Total posts: 1,950
Posted in:
Don't spend time focusing on grammar or rules. Just focus on communicating with natural speakers.
I find watching movies without subtitles helps.
Reading also helps.
You will never be fluent without total immersion, though.
A close substitute would be to date someone that speaks the language you want to learn. If your boy/girlfriend speaks that language, you're a lot more likely to have regular exposure to it.
Created:
Posted in:
What has been most surprising to me about this thread so far is how much RM's responses mirrored my own.
Supa's responses didn't surprise me. He and I have similar thoughts on a whole lot of things, including certain politicians.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Greyparrot
It's not going to stop the looting.
I agree with this.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
Well, you might re-phrase the questions that I (or RM) indicated I didn't understand what you were asking. And I'd change the wording from "identity" to "believe" or something like that.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
I think you should answer these, too.
The interview I'd be most interested in would be one where I lead one of you.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
Science:1. Generally, do you believe science to be an accurate way of interpreting and describing our reality?
The scientific method is the best approach we have to understand what is empirically true in our world.
2. Do you believe that the theory of natural selection and evolution is how the current species of the earth developed?
I believe evolution is a theory for which there is ample supporting evidence. Bacteria present the strongest evidence for this, as far as I can tell.
3. Do you believe that creationism is how the current species of the earth developed?
Depends on what you mean by "creationsim." It is not obvious to me that we have the same understanding of that word.
4. Do you believe that the big bang and cosmologic evolution is how our current universe "began"?
This is not something I have lost sleep over.
5. Do you believe that the oblate spheroid model of the earth is accurate in regards to the shape of the earth?
The earth is not a perfect sphere? This is controversial?
6. Do you believe that climate change is happening at an increased rate?
The available data pretty clearly indicate the world's climate is changing in all kinds of ways. And not for the better.
7. Do you believe that there are genetic differences between different ethnicities aside from melalin content?
Genetic factors do seem to predispose people to certain health problems. For example, Asian women are way more likely to suffer from osteoporosis than black women. But black women are way more likely to suffer heart attacks than Asian women. Male pattern baldness also manifests at different rates across ethnicities. These examples go on, but I think you get the point.
If you're talking about one race being better than another based on biology, that's an absurd perspective to take.
8. Do you believe that IQ tests are accurate ways of measuring an individual's intelligence?
Yes. But realize that you cannot generalize, for example, IQ test results based on ethnicity or race. The trends vary over time and space.
9. Do you believe that the current scientific consensus is accurate in regards to the description of reality?
I don't understand what you're asking here.
Misc.
1. Would you be interested in a general interview, conducted by Theweakeredge?
Ask away. I'll type. Nothing recorded.
My suggestion:
Clarify some of the questions.
Focus less on "identity" and more on values/ideas/core beliefs.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
Religion:
1. Generally, which religion do you identify with?
I do not "identify" with any religion. I am a Christian.
2. Generally, do you believe religion to be important to society - how so or how not?
I don't think there is anything more important than religion in the society.
3. Do you believe the religion you identify with is being persecuted or bigoted against?
Again, I do not "identify" with any religion.
I think many these days get their rocks off by trying to dunk on Christianity. And the Church would have been wise to listen to that criticism from the outside from the 50s - now, but it's too late to undo what harm has already been done.
The Church has a long way to go, if it wants to be relevant in society in the future.
4. Do you believe that its important for education to instill religious values into children?
Depends on the context. Saudi-funded madrasas are a force of evil in the world; but the same could be said for certain right-wing evangelical schools in the United States, although Christian fundamentalists do not become terrorists, whereas that is the express purpose of Saudi Arabia's Islamic outreach.
I think promoting religious literacy is important and I am ok with public schools teaching courses like comparative religion. I do not want any public school teaching theology to my kids.
I would prefer to enroll my kids in private religious school, namely Catholic school similar to what I attended. Especially now.
5. Aside from the god of your religion, do you believe that religion is the most important aspect of life?
I'm not sure what you're asking here.
6. Do you believe that everyone else, or the majority of people, should be of your religion?
No. Nor do I think that is even possible, or consistent with scripture.
7. What do you think of individuals who do not affiliate with your religion?
That is between them and God. Not for me to say. We all try to make sense of our world and some people endeavor to do that without religion. That is their prerogative. It is not for me to tell them what their religious beliefs should be.
8. Do you believe that the church and government should be separated?
Without question.
9. Do you believe that individuals have a freedom from religion as well as a freedom to religion?
The freedom from religion lot, for example Ronald Reagan, Jr., tend to label themselves the victim of things like the money saying "In God We Trust." Those persecutorial ideations have no currency with me. But I am fully supportive of the establishment and free exercise clauses. The Federalist Papers' description of why is generally correct, from my perspective.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
Social:1. What do you believe to be the biggest social problem of today's era?
