Forum
A place to discuss topics/games with other webDiplomacy players.
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rojimy1123 (597 D)
18 May 17 UTC
Chris Cornell, 1964-2017
My inner teenager is crying. RIP.
8 replies
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Jacob63831 (160 D)
16 May 17 UTC
What is the meaning of life?
Is it Memes?
Is it Bill Cosby?
18 replies
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orathaic (1009 D(B))
15 May 17 UTC
Interesting read
I'd like to hear what the right wing thinkers (and not trolls) think of this article, as well as the liberals here.

Mostly a criticism of market liberalism: https://jacobinmag.com/2017/05/handmaids-tale-margaret-atwood-trump-abortion-theocracy
15 replies
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wasdok (0 DX)
18 May 17 UTC
SSD AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL SOLUTION FOR
SSD AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL SOLUTION FOR CLEANING DEFACED
[email protected]

7 replies
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orathaic (1009 D(B))
17 May 17 UTC
Tax dodging and capital flight
Ok, this youtube video discusses it. In brief, company extracts mineral wealth, sells for a low price to parent company based in a tax haven, declares no/very little profit. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ocm42ytXto )
13 replies
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Hauta (1618 D(S))
12 May 17 UTC
Probably not in the Bible but...
Before Jesus took over John's ministry what did people think of the fact that a man in his upper 20s wasn't married and had no children? Wouldn't that have been exceedingly rare at the time?
24 replies
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Jamiet99uk (865 D)
18 Apr 17 UTC
Survivors-Win Scoring
What is this?
91 replies
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brainbomb (290 D)
15 May 17 UTC
(+8)
I am retiring from Trolling
I will henceforth focus my efforts on promoting games, offering opinions on actual issues and an occasional contribution that may be amusing. My goal was never to see the forum overrun with nonsense. Sadly its becoming unreadable and the threads are so abundant that trolling is now all thats happening. Sorry webdip for ushering in this era.
14 replies
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orathaic (1009 D(B))
15 May 17 UTC
Completely unrelated thought
You can easily walk out the door and abandon your life, start over and become a new person. But can you do the same to your mindset? Can you drop all previous prejudices/perspectives/opinions, (but not facts) and build a new world view? A new model for interacting with reality?
10 replies
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Ogion (3882 D)
16 May 17 UTC
(+5)
Apologies to the community
I seriously lost my cool last night, and I'm quite sorry. Although we discuss very serious, and sometimes life or death issues for some, that tone is way out of bounds.
67 replies
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A_Tin_Can (2234 D)
08 May 17 UTC
(+1)
The forum
Has been unusually good lately. What do you attribute this to?
46 replies
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DammmmDaniel (100 D)
16 May 17 UTC
Anyone in the Dallas Area?
I will be staying at UT Dallas for all of June and was just wondering if anyone lived in the Dallas area? Do the mods have a list of where everyone lives by any chance?
5 replies
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fourofswords (415 D)
16 May 17 UTC
unit placement
I ordered my builds, and one of the units did not show on the map in spring. How do I contact a mod, and can it be fixed?
5 replies
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JEccles (421 D)
16 May 17 UTC
Need 2 people
We need 2 more in the next 5 hours.

