Hello Everyone - 1st post

This is probably going to sound extremely weird. I’m an extremely long time lurker (13 years) and first time poster. I figured I’d finally jump in with both feet. I’m looking forward to spirited debate and competition of ideas. I’m deeply concerned with the direction of our country and would enjoy discussions with like minded individuals.

a reply to: DonGloves

I guess you didn't read the rules.

Whoops! Thanks I’ll edit a reply to: Alien Abduct

a reply to: DonGloves

Welcome.

I haven't lived in California for a long time. Back in the old days my brother was charged with felony burglary for shoplifting a pack of cigarettes. But that was decades ago.

I found an article tho. Brazen shoplifting spurs California law for organized thefts.
Reading now.

Thanks for the read. I have to think there is money behind this somehow. Run the brick and mortars out and replace with e-commerce. Silicon valley as the epicenter; I guess we’ll see if it moves East. a reply to: pthena

a reply to: DonGloves

There seems to be some focus on Chesa Boudin, District Attorney for San Francisco. Maybe he should get out of that office and go back to Public Defender's office.

When Boudin was 14 months old, his parents were arrested for murder in their role as getaway car drivers in the Brink's robbery of 1981 in Rockland County, New York.[4][6] His mother was sentenced to 20 years to life[7] and his father to 75 years to life for the felony murders of two police officers and a security guard.[8] After his parents were incarcerated, Boudin was raised in Chicago by adoptive parents Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who, like his parents, had been members of the Weather Underground.[9] Boudin reports that he did not learn to read until age 9.[10] Kathy Boudin was released under parole supervision in 2003.
wikipedia: Chesa_Boudin

Welcome! Well, at least you got in before ATS gets censored out of existence.

a reply to: DonGloves

Welcome to the family 👪

a reply to: DonGloves

13 years you say. That would have been 2008. That put you here lurking though the big housing debacle and the economic crash. Then of course there was all that flurry leading up to 2012 and all the new agey stuff being posted.

You lurked through all the Nibiru malarkey.

Through the rise of Obama and all the hatred he has received here for the entirety of your lurking period.

You lurked thought all the debates about the 2016 elections and you lurked through all of the Trump Derangement Syndrome phase and though the entire 2020 election period.

You have lurked though a year and a half of this virus that has dominated every news source for that period of time.

You lurked though the storming of the capital building that some call a peaceful protest of patriots and others call an armed insurrection.

Yet none of those sparked your desire to join the club here. You say that you are deeply concerned about the direction of the country but still it has taken you 13 years to join in the discussions going on here.

So, just what is it that sparked you to join I wonder.

a reply to: DonGloves

Hello Everyone

Owh Hello

good evening and welcome

Welcome DonGloves!

Also, TerryMcGuire... LOL. I just love you, had to tell you, couldn't not say it. No matter what!

a reply to: TerryMcGuire

Probably the same reason I lurked for almost a decade before finally contributing.

Didn’t want to be put on a list.

Why do I post now? IDGAF anymore.

Better things to do I suppose, not that it’s any of your business. Let me ask you, are you one of those that walks 50 yards across a parking lot to get in someones’ face for not wearing a mask? I wonder. a reply to: TerryMcGuire

That, my friend, is precisely my concern a reply to: Tucket

a reply to: DonGloves

Hello and welcome! Enjoy your time here.

a reply to: TerryMcGuire

Must have been the rats over in Rant.

Welcome!

It can be an informing and fun place - especially if you participate.

Looking forward to see some of your posts.

a reply to: KKLOCO

That's an interesting point KK, and an interesting reason to join. Me too, though I didn't lurk for even an hour because IDGAFE.

My name went on a ''list'' in 69 and discovered it was still on a ''list'' in 85. That's why I use my own name because they already know who I am and where I am so what's the use hiding. Besides, they know by now that I'm basically harmless to their endeavors so why bother with me beyond just keeping an eye.

a reply to: DonGloves

You offered enough information concerning yourself to spark interest in why, not only yourself but many others as well lurk for long periods of time. I have wondered at this point a number of times on these introduction boards. I joined the first day I came across the site. I was interested.

You now seem to have taken offense at my inquisitiveness by likening my questions as ''getting up in your face''
I didn't walk across a parking lot, I just opened a thread and was presented with an ''in the moment'' opportunity to ask a new member about the nature of lurking and what finally causes that to change to involvement.

You say that asking questions about members beliefs and actions on those beliefs is ''none of my business''. I was just asking a valid question on your thought process.Didn't you say you were looking forward to spirited debate and competing ideas?

I guess though that you did answer to your best abilities. You just had better things to do which of course means that now you do not have better things to do so finally you can get around to discussing your deep concerns over the direction of our country.