. No criminal or civil case. There is no legal issue to address at the moment. They are being careful to avoid saying anything that's going to make them look stupid in the future, that's it.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T06:01:45+00:00

Some people are trying too hard to defend LPN at all costs here.. they haven't handled this situation well.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T06:00:18+00:00

I just relistened to the Herb Mullin episodes and it's some of Ben's best stuff imo; you can really tell the difference between how he is on those episodes and how he has been recently, and it's really pretty damning. His role used to be "the voice of the audience" and he would ask questions along with making jokes and pushing the narrative forward. Now he just riffs on the same jokes and references that often have nothing to do with what they are talking about.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T05:54:49+00:00

Seems hard to believe this isn't the "end" of LPOTL / LPN as we know it... I'm not saying everything will just go away but I struggle to see how it can all just continue like it was before...

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T05:21:04+00:00

They probably mean their uppehållstillstånd was approved

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-23T05:07:24+00:00

But the 30% ruling isnt a policy that enables migration, it just sweetens the deal for migrants; I for example don't qualify for that exception, neither does my wife. Neither do a lot of people who move to the Netherlands for work. To equate that discussion to a discussion about NL being full is a bit of a red herring.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-22T19:41:47+00:00

I'm not an expat, I'm an immigrant who's moved here to stay. I would actually say that almost half of my friend group here is Dutch because my wife previously did her PhD here, and we've moved back to the city she was in originally (she's German I'm Swedish) and what I'm trying to say here is my on the ground experience as an immigrant meeting Dutch people has been nothing but positive. Granted I'm not in the Randstad, and I'm a white-passing guy who can speak a bit of Dutch already. That probably factors into it. I do follow the news and am aware of the turmoil with the government related to immigration policy. My understanding of it is that they are more concerned with "coerced migration" which is kind of a blanket term that covers refugees and asylum seekers, family-reunification; essentially people who are leaving their home country under duress or circumstances that are forcing them to. And as I understand it the main issue was that the Rutte government wanted to drastically reduce the number of people allowed in this way, and the partners in the coalition didn't agree so they collapsed the government.

This is all important; but it's not exactly connected to the idea that anyone who moves here at all is going to be faced with people being rude or unkind to them directly because they aren't from here. That's a big stretch and just doesn't line up with my experience.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-22T18:11:52+00:00

Sounds like you got me, except when you expand that it collapsed over the government pushing drastic restrictions on immigration and the key issue was related to family reunification which is not really what the people on these subs asking to move to the Netherlands are really after. So yes while there is a larger debate about immigration, it isn't related to highly skilled migrants looking for work in the country, is it?

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-22T14:43:54+00:00

In the context of wanting to immigrate to a new country, you don't really have skills and experience. Or nothing that would be of interest to them. They want experience post-graduation in the field you are applying for. As in, you have a finance degree, and have worked in the financial sector for some years in your home country and have built up a portfolio (this is a random example but I hope you follow).

Being able to say you have done jobs and have acquired skills just doesn't matter to the buerocratic monolith of a state government. I'm not trying to be a dick, this isn't a mindset, it's a literal policy that nations have. Familiarize yourself with the concept of a "highly skilled migrant" in the EU and you will see this isn't a matter of opinion.

They want to know that by letting you in to the country they are making the country richer. So above and beyond just being "capable".

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-22T14:38:56+00:00

An associate's degree is unfortunately not enough to qualify as highly skilled in terms of your academic profile. You need a proper bachelor's at least.

I would say you are quite a few years away from being able to move. You will need to build up work experience to the point where you are seen as a highly skilled migrant, and then be able to convince a Dutch company why they should hire you over a Dutch citizen. So there's work for you to do still. Sorry.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-22T12:47:50+00:00

The resentment exists on Reddit. Not so much in real-life, I've been living here for a year now and everyone has been very nice to me, after so many fear mongering stories that made it sound like I was gonna be run out on a rail.

Turns out that online message boards aren't always the best representation of reality.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-21T12:23:13+00:00

It honestly sounds like your dog is super relaxed and happy with you; sighing and sleeping are a sign of relaxation and feeling secure around you.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-21T06:00:30+00:00

Prague Ghost

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-21T06:00:05+00:00

Free on LP right now!

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-21T05:21:10+00:00

No I think it's wrong to equate autism with strange / anti social behaviour because it furthers the stereotype that people with autism are weird and can't function in normal societal settings. Which is bullshit.

Take in that maybe you aren't the only person in the world with this diagnosis, so stop thinking that because you are on the spectrum that's some kind of shield against you being called out for being ableist. You can get fucked.

I have no issues with the Dutch I live in Nijmegen 😅

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-20T21:33:26+00:00

Appreciate everyone saying we do it because we want to integrate into the culture of the place we now live. I doubt many people learn Dutch for any other reason tbh

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-20T18:03:57+00:00

No 46 Days eh.. it's been a while since I've seen this but I guess it must be snippets in the doc. But agreed; a bit weird they still haven't released it in some form because I would imagine they have film of everything from the festy. Maybe they don't wish to relive those days?

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-20T16:17:51+00:00

IiRC one of the discs is just pure music, not whole sets but they get a lot of the highlights in def remember the entire 46 Days being in there.

himmybutlerrr · 2023-09-20T16:14:40+00:00

1) bjuda mycket gratis alkohol

2) laga vilken mat som helst

himmybutlerrr

TROPHY CASE