http://webdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=198310
0 replies
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steephie22 (182 D(S))
16 May 17 UTC
About those earth rays..
Years ago, I started a discussion (and an infrequently used meme) about how I used to have severe headaches as a small child until a small metal device that my parents can't describe very well was buried in the frontyard and my headaches disappeared overnight. My parents cited mythical earth rays as the cause of the problem. The brilliant minds of webdip saw a placebo effect as the only possible answer. I found another possible explanation and would like your thoughts.
4 replies
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Hauta (1618 D(S))
14 May 17 UTC
Can the President dissolve Congress?
McConnell is fine with Comey firing. Would he be ok with Congress being dissolved? Can it be achieved with martial law in a national emergency?
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Ogion (3882 D)
15 May 17 UTC
You think so? Hell, a significant number are already declaring Democrats and the left "enemies of the people." We see illegal actions taken by police against protestors and activists every damn day of the week. Why on earth would you expect the military to be any more high minded than the police? No, a substantial number don't believe non-white, non-christians are really "American" in which case they wouldn't even see it as unconstitutional to remove their political and civil rights. Once they've decided the political opposition and they people the opposition represents aren't "American, you think they'll balk at suppressing those "enemies of the people"? Add in that most of the rest will simply go along rather than face consequences and I think the odds of rank and file understanding or caring enough to disobey orders are slim. Few and far between are those who will disobey orders. I think you have by far too romanticized a view of the military.
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
@Prado, you seem to discount the possibility of a slow rolling descent. It took Hitler several years to get where he wanted to. Step by step, normalizing what was previously unacceptable. Congress is behaving like a useful idiot now but if they oppose Trump (ever), he might choose to deal with them harshly, especially if he has been successful already against the press, e.g.
TrPrado (461 D)
15 May 17 UTC
But they have to take up with the considerably and massively more substantial rest of the military, who wouldn't let that slide.
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
Wrt the military, I suspect that if the area is grey, they will obey. That is why it takes a few years to get rid of democracy -- 50 shades of grey. See how it's done in Turkey. Trump follows in Erdogan's footsteps.
Hazel-Rah (1262 D)
15 May 17 UTC
I’m ashamed to be an American
We’re a kakistocracy
And I can’t forgive the rubes who vote
For the evil GOP
I want to throw up
And so should you
The proudly ignorant hold sway
I’ve lost all hope, once loved this land
I mourn the USA
TrPrado (461 D)
15 May 17 UTC
"I suspect that if the area is grey, they will obey."

The opposite is true. If the area is grey, they will demand to see the orders and demand proof that it's constitutional.
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
@Prado, I didn't know that it was more likely for military personnel to do constitutional analysis than to simply follow orders. Sounds legit. Lol.
TrPrado (461 D)
15 May 17 UTC
It is exactly how they're trained in the US. They don't act on unconstitutional orders.
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
Constitutional? Who are these guys, Sally Yates? Only judges determine what is constitutional and commander in chief powers are broad so come up with something more believable.
TrPrado (461 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Your military isn't the US military, which will be skeptical of orders like the sort you're suggesting. I've heard it from multiple military sources who've had this particular skepticism drilled into them in their training. They aren't just a "lol lets do it cause we're told to" sort. They will obey quite a bit. Military power go quite a bit, as the constitution doesn't forbid attacking foreign countries. But what you're suggesting would get shut down somewhere in the chain of command.
KingCyrus (511 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Comparing the current U.S. military to Nazi stormtroopers is a farce. The level of training that goes into soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines on when NOT to shoot, when NOT to act, and when to question is immense. Believe it or not, we HAVE learned from the mistakes of others as well as our own. I can't speak as much from the enlisted perspective, but I can tell you on the officer end of things we are drilled constantly into questioning and evaluating. We have speakers who come in and tell us all the time about when they did (or didn't and should have) disobeyed orders when they believed them to be unethical or wrong. Making the military into a slavish lapdog of authoritarianism is simply ignorant. Are there criminals, zealots, or cowards who would obey orders they know to be wrong? Absolutely. But don't pretend they are a majority or vocal minority.
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
"What I am suggesting" is not Trump's end goal all at once but rather small incremental steps, each which advances his aim just a little bit.
KingCyrus (511 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Also, what would you say to the conspiracy theorists and Jade Helm? Just curious how you view it the other way.
KingCyrus (511 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Also apparently Sen Mike Lee is suggesting Merrick Garland? That doesn't seem like some fascist creep... Of course, he isn't the President, so it doesn't mean he will get it.
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
I hadn't even heard of Jade Helm until tonight. Apparently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had the Rangers(?) keep an eye on what they were doing. But that would be extreme stuff happening all at once. I doubt that such a coup would happen here yet. But what I've been unsuccessfully arguing all night is that we seem to be continuing down a path where things happen a little bit at a time, kinda like what happened in Turkey. And other than American exceptionalism, I don't really see how we end up any different.
KingCyrus (511 D)
15 May 17 UTC
I wasn't disagreeing with you Hauta, I was disagreeing with the idea that if Trump ordered some sort of coup when Congress went into recess, the military would jump on its chance to form a junta.

