sevener #7r

👹 Recognize the troll. ⏳ Respect your boundaries! ⛔️ Restrict access. 🇺🇳 Report abuse. 🤝 Rally support. 🏃‍♀️Retreat when necessary. 🙊 Resist amplification.

[7rlol]

The Government Is Lying to You About Who ICE Is Arresting

TL;DR

ICE officers have committed verified crimes including murder, rape, sexual coercion, domestic violence, corruption, and systematic civil rights violations. Meanwhile, 65% of people arrested by ICE have no criminal convictions whatsoever, and 93% have never been convicted of violent offenses. The reality is that ICE is targeting peaceful families and workers while its own agents commit serious crimes—the exact opposite of making America safer or greater.

Article Outline

I. Sexual Assault and Coercion by ICE Officers

Andrew Golobic: 12 years for coercing sex from vulnerable women

David Corvell: Sexually abused detainee, faces 15 years

Kevin Taylor: 5-15 years for sexually assaulting minors

Pattern of abuse of authority over vulnerable people

II. Murder and Unlawful Killings

Jonathan Ross shoots Renée Good, a U.S. citizen mother and poet

Video contradicts self-defense claims

Government blocking state investigation

III. Corruption and Abuse of Authority

Henry Yau: Fabricated arrests for hire, $10M fraud scheme

Identity theft of 27 individuals

Offering arrests as favors to friends

IV. Domestic Violence and Other Violent Crimes

Samuel Saxon: Decades-long pattern of abuse, 23 police calls in one year

Breaking victim's pelvis, repeated strangulation

Federal agents committing the crimes they claim to prevent

V. Systematic Civil Rights Violations

Mass warrantless arrests without probable cause

Deceptive "ruses" taught at ICE Academy

Wrongful arrests and deportations of U.S. citizens

Three U.S. citizen children deported, including cancer patient

VI. Current Scale of Enforcement Against Non-Criminals

65% of ICE arrests involve people with no criminal convictions

93% never convicted of violent offenses

Nearly 75,000 arrests of people with clean records in 2025

The reality behind the rhetoric

Who ICE Is Really Arresting: The Truth About "Criminal Aliens"

A Conversation We Need to Have

If you've been told that ICE is out there arresting dangerous criminals—gang members, drug dealers, violent offenders—and making our communities safer, I need you to take a breath and look at something with me. Not because I want to attack you or make you feel foolish, but because what's actually happening is so far from what we've been told that it demands we pause and reckon with the truth.

I know you love this country. I know you want to keep your family safe. I know you believe in law and order, in doing things the right way, in protecting American citizens. Those aren't bad instincts. They're human instincts. They're good instincts.

But what if I told you that the very agency claiming to act on those instincts is doing the opposite? What if the numbers—the cold, hard, verified government data—showed that ICE isn't making us safer at all, but is instead tearing apart peaceful families while its own officers commit heinous crimes?

You deserve to know the truth. America deserves better than what's happening in our name.

The Numbers Don't Lie, Even When Politicians Do

Here's what the official data shows: As of June 2025, 65 percent of people taken into ICE detention—133,687 human beings—had no criminal convictions whatsoever.

Read that again. Nearly two out of every three people arrested.

Not "suspected" of crimes. Not "charged" with crimes. No criminal convictions. Period.

It gets worse. More than 93 percent of people arrested by ICE were never convicted of any violent offenses. In the first nine months of the current administration, ICE arrested nearly 75,000 people with completely clean criminal records.

These aren't the dangerous criminals you've been told about on TV. These aren't the "bad hombres" or gang members or drug traffickers that justified all of this in your mind. These are construction workers. Restaurant cooks. Farmhands. Nannies. People who've been here for years, sometimes decades, working hard, paying taxes through ITINs, raising American children, going to church, coaching Little League.

They're people just like you.

What You've Been Told vs. What's Actually Happening

The rhetoric has been relentless: ICE is protecting Americans from violent criminals who've invaded our country. Every speech, every press conference, every social media post from administration officials hammers this message home. They want you scared. They want you to believe there's an army of dangerous criminals lurking in every city, and only aggressive enforcement can save us.

But when you look at who ICE is actually arresting—not who they say they're arresting, but who they're actually arresting—the story crumbles.

