The Israel Palestine problem solving thread

stunet's picture
stunet started the topic in Tuesday, 17 Oct 2023 at 10:45am

Because the world would be a better place if leaders only listened to Swellnet commenters, we've created a forum that makes it easy for them to gather our thoughts.

Today's shit talk is tomorrow's policy.

frog's picture
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frog Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 7:58am

Estimates suggest that more civilians (9000+ ?) have been killed in Gaza in two weeks than in the Ukraine war in 20 months. Note that a subtantial propotion of civilian death in the Ukraine were indirectly caused by Ukrainian bombs - so the Russian impact is less than the 9000.

Ukrainian experience shows:
- that despite the demonisation of Russia/Putin by the collective west and endless MSM reports of civilian casualties, they actually have been very careful with their targetting given the massive scale of missiles fired - millions.
- the low casualties relative to war scale and duration is even more remarkable considering Ukraine often sited their hardware near schools and hopsitals and in built up areas for "protection". Russia did target these and often this is where civlians were hit but must have been very selective and accurate.
- as with most wars, civilians always move away from the worst fighting wherever possible, which meant much of the full on fighting in Ukraine has been army versus army well away from civilians.

Gaza is different:
- Gaza has a trapped population with less scope for wholesale movement - very unsual in urban warfare.
- Many feel nowhere is safe and so stay in place and hope, despite being warned to move.
- the purposeful use of tunnels under civilian area with the highest density population in the world creating a worst case targeting situation. Hamas are everywhere and technically are legitimate targets in multiple places even with civilians nearby.
- Israel is going hard, fast (they had to get results) and ..... a bit too angry and indiscriminate.
- The situation is just about a worst case scenario for warfare for Israel and civilians - Hamas prepared and planned it this way.

Hamas want to destroy Israel. This can be physical destruction - hard but if they foster contagion it could head that way. The threat is real hence Israel's reaction.

But they also want to destroy Israel's international legitimacy and reputation through showing:
- its weak military / defensive underbelly (not so powerful after all) - done.
- letting the ever mounting civilian toll tell a story to the world that is hard for Israel to defend no matter what the rules of war say - the more misery the better for Hamas leadership.
- this is happening fast and the US is along for the ride.

The irony is watching the chickens coming home to roost for the US as tney are stuck supporting actions leading to civilian loss of life by Israel that are well in excess of what they loudly condemned Russia for - that will just keep escalating. One rule for them, another for us sort of thing is what it confirms to the "global south" A further credibility crash that will just keep on washing through geopolitics with many consequences. China and Russia can just say nothing and let the headlines do the shifting in alignments they hope for.

Mess. Blame .... Balfour? Abraham? Big fella in sky?

andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 8:27am
frog wrote:

Estimates suggest that more civilians (9000+ ?) have been killed in Gaza in two weeks than in the Ukraine war in 20 months. Note that a subtantial propotion of civilian death in the Ukraine were indirectly caused by Ukrainian bombs - so the Russian impact is less than the 9000.

Ukrainian experience shows:
- that despite the demonisation of Russia/Putin by the collective west and endless MSM reports of civilian casualties, they actually have been very careful with their targetting given the massive scale of missiles fired - millions.
- the low casualties relative to war scale and duration is even more remarkable considering Ukraine often sited their hardware near schools and hopsitals and in built up areas for "protection". Russia did target these and often this is where civlians were hit but must have been very selective and accurate.
- as with most wars, civilians always move away from the worst fighting wherever possible, which meant much of the full on fighting in Ukraine has been army versus army well away from civilians.

Gaza is different:
- Gaza has a trapped population with less scope for wholesale movement - very unsual in urban warfare.
- Many feel nowhere is safe and so stay in place and hope, despite being warned to move.
- the purposeful use of tunnels under civilian area with the highest density population in the world creating a worst case targeting situation. Hamas are everywhere and technically are legitimate targets in multiple places even with civilians nearby.
- Israel is going hard, fast (they had to get results) and ..... a bit too angry and indiscriminate.
- The situation is just about a worst case scenario for warfare for Israel and civilians - Hamas prepared and planned it this way.

