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@Vaarka
Pls tell me you don't blast the volume...That will ruin your ears.
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@TheRealNihilist
1) If you were stuck in a place for all of eternity what 1 thing would you take along forever?
My dog, assuming if by "forever" you mean that he'd live with me until I died.
2) Earth A has water. Earth B has water. Both of them taste and function the same but looking at both under the microscope, Earth B does not have the same elements as Earth A. Do you think that is enough of a distinction to not call Earth B's similar liquid to Earth A's water water?
So, by elements you mean hydrogen and oxygen? If so, then B is not water, but a water-substitute. This deals with the realm of synthetic knowledge, and, synthetically, water is defined as being made of hydrogen and oxygen. The water-substitute is thus not water, even if it appears as such.
3) Would you carry on living a life you know that weighing the options of good and bad objectively you will have a bad life?
Are you asking about suicide or about whether I would have wanted to ever have existed?
4) What do you think of philosophy?
It's great. It should be mandatory.
5) Do you think philosophy is what everyone does but at the highest level hardly anyone does (as in speak about more advanced topic like meta-ethics?
I think inspirational quotes and mantras are about as close as most people get, but that such things don't really count as philosophy. They are, in an important sense, empty platitudes that give the illusion of depth.
6) If you had one advancement you would like to occur in the future what you would it be?
This is selfish, but I'd like gay couples to be able to have biological children. I am not sure if that would be the one I would choose if I actually were given a choice, but, sitting here thinking about it, it is one that I would like to see happen.
7) Do you think the progressive movement will get to a point they will be condemning heterosexuals for having biases over not choosing same-sex partners?
No, lol. Maybe a few random crazy people...but not in the mainstream. I think most of the ridicule progressives get for calling out bias is contrived nonsense that doesn't apply to most, everyday progressives.
8) Do you see that the vocal crowd of the progressive movement are more often than not white kids that are well off in society (Personalities online not government staff)?
I think progressives do tend to be highly educated, and therefore white. But I think that if more people became highly educated, more people would become progressives.
9) Would you constantly fight crime only to be bruised and battered while also be rich or be in love while also not really ever steady when it comes to income (It is a play on a previous question and hopefully you can also guess which two characters I am referring too)?
So, Batman feels like the first, but I am not seeing the second, unless you mean Superman, but I never thought of him as lacking a reliable income. I wouldn't want to be poor and I wouldn't want to not be in love. I certainly don't see myself as cut out to physically fight crime. I'd choose the latter.
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@Vaarka
I'm down for some down time but I'm still hesitant to click circles because they might complain if it's too loud
How can that be too loud?
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@Discipulus_Didicit
I will neither knock it nor try it lol.
Boring...
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@Vaarka
Now if none of my friends are available, I'm basically just sitting in the apartment doing nothing except playing games.
Hang out with clubs and friend groups, then.
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@Discipulus_Didicit
Oh okay uh... but you can see how that might not actually make me feel better right? being as I am not a gay I mean.
Don't knock it till you try it.
But seriously, it's just good hygiene...
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@Discipulus_Didicit
What on earth are you talking about? I am gay. Of course I bleach the bathtub. I have a cleaner who does that every other week for crying out loud.You'r not one of those weirdos that doesn't bleach the bathtub every four to six months are you? Because I just had a conversation about that with a few people the other day and they made it sound like I was the weirdo.
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I think in some sense, my disinclination to doing manual labor fits in with a particular gay stereotype. Then again, I find handiness an extremely attractive trait in other guys....
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@Discipulus_Didicit
I feel like we have different definitions of the phrase 'manual labor'...
Roflmao...
My idea of manual labor also includes dusting, sweeping, and mopping, which I do only out of necessity (their not being done drives me nuts). I would rather die than mow a lawn.
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@Vaarka
Yep
Why'd it die...?
And better to have roommates who aren't around a lot than ones who are around a lot and annoying.
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@Discipulus_Didicit
14 months. Never used it. Overrated.
See, I hate manual labor of any kind. I hated not having a dishwasher with a vitriolic passion...I'd rather not have AC than not have a dishwasher.
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@DebateArt.com
What program is this supporting?
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@PressF4Respect
If the usership would like to do this, it is something we could promote, but ultimately it needs to be user-generated.
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It is one thing to be ignorant; it is another thing entirely to choose to remain ignorant. Childish reactions to thoughtful arguments indicate a mind which is both immature and which clings desperately to beliefs it is unable to logically justify even to itself.
I would still welcome further reasoned dialogue regarding my prior analyses. Absent such a good faith effort to engage, I will step away from the thread. People can be resolutely know-nothing to and by themselves, and I will not deign to encourage such foolishness by replying further.
