The Fish

I wonder if that's a British thing? If you criticise someone's ability, you have to praise their personality? Happens loads at work.

For me a pundit they should be explaining the game to the layman from an expert point of view. Tell us why the striker made that run, or the defender took up that position. Explain the reason for going with a 4-3-3 against this particular opposition. Criticise poor performance, praise clever play, admonish cheating. I honestly don't think a pundit should be slating managers, that's for local journalists and the fans. But a pundit shouldn't be defending a manager either. If Bruce's Newcastle is playing badly, say so. I don't need you to call him a feckless cunt as part of the review, but don't tell me he'll make us entertaining when his entire career shows that's not true. Don't tell me the defence is terrible and critique just how bad, then absolve Bruce of responsibility. Only seems to happen for British coaches of non-elite clubs. Allardyce, Bruce, McClaren, etc. Anyone they're likely to meet playing golf, or at a charity event. They're all given a pass, like the situation they're in isn't their fault. But stick Remi Garde, De Boer or Silva in their shoes and they'll get the blame, sure as shit. Warren Barton said something on talksport earlier; the players, the manager, none of them look like they're enjoying this, even the wins. He was essentially calling for Bruce to go, without explicitly saying so. I think that's the fence they have to sit on. Everybody knows Bruce is doing a bad job and if the fans were in the stadiums the pressure would surely be so intense he'd have jacked it in already? Any other club and the owner would probably pull the trigger 20 minutes after the Sheffield result.

Sounds good.

Europe.

Fucking hell. You're a schmuck.

Plenty of people talking about the Derby game in 07/08, but this was worse. In that game we played better. It was shit, but last night was fucking abysmal. Any other club, any other owner, any other season and this fat useless fucking arsehole is gone.

That midfield is just the 20/21 version of 07/08's Geremi, Butt, Smith, Milner.

I forget, is he breadline, or rolling in it these days?

Or a mushroom. I just wondered, given he's a resident Tory shill, how he feels his crowd are dealing with Brxit and COVID?

Where is our Porcini Peckered Prosperous Pauper Pal?

I did no such thing. I'd have to find it first.

What a world we live in today...

Wilson, Gayle, Carroll and... ?

Glass of Cava, Yankee candle's lit, fingers a blur while binging a couple of series of Bridgerton. They'll have worn down their typing fingers.

Well, they look very similar. I take your point, Liberal ≠ Left-Wing. But I'd say this isn't even a liberal conspiracy, or coordinated move. This is a private company doing what's best for their brand (and bottom line), and the others jumping on board before the "WE'RE NOT A NAZI SYMPATHISER" train leaves the station. @Rayvin Re: Parler, they're not a big enough fish to matter. Anway, they're beholden to the bigger tech providers, and their raison d'etre is to provide a right-wing alternative to open platforms like facebook and twitter etc. Now, if those two are too commie pinko hippy dippy for you, I'd suggest you're far enough to the right of the political spectrum that your views and intolerances are offensive and probably actionable. What I'm trying to say is that without the Proud Boys and MAGA-loons, Parler wouldn't have a customer base. They couldn't ban them and have much of a platform left.

If me and Scott agree on something, it pretty much has to be taken as gospel.

Guilt by association and a low-risk gain for them. Yes, Twitter and Facebook are on the front line, but while they're getting, rightly, criticised, the three you mention can appear morally superior by taking action they likely would have had to at some point. I think you're looking for some left-wing conspiracy when, if the last decade has shown us anything, the left can't organise themselves let alone impose influence on others. If this was some Big Tech coordinated attack, why not do it under Obama? Attack those fringe right-wing groups in their infancy and lock in a friendly government for a few more years at least?

Annnnd there it is.

This is exactly what I think happened. I saw something somewhere that claimed something like 67% of the people who'd joined extreme groups on facebook had been directed there by the algorithm. They're complicit in this as they chased the green. Trump and his ilk have been radicalising with impunity and, like KD said, if it had been an Islamic fundamentalist there'd have been hell on. I honestly think Facebook and the rest thought it was fine because they didn't believe an insurrection was possible and the risk was worth the reward.

I'm so conditioned by this place to interpret everything a certain way, I'm fully expecting the other shoe to drop any second.

I also think we disagree on why the big tech firms have done it.

What they want is some tapas.

It's good to have support like this. Genuinely, having the podcast is a massive help. Not only talking to my mates with a couple of cans, but also the catharsis of slating Bruce and his shit football. The little lad is a big help as well, don't have the luxury of sacking off my responsibilities when he's around. His shitty arse needs wiping whether I'm feeling sad or not.

Better for their brand and bottom line to take action now, than wait for possibly tighter restrictions imposed upon them by a Democrat President, House & Senate. Like a pub clamping down on under-age drinking before the rozzers shut it down. I don't, for a second, believe these platforms have suddenly grown a social conscience. Of course the Nazis are whining that they've been silenced, they honestly believe 'Free Speech' is something that it isn't. They believe it's their right to incite violence, or espouse hateful positions with impunity. Those on the left worried about this need to grow a fucking pair. If Anarcists and Marxists start storming the government buildings and subsequently have their facebook profile taken down, good.

Echo what other have said, talking always helps. Even if it's just to strangers on a message board. Even if you type it all out and throw it into the void. I've dealt with anxiety and depression* for 20yrs and through everything, the one thing that's helped most, (more than breathing exercises, good diet, getting outside, etc. ) is talking. I've been really struggling during the lockdown, but talking about what I'm feeling, admitting the frankly terrifying thoughts that I've endured, is the thing that helps the most. *and during my latest assessment signs of OCD, which was novel.