Stay Safe Florida Scoopers

[MuggsyB]

Brother Muggs:

My insurance costs are between $6,500 and $7,500 annually. For a $500,000 home on our island in our county, taxes are about $6,000. HOAs are between $3,000 and $8,000.


Okay.  I actually thought it would be more.  Ty. 

The problem is condos, which have deferred maintenance and now have special assessments coming to deal with fixing structural maintenance problems.

[Hards Alumni]

Only sh!t left on this board.  Avoid at all costs.

And yet, here you are.

[This is what Orwell warned us about…SMH]

I hate these threads so much I am gonna keep posting in them to make sure they stay relevant and at the top of the board.

I am a dimwit median voter too.

[jesmu84]

Just a constant race to see who can get another Superbar thread locked for the same stupid worthless crap. Hopefully everyone in Florida fared well in the storm, no matter who you are voting for this November.

I miss the days when it was just arguments about if Vander was enthusiastic enough with his high fives on the bench.

They'd all fare much better if those with microphones would tell the truth

[reinko]

Continued safe travels.

Appreciate it!  Currently spending the night in Waltersboro, SC, with about 7-8 hrs. remaining tomorrow.

Legggooooo

[dgies9156]

OK gang, time for a reality check.

Florida was hit hard by tornados and two hurricanes. Many of our friends had their homes damaged, their lives upended and, in a few cases (six), people were killed in our extended community.

North Carolina has a similar story.

We pray for people's safety. We aid the recovery and we help bury the dead. In our community in Indian River County, people don't care what your politics are. If you need help, our government is there. I've been out of the country but I've been reading of volunteer efforts to get people back on their feet, feed first responders and folks who need a hand. Our churches and our community have created places where people can go to cool off, recharge their phone and get fed and even clothed or housed, if necessary.

Not a damn one of our people was ever asked whether they were a MAGA Republican or a liberal Democrat. They are people and they're in need. So we help.

We're not nirvana in IRC by any means. But what we argue about most of the time is trivial when we have a disaster. When this is over and the last mutual-aid utility truck packs up for home, I do hope our state evaluates what happened and how we can do better. It's the right thing to do and when it is over, we'll go back to arguing about stupid things -- like banning books. But when it mattered, so did our community.

[Scoop Snoop]

OK gang, time for a reality check.

Florida was hit hard by tornados and two hurricanes. Many of our friends had their homes damaged, their lives upended and, in a few cases (six), people were killed in our extended community.

North Carolina has a similar story.

We pray for people's safety. We aid the recovery and we help bury the dead. In our community in Indian River County, people don't care what your politics are. If you need help, our government is there. I've been out of the country but I've been reading of volunteer efforts to get people back on their feet, feed first responders and folks who need a hand. Our churches and our community have created places where people can go to cool off, recharge their phone and get fed and even clothed or housed, if necessary.

Not a damn one of our people was ever asked whether they were a MAGA Republican or a liberal Democrat. They are people and they're in need. So we help.

We're not nirvana in IRC by any means. But what we argue about most of the time is trivial when we have a disaster. When this is over and the last mutual-aid utility truck packs up for home, I do hope our state evaluates what happened and how we can do better. It's the right thing to do and when it is over, we'll go back to arguing about stupid things -- like banning books. But when it mattered, so did our community.

Great post dgies!

[Jockey]

Then who is threatening FEMA workers and meteorologists? Who is spreading rumors about Biden controlling the hurricane?


I agree that MOST people are good and want to help their neighbors, but we have to face harsher realities as well.

[dgies9156]

Then who is threatening FEMA workers and meteorologists? Who is spreading rumors about Biden controlling the hurricane?


I agree that MOST people are good and want to help their neighbors, but we have to face harsher realities as well.

Brother Jockey:

Look, every society has its extremes. We've seen way too much of our extremes in recent years. But, one of the big mistakes too many people make in life is expecting the exception, rather than realizing an exception is just that -- an exception to societal norms.

Our media loves crime stories and loves nothing better than to make a mountain out of a molecule. To turn the exception into the norm. It's what happens when people go to Journalism school to write rather than report. And if you can throw in some hate filled politics that furthers a reporter's agenda and gets the reporter a column or a better job, all the better.

