Why Are Republicans At War With Reality?
Comments
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Benjs, so this isn't a personal dig? Hmm…hedonist said:
Thank you so much; I just realized I'm incapable of speaking for myself.backseatLover12 said:
That's right, " take your issues and go somewhere more conveniently out of my way so I don't have to deal with you."
This is what you and BS are saying.
bsL to the rescue!
And I stand by what I said, although it was confrontational, and now that I reread, could have been put a different way. But did I get personal? Ugh, no. Did I lose my cool with my emotions and make any personal digs? No.0 -
Back to this, (forgot about it), yes, absolutely emotion and logic must be balanced. Emotion does have its place, after all, if we had no passion, we would be robots. But in discussing topics on a public forum, it should be abhorred that emotions turn to personal digs. We can keep our emotions without getting nasty to one another. Balance. Not swaying too much into our emotions and getting wrapped up in them ultimately lets our personal anger get the best of us. I'm not saying I'm an angel, but I'm not going to stand for the personal attacks. And neither will the mods.benjs said:
Sorry BSL! Totally lost track of this, as I'm insanely scatterbrained these days.
If I go by my own statement there, that every single piece of who we are is intentionally designed, then absolutely: logic must have a place in governance just like emotional response. Where we've failed as I see it is exactly as you put it: there's got to be a balance. Not only is there an imbalance in favour of pure logic, but society tends to ridicule those who embrace emotional response: hippies, beatniks, pacifists (like that's a bad thing) - how many terms are there designed to belittle the person who feels?
What's funny to me is that studies on Game Theory have shown that often once risk/probabilities are adequately factored into a decision, the best outcome of a scenario for one's self, is to act in favour of what serves the masses. Those with the power to make those decisions are all too aware of this, but their excess affords them enough 'chances' to take larger personal risks (or corporation-level risks) that pay off for themselves or their entities, and not the masses.
I think the first step is to be outspoken and to stop stigmatizing the notion of empathetic/selfless/emotional response: we should not be afraid to feel. Unfortunately, for those of us unafraid to feel publicly to have their voices heard, this movement must be widespread. For me, communism exemplifies the largest-scale failure of this.
Communism on paper sounds great - we work together, we reap the benefits together, we strive for equality. And while there are a number of factors why communism hasn't ever been long-term viable, I'd say a major one is greed. Greed from the formerly wealthy, which drowns out the formerly proletariat who collectively whisper empathetic concern for our human brothers and sisters (and trans-siblings if we're to be politically correct), bring the whole system down. That whisper must exist as an unwavering yell: when our resource consumption outweighs resource production, and when we have localized crops surrounding small percentages of the global population - it is inevitable that we will be taxed for doing the right thing if we're to bring any semblance of balance. It will fall on the masses to convince the fortunate few that charity isn't something optional - it's integral to our survival.
First we need to reconsider what we truly need to live. Then we need to observe how the vast majority of the world has a minuscule fraction of that. Then we need to disseminate the wealth. It's time to Robin Hood this shit.
As an aside, I'm fortunate enough to have been to numerous stunningly beautiful but horrendously impoverished places in the world. Each time I visit one, my reaction is almost exactly the same: if Albert Einstein had lived in Nepal, he would have died in Nepal and he would not have been able to share his ideas of the world. If Steve Jobs was born in Ecuador, Steve Jobs would have died in Ecuador and I'd be typing on a different (and inferior) computer. One article I read suggested that 80% of the world's population lives on $10 a day or less. How many people with minds fit to change the world lived and died in a rice paddy field, or picking tea leaves, or doing what ever was available to keep their parents alive?
The opportunity cost to civilization of allowing the masses to be born, stagnate, and die - is inconceivably huge. We're talking literally billions of people, out of whom one could safely assume several of them could change the world in unimaginable ways, if afforded access to education and paths to personal and economic growth. That can only happen if we (the fortunate few who spend our days on Pearl Jam message boards instead of towing soil for dollars a day) exhibit the empathy and selflessness necessary to help these people reach the stages that they can grow themselves.
So, going back to the beginning of this rant/message: logic likely has a place in our decision-making and governance, but emotion must have a place too.
EDIT: As an additional aside - cilantro all the way!
Post edited by backseatLover12 on0 -
Touche, but never did I put out a personal dig.benjs said:
If you're alluding to the past few pages, I saw no attack, and yet I saw a total effort on your part to make one up based on someone's disagreement with you. If only more people took their own advice they give others...backseatLover12 said:
If only more people could stop with getting personal with each other and just discuss the topic...rgambs said:0 -
I wonder if your perception of other people "losing their cool" and "being nasty" is a bit over the top.
