What are your most Controversial opinions?

[non-player zealot]

[Heartburn]

I cringe when people talk about wanting to be happy. Happiness is a temporary state of being that often is dictated by outside influences. To use that fleeting feeling as a life goal is ridiculous IMO.

Try being fulfilled or living a life with purpose, generosity, etc. If you manage to achieve it, you'll find joy, which is much more rewarding and long-lasting than happiness.

When I hear people say they want happiness, I think of a kid with an ice cream. Grow up.

[ocho]

[Heartburn]

[ocho]

[Heartburn]

[ocho]

[kikanga]

[angrypuppy]

Trump is actually a Marxist.

His followers are the epitome of a classless society.

[FernieBee]

[unleasHell]

[ahaider]

The United States of America is no longer a superpower.
_________________
Author of James Harden and the Strip Club


"The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are desperately lacking in the latter." - Malcom Gladwell

[SGV-Laker fan]

Jacob Blake shooting was orchestrated by Trump's camp to rile up protesters to help him re-elected. the more violent the protests are, more likely he'll get voted in.

[unleasHell]

[SGV-Laker fan]

[Omar Little]

Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?
_________________
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel

[SweetP]

[DaMuleRules]

[L4L]

My most controversial opinion: The USA is no longer the best country in the world to live in for most people.

If you're not ultra wealthy, many other countries have better social programs including socialized medicine, secondary education, or even nutrition/housing.

If you are ultra wealthy and/or own a business/are finance oriented, many other countries have far lower taxes and/or barriers to entry for entrepreneurs. The sacrifice in standard of living is low and/or completely off-set by the fact your money will go further in that country. The dollar is still strong in many places.

To top it all off, the US is financially insolvent and quickly becoming politically destabilized with escalating racial tensions.

[jonnybravo]

[adkindo]

We as a society have lost perspective or lack an understanding of true courage and/or bravery. Everyday actions are praised and labeled as brave, and they require little to know courage. Bravery is not something the someone does that you agree with or furthers your agenda....bravery is often an action that you may not even support the underlying reasons for the action, but the person took action and were at great risk for real consequences.

For example, I did not support Kap kneeling during the anthem. I still do not support any American kneeling during the anthem, although I recognize their right to take that action. Still, at the time and today, I have recognized that it took real guts, courage or whatever you want to call it for Kap to take that action especially after the extreme backlash he received. It would have been so easy for him to say "I made a mistake" and he likely would have got another chance in the league with some team. Still, he claimed he would not back down in the face of pressure, and never has to date. While some can make an argument it worked out ok for him and he has received millions of dollars from Nike and other endorsements specifically for his actions....but there was absolutely no guarantee that would happen, or a material margin of public sentiment would change in favor of his actions. Still do not agree with his actions....still recognize he walked that plank alone and it took real courage. In contrast, all of the NBA players that kneel during the anthem in the Lake Buena Vista bubble required no courage. It was fully approved by the league in a very different public climate, and they were part of the majority. Yet, the media covered it as if they were so courageous for their act. I personally see it as a slap in the face to Kap in the way the media covered it because they did not have any risk and knew they would be celebrated while he risked everything when he took the same action. In reality, Jonathan Isaac's decision to stand during the anthem was the actual brave act this time around. As a young black male, he knew his decision would not be popular among fellow players and especially fans, while knowing the media in this climate would cover his action very negatively. Similar to Kap in some regards, he felt strongly and did not wilt in the face of significant pressure. As I said, it is not about if you or I agree with why someone is taking an action in regards to bravery/courage....it is about did someone take an act that was accompanied by personal risk/consequences.

I bring this up tonight because of Kenny Smith's act of walking off the set of Inside the NBA tonight. The media instantly reported on it as a brave and courageous act by Smith. It was neither. It was a publicity stunt at worst, but at best it was an action taken that Smith knew he would not suffer any professional or personal consequences for taking. He was well aware of the climate and how it would be covered by the media. I am not saying his act was right or wrong...only that it was not brave to any degree.

I find the fact that we seem to label everything we agree with as brave is problematic because we fail to recognize true courage and the real value of courage. I often have saw the media cover and compare irrelevant acts such as a tweet to acts taken during the civil rights movement. Somehow making a snarky comment in pajamas gets conflated with literally putting ones life in jeopardy to set at a diner counter in the Jim Crow South.

It should be easy to decipher. You may have read the story earlier this week of Sgt. Sivad Johnson, a Detroit Firefighter that drowned saving 3 young girls. It got some coverage in the media, but not to the level it deserved. Sgt. Johnson is an example of real bravery and courage....sending out of tweet suggesting Biden has dementia or another "orange man bad" diatribe is not.

[adkindo]

[LaLaLakeShow]

Controversial Opinion:

EVERYTHING I have been taught by this system we exist under is a f***ing Lie....All of it. Spiritual slavery is the default reality 🤲🤕🤲
_________________
Mamba Made Moments Meticulously Magnificent

[kikanga]

[Omar Little]