Hamas want to destroy Israel. This can be physical destruction - hard but if they foster contagion it could head that way. The threat is real hence Israel's reaction.

But they also want to destroy Israel's international legitimacy and reputation through showing:
- its weak military / defensive underbelly (not so powerful after all) - done.
- letting the ever mounting civilian toll tell a story to the world that is hard for Israel to defend no matter what the rules of war say - the more misery the better for Hamas leadership.
- this is happening fast and the US is along for the ride.

The irony is watching the chickens coming home to roost for the US as tney are stuck supporting actions leading to civilian loss of life by Israel that are well in excess of what they loudly condemned Russia for - that will just keep escalating. One rule for them, another for us sort of thing is what it confirms to the "global south" A further credibility crash that will just keep on washing through geopolitics with many consequences. China and Russia can just say nothing and let the headlines do the shifting in alignments they hope for.

Mess. Blame .... Balfour? Abraham? Big fella in sky?

Good summary.

Yep, the USA can no longer claim any moral or ethical high ground in world affairs. Whether true or not, except for UK and Australia they are looking more and more sidelined. The longer this war goes on the more and more they will look complicit in mass civilian deaths. It's their weapons and money funding this war after all.

Sad.

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frog Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 9:07am

Artificial Intelligence fail.

Scott Ritter said that Israel began to use AI extensively to monitor and assess risks a few years ago. The were so chuffed about it they ran seminars on it that Hamas attended!

Hamas worked out how to fool it so the AI assessed their preparations to be inconsequential even though they were in plain sight and obvious. Apparently practicing with paragliders, mock raids on simulated kibbutzes and trial runs up to the wall to plant explosives were not sneaky enough for the computer to believe!

Live human observations were discounted because the computer said "No"!

Apparently the night before October 7 the senior leadership was warned by human observers that something would happen the next day. Leadership had doubts as it did not fit with the AI assessment. They chose to sleep on it and convene the next day!!!!

Crikey - the incompetence of all the supposed Westen military experts has been on full display in the past few years - NATO, US and now Israel. Just adding to a long list of failure. Wrong in predictions, strategy and especially in assessing their oppositions strengths and ability to respond and adapt - often obviously so. Hubris is spread rich and thick.

What do they teach these people? How do they select the leaders? Diversity scores or brown nose points? Group think scores? Reject anyone who strays off the NARRATIVE as displaying unsafe microagressions and not being a team player? No hope for competence until all that changes it seems.

Cue etarip to jump in to defend them - or has he given up?

But AI sure makes great big boobed fake images of Scarlett Johansson in tight fitting outfits.

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 10:00am

https://m.

https://m.

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Roadkill Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 11:19am

Hamas death estimates mean nothing.

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 11:31am

;)

https://m.

https://m.

https://m.

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Alana_a Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 11:53am

Would there be any Palestinians left in Israel if it wasn’t for Hamas and other Arab militant groups?

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flollo Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 12:17pm
Jelly Flater wrote:

… then and now

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iL-FVLN4yBQ

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jI6rTimkfJE

These are very good videos Jelly. They thoroughly describe the intensity of daily interactions between different groups. There is no solution to this whole situation. Jews will not move, and Palestinians will not move. Fighting will carry on for decades.

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 12:21pm

@flollo… yep, some interesting insights.

This vid below has some powerful info and parallels…
- 6:40 mins to 7:45 mins… facts.

https://m.

frog's picture
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frog Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 12:54pm

These deep thinkers have it sorted:

I particularly think the placard "Reproductive justice means free Palestine" could be the one that convinces Hamas and Benji to negotiate peace.

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 1:01pm

Haha ;)

- hot stuff comin thru ;);)

https://m.

&pp=ygUfaG9tZXIgZ29lcyB0byBhIGdheSBzdGVlbCBtaWxsIA%3D%3D

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green room Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 2:08pm

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 2:23pm
Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Saturday, 4 Nov 2023 at 3:03pm

https://m.

sypkan's picture
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sypkan Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 3:25pm

haha...

does the bbc not do social media?

sypkan's picture
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sypkan Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 3:31pm

sypkan's picture
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sypkan Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 3:33pm

or is this guy actually israeli propaganda?

