What do you think of these? [sadanduseless.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 13, 2021:

I think that look is an easy and obvious way to signal to others, esp. women, that you are a male doofus....

10 RULES TO AVOID THE DISCOMFORT OF CRITICAL THINKING BY TOM GUTOWSKI NORTHEN EXPRESS OCT.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 13, 2021:

Seems to fit the thinking of idiots I have seen from both the left and the right. Confuse not the minds of the ignorant, they will only hate you for it.

I've never been a Taylor Swift fan but this new video I happened upon certainly evokes the accurate ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 13, 2021:

I have seldom had that happen to me, tho I have been dumped plenty of times when I was young. My first real dating experience of length was one where I did feel totally played and abandoned from someone I trusted and thought was solid, but I was very young and naive. It was a very formative experience that I never forgot and vowed to never let happen again, at least as far as being used as a meal ticket....

I can't make this stuff up.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 13, 2021:

Go ahead and take your shot with him, if you want your house cleaned by a submissive house boy with lots of issues......

Did my intern frame my coworker for credit card theft? — Ask a Manager

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 13, 2021:

I still remember how, when I was a grad student working at a low wage work study job in the law school library, how one winter day somebody, never found out who, stole my sweater from the coat closet. I still remember how stunned I was to find it gone when I got ready to leave that day. My guess is that it was a fellow student employee, since only staff used the closet. Maybe it was a FT staff member. At least I lost nothing else as it wasn't a jacket or coat with pockets. I have always been too careful to ever leave keys, a phone or anything valuable in a coat or jacket pocket when I hung those up in a public closet, or even leaving my seat at a bar or restaurant.

Steve Bannon indicted by federal grand jury for contempt of Congress

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 12, 2021:

But Garland and those pussie Dems will never end up sending him to jail for contempt or get him to testify.

Bertrand Russell's Ten Commandments for Living in a Healthy Democracy | Open Culture

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 11, 2021:

It's also grating to me that most Americans are too ignorant to understand the difference between liberal politics, such as being for equal rights for all, legal abortion, etc. and neoliberalism, which is an economic policy that both major parties in the US embrace. Neoliberal economic policy is never honestly discussed, and almost never even mentioned, in the corporate mass media of the US, because it only favors multinational corporations and the rich, never workers or the average peasant here. But if you ask most Americans, they will confuse the two terms and assume, wrongly, that most people like me who advocate liberal social policies, also support neoliberal economics, and, at least for me, nothing could be further from the truth.

This is what we got

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 10, 2021:

I agree with the gist of that, but unfortunately, when the next elections happen in a years, most voters will only be thinking about how high inflation is and how their personal economics did not improve significantly, and that they did not personally get any promised benefits like child tax credits, lower drug prices, Medicare expansion, etc. , and they will rightly blame the Dems, including Biden.

Has everyone been unable to post anything for the past 13 or 14 hours?

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 10, 2021:

So the site is now officially a ghost ship?

That's why we have a problem today

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 8, 2021:

Calvinism is so strong in the US, as is worship of the rich and support for greed and hyper individualism, so most Americans will never, if even after becoming poor themselves thru no fault of their own, accept that most workers are not lazy and that hard work is seldom rewarded by itself in the capitalist system. They will keep believing the myths, either because it comforts them to feel their hard work will eventually be rewarded with a better standard of living, or, if not that, simply makes them feel better by feeling morally superior to other workers, who they assume are lazy or less hard-working than them. But those beliefs are simply illusions or delusions, as they function like the opiate of the masses, as Marx said, which is religion. A comfort that pacifies them enough to not revolt against the system and the ruling class.

Amazing talent....ready for the stage, I'm sure. [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 8, 2021:

At least the cat knows how to harmlessly amuse itself.

That's why we have a problem today

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 8, 2021:

Because inflation continues to eat up worker's wages, while wages have remained stagnant for most since the early 1970s. Meanwhile, productivity has gone way up. Where did all the increased profit and wealth from that go? Not to the workers, but up the chain to the top 1%. They got enormously richer while everybody else got left behind, and that's how and why they now own as much as the bottom half or more of Americans.

A great man

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2021:

I used to think so, but nowadays I am only impressed by the policies he promotes, which are good. He missed his chances to leave the Dems behind and use his popularity and fame to start a third party that was not already owned by the rich and corporations. The Dem Party is corrupt beyond any point of reform or redemption and has been for a couple decades now. And because of that, whether it was his original intention, as some say it was, or not, he has ended up just functioning as a sheepdog to keep progressives voting within the Dem Party instead of supporting third party candidates like Green Party candidates. And the Dem leaders in congress continue to kill progressive ideas on anything that affects the rich or corporations, which is why the progressives in congress did not trust the party to keep their word on voting for the BBB act as part of the deal for the progressives supporting the infrastructure bill. They already got cheated long ago by Pelosi in not brining up M4all for a vote in the House even after they had the majority to pass it. And BTW, Bob, Biden is one of those players on the Dem team that has been paid off to lose the game. That's why he told the donors long ago in the private meeting during the Dem primary season, "Nothing will fundamentally change"... When someone tells you who they are and what to expect from them the first time, believe them.....

Man imprisoned 45 years for wife's killing is acquitted (America's 2nd longest serving innocent ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2021:

I would be frightened to discover how many innocent people have been convicted of violent crimes due to either bad eyewitness identification or else false alibis provided for other, actually guilty, suspects, such as when friends or domestic partners or spouses lie for their guilty partners.

I am signed up a for a a couple of Meetups, and, as usual, 80 to 90 % of the attendees will be ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2021:

It's funny, Sharon, that you live in the Midwest, same as me, and yet your Meetup groups are dominated by women, totally the opposite of Des Moines.

