Sidenote: I signed up for the marrow list a few years ago, got a notification that I might be a match ( which never panned out). I was discussing this with co-workers and was pretty much shocked by how many people said "Yeah, I wouldn't do that, I hear it's painful/uncomfortable/difficult". My argument was that in a battle of discomfort VS. savings someone's life, I think the life wins. However, nobody wanted anything to do with my argument. I was depressingly surprised.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Except..... when we get to the part about "paying it back", everyone seems to leave the room. And then asks for more when the economy craps out again.
Speaking off the cuff, with no research on hand. However...I must admit that when someone says "oh, we're bad now, but if we hadn't done X, we'd be much much worse", my first reaction is to judge that statement with about five tons of salt.
Wealth is direct proof of one's contributions and value to society. Poor people are poor because they can't do squat for their fellow man (that is worth paying for). Why in God's name would we want to treat them as if they are more valuable than they are?
I think God would disagree with you using his name.
Judge: Nice place you have here Criminal Criminal:Thanks Judge: If you ever decide to get rid of it, let me know. I might be interested in it. Criminal: You know Judge, you've been real good to me. Tell you what, I'll sell it to you for a song to show my appreciation. It's a tough market out there now, and it would be nice to get rid of it. Criminal: Wow.. what a great guy you are. Thanks
I don't think it's intentional. I attended a legalize rally at UCLA sometime in the early 90s. Some intelligent professorial guy stood up, gave an impassioned speech for legalization, rambled on about hemp and uses for it, how it would save the world. He was met with silence. The next "speaker" was a dreadlocked fellow, stood up and said "I like Pot cuz i can Smooooooke it!", to the howls of appreciation from the audience.
I second this. I got stung by one in japan, middle of my right upper arm. Hurt like a bitch, but I just thought "eh, wasp, oh well" Until later that day my entire arm from my shoulder down to just past my elbow swelled up, turned bright red, got hot, and stayed that way for a week.Painfully. My neighbor later told me, calmly "We should have taken you to the hospital, but too late now. Oh, you are lucky it did not sting you on the neck, you would be dead now." He killed the nest with bug spray that sprayed something like twenty meters. These are some serious bugs.
I agree. However... This still doesn't take away from the fact that we should attempt to improve ourselves/our surroundings/our world. I'd like to think that's part of our nature as well. It's too easy to go down the road of "well, i'm a bastard, but since it's in my nature, so be it".
This reminds me of something I always thought as a child. I'd watch gameshows, they would give away either prizes or trips. I always thought the trips were a waste. "why, after all, would I want a trip. It's done and gone, and then you have nothing. Give me the items!". Then, i got older, and learned otherwise. and if you already are, then...wow, I have nothing else to say.
and what really makes this surreal was that the US demanded unconditional surrender of the Japanese, without guaranteeing the emperor anything, then promptly turned around and used him in the same role he had played previously.
I second this. Hell, I lived in Hiroshima, and as a result did a lot of soul searching on the subject. End result was, it sucked but was the right call ( I'd argue over Nagasaki, however).
Slashdot Mirror
You had me up until "awesome public speaker", at which point I lost all confidence in your argument.
What if I choose to ride a bike?
Sidenote:
I signed up for the marrow list a few years ago, got a notification that I might be a match ( which never panned out). I was discussing this with co-workers and was pretty much shocked by how many people said "Yeah, I wouldn't do that, I hear it's painful/uncomfortable/difficult". My argument was that in a battle of discomfort VS. savings someone's life, I think the life wins. However, nobody wanted anything to do with my argument. I was depressingly surprised.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Except..... when we get to the part about "paying it back", everyone seems to leave the room. And then asks for more when the economy craps out again.
Why is this marked Troll? Just disagreeing with the opinion does not a troll make.
I've never really associated Political Correctness with Neocons. Now, the people shouting "shame on x", or "shame on Y', yeah.
Why is this marked Troll?
Speaking off the cuff, with no research on hand.
However...I must admit that when someone says "oh, we're bad now, but if we hadn't done X, we'd be much much worse", my first reaction is to judge that statement with about five tons of salt.
Wealth is direct proof of one's contributions and value to society. Poor people are poor because they can't do squat for their fellow man (that is worth paying for). Why in God's name would we want to treat them as if they are more valuable than they are?
I think God would disagree with you using his name.
let's flip this:
Judge: Nice place you have here Criminal .. what a great guy you are. Thanks
Criminal:Thanks
Judge: If you ever decide to get rid of it, let me know. I might be interested in it.
Criminal: You know Judge, you've been real good to me. Tell you what, I'll sell it to you for a song to show my appreciation. It's a tough market out there now, and it would be nice to get rid of it.
Criminal: Wow
Nah, no conflict of interest in that!
We can punish him.
He just won't care.
citation please.
one more time!
The knowledge did exist,and we know about it!
"In days of old, when men were bold, and rubbers weren't invented....."
I don't think it's intentional. I attended a legalize rally at UCLA sometime in the early 90s. Some intelligent professorial guy stood up, gave an impassioned speech for legalization, rambled on about hemp and uses for it, how it would save the world. He was met with silence. The next "speaker" was a dreadlocked fellow, stood up and said "I like Pot cuz i can Smooooooke it!", to the howls of appreciation from the audience.
I second this. I got stung by one in japan, middle of my right upper arm. Hurt like a bitch, but I just thought "eh, wasp, oh well"
Until later that day my entire arm from my shoulder down to just past my elbow swelled up, turned bright red, got hot, and stayed that way for a week.Painfully.
My neighbor later told me, calmly "We should have taken you to the hospital, but too late now. Oh, you are lucky it did not sting you on the neck, you would be dead now."
He killed the nest with bug spray that sprayed something like twenty meters.
These are some serious bugs.
I agree. However...
This still doesn't take away from the fact that we should attempt to improve ourselves/our surroundings/our world. I'd like to think that's part of our nature as well.
It's too easy to go down the road of "well, i'm a bastard, but since it's in my nature, so be it".
But there's a lot of weird anger coming out in these comments. They've got a job, they complain about it. Who doesn't?
Nothing to see here.
This reminds me of something I always thought as a child.
I'd watch gameshows, they would give away either prizes or trips.
I always thought the trips were a waste.
"why, after all, would I want a trip. It's done and gone, and then you have nothing. Give me the items!".
Then, i got older, and learned otherwise.
and if you already are, then...wow, I have nothing else to say.
explain please.
This is +3 insightful?
We were that way. It got us WW2.
You're allowed to like some aspects of a foreign culture and find other aspects batshit crazy.
and what really makes this surreal was that the US demanded unconditional surrender of the Japanese, without guaranteeing the emperor anything, then promptly turned around and used him in the same role he had played previously.
I second this. Hell, I lived in Hiroshima, and as a result did a lot of soul searching on the subject. End result was, it sucked but was the right call ( I'd argue over Nagasaki, however).