Alph

You missed my joke. That's what you accused people of in the Palestine thread. I had to Google Polemicist after you said it. I'm a humble plasterer... I have no problem with anybody criticising Russia/Putin. I spoke early in the thread about what America/NATO could have perhaps acknowledged and about groups like Azov and situations in Donbas etc that the media forgot to mention. But ultimately there's nothing that justified this warmonger Putin. So there's zero will from me to argue against anyone criticising him now after the horrific war crimes in the the name of national security. There has been a dip in support for Ukraine and I have seen much about how The West have no moral high ground etc. Even if I agree on some of it I only see how it is being used to undermine Western influence on world affairs. Which again, I'm usually on that side of the argument. But too many people (some independent journalists for example) are losing sight of the Ukrainian plight Stive asked if there's truth to Navalny being less than perfect. Which there is. But it's not being reported. I figure the reason is because this whole story can be used as a reminder of what Putin is. So they're running hard with it. Cameron suddenly remembers what a war crime is for example. It makes sense that Navalny be presented as this great democratic hope of Russia even if it's not quite true. I don't have a problem with it at all. He's better than Putin. My post wasn't meant to be a snide dig over the Gaza war. (I did that already). It was me putting forward another reason that the press have "bigged him up". I see now there's a great wave of support for Navalny's wife. Again, no problem. But that's not all just sympathy. It's supporting another headache for Putin. Makes sense. I just hope she doesn't find herself in some "accident".

Taylor Catterall 2 is at 140 again? I'm surprised at that. I thought weight was one of the reasons Taylor said he underperformed no? Might have made that up. Still think he'll do the business but he has to find his way past that awkward defence. Sandy Ryan back next month in a good fight. She's sparring Clarissa Shields in preparation

Good man. But just spill your guts on here if you need to. Same goes to @Scott129 It's anonymous here so that can make it easier. It doesn't have to make sense or be justified. You're not going to be judged or (the worst bit) have people run away because they suddenly see you as bit of a drag. So I'd say just use this space as a dumping ground for those thoughts that rattle around your head doing damage. People often can relate. Might even help someone reading.

Get a grip. I'm not hysterical. I don't read the Guardian. I'm actually sympathising with Ukraine as some of the comments and narratives I've seen has kind of been to question "why should we support the West when they've shown such hypocrisy". Something which I disagree with as I'm Anti War unless that nation is acting in self defence. Which Ukraine is. And people have questioned how long we will continue to fund a a fight against Russia that we will likely not get the result we want. Again, I disagree because you know, I think Russia is the other side of the coin from America and therefore just as repulsive. So you should fund Ukraine for as long as they need it and for as long as you can. Now. I refuse to argue with polemicists who are just on their soapbox about the whole thing. It's only a little war. So I'll leave you to your thread as clearly I'm not allowed to provide theory or context. So I won't engage any further. You can continue your hate filled rants against an aggressive state with an insane leader. I hate that kind of thing. I'm joking of course. At 38 I'm a little to old to be stomping off slamming doors. But i wanted a diva moment too. I see why you do it. I feel amazing (Oh, you also missed the part where I said I had no problem with it.)

Three, turn the heat and attention back to this conflict because public support for funding Ukraine was starting to change? Like with any war, the general public soon become numb to the images and news stories and attention turns to how it's effecting them? Especially with what's going on in ME, the Putin interview etc was the public shockingly losing sympathy for Ukraine? If the pressure can go hard on this story that evil Putin killed a saint who would have freed Russia from tyranny then we're back on to "this must be stopped!" Not saying I have a problem with that spin. Not in the slightest.

Media going hard with this to turn attention from the ME. Some beautiful hypocrisy at play.

Before he retires? You think he'll get beat (again)? I fancy him to show up big time. Remember few years ago a lad I knew was part of Dave Ryan's camp (part of Sandy Ryan's now). He said we're going to be taking Dave up to Scotland to fight this lad who they're making a fuss of. They're saying he's going to be something special. But Dave has experience and might be able to upset him. You know Olympians are sometimes too clean boxers and don't like a fight. That was Josh Taylor. I feel like if he loses this that he's not quite hit the mark that was expected. Glad he's took this fight. Catterall deserves that at least Not disrespecting Taylors fantastic career but I think he was marked to not just win world titles but become a star of his era and win biggest fights against the elite.

Are the Zionist apologists and arms suppliers losing their stomach for this? Sounds antisemtic to me. Israel has right to self defence. The Holocaust! 40 beheaded babies! Hamas bombed Al Shifa! Come on guys, don't bottle it now. Get stuck in to Rafah. Hamas are probably almost possibly completely destroyed.

