Recommended by Ricochet Members Created with Sketch. Coming Out of the Closet

 

I just took a pretty big step, did something I’ve never done before. I clicked “like” on a YouTube video.

Yeah, I know. But that’s not all. Then I clicked on the Subscribe button. I know, I know… but I didn’t stop there. I even clicked the notification bell.

I’ve never done anything like this before, believe me. Back in the nineties, I did create a Blogspot blog… spot. But I never posted anything there. I’ve never been on Twitter, Facebook, or any other kind of social media. In fact, until I joined Ricochet, I never posted a single thing anywhere on the Internet. My only presence was to have worked on building some websites, but that was completely anonymous.

I won’t shop online. I won’t use store cards. I won’t even use a debit card; I pay cash for everything, so that I can be totally anonymous both online and in the meat world. My goal has been that when someone looks for me online, the closest they can come to finding me is to locate an empty space where someone should be. I’m the Invisible Man.

I know what you’re thinking … Judge, you’ve opened yourself up to all of the horrible things that happen to people on the Internet; doxxing, identity theft, grooming gangs. I know. I’ve put myself in the position of being in very real danger of all those things. Which is why I thought long and hard before I clicked.

But I feel like we’ve reached to point in this country where it’s time to take a stand. It’s time for the ordinary, everyday people to be ready to put themselves on the line for the good of the country. It’s something that I felt just had to be done, and I’m ready to deal with all the consequences that might result.

It’s time to come out of the closet, stand up and have the courage to be counted.


Oh yeah… you’re probably wondering what the video was. It was a Whiskey Politics podcast, with an interview of Sebastian Gorka. That @davesussman guy does a pretty good interview.

.

There are 63 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Arahant Member

    Don’t you have to have a youtube account to click on like or subscribe?

    • #1
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:12 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  2. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Don’t you have to have a youtube account to click on like or subscribe?

    Remember the Blogspot thing? Turns out I had one all along and didn’t know it.

    • #2
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:14 AM PDT
    • 5 likes
  3. RightAngles Member

    Just wait till They find out you Liked a conservative thing. Then you’ll be sorry, as they drag you from your bed in the middle of the night.

    I’ve actually been afraid of that.

    • #3
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:18 AM PDT
    • 13 likes
  4. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Just wait till They find out you Liked a conservative thing. Then you’ll be sorry, as they drag you from your bed in the middle of the night.

    I’ve actually been afraid of that.

    Yeah, they’ve been trying to rehabilitate the idea of gulags for a reason.

    • #4
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:20 AM PDT
    • 6 likes
  5. Percival Thatcher
    Percival Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    You’re a wild man, JM.

    • #5
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:24 AM PDT
    • 7 likes
  6. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Percival (View Comment):

    You’re a wild man, JM.

    What can I say? I like to live on the edge.

    • #6
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:26 AM PDT
    • 9 likes
  7. Arahant Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Don’t you have to have a youtube account to click on like or subscribe?

    Remember the Blogspot thing? Turns out I had one all along and didn’t know it.

    Well, I don’t, so I can’t like or subscribe.

    • #7
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:28 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  8. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Don’t you have to have a youtube account to click on like or subscribe?

    Remember the Blogspot thing? Turns out I had one all along and didn’t know it.

    Well, I don’t, so I can’t like or subscribe.

    Sooner or later, you’re going to have to take a stand.

    • #8
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:30 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  9. Nanda Panjandrum Inactive

    Great choice for your ‘coming-out party’, JM!

    • #9
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:35 AM PDT
    • 3 likes
  10. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Nanda Panjandrum (View Comment):

    Great choice for your ‘coming-out party’, JM!

    A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

    • #10
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:37 AM PDT
    • 5 likes
  11. RightAngles Member

    On one of my photographer forums, this guy was complaining about all the popup ads for porn that constantly appear in the margins of his email, and someone commented “You just told everyone on this site about which websites you frequent.” Awkward

    • #11
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:46 AM PDT
    • 13 likes
  12. Hoyacon Member

    Looking at that picture, have Dave Sussman and Sebastian Gorka ever been seen in the same place at the same time?