Scenario One: The Nightclub Raid

Let me tell you about G.R.R. He was at a nightclub in Colorado when ICE agents flooded the building with tear gas and flash bangs like they were raiding a terrorist compound. G.R.R., terrified, hid under a car. An officer found him, ordered him out at gunpoint. He complied immediately—hands up, non-threatening, doing exactly what he was told.

The officer shoved him to the ground anyway. G.R.R.'s hand was sliced open, bleeding badly. An EMT said he needed stitches. The ICE officer slapped a band-aid on it, took his phone and wallet, found a Mexican consular card, and arrested him.

Did this officer investigate whether G.R.R. was a danger to anyone? No. Did he check if G.R.R. had been living in Colorado for years, working, contributing to the community? No. Did he care that G.R.R. needed medical attention? No.

G.R.R. sat in detention for 50 days. Fifty days away from work, away from family, away from his life. For what? For being at a nightclub while Latino.

Scenario Two: The College Student

Or consider Natasha Goncalves. A college student on scholarship with a stable home and family. She was stopped, arrested, and detained for 15 days. ICE made zero effort to determine if she was a flight risk. If they had bothered to look—to do even the most basic investigation—they would have immediately seen she was a student with deep ties to the community, attending classes, living with family, building a future.

But they didn't care about any of that. They saw someone they could arrest, so they arrested her.

She lost two weeks of her life. Two weeks of classes. Two weeks of work. Two weeks of freedom. For absolutely nothing.

Scenario Three: The Children

And then there are the children. In April 2025, ICE deported at least three U.S. citizen children—ages 2, 4, and 7. American citizens. Born here. Constitutional rights. Didn't matter.

ICE held their families incommunicado, refused to let them speak to lawyers, and deported them. One of these children—an American citizen, remember—was suffering from a rare form of metastatic cancer. ICE deported this sick child without medication and without giving the family any way to consult with their treating physicians.

Imagine being that parent. Your child has cancer. You're fighting for their life. And the United States government rips them away from their doctors, their treatment, their chance at survival, and dumps them in another country.

Is that making America great? Is that protecting American citizens? That was an American citizen. A child. With cancer.

The Cognitive Dissonance We Must Confront

I need you to sit with something uncomfortable for a moment. You've been told this is about law and order. You've been told this is about protecting Americans. You've been told the people being arrested are criminals, dangers, threats.

But 65 percent have no criminal record.

You've been told we're going after violent offenders, the worst of the worst.

But 93 percent have no violent crime convictions.

You've been told ICE agents are heroes doing dangerous work to keep us safe.

But let me tell you about the ICE agents themselves—the ones doing the arresting, the ones wrapped in the flag of "law and order."

When the Enforcers Are the Criminals

Andrew Golobic was an ICE deportation officer for 14 years. You know what he did with that authority? He sexually coerced vulnerable immigrant women under his supervision. He told them if they didn't have sex with him, he'd use his power over their immigration cases against them. When federal investigators caught on, he lied to obstruct the investigation. He was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.

Jonathan Ross was an ICE agent who shot and killed Renée Good—a 37-year-old American citizen, mother of three, and award-winning poet—in Minneapolis in January 2026. Video footage shows Renée trying to drive away. Ross positioned himself in front of her vehicle and shot her three times as she was steering away from him. Then ICE agents blocked medical personnel from giving her immediate aid.

The Trump administration called Renée a "domestic terrorist" for trying to drive away from armed men surrounding her car. They claimed Ross acted in self-defense. But the video shows her wheels turned away from him when he fired. Experts analyzed the footage: at the moment he shot her, "his legs appeared to be clear of the vehicle".

Renée Good was a poet. A mother. An American. And ICE killed her, then slandered her memory.

Henry Yau was an ICE supervisory deportation officer who participated in a $10 million bank fraud scheme. Someone was about to expose the fraud, so Yau was paid to arrest that person to shut them up. He fabricated the arrest. He also stole identity information on 27 people from federal databases, tipped off an FBI target, and offered to arrest people as favors for friends.

Samuel Saxon was an ICE agent in Cincinnati for more than 20 years. Police were called to his residence 23 times in one year for domestic violence. He put his girlfriend in the hospital with a broken pelvis. He was caught on video with her in a chokehold, dragging her down a hallway, screaming at her. Prosecutors described it as a "yearslong pattern of escalating violence".

