Then stop mentioning me in your replies. Either I matter, or I don't. Choose a side. Dude.

Psssst. JW is the ****ing joke, from where I'm sitting.

depends on what kind of pill tbh

but nah i'm not particularly grouchy... just naturally argumentative.. and reluctant to type what i am about to type because i figure you will simply dismiss it, as per usual

but i thought just bolding that line of yours would make it self evident how silly it is... i guess not? either way, my criticism/mockery of you in this case was for thinking that you somehow engage in politics without being affected/guided by the pundits/intellectuals/polemics that generally shape the nature of the mainstream political discourse.. i wasn't accusing you in this case of being any more indoctrinated than i am

either way, i'll take the criticism that i go on about the media a lot. but if we can agree that the media constructs narratives to push a certain ideological agenda, then nothing i am saying about the media is without merit.

if i were to point out fox new's propaganda tactics, as is common for liberals to do, then i doubt that would arouse any sort of controversy from anyone on the left. it's more or less universally acknowledged that fox news is a mouthpiece for the republican party.

but for some reason, whenever you bring up the liberal media and pop culture, and their methods of propagandizing and persuasion, people scoff and look at you like you're some alex jones listening tin foil conspiracy head, or a die hard right wing rush limbaugh fan or something like that.

it seems to me that many leftists (not all) are utterly incapable of being self-critical towards their own camp and are only ever interested in slinging mud at people on the other side of the isle. the same is true for many right wingers, of course, but i focus more on leftists because right wingers seem to be few and far between around here.

it's not about you not mattering... i don't want to seem too insulting... it's more about my expectations on how receptive you will be to whatever i say

I read everything you type and find you one of the most stimulating people on this board.

Of course. Stop using it as a crutch. You're better than that.

Then maybe you should tell the Alex Jone's and Rush Limbaugh's to STFU. They are totally ruining whatever good points you're trying to get across.Not sure how to reply to this. You need to open up more about YOUR ideology.

We've been trying this for years and they still stick around like any other plague.

well that's nice. thanks
how would you say i'm using it as a crutch?

my approach is to try to be aware of the propaganda campaigns rather than ignore them. i think being aware of the media's tactics helps bring a bit more clarity.
i can't control other people even if i wanted to... this is an unreasonable request and you know it. rather, the onus is on you to distinguish good points from bs ones.
i'm not sure i understand what you mean. the wording is ambiguous. i need to "open up about my ideology" as in talk openly about my ideology?

Duh!

i thought i've been pretty open about my political ideology

i'm mostly leftist.. in regard to popular social issues and economic issues.

there are a few exceptions... guns... the military... etc.. where i don't see eye to eye with many liberals

but in general i do

i don't like the groupthink mentality that i see a lot of the times.. and i don't like hypersensitivity and political correctness... but when it comes to policy decisions i would usually side with the left

Based on your posting history here I cry bull****. You're 100% GOP.

JW voting democrat would be a Rod Serling's wet dream.

you can cry all you like. i voted once in my life and that was for obama in 08. what do i need to take a lie detector test or something?