There are tons of non-poltical topics to talk about, and tons of things to talk about in a non-political way.

Problem is, politics has increasingly been the exertion of power over the lives of others. So when politics comes up, even innocently or obliquely, people are invested.

For instance, you can talk all the live-long day about a delicious steak, or you can moan about carbon footprints and slaughterhouse procedures. You can talk about a movie, or moan about representation and subtext and messaging in the movie.

Now small talk has been transformed into judgment.

There is a dynamic that needs to be addressed without recrimination, because it's there, but people get their hackles up about it. The left has this notion that life is political, but they hate politics. This is in part because they make politically 'charged' remarks without being explicit. For some it's passive-agression, for some it's that they are legitimately oblivious to how politically charged they sound. The right OTOH, actually wants to avoid politicization, but when politics come up, they are blunt and explicit. They aren't oblique or symbolic or coded.

So you get an exchange like;

L: 'geez, what is with the world today?' /eyeroll . . . [subtext, all my political opponents are really messing things up]
R: 'yeah, thank Gawd for Trump!!'
L: 'WTF!?!? Where did that come from?'

Patteau showed up at my tailgate one time. We had a helluva good time. We still talk off line about our real lives and check in on each other. Several tailgates with Bowser too. Always a good time.

I'm almost positive Smed has left us. I can't find his exact, real name.

He wasn't doing well, years ago. :( I'm hoping I'm wrong but I don't think so.

I did email him and have yet to hear back. Sorry I didn't make a better effort to help you buddy and if this is truly the case; RIP.

https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=249441

And with myself up to bat it would end up being a positive thing.

For me, I didn't like the idea of chasing off good members by making them moderators, lol. We had a run where most moderators got sick of it and disappeared.

Yep.

Anyone heard anything from LVNHACK?
I always liked that guy and last I knew he was doing private contract work in the great sand box as a bomb sniffing / security dog handler. Last posted since August 2015 and it would be nice to at least know whether he made it home or not.

That was me. I think Bearcat was an admin, too. Closed group, and you had to send us a message stating who you are on here before you got in. No way I would do that now. Too many crazies roaming around here now.

Hi Bud.

Hey! Hope you are well!

Z-man next time I'm in town? :D

Yeah, he was one of my favorites. Got me primo seats to the Chiefs/Donx game in 2003.

While I haven't heard anything out of him in years, there's no reason to read anything into it. I think he just tired of the board and moved on. I certainly hope he is well.

But yet they never resigned from their positions...

Several of us did. Are you thinking of one or two people in particular by chance?