Journal of Other Forum Analysis (Volume II, Issue 2)

[BIONIC]

SpainERA here.

I support and join this boycott. Let's fucking go!

As an unemployed man living in his parents' house, I only buy two things: Monster energy drinks and videogames (from Steam and GOG).

So from right now I'm not buying Monster energy drinks anymore, I'll pick the Spanish brands. Nor games on Steam, I'll stick to GOG or other unheard of ways for games that aren't on GOG.

[Jansen]

what an excellent plan 👍

[Jansen]

I hope they keep the high school setting forever because the Persona games are almost the only games that cater to that vibe.



I'm always in search of games that have a high school setting because my school experience was hell awful and I want to relive it in a good way. To experience what it could have been. And there are almost no games that satisfy this fantasy for me other than Persona.

[benji]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/germany-joins-canada-sweden-and-other-nations-in-sending-troops-to-greenland-as-trump-threats-intensify.1406470/page-2#post-150078340

They feel the need to point out how they really are doing something, "just look at the No Kings Protests" in October which had 5-7 million people participating. Great, but in raw numbers that's a bit bigger than the city of Buenos Aires celebrating their world cup win in 2022, in percentages that's not even 2% of the population. We are supposed to be impressed by that? My dad went to jail for participating in the May '68 protests, protests that lasted two months and had about 10 million people join (20% of the population). More recently, we've had the Arab Spring, Euromaidan, the Georgia protests, the Iran protests.

The resistance of the American population against the Trump government is milquetoast at best and when non-Americans call that out, instead of being indignant about it, accept that no country with an authoritarian government 1) makes it easy for people to gather 2) make it safe to protest 3) loves their people so much they have no reason to protest. Yet we have to hear those excuses over and over. I'm not blaming you for not risking your life, for instead going to your job so you can feed your families, for not sticking your neck out. I'm not even frustrated at that particularly because it's very understandable and I don't know if I would do it differently. But I do blame every American who denies they have a responsibility (as the only ones who can stop this are the American people themselves) and gives excuses, instead of just admitting they are afraid.

I like how all they can come up with are mass street protests, which aren't necessary in the US unlike these others because it has a functioning democracy.

edit:

How are we supposed to react? Things go both ways. When Americans talk about the rest of the world, they're not taking account of every individual. When we're talking about the evils of Russia or Israel, we're not taking account of every Russian or Israeli individual. How did every Gaza thread go for people who came in and went "hey guys, there are some decent Israeli people too who are against all this so don't be too mean about Israel"? But when it comes down to the US, a bunch of people here suddenly start clenching their necklaces.

Hmm, what happens on this same forum if I say something negative about China? Or Islam? 

[Jansen]

brb I'm going to go door to door and complain to my neighbors in a deep red state where they shoot guns in the sky at every possible opportunity

[benji]

brb I'm going to go door to door and complain to my neighbors in a deep red state where they shoot guns in the sky at every possible opportunity

Maybe if you had held them accountable at Thanksgiving or let them know they aren't invited to the cookout, you wouldn't have to do this now.

[Hap Shaughnessy]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/non-us-era-calling-for-a-us-boycott.1406995/#post-150090208\

So you'd recommend a boycott against American companies that don't support this admin and are headquartered in blue states that didn't vote for this?

Like, boycott an indie game developer in San Francisco, e.g.?

#NotAllYanks

[benji]

Where is era based out of

While you have a fine "but you live in a society, curious" disclaimer, I would also at least make a passing acknowledgement about calling for this wide ranging ban on an American based video game forum since you're also asking to move away from Steam, Xbox, Apple, Google and the American video game industry in general.

The MOBA network is a Swedish company, so browse Resetera with confidence

Where is era based out of

You aren't helping. This has to be talked about where people are, even if that means a US based social media.

Oh, okay. So some American things are fine. Like a forum hosted on American servers (AWS) by an American company named in the OP (Amazon) with staff that wrongly claim to follow American law.