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 3:46pm

https://m.

https://m.

andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 4:49pm
seeds wrote:

Hasbara
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/truth-or-fake/20231027-pallywood-th...
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/11/01/pallywood-gazans-are-false...

Well truth being the first casualty of war is definitely the case, I would say on all sides.
What a mess.

sypkan's picture
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sypkan Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 4:50pm

pppfffffffff!

dude's his own worst enemy...

seeds's picture
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seeds Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 4:53pm
andy-mac wrote:
seeds wrote:

Hasbara
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/truth-or-fake/20231027-pallywood-th...
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/11/01/pallywood-gazans-are-false...

Well truth being the first casualty of war is definitely the case, I would say on all sides.
What a mess.

Definitely. Hard to know what to believe in this day and age of digital media, socials and influencers. And yes, what a mess.

Supafreak's picture
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Supafreak Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 6:32pm
indo-dreaming's picture
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indo-dreaming Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 7:44pm
frog wrote:

Estimates suggest that more civilians (9000+ ?) have been killed in Gaza in two weeks than in the Ukraine war in 20 months. Note that a subtantial propotion of civilian death in the Ukraine were indirectly caused by Ukrainian bombs - so the Russian impact is less than the 9000.

Ukrainian experience shows:
- that despite the demonisation of Russia/Putin by the collective west and endless MSM reports of civilian casualties, they actually have been very careful with their targetting given the massive scale of missiles fired - millions.
- the low casualties relative to war scale and duration is even more remarkable considering Ukraine often sited their hardware near schools and hopsitals and in built up areas for "protection". Russia did target these and often this is where civlians were hit but must have been very selective and accurate.
- as with most wars, civilians always move away from the worst fighting wherever possible, which meant much of the full on fighting in Ukraine has been army versus army well away from civilians.

Gaza is different:
- Gaza has a trapped population with less scope for wholesale movement - very unsual in urban warfare.
- Many feel nowhere is safe and so stay in place and hope, despite being warned to move.
- the purposeful use of tunnels under civilian area with the highest density population in the world creating a worst case targeting situation. Hamas are everywhere and technically are legitimate targets in multiple places even with civilians nearby.
- Israel is going hard, fast (they had to get results) and ..... a bit too angry and indiscriminate.
- The situation is just about a worst case scenario for warfare for Israel and civilians - Hamas prepared and planned it this way.

Hamas want to destroy Israel. This can be physical destruction - hard but if they foster contagion it could head that way. The threat is real hence Israel's reaction.

But they also want to destroy Israel's international legitimacy and reputation through showing:
- its weak military / defensive underbelly (not so powerful after all) - done.
- letting the ever mounting civilian toll tell a story to the world that is hard for Israel to defend no matter what the rules of war say - the more misery the better for Hamas leadership.
- this is happening fast and the US is along for the ride.

The irony is watching the chickens coming home to roost for the US as tney are stuck supporting actions leading to civilian loss of life by Israel that are well in excess of what they loudly condemned Russia for - that will just keep escalating. One rule for them, another for us sort of thing is what it confirms to the "global south" A further credibility crash that will just keep on washing through geopolitics with many consequences. China and Russia can just say nothing and let the headlines do the shifting in alignments they hope for.

Mess. Blame .... Balfour? Abraham? Big fella in sky?

Ive heard this talked about many times on podcast and videos etc, Hamas invasion and kid napping was just to kick the hornets nest and to get Israel too attack with the intention of getting as many civilians killed as possible.*

They no they could never win any war the aim is to turn as many around the world from West to East against Israel, and it will sadly work, Hamas simps are popping up everywhere.

Israel is in an impossible situation they cant just let Hamas continue, they need to get rid of Hamas and as many tunnels as possible but the only way to take them out is exactly the way they are doing it which will always result in lots of civilians deaths because as we know Hamas purposely put them in the firing line.

But yeah it puts USA in a hard position, USA need to support Israel this isn't just an attack against Israel its an attack against the west and everything the West stands for.