    • #12
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:53 AM PDT
    • 4 likes
  13. Columbo Member

    Shout out to @davesussman 

    • #13
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:53 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  14. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    On one of my photographer forums, this guy was complaining about all the popup ads for porn that constantly appear in the margins of his email, and someone commented “You just told everyone on this site about which websites you frequent.” Awkward

    I rarely even do look ups for products or services. (I mostly use Google to look up actors and actresses, trying to figure out where I’ve seen them before.) But when I do look up something, that means I get deluged with ads for it, because they finally have a piece of data for their algorithms to grab onto.

    • #14
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:53 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  15. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Looking at that picture, have Dave Sussman and Sebastian Gorka ever been seen in the same place at the same time?

    Excellent question.

    • #15
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:55 AM PDT
    • Like
  16. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Columbo (View Comment):

    Shout out to @davesussman

    I put one in the post body. I expect he’ll wander by eventually. Probably busy interviewing someone famous.

    • #16
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:56 AM PDT
    • 3 likes
  17. RightAngles Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    On one of my photographer forums, this guy was complaining about all the popup ads for porn that constantly appear in the margins of his email, and someone commented “You just told everyone on this site about which websites you frequent.” Awkward

    I rarely even do look ups for products or services. (I mostly use Google to look up actors and actresses, trying to figure out where I’ve seen them before.) But when I do look up something, that means I get deluded with ads for it, because they finally have a piece of data for their algorithms to grab onto.

    I hate how exposed I feel just trying to use my own personal computer these days. There have been things I’d have liked to Google, but I’m afraid to. I have DuckDuck Go too, but it isn’t as comprehensive. I use Brave and even Tor sometimes, but even then, who knows who is keeping track? I’ve refrained from Liking YouTube videos since Google took over, too. Why should I have to feel this way in America.

    • #17
    • October 17, 2018, at 9:59 AM PDT
    • 6 likes
  18. Arahant Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Sooner or later, you’re going to have to take a stand.

    I stand for not having an account.

    • #18
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:11 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  19. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Sooner or later, you’re going to have to take a stand.

    I stand for not having an account.

    “You and your Pennsylvania proprietors. Oh, you cool, considerate men. You hang to the rear on every issue so that if we should go under, you’ll still remain afloat!”

    • #19
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:14 AM PDT
    • 8 likes
  20. HankRhody Freelance Philosopher Contributor

    Judge Mental: I won’t shop online. I won’t use store cards. I won’t even use a debit card; I pay cash for everything, so that I can be totally anonymous both online and in the meat world. My goal has been that when someone looks for me online, the closest they can come to finding my is to locate an empty space where someone should be. I’m the Invisible Man.

    That’s a step beyond what I do. I use a debit card to acquire cash at one of a set of local cash machines. Then I pay cash for everything.

    The ideal I’m striving for is that when they look for me they’ll find the most boring possible person and lose interest.

    • #20
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:30 AM PDT
    • 3 likes
  21. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Hank Rhody, Red Hunter (View Comment):

    Judge Mental: I won’t shop online. I won’t use store cards. I won’t even use a debit card; I pay cash for everything, so that I can be totally anonymous both online and in the meat world. My goal has been that when someone looks for me online, the closest they can come to finding my is to locate an empty space where someone should be. I’m the Invisible Man.

    That’s a step beyond what I do. I use a debit card to acquire cash at one of a set of local cash machines. Then I pay cash for everything.

    The ideal I’m striving for is that when they look for me they’ll find the most boring possible person and lose interest.

    I have an ATM card, that I always use at the same place. At 4am, so no one can see me.

    • #21
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:32 AM PDT
    • 6 likes
  22. Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw Member

    Hank Rhody, Red Hunter (View Comment):

    Judge Mental: I won’t shop online. I won’t use store cards. I won’t even use a debit card; I pay cash for everything, so that I can be totally anonymous both online and in the meat world. My goal has been that when someone looks for me online, the closest they can come to finding my is to locate an empty space where someone should be. I’m the Invisible Man.