[benji]

We all do indirectly by virtue of using the internet and playing videogames, but it's such a stupid pedantic argument that it doesn't matter. The argument that person is making is the equivalent of saying "one of my bottles actually ends up in a landfill so I'm never going to bother recycling anything ever". I'm not sure how people's brains are incapable of understanding that it doesn't need to be an all or nothing effort.

I mean, if your goal is actually harming the US economically versus some sense of self-purity then you should probably make this a priority of your choices no?

When buying Steam games, you can use third party stores so that Steam gets 0% of the transaction. Use isthereabydeal.com or gg.deals to find the best deals.

You'll still be using Steam of course but when there aren't other alternatives available there's not much you can do.

Where does this guy think they get the Steam keys?

The reality is you can't avoid everything American. However, that isn't the point. The point is to put pressure on American companies and the American people. If Wal-Mart is your only grocery store in town, nobody is expecting you to go hungry. But if you have alternatives, then choose those.

As a Canadian, I have done the following:

• Wal-Mart -> Giant Tiger, Super C, Loblaws, Canadian Tire
  
• McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Dominoes -> Harvey's, A&W, and other local shops **Note: A&W Canada is 100% Canadian owned, headquartered in North Vancouver, BC
  
• Newegg/Amazon -> Canada Computers
  
• Canceled all American subscription services and use pop-up blockers on American owned sites
  
• Apart from Nintendo, most of my video game purchases are through key sites like Green Man Gaming (UK based), GOG or even buying used when possible.
  

I will prioritize Canadian owned and made first. Failing that, I will support other countries like Mexico, UK, or members of the EU, etc.

As for American media, I'll keep it simple. If you can't respect my sovereignty, I will not respect your copyright laws. 😉

You should check out what international agreements on those your country has agreed to. 

[Hap Shaughnessy]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/germany-joins-canada-sweden-and-other-nations-in-sending-troops-to-greenland-as-trump-threats-intensify.1406470/#post-150066184

 User Banned (1 Week): Inflammatory generalization, low effort drive-by

Hope the worst for America and all of the fuckers that live there.

[Mediocre Lager]

No you don't understand. You have to boycott everything or you're morally reprehensible just like I always knew you were. I can continue my life as normal and it's morally correct.

[benji]

As a Canadian, I have done the following:

• Wal-Mart -> Loblaws

Oof:

Toronto-based artificial intelligence (AI)-focused venture capital (VC) firm Radical Ventures has launched a new $800-million USD growth fund.

As first reported by The Financial Times and Bloomberg and confirmed by BetaKit, Radical has secured nearly $800 million in commitments for the fund, which will focus exclusively on growth-stage AI startups.

A person familiar with the matter told BetaKit that Radical has already closed the majority of the fund, which is set to bring the VC firm’s total assets under management to $1.8 billion.

For Radical, which has focused largely on early-stage AI startups to date, the new fund marks its first targeting later-stage AI businesses, and will enable the firm to write larger cheques into bigger companies, including both existing portfolio firms and new ones.

Radical’s existing limited partners include TD, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, Wittington Investments, AI leaders like Geoffrey Hinton and Fei-Fei Li, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). According to The Financial Times, the family office of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt also backed Radical’s $550-million fund.

In its recently published fiscal Q1 report, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) disclosed that it has committed $75 million towards Radical’s new growth fund. This brings CPP Investments’ total commitment to Radical to $204 million “across various fundraising cycles” since its initial investment in 2019, according to the results.

Way to show y'all whole ass.

[benji]

Make sure if you want to boycott the US economically that you refuse to do business with anyone who does business anywhere with US dollars:

The Clearing House Interbank Payments System (CHIPS) is a United States private clearing house for large-value wire transfer transactions.[1]

As of late 2024, it settles approximately 500,000 payments totaling US$1.8 trillion per day.[2] Together with the Federal Reserve Banks' Fedwire Funds Service, CHIPS forms the primary U.S. network for large-value domestic and international USD payments where it has a market share of around 96%.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clearing_House_Payments_Company
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACH_Network
etc.

[Snoopy]

So, punish those who didn't vote for this and are already being punished?

This admin is killing and stealing every day. I don't think boycotting something like Hades 2 is going to make them stop, but go ahead I suppose.