I am signed up a for a a couple of Meetups, and, as usual, 80 to 90 % of the attendees will be ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2021:

I'll tell you why, because, at least in my local experience with Meetup groups, it was a waste of time as far as meeting any women my age to date. First off, almost all the people there were way younger than me in most of the groups. Secondly, it was a lot of overlap and duplication as far as my local dating pool, as almost all the women at those groups were already on Match, so why bother meeting them in person at the Meetup group so I could get shot down or rejected in person when I already had the opportunity to meet them thru the dating site? Now I know that some people will react to that, such as Julie, by saying, "Why not take advantage of the chance to meet them in person at the Meetup group, where they feel more comfortable, etc. instead of thru the dating site?", Well, that all sounds fine and dandy if you are the woman who is insecure or not as comfortable with meeting men thru a dating site, but how about if you are a man, who always has to make the first move here in the traditional MIdwest, and have already had enough of getting rejected in person? That is a whole other reality, and I would prefer my rejection to be more impersonal and less public, if it's going to happen, than in front of a group. I wish more women would think about that aspect before automatically and selfishly assuming that the man should kowtow to their comfort and convenience of them meeting men thru the group in person setting vs, the dating site. Finally, the other thing I observed about Meetup.com groups here, is that all of them usually had way more people register for them than would actually show up for any events or meetings of the group, which was consistent with how many of the members were young people. In other words, the groups were just an option for them socially, but few of the members actually had any commitment or loyalty to these groups, they would just show up if they had nothing better to do on the date of the event, and their attendace was never consistent, so if you wanted to meet someone, you would have to keep showing up every time to hope you were there when they finally attended it. Too much disappointment and work for little payoff, for the birds...As far as most attendees being female, dream on, most of the groups were more like sausage fests... After Covid pretty much killed Meetup groups in my area, it actually felt like more of a relief.

Ain’t nothing like a magnum

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2021:

You have a naughty sense of humor. Good job on this one and the cartoon about breasts..

Sad but true

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2021:

I would guess it depends on who she is seeking attention from, if it's women, the new hair will probably get enough attention, if it's men, then she will probably have to feature her breasts, assuming they are impressive in the first place... Also important to remember the basic collorary of human behavior, which is you can't please everyone....

I was shopping today and the place was filled with xmas stuff, I prefer my commercial holidays with ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2021:

The Grinch is my idol..

My baff tym....

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2021:

Silly hooman thinking the sink is for them..

Something external to fuel the imagination

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2021:

That is me to a T. I love reacting to stupidity with sarcasm, such as the idiot I ran into last night wearing his bullying NRA t-shirt at karaoke. The shirt said he was an NRA member who had his issued gun permit. Of course, he also had his stupid black cowboy hat to complete his asshole macho costume. I guess he wants to look like a badass to intimidate people. I laughed at him to his face and made a sarcastic wisecrack about what a pity it is that the bars, and all other bars, don't allow weapons inside, so he has to leave his cherished handgun in his car. I already hated the guy for a long time now, for his stupid outfits and his equally retarded country songs that he always sings, so it was fun to poke the bear and fuck with him verbally a little. And it's not like he doesn't ask for it. When I am sitting alone at karaoke, he likes to come up to me and try to bully me into shaking his hand or acting fake friendly to me, for the benefit of onlookers, so he can look nice and paint me as the anti-social asshole. What I do in those cases is tell him to stay the fuck out of my face, as we both know we hate each other, and that if he speaks to me again, I will tell the bar staff he is harassing me when I just want to be left alone.

Newsflash! Jesus has resurrected a second time! I know this because yesterday, I saw a huge ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 2, 2021:

I knew there was something to that nagging feeling that I missed noticing something, SNARK! I wonder if he has to hole up in a tomb between shows?

Is there somebody for everybody or does everybody settle for somebody

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 2, 2021:

It appears, both from comments posted by women on here, as well as discussions I've had with women on Match, that women are less inclined than men to just settle for somebody, as many of them are content to just go it alone the rest of their lives. Few men are willing to do that.

Food Kills ---- Vice TV Ok, I'm going to toss the proverbial ball of correlation down the hill ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 1, 2021:

Actually the way they structure things is to bleed us dry as consumers and as medical patients first, with the copays and medical premiums, and after becoming broke, we then die as by then we no longer serve any use for them as profit generators.

Dedicated to all you howlers out there celebrating such a cool day. [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 1, 2021:

Because of Halloween, I sang that song at karaoke on Fri. night and last night of last week.

Hello everyone newbie here

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2021:

Good luck. This site usually offers little, for most members, in the way of local dating options.

NERVES OF STEEL!! Drinking coffee.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2021:

Scammer.

The Five Universal Laws of Human Stupidity

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2021:

America is clearly in decline, and the stupid are running us off the cliff with their actions. I was hoping that Covid might thin their ranks in a Darwinian fashion and save us, but I don't think so. The other problem is that the stupid keep voting for bandits, who are corrupt and greedy, so that is also killing us. Ineffectual people are also frustrating and annoying, at least to me, as they consistently refuse or unable to take any action in their lives. They are cowardly and also incompetent at taking action in their lives. And because of that, my patience is very limited when it comes to their bitching about things in their lives.

Now posing for his first encounter from behind

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 30, 2021:

I can only hope, but I doubt he will get sent to a real, as they say in Office Space, "Pound me in the ass, prison"......