* Obviously Iran had their motivations behind funding things too.

indo-dreaming's picture
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indo-dreaming Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 7:42pm
Supafreak wrote:

Morrison in Israel and Dutton in India .https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-and-boris-johnson...

"Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson fly into Israel"

Good on them both.

Good on Biden for getting out there too.

Jelly Flater's picture
Jelly Flater's picture
Jelly Flater Sunday, 5 Nov 2023 at 8:02pm

…then and now

https://m.

sypkan's picture
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sypkan Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 12:14am
sypkan's picture
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sypkan Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 12:15am

Jelly Flater's picture
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Jelly Flater Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 6:20am

“…we’re spending our national treasure on war. We’re a war machine as a nation. We prefer war over healthcare, we prefer war over housing, we prefer war over education… We prefer war over the economic welfare of our own citizens…..”

https://m.

Supafreak's picture
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Supafreak Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 11:20am

https://x.com/news_australian/status/1721315148328300971?s=46&t=5RczxwAf.... Is Scott Morrison the only man in the world who can end the Israel-Palestine War & bring lasting peace to the Middle East? https://x.com/blakandblack/status/1721316074119893289?s=46&t=5RczxwAfzXe...

andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 12:19pm
Jelly Flater wrote:

“…we’re spending our national treasure on war. We’re a war machine as a nation. We prefer war over healthcare, we prefer war over housing, we prefer war over education… We prefer war over the economic welfare of our own citizens…..”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jTP-W9VoFKA

Sober viewing .... Geez.

dandandan's picture
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dandandan Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 12:38pm

I'm not going to make a big deal about this, but Bill Maher absolutely sucks. He's basically a overly-confident boomer Facebook commenter but for some reason has a TV show.

sypkan's picture
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sypkan Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 12:56pm
dandandan wrote:

I'm not going to make a big deal about this, but Bill Maher absolutely sucks. He's basically a overly-confident boomer Facebook commenter but for some reason has a TV show.

yeh, he can be pretty annoying

his delivery is kinda grating

doesn't change the fact, he's largely correct...

velocityjohnno's picture
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velocityjohnno Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 1:19pm

Here's a tour of the Hamas tunnels under Gaza:

Any tunnel digging experts here? Are these as solid as they look?

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 1:26pm
indo-dreaming wrote:
frog wrote:

Estimates suggest that more civilians (9000+ ?) have been killed in Gaza in two weeks than in the Ukraine war in 20 months. Note that a subtantial propotion of civilian death in the Ukraine were indirectly caused by Ukrainian bombs - so the Russian impact is less than the 9000.

Ukrainian experience shows:
- that despite the demonisation of Russia/Putin by the collective west and endless MSM reports of civilian casualties, they actually have been very careful with their targetting given the massive scale of missiles fired - millions.
- the low casualties relative to war scale and duration is even more remarkable considering Ukraine often sited their hardware near schools and hopsitals and in built up areas for "protection". Russia did target these and often this is where civlians were hit but must have been very selective and accurate.
- as with most wars, civilians always move away from the worst fighting wherever possible, which meant much of the full on fighting in Ukraine has been army versus army well away from civilians.

Gaza is different:
- Gaza has a trapped population with less scope for wholesale movement - very unsual in urban warfare.
- Many feel nowhere is safe and so stay in place and hope, despite being warned to move.
- the purposeful use of tunnels under civilian area with the highest density population in the world creating a worst case targeting situation. Hamas are everywhere and technically are legitimate targets in multiple places even with civilians nearby.
- Israel is going hard, fast (they had to get results) and ..... a bit too angry and indiscriminate.
- The situation is just about a worst case scenario for warfare for Israel and civilians - Hamas prepared and planned it this way.

Hamas want to destroy Israel. This can be physical destruction - hard but if they foster contagion it could head that way. The threat is real hence Israel's reaction.

But they also want to destroy Israel's international legitimacy and reputation through showing:
- its weak military / defensive underbelly (not so powerful after all) - done.
- letting the ever mounting civilian toll tell a story to the world that is hard for Israel to defend no matter what the rules of war say - the more misery the better for Hamas leadership.
- this is happening fast and the US is along for the ride.

