Maxwell: Readers sound off on ‘Bro-flakes,' pickleball and ‘Alligator Alcatraz'

Scott, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed today’s column on pickleball [“Pickleball dethrones golf tourney for Orlando charity“]. Funny, informative and promoting a good cause. Pickleball appeals to me as I've had both knees replaced, and playing doubles is about my speed. Our neighborhood association recently resurfaced the two tennis courts to accommodate four pickle ball courts. Bill

Your neighborhood is not alone, Bill. Pickleball is taking over in this country faster than the zombies in “World War Z.”

How refreshing to read the pickleball story. So much awful stuff happening all the time. But this was light, funny and made readers more aware of your athletic ability. Mary

I don't think I can claim any bragging rights in this particular arena. Pickleball is the rare sport where one's athletic abilities can be humbled by both a 12-year-old and a septuagenarian.

I had to look it up to make sure you spelled septuagenarian correctly. Cyndee (my wife)

Me too! Every time. I don't know who decided a "u" belongs in that word. Probably the same dingleberry who took the "e" out of judgment.

Thanks for the terrific editorial on the Florida "bro-flakes" who keep crying about being oppressed. [“Florida bro-flakes. They’re angry, loud, entitled and convinced they’re victims“] What a joke. John

Indeed, John. These are severely fragile men who like to talk tough, yet also want to silence anyone who dares challenge them with facts that contradict their narrative of self-pity.

Aggressively correcting the record and truth doesn't make one a "bro-flake." D.K.

No. What does are things like censoring history books and hiding data that document when discrimination truly exists. That's not "correcting the record." It's trying to make sure people can’t see what the record really is.

Your missive regarding our governor, his A.G. and that Fishback guy made me chuckle but mostly infuriated me that these White men feel so aggrieved. Tim

Pity the poor people who control virtually every lever of power in this state and yet see changing demographics that make them fear they may not always be in charge.

Best quote I’ve seen lately: “When you are used to privilege, equality feels like oppression."Mary

Bingo.

Old + White + straight + male = problem. Everyone else is in a protected class. I was a casualty in this conflict. Joe

Well, I'm most of those things as well, Joe. Yet I've never felt oppressed. I imagine it's a matter of both perspective and what we've done in life.

Maxwell: Florida bro-flakes. They're angry, loud, entitled and convinced they're victims

Scott, I think ‘bro-flakes' is too nice a name for them. Deirdre

Well, this is a family paper.

You're a real d*****bag. Rick

Our family feels dysfunctional.

Scott, I remember a column you wrote a few years ago where you called out former politicians, including Alan Grayson and Corrine Brown, who refuse to go away … maybe referring to them as vampires who just won't stay dead?Tom

It was zombies. In case you can't tell, I like zombie references. I believe I said that cycle seemed like the Democrats' version of "Return of the Living Dead" … except nobody asked for this sequel.

Good piece on the Republicans who want to look like they're cracking down on insider trading, but didn't crack down on themselves. [“Florida lawmakers exempted themselves from stock-trading crackdown.”] Do they think nobody's paying close attention?Ann

Indeed they do. And often, they're right.

These people don't govern. They loot. Angela

Angela's paying attention.

Maxwell: Florida lawmakers exempted themselves from stock-trading crackdown

Scott, I just read today's column [“Florida’s redistricting scheme goes all-in on gerrymandering“]. Please tell me that there is a lawsuit already filed over this! It’s unconscionable that the legislature - at the behest of Governor DeSantis - has put aside our vote, our constitution!Marie

A couple of suits have already been filed, Marie. And I think most people are rooting for the plaintiffs. Sure, the hyper-partisans on each side defend gerrymandering when their own team does it. But most citizens don't like it when anyone does it. More importantly, Florida's Constitution forbids it. And the Constitution isn't optional.

Good. We’re sick of you libtards f***ing up this country with your pro government bulls*** policies. Eat s*** and shut the f*** up. Rob

Rob, your thoughtful defense of the state’s gerrymandering would make a stellar amicus brief.

Today's column was perfectly said, Scott. [“Even the feds know ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ was a boondoggle“] You could see that "Alligator Alcatraz" (dumb name to begin with) was a disaster before the first tent/cage/porta-potty was even set up. But I had no idea the cost was that extensive. Why isn't every Florida resident yelling bloody murder?Denise

By now, I think most honest observers are. With operational costs estimated at more than $1 million a day and a total cost of somewhere around $1 billion, even the Trump administration wanted to stem this tidal wave of tax dollars. Among the few people still cheering this mess are the political pawns and the contractors who cashed in.

Could you be any more treasonous?George

Oh, look. A pawn.

Can we start calling it "Albatross Alcatraz"?Jeff

I wish I’d thought of that.

Regarding your column today [“With measles surging, DeSantis gets vaccine pushback“], public health rarely negotiates with ideology. When vaccination rates fall, diseases once near-eradicated return quickly, exposing the cost of politicizing science. The measles surge is a reminder that freedom rhetoric cannot substitute for evidence-based health policy. Ashok

Viruses follow science, even if politicians don't.

That's what happens when you open the boarders [sic]. Don't even try to blame our wonderful governor. Nanny

Nanny, researchers have repeatedly debunked the blame-the-immigrants-for-measles talking point, noting that travel and a lack of vaccinations are often largely to blame. But I realize some people are eager to blame immigrants for many of the world’s problems, as well as their own lives.

We need a vaccine for stupidity and it needs to be mandatory for politicians. Sal

Florida lawmakers would almost certainly exempt themselves from that, too.

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