A lot of silent M's in the world these days. :/

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 30, 2021:

I have been a non-conformist, who seldom follows the herd or mainstream, for about all of my adult life, once I developed the confidence and strength to trust my own judgement, over assuming the majority is always right or better than the minority, as most people unfortunately do. I hate the idea of being part of the sheeple. But I am also aware of the costs of that and the price I have paid for being a non-conformist, esp. in the dating game. It appears that few true non-conformists show up on paid dating sites, partly because there are so few of them in the general pop of singles, but probably mostly because they hate the idea of stooping to using a dating site like the herd, and they also know, like me, that they are a tiny minority and face a very uphill battle finding a compatible partner on a mainstream paid dating site. So I think that in most cases, they simply give up before they even start and resolve to just go it alone indefinitely, while the male non-conformists, like me, are much likely to grit their teeth and suffer the process, rather than resign themselves to permanently or indefinitely being alone.

And greed at it’s worst.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 30, 2021:

Believe me, it's the true bipartisan area of support, besides support of Israel and the military budget. Both parties love tax cuts for the rich and corporations, along with corporate welfare, as the Dem votes are always there for those, no matter how much they squabble or fight with the Repubs on other issues, esp. phony bullshit culture war stuff like God, gays, guns, abortion, etc. But when it comes to issues that matter to the rich and corporations, the two parties are the same and the so-called differences are all show. Only the rubes believe it and fall for it every time.

Unbelieveable but it figures

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 30, 2021:

A white pol using a black woman to scare white voters to vote for him in a Southern state. Who would have thought these things happen?

I had hoped this would be a place to find a female partner, but all the profiles I look at, their ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2021:

Same situation here. In my local area, or even my whole state, almost all of the women joined some time ago, back when Agnostic's founder was frequently advertising the site on FB, but it seems all those women took a quick look at the site, saw there were no local men to date, at least none they wanted to date, so they soon left, rather than, like me, sticking around to check out the community and make some online friends. These women from my state who used to join here, appear to have only been interested in dating, and, failing that, found no other use for the site. I still hang around here, but it seems tons of people from the first two years I was on here have left for good or rarely, if ever visit the site these days. And now, since the site is no longer advertised on FB, probably only by word of mouth, few new people join. So, like me, your only hope for finding a partner from the women still active on here, is if you are willing to date LD and travel hundreds of miles to meet and see each other. There are maybe some exceptions, in a few geo areas with large cities, where local dating from this site might still be an option. But it sure as hell isn't in most states of the US. Visited your profile and checked the nearby members from your area. It appears only one woman in your age group is still active on the site within the last few months. Rotsa ruck...

Sorting through some boxes of books in preparation for a move.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2021:

Sounds good to me. I would love to see the heads of the oligarchy chopped off...

You Pay A Wealth Tax - Billionaires are different "Most Americans pay an annual wealth tax on ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2021:

Leona Helmsley, the Queen Of Mean, already said it long ago. "Only the little people pay taxes". We should have brought back the gullotine long ago for her and her kind... They used to pay their fairer share, now they don't. The reason why is that long ago, pols in DC were not as bribed, so they actually had to be responsive to the people, in both major parties, now they don't. They just pretend to be right before fed elections, then go back to openly serving their masters among corporations and the rich.

Time to stop this

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 28, 2021:

Of course it has, since it has always had the cops, the guns, and the government on its side.

Decided to use my financial advisers face on my Visa card

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 27, 2021:

They do dictate the money spent on cat food and pet products, at the very least. If they had their way, they would be in your will as heirs....

Kids say the darnedest things. Don’t they? 🤣🤣

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 26, 2021:

So sweet.... As they used to say on The Sopranos, " Do you blow your father with that mouth?", lol.....

Just curious what people are feeling about dating apps.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2021:

That is a hard ? to answer, because so much depends on what other options or resources an individual person has for meeting compatible singles to date. Another variable is how important said search is to the person's life, as in, do they have lots of friends, family, children or grandchildren that fill their life and meet most of their emotional and social needs? If so, then finding a dating partner is probably not going to be that big a focus or priority in their life, and thus, they are not that concerned if dating apps work well for them or not. Lastly, how marketable or how much a person brings to the dating market, as in looks, money, social status, etc., as in things that make them more desireable and attractive as dating partners compared to their competition in the local dating pool on dating apps. (and mind you, don't let anyone tell you that online dating is NOT a competitive process, in which it is very important how well you stack up in those commonly desired traits, as well as traits that are valued in a particular local dating market, such as having mainstream traits in culture and lifestyle as well). So my last point is that the individual person's experience with a dating app can differ greatly from someone else in the same local dating pool on the same app, simply because one person is better looking, etc. or is more in line with the local mainstream culture and lifestyle, and therefore seen as more compatible by most of the opposite sex inside that local dating pool. My experience with online dating is that I am very incompatible, at least as far as 97% of the local women in my dating pool on my app see it, and there is nothing I can do about it, since I don't fit the local mainstream culture and lifestyle, which is very important to these women for compatibility in their mind. But at my age, and present circumstances, like racocn8 said below, what other options are there, since church, jobs, friends who know other singles my age, school, etc., are not part of my life anymore? And yes, any sane, honest, sensitive person, such as me, does from time to time get burned out and depressed, as well as angry, from all the constant rejection, disappointment, and general crap, such as lying and game-playing, that are staples of the online dating experience, except for maybe the lucky elite, who are much better looking and thus more desireable than the rest of us.

I think she's right.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2021:

Looks like Scooter blocked me, no idea why. Anybody else know?