“Why are you picking on me? I’m one of the good guys. I even pretended to cancel Netflix!!!”

[benji]

Starting to think these guys don't actually understand that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism.

[Propagandhim]

I'm not blaming you for not risking your life, for instead going to your job so you can feed your families, for not sticking your neck out. I'm not even frustrated at that particularly because it's very understandable and I don't know if I would do it differently. But I do blame every Canadian who denies they have a responsibility (as the only ones who can stop this are the Canadian  people themselves) and gives excuses, instead of just admitting they are afraid.

[Hap Shaughnessy]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/thom-yorke-says-%E2%80%9Cwitch-hunt%E2%80%9D-over-israel-stance-%E2%80%9Cwakes-me-up-at-night%E2%80%9D-as-radiohead-members-share-views.1335043/

https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/radiohead-tour-2025-interview-israel-fn0bmdzl8

In 2017 Radiohead played an open-air show at Park Hayarkon in Tel Aviv — a decision that infuriated the Palestinian pressure movement Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and led to the band being vociferously criticised by, among others, the director Ken Loach and Roger Waters, once of Pink Floyd. Last year at a solo show in Melbourne, captured in a video clip that went viral, Yorke was heckled about the war in Gaza — “How could you be silent?” The singer replied, “Come up here and say that … You want to piss on everybody’s night?” and stormed off stage. He returned for a brief encore. In May he posted a lengthy statement on Instagram: “Some guy shouting at me from the dark didn’t really seem like the best moment to discuss the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Afterwards I remained in shock that my supposed silence was somehow being taken as complicity.”

Jonny Greenwood is married to an Israeli artist, Sharona Katan, and has worked for many years with the Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, most recently on the 2023 album Jarak Qaribak (“Your neighbour is your friend”), which features artists from Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Palestine. Tassa played a show for the Israel Defense Forces in November 2023, he says due to the “immense fear” after the October 7 Hamas attacks, when he wanted to “bring some comfort” to the soldiers who had gone “to defend my family”.

“It’s the embodiment of the left,” Greenwood says. “The left look for traitors, the right for converts and it’s depressing that we are the closest they can get.” He sighs. He is already working on another record with Israeli and Middle Eastern musicians. “And it’s nuts I feel frightened to admit that. Yet that feels progressive to me — booing at a concert does not strike me as brave or progressive.”

“But you are whitewashing genocide, mate,” Yorke deadpans. “And so am I, apparently, by sitting next to you on this sofa.”

Greenwood continues: “And, yes, some people just call [my work] ineffectual, hippie, wishy-washy. And I sort of see their point. But when what I do with the musicians is described as sinister or devious? Well, I’ve done this for 20 years.

“Look, I have been to antigovernment protests in Israel and you cannot move for all the ‘F*** Ben-Gvir’ stickers.” (Itamar Ben-Gvir is Israel’s minister of national security.) “I spend a lot of time there with family and cannot just say, ‘I’m not making music with you f***ers because of the government.’ It makes no sense to me. I have no loyalty — or respect, obviously — to their government, but I have both for the artists born there.”

I ask about the Tel Aviv gig in 2017. “I was in the hotel,” Yorke says, “when some guy, clearly connected high up, approaches me to thank me. It horrified me, truly, that the gig was being hijacked. So I get it — sort of. At the time I thought the gig made sense, but as soon as I got there and that guy came up? Get me the f*** out.”

So would he play Israel now? (I ask this question before the ceasefire was agreed.) “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime but Jonny has roots there. So I get it.”

“I would also politely disagree with Thom,” Greenwood says. “I would argue that the government is more likely to use a boycott and say, ‘Everyone hates us — we should do exactly what we want.’ Which is far more dangerous.”

Greenwood looks down. “It’s nuts,” he says. “The only thing that I’m ashamed of is that I’ve dragged Thom and the others into this mess — but I’m not ashamed of working with Arab and Jewish musicians. I can’t apologise for that.”