I don't know how true the FEMA stories are but I know one thing, any help right now is better than no help at all. And, I suspect our community is the norm rather than the exception in our country.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Brother Jockey:

Look, every society has its extremes. We've seen way too much of our extremes in recent years. But, one of the big mistakes too many people make in life is expecting the exception, rather than realizing an exception is just that -- an exception to societal norms.

Our media loves crime stories and loves nothing better than to make a mountain out of a molecule. To turn the exception into the norm. It's what happens when people go to Journalism school to write rather than report. And if you can throw in some hate filled politics that furthers a reporter's agenda and gets the reporter a column or a better job, all the better.

I don't know how true the FEMA stories are but I know one thing, any help right now is better than no help at all. And, I suspect our community is the norm rather than the exception in our country.

But that doesn't mean you ignore the exception. Because if you do,  it normalizes it and eventually becomes part of the norm

[Pakuni]

Brother Jockey:

Look, every society has its extremes. We've seen way too much of our extremes in recent years. But, one of the big mistakes too many people make in life is expecting the exception, rather than realizing an exception is just that -- an exception to societal norms.

Our media loves crime stories and loves nothing better than to make a mountain out of a molecule. To turn the exception into the norm. It's what happens when people go to Journalism school to write rather than report. And if you can throw in some hate filled politics that furthers a reporter's agenda and gets the reporter a column or a better job, all the better.

If stories about people rescuing kittens, donating to their church's winter coat drive and being good neighbors attracted eyeballs, then that's what you'd see in the media. Unfortunately, those stories don't attract eyeballs.

Like any other business, the media has to give consumers what they want. Don't blame the media, blame the consumer. What you see is merely a reflection of what the public wants Or better yet, blame human nature, because that's what draws us to conflict and tragedy.
Want a media that doesn't do this? Make them tax-exempt and subsidize them. Otherwise, if you expect media outlets to fend for themselves like any other business, then you shouldn't complain when they act like any other business.

[wadesworld]

If stories about people rescuing kittens, donating to their church's winter coat drive and being good neighbors attracted eyeballs, then that's what you'd see in the media. Unfortunately, those stories don't attract eyeballs.

Like any other business, the media has to give consumers what they want. Don't blame the media, blame the consumer. What you see is merely a reflection of what the public wants Or better yet, blame human nature, because that's what draws us to conflict and tragedy.
Want a media that doesn't do this? Make them tax-exempt and subsidize them. Otherwise, if you expect media outlets to fend for themselves like any other business, then you shouldn't complain when they act like any other business.

Bingo.

[Uncle Rico]

But that doesn't mean you ignore the exception. Because if you do,  it normalizes it and eventually becomes part of the norm

People trying to help people after a catastrophe are being threatened by one side whose political leader is spouting lies that are being echoed by his most extreme and loud followers and it's a media issue.

Makes sense

[MU82]

People trying to help people after a catastrophe are being threatened by one side whose political leader is spouting lies that are being echoed by his most extreme and loud followers and it's a media issue.

Makes sense

Yep. We had an aspiring president and vice president hearing a couple of unverified reports and then spouting them repeatedly on national TV - They're eating the dogs! They're eating the cats! They're eating the pets!

They spread their lies, and it led to real consequences - not just for the hard-working and legal Haitian immigrants they slandered, but also for the entire Springfield community. Schools had to close, public services were affected, people's safety was threatened, etc.

The GOP "leaders" continued their lies long after the Republican governor, Republican mayor and Republican city manager told them the stories weren't true. They continued their lies long after the Facebook posters who made them up admitted they weren't true. Hell, the pathological liar who co-opted the entire Republican Party was still spouting the lies YESTERDAY.

Yes, every society has their extremists. Ours just happens to have the biggest extremist of all - a convicted felon who can't say 10 words without lying 3 times - leading the way.

[Uncle Rico]

Yep. We had an aspiring president and vice president hearing a couple of unverified reports and then spouting them repeatedly on national TV - They're eating the dogs! They're eating the cats! They're eating the pets!

They spread their lies, and it led to real consequences - not just for the hard-working and legal Haitian immigrants they slandered, but also for the entire Springfield community. Schools had to close, public services were affected, people's safety was threatened, etc.

The GOP "leaders" continued their lies long after the Republican governor, Republican mayor and Republican city manager told them the stories weren't true. They continued their lies long after the Facebook posters who made them up admitted they weren't true. Hell, the pathological liar who co-opted the entire Republican Party was still spouting the lies YESTERDAY.

