"nobody wants to work with a Debbie downer"

You could always just buy any TV with an an analog tuner and watch whatever's on the air these days.

If you think any media organization gets legitimate traction with level-headed, real reporting, congratulations! Your chip has been properly configured! You can now live life unburdened by critical thought.

They're all sock puppets for billionaires to sway public opinion.

expecting keys to work in their intended way in word

Oh my sweet summer child.

The "disbanding" of the pandemic response team is largely misrepresented. I don't disagree with the rest, or see how it's at all relevant to the current conversation.

If they aren't better off, why wouldn't they just say no?

So long as he doesn't try to use them!

There have been so many studies showing that everyone from average joes to top-tier judges can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive wines.

Lol, I've said for years that you should always buy second cheapest booze (unless it's a variety you're passionate about). Never go cheapest because... Shudder... But usually second cheapest is good enough.

I like how you're so high up on your horse that not only does is your team too good to have enemies, you can doublethink away any use of the term as impersonal.

Okay... But... Outside of conflicts of interest, wouldn't those families be worse off without this unconventional life insurance policy?

You say that like it's a bad thing?

Agreed.

I used one but not the other because my best interpretation of modern social sensibilities is that "whore" is not considered terribly offensive when it's directed outside of its more literal sense, whereas "queer" is only acceptable in positive discussion of non-heteronormativity.

The second gear- usage just comes from a time (and communities behind the times) where the slur is used more broadly to mean "anybody I don't like."

I genuinely don't care.

90% of problems on modern cars are computers miscommunicating with other computers, out just deciding that some sensor isn't behaving well enough, so you have to throw the baby out with the bath water. All this in proprietary formats in proprietary subsystems a filthy mortal like you can't afford the tools to even know what's wrong.

I think with many hobbies there's a two-sided trap:

If you buy the absolute cheapest, you can end up hamstrung and unable to progress. On the other end, you can get caught up in having the very best, and miss out on actually progressing because you're convinced you just need to buy a better one.

I've heard "gear whore," as well as harsher q-slur that makes it rhyme

Everyone who doesn't stand behind me absolutely is my enemy.

I'll counter with the following: if you aren't sure whether your kid will like it, it's probably a better idea to start with renting. You'll typically get a fully-serviced instrument with coverage for accidental damage.

Yes, it's a fully sunk cost, but it's predictable and you don't have to deal with the hassle of selling off an instrument if they don't get really into it. Once you're confident that they're going to stick with it and know they can handle and maintain it carefully, then you should look into buying.