I ask if they are concerned about the tour being targeted. “Are you f***ing joking?” Yorke says, laughing. (He is concerned.) “But they don’t care about us. It’s about getting something on Instagram of something dramatic happening and, no, I don’t think Israel should do Eurovision. But I don’t think Eurovision should do Eurovision. So what do I know?”

Edit:
https://www.resetera.com/threads/jonny-greenwood-and-israeli-musician-dudu-tassa-condemn-%E2%80%98silencing%E2%80%99-after-uk-concerts-pulled.1182102/

[Uncle]

there are only 50,000 people in greenland, why doesn't trump just do what muslims and indians are doing and send dedicated patriots to live there and become an overwhelming majority

how does their minuscule law enforcement plan on deporting 60,000 homesteaders

[Rendle]

If I know one thing about Greenland there's no shortage of ICE!

[Hap Shaughnessy]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/costco-currently-has-insane-deals-on-the-m4-ipad-pro.1406998/#post-150097195

I use it more than my laptop or my home desktop with a 5090. Combined with an Apple Pencil and iOS 26, the iPad Pro with the M4+ chips, do absolute wonders. I even emulate Metroid prime for using MelonX on this iPad. I do documents I do drawing I do art I do computational science I do everything with this device and the keyboard that just have a seamless user interface and an operating system system that feels like a desktop experience with a touchscreen in a pencil in the most fluid way possible.

[benji]

Don't think I'm not side eyeing how of all the capitalist, colonialist and white supremacist countries that lib Era wants to boycott they pick the one with the most Black, Brown, trans, neurodivergent and disabled bodies. Not slick that they're trying to erase the existence of all these people. That it is so plainly obvious to us, and so seemingly invisible to you, should be cause for introspection on your part. When people show you who they are, and when others point out that they are showing you who they are, believe them and believe us.

[Jansen]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/figurine-statue-collectors-do-you-have-the-strength-of-will-to-throw-out-the-box.1407391/

[Jansen]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/costco-currently-has-insane-deals-on-the-m4-ipad-pro.1406998/#post-150097195

I use it more than my laptop or my home desktop with a 5090. Combined with an Apple Pencil and iOS 26, the iPad Pro with the M4+ chips, do absolute wonders. I even emulate Metroid prime for using MelonX on this iPad. I do documents I do drawing I do art I do computational science I do everything with this device and the keyboard that just have a seamless user interface and an operating system system that feels like a desktop experience with a touchscreen in a pencil in the most fluid way possible.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/millions-of-student-loan-borrowers-are-delinquent-lawsuit-blames-the-feds.1407310/#post-150097351

Unemployed and disabled with my student loans and default at $200,000 with a PhD in the most in demand fields and I can't find a job and I'm disabled anyway. It's a great life here in the US. I followed the American dream and educated myself for 15 years worked for fortune 50 companies and worked under two Noble laureates during my doctorate and I can't find a job and I'm too sick to get one anyway and these student loan administrators are hounding me and throwing me in default to pay something I have no money to pay. Never failed a class never changed my major, never wasted any time of the government or any of its money and I did exactly what I was supposed to do as an immigrant to this country as a baby, which was work hard educate, and you'll make it. It's all a lie.

[Hap Shaughnessy]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/elliot-sang-black-folks-have-been-warning-us.1406437/#post-150094531 

I understand the venting though.

I understand the sheer feeling of terror that you might be in the crosshairs of American-sanctioned violence.

That you might be next.

That you'll be treated like all the rest of you were treating the undesirable nations so long as you got access to your little treats and goodies off the backs of their bodies, treats and goodies you falsely attribute to a sense of "humanism" and "democracy."

I understand that feeling because that's just been the reality of being Black- I've had a cop pull up on me with their finger already on the trigger over a fucking broken taillight, years before people were aware of the concept of police harassment and brutality against Black people was a matter of policy. 🤷🏿‍♀️ Like, sorry to the rest of the West, but I've never had the pleasure of experiencing full-throated American superiority and exceptionalism. The internalized colonies of Black and Indigenous folks never have. And y'all were just fine with that status quo just because it wasn't you. Hell, every time there's a shooting of any sort, what do a lot of Westerners do? "Those fucking savage Americans." It was pretty much always just voyeurism for them, mere entertainment. They didn't actually care. It was just another feather in the cap of European chauvanism. "Look how much more civilized we are."

