Trump ally shot in Utah a few minutes ago

[mowens]

There are a lot of occupations that require a college education. Not just to check a box, but to actually do the job.

[Jeff]

Social Media mediums like Twatter amd Farcebook

Those are the 2 least harmful ones. At least they are somewhat regulated with semi-common sense.
TikTok and Reddit are, IMO, the absolute worst with Reddit being in 1st place by a mile because of how it's structured.
You create a sub-reddit, and you have an admin that can regulate it however the hell they want. Banning anyone with an opposing opinion or belief and deleting anything they don't like. This creates a massive echo chamber that these kids live in.

I'd wager that half to most of Reddit isn't bad.  Like machining ones, car repair, etc...
But it's overshadowed by the cesspool echo-chamber sub-reddits.

[neurosis]

we are not as far away from Civil Ware as we should be.

I have to wonder exactly what that would look like. Are people going to walk around asking others what their political affiliation is and then take them out if they don't give the right answer?

I have a hard time believing that large groups of radicalized ideologues are going to band together and battle it out in the middle of the Country.

What exactly does a Civil War look like in 2025? And what does that mean to anyone who doesn't buy in to our current disaster of a political system? I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of it all.

[beej]

do you guys ever listen to Professor Sam Richards from Penn State? His youtube channel is SOC119

I don't really know where he lines up politically, but his classes and discussions always grab me. He is always trying to get students to think for themselves.

[Jeff]

Are people going to walk around asking others what their political affiliation is and then take them out if they don't give the right answer?

Not hard to pick out a lot of them.
Look for the colored hair, the pierced septum, the Rachel Maddow glasses and the bird hands.
Oh and they definitely won't be carrying the Stars and Stripes flag, they'll all have their phones out because they can't stay off them for more than 2 minutes at a time.

[beej]

we are not as far away from Civil Ware as we should be.

dude! hyperbole?

[neurosis]

with Reddit being in 1st place by a mile

Reddit does have its good points, but it can definitely be a cesspool of mind rot if you hang out on the right subreddits. /r/antiwork is a great example of that.

Judging by what I see with the younger generations here in the shop, parents probably need to find a way to get their kids faces away from screen before they become addicted to it. 

[neurosis]

the Rachel Maddow glasses

My boss wears that style of glasses.    And he voted for Trump. 

I think that he had an identity crisis in his 30's and couldn't decide if he wanted to stick with grunge, or go hipster.    Don't tell him I said that. 

[Jeff]

parents probably need to find a way to get their kids faces away from screen before they become addicted to it.

That would be nice. But near impossible for the parents to do on their own. The culture needs to change.
We have a few young people working here and the moment the green light goes on, their heads are buried in their phones.
They don't try to better themselves, they don't want to learn when I try to teach them anything about simple right angle trig, or how to set up parts more efficiently, etc.. They call in "sick" 1-2 times per month (almost always on a Monday), Then they have the nerve to bitch about how much they are getting paid and that they haven't had a raise in so long.

[CNCAppsJames]

I have to wonder exactly what that would look like. Are people going to walk around asking others what their political affiliation is and then take them out if they don't give the right answer?

I have a hard time believing that large groups of radicalized ideologues are going to band together and battle it out in the middle of the Country.

What exactly does a Civil War look like in 2025? And what does that mean to anyone who doesn't buy in to our current disaster of a political system? I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of it all.

It probably starts with the people with the COEXIST, =, Biden Harris, and Alphabet People stickers on their cars and alphabet people flags on their houses. After that, who knows.  Oh... and if they look like My Little Pony.

I still think we're pretty far off. So far nobody seems willing to go all out (thankfully)... it's little skirmishes here and there....and those Antifa fucks so far aren't willing to venture out into the country like they said they would. Talking about it with a retired Green Beret neighbor Saturday, he seemed pretry confident that until the left is willing to take their city burning ways into the country, Civil War isn't imminent. I think that's a solid and sane take. That said he thinks reason is all but evaporated with the assassination of Charlie Kirk and there's "a lot" that is now on the table.

I know our neighborhood is safe...

I guess we shall see.

[neurosis]

The culture needs to change.

We seem to be headed in the wrong direction. Not sure if you've seen this -

72% of US teens have used AI companions, study finds

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/21/72-of-u-s-teens-have-used-ai-companions-study-finds/

[CNCAppsJames]

dude! hyperbole?

Ever study the  civil unrest of the 1970's? It's worth some examination.

We are not as close as we were then, but we are exponentially closer than we were in the 80's and 90's.

[beej]

Ever study the  civil unrest of the 1970's? It's worth some examination.

I'm aware. But when it comes to war I guess i'm an "off-ramper"

I've read plenty of autobiographies of civil war soldiers on both sides. most of them end up at the same place mentally wondering what in the world they are actually fighting for. You end up not fighting for a cause but fighting to stay alive another day. I'm at a point in my life, where it wouldn't be me fighting in a civil war but my children or grand children. I'd rather talk it out with the other side than have that.

[Jeff]

We seem to be headed in the wrong direction

I know. And it's insane.
They don't know what real anxiety is growing up as a teen.
Real anxiety as a boy was wanting to ask a girl out but you had to call them up on the phone or ask her in person lol.

[gcode]

What are your other options for higher learning?

I don't know.
I do know, from personal experience that many kids sent off to college return as unemployable loons.