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@Dr.Franklin
That is your comeback? Forgive me for being disappointed. Clearly, witty repartee is not your forte.
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@Dr.Franklin
Liberals know niothing
At least we can spell and, you know, formulate and read paragraphs. Do you even know what know-nothingism refers to?
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@Dr.Franklin
Look, I am willing to rite paragraphs, not on forums though
That is just sad...Conservative know-nothingism...
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@Dr.Franklin
tl:dr
Laziness perpetuates ignorance.
It's not surprising that someone so wrong on all counts would simply not read in order to enable them to continue to cling to their pigheaded ideas.
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@Dr.Franklin
1.I won't consider simply moving bases around the world including our allies is imperialism
It's not that they're placed, but why they're placed. They're placed to be able to allow us to rapidly deploy, and thus interfere in or threaten to interfere in, events around the world. That is a manifestation of a hegemonic mindset. And let's not forget that our "allies" does not mean our "equals" in power. Our allies our often reliant on our goodwill, giving us inordinate levels of control over them and their activities.
2.No
I take it you're denying that imperialism is a right-wing policy. Such a denial reflects (a) your unwillingness to acknowledge even widely-accepted realities which challenge your ideological position and (b) your grievous lack of knowledge regarding world affairs, world history, and political theory.
Let's return, for a moment, to something I said earlier: "Right-wing extremism tends to be characterized by xenophobia, ultra-nationalism, capitalism/corporatism, revanchism, and/or hyper-individualism/exceptionalism (a la Nietzsche). Left-wing extremism tends to be characterized by hyper-egalitarianism, militant socialism/trade unionism, ultra-globalism, anti-nationalism/xenophobia, and/or ecoterrorism."
These definitions, which you never challenged, allude to a broader set of distinctions between the left and the right. The right tends to adopt an us-vs-them mentality, which results in an urge to either isolate "us" from "them" or to control "them" for the sake of "us." The left tends to adopt an all-of-us-together mentality, which results in an urge to bring together groups of people as equals. The stereotype of the bleeding heart liberal encapsulates this dynamic pretty well. These mentalities are even suggested psychologically, since it is fear which drives conservatives towards the comfort of "us" and a lack of fear which enables liberals to open up to "them."
Both of these urges can be carried to dangerous extremes. The violence of Hitler's fascism is an excellent example of the us-vs-them mentality resulting in catastrophe, while Pol Pot's communism is an example of the all-together mentality resulting in catastrophe. Both of these urges can also be beneficial. Protecting the rights of "I" and "us" is an important part of checking government and ensuring the general welfare, as is the need to break down artificial and xenophobic barriers which foment hostility between peoples.
Now, let's look at the explanation of imperialism I gave, which you also never challenged, namely: "Imperialism does not require the physical extension of borders. Imperialism describes the use of control or influence by a hegemon to maintain, increase, and leverage that control or influence over its claimed protectorates or spheres of influence; imperialism may also involve the assertion of such control as an explicit claim or implicit suggestion."
Imperialism is a manifestation of the us-vs-them mentality. It involves the "us" extending control over the "them" in order to exploit the "them" for the benefit of the "us." It is similarly more revanchist, corporatist, and nationalist than any of the liberal kinds of extremism, which is further evidence for its placement on the right of the political spectrum.
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@Dr.Franklin
1.sure, But America was young when the Monroe doctrine in the War of 1812 has damaged America, it needed a strong doctrine to fight off the Europeans fucking with them.
So so you now acknowledge that America has been an imperialist. That’s a start. But, we don’t need to look too hard to see how it is still being imperialist. Look, for example, to US efforts to prop up pro-US dictators like the Shah of Iran, to the exercise of US influence abroad through organisations like the World Bank and NATO, and to the deployment and stationing of US troops around the world, among other things.
2.Were the policies really right-wing
Absolutely. Imperialism is a right-wing policy agenda.
3.What I mean is that you can't have Islamic Terrorism without the Quran
This statement is laughable vacuous. You’re basically saying we can’t have Islamic terror without Islam. Well...duh. Your statement thus tells us absolutely nothing. Plus, your remark is not responsive to the point I made, namely that the Quran is not the cause of the terror.
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@Dr.Franklin
Imperialism was the expansion of America itself
Imperialism does not require the physical extension of borders. Imperialism describes the use of control or influence by a hegemon to maintain, increase, and leverage that control or influence over its claimed protectorates or spheres of influence; imperialism may also involve the assertion of such control as an explicit claim or implicit suggestion. The Monroe Doctrine is a perfect example of this. It represented a US attempt, as a burgeoning regional power, to assert control over a claimed sphere of influence. Imperialism is, to use a biological analogy, a predatory relationship between the countries and an often a mutualistic relationship between the leaders.