Well, it ain't entertaining anymore, now is it?

No, now that your former best friend has gotten too big for his britches because the economic circumstances surrounding the BRICS block, the lacking palatability of oil, the Ukraine invasion, and the general decay of capitalism have forced their hand, now all of a sudden it's Americans' responsibility- and only America's responsibility- to stand up to imperialism.

When y'all didn't care about imperialism before. None of y'all did.

Because it was happening to the people you felt deserved it.

So again, what are these people going to do about these countries' imperialism if we were to stop Trump today; just take him out and burn this shit down?

Nothing.

They will do nothing because they've never done nothing.

France will never stand up against its government for Haiti. Canada will never stand up against its government for its First Nations people. Belgium will never stand up against its government for the Congo. Why the fuck do the colonized owe the West anything more than what they've been given by the West in turn?

This, somehow, still hasn't been a wake up call for Westerners. You got America banging on your door in the middle of the night and you ironically still lean into the country's exceptionalism, that this is an isolated, unique, vacuous circumstance that needs to be fixed so you can continuing enjoying your universal healthcare and four-day work weeks. So you can continue enjoying being imperialist. You're still asleep.

Enough is enough. No more imperialism, anywhere.

The only thing amusing about this is white Americans on the forum getting offended by the bullshit. Like, why are you trying to justify yourself to folks who will never take up the work you're now being tasked with? Fuck 'em. The political discussion here 95 times out of 100 is a waste of time in the first place.

Now let it be known that we within the US need to organize not just for ourselves but for the betterment of humanity in general. People need to be fighting ICE. They need to be making their politicians' lives hell. They need to strike, if not a general one then in key specific areas at least (an airline strike would do some real damage). There is work to be done, and again it starts from an organizational basis. But it shouldn't be done at the behest if and guilt-tripping from other Westerners who otherwise could not be assed to give a damn in the first place. Certainly if you are Black and Indigenous, none of this should even be in your orbit. Don't talk to these folks. Don't engage. They don't deserve your time.

 

[jooseloose]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/costco-currently-has-insane-deals-on-the-m4-ipad-pro.1406998/#post-150097195

I use it more than my laptop or my home desktop with a 5090. Combined with an Apple Pencil and iOS 26, the iPad Pro with the M4+ chips, do absolute wonders. I even emulate Metroid prime for using MelonX on this iPad. I do documents I do drawing I do art I do computational science I do everything with this device and the keyboard that just have a seamless user interface and an operating system system that feels like a desktop experience with a touchscreen in a pencil in the most fluid way possible.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/millions-of-student-loan-borrowers-are-delinquent-lawsuit-blames-the-feds.1407310/#post-150097351

Unemployed and disabled with my student loans and default at $200,000 with a PhD in the most in demand fields and I can't find a job and I'm disabled anyway. It's a great life here in the US. I followed the American dream and educated myself for 15 years worked for fortune 50 companies and worked under two Noble laureates during my doctorate and I can't find a job and I'm too sick to get one anyway and these student loan administrators are hounding me and throwing me in default to pay something I have no money to pay. Never failed a class never changed my major, never wasted any time of the government or any of its money and I did exactly what I was supposed to do as an immigrant to this country as a baby, which was work hard educate, and you'll make it. It's all a lie.

[benji]

From October:

My situation is so depressing I don't even want to share it online so I'll just say I believe that statistic and wish the best for all and hope I make it out alive this year.

I'm going homeless soon. Probably by new years. That's when I give up.

I guess I had long enough. With this news I'm going to die next month I guess

Unrelated just because I saw it in his posts:

I don't even have words for any of this. It's all so traumatizing. I literally cried.

I literally cried tonight because of this thread and this post. Got on a soapbox in my house about how they're gonna throw the book at the only openly deliciously gay black Gen Z mainstream male rapper on the west coast who I just watched an HBO documentary of. He's done so much for minorities and queers everywhere forever in such a short time and his life wasn't easy and nudity and inviting people to a party shouldn't get you 4 police assaults and felonies. He got fame and money very quickly with no support or role models or precedent to lean on. I don't understand how and why we continue to assassinate victims of fame in this violent country. I'm so mad this is happening I don't really know what else I can say. Also im not black so I can't even imagine the despair some young black queers must be facing.

