Election Year or Fear!

[ramAnag]

Not sure I do rA, that?’s merely your perception/tactic but I forgive you for it

Not sure what relevance the second paragraph has to any question I asked

I’m certain you do, but we’ll have to agree to differ.

The second paragraph is simply suggesting that relatively well heeled tourists are probably not best qualified to comment on the more dangerous parts of the U.S. You and I both share a liking for much of what the USA has to offer but there is really very little escaping the fact that some parts are very dangerous and that the acceptability of gun ownership contributes to that.

[Andy_Faber]

I’m certain you do, but we’ll have to agree to differ.

The second paragraph is simply suggesting that relatively well heeled tourists are probably not best qualified to comment on the more dangerous parts of the U.S. You and I both share a liking for much of what the USA has to offer but there is really very little escaping the fact that some parts are very dangerous and that the acceptability of gun ownership contributes to that.

I’d retort that (although I hate guns) at least in USA the lethal weapon of choice (guns) is carried by many law abiding folk for self defence, the equivalent weapon in UK (knives) is not. And analogising your point about ‘well heeled tourists’, you and I don’t mix in the dangerous areas of UK (I have a family member who’s just returned to Derbyshire from a middling affluence area of of London because its no longer ‘safe to be out’)

[swaledale]

I’d retort that (although I hate guns) at least in USA the lethal weapon of choice (guns) is carried by many law abiding folk for self defence, the equivalent weapon in UK (knives) is not. And analogising your point about ‘well heeled tourists’, you and I don’t mix in the dangerous areas of UK (I have a family member who’s just returned to Derbyshire from a middling affluence area of of London because its no longer ‘safe to be out’)

MM so one persons perception that in a middling affluence area of London its no longer safe to be out is "proof" its dangerous? I know people who live in parts of South London which are less than salubrious and their have told me they have no issues at all, beyond the usual precautions one would take when out and about in any city. I visit these areas and the danger is blown out of proportion by media and social media.

As for the notion that becuase in the US people carry guns for self defence, thats less of a danger than the fact that a significantly lower proportion of the population in the UK carry knives, that defys even basic logic. Especially when its clear that knife crime is basically restricted to certain groups of people, and older white people aren't very likely to be victims, whilst in the US victis of shooting can and indeed are victims of guns, whether that be at school, in a robbery, by accident or merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A little bit of research into the statistics will show that.

Not of course that means travelling or living in the US is particulary dangerous, although there are areas within cities that it would be very unwise to be.

[ramAnag]

I?’d retort that (although I hate guns) at least in USA the lethal weapon of choice (guns) is carried by many law abiding folk for self defence, the equivalent weapon in UK (knives) is not. And analogising your point about ?‘well heeled tourists?’, you and I don?’t mix in the dangerous areas of UK (I have a family member who?’s just returned to Derbyshire from a middling affluence area of of London because its no longer ?‘safe to be out?’)

Ah, the old ‘best defence against a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun’ argument. There’s something in it of course, but there are also an awful lot of examples of tragic accidents at home or (well intentioned) weapons falling into inappropriate hands. Best off just doing a way with the gun culture imo, but it won’t happen.

As for London/Derbyshire. Couldn’t comment. Last time I felt genuinely threatened in a British city was in Derby in 1972, but I can imagine how it happens and the world is full of apocryphal tales which often only serve to exaggerate fears.

[MadAmster]

referring back to my WWE comment. It now transpires that, unlike previous years, the Secret Service DID NOT organise the security arrangements for this dinner.

The big question is WHY NOT? Especially when DJT was there, JDV (it looks like he was with Kirk's widow rather than his own wife) was there, Hegseth was there...

It reeks of a setup. We'll probably never know if it was. Just as with "eargate".

[Andy_Faber]

MM so one persons perception that in a middling affluence area of London its no longer safe to be out is "proof" its dangerous? I know people who live in parts of South London which are less than salubrious and their have told me they have no issues at all, beyond the usual precautions one would take when out and about in any city. I visit these areas and the danger is blown out of proportion by media and social media.

As for the notion that becuase in the US people carry guns for self defence, thats less of a danger than the fact that a significantly lower proportion of the population in the UK carry knives, that defys even basic logic. Especially when its clear that knife crime is basically restricted to certain groups of people, and older white people aren't very likely to be victims, whilst in the US victis of shooting can and indeed are victims of guns, whether that be at school, in a robbery, by accident or merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A little bit of research into the statistics will show that.

Not of course that means travelling or living in the US is particulary dangerous, although there are areas within cities that it would be very unwise to be.

So your anecdote is as valid/invalid as mine, that’s fair enough.

Regarding the gun thing, I’ll tell my friend Cathy that she is wrong in carrying, and shouldn’t feel safer, because, because some bloke from England says so

[Andy_Faber]

You do all make me giggle with your conspiracy theories

[Geoff Parkstone]

you mean they didnt find a world war two bomber on the moon during the recent Artenis ii flight? Or the London bus in Antarctica? or Adolf Hitler alive and well in Nottingham? Go on Andy, let them have their conspiracies if it makes them happy

[ramAnag]

you mean they didnt find a world war two bomber on the moon during the recent Artenis ii flight? Or the London bus in Antarctica? or Adolf Hitler alive and well in Nottingham? Go on Andy, let them have their conspiracies if it makes them happy

Well no, none of that. What I do find suspicious though is, in the first assassination attempt on Trump he had just the cosmetically correct amount of blood, was in just the right position to raise his fist against a background of the Stars and Stripes and there is no subsequent sign of any scarring. What I also find suspicious is that, in the latest one a guy was allowed to get so close, and yet - conveniently - so far away with what appeared to a mini arsenal of weaponry and that Trump remained so laid back and casual about the whole event. He’s suddenly become very brave for a ‘draft dodger’ with heel spurs hasn’t he?
Let’s not forget that after the first ‘attempt’ commentators agreed, ‘today is the day that Trump won the election’ and so it proved and let’s also not forget that, even 63 years on, mystery still surrounds aspects of the JFK assassination.

I’m not usually given to conspiracy theories and MA always seems very level headed to me, but things aren’t always as they seem, especially in this day and age, and something doesn’t stack up. Still if you and Andy just want to giggle that’s entirely up to you.

P.S. What did make me laugh…you remember the custom of ‘women and children first’? Obviously there were no children present but as for the ladies, watch it back, it was a case of get JDV and DJT out and sod the women, leave them cowering under the tables. What price chivalry in this modern age?

[SithHappens]

Warning, viewer discretion advised. Every attempt on Trumps life in one video

https://x.com/i/status/2048778920691216746