Could you let this go already? That you don't like me isn't bothersome in the least; bringing it into various threads because I may see some issues in a different light than you is. Guessing our fellow members aren't big on it either.
Back to out-of-touch Republicans!0 -
Aww, and this isn't a personal dig, benjs? While kissing others' asses…hedonist said:
Not defensive by any means - chuckling a bit, actually. Never had someone come at me like this throughout my years here.backseatLover12 said:Hedonist, your emotions are showing, getting defensive again?
I'm not sure when or where this strange hard-on for me began, but it'd be great for you, me and the rest of the members if you kept it to yourself.
Back on topic, I appreciate where gambs is coming from, as I do with benjs' getting what I was saying.
Sometimes it feels tough to get a point across that wide field
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Hedonist, let's agree to stop with the personal digs then. I'm game, you? 0
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Kissing others' asses?backseatLover12 said:
Aww, and this isn't a personal dig, benjs? While kissing others' asses…hedonist said:
Not defensive by any means - chuckling a bit, actually. Never had someone come at me like this throughout my years here.backseatLover12 said:Hedonist, your emotions are showing, getting defensive again?
I'm not sure when or where this strange hard-on for me began, but it'd be great for you, me and the rest of the members if you kept it to yourself.
Back on topic, I appreciate where gambs is coming from, as I do with benjs' getting what I was saying.
Sometimes it feels tough to get a point across that wide field
SMH...
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"...I changed by not changing at all..."0 -
This revelation, two minutes after that last comment?backseatLover12 said:Hedonist, let's agree to stop with the personal digs then. I'm game, you?
Forgive me if I doubt the sincerity behind it.
Again, back to the topic at hand!
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Based on the average demographic of Pearl Jam fans, most of us are probably cranky old men, regardless of political affiliation.dignin said:GET OFF MY LAWN YOU BUNCH OF KIDS!!
Some of you sound like a bunch of cranky old men.....but you probably are, so carry on.
Be Excellent To Each OtherParty On, Dudes!0 -
I know I'm cranky, and getting older.Jason P said:
Based on the average demographic of Pearl Jam fans, most of us are probably cranky old men, regardless of political affiliation.dignin said:GET OFF MY LAWN YOU BUNCH OF KIDS!!
Some of you sound like a bunch of cranky old men.....but you probably are, so carry on.
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I laugh at myself when I yell at kids to slow down in the neighborhood. Kids who are on their teens and early twenties. I got ooooold.dignin said:
I know I'm cranky, and getting older.Jason P said:
Based on the average demographic of Pearl Jam fans, most of us are probably cranky old men, regardless of political affiliation.dignin said:GET OFF MY LAWN YOU BUNCH OF KIDS!!
Some of you sound like a bunch of cranky old men.....but you probably are, so carry on.
___________________________________________
"...I changed by not changing at all..."0 -
The last thing I would want is for someone to claim to know (and then broadcast) what I think, seeing as that is my right and my right exclusively.backseatLover12 said:
Benjs, so this isn't a personal dig? Hmm…hedonist said:
Thank you so much; I just realized I'm incapable of speaking for myself.backseatLover12 said:
That's right, " take your issues and go somewhere more conveniently out of my way so I don't have to deal with you."
This is what you and BS are saying.
bsL to the rescue!
And I stand by what I said, although it was confrontational, and now that I reread, could have been put a different way. But did I get personal? Ugh, no. Did I lose my cool with my emotions and make any personal digs? No.
As for hedo's other comment you linked, I'm not sure how she was ass-kissing. She was acknowledging that we all fall in different places of the spectrum, and how vast that spectrum actually is. Both are factual observances of this place.
And Jason - I'm 25, going on about 85. I get tired after too much sex, headaches when it's going to rain, and I typically dislike young people I meet.Jason P said:
Based on the average demographic of Pearl Jam fans, most of us are probably cranky old men, regardless of political affiliation.dignin said:GET OFF MY LAWN YOU BUNCH OF KIDS!!