EXCLUSIVE: Jan.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2021:

No fucking shit. Anybody who had been following the Trumpers and right wing groups leading up to the insurrection, and then saw how the authorities in charge seemed to allow it all to happen unmolested, unlike the unknowing victims of the rioters who were capital police that didn't know they were supposed to just let it happen, knows that people in command as well as in the Trump admin. and congressional Repubs, were in on the conspiracy... I am glad these insiders are ratting out the Trump admin. conspirators, as well as the Repub congressional conspirators, even if their motive for cooperating is self interest, it doesn't change the truth. That's how plea bargains have worked since the beginning of criminal justice.

That's a rock star

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2021:

Unfortunately, few people choose to "identify downward" as Jesus or empathetic folks do. Instead, they tend to either vote out of narrow self interest or, esp. recently, out of resentment or grievance, against those who are different, such as Mexican laborers, Muslims, or other groups different than them who they feel are threatening their white privilege or identity. These are problems of human nature that we are unlikely to be able to change or fix. These people who vote out of resentment or grievance are usually voting against their own self interest and cutting off their nose to spite their face, so to speak, but they really don't care, as long as they are, in their minds, sticking it to those they hate..

How does it happen?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2021:

In my experience, some people who were atheists turn to religion later in their lives after they have some crisis that scares them about being without a god to look after or help them. But in most cases, it has been after they get old or get sick with a terminal or life-threatening illness, so they seek religion to offer them hope of being cured or at least having something beyond this life waiting for them after they die. I don't judge them for their caving in to their fears or weakness, I actually pity them when this happens, and hope I prove to be stronger when I eventually become tested the same way.

I don’t often makes posts outside of my daily pattern of posting in my three Music Groups, a new ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 24, 2021:

Since the admin. discontinued the prizes or gifts for achieving the higher point levels, I would say the point level system is now pretty irrelevant and meaningless, but if the milestone makes you happy, good for you... I doubt the site will be around a year from now anyway, and so many longtime members have either left or become inactive, I don't think as much about this site as I used to.

Minneapolis Cop Charged For Killing Family Member Of Teen Who Recorded George Floyd’s Murder

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 24, 2021:

Bad cops there seem to be the bad gift that just keeps on giving....

Ive been thinking that on the weekends my daughter is at her Dad's I've been acting like a hermit.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 24, 2021:

For some people like us, UU churches are great, to others, they are a disappointment. My experience has been mixed. While both UU churches I attended were very secular and humanistic in their content, one was very classist, cliquish and snobby, while the other was fairly welcoming and open to most types of people. It all depends on the general character and personalities of their congregations. My advice is, you have nothing to lose by checking them out. If they are not for you, you will know it pretty quick, on the first or second visit, tops.

Just joined a dating group on fb.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 24, 2021:

Welcome to my world, and no, your experience and the beatdown on one's self esteem, unless one is above average looking or better, is typical. And now imagine how much worse it is when you live in the traditional-minded Midwest, where the men have to do almost all the pursuing and make the first move or send the first message. I get a response rate of only about 5-10% of my first messages. And then on top of that, a lot of my replies are women saying "Thanks, but no thanks".. as they reject me for the usual three reasons in my mis-matched local dating pool, where I don't have kids, aren't religious, and don't drink at least moderately. I see you live in Texas, which is probably worse than Iowa for misfits like us, except I have heard that San Antonio is probably one of the better areas of TX for people who are not Trumpers or rednecks, etc.

Google Voice and you.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 23, 2021:

I've never been stalked by a woman, even outside of a dating site connection to begin with. I have been harassed by phone many years ago from a college classmate, a male bully type, so I feel no reason to get an extra phone number for protection. Almost nobody calls me these days most of the time except telemarketers.

A very thoughtful and funny Atheist skit that is surprisingly tender in a way. [youtube.]

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 23, 2021:

This guy is not everyone's kind of style, but I respect it, droll and dry wit, but very heartfelt. Love his passion for the point he is making about recognizing the humanity in people.

I need a snappy comeback: I know there are some very intelligent people on this site, ao I'm calling...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 22, 2021:

Sorry, I am good at snappy comebacks if someone, male or female insults me to my face, and I am brutual in my putdowns in that verbal combat situation, but in the dating game, I usually just let them go without the putdown, esp. someone from a dating site, as you can get your membership terminated over that if they complain about you to the staff, no matter how deserved or appropriate your putdown was. I have commented about that before on these boards. It's actually pretty easy to set someone up to be terminated on a dating site, if you are willing to lie about something they did or said outside the site. And it won't matter how much longer their membership was supposed to run or how much they recently paid for it, because all the dating sites have TOS policies written by lawyers that pretty much allow them to arbitrarily treat their members any way they want to. But I was going a bit off topic, as this guy was flirting with you and you are looking for a comeback for that. I am useless on that, as women flirting with me usually surprises and stuns me, leaving me without not only a snappy comeback, but any comeback....

All I’m Offering Is The Truth | Philosophy of the Matrix

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 21, 2021:

I feel that most people do not want the truth and resist it, mostly out of fear. They want the comfort of the familiar. I am not someone who eagerly embraces change, but I have always wanted to hear and know the truth, no matter how ugly or disturbing. Guess that makes me a bit of a paradox.

Eight Nigerian men accused of an internet dating scam have been charged in a South African court ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 20, 2021:

On dating sites, you can never be sure someone else on them is a real person, or the person they say they are, unless you actually talk to them on the phone or video chat or meet in person. Otherwise, they could be the opposite gender of what they claim to be, not be the same age they say, etc. And even after those filters, of phone, video chat, or in person meeting, they could still be using a fake name or identity, so, if I were a woman, or even a man, if the person was asking for money, or wanting to come visit me from far away, I would do some background checking on them, just to protect myself, before ever letting them visit me at my home or giving them money. I don't see why any sane person would give money to someone they had never met in person, or had only known a short while, no matter what reason or sob story they gave. I have my own money, and if they don't have theirs to spend on visiting me, on around the same level as me, then I shouldn't be involved with them, as the relationship will never have balance on finances and will not be one of equals. I will settle for nothing less than that.

