World, Writing, Wealth discussion
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Mentality differences
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Beau wrote: "I’m surprised at your silence on the overbearing arm of the state vs liberty argument. I’ve taken to reading the main Australian news websites lately. There’s a common theme running through them urging Australian politicians to stand up to the tyrannical Chinese. I thought it was the Americans who didn’t do irony?."I pick my battles and frankly I'm bored with this one.
I mostly agree with your safety-ism argument but when it comes to Covid... I'm sick of bashing my head against the wall talking to people who refuse to deal with the true health issues and constantly cite articles and stats that support their echo chamber distilled arguments but approach everything from an ideological perspective and therefore are incapable of weighing the true stats in the scales of reality.
The truth is that we've been constantly adjusting to new realities and narratives since the first outbreak. As William Goldman famously said: No-one knows anything... and that has been my position all along. I wouldn't have a clue myself so I listen to people I trust.
End of.
Nemetra wrote: "Hi guys, Enjoyed reading your debate. Would you like to read something weird and unusual? Not about Covid staff, but about our future evolution, which may surprise you.
If anyone is interested ..."
Hi Nemetra,
Self-promotional posts belong to announcement section, where you are welcome to reinstate this post. Please, delete it here or I'll need to help you with it
Adrian wrote: "I pick my battles and frankly I'm bored with this one..."
I completely understand your boredom with it all, Adrian. Most people, myself included, would also like to move on but, unfortunately, others seem to have morphed an illness into a religious-type cult, and they aren’t letting go. Then there are the powerful who want to use it to change the way we live…permanently. Make no mistake, this (and I’m not talking about the flu-like virus) is the biggest issue of our time.
I also agree with you that it’s unfortunate we feel compelled to cite experts’ articles and stats, but in a world where many people believe that only experts are entitled to an opinion, it’s difficult to avoid.
I completely understand your boredom with it all, Adrian. Most people, myself included, would also like to move on but, unfortunately, others seem to have morphed an illness into a religious-type cult, and they aren’t letting go. Then there are the powerful who want to use it to change the way we live…permanently. Make no mistake, this (and I’m not talking about the flu-like virus) is the biggest issue of our time.
I also agree with you that it’s unfortunate we feel compelled to cite experts’ articles and stats, but in a world where many people believe that only experts are entitled to an opinion, it’s difficult to avoid.
Adrian wrote: "Beau wrote: "I’m surprised at your silence on the overbearing arm of the state vs liberty argument. I’ve taken to reading the main Australian news websites lately. There’s a common theme running th..."I offer a more crude observation that coincides with Adrain's. (message 357)
Too many debates (presently this one) eventually devolve into a spitting match. The end result is always the same. Nothing really gets resolved and all the participants end up covered is spit.
Solution: The debate should end when the spitting begins.
You're right, Jim. When the fun stops, stop.
That said, I'm going to stick a little something on the covid thread now that I think would be useful reading for some of the hardcore pro-vaccine and restriction guys - particularly in the US. Hopefully, it'll just give some pause for thought to everyone.
That said, I'm going to stick a little something on the covid thread now that I think would be useful reading for some of the hardcore pro-vaccine and restriction guys - particularly in the US. Hopefully, it'll just give some pause for thought to everyone.
Jim wrote: "... Solution: The debate should end when the spitting begins...."Sound advice. So far and despite mentality differences, we haven't deteriorated into spitting, but if it happens, we might as well proceed as you suggest
As for "safetyism" from governments, what politician wants to see public accusations that that sat on their backsides while people got killed. This sort of thing is an immediate vote-loser, so they have this reflex "Got to do something". Occasionally the something is right on and appropriate, but usually it goes one way or the other off the mark. Further, when they do get it wrong, there is an element of the public that will not let it go. In NZ we had a mining accident about 20 years ago in which a number of miners died in the explosion. There were some who immediately wanted someone prosecuted, i.e. they wanted blood. The problem then was, who? They latched on to the manager, who had only replaced the previous manager a few weeks earlier. My view was that the problem was poor initial design, that was approved as safe by a government agency and it plainly wasn't, but the agency was more of the "hands off" approach. So, should a government make such activities safe for workers (in this case it would involve the requirement for for vertical extractors every place where the mining gained elevation because methane is lighter than air) but this would have been hideously expensive because the mine was proceeding horizontally. Instead they went for air extractor fans, and that worked until it didn't. So someone took a view that was wrong and it killed people. Is it "excessive government action" to stop this sort of thing? Where does "reasonable safety measures" stop and become unreasonable?
