Random Political Thoughts

[Yorkshire pud]

I actually agree with you in that I don't see any particular reason why white or anything else should have hegemony. It's better to run things on merit rather than giving a fuck about color and gender.

However . . .

I'll get all sci-fi author on your ass and predict that white male hegemony is inevitable. Yep. I said it. And it's not why you think. You live in a world where skin lightening and Asian to Western eye-altering are among the top cosmetic alterations globally. Even in Iran, the most common cosmetic operation are nose jobs designed to appear more European. Much of the world's population is stuck in this ideal of white is best, even though we've moved past it to a large extent in the west. We're not far away from the ability to genetically alter fetuses to appear as whatever we want them to be, and sexed to whatever we wish, so you can expect most of Asia (most of the world's population) to go very European, very white, and very male in the not so distant future.

The 2030's are going to be a rough one for archaic, fossilized Conservative-Liberals like Nowhere.

Not really. Asian desire to look more 'white' isn't because white is best. It's more to do with 'get on in life and work'. They realise western eyes think all Asians look the same (although they don't unless you have very poor eysight), so endeavour to be more acceptable. Sad but true.

[SciFiAuthor]

Not really. Asian desire to look more 'white' isn't because white is best. It's more to do with 'get on in life and work'. They realise western eyes think all Asians look the same (although they don't unless you have very poor eysight), so endeavour to be more acceptable. Sad but true.

It's extremely sad. I'm for the natural human, people should be who they are (though being almost entirely full-blooded French genetically, I wonder about that). If left unmolested we'd just all become some shade of light brown over the next thousand years and races would disappear. But genetic science is moving far faster than cultural change in Asia. Asia could well be a sea of Anglo-Saxon appearance in just a few generations through genetic manipulation. China could well be whiter than England in a hundred years.

It's going to be a weird century.

[Catsmile]

Not really. Asian desire to look more 'white' isn't because white is best. It's more to do with 'get on in life and work'. They realise western eyes think all Asians look the same (although they don't unless you have very poor eysight), so endeavour to be more acceptable. Sad but true.

The Asian "white" skin thing isn't about looking western. It come from the fact that poor peasants work outside in the sun and soil, that darkens there skin. While the affluent upper crust skin doesn't see the sun or soil as often, plus they bathed more, giving a lighter skin color. It's just part of Asian cultural bias still alive from a millennia ago.

Dark skin can be judged as being dumb, poor, dirty, unsuccessful, low class. They judge lighter skin as more intelligent, wealthy, clean, successful, higher class.

The eye thing I don't know, that may be relatively new to look more western, maybe.
A lot of Asians see bigger eyes as more attractive, so it might just be the rarity of larger Asian eyes that makes them desirable.
They will joke with each other about how small there eyes are. Blindfolded with dental floss, among others.
When they go for the western eyelids, well it is what it is. But some women will justify it as fashion, creating more shading and depth for eyes, giving them more choices for looks using makeup.

[Yorkshire pud]

The Asian "white" skin thing isn't about looking western. It come from the fact that poor peasants work outside in the sun and soil, that darkens there skin. While the affluent upper crust skin doesn't see the sun or soil as often, plus they bathed more, giving a lighter skin color. It's just part of Asian cultural bias still alive from a millennia ago.

Dark skin can be judged as being dumb, poor, dirty, unsuccessful, low class. They judge lighter skin as more intelligent, wealthy, clean, successful, higher class.

Yeah, the clue in what I said was 'get on in life and work'....

The eye thing I don't know, that may be relatively new to look more western, maybe.
A lot of Asians see bigger eyes as more attractive, so it might just be the rarity of larger Asian eyes that makes them desirable.
They will joke with each other about how small there eyes are. Blindfolded with dental floss, among others.
When they go for the western eyelids, well it is what it is. But some women will justify it as fashion, creating more shading and depth for eyes, giving them more choices for looks using makeup.

This is getting circular, you've just rewritten what I said in a different way.

[NowhereInTime]

I actually agree with you in that I don't see any particular reason why white or anything else should have hegemony. It's better to run things on merit rather than giving a fuck about color and gender.