Kevin Taylor was an ICE agent convicted of sexually assaulting two minors. He got 5 to 15 years in prison.

David Corvell, another ICE officer, sexually abused a detainee and faces up to 15 years in prison.

These aren't isolated incidents. These are the people telling you they're protecting you from dangerous criminals.

The Moral Math That Doesn't Add Up

Let's do some moral accounting here, because this is important.

ICE is arresting 133,687 people with no criminal convictions—people who've committed no crimes, hurt no one, just trying to live and work and raise their families.

Meanwhile, ICE's own officers are:

Raping and sexually coercing vulnerable people

Murdering American citizens

Committing domestic violence so severe victims end up hospitalized

Running fraud schemes

Fabricating arrests for money

Beating people during raids

So let me ask you directly: Who's making America less safe? The construction worker with no criminal record trying to feed his kids? Or the ICE officer breaking his girlfriend's pelvis?

Who's the threat to your family? The restaurant cook who's been here 15 years paying taxes? Or the ICE supervisor fabricating arrests for $20,000?

Who's the danger to American values? The college scholarship student? Or the ICE agent who shot an unarmed mother and then let her bleed out?

This Isn't About Border Security—It's About Power

I know some of you are thinking: "But they're here illegally. They broke the law."

Okay. Let's talk about that.

First, unlawful presence is a civil violation, not a criminal one. It's in the same legal category as a parking ticket or breaking an HOA rule. We don't send SWAT teams with flash bangs for parking tickets.

Second, many of these people entered legally and overstayed visas—something that happens when life gets complicated, when family emergencies arise, when bureaucratic processes take years. They're not cartels. They're not smugglers. They're people who fell out of status in a mind-numbingly complex immigration system.

Third, and this is crucial: even if someone violated immigration law, that doesn't strip them of human rights. It doesn't make it okay to tear gas a nightclub and slice someone's hand open. It doesn't justify deporting a child with cancer. It doesn't excuse refusing medical care or fabricating charges or killing someone who's trying to drive away.

The punishment has to fit the violation. You don't get the death penalty for jaywalking. You don't get 50 days in detention for going to a nightclub. You don't get your U.S. citizen child deported because a paperwork mistake.

Unless this was never really about the law at all. Unless it was always about power. About who gets to stay and who gets removed. About who counts as human and who doesn't.

The Lie You've Been Sold

Here's the truth they don't want you to know: undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. Study after study confirms this. They're not making your neighborhood dangerous—statistically, they're making it safer.

The people being arrested aren't the criminals you've been warned about. 93 percent have no violent crime convictions. The vast majority are working people with families, roots in communities, children in schools.

You've been sold a lie. You've been told to fear your neighbor, the guy who mows your lawn, the woman who cleans the hotel, the man who picks the food you eat. You've been told they're dangerous, they're criminals, they're invaders.

But when you look at the actual data—not the rhetoric, not the fear-mongering, but the data—it falls apart completely.

What Greatness Actually Looks Like

I want you to think about what made America great in the first place. Was it cruelty? Was it tearing families apart? Was it deporting sick children? Was it arresting people at church or in their homes or at college?

Or was it something else?

Was it the idea that everyone deserves dignity? That we judge people by their character, not where they were born? That we're a nation of second chances, of opportunity, of refuge?

Emma Lazarus wrote words that appear on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." That's what people around the world thought America was. A place where hard work mattered more than bloodline. Where you could build a better life if you were willing to sacrifice and contribute.

What's happening now isn't making America great. It's making America cruel. It's making America a place where:

College students get arrested for being the wrong ethnicity

Children with cancer get deported

Peaceful workers get flash-banged at nightclubs

Families are ripped apart even though no crimes were committed

The enforcers themselves are rapists and murderers and frauds

Is that what greatness looks like to you?

A Plea to Your Conscience

I'm not asking you to abandon your principles. I'm not asking you to support "open borders" or lawlessness or anything else you've been told is the only alternative.

I'm asking you to look at what's actually happening. To see the human cost of policies being enacted in your name, with your support, funded by your tax dollars.

I'm asking you to ask yourself: Is this who we want to be?