The irony is watching the chickens coming home to roost for the US as tney are stuck supporting actions leading to civilian loss of life by Israel that are well in excess of what they loudly condemned Russia for - that will just keep escalating. One rule for them, another for us sort of thing is what it confirms to the "global south" A further credibility crash that will just keep on washing through geopolitics with many consequences. China and Russia can just say nothing and let the headlines do the shifting in alignments they hope for.

Mess. Blame .... Balfour? Abraham? Big fella in sky?

Ive heard this talked about many times on podcast and videos etc, Hamas invasion and kid napping was just to kick the hornets nest and to get Israel too attack with the intention of getting as many civilians killed as possible.*

They no they could never win any war the aim is to turn as many around the world from West to East against Israel, and it will sadly work, Hamas simps are popping up everywhere.

Israel is in an impossible situation they cant just let Hamas continue, they need to get rid of Hamas and as many tunnels as possible but the only way to take them out is exactly the way they are doing it which will always result in lots of civilians deaths because as we know Hamas purposely put them in the firing line.

But yeah it puts USA in a hard position, USA need to support Israel this isn't just an attack against Israel its an attack against the west and everything the West stands for.

* Obviously Iran had their motivations behind funding things too.

Peaceful Hamas and loving supporters (as if they would tear down posters of kidnapped kids) around the world really do want peace negotiated.

velocityjohnno's picture
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velocityjohnno Monday, 6 Nov 2023 at 1:51pm
andy-mac's picture
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andy-mac Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 12:32pm

Roadkill's picture
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Roadkill Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 3:46pm

The Poms are waking up to Palestine hate. Poppy sellers punched, English remembrance is rascist. Islamic problems will only get bigger.

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Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 3:48pm
sypkan wrote:
dandandan wrote:

I'm not going to make a big deal about this, but Bill Maher absolutely sucks. He's basically a overly-confident boomer Facebook commenter but for some reason has a TV show.

yeh, he can be pretty annoying

his delivery is kinda grating

doesn't change the fact, he's largely correct...

Yep, he is correct. 100% correct.

Roadkill's picture
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Roadkill Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 3:52pm

Local Imams in Sydney calling death to Jews….and their followers are all praising it.

basesix's picture
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basesix Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 4:17pm


who cares what percent bill maher is correct.. he is a cock.. an irrelevant u.s. cock at that.

frog's picture
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frog Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 4:18pm

Shrinken Blinken

Turkey did not have a senior diplomat greet him at the airport - a major snub. Not quite an economy class queue and a forced cavity search. But in diplomatic terms, it was close to it.

Blinken struggling for relevance and respect in the middle east shuffle. Cold shoulders and crows feet sandwiches is all he is getting.

Blinken promises to ask Israel to use smaller bombs to lessen civilian casualties. That would have gone down well. It is symptomatic of the US being painted into a corner in what it can do.

bonza's picture
bonza's picture
bonza Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 4:31pm
basesix wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7oURG_TPl0
who cares what percent bill maher is correct.. he is a cock.. an irrelevant u.s. cock at that.

good example of how society is increasingly losing its way to engage in meaningful discourse. because you don't like the guy, it's irrelevant what he has to say.. even if he is (mostly?) right.

basesix's picture
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basesix Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 4:35pm

nah, bonza, when there's everyone and their dog offering a wide range of opinions, someone being a cock makes for an easy pass. It's not the 80s, being on the telly doesn't make someone relevant.

bonza's picture
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bonza Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 4:38pm

most people on the screen are cocks.

basesix's picture
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basesix Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 6:12pm

quite right, I didn't need to say it, it didn't need saying. He's the same as everyone : )

eat-your-vegies's picture
eat-your-vegies's picture
eat-your-vegies Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 9:01pm

That’s a great call

“It's not the 80s, being on the telly doesn't make someone relevant.”

Cheers bud.

eat-your-vegies's picture
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eat-your-vegies Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 9:03pm

.

indo-dreaming's picture
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indo-dreaming Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023 at 9:49pm
sypkan wrote:

https://twitter.com/michaelshermer/status/1720814908999401796

Dropping truth bombs left right and centre.