However . . .

I'll get all sci-fi author on your ass and predict that white male hegemony is inevitable. Yep. I said it. And it's not why you think. You live in a world where skin lightening and Asian to Western eye-altering are among the top cosmetic alterations globally. Even in Iran, the most common cosmetic operation are nose jobs designed to appear more European. Much of the world's population is stuck in this ideal of white is best, even though we've moved past it to a large extent in the west. We're not far away from the ability to genetically alter fetuses to appear as whatever we want them to be, and sexed to whatever we wish, so you can expect most of Asia (most of the world's population) to go very European, very white, and very male in the not so distant future.

The 2030's are going to be a rough one for archaic, fossilized Conservative-Liberals like Nowhere.

1) I doubt I live to the 2030's.
2) I doubt your bizarre prediction comes close to being true.  All we see around the world is further and further racial and tribal identifying along with realignment of nations based on tribal and ancient identities.
3) I'll give you credit for having creativity.  Even if it does lead to crap like "The Event."

[NowhereInTime]

It's extremely sad. I'm for the natural human, people should be who they are (though being almost entirely full-blooded French genetically, I wonder about that). If left unmolested we'd just all become some shade of light brown over the next thousand years and races would disappear. But genetic science is moving far faster than cultural change in Asia. Asia could well be a sea of Anglo-Saxon appearance in just a few generations through genetic manipulation. China could well be whiter than England in a hundred years.

It's going to be a weird century.

It's off to a great start in one respect:  for the second time ever (and the second time this century) UCONN is the center of the College Basketball Universe!!!

[West of the Rockies]

How 'bout those Huskies!

[NowhereInTime]

How 'bout those Huskies!

  My taxpayer dollars at work!!!

[SciFiAuthor]

1) I doubt I live to the 2030's.
2) I doubt your bizarre prediction comes close to being true.  All we see around the world is further and further racial and tribal identifying along with realignment of nations based on tribal and ancient identities.
3) I'll give you credit for having creativity.  Even if it does lead to crap like "The Event."

1. Excellent, you'll stop voting.
2. I see no evidence of that. Maybe Italy or something, but India, China, Japan . . . all I see is an idealized version of white as desirable and male as desirable without the social safeties in place to prevent weirdness. I'd say sometime within the next five years or so you'll see evidence of that, probably in South Korea, where they attempt to clone a human. It will be downhill from there.
3. Well, I don't know that I'd say creative. It's simple cultural and technological extrapolation.

[SciFiAuthor]

It's off to a great start in one respect:  for the second time ever (and the second time this century) UCONN is the center of the College Basketball Universe!!!

Not for long. The moment someone realizes that robots can play basketball better than humans, you're screwed.

[NowhereInTime]

Not for long. The moment someone realizes that robots can play basketball better than humans, you're screwed.

No, because we will build the robots.

Rough Country Robotics, LLC
www.roughcountryrobotics.com
Google+ page
15 Eagle Ridge Dr
Gales Ferry, CT
(860) 861-5521
Motoman Robotics
plus.google.com
Google+ page
199 E Flag Swamp Rd
Roxbury, CT
(860) 350-0601
And there are many more where they come from...

[West of the Rockies]

But what if we get to the point where we cannot tell the difference between robots and humans?  I've seen things you people wouldn't believe....

[West of the Rockies]

So I see we have another weird mass stabbing...  Okay, first, if I may make an analogy, if I were some whackadoodle conspiracy-theory guy, I might claim that the stabbing was orchestrated by the NRA to help make the point that weapons other than guns can be extremely dangerous -- like some far-right people contend that Aurora and Newtown never happened, or at least not as reported by the MSM.  These people argue that Obama orchestrated the "shootings" to gin up support for stringent new gun laws.  VERY CLEARLY, said stabbings DID take place.    The broader point is that crazy conspiracy theories, whether proffered by the left or right, spread misinformation, fear, and hatred.