Ian wrote: "Where does "reasonable safety measures" stop and become unreasonable?..."I think we need an independent (but are they?) agencies supervising private biz with regard to hazardous materials, devices, situations. Where was FAA approving Boeing Max or how come Volkswagen got away with fraudulent emissions data?
The problem is independence but also competence. If they don't really understand the underlying issues they start guessing. I also think that in many cases the inspectors don't want to admit the Industry guys know more about it than they do so they agree. Their attitude is, Boeing must know what they are doing. Oops.
Perhaps shifting focus would refresh this thread. How about a look at vice?Ask a porn star: Does your family know that you do porn?
https://youtu.be/RjtFoK788xU
Yeah, some of the language is pretty rough. But what do you think about the mentalities of these people and their families?
J. wrote: "Perhaps shifting focus would refresh this thread. How about a look at vice?Ask a porn star: Does your family know that you do porn?
https://youtu.be/RjtFoK788xU
Yeah, some of the language is pre..."
I am very glad it is not my family member involved with it.
J. wrote: "Perhaps shifting focus would refresh this thread. How about a look at vice?Ask a porn star: Does your family know that you do porn?
https://youtu.be/RjtFoK788xU
Yeah, some of the language is pre..."
Most families probably freak out at first, but then come to grips with it somehow
Nik wrote: "J. wrote: "Perhaps shifting focus would refresh this thread. How about a look at vice?Ask a porn star: Does your family know that you do porn?
https://youtu.be/RjtFoK788xU
Most families probably freak out at first, but then come to grips with it somehow"
Unfortunate choice of words...
Adrian wrote: "Unfortunate choice of words......"Why? I think that's what regularly happens on the ground. Not many parents, I believe, expect such a career for their kids, but if their kids seem happy doing that....
J. wrote: "Perhaps shifting focus would refresh this thread. How about a look at vice?
Ask a porn star: Does your family know that you do porn?
https://youtu.be/RjtFoK788xU
Yeah, some of the language is pre..."
Being a pornstar isn't a career choice, it's a criminal enterprise and something to be ashamed of (he declares, quickly checking his hard drive ;)).
Ask a porn star: Does your family know that you do porn?
https://youtu.be/RjtFoK788xU
Yeah, some of the language is pre..."
Being a pornstar isn't a career choice, it's a criminal enterprise and something to be ashamed of (he declares, quickly checking his hard drive ;)).
Nik wrote: "Adrian wrote: "Unfortunate choice of words......"Why? I think that's what regularly happens on the ground. Not many parents, I believe, expect such a career for their kids, but if their kids seem..."
Adrian was commenting on what they were "gripping" in relation to porn.
If it was your kid?Not something I would do; not something I would want my kids to do. However, like anything else in their lives, their choice and I love them regardless.
J. wrote: "Adrian was commenting on what they were "gripping" in relation to porn."Yay, people get my jokes...
Adrian wrote: "J. wrote: "Adrian was commenting on what they were "gripping" in relation to porn."Yay, people get my jokes..."
Get a grip on yourself, man...
On second thought, nevermind.
Have you ever seen a crime so brazen that you are too impressed to be angry?An entire bridge was stolen from Middlebury Run Park
https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/n...
At least it involved some intensive labor on their part. I'm trying to imagine what they're going to do with it.
Agree with Tony that western “rationality” would be very different from eastern :https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/...
Diplomacy and sanctions clearly offer very little deference in places whereby only strength is respected
Most countries have adopted roughly the same approach because democratically-elected governments have ceased to be where the ultimate power lies. Huge global corporations and powerful special-interest groups ultimately call the world's important shots and could pull the plug on/ make life very difficult for any individual country. What these people say ultimately goes and they set the parameters for politicians' actions.