When you meet your maker—or when you look your grandchildren in the eye—will you be proud of what happened? Will you say, "Yes, we arrested 133,687 people who'd committed no crimes, we deported children with cancer, we let agents rape and murder and face no consequences, but it was worth it"?

Or will you wish you'd spoken up? Will you wish you'd looked at the numbers, really looked at them, and demanded something better?

This Isn't Partisan—It's Human

This isn't about red or blue. This isn't about winning or losing political arguments. This is about right and wrong. This is about whether we're going to be a country that treats people—all people—with basic dignity and justice.

If ICE were truly focused on violent criminals and public safety threats, I think many of us could get behind that. But that's not what's happening. The data makes it crystal clear: 65 percent of arrests are people with no criminal record at all.

That's not law enforcement. That's not public safety. That's terror. That's using the power of the state to harass and traumatize and exile people whose only "crime" was trying to build a better life.

And while this is happening, ICE's own agents are committing sexual assault, murder, fraud, and domestic violence—real crimes, with real victims, causing real harm.

If you truly believe in law and order, shouldn't you be outraged that the people enforcing the law are breaking it in the most heinous ways imaginable? Shouldn't you demand accountability?

What You Can Do

You don't have to agree with everything I'm saying. You don't have to suddenly support every immigration policy proposal from the other side.

But you can do this: Look at the numbers yourself. Don't take my word for it. Go find the official data. Look at who's actually being arrested. Look at what ICE agents have actually been convicted of.

And then ask yourself: Does this align with what I've been told? Does this match the narrative I've been fed? Does this reflect the values I hold?

If the answer is no—and I believe in my heart it will be no for many of you—then speak up. Tell your representatives this isn't what you want. Tell your community this isn't acceptable. Tell your family that tearing apart peaceful families while federal agents commit rape and murder isn't making America great.

It's doing the opposite.

America is great when we live up to our ideals. When we treat people with dignity. When we demand justice, not just for people who look like us or were born in the same place we were, but for everyone.

That's the greatness worth fighting for. Not this. Never this.

A Final Word

I know this is hard to read. I know it challenges things you might have believed deeply. That's uncomfortable. I get it.

But uncomfortable truths are still truths. And we owe it to ourselves—we owe it to the legacy we leave—to face them.

Sixty-five percent with no criminal record. Ninety-three percent with no violent crime convictions. Children with cancer deported. Mothers shot. Students arrested. Peaceful workers terrorized.

This is what's happening in America right now, in 2026, in your name.

Is this the country you want to live in? Is this the America you want your children to inherit?

Or is it time to demand something better—something actually great?

The choice, as it always has been, is ours.

[7rlol]

The Benevolent Troll: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

TL;DR: Not all trolls are obvious; some hide behind a facade of kindness.

Trolls aren’t always the snarling, aggressive figures we imagine. Sometimes, they wear the mask of benevolence, pretending to engage in good faith while subtly undermining the conversation. This is the benevolent troll, a master of disguise in the digital age.

Benevolent trolls often employ a variety of tactics to derail discussions or sow discord, all while maintaining an air of innocence. They might use hypocrisy, where they accuse others of the very behaviors they themselves exhibit. Or they might lean on logical fallacies, constructing arguments that seem reasonable at first glance but crumble under scrutiny. Blatant lies are another favorite tool, as they can quickly spread misinformation and confusion.

Hypocrisy: Calling out others for behaviors they themselves are guilty of.

Logical Fallacies: Using flawed reasoning to make their point seem valid.

Blatant Lies: Spreading false information to mislead or confuse.

Sealioning: Pretending to ask sincere questions while actually derailing the conversation.

Whataboutism: Deflecting criticism by pointing to unrelated issues.

These tactics aren’t just annoying—they’re harmful. They can erode trust, spread misinformation, and stifle meaningful dialogue. Just last week, a minor news story highlighted how a seemingly well-intentioned online campaign was actually a front for spreading disinformation. It’s a reminder that we must stay vigilant.

So, how do we counter these benevolent trolls? First, recognize the tactics. When you see hypocrisy, call it out. When faced with a logical fallacy, break it down and explain why it doesn’t hold water. Don’t let blatant lies go unchallenged—fact-check and provide evidence. And when you encounter sealioning or whataboutism, steer the conversation back to the original point.