The first half hour or so is the worst. The rest is only really interesting if you only listened to the Western perspective where groups like Azov don't exist, nobody is trying to undermine Russia, NATO is a tree planting organisation, Putin is Hitler with months to live etc. But if you listened to anything he's said for years then it's just repeated. I definitely think it's a great interview but not for the reasons it's supposed to be. I think it's great in the same way it's great to hear Netenyahu's stance on Palestine. They unintentionally tell you what they really intend. Putin was loud and clear throughout of how he views Ukraine. At some point he even said something along the lines of "The West and nearly all of the world recognise Zelensky as the Ukrainian President".... Well, yeah. We do. He speaks a lot about democracy and freedom. About America has infiltrated this and that. Rigged elections. Liberations. Self defence. Historical claims. Where else have you heard that kind of talk recently? The only justification of war is in true self defence. It's not self defence if you have bases thousands of miles from home. It's not self defence if you're funding wars thousands of miles from home. It's naive of course. Because everyone is looking after their interests abroad. Influencing elections. Rich powerful people justify war, do none of the dying and society is like 'yeah but we had no choice really" My Step Dad and my father in law were military. I'd like to ask them what they thought they were actually defending but it would probably cause offence. Especially as my Step Dad lost a friend in Ireland. It does seem easy to get people to justify killing. Human nature of course

Anything like that died out for me after the first 6 or 7 years.

I just finished the Putin interview. It's as expected. His contempt for an independent Ukraine is obvious. The first hour is hushed Imperial claims and I'm not sure what else you could pass it off as. Why else give the history lesson. Still think it's worth listening to so you can make up your mind whether you're listening to a man freeing the world of Nazi collaborators or a man trying to piece together an empire. I mean it's just the other side of the coin. It's not a lie. It's his truth. As America peddles their truth. Convenient historical facts. Convenient omissions. There has been a squeeze on Russia. There's bots that peddle the idea that America blesses us all with freedom and democracy but come on. Give it up. It's hard to pick which Imperialistic BS takes the moral high ground so I'm going to say neither. We all want peace. That's why we have the tanks, the missiles and jets and 100,000 troops in your garden I think International Law is like VAR. Nice idea but you only really want to acknowledge it when it's working for you.

I've never ever thought I needed a Ring doorbell. For me it solves a problem that doesn't exist.

If the UK decided to take back half of France and Ireland I think I'd be fine with it.

Massive step isn't it? From Yarde/Buatsi to Bivol/Beterbiev? The loser of Yarde v Buatsi might be happier than the winner!

Think I said it before but depression always seemed to me like it has a calculated plan to beat you. First step is try and isolate you. Bit by bit you draw in on yourself. Even if you have a house full, you find ways to push people away from any meaningful connection. Outwardly you can even give off the merry vibes sometimes but internally you know it's not genuine. Before you know it, you've isolated yourself physically or mentally or both. Now comes the beating yourself up stage. In my experiences anyway. What do I add? Who would actually care if I wasn't here? What mark have I made? I don't even like me. Then you can even beat yourself up with the thoughts of people being far worse off than you. You don't have anything to be depressed about. It's like the thoughts aren't your own and your under attack. It's hard to even recognise you're in a hole half the time. But it sounds like you're putting in the work to dig your way out. Might take time mate and you might need somewhere to clear your mind sometimes. Whether that's to a professional, a stranger or on this forum, however works for you.

Good job on recognising it mate. Sometimes just creeps up on you. Can't be bothered to get up in the morning, can't be bothered at work, can't be bothered to cook or clean at home, can't be bothered to take care of yourself... It just spirals.