    That’s a step beyond what I do. I use a debit card to acquire cash at one of a set of local cash machines. Then I pay cash for everything.

    The ideal I’m striving for is that when they look for me they’ll find the most boring possible person and lose interest.

    Too late.

    • #22
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:35 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  23. Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw Member

    Judge Mental: Back in the nineties, I did create a Blogspot blog… spot.

    Nice.

    • #23
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:36 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  24. Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Hank Rhody, Red Hunter (View Comment):

    Judge Mental: I won’t shop online. I won’t use store cards. I won’t even use a debit card; I pay cash for everything, so that I can be totally anonymous both online and in the meat world. My goal has been that when someone looks for me online, the closest they can come to finding my is to locate an empty space where someone should be. I’m the Invisible Man.

    That’s a step beyond what I do. I use a debit card to acquire cash at one of a set of local cash machines. Then I pay cash for everything.

    The ideal I’m striving for is that when they look for me they’ll find the most boring possible person and lose interest.

    I have an ATM card, that I always use at the same place. At 4am, so no one can see me.

    Yeah, because the ATM isn’t in the system. I’d say go to the teller, but they record that too.

    • #24
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:53 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  25. Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw Member

    Also, you jerks are establishing patterns. That just makes it easier on them too.

    • #25
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:53 AM PDT
    • 3 likes
  26. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Matt Balzer, Straw Bootlegger (View Comment):

    Also, you jerks are establishing patterns. That just makes it easier on them too.

    I’ve made clear to the bank that if they try anything, I’ll withdraw all my money and cause them to collapse.

    I’ve got J. P. Morgan Chase right where I want them.

    • #26
    • October 17, 2018, at 10:56 AM PDT
    • 11 likes
  27. GLDIII Temporarily Essential Reagan
    GLDIII Temporarily Essential Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    RightAngles (View Comment):

    Just wait till They find out you Liked a conservative thing. Then you’ll be sorry, as they drag you from your bed in the middle of the night.

    I’ve actually been afraid of that.

    Get a bigger, meaner sounding dog than that cute little fuzzy one you have…

    • #27
    • October 17, 2018, at 11:00 AM PDT
    • 3 likes
  28. Arahant Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    I’ve made clear to the bank that if they try anything, I’ll withdraw all my money and cause them to collapse.

    My grandmother died in 1978. She had a fair amount of money as my grandfather had been a railroad executive. A few years before she died, her bank transitioned from the old passbook system for savings accounts. She wasn’t having any of that. When they told her she couldn’t have a passbook anymore, she put her purse on the counter and said, “In that case I’d like to withdraw all my money. Just put it right in my pocket book. I’ll take it to a bank that still uses passbooks.” And, she did.

    • #28
    • October 17, 2018, at 11:05 AM PDT
    • 10 likes
  29. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    I’ve made clear to the bank that if they try anything, I’ll withdraw all my money and cause them to collapse.

    My grandmother died in 1978. She had a fair amount of money as my grandfather had been a railroad executive. A few years before she died, her bank transitioned from the old passbook system for savings accounts. She wasn’t having any of that. When they told her she couldn’t have a passbook anymore, she put her purse on the counter and said, “In that case I’d like to withdraw all my money. Just put it right in my pocket book. I’ll take it to a bank that still uses passbooks.” And, she did.

    I had one of the first ATM cards in the country. It was for a passbook savings account, but you could opt for a passcard. It only worked in the machine on the front of their handful of branches, but it was still the coolest idea ever.

    • #29
    • October 17, 2018, at 11:10 AM PDT
    • 4 likes
  30. Dave Sussman Podcaster

    Honored Judge! Much appreciated you came out the bunker for this. Seb’s a really great guy and we actually grew up a few minutes from each other in 70’s West London. I know a few folks here may not care for him, but you cannot ignore his dedication to getting Republicans and the President re-elected.

    • #30
    • October 17, 2018, at 11:19 AM PDT
    • 14 likes

Comments are closed because this post is more than six months old. Please write a new post if you would like to continue this conversation.