In the end, it’s about fostering a healthier online environment. We all have a role to play in ensuring that our digital spaces are places of genuine dialogue and understanding. So next time you spot a benevolent troll, ask yourself: how can I turn this encounter into an opportunity for truth and clarity?

What will you do to keep the conversation honest and constructive?

[7rlol]

Spotting the Trolls: Expedite and Concern Trolling

TL;DR: Learn to spot and counteract expedite and concern trolling to foster genuine dialogue.

Trolls are everywhere. They’re lurking in comment sections, social media threads, and even in your inbox. But not all trolls are created equal. Some are masters of disguise, using tactics like expedite and concern trolling to derail conversations and sow discord.

Expedite trolling is all about urgency. It’s when someone demands immediate action or answers, often without providing any real context or understanding of the issue. They might say something like, “Why haven’t you fixed this yet?” or “This needs to be done now!” The goal is to create pressure and chaos, not to contribute constructively. Just last week, a minor uproar erupted over a delayed software update, with expedite trolls fanning the flames by demanding impossible timelines.

Concern trolling, on the other hand, is more insidious. It’s when someone pretends to be on your side, expressing fake concern to undermine your position. They might say, “I’m just worried about how this will affect your reputation,” or “I support you, but have you considered how this looks?” The aim is to plant seeds of doubt and insecurity.

Here’s how to spot these tactics:

Check the urgency: Is the demand for immediate action reasonable, or is it just creating unnecessary pressure?

Examine the concern: Is the concern genuine, or does it seem like a veiled attempt to undermine?

Look for patterns: Are these comments part of a larger pattern of disruption or negativity?

By recognizing these tactics, you can counteract them effectively. Respond with calm, reasoned arguments, and don’t be afraid to call out bad-faith behavior when you see it. Remember, fostering genuine dialogue is key to a strong, free society.

So next time you encounter a troll, ask yourself: Are they really trying to help, or are they just trying to stir the pot?

[republicansaretheproblem]

[7rlol]

The Fine Line Between Critique and Cruelty

TL;DR: Critique tactics, not people, to maintain healthy discourse.

Trolling is the internet’s favorite pastime.

In a world where online discourse often feels like a battlefield, it’s crucial to distinguish between calling out harmful tactics and descending into personal attacks. Trolling, with its many faces—sealioning, whataboutism, and the infamous gish gallop—thrives on chaos and confusion. It’s a game of smoke and mirrors, where the goal is to derail meaningful conversation and sow discord. But here’s the kicker: while it’s essential to shine a light on these tactics, turning that spotlight into a weapon against individuals is where we cross the line into cruelty.

Let’s break it down:

Critique the tactic, not the person. When you see someone employing a bad-faith argument, focus on dismantling the argument itself. Highlight the logical fallacies or the disinformation being spread. This keeps the conversation constructive and prevents it from devolving into a personal vendetta.

Understand the tactic. Recognizing the signs of trolling is the first step in countering it. Whether it’s the relentless questioning of sealioning or the shifting goalposts of motte-and-bailey, knowing what you’re up against allows you to respond effectively without getting dragged into the mud.

Promote media literacy. Encourage others to see through the noise. Share resources that help people identify and counteract these tactics. It’s not just about winning an argument; it’s about fostering a culture of critical thinking and accountability.

In the end, it’s about maintaining the integrity of our discourse. When we stoop to mockery, we risk becoming the very thing we’re fighting against. So, next time you encounter a troll, ask yourself: are you critiquing the tactic, or are you targeting the person? The answer could make all the difference in preserving the quality of our conversations.

How can we better equip ourselves and others to recognize and counter these tactics without losing our humanity in the process?

[depsidase]

[7rlol]

The Halcyon Days of Concern Trolling

TL;DR: Concern trolling masquerades as genuine worry but aims to undermine rather than support.

Ah, the halcyon days of the internet, where every comment section is a bastion of goodwill and sincerity. Or not. Concern trolling is the art of pretending to be worried about an issue while actually trying to derail or undermine it. It’s like offering someone a hand only to pull it away at the last second.

In recent news, a minor uproar occurred when a local council decided to plant more trees in urban areas. A noble cause, right? Enter the concern trolls, who suddenly became experts in urban planning, worried about the “potential” for increased pollen allergies. Their real aim? To halt progress under the guise of caring.