Trump Gets Taken To School After Botching Basic U.S. History In Latest Rant

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 20, 2021:

I would expect nothing different, from a guy who probably slacked off in every class he ever took, probably had all his papers written for him in college with money he got from daddy, and got into an Ivy League college only because of daddy's name, money, and connections.

I think she's right.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2021:

As a three year veteran of Match, with more rejection logged by now than I can even count, there is a lot of truth in the cartoon, even tho my friends say I am as loyal and faithful as the family dog. And if that weren't enough, I am one for one on successful LTRs and just the one marriage, which is more than I can say for the many divorced women that regularly reject me for the usual three reasons, before even meeting me, during the early messaging period or after I send my first message to them. What are the three reasons? I don't have kids, I am not religious (Agnostic), and I don't drink more than socially or, to be precise, I list myself as "Depends On The Day", because I used to list as a total non-drinker and got rejected all the time under the wrong-headed, knee jerk assumption that I had to therefore be a recovering alcoholic, or a judgemental teetotaler, neither of which were acceptable to most of my dating pool. Nowadays, I have found that even a social only drinker is not acceptable anymore, as the majority of my dating pool now list themselves as "Moderate drinkers" and will not accept a man who is less than that. WTF am I supposed to do about this, when I can't change who or what I am, and trying to fudge on things like listing myself on religion as Spiritual but not religious, hasn't helped, and neither has listing myself as a social drinker? These women are like the ones in the cartoon, their priorities and mindset are simply fucked up, as far as I'm concerned, as they would rather take their chance again on only another fellow divorced person with kids, religious like them, and a moderate drinker, no matter how poor their relationship track record or relationship skill may be, not to mention how toxic or dysfunctional their personality may be. They set impossible and well as very warped and questionable standards, as far as relevance to relationship success, and then wonder why they end up alone and unhappy again. They reap what they sow and get what they deserve, as far as I'm concerned.

While you're agnostic/atheist, if someone religious shares, say, the same political views as you, ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2021:

Of course, politics makes strange bedfellows, as they say, and am always glad to make temporary or lasting alliances with religious folks on particular issues, as long as they show respect for me, non-belief and all. But I must admit that, these days, it is rare for religious folks to not be conservative and Repub across the board on politics, esp. with my politics being socialist, about as far left as it gets these days in the US.

I love my Dog

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2021:

Many dogs are good judges of human character, and even have superior character to a lot of humans.

In a previous posting on whether people.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 19, 2021:

The fact that most of them are intelligent, friendly people, who don't try to change my views on religion, tho some of them do try to change them on politics or the dating process or scene. My use of blocking has allowed me to thin out those trolls from my experience here.

Tell Texas education system this

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 17, 2021:

No shit. And I feel the same way about the corporate media's constant attempts at presenting a phony "balance" on issues like this, where one side is honest and factual, the other lying and delusioned, yet the media treats both sides as equivalent and equally valid. It is a lie on the part of the media and they know it is all bullshit, but they no longer have any shame or honor about how they report the news.

Sunday morning cuteness

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 17, 2021:

Somebody is very happy and content there..

In the culture of victimhood, being a victim is well recognized.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 17, 2021:

In our society, America, it has been my observation that for every person that makes a career out of being a victim, or claiming to be, there are one or more people who make it their mission to unjustly blame innocent, true victims, for their victimhood, so it goes both ways. In America, I think we still tend to scapegoat and unfairly blame victims more often than they deserve. It's part of how we hate losers, all want to be winners, and envy or worship the winners. So victims are usually seen as reaping suffering that is their own damn fault, etc., esp. when it comes to the economic system. We worship capitalism, so the victims or losers in that system are dismissed as lazy, defective, and just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, get religion or the right values, and start living right. Criticizing or blaming the system here is not seen as appropriate or patriotic.

I'm a cat lover, and I recently had to say goodbye to my little tuxedo cat, Monkey.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 16, 2021:

I don't doubt that grief over pets can be the same, in some cases, as that over humans.

Is online dating addictive?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 15, 2021:

I have been on Match actively for about three years now, and I can see how it might be addictive for some folks, as far as the thrill or drama of the emotional rollercoaster it provides for their life, and also the constant ego strokes they may get if they are making lots of connections with people that are interested in dating them. In those respects, esp. for those with low self-esteem or big egos that need to be stroked, it makes them feel validated, dateable, and valuable as human beings. But for me, and probably most of the more emotionally healthy and secure folks on dating sites, it gets really old after a while, both in the rejection and disappointment, but also in the repetition of the process, being constantly evaluated, judged, running thru the same routine of messaging, phone calls or video chats, coffee meetings, and then, very few actual fun or romantic dates with people. I am guessing that people who are more attractive looking get way more actual fun, romantic dates with people, as well as most of the sex that occurs from dating sites, while, for average folks like me, it is more akin to being perpetually unemployed and job-seeking for years without end. And when you are experiencing that latter side on online dating, along with all the lying, game-playing, BS, rudeness, etc., it makes me feel more like I want to quickly and permanently retire from the game ASAP, if I could just find someone compatible for the long haul. And I am still looking for that... My guess is that the older the person, then generally the more they want to get out of it permanently, after they have been on it for a while... The younger people are more likely to enjoy playing the field and keeping in the dating game to just date serially or casually, instead of seeking the LTR or life partnership.