This game is bringing me to tears. I always wanted and imagined MGS3 in these visuals and now it's here with my 5090 PC and Hue/Govee lit smart home theater PC setup. It's a stunning game, and it's wild just wild how photorealistic it can seem at times, like with the foliage

MGS3 is a top favorite game of mine and I'm so glad they kept the script and the voices and everything intact. Quintessential remake approach.

9800x3D
RTX 5090

Also this because it's still funny:

"Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex."

Wow so many falsehoods and ignorances in one sentence. Not only can many creatures change sex, it's a straw man for…(gestures at everything), and if sex is indeed solely based in biology then it most certainly isn't a binary. Sex and gender are both a composite tapestry of many factors including hormonal expression and phenotype but who cares I'm preaching to the crowd here, it's these fuckers without any biology training to begin with making laws in countries that make my blood boil.

[benji]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/elliot-sang-black-folks-have-been-warning-us.1406437/#post-150094531 

No, now that your former best friend has gotten too big for his britches because the economic circumstances surrounding the BRICS block, the lacking palatability of oil, the Ukraine invasion, and the general decay of capitalism have forced their hand

 

France will never stand up against its government for Haiti.

 

People need to be fighting ICE. They need to be making their politicians' lives hell. They need to strike, if not a general one then in key specific areas at least (an airline strike would do some real damage).

[benji]

Do you think she thinks the Bourbon's still rule France?

edit: Almost forgot:

President of France François Hollande would eventually describe the money paid by Haiti to France as "the ransom of independence" and in 2016, the Parliament of France repealed the 1825 ordinance in a symbolic gesture.[5]

In 2025, France created a commission to study the impact of the debt France imposed on Haiti.[42]

[Hap Shaughnessy]

Thankfully the vast majority of my media is pirated, so I've already been boycotting Yank entertainment companies.

[Potato]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/non-us-era-calling-for-a-us-boycott.1406995/

I think what we all can agree with, no matter what part of the world we live in, is that we've had more than enough of all the BS from USA. As long as the orange turd is running the country, nobody is safe. We can't vote and we can't convince Americans to defend their own democracy. But we absolutely can hit them in the one place that matters them the most: their wallets.

We have already seen Trump will TACO when Wall Street gets nervous. We know he's backed by billionaires. We know he ran on promises for a new golden age for his followers. His hardcore base still believes it's coming, even when they are being strangled by Trump's economy. Well, they are going to have to be strangled harder! Wall Street has to feel panic and and billionaires have to get poorer. We *can* make that happen, if we follow the example from Canadians and boycott American products and services. So, instead of complaining, how about out your money where your mouth is and start doing some changes to your consumer habits?

- Stop buying from Amazon. Everything is available on other stores.

- Quit American subscriptions: Netflix, Disney, Audible, US magazines, etc.

- Get rid of US stocks from your portfolio.

- Don't go to see American films on cinema.

- No Teslas

- No iPhones, iPads or other Apple products.

- No Microsoft software if you can avoid it

- No Xbox or American video games, board games, card games, etc.

- No US liquor, cider, beer, etc.

- No US fast food or soft drinks

IMPORTANT: nobody is expected to boycott 100% everything. American products are everywhere and lots of people have to use certain software for work etc. But it's better to do something than nothing. If you won't stop using Windows, could you at least switch to OpenOffice? If you keep buying games from Steam, could you at least not buy US made games? If you won't quit all your subscriptions, could you get rid of some? The important thing is to change your habits. If you can change only one thing, then do that thing. But do as much as you can.

Make sure to let other people know what you are doing. Social pressure is a powerful thing.

Don't let anyone tell you your efforts are pointless. The US won't be bombing people with your money. That's reason enough to boycott.

Can't even boycott Harry Potter because of his genocidal magic. How you gonna boycott the US empire?