Not GP but, processing payments absolutely does not require a network connection. Doing so is absolutely not nearly as convenient, but in my adult lifetime it was pretty normal for retailers to pick up a phone, give a customer service rep and/or automated call handler CC info and dollar amounts and get appropriate confirmations.

As for a business without an OS interface not being a "store," that's ridiculous on its face. If that were true, we'd have to call 7/11 or any similar place (like those at most gas stations) convenience "locations with items for sale but not a store, because stores are only places with catalogs in my OS," and "places which sell stuff but aren't stores because rimunroe says they can't be a 'store' without a catalog in their OS."

Touch grass, friend.

Once they get out of prison, we should ask them.[0]

[0] I'll be here all week. Try the prime rib!

Psychology doesn't seem your strong suit (unsurprising, given your origins and background).

And that makes you competent to determine the value of the disability claims of others and the appropriate accommodations such folks should receive?

Really?

Then again, you are the eminent galaxy-wide expert on such things, aren't you bananalychee.

Will you honor my request to impregnate my wife and daughters so they can carry offspring that's so much more valuable than anyone else on the planet? Pretty please!

>Not rocket science.

Yep. I see adverts for Psoriasis and so, of course, I developed Psoriasis although I never had it before I saw the adverts. I see adverts for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and, of course, then developed it because I am a "potential market."

Even better, I see adverts for tampons, sanitary pads and "feminine' deodorants. As such, I underwent gender reassignment surgery so I could then purchase said products because I'm a "potential market."

Yes, the above is satirical. And no, I don't purchase products because " they spend that money advertising"

If I show you an advert for brassieres, are you then forced to purchase them because of all the money spent on such adverts? Are you even slightly tempted to do so?

If I show you an advert for literal snake oil as a cure-all, are you then powerless to stop yourself from purchasing it?

I hate to break it to you, but we Americans aren't slaves to, or required to spend money based on, consumer advertising.

Heck, I don't drink Coca-Cola or Budweiser. If what you say were true, I'd literally be drowning in that garbage.

Please take your ridiculous stereotypes elsewhere.

Edit: Fixed typos.

Absolutely! But don't stop there! There are billions of useless subhumans out there who require a final solution[0] .

Kill those subhuman scum dead! Hell we should just set up gas chambers, that would be even cheaper than bullets, guns and people to shoot them!

That's a great suggestion, westpfelia!

Yes. We should kill every undesirable. The real trick is figuring out who decides which people are undesirable. You wouldn't want to be considered "undesirable" would you? That could be dangerous and unhealthy (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

[0] Poe's Law[1] strikes again, eh? I'm tripling down on it as you seem pretty gullible. It's almost a shame I'm copping to the satire. Heck you might start foaming at the mouth and try to doxx me. Calm down, chief! You're gonna give yourself an MI.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe's_law[2]

[2] Text of Poe's Law for your perusal:

Poe's law is an adage of Internet culture which says that, without a clear indicator of the author's intent, any parodic or sarcastic expression of extreme views can be mistaken by some readers for a sincere expression of those views.

>Where this happens they arrive promptly. And it doesn’t happen often.

Where, other than inside your mind, does this happen? Please, do be specific.

Yep. There is no solution except to shoot those filthy addicts, amirite?

I mean who wants to spend $35-50K/annum to keep these scum in prison, right?

In fact, why should my tax dollars pay for any of these subhuman criminals, addicts and other undesirables? A bullet only costs a dime.

That's the way to go, right soerxpso? Pew! Pew! Pew!

>It’s difficult enough to engage in a heterodox view in good faith. I don’t need to deal with slapdash bullshit.

I see we've reached the point in the discussion where you 'abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating...that the time for argument is over.'

Good fascist! Nice fascist! Late for a Bund meeting, are we?

Source: “Never believe that anti-Semites [or in this case, fascist apologists] are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. The anti-Semites have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past.” ― Jean-Paul Sartre[0]

[0] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7870768-never-believe-that-...

