Q: I have for the last several had a terrible thought (fantasy really) in my head about what I wish would happen to the entire trump family. It can never happen of course but the thought of it has helped me get through these last years. I have told a few people this fantasy and they think it makes me a terrible person. I don’t think so because I can’t make it happen so it is causing no harm. Even if I had the ability I wouldn’t make it happen. Thoughts in my own head don’t make me a terrible person. Right?
Watching Gene struggle this way from afar (with failed posts, doubled posts and questions, inconsistent cross-referencing, less-than-fully-edited sentences, etc.) is giving me new respect for Tom the Butcher.
This isn’t a question Gene can answer, but perhaps one to pass along to the Substack wizards: how does one refresh the chat in the Substack app (iOS, if it matters)? Maybe that functionality isn’t there, since Gene is breaking new ground, but I always have to leave and go back later to get new Qs and As.
Assuming this is now the (a ?) thing, I'll repeat my comment from the "Are you Friggin' Kidding !? Off With You !" short-lived comment section. Being deathless prose and all that. As I was saying before being disappeared, on the matter of a response to "Thank you' raised in a question --- I go full curmudgeon on what I see as the profligate use of ‘not a problem’ and ‘no worries.’ It has gotten to the point where even the French, to whom idioms are like wine, have begun to publicly sneer at ‘pas de souci,’ the Gallic version of what should be a reflexive expression about yourself or the person addressed.
For example, (You) ‘I really don’t mind that you just barfed on my new shoes.’ (Them) ‘I would apologize, but I didn’t realize they were new.’ Instead we get, (You) ‘No problem.’ (Them) ‘No worries.’ Enter the sociologists. Apparently the use of the ‘no problem’/’no worries’ phrase allows us to simultaneously ‘save face’ and, permit the addressee to do likewise. Who would have thought ‘no problem’ was so thoughtful ? How about we just say what we really mean, like — ‘You stupid %$#@!!.’ There, isn’t that better ?
I’m confused by this entire interface. Links to log in. Only see one question. Do I need to refresh? Does it update itself? I happily paid up but not sure why
Dude, you're on the cutting edge of history here! C'mon, the bugs will be part of the Beta, but YOU were here when the Gene Pool was filling with [partly filthy] water. Hang in there, refresh when you can [see that button up there that's a curvy arrow?]. You'll be happy again.
"Look what you've done!! I'm melting, melting. Ohhhhh, what a world, what a world..." And you were doing so well. Those Russian hackers again ? The comments elsewhere have disappeared.
I don't have great vision any more, alas, and have a very difficult time reading the light orange text. Would it be possible to use a different color? Or a dark orange, bold type?
Watching Gene struggle this way from afar (with failed posts, doubled posts and questions, inconsistent cross-referencing, less-than-fully-edited sentences, etc.) is giving me new respect for Tom the Butcher.
Is Gene really George santos
Hey, the Butcher didn't have to deal with the f'ing internet. Hahahaha!
This isn’t a question Gene can answer, but perhaps one to pass along to the Substack wizards: how does one refresh the chat in the Substack app (iOS, if it matters)? Maybe that functionality isn’t there, since Gene is breaking new ground, but I always have to leave and go back later to get new Qs and As.
Does your fantasy involve a meteor strike, like mine does? I get a great deal of pleasure from my fantasy...
No but something like it
Re Adam Sandler: I stopped a fight once. Where's my Nobel Peace Prize?
Assuming this is now the (a ?) thing, I'll repeat my comment from the "Are you Friggin' Kidding !? Off With You !" short-lived comment section. Being deathless prose and all that. As I was saying before being disappeared, on the matter of a response to "Thank you' raised in a question --- I go full curmudgeon on what I see as the profligate use of ‘not a problem’ and ‘no worries.’ It has gotten to the point where even the French, to whom idioms are like wine, have begun to publicly sneer at ‘pas de souci,’ the Gallic version of what should be a reflexive expression about yourself or the person addressed.
For example, (You) ‘I really don’t mind that you just barfed on my new shoes.’ (Them) ‘I would apologize, but I didn’t realize they were new.’ Instead we get, (You) ‘No problem.’ (Them) ‘No worries.’ Enter the sociologists. Apparently the use of the ‘no problem’/’no worries’ phrase allows us to simultaneously ‘save face’ and, permit the addressee to do likewise. Who would have thought ‘no problem’ was so thoughtful ? How about we just say what we really mean, like — ‘You stupid %$#@!!.’ There, isn’t that better ?
I agree. I actually sent pretty much the same comment in, before seeing this.
Thank you.
And what I said before being exorcised: "Pas de problem!"
I’m confused by this entire interface. Links to log in. Only see one question. Do I need to refresh? Does it update itself? I happily paid up but not sure why
Yes. Keep refreshing. We'll get this right.
Ok I’m no technophobe but this seems confusing at best
You "paid up" because Gene knows where you live.
Dude, you're on the cutting edge of history here! C'mon, the bugs will be part of the Beta, but YOU were here when the Gene Pool was filling with [partly filthy] water. Hang in there, refresh when you can [see that button up there that's a curvy arrow?]. You'll be happy again.
Aha! Link now works, am catching up, and yes, the other post seems disappeared-ly gone.
"Look what you've done!! I'm melting, melting. Ohhhhh, what a world, what a world..." And you were doing so well. Those Russian hackers again ? The comments elsewhere have disappeared.
Never mind 'breach of etiquette'. Think of the germs that you transfer to the phone from your body. Gross.
I don't have great vision any more, alas, and have a very difficult time reading the light orange text. Would it be possible to use a different color? Or a dark orange, bold type?
Thank you.
Apparently I suck. Because the venerable Gene Weingarten has declared that those of my profession universally do.
So, you're a lawyer?
Saying" you're welcome" makes the transaction uneven. You do me a favor, I say "thank you." Transaction over.
If now you add "You're welcome," what's my next move?
For those of you familiar with "The Outlast Trials," this is also Gene's attempt to weed out the weak and easily discouraged.
Is the prostate reply the end? I keep refreshing and nothing happens
Gene --- This is what comes from you depending on magic.
Maybe Gene is really George santos