The role of identity politics in the culture and society.
2. How do you think this problem could be solved generally?
I'm not sure it can be. The identity politics game the left is playing now is so pervasive that even the language they use has become entrenched in modern usage. I think it's a set of ideas that, like a pandemic, is going to have to run its course before it is abandoned. Though, for my part, I'll do what I can to stop it.
3. What do you think of these sexual/gender identities; Homosexual, Bisexual, Transgender, or Asexual?
I'm generally of the "live and let live" school of thought. Being gay and coming from the background that I do, I am very uncomfortable seeing people tell others how to live their lives and do so with the force of the state behind them. I am very aware of the risk involved in using the power of the state (or culture) to force conformity as such.
Bisexuals get a bad rap from everyone. I'm pretty sure my ex boyfriend was bi, but we dated longer than I have ever dated another person. I think gay men and lesbians in particular tend to have very stupid ideas about bisexuality.
I have never known someone I actually believed was asexual.
Trans issues are much more complicated, and I don't have the character space to discuss in full detail. But generally, as above, I'm of the "live and let live" school of thought. That being said, trans rights politics and issues implicate questions that do not apply to gays, lesbians and bisexuals. They should not be placed into the same bucket.
I also think that most of the people (boys and girls in particular) who think they're trans now, are going to regret any chemical or physical alterations to their bodies they undertook. There data behind hormone replacement therapy and reassignment surgeries are enough to horrify anyone with a basic understanding of statistics.
4. What do you think of cultural labels such as "cultural marxists" or "TERFs"? (though not limited to those labels specifically)
Cultural marxism is a term widely used by groups on the right and center-left to describe political claims on the far left and progressive left, based on belonging to one or more "oppressed" groups/minorities.
I think the left's tendency to write off anyone who uses the phrase "cultural marxist" as "alt right" or whatever is a thinly veiled ad hom effort to avoid discussion of the substance behind their criticism. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, "cuck philosophy" on YouTube. I refer to him because he's the strongest criticism I've seen to date, not because I think he's the easiest to tear down. In fact Cuck Philosophy is I think the only person that has even tried to understand what is meant by the word "cultural marxist," even if he has misrepresented the term and the meaning behind its usage.
5. Which, if any, circumstances do you believe justifies abortion?
On a personal level, I oppose almost all forms of abortion in almost all cases.
But just because I think that, doesn't mean the state has any right to impose that perspective on anyone else.
6. What do you believe to be the ideal home environment?
A two-parent household, in close proximity to responsible adults who can help and serve as good role models for kids/youth/teenagers (especially teenage boys).
7. What do you believe to be the most important value to instill in young individuals?
Responsibility.
8. What do you think of cultural movements such as BLM or Feminism?
I approve of feminism up until the end of its second wave. Third wave feminism is where things went off the rails. If we're in a fourth wave, and some think we are, that's even further off the rails.
9. Should taxpayer money be used to support policies such as Universal Healthcare and Universal Secondary Education?
Yes.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
Politics:1. Generally, how do you identify politically?
Left-leaning libertarian. Think Noam Chomsky (but my thoughts on Israel/Middle East more mirror George H. W. Bush).
2. Given the following 6 political identities, which do you most closely relate to? (Anarchist, Liberal, Centrist, Libertarian, Conservative, Authoratarian)
Not identity; ideology. It's hard to say, given that we don't all have the same understanding of what counts for liberalism or conservatism these days. Neither establishment party aligns with my values, though now that gay marriage is the law of the land I will probably vote for whoever the next Republican president/senate candidates are.
I'm pretty sympathetic to Libertarian perspectives, on a personal/cultural/social level. I'm not socially conservative in most respects (pro gay rights, oppose almost all forms of state-mandated moralizations, I would make all drugs legal, etc.). But culturally, I sympathize with the conservatives and Christian anarchism (namely, that of Leo Tolstoy, who you might not know was the inspiration both for Ghandi and MLK).
Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev and Solzhenitsyn probably more than any other figures have shaped both my theological and moral values. It surprises people when I say this, too, because they assume that because I'm gay I should want to tear down "heteronormative" this and that, or whatever. As a younger guy, maybe. But to throw away the collective accomplishments of all human civilization up to this point is much further than I am comfortable going.
Relatedly, the decline of organized religion has caused and continues to cause untold harm to the social order. A lot of that is because of the stark hypocrisy both of the Catholic church and the evangelical right (for reasons we can discuss separately) but it's also because of deliberate efforts to purge faith from the society. And if we lose that, we'll have lost everything else that came from it (including the foundation of Enlightenment values, which themselves are inextricably linked with Christianity). And generalized destruction of our institutions without consideration for what purpose they served leaves us in essentially the state Nietzsche foretold in the Genealogy of Morals and Thus Spake Zarathustra: we both lack a shared agreement on what even constitutes a moral/social foundation and have been unable to replace it with anything else.
