This is what all the republican hate driven political crap causes. Simply put it is the same tactic Hitler used. Vilify the people that you want to harm, so that they are less human and your followers feel entitled or allowed to harm them. I have faced / felt this all my life. I thought that with the advancements and acceptance going forward with the modern age all that abuse could change. Then came tRump and his maga, which gave them permission to unleash their worst demons on the LBGTQ+ at any age, especially the most young in schools. It seems the republican maga fundamentalist right thinks it is ok to beat the LGBTQ+ out of any kid. But if they grow up into an adult still being that way … well we have the right to kill them. Can everyone see how disgusting that is? Sadly, some days I feel so frustrated screaming into the wind. Hugs. Scottie
The Tampa Bay Times reports:
Hillsborough County prosecutors charged a man with murder Friday, alleging that the fatal shooting of a gay man last month at the West Dog Park in Tampa was a hate crime.
Gerald Declan Radford faces a second-degree murder charge in the Feb. 2 death of John Walter Lay. Friends of both men told the Tampa Bay Times that Radford had been harassing Lay for months, hurling homophobic slurs and threatening him. Radford claimed the shooting was self-defense.
The office of Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez announced Friday that they plan to seek an enhanced sentence against Radford under the state’s hate crime statute.
Tampa’s Fox affiliate reports:
Investigators said they first came in contact with Radford after he called 911 about the shooting. He claimed he shot Lay in self-defense, and with no witnesses to the crime or evidence to prove otherwise, Radford wasn’t arrested.
Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez said her office is now preparing for Radford to attempt to use the “Stand Your Ground” defense. Lay’s sister, Sabrena Hughes, told FOX 13 that the shooting followed two years of harassment and homophobic slurs directed at her brother by Radford.
Authorities also found a video on Lay’s phone. The video was taken like a selfie of the victim as he detailed a threat that was made to him by Radford, according to deputies. Lay claimed in the video that Radford told him, “You’re going to die.”
Tampa’s ABC affiliate reports:
Colonel Frank Losat with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the cell phone video on the victim’s phone and character witnesses provided evidence that the suspect did not act in self-defense. Lay had been complaining to his friends about harassment from Radford at West Dog Park for months.
“Some time prior to the shooting, we’re not positive on a timeframe at this point, the suspect and the victim have an altercation over the victim’s sexual orientation,” said Losat. Radford remains in the Hillsborough County Jail.
I normally included the comments because the comments often have many very relevant and important ideas. But I am sorry I no longer strong enough to do that. I have a dozen more posts I want to make, but I no longer have the ability to do it they way I once did. Love and hugs to all. Scottie
Scottie's Playtime 
I don’t even WANT you to subject yourself to the toxic comments that are sure to be on these sites, even if you could sift through and find some gems.
The story stands on its own.
X Hugs X
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I second this. Thank you!
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Hi Ali. Thank you also. I don’t know if you read the comments on news articles or YouTube videos. I do most of the time. If there are hundreds, I read only so far before I am overwhelmed by the hate and lies. The comments on Joe My God are pretty safe, it is a gay friendly gay run website. But on other news reports the bigotry and misinformation, outright religious fanatical calls for death type stuff. It really starts to eat at me after a while, sours my outlook for a while.
That’s when I go read one of Jill’s good people posts. Yes, they always lift my spirits. Hugs. Scottie
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I used to read comments, and some days, I still do. I am, without exception, always sorry I did. It’s getting to where a person can’t even read comments on GoComics, anymore. People can’t just keep their awfulness and hate to themselves.
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Hi Ali. I love editorial comics. But some on the right got so bitter, so angry, so filled with lies and falsehoods I couldn’t stand it anymore. It is OK to make fun of or point out a mistake if they are true, to ridicule or even insult if the thing was true. But to make something up and then attack someone for it just because they are a democrat and the cartoonist a maga / tRump lover … no I had to stop looking at those. Hugs. Scottie
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And it’s not only those, though, is the thing. I do read some political-adjacent toons, and avoid those comments threads, but there’s no reason for hate and awfulness on one like Broomhilda or Calvin and Hobbes, etc., yet they still get on there and show their hate. I don’t know what happened to them IRL, but I wish they’d get help.
