Regret that this discussion has devolved into a "two-way" conversation (might be due to the time zones), but:
We conservatives are a beleaguered, reviled minority in this once-great country. The mass media, almost all major educational institutes, and large segments of our governmental agencies (catchword: Deep State) have been infiltrated by the Enemy and are arrayed against us. Popular culture has been instrumentalized against us. Even many formerly staunchly conservative institutions (the Boy Scouts) and church organizations are crumbling as we watch.
Under such dire circumstances, is it any surprise that some of us try to find whatever solace we can by inferring such things?
This is like the world just after July 20, 1944, when von Stauffenberg's failed assassination attempt occurred. Undoubtedly, many of those (secretly) opposed to Hitler may have prematurely rubbed their hands in glee and gloated smugly about Hitler's end. That may have been unwise - but would you have blamed them?
We FReepers have, unfortunately, no choice but to indulge in "spitballing," as you call it. The media are gaslighting us. The most-relevant facts are routinely left out of news reports.
Your demand for a reliance on factual information and that we abtain from speculation until such time - if any - that it becomes available is laudable - but not very gracious.
Try putting yourself in the shoes of the typical FReeper, trying desperately to interpret the soggy tea-leaves which the mainstream media feed us!
Regards,
I have not specifically said to refrain from speculation. If I have implied that, my apologies.
But I'm not referring to just "speculation". I'm referring to snarky, nasty comments about a person's vaccination status if they get sick or die, including comments that blame that person for getting sick or dying because they got vaccinated. Again, if you want examples, I will provide many.
Try putting yourself in the shoes of the typical FReeper, trying desperately to interpret the soggy tea-leaves which the mainstream media feed us!
I do it every day. And guess what - I find new sources of information and viewpoints to try and determine what is what and the best way to get from point A to point B. An example - the magazine The Economist. It gets criticized as a leftist mag, but I doubt those people have even read articles from The Economist. You would be surprised how many issues that FReepers and The Economist seem to have commonality.
Another source is Defense One. Wall Street Journal. Reason Magazine. City Journal. National Review. The problem is - many people have on objection with one or many of these publications, ergo NOTHING they print can be trusted. I find that intellectually lazy, and which demonstrates an ability to discern useful information from sources which someone personally objects to.