   A new Florida Atlantic University poll reveals that nearly half of Florida 
   residents have considered moving due to rising costs of living, despite the 
   state’s continued reputation as an affordable destination for many who live in 
   northern areas of the U.S.

   The poll, conducted by FAU’s Business and Economic Polling Initiative, 
   surveyed 1,000 Floridians and found growing economic frustration as property 
   taxes, home insurance, and housing costs continue to climb.

   “Insurance. That’s the biggest one,” one resident said when asked about 
   financial pressures.

   The findings come as a surprise to researchers, given Florida’s traditional 
   appeal as an escape from high-cost northern states.

https://www.wflx.com/2025/11/04/florida-residents-weigh-leav...

No. A majority supported his candidacy. In case you're confused about that, a "majority" is more than 50%. Mamdani received more than 50% of the vote despite something like 40-60 million dollars in attack ads making all sorts of unsubstantiated claims and outright lies about him, his policies and his background.

His victory with a majority is not in question, is it? How, exactly do elections work here? The person with the most votes wins. Full stop. Are you making some sort of claim that such is not the case. If so, where's your proof?

I'd also note that Mamdani's margin of victory (~8.5%) is right in line (with a few exceptions) with margins going back decades.[2]

Mamdani was, by far, the best candidate in the race. HIs opponents being a handsy, disgraced serial sexual harasser, a bribe taking incumbent who oversaw the most corrupt mayoral administration in decades and a media clown whose claim to fame was that he used to ride the subways at night with his gang and beat up random strangers.

As such, who should we have voted for in your opinion?

Actually, if you don't actually live in NYC, we don't care what your opinion might be. We don't tell you how to vote in your local elections, so mind your own damn business!

All that said, are you claiming that Mamdani should not be allowed to become mayor? Do you claim that his election somehow illegitimate?

Shall we, as some have suggested, strip Mamdani of his citizenship and deport him[0][1] as well?

Will that satisfy you?

[0] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-calls-zohr...

[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/gop-lawmakers-push-strip...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_mayoral_election...

>You can't comment like this on Hacker News, no matter what you're replying to.

Fair enough.

>> You are ignorant of both >You can't comment like this on Hacker News, no matter what you're replying to.

Would "the facts don't support your assertions in either case." be more acceptable? Or is noting a lack of knowledge in any way unacceptable?

I'm not trying to be snarky here. I just want to make sure I don't run afoul of the guidelines and make more work for you and the other already over-worked moderators.

Thanks!

Not so much. The NY Metro Area has the highest GDP of any metro area in the US[0]. The San Francisco Bay Metro area ranks fourth, behind NYC, Los Angeles and Chicago.

But don't feel too bad about it. It could have happened to any Metro area.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_metropol...

It's not "defining a new term."

In New York City, "Rent Control" is the official name of a specific program/set of laws and "Rent Stabilization" is the official name of a different specific program/set of laws.[0]

And since we're talking about New York City housing laws/policies and that Mamdani is proposing a rent freeze for units in one of those two programs, being specific about it isn't semantics at all.

The all-encompassing term that you thought you were using a gotcha on is "rent regulation."

Please! Put some knowledge on, your ignorance is showing. Sheesh!

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_regulation_in_New_York

Edit: Added ">" to identify the section I quoted.

That's as may be. And you are absolutely entitled to your opinion.

But you called Mamdani out for promising to enforce the law.

Are you not a fan of the rule of law?

Yes. He did. Because the law[0] (the passage of which he was not involved) says Riker's Island needs to be closed by 2027 -- something Eric "how much will you pay to play?" Adams slow-walked on purpose.

The rest of your diatribe is a bunch of bullshit that doesn't pass the sniff test.

[0] https://archive.ph/eOJdK

Successful? Try again.

Rudy Guiliani was the most hated man in NYC on September 10, 2001.

I'm not really sure why that changed, he was a horror. Anti-democratic (small 'd') anti-freedom of expression and spent most of his time being a boot stomping on the faces of hard working New Yorkers.