Some of you sound like a bunch of cranky old men.....but you probably are, so carry on.'05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 10 -
AgreedBS44325 said:
That mother needs to smack around a few people on the baltimore thread.PJfanwillneverleave1 said:
A protester in Baltimore being smacked around by his mom is a truly misguided apathetic youth-does this lend to the mentality of the rest of the crowd?rgambs said:
People rag on the young generation for being apathetic, but as soon as they put their money on the barrel they are misguided and not genuine.rr165892 said:
No I'm saying if they want their voices heard go somewhere where buisnesses and commuters will not be affected while they do it.I got no problem with those seeking change(although many are just there to be there with no real conviction on the issue or track record of the abuses they claim to rally against.)rgambs said:
RR, I know this is an emotional reaponse, but I know also that you understand how civil disobedience works. What you are proposing is that people quit seeking change and start acquiescing.rr165892 said:Btw-The demographic of the protesters right now on CNN in New York is young adult/late teen(and pretty white)
I get these kids are idealistic and are craving a movement to be a part off.But this shit is nonsense.Go protest in a park,Get out of the street you fools.Quit Wasting the time of all those first responders having to baby sit these brats instead of helping out the community.
How did ferguson work out?Oh they were wrong I forgot.Go home,go back to school,go get a job and quit being idiots.
Express yourself but for Christ sake quit blocking businesses,roads and disrupting society.
Have a rally in the park.
I'm hearing total nonsense like that congressman saying Obama should just call the thugs n@@ers instead of thugs.And this whole thug equals a rascist word.This is stupid,just stupid0 -
Advocating for fellow tenclub members to smacked around is real constructive.rr165892 said:
AgreedBS44325 said:
That mother needs to smack around a few people on the baltimore thread.PJfanwillneverleave1 said:
A protester in Baltimore being smacked around by his mom is a truly misguided apathetic youth-does this lend to the mentality of the rest of the crowd?rgambs said:
People rag on the young generation for being apathetic, but as soon as they put their money on the barrel they are misguided and not genuine.rr165892 said:
No I'm saying if they want their voices heard go somewhere where buisnesses and commuters will not be affected while they do it.I got no problem with those seeking change(although many are just there to be there with no real conviction on the issue or track record of the abuses they claim to rally against.)rgambs said:
RR, I know this is an emotional reaponse, but I know also that you understand how civil disobedience works. What you are proposing is that people quit seeking change and start acquiescing.rr165892 said:Btw-The demographic of the protesters right now on CNN in New York is young adult/late teen(and pretty white)
I get these kids are idealistic and are craving a movement to be a part off.But this shit is nonsense.Go protest in a park,Get out of the street you fools.Quit Wasting the time of all those first responders having to baby sit these brats instead of helping out the community.
How did ferguson work out?Oh they were wrong I forgot.Go home,go back to school,go get a job and quit being idiots.
Express yourself but for Christ sake quit blocking businesses,roads and disrupting society.
Have a rally in the park.
I'm hearing total nonsense like that congressman saying Obama should just call the thugs n@@ers instead of thugs.And this whole thug equals a rascist word.This is stupid,just stupid
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You guys are both top notch.I love it.hedonist said:
Whatta smile you gave me with this! I'd not only be willing but honored.benjs said:
hedo - it's always so pleasant disagreeing with you! I know you reject binary thinking and see the shades of grey, and that in turn makes me realize that I probably ought to be seeing those shades toohedonist said:
Not defensive by any means - chuckling a bit, actually. Never had someone come at me like this throughout my years here.backseatLover12 said:Hedonist, your emotions are showing, getting defensive again?
I'm not sure when or where this strange hard-on for me began, but it'd be great for you, me and the rest of the members if you kept it to yourself.
Back on topic, I appreciate where gambs is coming from, as I do with benjs' getting what I was saying.
Sometimes it feels tough to get a point across that wide field
Whether we meet closer to my end of the field or yours is irrelevant, so long as we're willing to walk when the logic presents itself.0 -
Just good clean family fun Cotton.benjs said:
If you're alluding to the past few pages, I saw no attack, and yet I saw a total effort on your part to make one up based on someone's disagreement with you. If only more people took their own advice they give others...backseatLover12 said:
If only more people could stop with getting personal with each other and just discuss the topic...rgambs said:0 -
That's just funny.backseatLover12 said:
Benjs, so this isn't a personal dig? Hmm…hedonist said:
Thank you so much; I just realized I'm incapable of speaking for myself.backseatLover12 said:
That's right, " take your issues and go somewhere more conveniently out of my way so I don't have to deal with you."
This is what you and BS are saying.
bsL to the rescue!
And I stand by what I said, although it was confrontational, and now that I reread, could have been put a different way. But did I get personal? Ugh, no. Did I lose my cool with my emotions and make any personal digs? No.
