Search found 139 matches

by Incrementalist
Wed Jun 27, 2018 1:35 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: The N Word
Replies: 63
Views: 7935

Re: The N Word

Libel and defamation require a statement to be a public misrepresentation; they have nothing to do with whether a statement is offensive or not. In fact using an offensive value judgment instead of making a statement of fact is a way to work around libel laws; the reason Penn & Teller's TV show is c...
by Incrementalist
Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:45 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: Trade War _good_
Replies: 98
Views: 10588

Re: Trade War _good_

ssorenn wrote:
Tue Jun 26, 2018 3:13 am
All you had to do over 30 years is buy and hold, and you would be successful.
"Get long and stay long" is my modus operandi.
by Incrementalist
Tue Jun 26, 2018 2:44 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: The N Word
Replies: 63
Views: 7935

Re: The N Word

It's a brave form of moderation that allows things to head in a bad direction until they actually arrive in a bad place.
by Incrementalist
Sun Jun 24, 2018 2:49 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Fascism is going too far
Replies: 59
Views: 6188

Re: Fascism is going too far

I really dislike the term "progressive" because it implies that anyone who disagrees with that agenda is somehow "regressive". The name itself demonizes dissenters, which is worrying.
by Incrementalist
Sun Jun 24, 2018 2:40 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Whoops
Replies: 2
Views: 854

Re: Whoops

I was trying to do my part to bounce a thread that had turned ugly off the front page yesterday, by introducing a new topic or two. Of course since Politics doesn't appear on the front page, what I had posted here was useless for that purpose. So I edited it down to nothing. EDITED TO ADD: That thre...
by Incrementalist
Sun Jun 24, 2018 2:33 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Revoking Gods Rights to Pronounce Husband and Wife
Replies: 7
Views: 1465

Re: Revoking Gods Rights to Pronounce Husband and Wife

God approves of the marriage, the priest is just gods conduit of approval No dude, the power is vested, not forwarded in real-time. The priest makes the pronouncement by the power vested in him at some earlier date. In fact, the question as to whether or not God *approves* of the marriage is a sepa...
by Incrementalist
Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:35 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Revoking Gods Rights to Pronounce Husband and Wife
Replies: 7
Views: 1465

Re: Revoking Gods Rights to Pronounce Husband and Wife

I think God has.lost the ability to identify quality marriages. I propose we take away Gods rights to preside over these ceremonies. His credentials are called into question The pronouncement is not by God; the priest utters the words "by the power vested in me...*I* now pronounce you husband and w...
by Incrementalist
Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:30 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Math Puzzle #001
Replies: 15
Views: 3142

Math Puzzle #001

Produce an equation that expresses how long it will take for a baby born today to reach median age, given birth rate, median lifespan, average lifespan, current population, and anything else you think you need.
by Incrementalist
Sat Jun 23, 2018 9:29 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Whoops
Replies: 2
Views: 854

Whoops

Moved to Off-Topic.
by Incrementalist
Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:54 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: The N Word
Replies: 63
Views: 7935

Re: The N Word

African American culture would likely drop the use of the word when White people in America collectively get their heads out of their asses when it comes to race and privilege but we're moving in the wrong direction on that one unfortunately. Why do you think that? Look who the President is. I mean...
by Incrementalist
Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:25 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: The N Word
Replies: 63
Views: 7935

Re: The N Word

y2kjbk wrote:
Sat Jun 23, 2018 6:24 pm
African American culture would likely drop the use of the word when White people in America collectively get their heads out of their asses when it comes to race and privilege but we're moving in the wrong direction on that one unfortunately.
Why do you think that?
by Incrementalist
Sat Jun 23, 2018 2:38 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: The N Word
Replies: 63
Views: 7935

Re: The N Word

I'm a free-speech zealot, but since you're asking if you should *say it* rather than whether it should be *allowed*, the answer is definitely "don't say it." Rappers, of course, throw that word around constantly. For whatever reason, almost nobody cares that they do. As a white dude, it doesn't affe...
by Incrementalist
Thu Jun 21, 2018 4:28 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you
Replies: 16
Views: 2019

Re: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you

It makes no sense to cherry-pick certain aspects of the migrant experience while ignoring others when making a broad comparison between two countries’ policies. I expanded the basis of comparison because there were other relevant aspects.
by Incrementalist
Thu Jun 21, 2018 1:18 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Fascism is going too far
Replies: 59
Views: 6188

Re: Fascism is going too far

I think CroakAndDagger likes to push people's buttons and set them off because it feels good.

I think Jamiet99uk likes to unload in righteous indignation because it feels good.

Everyone's got the feels.
by Incrementalist
Thu Jun 21, 2018 1:10 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you
Replies: 16
Views: 2019

Re: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you

China, like most countries, renders itself inhospitable to refugees because it doesn't want any to show up. Your point would be well taken if your original post were comparing Australia to China, but it pretty clearly was comparing Australia to the US. Both countries are obviously very hospitable fo...
by Incrementalist
Wed Jun 20, 2018 1:40 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you
Replies: 16
Views: 2019

Re: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you

Does the article referred to discuss the way several nations to the North of Australia were for many years happy to "help boats to refuel, do repairs and then continue on towards Australia" ? What are these countries supposed to do, force migrants to stay when they want to continue on? Mexico de-fa...
by Incrementalist
Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:21 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: Trade War _good_
Replies: 98
Views: 10588

Re: Trade War _good_

Trump's followers believe anything no matter how unbelievable. People "believe" what is in their interests to believe. Conservatives will reinforce and promulgate statements like "Obama was born in Kenya" for the simple reason that it reduces his ability to become President. It didn't work, but tha...
by Incrementalist
Mon Jun 18, 2018 2:35 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: God is dead
Replies: 79
Views: 9434

Re: God is dead

I think you're right, one would be unwise to underestimate religion, lest those folks start blowing things up and flying airplanes into buildings and so forth as those folks seem to like to do. I don't think I've ever seen anyone resort to "those folks/those people" twice in the same sentence. The ...
by Incrementalist
Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:25 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: [vDiplomacy] 1900
Replies: 3
Views: 1054

Re: [vDiplomacy] 1900

Someone should make a deliberately unbalanced variant, where one power starts off on the cusp of victory, forcing everyone else to cooperate to defeat it in such a way that it leaves *them* in a position to win. No "draw" option, but you can surrender anytime, and victory must be total (all supply c...
by Incrementalist
Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:04 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you
Replies: 16
Views: 2019

Re: Seeking Migrants.. Australia welcomes you

Interesting recent article on the subject: http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/30/theres-no-escape-from-australias-refugee-gulag/ As Australia withdraws from its resettlement obligations in the region, it has become clear that the purpose of stopping the boats is not to save lives at sea but to shift A...