Yes, every society has their extremists. Ours just happens to have the biggest extremist of all - a convicted felon who can't say 10 words without lying 3 times - leading the way.

Fear and control, aina?

[dgies9156]

If stories about people rescuing kittens, donating to their church's winter coat drive and being good neighbors attracted eyeballs, then that's what you'd see in the media. Unfortunately, those stories don't attract eyeballs.

Like any other business, the media has to give consumers what they want. Don't blame the media, blame the consumer. What you see is merely a reflection of what the public wants Or better yet, blame human nature, because that's what draws us to conflict and tragedy.

It isn't about rescuing kittens and contributing to coat drives. It's about feeding people, clothing people, coming out with chain saws to clean up storm damage, about volunteering to help people get tarps on their roofs.

It's the same thousands of acts of kindness and compassion that existed during 9-11 and at times of disaster all over our great country. Maybe you haven't put yourself out for people or maybe you expect the government to do it for you, but don't belittle the people who do it.

Kittens and coat drives? Frankly, that's insulting.

As for media, porn sells too, quite effectively. We don't publish porn because, we think better of ourselves and our communities than to do that. If we applied the same standard to crime reporting we do to oth we r things, half the journalists in America still employed by old be looking for work.

[Pakuni]

It isn't about rescuing kittens and contributing to coat drives. It's about feeding people, clothing people, coming out with chain saws to clean up storm damage, about volunteering to help people get tarps on their roofs.

It's the same thousands of acts of kindness and compassion that existed during 9-11 and at times of disaster all over our great country. Maybe you haven't put yourself out for people or maybe you expect the government to do it for you, but don't belittle the people who do it.

These stories are literally all over the place. They're remarkably easy to find. But I guarantee those stories are getting far fewer clicks that the ones showing devastation and suffering.
I belittled no one, and certainly not people who help others. But thanks for the insult.

As for media, porn sells too, quite effectively. We don't publish porn because, we think better of ourselves and our communities than to do that. If we applied the same standard to crime reporting we do to oth we r things, half the journalists in America still employed by old be looking for work.

Porn sells, but not on NBC news or CNN or the NY Times. There are massive financial disincentives to such entities publishing/airing porn, namely how it will turn away advertisers and a large portion of your audience. For better or worse, we live in a country where people have no problem sitting down with the kids to watch a movie or TV show depicting dozens of violent deaths, but showing a boob or a butt is outrageous. So, the media feeds the public what it wants.

[rocket surgeon]

speaking to a friend of mine who watches fox news, he has seen nothing about threats to meteorologists and/or fema workers.  this is all news to me too.  you guys need to turn off the view, MSNBC, CNN, ray madow and all of these purported sources of media whipping you into frenzy, take a breath and go hug your significant other...it's gonna be alright

 

[Uncle Rico]

speaking to a friend of mine who watches fox news, he has seen nothing about threats to meteorologists and/or fema workers.  this is all news to me too.  you guys need to turn off the view, MSNBC, CNN, ray madow and all of these purported sources of media whipping you into frenzy, take a breath and go hug your significant other...it's gonna be alright

9 out of 10

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

speaking to a friend of mine who watches fox news, he has seen nothing about threats to meteorologists and/or fema workers.  this is all news to me too.  you guys need to turn off the view, MSNBC, CNN, ray madow and all of these purported sources of media whipping you into frenzy, take a breath and go hug your significant other...it's gonna be alright

Simple Google search.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTyK1TeABkU

[jesmu84]

speaking to a friend of mine who watches fox news, he has seen nothing about threats to meteorologists and/or fema workers.  this is all news to me too.  you guys need to turn off the view, MSNBC, CNN, ray madow and all of these purported sources of media whipping you into frenzy, take a breath and go hug your significant other...it's gonna be alright

Is the AP news an acceptable source?

https://apnews.com/article/fema-north-carolina-disinformation-threats-militia-04b8f753a82c652bc013d556d22a5d46

[Pakuni]

Is the AP news an acceptable source?

https://apnews.com/article/fema-north-carolina-disinformation-threats-militia-04b8f753a82c652bc013d556d22a5d46

No, but Fox News is.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-carolina-man-accused-threatening-fema-workers-assault-rifle-amid-hurricane-helene-clean-up

[BM1090]

I really want to assume he's trolling, but it doesn't seem like the case.