I agree we are seeing more and more of what is "acceptable" in politics - on both sides. I agree that if we also start pushing boundaries with and within the military, the ethical standards that are in place would start to crumble. That is why we must continue to train service members to think. I think it's a little too late to try that with politicians.
KingCyrus (511 D)
15 May 17 UTC
*sorry, degradation of what is "acceptable."
Ogion (3882 D)
15 May 17 UTC
(+1)
Well, somebody doesn't understand how this works. The German military was no fan of Hitler's either but if the congress and courts go along, expect the military to follow along. Actually, the US military is a lot like the Weimar German military. Not to mention the fact that most haven't a clue what is or isn't constitutional for the most part. Furthermore, the recent track record of the Us military on refusing unconstitutional and illegal orders seems pretty poor. I mean look at the torture at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, the use of white phosphorus in fallujah or other indiscriminate bombings of hospitals and the like. Some of the bombings are accidents but a lot of the programs done by the military are far outside of bounds and yet the military complies and even defends these. Pardon me for thinking that a patriot can rationalize anything
Ogion (3882 D)
15 May 17 UTC
King Cyrus, I agree an outright coup is unlikely. A turning a blind eye to posse comitatua if Trump declares an emergency and a crackdown on political organizing by military and security agencies is far more likely. All the military needs to do is do nothing. Would they depose Trump if he starts arresting political activists? I suspect not
Jeff Kuta (2066 D)
15 May 17 UTC
The United States is not going to become a military junta. Some folks might be itching for a fight so they can go *overseas* and kick some ass in the desert or jungle, but they don't want to be pressed into police duty domestically for a whole host of reasons, not least of which is the oath to defend the constitution.

Trump might try to make a case for there being "enemies (foreign and) domestic", but really, there are enough cool-headed top brass who will not allow that to happen even if there are a couple who might be paranoid enough to believe they exist.

If Trump seriously tried to seize control like that, Congress would find him constitutionally disabled and remove him from office. They might even do it anyway.
Ogion (3882 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Or how about the Christian proselytizing at the air force academy. That is as unconstitutional as hell yet did anyone gets disciplined by the higher ups? Not really.
Ogion (3882 D)
15 May 17 UTC
The only way Congress would to that is if the Democrats take two third of the Senate. Particularly with voter suppression and disenfranchisement, that isn't going to happen. Trump can do whatever he wants and Congress will be no real barrier and they certainly will not remove him from office
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
@Jeff, the Reichstag Fire in Germany was more than enough ammunition for Hitler to get more power. If something similar happened here, surely Trump would enjoy greater deference. Remember how powerful George W. Bush was after 9/11? You were either with him or you were with the terrorists.
Jeff Kuta (2066 D)
15 May 17 UTC
I agree there are some problems with the military. Tailhook was a huge issue scandal in the early 90s.

But at its core, the U.S. Military wants to be deployed overseas and get the job done. Yes, there have been many MANY issues with some soldiers going beyond the authorized rules of engagement. Those are a small fraction of the total number of servicemen and women.

But that has to do with overseas engagement against enemy combatants. I believe active duty service members will not go after United States civilians even if ordered to do so domestically.
Jeff Kuta (2066 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Trump will not go after AMERICANS.

Yeah, go make a case that he'll drum up some half-witted idea to go to war with Iran, and that might actually happen. We should be worried about that. But that's a foreign relations issue.