3. If you were to choose 4 political identities as the most common - which four would they be?4. If you were to briefly describe your general political identity - how would you?
Not identity; ideology. Left wing libertarianism. Sort of. I'm also kind of a foreign policy hawk. I understand most people do not see these things as going together.
5. If you were to briefly describe your closest-relative political identity - how would you?
Every living member of my family is a conservative Republican.
6. If you were to briefly describe the political identity which is directly opposed to yours - how would you?
Ideology is a better word than identity. And the opposite ideology would be corporate fascism; so, increasingly the normal political order in the United States.
7. If you were to list the positions most integral to your political identity - what would they be? (listed from least to most important)
Here, political beliefs/values would be better than identity. Here are two:
Limiting the power of the state and corporate interests; and
Maximizing individual freedom.
8. If you were to list the top 4 positions which you most agree with, what four would they be?
You mean like on policy issues? Idk. Depends on the time and place. But for the moment:
a. All lockdowns and COVID safety measures should be ended right now.
b. All schools should immediately reopen.
c. All businesses should immediately reopen.
d. Tony Fauci should be fired.
9. Do you consider your political identity widely represented in your respective government?
Ideology, not identity. And no. Both Republicans and Democrats both seem to be very comfortable expanding the scope of government in increasingly alarming ways. They disagree as to HOW it should be expanded, but they agree on the basic idea THAT it should be expanded. I oppose this.
Created:
Posted in:
If he doesn't, it's strongly indicate that he's scum. You are not making this easy by adding "justification" for his theory.
The underlined is wrong. FT's affiliation (which I have read as town) has absolutely nothing to do with Pie's reads.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
Your interaction with pie is consistent with your town meta. And you know that.
What is your point?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
Do you really want to be the most townread person in the game?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
That is the kind of risk you've taken before.No it's not. I've never done anything close to this. Nor would I.Luna has, but not me.I don't take unnecessary risks. That's a false claim by Coal.Spreading false paranoia = scummy. Coal is now below whiteflame on my reads list.
Here's my issue. As scum you are never this engaged, unless it's either (1) been a while since you've played or (2) you've come up with a master plan to win as scum which intrigues you. You're not really the "belt and suspenders" type of scum player, and tend to be all but overtly hostile to playing as scum ... because figuring out the puzzle is something you enjoy a lot more than trying to prevent others from doing it.
The distributed reasoning exercise is also something you take a key interest in. Getting other's thoughts. Collaborating. Evaluating what other player's reactions mean. Informing others what impact you think those actions have. This is the gravamen of your town meta, of which you are generally aware. You've moved from player to player, evaluating alternative theories to build an impression of the game.
But you're not interacting with whiteflame much. You're focusing on Pie which we both know is a lost cause because by now it is clear that you've seen through what he's doing.
Maybe it's the novelty of breaking the game on DP1. A notable accomplishment. And for now, that's the theory I'm operating under. But we approach the point where continuing this with pie isn't adding value. Diminishing returns. Up until the point where I asked him to post reads.
Now he's done that. And we'll see what others think, ideally before someone hammers (although it is not clear that person will be speed). Others' responses to the pie situation will likely be the only useful thing to follow.
The problem is that I can see you doing this as scum, knowing your scum meta and deliberately playing against it. And this lingers in the back of my mind. So I don't really care whether I'm above or below whiteflame for you.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
The last time you were scum and played with Tim on DDO.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
I don't take unnecessary risks.
"Unnecessary." That's quite a word, isn't it. Subjective. Contextual. Of course you don't take unnecessary risks, from your perspective.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ILikePie5
Are you scum reading me? Because if so, I'm comfortable leaving at that.
But I don't think you are.
I think you're trying to get the FT-monkey off your back, which I understand.
If there is something you want to know, ask. Otherwise, I don't think my reads are controversial other than an Oro, and I've stated my disagreement with FT and others both before and after Post 64.
Reason I shifted focus is because Earth is the more viable lynch, in view of FT's discovery.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
If Earth flips town miller, you'll believe I'm scum who randomly faked a guilty result on a townie?
That is the kind of risk you've taken before.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ILikePie5
Scum include Earth, Oro and you.
Whiteflame, TUF and others who have posted are town.
Speed's absence is conspicuous.
RM is delusional, but town.
I have periodically commented on posts indicating my thoughts on their significance and what impact they have on my reads.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ILikePie5
This is helpful.
Provide more detail on why you think Oro is town.