Remember BSL,it's about having some fun,sharing different points of view,not taking opposing thoughts as personal attacks.0 -
Oh stop it Dig.lighten up.dignin said:
Advocating for fellow tenclub members to smacked around is real constructive.rr165892 said:
AgreedBS44325 said:
That mother needs to smack around a few people on the baltimore thread.PJfanwillneverleave1 said:
A protester in Baltimore being smacked around by his mom is a truly misguided apathetic youth-does this lend to the mentality of the rest of the crowd?rgambs said:
People rag on the young generation for being apathetic, but as soon as they put their money on the barrel they are misguided and not genuine.rr165892 said:
No I'm saying if they want their voices heard go somewhere where buisnesses and commuters will not be affected while they do it.I got no problem with those seeking change(although many are just there to be there with no real conviction on the issue or track record of the abuses they claim to rally against.)rgambs said:
RR, I know this is an emotional reaponse, but I know also that you understand how civil disobedience works. What you are proposing is that people quit seeking change and start acquiescing.rr165892 said:Btw-The demographic of the protesters right now on CNN in New York is young adult/late teen(and pretty white)
I get these kids are idealistic and are craving a movement to be a part off.But this shit is nonsense.Go protest in a park,Get out of the street you fools.Quit Wasting the time of all those first responders having to baby sit these brats instead of helping out the community.
How did ferguson work out?Oh they were wrong I forgot.Go home,go back to school,go get a job and quit being idiots.
Express yourself but for Christ sake quit blocking businesses,roads and disrupting society.
Have a rally in the park.
I'm hearing total nonsense like that congressman saying Obama should just call the thugs n@@ers instead of thugs.And this whole thug equals a rascist word.This is stupid,just stupid0 -
Damn young man,there are supplements to help with the 2much sex thing.i was unaware this is a problem.lolbenjs said:
The last thing I would want is for someone to claim to know (and then broadcast) what I think, seeing as that is my right and my right exclusively.backseatLover12 said:
Benjs, so this isn't a personal dig? Hmm…hedonist said:
Thank you so much; I just realized I'm incapable of speaking for myself.backseatLover12 said:
That's right, " take your issues and go somewhere more conveniently out of my way so I don't have to deal with you."
This is what you and BS are saying.
bsL to the rescue!
And I stand by what I said, although it was confrontational, and now that I reread, could have been put a different way. But did I get personal? Ugh, no. Did I lose my cool with my emotions and make any personal digs? No.
As for hedo's other comment you linked, I'm not sure how she was ass-kissing. She was acknowledging that we all fall in different places of the spectrum, and how vast that spectrum actually is. Both are factual observances of this place.
And Jason - I'm 25, going on about 85. I get tired after too much sex, headaches when it's going to rain, and I typically dislike young people I meet.Jason P said:
Based on the average demographic of Pearl Jam fans, most of us are probably cranky old men, regardless of political affiliation.dignin said:GET OFF MY LAWN YOU BUNCH OF KIDS!!
Some of you sound like a bunch of cranky old men.....but you probably are, so carry on.0 -
Ha! Believe me - I'm new to the problem too. Think I'll survive thoughrr165892 said:
Damn young man,there are supplements to help with the 2much sex thing.i was unaware this is a problem.lolbenjs said:
The last thing I would want is for someone to claim to know (and then broadcast) what I think, seeing as that is my right and my right exclusively.backseatLover12 said:
Benjs, so this isn't a personal dig? Hmm…hedonist said:
Thank you so much; I just realized I'm incapable of speaking for myself.backseatLover12 said:
That's right, " take your issues and go somewhere more conveniently out of my way so I don't have to deal with you."
This is what you and BS are saying.
bsL to the rescue!
And I stand by what I said, although it was confrontational, and now that I reread, could have been put a different way. But did I get personal? Ugh, no. Did I lose my cool with my emotions and make any personal digs? No.
As for hedo's other comment you linked, I'm not sure how she was ass-kissing. She was acknowledging that we all fall in different places of the spectrum, and how vast that spectrum actually is. Both are factual observances of this place.
And Jason - I'm 25, going on about 85. I get tired after too much sex, headaches when it's going to rain, and I typically dislike young people I meet.Jason P said:
Based on the average demographic of Pearl Jam fans, most of us are probably cranky old men, regardless of political affiliation.dignin said:GET OFF MY LAWN YOU BUNCH OF KIDS!!
Some of you sound like a bunch of cranky old men.....but you probably are, so carry on. '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 10
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