So, how do you spot these wolves in sheep’s clothing? Here are a few telltale signs:

Exaggerated Concern: They often express over-the-top worry about a minor issue, making it seem like a deal-breaker.

Lack of Solutions: Genuine criticism usually comes with suggestions for improvement. Concern trolls rarely offer constructive feedback.

Shifting Goalposts: When one concern is addressed, they quickly find another, never satisfied with any resolution.

Next time you encounter a supposed well-wisher, ask yourself: Are they offering solutions, or just problems? Are they open to dialogue, or do they just want to argue? Recognizing these patterns can help you engage more effectively online and protect your mental energy.

In a world where genuine dialogue is crucial for progress, let’s not let the concern trolls win. How can we foster more authentic conversations and weed out the bad actors?

[depsidase]

[liberalsarecool]

Elect more women. #AOC

[7rlol]

Stop being fooled by the endless loop of bad-faith arguments. It’s time to cut through the noise.

Picture this: you’re at a Beltane festival, the air alive with celebration and renewal. But just as the fire’s warmth begins to envelop you, someone starts asking for proof that the flames are hot. Again. And again. That’s sealioning for you—demanding endless evidence while ignoring what’s right in front of them. It’s a tactic defenders of ICE often use, sidestepping the mountain of documentation about deaths, abuse, and violations. They ask for more proof, more details, more everything, all while conveniently ignoring what’s already been laid bare.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? But here’s the thing: you don’t have to play their game. Recognize the tactic for what it is—a distraction, a way to derail meaningful conversation. When someone keeps asking for evidence that’s already been provided, it’s not about seeking truth. It’s about wearing you down.

So, what can you do? First, call it out. Name the tactic. “This feels like sealioning,” you might say. “We’ve already discussed the reports from last week.” (Remember that minor news event about the unexpected rise in sea turtle populations? Yeah, that was real. And documented.) Then, redirect the conversation back to the core issue. “Let’s focus on solutions instead of rehashing the same points.”

It’s about staying grounded, keeping the conversation moving forward, and not getting bogged down in endless, circular debates. Because at the end of the day, it’s about creating a society where everyone feels safe and valued. A society where we can celebrate Beltane without someone questioning the heat of the fire.

So next time you find yourself caught in a sealioning loop, remember: you’ve got the tools to break free. And when you do, you’ll be helping to build a stronger, more honest dialogue. One that’s rooted in truth, not distraction.

[7rlol]

Stop being fooled.

In a world where information is thrown at us faster than we can blink, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of arguments and debates. But here’s the thing: not all arguments are created equal. Some are just smoke and mirrors, designed to distract and mislead. Ever heard of tantamount, whataboutism, and false equivalence? They’re sneaky little devils, and they’re everywhere.

Let’s break it down. Tantamount is when someone tries to equate two things that aren’t really the same. It’s like saying eating a donut is tantamount to eating a salad because they both have calories. Sounds ridiculous, right? But it happens all the time in discussions, especially when someone wants to downplay a serious issue.

Then there’s whataboutism. It’s the classic “look over there!” tactic. When someone points out a problem, instead of addressing it, the other person deflects by bringing up a completely different issue. It’s like when you tell your friend they left the door open, and they respond with, “Well, what about the time you forgot to lock it?” It’s a distraction, plain and simple.

And let’s not forget false equivalence. This one’s a doozy. It’s when someone tries to make two unequal things seem equal. Imagine comparing a minor inconvenience to a major disaster. Just because they both cause discomfort doesn’t mean they’re on the same level. It’s like comparing a paper cut to a broken leg.

These tactics are dishonest. They derail meaningful conversations and prevent us from addressing real issues. Remember that minor news blip about the local council’s decision to plant more trees last week? Some folks tried to argue it was tantamount to wasting taxpayer money, ignoring the long-term benefits for the community. Classic deflection.

So, how do you counter these bad-faith arguments? First, recognize them. When someone uses these tactics, call it out. Ask them to stick to the point. Don’t let them sidetrack the conversation. And most importantly, stay informed. The more you know, the harder it is for someone to pull the wool over your eyes.

In the end, it’s about keeping our discussions honest and productive. Because when we do, we build a society that’s not just economically strong, but socially resilient too. And that’s something worth fighting for.