This was in mixed TED talks, she makes a lot of sense. [youtu.be]

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 14, 2021:

It's all bullshit and scare talk, they suddenly forget all about deficits whenever it's time for the military budget, or tax cuts for the rich or corporations, so I don't believer any of the deficit crap...

10 Reasons to Wear a Mask

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 12, 2021:

Because I am not an asshole (at least not THAT big of one) or maskhole, as I call them... That is the Golden Rule, as far as I'm concerned, on this issue.

May they die with him

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 12, 2021:

It will be a clear indictment of the evangelicals, who sold out their principles and religious values for some political and judicial power, and all the while got used by Repub pols that usually have nothing but contempt for them in private.

Of all the incredibly utopian and delusional memes I come across in a daily basis… this one has ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 11, 2021:

No shit, I love this meme!

One of these things is not like the others.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 11, 2021:

Feline chameleon...

Today, I allowed myself to be engaged in conversation by a Christian.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 11, 2021:

Confuse not the minds of the simple or ignorant, they will only hate you for it....

Right-Wing Activist Who Said He Was “Vaccinated in Christ” Dies of COVID | Hemant Mehta | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 11, 2021:

Another Darwin Award winner...

Whiny Conservative Mom Demands Resignation of Principal Who Loves “Iron Maiden” | Hemant Mehta ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 11, 2021:

Some folks really need to get a life, instead of religion being their whole life, as a hobbyist.

84 percent of Trump voters are worried about discrimination against whites: poll | TheHill

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 11, 2021:

The poor little babies are worried about their white privilege being taken away.

I hate when I get a notification about a comment I made, but the whole thread has been deleted.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 10, 2021:

Me too. Where's the fun in irritating someone if I can't see the fruits of it, like them showing or proving me right by acting out and reacting to it like the asshole I already knew they were? My count is that I have 60 people blocked on my end, plus at least another couple dozen that have blocked me. It's getting to where I see every few days a notice of Content Unavailable, etc., like I actually care that much about it....

Pete Townshend's version of North Country Girl is my favorite.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 9, 2021:

That is such a great song, one of Dylan's masterpieces of songwriting. He recorded a duet version of it with Johnny Cash that is also really great. I would actually like this version better with just the guitar, and not with the annoying synth, which is kind of distracting.

New Rule: The Slow-Moving Coup | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) - YouTube

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 9, 2021:

I have one prediction you can take to the bank, and it applies from now till Doomsday, and that is the Dem Party will never allow a real progressive to be its nominee for prez, because they really don't care about winning in prez elections or controlling congress. They can't wait for the next mid-terms so they can lose control of both houses and start blaming the Repubs for everything, instead of what they do now, which is blame those mean Repubs that somehow stand in their way, and all the while excuse the corporate Dem Dinos like Manchin and Sinema, even tho those are the only two out front who are obstructing all the legislation they love to talk about but never actually push hard to pass. All talk for the gullible voters and all action for their rich and corporate donors, every damn time. I think we are on the way to a completely authoritarian government, without future elections, because the Repubs want it and the Dems, who don't care about their voters at all, know that their donors and corporate masters are perfectly fine with an authoritarian government, because it lets them keep their wealth and their profits, and will also save them from having to make campaign donations, once this silly thing of elections are gone.

I couldn’t access the Zoom meeting on Thursday…I sent you a PM Lisa but I don’t know if you ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 9, 2021:

You can tell your buddies from the Community Senate that I'm back, only had a temp suspension from commenting and posting, so they are stuck with me on the boards, tho I have blocked all three of them so, they won't see me anyway. I did come back to lurk during the suspension and saw how they were gloating about getting me punished and joking about the admin. or someone using the "nuclear option" on me, well, they were wrong. Fools...

Colorado woman who won't get vaccinated denied transplant When religion strips away the last of ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 8, 2021:

She's making her deluded choice, and there is no treatment for it, at least none that she would accept, so let her suffer and die, then more space and treatment will be available for those who really want it. Esp. for organ transplants, give the organs to people who are sanely trying to protect their health. The organs will be better used and the outcomes will also be longer and better. From her point of view, letting herself die voluntarily is a win-win, as she gets to uphold her stupid beliefs and also gets to meet Jesus sooner than later....

Wanna hear a rape joke?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 8, 2021:

They are mimicing the same bullying, threatening behavior of their allies in the anti-abortion movement, screaming abuse at women who walk into clinics. If I were one of those parents being harassed and threatened, I would probably lose my temper and shout back at them to stay out of my face or I will knock their block off.... If that didn't work, I would then have to wait for one of them to touch me, then it would be on and I would clean their clock. I'm not willing to risk jail for it and I bet about all of them are not willing to take a beating for their cause, or even go to jail for it.

Ok, so I went on a first date with a guy a couple of weeks ago.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 8, 2021:

I usually offer my phone number to the woman at the end of the first in person meeting, whenever that ends up being. Sometimes, before that even happens, the woman requests my number so they can call me after we have traded messages a few times, instead of doing a video chat before meeting later on in person. I prefer video chatting to a phone call, for purposes of discussing dealbreakers or trying to get a line on whether there are good vibes or chemistry between us. I feel a blind phone call, without facial cues or body language, is a poor way to test that out. Video chats or, better yet, in person meetings are so much better at giving you the full context of communication and finding out if there is chemistry or physical attraction going on with either person. Whenever I offer the phone number to a woman, I also tell them that I am fine with them wanting to block my caller ID from seeing their number when they call me, in case they need more time and experience with me to feel comfortable with me knowing their number. Some women are ok with exchanging numbers before meeting in person or at the end of the first meeting. The only risk of not exchanging numbers before the first in person meeting is if someone ends up running late or having to cancel, and then the party who is waiting won't find out until they get home ( unless they have a smartphone to check their messages from the site) and maybe find a message from the other person thru the dating site. By then it's too late to have prevented the waiting party from having been stood up, something I have had plenty of experience with in online dating and it still really pisses me off when people are selfish and callous enough to do that. I wish that dating sites would ban or terminate memberships of people that engage in that cruel, immature shit, but the sites will never get involved in policing that, since they assume the guilty party might always have a legit reason for standing someone up (even tho they say and often do get involved in policing and punishing people who act innappropriately to another member offline), but I feel there is never an excuse for it that holds water. People should be considerate grown ups and if they decide not to meet after making plans, then be a big kid and notify the other person at least a few hours in advance thru the dating site, as most people are smart enough to check their messages on the site before leaving for an in person meeting. And making that notification does not in any way increase one's chances of being stalked or harmed if the only way the people have been communicating has been thru the dating site or social media like FB. So that is why I don't buy the excuse of "I had to stand them up at the last minute to protect my safety, etc"., if the ...

Overseeing his kingdom from the refrigerator.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 7, 2021:

Damn right it's his domain, he only lets you live in it, so you may serve him...

A very sad commentary

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 6, 2021:

Unfortunately, human rights, in hierarchical societies, are not inherent. They exist only as granted by the ruling class thru the power structure, and thus, can be given or taken away at any time by the ruling class. And right now, they are being taken away. That is why revolutions happen and need to happen from time to time.

COVID-19: Gap seen between vaccines for preventing hospitalizations - Los Angeles Times

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 6, 2021:

Paywall, can't read it.

Who likes......Pillow Talk ?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 6, 2021:

Pillow talk, sheesh, give me a break. I'm still trying to remember what sex was like, lol, having been alone on that for several years now, since my late wife became very ill.... Once or if, I experience pillow talk again with someone, I'll let you know...

I'm not sure where to put this item, but it's a very thorough analysis of all the responses to the ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 6, 2021:

All it proved is that Bill could be just as much of a lying, unfaithful dog to individual women as he was to all the hopeful liberals that he sold out after getting elected in order to get rich later for serving his corporate donors, by passing NAFTA and ending welfare for most poor women. He was a rat at both the individual and societal level. All he cared about was power, fame, and money. And also his sexual appetite, of course... But the main thing I always hated both the Clintons for, was that they marked the beginning of the Dem Party's betrayal of the working class, esp. the white working class, with NAFTA, followed by other lousy trade agreements, except for corporations, of course, along with ending welfare programs, etc. They also started the Dem Party's focus on identity politics and image rather than class politics on the side of the working class and the non-rich. Ever since them, we have had no representation in the class war from the Dem Party, only really from the Green Party, but they have no money or power against the two major parties, who don't represent anybody but the rich and corporations in the class wars.

Anybody know how to let a “love bomber” down without incurring wrath?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 5, 2021:

I think the others have given plenty of good advice. You need to turn your back on him for good, and I personally don't understand or relate to how much you seem to care about staying on good terms with him, or whatever that means to you. If someone treats me bad, which he apparently did to you in the prior relationship, I am done with them for good. Call it scorched earth, if you like, but I just don't feel it's worth it or even that important to be on good terms with them, esp. since you don't seem to have any kids involved from this relationship. If the two of you had made babies, that would be another matter, of course. I have been childfree by choice my whole life, so that makes it much easier to just move on and not look back if things don't work out with a dating partner, so I admit that colors my perspective. Why would you give a fuck about "being there for each other platonically"? In my mind, that is the role of my longtime friends who have treated me well and already been there for me, and have their own primary relationships or not, and that I can always count on, not some former lover and partner or whatever he was.

SNL is continuing its tradition of shitty “music”.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 5, 2021:

Agreed. For such an originally counter culture-based show, I knew it had permanently jumped the shark or gone bad once they started inviting country music artists on a regular basis. And at the same time, their tastes in pop or rock artists also became very bland and trite, as far as having any musical guests that had anything that influential or inspiring in their music. I guess the definition of hip is something that I am too old or out of touch to appreciate, if hip is still something that fits most musical guests these days on the show.

“God’s will is being thwarted.

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 5, 2021:

So glad I don't live in Texas or Florida, as the level of crazy in both states is off the charts..

The dumbing down of SCOTUS

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 5, 2021:

The caliber of people on the court, esp. men, continues to go down as the court becomes more and more of a partisan battleground, where the Repubs and Dems only want to appoint partisan hacks that can be counted on to all be pro-corporate, anti- democratic, and against civil liberties for the peasants. Both parties nominate people who are against reforming our political system of legalized bribery and corporate rule, but the difference is that the Repubs also nominate people who are in favor of a theocracy and unlimited gun rights.

What a huge difference from the right wing

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 5, 2021:

The left wing groups in this country are much more well-mannered, at least these days, than right wing groups, but a lot of that is pragmatism on their part, as they know how much tougher they will be and always have been treated by the authorities than right wing groups. So their restraint is deliberate in order to minimize how roughly the cops and government treat them. Sometimes, I think, they hold back too much on their rage against the machine, so to speak, but that's easy for me to say since it's not my head that's going to get cracked or my eyes that will be tortured with teargas or possibly blinded by rubber bullets.

Parody on mask wearing

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 2, 2021:

Good parody. The right wingers don't give a fuck about how most people are economically oppressed, because they've already got theirs and too bad for those who don't, or else they believe those who are oppressed by capitalism deserve it because they haven't lived right or had the right values, etc.. But heaven forbid that the government or even private businesses "oppress" these righteous people by making them wear a mask for the public good and their own health during a pandemic!

Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope: “Oh, she says, well, you're not a...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 2, 2021:

Well said, he was always a very wise man. Either maintain your connection to other people, in the flesh, and to the physical world, or lose it and become alienated and stunted. I wish more people would put down their fucking smartphones and heed his advice, but I sadly fear I am just as outdated as he has become... Like Orwell, he has proved to be such a prophet...

Does a spiritual but not religious person say grace?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 1, 2021:

I have frequently seen that label used on dating sites as an option or choice among other labels for one's religious affiliation when the member is completing their profile and choosing which ?s to answer and what way to label themselves. The sad fact is that, esp. in my area of the country, and other heavily Christian areas, labeling yourself as Agnostic or Atheist will not only get you rejected by the vast majority of women in your dating pool, tho I think most men in my dating pool area don't really give a fuck about a woman's religion or lack of it, unless they themselves are very religious. But using the label Atheist or Agnostic in geo areas like mine will also usually be misunderstood, same as the label socialism, because of the deep ignorance and prejudices of most people in my area and other areas like it in the US. So what is a single on a dating site to do, if they want to have any real chance of meeting someone compatible who is possibly not more than mildly or moderately religious and open-minded enough to tolerate or accept non-belief in a partner? The answer is, for many, that you choose to self-label as Spiritual, but not religious, which is why the dating site provides that label as an option. Because otherwise, you would have almost zero chance of meeting anyone thru a secular or mainstream dating site, since in my area, on Match, there are only about 5% or less women who identify on that religion trait as Agnostic or Atheist, but a significant amount more that identify as Spiritual, but not religious. They obviously have experienced a lot of the same rejection and discrimination as me on sites like that, so they use that catch all label to improve their odds.

WIFE WANTED! $2,000 FINDER'S FEE IF YOU SEND THE RIGHT WOMAN TO ME, WE FALL IN LOVE, AND GET ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 1, 2021:

I read your bio and you seem like you might be an ok guy, but two things I can tell you right off the top from being on here a few years and getting a feel for the women your age on Agnostic. One, you are trying way too hard, introducing yourself to them here with this desperate personal ad. Two, the photos are a bit too much also, too many of them, along with the shirtless ones. My advice is to do some more lurking here to get the feel for what is normal for postings here, and then start commenting and posting more appropriately. That is the real way to impress the women on here about who you are and let them decide if they and you are possibly compatible. I can also tell you that very few of them are willing to date long distance or relocate, even to Cali, so you might start by messaging only women from your local area. And I'm guessing that, unlike my area, there are some women from your area still active on this site. As for the finder's fee, I'm assuming that's a joke, but it is probably going to seem offensive to most of the women on here, jus" sayin". I can also tell you that few if any women on here in your age group are interested in getting married, based on what I have read here. They might be interested in dating, becoming life partners, maybe even living together, but not likely in marriage.

It is almost like there is a conspiracy

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 1, 2021:

Well duh, of course there is, but the corporate media will never mention it or allow it to be brought up.

Here is the real reason they are afraid of critical race theory

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 1, 2021:

I think you are being overly charitable towards them regarding their ability to feel shame. I doubt most of them have changed any since 1957 and they are still proud of their racism, so I don't think a lot of them would feel ashamed if the truth about their past racism was taught. The only thing they feel upset about with critical race theory would the idea that a bunch of elitist Yankees were able to get it placed in their schools. It's the outside interference they resent.

This seems to be my life story

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 30, 2021:

That's me, for my whole life in the dating game, continuing to search for that next single woman that wants to try being weird together with me. We are rare birds in this Iowa culture of conformity and traditional values, where eccentricity and non-conformity are judged and punished so harshly. It's very hard to find people, even on a site like Match, that are willing to risk being open and honest about their being offbeat, as they know it will usually doom them to being alone for the duration.

NY Gov.

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 30, 2021:

It is embarrassing, sad, and pathetic that this is necessary, but we do need our leaders who are sane to somehow get more of the deluded to vax, otherwise we will never get past Covid... So I am ok with her doing what it takes, as long as she doesn't go further and indulge their wish for theocracy. If it didn't harm us, I would be fine with letting the fools die.

Hello everyone! New to this app and thought I'd try to meet more people like me! What's going ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 29, 2021:

Rotsa ruck, pal. Looks like you live in a black hole, as do I, as far as there being any active, compatible women from this site living in your local area. Either need to try dating LD with someone from Agnostic, or join a real dating site like Match, etc..

Good Bye and Good Riddance: So if you’re angry, guess what?

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 28, 2021:

I drove a school bus for several years before I retired. One guy quit last year because he is a right winger who didn't want to mask up for the job, but it really didn't cost him much because for him it was a second job after his upholstery shop. So he has been sticking with that and I'm sure it's kept him plenty busy. He said some other drivers also quit, and the bus driving was their only job, but I don't feel bad for them. They were right wing, Christan idiots, for the most part, my co-workers were, so I don't miss them at all either.

What will you do Lover Boy?

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 28, 2021:

Fortunately, I'm retired and therefore, won't be driving for Uber. Decade or two ago, I was looking into the idea of driving a cab for a living, but quickly lost interest when I learned how shitty the hours were for most cabbies and how little money they earned. And this was before Uber and Lyft came along, when all you had were traditional cab companies. As for the revelation of a girlfriend possibly cheating on me, I would rather know sooner than later, so I can get out before I'm too attached.

Corporate whining

TomMcGiverin comments on Sep 28, 2021:

Theyve always been lying and they know it. The difference now is that unions are decimated and the corporate media all cheerleads and supports their lying. There are no voices in the mass media, except the net, that ever counter their lies, so most Americans believe them.