Man plows into crowd on Bourbon Street killing 10 and injuring 35

Yawn

 

I really don't know what this guy is trying to say here, but I don't hear anything particularly inciteful either. Storytelling that describes bad things happening to non-believers is on brand for the Quran. And to be fair, the Bible makes it pretty clear what happens to those that deny Christ on judgment day.

That said, the bigger issue for this mosque is their statement where they are basically coaching their members to not talk to the authorities if they are approached for questioning. It would have been a much better look if they said they would fully and wholeheartedly cooperate with authorities as it relates to this tragedy. There are members that could have personally known Jabbar and could have important information, it just smells bad when you tell them not to talk to the police, why not?

 

Isn’t “Don’t talk to the police” just a default stance for civil libertarians?



And I actually totally get why the mosque leaders would want to avoid media attention, given past incidents of vandalism, arson, and threats against mosques.

 

They are not the victims.

The perpetrator came from their ranks.

 

Media attention? I'm not talking about doing news interviews, I'm talking about cooperating with an investigation of a significant terrorist attack. If they condemn the act (like they say they do) then they should cooperate if asked.

 

Raid this damn mosque and go after them. I smell a breeding ground for jihadists in this mosque.

 

Some of those folks post here.

 

How does this guy "join" ISIS from a trailer park in North Houston? Just dial up some dude in Syria and say, "I'm in"? Meet with a group of clandestine jihadis in Htown and take a pledge of allegiance? Get on a Zoom call with current ISIS leader Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi and recite by memory a few violent verses from the Q'uran? Walk into a secret recruitment office in a hidden room inside his mosque?
The FBI has a lot of investigating to do and the official statement by his mosque is disturbing.

 

That's how I did it, but you get a discount membership if you're already part of ANTIFA

 

That's because they do not apply scientific thinking to their societal views. If they did, they would not be biased. I'm going to write a long post to scare off the trolls but I'll be completely honest here with ya.

Ultimately the scientific method is one for truth without bias. That is the whole nature of science. A series of hypothesis and experiments to arrive at what but the truth around reality. So yes, there's plenty of scientists to stop that at the door, or worse, don't actually commit to the scientific method.

The only reason I came on here to the D&D is as a scientific experiment. I tell you something, my experiences on this site have made me able to understand the conservative viewpoint and empathize with the thinking, even though I see the flaws and warts in it. And I also see the flaws in liberal thinking the same way. I spent a great number of years on this site attacking my own views to better understand the flaws. So I have no delusion of "which viewpoint is better" - it really comes down to what aligns with one's values and ethos. I actually don't think white supremacists as evil for instance. I think of them as fearful of the world and their own inadequacies.

You'll notice I ask a lot of question of you and certain posters to dive into how they have formulated their views. I'll tell you something, what I have learned on this site has really helped me at my job as many people in my field don't get conservatives and don't know how to market to them. Yes, that was one of my original intentions. And it has paid dividends. I've worked with a major fast food brand for instance to help it recast itself in part by putting on a front that would resonate more with conservatives and carry liberals anyway vs the other way around.

At the same time, I ask questions or try to point out inconsistencies to try to get other people to see their own biases. It rarely works, but I know telling someone they are wrong or calling them names isn't going to change their mind and is a waste of time - my time. So it is interesting to see what shifts people's views and feelings towards things and what does not. But I have not tried to manipulate anyone in the past 18 years on this board.

Yet people still are upset about the way I posted 20 years ago. Think about that. I even told people it was an experiment. At the time it was the leftists on this board who accused me of being a right-wing boob who bought into all the propaganda. What shocked me was how rigid and dismissive a lot of liberals on this board were. But some were not. I was impressed by those who kept an open mind.

Now on the other side of that...I will say that the conservatives on this board are EVEN MORE rigid as a whole. That might be a result of greater polarization over time, but my sense is that conservatives are less likely to consider view points that don't align with their values. Don't get me wrong - very few people consider view points that don't align with their values - which is the source of bias in my opinion.