[7rlol]

“Just asking questions.” You’ve probably heard it before. It’s a phrase that seems innocent enough, but it often masks a more insidious intent. This is the realm of concern trolling, where the goal isn’t to engage in genuine dialogue or offer constructive criticism, but rather to sow doubt and derail meaningful conversation.

Let’s break it down. Imagine you’re at a community meeting discussing a new initiative to improve local parks. Someone stands up and says, “I’m just concerned that this project might lead to increased taxes. Have we really thought this through?” On the surface, it sounds like a valid point. But dig a little deeper, and you might find that this person has a history of opposing community projects, regardless of their merit. They’re not there to contribute; they’re there to disrupt.

This tactic is particularly effective because it preys on our natural inclination to consider all viewpoints and to be fair. But when the intent is to undermine rather than to understand, it becomes a form of manipulation. It’s like when a news outlet recently reported on a minor celebrity’s “controversial” tweet, only to reveal it was a harmless joke taken out of context. The goal wasn’t to inform but to provoke outrage and clicks.

So, how do you spot a concern troll? First, look at the pattern. Are they consistently negative, always finding a reason to object without offering solutions? Genuine criticism is usually accompanied by constructive suggestions. Second, consider the context. Are they raising issues that have already been addressed or that are irrelevant to the main discussion? And finally, trust your gut. If it feels like they’re more interested in stirring the pot than in finding common ground, you’re probably dealing with a concern troll.

When you encounter this kind of bad-faith argument, don’t get sucked into the vortex. Acknowledge their point briefly, then steer the conversation back to the main issue. You might say, “That’s an interesting perspective, but let’s focus on how we can make this project work for everyone.” By doing this, you maintain control of the dialogue and keep it productive.

Remember, genuine criticism is a gift. It helps us grow and improve. But concern trolling? It’s just noise. And in a world where real issues need real solutions, we can’t afford to let the trolls win.

[7rlol]

Oh, the media. Always there to remind us of the most pressing issues of our time—like the latest troll who’s managed to crawl out from under their bridge. Isn’t it just delightful how they thrive on covering these attention-seekers, all in the name of “news”? It’s almost as if they profit from rage-baiting. Shocking, right?

Let’s be real. Every time a troll gets a headline, it’s like handing them a megaphone and saying, “Go on, tell us more about your ridiculous views.” And why? Because controversy sells. It’s the oldest trick in the book. They know that nothing gets people clicking faster than a good ol’ dose of outrage. (Remember that minor spat about the color of a dress that somehow became a global debate? Yeah, that.)

But here’s the thing: our attention is limited. We can’t afford to waste it on every troll who decides to spew nonsense. When the media covers these characters, it can seem like they’re endorsing the topic, even if they’re not. It’s a sneaky tactic—give the troll a platform, watch the clicks roll in, and then act surprised when people take it seriously.

So, how do we stop falling for it? First, recognize the bait. If it sounds outrageous and designed to provoke, it probably is. Second, don’t engage. Trolls feed on attention, so starve them of it. And third, support media outlets that prioritize genuine issues over sensationalism. (You know, the ones that actually care about social wellbeing rather than just their bottom line.)

In the end, it’s about choosing where to focus our energy. Let’s save it for the stories that matter, the ones that build a stronger, freer society. Because when we do, we all win.

[7rlol]

Verdant. It’s a word that conjures images of lush, green landscapes, teeming with life and promise. But let’s talk about something that’s not so green—ICE’s social media campaigns. They’ve been using concern trolling techniques that are as transparent as a freshly cleaned window. You know the drill: they frame their enforcement actions as if they’re doing immigrants a favor, protecting them from the big bad world. But let’s not kid ourselves. It’s like saying you’re saving a fish from drowning by keeping it out of water. Just last week, there was a minor news blip about a community garden being bulldozed for a parking lot—an apt metaphor for how these campaigns bulldoze the truth.

Now, here’s the thing: concern trolling is a sneaky tactic. It pretends to care about the well-being of the very people it’s harming. It’s like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, only the sheep’s wool is looking a bit threadbare. So how do you spot this kind of bad-faith argument? First, look for the mismatch between words and actions. If someone says they’re protecting you but their actions say otherwise, that’s a red flag. Second, pay attention to who benefits from the narrative. Spoiler alert: it’s usually not the people they’re claiming to help.