Created:
-->
@Greyparrot
The difference is less about corruption than basic competence. There are plenty of US government operations that work well and effectively. Take the DOJ, for example. Or the CIA. Or the NSA. Each are the gold standard for what they do, relative to all other governments on earth. Even the IRS does its job fairly effectively.
But most people don't have an experience with their local government that is good. Which is why Germany is a public option, where the entire country is essentially one involuntary risk pool and medical care comes out of a bucket of tax dollars. But the points of services are largely privately ran.
That keeps hospitals and doctors not being government workers. But essentially nationalizes the health insurance industry. Not unlike how medicare works now.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ILikePie5
I'm pretty sure I could type out his reads from memory, and they're not what you said.
Created:
Posted in:
And blocking me isn't going to make your "case" against me any less absurd.
In the world of reality (which I would invite you to return to), your behaviour this whole game has been distracting, erratic and misguided.
If you just have some things you need to work out in DP1, fine. But if you keep doing this shit in DP2, you're going to contribute to why town loses this game.
So sort yourself out.
Created:
Posted in:
RationalMadman
Oh so you feel like I'm bullying you? Because that's a bunch of garbage.
It sounds like you're coming to terms with the fact that you know your read on me is motivated by nonsense outside of this game.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@ILikePie5
he's posted reads throughout the course of the game.
List the players.
Put the word "town" or "scum" beside their name, according to what you think is most likely.
FT isn't the only person who would like to see your reads.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
Also I want to note this is the second time in like three days you've tried to have new rules written about me lol
outside-game influence and threats of repercussion to influence in-game decisions. This should be absolutely illegal to demand because it isn't a fair thing to allow town to do scum in any scenario, furthermore it is wintradimg for debate rating.
blah blah blah
Created:
Posted in:
Note for the record Pie is not the only one who has refused to post reads.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
So you'd accept if I said that I would FF if I was scum?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
lol so you admit you have no idea whether I'm town or scum?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
How about you challenge me to a debate. If I turn out to be town, you FF and concede that you were wrong.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
So you actually have no confidence behind your determination that I'm scum?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
What are you willing to risk, on behalf of your unshakeable belief that I'm scum?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
100% confident I'm scum?
Zero room for error?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@RationalMadman
How confident are you in your opinion that I'm scum?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
I answered it very clearly. If your brain can't process it, you don't understand logic.
I lol'd, for real, when I read that.
FourTrouble, can your brain process? Do you understand logic?
ROFLMAO
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
IF people can have romantic relationships without sexual attraction, THEN having sexual attraction does not separate a platonic relationship from a romantic one
In terms of absolutes, yes.
In terms of generalities, no.
I thought we established that?
Created:
Posted in:
For back story, Pie has a fetish for policy lynching millers. He has reasons for that theory. Those reasons are wrong. He and I and others have discussed this with him at length.
What he said there was his way of trying to suggest I should reconsider my rejection of his theory perspective. Which I will not do.
Again, not a scum slip. Just pie. Playing mafia.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@FourTrouble
Post 403 strikes me as a scum slip.
I do not agree that Pie's fetish for policy lynching millers (independently of the timing for their claim) is a scum slip. That's a theory position he has that, despite the efforts of many, he has yet to reconsider.
Though he should reconsider. For obvious reasons.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
But in terms of generalities, it seems like you agree with me.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
Sounds like you agree with what I said then ...
Created:
-->
@Greyparrot
@thett3
Most Americans that can afford health insurance don't want to be downgraded to government service levels.
That's an important point. "Government service levels" isn't something I would take issue with in France or Germany (or Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc.). But if the model people argue the United States should follow is either England or Canada, it's a hard no.
Canada's healthcare system is a failure by almost any reasonable measure. The wait-times for very, very basic procedures defy comprehension. And Canadian medical sophistication in general is fairly limited. There are parts of the US that are worse, but not many.
And England's NIH has consistently demonstrated its inability to accomplish even very basic things, like preventative care. Then you add to it horrible situations like the Charlie Gard case, and the "death panel" argument from certain conservatives becomes less unrealistic.
I don't think we can do anything like what France has, though. That's pie in the sky. Germany's public option on the other hand seems like a viable path. I'd be behind that for us.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
I'm not sure I buy that. I've heard asexuals make similar claims, and to each their own.
Almost no one is asexual, though. And in general terms, sex is the difference between romantic and platonic relationships.
There are exceptions (e.g., friends with benefits) but they're not the norm.
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
What's wrong about it?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Theweakeredge
What am I wrong about?
Created:
Posted in:
-->
@Athias
@Theweakeredge
Answer me this: how is a romantic relationship distinguished from a platonic relationship?
Romantic - you are having sex.
Platonic - you are not having sex.
Is it possible to have a romantic relationship with a family member which isn't necessarily incestuous?
No.
Created: