How does it benefit Bush or Blair to create a situation where people who are opposed to their policies, for whatever reason, are going to cry conspiracy?
Because the policies grant them more power. Are protestors throwing molotov cocktails at the white house? No? Then the government can afford to let them cry conspiracy -- there's no real opposition yet.
Do you really think a man like Bush has the intellect to decieve an entire nation?
Fear is what deceives. All Bush has to do is control the fear and he controls the nation.
Ah, so I guess we'll get around abiding by the geneva convention anytime now, right? I'll list a few articles to get you started:
Prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.
No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever.
Prisoners of war shall be quartered under conditions as favorable as those for the forces of the Detaining Power who are billeted in the same area."
The Detaining Power shall grant all prisoners of war a monthly advance of pay..."
Incorrect. This was on another thread a few days ago:
Because there are lots of little things we do every day that break the rules. These include: j-walking, downloading MP3's, subletting without telling your landlord, recording sporting events without express written concent, undocumented domestic help, recreational drug use, stealing cable, logging on to other people's wireless networks, "leaking" company information to your girlfriend, anything besides the missionary position (in many states), cheating on your wife (in many states), rolling stops on empty streets, u-turns in the middle of empty streets, locking your bicycle to the handrailing, lying about your age to get into movies, lying about your age to get senior citizens discounts, lying about your age to avoid getting senior citizens discounts, telling your company that you're "sick" when you really mean you're "sick and tired of this crappy job," not reporting e-bay sales as taxable income, grabbing an extra newspaper when someone else buys one from the machine, putting chairs in the street to save your parking spot, stealing office supplies, stealing the towels, littering, loitering, the office NCAA pool, etc etc. All of these are necessary for the functioning of our society in some way or another, but are illegal. Yet we would go batshit insane without a few personal pet vices.
You ruled out some of these actions already, but I'm positive there's a few you do commit on a regular basis; we all do. Every citizen in the country is a criminal.
I think parents that buy games for thier kids and complain about all of the ESRB labeled "mature" issues in said games, such as sex and violence, should just be brought up on child neglect charges. Not the stores. Not the game companies. It's about the same as buying a 12 year old hardcore pornography
Again, who's being hurt by either of those actions? The kid wants it, and if the parent allows it, it's none of your business what they buy for him.
Hey, when inventions can actually do that, then we have a good deal to talk about. You're confusing it with inventions that claim to violate these laws.
//Lisa, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!
Other than nearly-instant communication for most populated areas of the Earth? Gee, I can't imagine how that could possibly benefit mankind.
let me guess, it was uphill to school both ways as a kid, grandpa?
My Grand Theft Auto avatar only acted in the finest, most upstanding manner towards his fellow citizens. He spends his days walking to the nearby gym for excercise sessions and on to the Cluckin' Bell for a rewarding meal (salad, of course).
CJ is always willing to help old ladies cross the street by providing cover fire from the bushes using an AK-47. And if any fellow motorists find themselves in a minor fender bender, he's happy to drive their car to the repair shop for them.
I don't know what the big fuss about this game is all about. I'm still saving up my pizza delivery money to buy one of the office buildings. I assume once you get that far, you can start charging rent. This game sounds like an ultrarealistic SimCity. How fun!
The Shawshank Redemption, the novel, makes the exact same point.
Remember the bible-thumping warden? How come he tolerated Andy having pinup girls in his locker? And didn't shut down Red's smuggling operation? Because he knew that the inmates had to let off a little steam or (paraphrasing here) some guard would end up with a shiv in the back of his head behind the laundry machines.
Slashdot Mirror
oxygen is, of course, very dangerous. It can be combined with pretty much any fuel to produce an explosive.
We'd better get it off our planes before someone gets hurt, then! And the dihydrogen monoxide! I don't trust that shit at all...
How does it benefit Bush or Blair to create a situation where people who are opposed to their policies, for whatever reason, are going to cry conspiracy?
Because the policies grant them more power. Are protestors throwing molotov cocktails at the white house? No? Then the government can afford to let them cry conspiracy -- there's no real opposition yet.
Do you really think a man like Bush has the intellect to decieve an entire nation?
Fear is what deceives. All Bush has to do is control the fear and he controls the nation.
Easy, you are presumed good (innocent) until proven guilty of a crime in a court of law. This is not a new concept.
I don't know if you've noticed. The Islamists ignore the Geneva Conventions.
Criminals ignore the law. Therefore, by your logic, the police should stop enforcing it and all go home.
Oops. My bad.
Because they are prisoners of war
Ah, so I guess we'll get around abiding by the geneva convention anytime now, right? I'll list a few articles to get you started:
Prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.
No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever.
Prisoners of war shall be quartered under conditions as favorable as those for the forces of the Detaining Power who are billeted in the same area."
The Detaining Power shall grant all prisoners of war a monthly advance of pay..."
Sure, I've got nothing to hide
Incorrect. This was on another thread a few days ago: Because there are lots of little things we do every day that break the rules. These include: j-walking, downloading MP3's, subletting without telling your landlord, recording sporting events without express written concent, undocumented domestic help, recreational drug use, stealing cable, logging on to other people's wireless networks, "leaking" company information to your girlfriend, anything besides the missionary position (in many states), cheating on your wife (in many states), rolling stops on empty streets, u-turns in the middle of empty streets, locking your bicycle to the handrailing, lying about your age to get into movies, lying about your age to get senior citizens discounts, lying about your age to avoid getting senior citizens discounts, telling your company that you're "sick" when you really mean you're "sick and tired of this crappy job," not reporting e-bay sales as taxable income, grabbing an extra newspaper when someone else buys one from the machine, putting chairs in the street to save your parking spot, stealing office supplies, stealing the towels, littering, loitering, the office NCAA pool, etc etc. All of these are necessary for the functioning of our society in some way or another, but are illegal. Yet we would go batshit insane without a few personal pet vices.
You ruled out some of these actions already, but I'm positive there's a few you do commit on a regular basis; we all do. Every citizen in the country is a criminal.
That's my choice as a father, the choice to allow my daughter to use media of a mature nature
Um, she's seventeen. I think the large majority of her life has been out of your hands for quite some time now.
I think parents that buy games for thier kids and complain about all of the ESRB labeled "mature" issues in said games, such as sex and violence, should just be brought up on child neglect charges. Not the stores. Not the game companies. It's about the same as buying a 12 year old hardcore pornography
Again, who's being hurt by either of those actions? The kid wants it, and if the parent allows it, it's none of your business what they buy for him.
Flamebait -- Violates known laws of physics
//Lisa, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!
Hey, when inventions can actually do that, then we have a good deal to talk about. You're confusing it with inventions that claim to violate these laws.
"Different" doesn't necessarily mean "equal".
Barn door... closed... horse...
People should be completely unconcerned because the chance of dying from a terrorist attack is insignificant
Fixed.
"Galaxy closed due to AIDS?"
Allright, Dr. Spock. I'll get right on teaching my 8-year-old to fully understand the intricacies and nuances of social interaction.
Terrible... I don't think that words what you think it means
Other than nearly-instant communication for most populated areas of the Earth? Gee, I can't imagine how that could possibly benefit mankind. let me guess, it was uphill to school both ways as a kid, grandpa?
Scientists still hope it will find the edge of the solar system and get into interstellar space.
What else could it possibly "find"?
Why does a dog lick his balls?
Because he can
Are you implying CJ was naughty?
My Grand Theft Auto avatar only acted in the finest, most upstanding manner towards his fellow citizens. He spends his days walking to the nearby gym for excercise sessions and on to the Cluckin' Bell for a rewarding meal (salad, of course).
CJ is always willing to help old ladies cross the street by providing cover fire from the bushes using an AK-47. And if any fellow motorists find themselves in a minor fender bender, he's happy to drive their car to the repair shop for them.
I don't know what the big fuss about this game is all about. I'm still saving up my pizza delivery money to buy one of the office buildings. I assume once you get that far, you can start charging rent. This game sounds like an ultrarealistic SimCity. How fun!
If that's a Bad Thing, maybe we shouldn't be a democratic republic anymore
The same reason there are different breeds of cats. Or both cats and cheetahs. It's a big planet, we got room.
The Shawshank Redemption, the novel, makes the exact same point.
Remember the bible-thumping warden? How come he tolerated Andy having pinup girls in his locker? And didn't shut down Red's smuggling operation? Because he knew that the inmates had to let off a little steam or (paraphrasing here) some guard would end up with a shiv in the back of his head behind the laundry machines.
One of the primary roles of any government is to protect the interests of its citizens on at least the most basic levels.
Silly me, I thought the primary -- and only -- role of the government was to execute the wishes of the People.
Um, you should be...