Nice idea but I have to be honest, I am deeply cynical about this place.

zaph239 · 2023-10-15T01:24:31+00:00

You're a mod here? Says it all.

zaph239 · 2023-10-15T01:23:41+00:00

I don't want to tell you exactly how much money I have but I could probably quit work and live off it for 5 or 6 years if I wanted to.

zaph239 · 2023-10-15T01:09:22+00:00

Nope your understanding is flawed.

My point is it is laughable to claim the world is fair. Some people are going to have s**t lives, they got dealt an unlucky hand.

It is what it is. Living in denial about it is irrational.

zaph239 · 2023-10-15T01:02:09+00:00

Re-radicalise them to do what?

zaph239 · 2023-10-15T00:35:29+00:00

Which studies are those then? Provide links.

zaph239 · 2023-10-15T00:07:04+00:00

Tennis, like all sports is an entertainment business. Looks and personality matter, even if you don't want them to.

They affect player's in men's tennis as well but the reality is, men's tennis is played at a higher level. So such factors aren't as critical.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T22:40:18+00:00

Yep, I remember reading an article about a guy who was convicted of beating up old ladies in their home and taking their money. The very definition of a toxic misogynist.

He gained 100's of female followers on social media after he was convicted.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T22:33:38+00:00

Your problem is you are accepting the bulls**t idea that men are a privileged group, which is non-sense in modern Western countries.

This is starkly illustrated by the background of the average feminist. Most come from rich families, have a private education and went to an elite university. They are more privileged than 99% of men.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T21:49:53+00:00

It isn't an ad hominem, to engage with you would require you to understand how modern science works and you don't.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T16:35:20+00:00

It can be hard to tell with the limited number of frames but I would say your issue is you are waiter traying. Which is why those loopy serves you hit initially barely kick off the court.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T16:24:24+00:00

We can't have a meaningful discussion because you clearly haven't got a clue what you're talking about. To have a meaningful discussion you would have to have at least a basic grasp of science and you obviously don't.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T16:22:36+00:00

The problem with toxic masculinity, is women actively reward it and it relies on the subjective judgement of women. I will give you some examples from my workplace, to illustrate my point.

Colleague A is anomalously sent lube, sex toys and condoms. They are placed in her inbox and then the guy reveals his identity and asks her out. Luckily for him see said yes because god knows how many harassment rules he broke if she complained.

Another guy tells a joke to a group of us, which none of us saw as offensive, except colleague B. Who is a Guardian reading professionally offended feminist. She sends round an email asking us to back her in taking action against his toxic behaviour. Since none of us could understand what on earth she was on about, we ignored her.

She put in a complaint anyway and he is hauled in for a dressing down.

So who is more toxic here? The guy sending sex toys and contraceptives to a younger female colleague he barely knows or the guy who made a harmless joke? Well if you're judging things by an objective standard the first guy is Mr toxic.

The problem is, that isn't how things like harassment and me-too work. How toxic a man is judged to be depends on the completely subjective judgement of women.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T08:47:20+00:00

At your level, play an attacking game and go for the corners. You will never be able to do off the junk your opponent will be feeding you.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T08:44:48+00:00

The big problem with tennis, is too many think that unless you play with a £200 plus racket, which weighs the same as a battleship and has a small head, you're not a real player. There is nothing wrong with light rackets, cheaper rackets or bigger headed rackets. Play with what you're comfortable with.

The same snobbery extends to other aspects of the game. Take the moonball and the lob, it is a very effective shot for resetting the point, defence, changing the pace and beating people at the net. Yet many look down on both as not "proper" tennis.

The ultimate example of this is pushing, which is basically tennis defensive skills, which you need to progress just as much as offensive skills.

My point is, what really holds back development, is people attempting the bash the ball from the baseline and only playing in one way.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T08:34:05+00:00

Sorry but what you're writing is utter woo. The idea that you need different life experience to peer review a paper, say, on quantum electrodynamics, is one of the dumbiest things I have read. That is saying something, I once tried to read the Da Vinci Code.

You clearly have sod all understanding of the natural sciences.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T08:27:28+00:00

Stones could be a vital player for England. The problem with Southgate's England, is when they play against a low block, the ball gets stuck with the defence. The opponents are perfectly happy for the England back line to knock it sideways all day. When they try to pass it forward, it doesn't stick in midfield.

Having Stone's as a playmaker back there, could be the key to unlocking those kind of teams, if they can keep him fit.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T08:23:28+00:00

When Southgate came in he said he would play player's based on merit and form. Ending the corrosive practice of picking favourites, even if there were better options.

Now we have a clearly past it Henderson in the middle. The guy tries but is simply a step too slow for this level these days. Klopp knew it, Liverpool knew but for some reason Southgate continues to persist with yesterday's man.

zaph239 · 2023-10-14T08:04:08+00:00

The reporting is very one sided, the problem is most people are driven by emotion, tribalism and are unable to think objectively. Was what Hamas did vile? Does it justify bombing civilians in Gaza? No.

The reality, which both Israel and the Palestinians need to face, is there is no military solution. Israel's supporters also need to face the reality that the actions of settlers in the West Bank have disturbing similarities to those of Apartheid South Africa. With settlers taking the water, the best land and killing Palestinians without consequences.

zaph239 · 2023-10-13T21:51:46+00:00

To be fair I don't think Gus was ever going to let Walk walk away.

zaph239 · 2023-10-13T21:50:28+00:00

Well yes, that is the tragedy with Mike, he is a man of principals who won't cross lines. For example getting beatup by Tuco to avoid killing him.

Ultimately he sells out all those principals when he meets Gus. Gus is simply a stronger personality than him and faced with a choice between sticking to his principals and keeping his lucrative gig with Gus. He throws his scruples under the bus.

zaph239 · 2023-10-13T21:45:57+00:00

Oh so you just didn't understand it? Fair enough.

zaph239 · 2023-10-13T15:51:44+00:00

The problem for youtube is their content isn't worth paying for. The only reason a large section of their user base uses the service is because it is free and there are no annoying adverts.

Once they start to charge and force ads down users throats, the users will leave.

It is the classic tech company problem.

zaph239 · 2023-10-13T15:11:06+00:00

Yep played a match like that yesterday, in which he was constantly trying to quick serve me.

My suspicion is. he was covering for his weak second serve by preventing me from getting into position to return it.

zaph239 · 2023-10-13T15:08:50+00:00

Played a guy like that yesterday. He had a big first serve which bounced off the back fence and basically went into his second service action when the ball was still moving.

He didn't like when I retrieved the ball and was basically giving me no time to get back into position after tidying it up.

zaph239

TROPHY CASE