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I see that sort of comment somehow shoehorned in on posts about science discoveries, like new discoveries about comets or a mission to Jupiter…
It’s ridiculous. No where is safe. Why, you can’t even wear your favorite comic-book-inspired shirt to report on landing a probe on a comet! Somehow, everything is vulnerable to going south. (it’s an expression)
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I get that; not US South, but reeaally South. 😉
And with no reason except testifying hate. Ah, well.
Time to go read comics! 😀
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I sat and stared at that “South” for a minute before I hit the post button. I hadn’t really thought it through before, but it is just another way of saying “going to hell in a handbasket” innit? So I posted.
I wonder if the rest of my time here will be spent sorting through this sort of remembered flotsam to come up with conclusions that I’ll be certain no one is interested in.
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Ya never know, though. It might pique the interest of someone, or at least keep them engaged. Every little bit helps!
A while back, I worked in an office with a boss who always said something was going, had gone, went South. He meant to hell. The work we did was chains of title on land in our area. Occasionally, it did seem one went all the way South!
Also not sure that’s interesting, but there it is.
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Yes, that’s what it means.
I saw a reference to it in Hey, Arnold!, the episode about the haunted train.
The conductor driving that train took it off the rails and drove it all the way down, “to the very southern most part!” – according to grandpa.
Gerald – Antarctica?
Grandpa – No. Straight to the fiery underworld!
Looking this up bought me the nugget that the haunted train was allegedly an urban legend in existence since the 1950s, so that’s new info!
I love how cartoons put some ideas out there without feeling obligated to imbue them with gore and nasty. Also some songs. Check out “Unwell” (Matchbox 20) for a description of a dissociative episode on a ferry, for example. Did you know that ferries have brigs? That’s what I heard, anyway. I guess it makes sense. Cops can’t come help the ferries out until they dock.
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See? My interest is piqued again, just after breakfast! 🙂
We loved Hey, Arnold!. I haven’t seen it in years, They had good toons in those years. And I did not know ferries had brigs, but that makes good sense. It isn’t a thing I’d have thought of until the need arose. And I really like that song, too. Good memory, good earworm, all just after breakfast. You do good work, MDavis! Thank you.
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😊
My day is complete, and I’m just getting ready for breakfast!
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Hi MDavis. Thank you. No I don’t need to read more hatred of people just for living. When will people stop hating? Why do they enjoy it so much? Hugs. Scottie
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Self care is community care. As important as your work is it is not as important as you.🫤
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Hi Richard. Well in all honesty my work may not seem necessary to others, but it keeps my mind strong and helps my grasp of the world. But you are correct self-care is important especially when emotions are high or a person is tired. Hugs. Scottie
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Posting this up is enough Scottie. You have worked tirelessly. You have your own strength and fortitude.
In these unhappy times it is a question of ‘Doing the best you can. As you can. When you can. How you can.’ Far better than doing nothing.
Take care You and Ron.
Roger & Sheila
Wrexham
UK
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Thank you Roger. I agree. I have had a rough morning and plan to take an hour to go lay down. I have just gotten over the flu and I still feel very worn out. Hugs. Scottie
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Sorry to hear that Scottie.
You rest up now and take care.
All our best wishes
Roger & Sheila
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The fucker will probably get off with community service and a $50 fine. You are, after all, in Fla.
Hang in there Scottie.
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Hi Shelldigger. Yes sadly you are correct. Luckily before the complete maga take over 6 years ago we got laws passed so that straight guys who murder or beat to death gay people can not use the panic defense or that he made a sexual pass at them. Before it was like when white men would kill black people or cops kill back people the courts would let them off or prosecutors simply wouldn’t charge the case. Time did get better for a while. Hugs. Scottie
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Is it time yet for vigilance?
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Hi Ten Bears. Long past time my friend, long past time. And it is time to make sure we can fight back, legally and physically. I remember what we had to do in the 1980s, go out in groups. I recommend that where legal having stun guns or pepper spray. Sadly my fighting skills have deteriorated with age and disability, but if pushed I think I could get a few dirty tricks in still. The thing people need to understand that the idea of a clean school yard fight is not this, this is time to fight dirty and for your life. Hugs. Scottie
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