If Trump tried to burn down Congress or The White House or Langley or West Point, he'd be handed his walking papers immediately.
Jeff Kuta (2066 D)
15 May 17 UTC
I should rephrase that.

Trump might go after Americans. I have faith our military personnel will disobey those orders.
Jeff Kuta (2066 D)
15 May 17 UTC
But....
I'm not so sure our paramilitary personnel will disobey them. TSA. Border Patrol. Police and sheriffs. That's a bit more murky.
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
What about something domestic like martial law? After a large scale domestic attack, maybe by a minority? He could announce it for south side Chicago, east LA, etc. just until "we find out exactly what is going on"
Jeff Kuta (2066 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Too many layers for that.

City police. County sheriffs. State guardsmen.

Trump would try to capitalize on that politically, but he wouldn't be the one giving orders.

And yeah, it would TOTALLY suck for those who were getting cracked down upon. There are easily hundreds of major instances where people literally fought the law and the law won.

None led to martial law nationwide.
Ogion (3882 D)
15 May 17 UTC
In fact he has suggested exactly that already. And he has already gone after Americans. Repeatedly. That's what his whole anti-minority schtick is about. Or his latest "In America we worship god" business. No we fucking don't, Donnie.

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178 replies
Hauta (1618 D(S))
15 May 17 UTC
Barron von Trump just got admitted...
to middle school at St. Andrews Episcopal in DC. "Melania Trump cited the school’s diversity and academics as the reason behind the selection"
This was reported by Time Magazine.

Is anyone here aware of what kind of diversity a school with 38k tuition has? Even CAPT_Brad can't afford that!
10 replies
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AlexFH (100 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Death
Who here wants to die
12 replies
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Jacob63831 (160 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Metaphysics
Since webdip loves debates and analyzing things such as does .999= 1
Why should we leave out metaphysics?
8 replies
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TrPrado (461 D)
13 May 17 UTC
(+1)
Are paredy thredz achulee funneeey?
Meh
7 replies
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Hippopankake (80 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Commies
Commies are bad
4 replies
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brainbomb (290 D)
13 May 17 UTC
Unanswerable Questions
Lets play a game. In this thread you may post only questions which have no right or wrong answer. If you post a question which can be answered with empirical evidence you are eliminated. Example: Are aliens real.
54 replies
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Chaqa (3971 D(B))
15 May 17 UTC
(+1)
Can the President Dissolve the Moon?
McConnel is fine with the Comey firing. Would he be OK with the Moon being dissolved? It might increase the area for his turtle people to live.
3 replies
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Fat backstab (25 DX)
15 May 17 UTC
Namejeff
Namejeff
1 reply
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chairman meow (280 D)
15 May 17 UTC
(+1)
Can the President?
McConnell is fine with Comey firing. Would he be ok with the can? Can it be achieved with can, in a national emergency?
0 replies
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xy4 (100 D)
15 May 17 UTC
The Player: namejeff
Well, this guy name a namejeff, says that myself and another player are linked. He says that we are the same person. I am here to tell you that these claims are false. namejeff is himself, a multicultur-- sorry multiaccounter. Ask him when he replies to this forum post.
5 replies
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Jamiet99uk (865 D)
15 May 17 UTC
(+1)
Can the President dissolve?
McConnell is fine with Comey firing. Would he be ok with the President being dissolved? Can it be achieved with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, in a national emergency?
1 reply
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Namejeff (10 DX)
15 May 17 UTC
Diplomacy
I believe that Xy4 is Hippopankake's second account
8 replies
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xy4 (100 D)
15 May 17 UTC
Enjoyable Post
Разместить ниже
1 reply
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Carebear (100 D)
07 May 17 UTC
(+1)
Online Diplomacy Championship - Second Round Signup
The deadline to signup for the second round of the Online Diplomacy Championship @ PDET 2017 will be May 19 with games starting shortly there after. Players who did not participate in the first round may join the second round.
19 replies
Open
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