Keep in mind too that they’re not always accurate. I know of one in my city that regularly takes photos of people going through on the green because it’s a bit of a wonky intersection. And that means a person gets to spend their day in court instead of at work fighting a ticket they did not deserve.

So Octarine, basically.

Just in case someone was wondering about the actual answer to this question, here’s an answer from a former servicemember.

I’m going to post this idea by agent_nycto, because it’s another good way to deal with them, especially if you run into them IRL:

I don’t think you should be quiet, it makes them feel like everyone is agreeing with them and makes everyone miserable. Time to introduce you to my favorite game to play with conservatives, Politics Judo!

So you hear them rant about a thing. Some dumbass talking point. Let’s use gun control. It’s pretty easy to know in advance what the talking points are since they never shut up and parrot the same problem and solution over and over. “Shouldn’t take guns, it’s a mental problem not a gun problem”.

Things are basically boiled down to a problem and a solution. A lot of people try to convince people that the problem isn’t what people think it is, and that’s hard to do. Even if they are just misinformed, it feels like trying to dismiss their fears.

So what you do is you agree with the problem, then use lefty talking points as the solution.

“Oh yeah, gun violence is pretty bad! And I love the Constitution, we shouldn’t mess with that!” (Use small words and also throw in some patriotism, makes them feel like you’re on their side. You want to sound like a right wing media con artist) “so instead of taking guns away, we should instead start having more, free, mental health care in this country. Since it’s a mental health problem and these people are crazy, that is the solution that makes the most sense!” (Don’t try to get them to agree to your solution, just state it as the obvious one)

It becomes weaponized cognitive dissonance. Their brains fry because you said the things you should to agree with them, flagged yourself as an ally, but then said the thing they were told is the bad and shouldn’t want.

If they try to argue with your solution, rinse and repeat to a different talking point. “Oh yeah it might cost more, and we shouldn’t have to pay more for it, so we should get the rich people who are screwing average hard working Americans over by not paying taxes to do that. We should shut down tax loopholes and increase funding to the IRS so they can go after them instead of the little guy”

Always sound like you’re agreeing with them, but giving solutions that they disagree with that seem to be off topic but are related.

This is a very good analogy!

Although to be pedantic, there are white crows; there was one living in my neighborhood some years back.

Funny how The NY Times cares about this shit after the election.

I think you might need to brush up on your reading comprehension, and maybe your empathy. You’re coming off a bit condescending her. e

Hahahaha I’d forgotten about that! Man, and people unironically call him a genius still.

Yellow by Coldplay

Don’t know why, but I hate it with a passion.

Although anyone who works in an ER will tell you the full moon is the busiest night; the occurrence rate of every issue but murder goes up.

Russia’s just rubbing our noses in it at this point.

Montana is banning those. Expect a nationwide ban to come soon.

They plan to import workers with visas and then hold those visas over their heads to force them to work for peanuts.

I mean, they do this small-scale already.

Hey, they asked for a random password, not a good one.

They literally didn’t say that

Y’know, it’s a lot easier to have a conversation when you don’t put words in the other person’s mouth.

It was for a time, back in the 50s & 60s. From what I’ve heard bosses would try and set up their unmarried junior employees with a ‘good match’ too, sometimes.

Ball Pythons (unless you’re in Europe; they usually call them Royal Pythons).

If you ever want to try and get over your fear, ball pythons are one of the best snakes for that. They’re silly chubby derp ropes.

Thankfully, Pony, now 21, was rescued by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, and now lives at one of their rehabilitation centres.

I take solace in the fact that she was rescued and is now living a safe, happy life.

The reason for the ban is still stupid though.