Flame Free Confession III: Even More Flame Free (Part 2)

Off Topic
6167

Me too. I followed my family tradition of going to the bar for a beer after I leave work early under the pretense that long lines may exist at my polling location, despite never having taken more than 10 minutes to vote in over a decade.

As a conservative, I felt it necessary to keep the tradition going even further by buying a friend his shot of choice, which was just a shot of whiskey with an accompanying shot of pickle juice. I’m doing fine now but I won’t be ordering that again.

I think most Americans share my sentiment this evening.

6168

Go Democrats!

6169

My wallet is hoping you didn’t/don’t vote.

6170

Andrewallet

6171

I confess that I don’t vote for the shinier piece of shit during midterms. In fact, I don’t vote at all. I will now explain my reasoning.

Before we get started, yes, if EVERYONE shared my mindset, we technically wouldn’t have a democracy and would backslide into authoritarianism. However, I am in the minority of people who don’t vote. We can also make the argument that the United States is backsliding into authoritarianism regardless of whether or not people vote. More on that later.

I live in a blue state. No matter whether or not I decide to drag my ass to the polls, my vote DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. I could forge 10 Republican votes under my name. It does not matter.

My state will assuredly vote blue. I will bet my next 50 paychecks on this fact. In the grand scheme of things, my singular opinion will not influence the larger outcome of a primary election, midterm, or presidential election in my state.

For very obvious reasons, voting for a third-party candidate is just as effective as not voting at all.

This is just my opinion, but elites are not giving the working-class voter a true choice at the polls. Democracy dies in darkness, and we’ve snuffed out the last flames of a truly democratic society in the United States. Our “freedom” of democracy is a well-kept illusion fueled by extreme polarization along party lines.

I would be saying the same thing whether Trump or Biden won the 2020 Presidential Election, and I do not align myself with either party. They both fucking suck and I will not be voting for the “lesser evil”. I will not argue with people over their political beliefs, distance myself from my friends and family based on who they voted for, or let shit-stain politicians impact my IRL relationships.

I respect people’s opinions across the board, and I will always “bow out” when the topic of my political beliefs comes up in conversation. The only measure of control I have left over society is choosing not to vote.

In before the inevitable, “you’re just privileged enough not to care about politics!” schtick. No matter who gets elected, I will be drafting articles for affiliate marketing sites, paying my quarterly taxes, and lifting weights in the gym.

No matter who gets elected, the bone-crushing weight of hyperinflation and unbridled corporate greed will continue to destroy our economy from the inside out. Our decline into an ever-polarized landscape where effective policies are reversed by the opposing party in the name of appeasement will bring the United States to its knees in short order.

TL;DR: no matter how readily or consistently we vote, we (as individuals) cannot stop the eventual destruction of the United States. Yes, I know, I’m a pessimist

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6172

Bros… I confess that this morning I ate a pb&j for the first time in over two years. I just added them no my breakfast. They’re so damn good. Sourdough was perhaps the wrong choice, just due to how many holes are in the bread for the insides to leak out.

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6173

This is nihilism, not pessimism IMO. At times, it certainly feels hopeless though; all we can do is sit by and hope Mike Rowe runs for president one day.

Have you read into Ranked Choice voting? I’m not sure how I feel about it, but it could help… I’m not well read enough to advocate for or against it, but it sounds interesting.

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6174

Ranked Choice voting would fix a number of problems with the current system, but I don’t believe we’ll ever have a system where third-party candidates have the potential to win a major election. This would require us to have freedom of choice, which doesn’t align with the United States’ increasingly elitist and binary paradigm. Hopefully I’m wrong!

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6175

As a person with all of my formal education in political science, I voted one time in 2012 and I still feel dirty about it.

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6176

Sourdough is NEVER the wrong choice. But instead of jelly, use honey. The honey will soak into the sourdough and infuse it.

PBJs are always the answer.

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6177

There’s apparently a shortage of mackerel :sob::sob::sob::sob:

6178

I confess to having been sloppy with pretty much every aspect of my training and diet. Mostly to not eating enough and not tracking progress with weights on bar nor scale.

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6179

I’ve lost three pounds since coming down with Covid. I confess that I’m pleased, despite knowing that it’s probably shifts from not working out for three weeks.

I’m atrophied.

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6180

Why?

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There are better ways to lose weight… lol
Hope you feel better soon.

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I could blame a bunch of things. Like being a single full time dad of 2 small kids, working a full time job. But thats bullshit. Still been making it to the gym 4-5 times/week. So the honest answer, i guess, is that i have been cruising on easy noob gains and have been getting away with it for a while. Apart from that ive used the gym as a vent for stress, wich has certainly served its purpose. But i let the latter take president, without really noticing.

Gained about 10kg with about the same BF over the last 2 years and sure, weights have increased. Just feel that i let myself down for not paying more attention and leaving gains on the table. Came to my senses about a month ago and decided that it was time to step up. So im writing this to keep myself accountable.

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6183

Can i suggest a Training Logs then?

Good on you for recognizing it. How do you plan to correct this? Diet changes, perhaps?

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6184

Thanks man!

I have considered a log, but at the moment stuff’s pretty hectic. Had a bit of a meltdown about a month ago and being careful to not add any more stress right now. But its not out of the question! Soon as i get my bearing ill might take you up on that.

Changes so far,
Working on forcefeeding myself and finding a sustainable volume from which i can recover.

Will be starting to work part time to get more time in the gym and to reduce stress.

Switched from a 3/week fullbody with a gap workout to a upper/lower 4 days a week, to change things up a bit. Felt that it had ran its course for now.

Besides that ive been just reading up on stuff, getting my head in the game.

Small steps, but im gonna get there!

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6185

I overslept my alarm by an hour and it’s really messing up my schedule :sob:

6186

The snooze button is a harsh mistress!