The overall political environment is heavy on the bait n switch - more so on the conservative side. Liberal preach x,y,z, but really have no power to enact what their preach. Also, much of what they want to enact in untested theory and while well-intentioned, can have negative consequences that tend to get swept under the rug. On the conservative side, there that, but it's actually a bit more machiavellian. The very rich and powerful have taken over, and use identity politics to fire up various groups around social issues and the threats of immigrants, blue-haired professors, and transgenderism. If liberals gave in on these issues, it would not matter, they would find other ones. The goal is to make promises on these social issues to get votes for the sake of enacting pro-business policies. Or at least policies beneficial to the groups that donate to and control the Republican party. It's not 100% cut and dry like that, but it's a big element of today's GOP, which has done a terrible job of actually delivering on that social policy, but a fantastic job of servicing the well-to-do. In fact, many of the social policies - they don't want to enact as it comes into conflict with business objectives. We see that with the whole H1-B visas debate. And it's why I wonder if Trump will actually increase tariffs. I believe he truly wants to because he's getting kickbacks on it and no longer has to worry about being held accountable...but I think other Republicans will push back hard. And I don't think he will go after illegal immigrants as hard as people think. Migrant labor is critical to the US economy. Business that depend on that will quickly influence Trump to make the exceptions. He won't deport 12 million people. He's deport just enough to claim victory and make it seem like he is doing a great job at it. Of course, they DID deliver on abortion, but why? Because there is no real negative business consequence of forcing young blue collar women to have babies. But these kinds of debates never happen. Instead the debates here are pretty much driven by Twitter or media or Elon Musk.

Anyway, I know some of the trolls that love me so much will jump on this. But whatever, this is the truth. I'm definitely trying things out. And again, I learn from it and it's useful in other aspects of my life.

But my ultimate goal has always been to get to a source of truth as a personal endeavor, and understand how to get around others' biases or admittingly, take advantage of them for professional purposes.

 

I won't deny that my personal values lean left. I believe in a pluralistic society for instance. But my views on diversity, transgenderism, immigration, economics, tax policy, social policy, federal programs and regulation, the justice system - all data driven without spin. I listen to conservative viewpoints and discussion on these topics. Some of that gets incorporated into my thinking. There have been many times I have shared ideas that I got from conservatives and had people call me a leftist for them.

 

If your friend commits a crime - you are an accessory by association?

 

The internet is an amazing thing - check it out.

 

Corporations ARE citizens. That's the basis of the Citizens United decision and why corporations can give an unlimited about of money - because all people are granted freedom of speech, and corporations are citizens...therefore....

 

This is factually inaccurate. I don't really agree with SCOTUS' interpretation in that case, but that's another issue. Their decision is not what you wrote.

 

lol so dumb

 

You sound a bit condescending in your oversimplification. Yeah, the internet- a great way to connect and network with other terrorists and get introduced to local contacts. Obviously, he didn't "join" ISIS on a zoom call with Abu Hafs. Or did he? Did someone on this "internet" thing you speak of put him into contact with a local cell? One would think that type of internet communication and discussion of becoming a member of a terrorist organization like ISIS would eventually lead to more contact, perhaps face to face contact and phone conversations.

This is interesting.... "Materials used to make explosive devices were found in a short-term rental house about 2 miles away from the attack site. Investigators believe Jabbar arrived at the address earlier Tuesday, having rented the pickup Monday in Houston. A small fire was reported at the house following the incident on Bourbon Street, with authorities describing it as a failed attempt to destroy evidence. In addition to what was discovered at the home, the FBI said three cellphones and two laptop computers were recovered and are being examined for evidence.

Either he somehow successfully detonated something remotely to start this fire or he had an accomplice. Also, a lot of cell phones & laptops for one person. Perhaps, he learned how to make ied's on his own through the internet. Is it possible he joined ISIS, built the devices & planned everything with only an internet contact giving him instructions? Sure, who was the contact? Could he "join ISIS" without any contacts at all? Sure, any mentally ill individual could say they became a member of a terrorist organization just by waking up one day and deciding they identify as an ISIS member. Doubtful, though.

 

It’s weird that the FBI said that it wasn’t terrorism and then it was. And then they said they thought there was an accomplice and then there wasn’t. Just goes to show how much misinformation there is early on for every one of these instances like this.

in other news I have declared allegiance to and I am joining the Justice League.

 

Just a thread about a national tragedy and then:

Spoiler: seriously though