I mean same for photography, tv, film and even artistic renderings. They probably consumed a lot of media and can draw parallels and contrasts just from those.

This makes some sense. Clearly the friend is a bit of a conspiracy theorist, or trolling. There’s a decent chance they are younger too. That being said you’re the only person with a reasonable feasible explanation that might get through to the friend.

I think the disconnect here is between objective and subjective meaning. In an infinite multiverse, ‘reality’ isn’t a singular objective truth—it’s a collection of subjective experiences. But that doesn’t erase meaning; it just means meaning is something we assign, not something inherent.

You’re right that if every possible outcome exists, no single timeline is ‘objectively’ special. But in fiction (and arguably in reality), what matters is the perspective we focus on. A story isn’t weakened by the existence of other timelines—it’s strengthened by the fact that, out of infinite possibilities, this particular one is being told. The act of choosing a narrative is what gives it weight.

It’s the difference between nihilism (‘nothing matters, so why care?’) and absurdism (‘nothing matters* inherently, so we get to decide what does’). A multiverse doesn’t have to make things meaningless—it can highlight how rare and significant certain choices are, precisely because most versions of a person might not make them (e.g., Invincible).

I get the sense you’re resistant to this because it feels like it undermines objective meaning. But what if meaning was never objective to begin with?

I wonder [not to give him any credit] if DJT would be a better president if he were surrounded by actual decent people that were earnest/honest. It feels like it could be in the realm of possibility that he’s treating the Ukraine/Russia conflict the way he has simply because the people around him are only giving him a specific narrative surrounding it. Either intentionally, incidentally, due to incompetence or sycophantic attempts to “please” trump.

Maybe this is the first time getting it from Ukraine’s point of view, unfiltered.

Doesn’t change/nor justify his shitty behavior, but… it makes a kind of sense.

Well you can also do what I do which is select the most expensive options. Figure out everything then copy the details onto a free file option and never pay them.

My retirement plan is a heroine overdose. I’ll try to do better than that, but I’m not expecting much.

I think we need staggered term limits. Make it so you can only serve up to two terms in a row and then you are forced to take a term off. No lifetime appointments.

That and approval voting from federal to local elections.

Clip dragonfly models to wire rods. Scares the ever living crap out of anything that flies. https://www.getyourbug.com/