[JWags85]

We pray for people's safety. We aid the recovery and we help bury the dead. In our community in Indian River County, people don't care what your politics are. If you need help, our government is there. I've been out of the country but I've been reading of volunteer efforts to get people back on their feet, feed first responders and folks who need a hand. Our churches and our community have created places where people can go to cool off, recharge their phone and get fed and even clothed or housed, if necessary.

Not a damn one of our people was ever asked whether they were a MAGA Republican or a liberal Democrat. They are people and they're in need. So we help.

We're not nirvana in IRC by any means. But what we argue about most of the time is trivial when we have a disaster. When this is over and the last mutual-aid utility truck packs up for home, I do hope our state evaluates what happened and how we can do better. It's the right thing to do and when it is over, we'll go back to arguing about stupid things -- like banning books. But when it mattered, so did our community.

We can argue about the media coverage and what sells and the politicization of all of this, but I do find it refreshing in times like these to see that stuff melt away, like Dgies is alluding to.

I spent about 90 min at a big public sandbagging setup the Sunday before Milton.  The parking lot was as diverse as you could ever see, multiple 6 figure sticker price SUVS and expensive pick ups all the way down to absolute beaters. Double digit MAGA car stickers/apparel and plenty of the exact flip side.  But the sand pile was the most beautiful bit of humanity you could hope to see. 

Saw a dude who was ripped from the MAGA meme of dudes in Oakleys and goatees shoveling sand for a family that barely spoke English and then later using a dolly to help two young black dudes load bags into their car.  Guy with full neck tats joking with a Sikh dude in a turban about the Dolphins game while their kids were playing in the sand.  Just everyone helping everyone keep it moving as rain was coming in.  It sounds like a corny Hallmark movie story but it was just people helping people.

More personally, my wife is in a big mom's group for play dates and what not, which operates a lot through Facebook.  All over the place demo wise, but notably a VERY liberal mom who is obnoxiously boisterous about it and another who is so MAGA she would do stuff like the "Fight Fight" fist pump if she saw a car with Trump stuff go by.  Needless to say, they aren't the best of friends.  Well, Liberal Mom evacuated to Miami with family but offered and subsequently housed MAGA mom's in laws at her house as it was not in an evacuation or flood zone without a second thought.  And they've been quite chummy since.

Very easy to lose site of it, but the VAST VAST majority of normal people, red or blue, are just people with opinions who given the chance will default to their humanity rather than tribal ties.

[Lennys Tap]

We can argue about the media coverage and what sells and the politicization of all of this, but I do find it refreshing in times like these to see that stuff melt away, like Dgies is alluding to.

I spent about 90 min at a big public sandbagging setup the Sunday before Milton.  The parking lot was as diverse as you could ever see, multiple 6 figure sticker price SUVS and expensive pick ups all the way down to absolute beaters. Double digit MAGA car stickers/apparel and plenty of the exact flip side.  But the sand pile was the most beautiful bit of humanity you could hope to see. 

Saw a dude who was ripped from the MAGA meme of dudes in Oakleys and goatees shoveling sand for a family that barely spoke English and then later using a dolly to help two young black dudes load bags into their car.  Guy with full neck tats joking with a Sikh dude in a turban about the Dolphins game while their kids were playing in the sand.  Just everyone helping everyone keep it moving as rain was coming in.  It sounds like a corny Hallmark movie story but it was just people helping people.

More personally, my wife is in a big mom's group for play dates and what not, which operates a lot through Facebook.  All over the place demo wise, but notably a VERY liberal mom who is obnoxiously boisterous about it and another who is so MAGA she would do stuff like the "Fight Fight" fist pump if she saw a car with Trump stuff go by.  Needless to say, they aren't the best of friends.  Well, Liberal Mom evacuated to Miami with family but offered and subsequently housed MAGA mom's in laws at her house as it was not in an evacuation or flood zone without a second thought.  And they've been quite chummy since.

Very easy to lose site of it, but the VAST VAST majority of normal people, red or blue, are just people with opinions who given the chance will default to their humanity rather than tribal ties.

You and dgies get it. The VAST majority of people rise to the occasion and help their neighbors in times of trouble/emergency. More fun, though, to focus on some nut with a rifle in the mountains of NC. As Kurt Vonnegut used to say, "so it goes".