Obama created ISIS by not destroying it in the first place
This remark is wholly and entirely unresponsive to what I said, namely: "This is a red-herring and a shifting of the goal posts. ISIS arose out of a larger background of Islamic extremism which was itself caused by right-wing policies. I think Obama did not do enough to stem ISIS's rise, but even if Obama were the precipitating cause, the culture of extremism which made the rise of ISIS possible in the first place is due to right-wing policies."
Islamic Terrorism comes from the Quran because idiots take it literally.
Idiots take the Bible literally. That does not mean the Bible causes terrorism, though it is certainly cited by some terrorists as inspiration for their actions. It is similarly not the Quran which causes terror. The Quran is simply used as a post-hoc justification--or, more accurately, an ideological veneer--for violence which has its roots elsewhere, such as in feelings of cultural emasculation and loss stemming from Western imperialism.
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@Discipulus_Didicit
I am going to have to pass. Sorry.
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@Speedrace
Not really. I was lucky mostly.You're too good sir
I appreciate whoever did the research on Voltorb for bomb
I suggested it, but I didn't research it. I know Generation IV (and earlier) pokemon pretty well.
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@Vaarka
Have you read The Martian?
No...but it's on my list.
Can I have a hug :3
Ofc. *hug*
What are we gonna use to jam to music now that rabbit is dead?
Wait...RABBIT IS DEAD?!
Advice for living in an apartment?
Don't be too loud. Otherwise, it's not too much different from dorm life.
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Imperialism has nothing to do with refugees or islamaphobia,
How do Islamaphobia and refugees have anything to do with the root cause of Islamic terror? Islamic terror began in majority-Muslim countries long before it began to inspire acts of violence in the West. Let's not conflate the past and the present.
Imperialism doesn't exist anymore and was a made up term trying to derail America,
That's false. Imperialism does not exist as it once did, but to the extent that Western countries continue to exert hegemonic influence over other countries, imperialism continues. Consider, for instance, the numerous dictators and leaders who have, throughout recent history, been propped up by and become beholden to US power. Fundamentally, that is imperialistic.
Saying that it is a "made up term" is even more laughable, when you consider the US's colonialist ambitions in Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines, Guam, and Samoa, etc. The Monroe Doctrine is an excellent example of US claims to hegemony. That you see the term as an attempt to "derail America" reveals that you are dismissing imperialism on an ideological basis rather than a factual one. In other words, you are attempting to dismiss reality because it doesn't jibe with your political beliefs.
Violent Islamic Terrorism is PREVENTED with right wing policies,
I can agree that many of the policies used to prosecute the war on terror--such as the PATRIOT Act--are right-wing policies. That, by no means, either (a) confirms the efficacy of those policies or (b) refutes the reality that right-wing policies created the problem in the first place.
ISIS arose from Obama but stopped with Trump
This is a red-herring and a shifting of the goal posts. ISIS arose out of a larger background of Islamic extremism which was itself caused by right-wing policies. I think Obama did not do enough to stem ISIS's rise, but even if Obama were the precipitating cause, the culture of extremism which made the rise of ISIS possible in the first place is due to right-wing policies. I should add, as an FYI, ISIS was effectively dead before Trump took office; claiming that Trump defeated ISIS is like saying Pompei defeated Spartacus--it's dead wrong.
islamic terrorism is in the Quran
This is a tired argument that has been made before. It is wrong, largely because no major Abrahamic religious is free of exhortations to commit violence in the name of the faith. The text is not the cause of the violence, but more so a post-hoc attempt by the perpetrators to give the violence ideological meaning.
If your talking about the mujahadeen, when Reagan trained, sure but was it really right-wing? All presidents hated communism,no matter what ideology
Yes, that's one example. And yes, most Presidents engaged in imperialistic, anti-communist policies. But, and hopefully this is not a revelation to you, left-wing presidents can engage in right-wing policies. It is not the person who implements the policy which makes the policy left or right, but the traits of the policy itself. So, the imperialism in that case was a cause of terrorism, and that imperialism was a right-wing policy irrespective of which president carried it out.
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@warren42
This, I agree with.I feel that we should find some way to make lynches more frequent. This makes sure we aren't going lynchless through Day 3 because we can't get a majority.
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@warren42
As far as the plurality lynch rule, I like it specifically for our site because it gives more power to people who are actively participating. I understand the criticisms of it, but I think that active participation being rewarded outweighs the concerns I have with it.
I think Grey is right that it disadvantages town. I don't particularly like this reason for plurality lynching. I think the best argument for it is that, without it, given the inactivity levels in recent games, you might never be able to secure a lynch without it.
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@Speedrace
You'll be a good player the more you do this. Hope you stick around.
