Troll.

If I have demonstrated anything in all my years online, it is that I am ready and willing to argue. But it’s not an argument if the other side is just saying words recreationally. That seems to be the case here, when no amount of pleading for specifics or alternatives results in anything besides ‘shut up.’

Meanwhile:

The actual topic remains that Valve is a monopoly. In what universe is that not relevant to this article about their largest competitor being so unimportant they can’t give things away? If everyone here takes that for granted, great… so why am I getting the same response as the many times people deny it? Even the meta discussion about phrasing is fraught and confrontational, regardless of what I’ve actually said. Have I offended you in some way?

Further abuse.

People fall over themselves to demonstrate what I’m saying.

I mention that it’s a monopoly - ‘shut up, no it isn’t.’ I mention the people who say it isn’t - ‘shut up, of course it is.’ I start from scratch - ‘shut up, what are you talking about.’ I provide two years of context - ‘shut up, that’s not in this thread.’

What sequence of words would avoid this abuse? What possible sentence would address the actual issue, without people acting like I’ve insulted their mother’s cooking?

And which angle would not receive the same “information?”

So Minnesota is free to.

I refuse to be shamed on tone when every approach sees the same response.

A coy eye-roll which you cannot imagine anyone disagrees with gets brusquely scoffed at. Pointing out that people absolutely disagree with it gets treated like heavy messing.

Dry statements get downvoted.

Direct responses get downvoted.

Detailed overviews get downvoted.

Oblique implications get downvoted.

Direct application with context gets downvoted.

If I can’t win I don’t play. Steam is a monopoly and people are fucking weird about it. You supposedly agree with me and you’re still treating me the same way these “dumbasses” do. If I pretend they don’t exist I get more predictable bullshit. If I acknowledge they exist it’s my fault somehow. How about no?

I’ve had dozens of people pile on to insist Steam is not a monopoly. They’re the ones I’m quoting about it being the only store they use. They’re the ones downvoting me, and only me, for pointing out it is a monopoly, while they upvote you for also saying it’s a monopoly, but in a yeah-but phrasing.

But Steam’s totally not a monopoly, you guys.

No, the word does not mean competitors don’t exist. It means they don’t matter.

No, the label does not mean we have to shatter Valve. Having market dominance and abusing it are different things, but we still need to recognize when a company fffuuucking obviously has it.

If Gaben suddenly announces he’s sold it all to Larry Ellison, that has ruinous implications for the entire PC gaming market, despite the fact Valve does not strictly own PC gaming. They don’t have to, to be an outsized influence, to the point most people will readily admit they only buy from one store. We have a word for that.

Initial thought is reducing incentives to invade Taiwan - but that’s 4D chess horseshit on my part. That’s yet another sensible person asking ‘but what is he really thinking?’ and coming up with sensible answers, when The Idiot’s thoughts are more like six fireflies blinking in a jar.

Why is positive news always some quintuple-negative puzzle?

Read: a third of America still backed The Idiot following a failed coup d’etat.

The party is complicit and must be dismantled.

Oh my god, he’s doing the Dunkey “strand-type game” joke. We’re only a few steps removed from him re-recording the Lasagna Cat monologue.

It’s that mysterious Individual 1.

Then stop calling it that.

Weee saaaw hiiim dooo criiimes.

… as opposed to what?

“Stormfront up in arms over moderator being a Nazi.”

If they arrest him again, arrest whoever did it.

Apply consequences.

As if that’s not the goal.

“If Herr Hitler isn’t careful, this may lead to conflict with Poland!”

There are no noncitizen voters. Essentially zero. This was always about manipulating the election to favor the fascists implementing it, and I’m so fucking tired of any framing which pretends that’s not nakedly obvious.