unixknight

The upshot here is this tells us that you've never actually been directly involved in buying illegal drugs. You're making a couple of assumptions here that aren't warranted, brother. The kind of reasoning you're using isn't happening in the mind of somebody addicted to the hard stuff. A pothead might do that with weed, maybe... but do you really think a heroin addict, meth head or crack addict is going to sit there and calculate how many doses he'll need over the next couple of weeks and make sure to buy enough to cover it? Expense, expense, expense. Buying a bottle of a couple hundred ibuprofen isn't even in the same order of magnitude of the cost of an equivalent stockpile of anything illegal. What gives you the impression they could afford it? In the latter stages of addiction we're talking about somebody who can't hold down a job, which m eans if they're getting money at all it's either form somebody enabling them or they're stealing/selling something to raise funds. Afford large quantities? I think not. So the user goes up to the dealer, and says "I want to buy a big stockpile!" The dealer will assume the user plans to start his own little business and ain't gonna sell. In fact, that's a good way to get killed. A user knows if he's caught with those kinds of amounts, he's gonna get charged with possession with intent to distribute. So you're envisioning a person who's addicted to meth saying "I'd better pace myself, this needs to last!" Yeah... that's gone in a weekend. @mirkwood, is that about right or am I way off base?

I don't know man. I'm neither a cop nor a prosecutor. Just thinking "out loud."

Not surprised. Meth especially is next to impossible to kick, as I understand it. Once you're on it, that's it. In Baltimore the scourge is Heroin, which is almost as bad. I dunno what the solution is. I really don't.

Just to weigh in... Someone who has simple possession (not enough to distribute, just truly a personal use amount, whatever that is) shouldn't be in jail because it doesn't help. I once knew a guy who got locked up for possession of meth. The whole time he was in jail (I think he had a 60 day sentence, IIRC) he couldn't wait to get out so he could use again. Granted, that's meth for you... Once you're on it's almost impossible to get off, but still... I think having a criminal record only makes an addict even harder to rehabilitate because now they're going to have a harder time finding work, which is more stress, which makes it harder to stay clean... vicious circle, that. To reiterate... I'm ONLY talking about people whose only crime is possession. On the other hand, dealers, sellers, guys caught with a large enough amount that they were out there looking to sell... Lose the key. I'd even be okay with manslaughter charges against one who could be proven to have sold to an addict who died from an overdose.

Weigh in wasn't as bad as I feared. Only gained back 2 lbs, and that was after a heavy dinner.

"Hahaha all you homophobes! Shiro is a super likeable character and maybe your favorite. How does it feel? Ready to change your worldview yet?"

Yeah to save that until the very end sounds a lot like a 'gotcha.'

Well said. It's unclear t ome what is meant by "made up punishment." I mean, yes, we make up the punishments. Is that supposed to be a bad thing?

Yep, he sure was.

So I think I did him a disservice by assuming he'd get angry. Maybe he did, but his response was in good humor. There's hope for him yet! He even write out the name "Trump" which is a first since the election, at least when talking with me. He usually prefers more... colorful epithets to refer to the President.

NeuroTypical - setting the example for us all.

Well... whether it was a success or a failure in the grand scheme will depend largely on how my buddy reacts. He hasn't responded yet (though that isn't unusual) so I'll let you know.

I blame you! I had successfully resisted but then your post reminded me...

What if the Mirror Universe in Star Trek... Wait for it... Wait for it... ...is the universe where Lucifer's plan was accepted?

I couldn't help it. I just forwarded it. I assume he's seen it already. He'll go on an angry rant and then it'll be done. Though I didn't comment favorably or unfavorably, in order to avoid a debate.

Oh I saw that video just this morning. Trump dressed ad the Emperor of Mankind from Warhammer 40,000... They also had at least one Space Marine (Ultramarines Chapter... bleh) walking around on foot with a Trump mask on. I have a friend who is even deeper into 40K than I am, but who loathes Trump with every fiber of his being. I'm debating on whether to show him the video (assuming he hasn't seen it already.)

That's an interesting point. To be honest, I hadn't thought anything of it since we still end with a prayer... I'm interested in what people have to say about it.

Like I need a hole in the head... Don't get me wrong, I think Glenn Beck is awesome. He's just not a good choice when one is on a break from political commentary.

Then you encourage tantrums and allow the child to be in charge.

Yeah I guess he felt "piled on." (since apparently that's a thing now on here.)

You know, I should mention that we have a bike trailer for hauling toddlers, so it's not impossible for me to take the kids with me on a bike ride as the weather improves.

(Yes, I just quoted myself because I have more to say.) If a difficult life is so awful that we're morally justified in taking the life of a baby, then what difference does it make whether the baby is born or not? Why not just euthanize babies who are born already into desperate poverty in the name of our great mercy? Heck, while we're at it, there are entire villages in some parts of the world where the people are starving to death and living the most difficult lives imaginable. Let's be merciful! I think a couple good air strikes ought to demonstrate our moral superiority, eh? That's what AGMs* are for, amirite? Just load up a few A-10s with as many Mavericks as they can carry and spread that kind mercy to all corners! We can start in Appalachia so the U.N. won't get involved, those meanies. I know @Tyme was mainly talking about a "right not to be poor" argument, not so much abortion, so I don't mean to get us sidetracked. Just had to get that out. *Air-to-Ground Missile

Yeah that's one of the more bizarre arguments I've heard from the pro-abortion side... that somehow it's a kindness to take the life of a perfectly healthy baby. "But they'll have a rough life!" Well... people have had rough lives for eons and still fought tooth and nail to live. Besides which, in connection with what we discussed earlier, most people who use that argument aren't even thinking of REAL difficulty in life when they say it.

See?!?!?!? Even when the weather's bad your beaches have people on 'em. Heh I'd totally send them your way. I just can't be held responsible for the state of your sanity afterward 🤣

I don't know whether I should be mad at you for the spoiler, or grateful for the warning. We were on the Living Scriptures DVD subscription. We haven't finished it but I'd like to, since we're more than halfway there already. The problem is, and I hate to say it, the quality of the episodes isn't blowing me away. I was also very disappointed in the number of things that are skipped. I do the browse thing too, which is how I found Norsemen... Which is hilarious. I don't like doing it though, because sometimes I start browsing just for a good background noise while I work on my hobbies, and before I know it I've wasted a half hour. At that point I usually just put on a Star Trek series and go. Yeah that's why we have Amazon Prime as well. The streaming isn't blowing me away. Occasionally I find gems on it that aren't on Netflix, but the time I spend browsing carries the same issue as what I said above. If it didn't come with the benefits like free shipping, etc. I wouldn't find it worth paying for.