Ah ok. Got ya on the first point. The second bit.... Weirdly, yeah. I mean I'm poorly educated on WW2 so it would probably be better to keep it on some of the current candidates for historical villains. I understand your point is the spreading of dangerous propaganda. But there's something to be said of taking a genuine concern and addressing it and kind of appeasing it. So in the 30's (poor WW2 knowledge apology) I think Hitler rose to power on the promise to break free of the economic squeeze on Germany? Germany had been forced to surrender colonies and pay war reparations. Perhaps at this point a threat was obvious and steps could have been taken to avoid what came next. Is there a way we could have stopped him tapping into people's insecurities and gaining such support? Or a way to give him enough rope to hang himself. Different time though. But I think you see it now. So Putin will come on and talk about NATO expansion, national security, attacks on Russians in East Ukraine from groups like Azov, American colonialism etc. Some of it, in my opinion, will show that there were times when we could made concessions. Then he will go on to justify why he's had to kill so many Ukrainians and send Russians to die. This is where we point out that he's actually isolated Russia from Europe more than ever and countries want to be fast tracked into NATO. So your whole national security argument for "special military operation" is ridiculous. I hope I got across what I mean. You just look at say Israel/Palestine. Who provides the best argument for Israeli defence? Netenyahu? No, he provides the best argument for Hamas. The best argument for Israeli defence comes from the Palestinian threat. I don't like the idea that we can ignore the concerns of a group or nation etc based on the theory that they're inherently evil. Even if we believe it. It feeds their argument. It kind of empowers them? But yeah, letting Hitler tell everybody that Jews are to be eradicated on Radio... So I do get you. Just it's also not a problem that goes away by ignoring it. So... Yeah. That's why I asked what your problem with a Putin interview might be. Not so I could tell you your wrong, I don't know if I agree with it or not.

I'm not having a dig or anything so I hope this comes across in the right way. But is it not important to hear from both sides or all possible angles rather than to allow one country or perspective to filter the news? Don't get me wrong, there's nothing Putin could say that would, for example, justify in my mind the war on Ukraine. Everything he says should be challenged and examined. But I also think by hearing him it encourages us to challenge and examine opposing views. I would say the same about Hamas or Netenyahu too. Whether you approve of their behaviour or agree with their views won't change the fact that they are what they are. The problem isn't just going to vanish if you ignore them. The justice is kind of half way between the two kind of scenario.

I fell for all the left wing loons stuff in the past. Then you find yourself nodding when Cruella and Priti Patel talk. Then you realise Liz Truss is on your side. Next thing you know Jacob Reese Mogg is inviting Farage to your latest Conservative splinter group. Then you're throwing Human Rights groups, World Health Organisation, LGBT, Peace Protesters all under the same label as "wokey left wing extremists" (right Liz?) Reminds me of that funny David Mitchell sketch where he's a Nazi soldier starting to wonder if they might possibly be baddies?

The other one that gets him is any mention of Andre Ward. He can take and dish out some good banter but watch him fluster at the mention of Ward. He's like the one who shall not be named.

Carl Froch is growing on me. Still an arrogant knobber pretending that being an arrogant knobber is part of an act. But.... He's quite funny and a decent troll. I wanted to go to the tour him and Groves were doing last year or the year before. Mostly because I like Groves and their rivalry was good. But the price, if I remember was extortionate. That had Froch written all over it. Did anyone go? Any Froch fans here?

Stretching himself thin, old Putin. A two week invasion turned into a few years of intense war. But he's about to turn his attention to what? The rest of Europe? Britain? Ok. To be fair, the right wing macho stuff is working wonders on the lads at work. I'm half set to follow Rishi and Suella into the trenches when the fight for freedom starts. Got my own Nerf gun. Just need Joe or Donald to tell Rishi who we should aim it at. Might fly us out to one of those US bases that aren't in Syria. Conscription my arse. The IDF are doing a fine job for us.

Don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's one hurdle after another because Israel's word and action is taken as truth and time and time again the Palestinian effort must prove them liars while they move onto the next lie All the while they kill and destroy. From 40 beheaded babies through "baseless and meritless genocide case" to 12 UNWRA agents helped Hamas so we must stop funding. The goalposts are always moved. They lie all the time. Yet Palestinians can't even give their casualty figures without "Hamas ran health ministry isn't it?". I mean, Hamas are quite honest! It's an exhausting, relentless battle against cover ups and feigned ignorance Putin is coming for us, Houthi Rebels are driving up the cost of living, Iran need to de-escalate, Hezbollah are attacking USA, conscription needed to save Europe, British houses for British people, asking a Muslim MP to stop apologising for Hamas/tell Houthis to ceasefire, the boats are coming, Trump or Biden.... .... Really relentless stirring.

You know the light heavy division doesn't seem to have any ladder. It's all very meh and then you've got the elite. Yarde always annoyed me by fighting nobodies and then he went and jumped in with Kovalev. But there's not much out there for him to go up through to Kovalev and then onto the elite. Still think he wasted time on some absolute walkovers Now Buatsi doesn't even have a faded Kovalev to test himself against. Have Buatsi and Yarde snookered themselves? They should have fought each other already and they should definitely do it soon. They have no reason to believe they could beat the likes of Bivol, Beterbiev. They need to build up and I can't see how? Gvodyk? High risk no money? Just got to fight each other? The division is no mans land with two monsters hogging the belts