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@Dr.Franklin
What I mean is that Islamic Terrorism can be traced to left wing refugee policies and their obsession of diversity
That's a pretty absurd argument. Promotion of diversity did NOT cause terrorists to become radicalized. Western imperialist and hegemonic policies, which are generally right-wing policies, created the roots of Islamic extremism. We need to distinguish between promoting diversity on the one hand and imperialism on the other. Imperialism involves imposing control on other nations and cultures; it is not pro-diversity, but rather an attempt to force monopolarity in geopolitical and sociocultural affairs. The West's control and influence was seen as a fundamental threat to a segment of the more conservative Islamic population, resulting in backlash that gave rise to the situation we now know. This backlash was not fueled by a respect for diversity, but rather by a fear that the crush of Western power would wipe out traditionalist values in the Middle East.
Only by conflating respect for diversity with imperialism can you attempt to make the argument you're making, and that conflation is fundamentally erroneous and ideologically-motivated. There is much evil that can be blamed on left-wing extremism, not because it is left-wing, but because it is extremist; however, in this case, the evil of Islamic extremism arose from right-wing policies. The tendency I have seen in your posts to blame anything and everything you dislike or fear on the left is nearsighted, troubling, and, arguably, an extension of your own prejudices rather than an attempt to impartially and rationally arrive at the truth.
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@Dr.Franklin
The atlantic is very fraudulent, because islamic terrorism is left wing
It's neither. Ideology is not, contrary to popular belief, solely on a linear spectrum. Theocratic extremism is not a permutation of left or right ideology, but rather of the ideology of a particular faith.
Right-wing extremism tends to be characterized by xenophobia, ultra-nationalism, capitalism/corporatism, revanchism, and/or hyper-individualism/exceptionalism (a la Nietzsche). Left-wing extremism tends to be characterized by hyper-egalitarianism, militant socialism/trade unionism, ultra-globalism, anti-nationalism/xenophobia, and/or ecoterrorism.
Islamic terrorism does not fit into either of these categories very well. It doesn't fit any of the left-wing categories, and it doesn't fit even half of the right-wing ones. For instance, it may be xenophobic and revanchist, but it is not ultra-nationalist, corporatist, or hyper-individualist. So, it seems more akin to right-wing extremism than to left-wing extremism, but it strikes me as more appropriate to say that it is neither.
While each terrorist movement will have its own goals (ISIS and al-Qaeda are very different ideologically), generally such movements tend to be pan-Islamic (to the extent that they embrace anyone from their religious sect [e.g. Sunni, Shia, Ibadi, etc.] irrespective of their nationality) and are thus not nationalist. They also tend to be resolutely anti-Western, irrespective of whether that Western state is socialist or capitalist. They are xenophobic towards non-Muslims, religious literalists and purists, and often revanchist (though their revanchism is more open to dispute).
Because their philosophy is rooted in a faith, not left or right political thought, they should not be placed on a left or right spectrum. Catholicism, for instance, is not a left or right ideology, but something else entirely. That you would attempt to categorize it as left or right reveals your thinking to be caught up in the western populace's tendency to try to label all ideologies along that left-right spectrum, despite the fact that this effort is fallacious and futile.
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@Alec
I don't know much about him. While I think space exploration is something we should accelerate, I think he comes across as a bit of a loony tune.
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@TheRealNihilist
That's a very bleak question. Supposing it was still there, I would inhabit the Palace of Versailles, because why the hell not, and I would probably spend my time writing and reading and looking for food.If you lived through human extinction or nuclear fallout what would you do?
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@Alec
I prefer not to debate in the forums. It tends to be far less organized, substantially longer, and less evidence-based. There is a precision and concreteness in debating which the forums, by their very nature, lack.
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@dustryder
To be honest, I don't read many standalone novels. If one wants to consider Dracula a fantasy, I read that recently and enjoyed it immensely. As for series:
1. Dresden Files
2. Harry Potter
3. Lord of the Rings + The Hobbit
4. A Song of Ice and Fire
5. Bartimaeus Sequence
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@Alec
Let's have a debate about the living wage then. If you're willing, let me know, and I'll send you a challenge.
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@TheRealNihilist
So previous bannings will not be added?
Correct.
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@Speedrace
IDK how to show you pictures. DDO had albums, but IDK how to do it on here. But he had a fun day. He's all exhausted now--he came straight in and collapsed on his bed.
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@TheRealNihilist
Miscellaneous forum.
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@TheRealNihilist
Next time can you give a time frame as well so that users can expect when the change would occur?
Sure.
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Okay...I need to leave to pick up my dog from a day of roughhousing with his puppy friends at day care. Therefore:
Unvote
VTL Water
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@TheRealNihilist
Soon. The ban log already has taken effect.
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