And let’s not forget the power of community. When we talk to each other, share stories, and call out these tactics, we build a network of awareness that’s hard to break. (Kind of like how a bunch of tiny roots can crack through concrete.) So next time you see a campaign that seems a little too concerned, take a step back and ask yourself: who’s really being protected here? Because at the end of the day, a strong society is one where everyone thrives, not just the ones holding the megaphone.

[7rlol]

Whataboutism is the ultimate dodgeball move in the world of debate. It’s like trying to catch a greased pig—slippery and frustrating. You see it all the time, especially when folks start talking about ICE and its practices. Someone raises a legitimate concern about how ICE handles detainees, and boom, the conversation gets hijacked. Suddenly, we’re not talking about ICE anymore. We’re talking about some other law enforcement agency or a completely unrelated immigration issue. It’s like trying to have a serious conversation about climate change and someone starts ranting about how their neighbor’s dog barks too much. What?

This tactic is a classic example of bad-faith argumentation. It’s designed to distract, deflect, and derail. Instead of addressing the issue at hand, the person using whataboutism shifts the focus elsewhere. It’s a way to avoid accountability, plain and simple. And it happens all the time. Just last week, there was a minor news blip about a local police department mishandling evidence, and sure enough, defenders of ICE were quick to point fingers there instead of addressing the concerns about ICE’s own practices.

So, how do you spot this sneaky tactic? Look for the pivot. When someone changes the subject in response to a direct question or concern, that’s your red flag. They’re not engaging with the issue; they’re trying to steer the conversation away from it. And when you see it happening, call it out. Bring the discussion back to the original point. Ask for a direct answer to the question that was posed. Don’t let the conversation get lost in the weeds.

It’s important to remember that holding one agency accountable doesn’t mean ignoring others. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can address multiple issues without letting one serve as a smokescreen for another. And we should. Because at the end of the day, a society that values accountability and transparency is a society that thrives. It’s not just about pointing fingers—it’s about making sure that everyone, from individuals to institutions, is held to the same standard. That’s how we build a better, more just world for everyone.

[depsidase]

[7rlol]

Dross. It’s the stuff that floats to the top when metal is melted down, the impurities that need to be skimmed off to get to the good stuff. In the world of rhetoric, dross is the noise, the misleading arguments, the dishonest tactics that obscure the truth. And boy, do some folks know how to churn it out.

Take the libertarian think tanks like the Cato Institute and the Heritage Foundation. They’ve mastered a technique known as “JAQing off”—a clever play on words that stands for “Just Asking Questions.” But don’t be fooled by the innocent-sounding name. This isn’t about genuine curiosity or open dialogue. It’s a tactic designed to sow doubt and delay action on critical issues like the minimum wage, climate science, and tobacco harms.

Here’s how it works: these think tanks fund studies that pose questions about well-established facts. “Is the minimum wage really beneficial?” “Is climate change as urgent as scientists claim?” “Are the harms of tobacco overstated?” By framing these questions as if they’re just seeking the truth, they create a manufactured veneer of academic uncertainty. It’s like a magician’s sleight of hand, distracting you from the reality with a flourish of misleading inquiries.

This isn’t a new trick. The tobacco industry wrote the playbook on doubt-manufacturing decades ago. Internal memos revealed their strategy: create uncertainty about the health risks of smoking to delay regulation. And wouldn’t you know it, the same strategy has been applied to climate denial and financial deregulation, all funded by the same donor networks. It’s a tangled web of influence, spun with the intent to keep the status quo firmly in place.

So how do you spot this kind of dross in the wild? Look for the signs: studies that seem to question the obvious, funded by organizations with clear ideological agendas. Ask yourself who benefits from the doubt being sown. And when you hear someone “just asking questions,” consider whether those questions are genuinely seeking answers or simply muddying the waters.

It’s important to stay vigilant, especially when the stakes are high. After all, a strong society isn’t built on a foundation of confusion and delay. It’s built on truth, transparency, and action. And while it might be tempting to get lost in the weeds of manufactured uncertainty, remember that the real work lies in skimming off the dross and getting to the heart of the matter. Because that’s where the real change happens.