But regarding this mass stabbing, once again, I am left wondering what the hell is causing this sort of event to happen in America so damn often.  Clearly, in some countries where massive violent attacks take place, there are all sorts of weird religious and political issues at play, whether we are talking about Islamist terrorism or machete weilding tribesmen attacking villages of unarmed men, women and children.  But other than attacks based on religion and politics, we don't seem to see these kinds of random, on-going attacks in other countries to the extent we see them in America.  (I will say that from my clearly leftwing perspective, I do not encounter as many far-left whackjob conspiracy theories as I do from those on the far, far right.  Your mileage at home may very though, depending on  your political perspective I guess.)

So what IS going on in America to cause so much random violence?  Some blame Hollywood and the gaming industry.  Some blame cuts to mental health.  Some blame access to guns while others blame restrictions on gun-owners. 

The whole damn thing is extremely befuddling.

[Yorkshire pud]

So I see we have another weird mass stabbing...  Okay, first, if I may make an analogy, if I were some whackadoodle conspiracy-theory guy, I might claim that the stabbing was orchestrated by the NRA to help make the point that weapons other than guns can be extremely dangerous -- like some far-right people contend that Aurora and Newtown never happened, or at least not as reported by the MSM.  These people argue that Obama orchestrated the "shootings" to gin up support for stringent new gun laws.  VERY CLEARLY, said stabbings DID take place.    The broader point is that crazy conspiracy theories, whether proffered by the left or right, spread misinformation, fear, and hatred.

But regarding this mass stabbing, once again, I am left wondering what the hell is causing this sort of event to happen in America so damn often.  Clearly, in some countries where massive violent attacks take place, there are all sorts of weird religious and political issues at play, whether we are talking about Islamist terrorism or machete weilding tribesmen attacking villages of unarmed men, women and children.  But other than attacks based on religion and politics, we don't seem to see these kinds of random, on-going attacks in other countries to the extent we see them in America.  (I will say that from my clearly leftwing perspective, I do not encounter as many far-left whackjob conspiracy theories as I do from those on the far, far right.  Your mileage at home may very though, depending on  your political perspective I guess.)

So what IS going on in America to cause so much random violence?  Some blame Hollywood and the gaming industry.  Some blame cuts to mental health.  Some blame access to guns while others blame restrictions on gun-owners. 

The whole damn thing is extremely befuddling.

Oh a question that will have a zillion opinions, some even considered mate. FWIW I don't think it's perception of 'they're takin ur gerns away'.. Is it the general (if there is one) a general feeling of anger in western populations? Not rational anger, but just 'I'm pissed off today and I'm going to show the bastards'?

It's somewhat different over in the UK as far as violent death is concerned. Not the act of course, psychopaths and the deranged or the ones committing crimes of passion are universal, just add victims; But how it seems to be received. I'm frequently accused on here of hating America, and nothing could be further from the truth. I think out of a population (now) of what, 320 million or so, and discoveries or incredible worth, feats of incredible dedication and fortitude, any population will have a level of 'average'. The average just want to get on in life, they don't want to be bothered with the crap they see rammed down their throat on the TV. But to me (and I've seen it for myself) US TV panders to us and them. Society (these days) has firmly drawn lines whereby if you agree with 'me' you're a good guy or woman; Sure you screw your secretary and fiddle expenses and your wife has a drink problem because of the stress of both, but hey.. Live and let live...OR, you can be on 'their' side. Never so much as a parking ticket, you've had your share of good and bad breaks but things are looking up now. You've found the man/woman of your dreams and you're even thinking of moving in together, who knows, you might even have kids? But you're on 'their side' so that makes you bad...badder and stupid and not worth pissing on if you were on fire. Is that what it's come to? Or rather is that the stage where you are, and you'll get through it in a couple of generations. I really hope so.

With all this inferred and actual verbal and physical violence is it really any wonder kids grow up with their head fucked by parents who really fuck them up because they parrot what crap some talking head on the telly tells them to think; Or it could be deeper than that. Maybe the kid has been dragged up by parents who are too stupid to know that their contribution to their offspring's education and outlook on life didn't end with the birth.

Or the general inuring of such dreadful acts has made people immune to it now? Instead, switchboards get jammed because of nudity on TV, inference of sex or women choosing their own destinies. Well, you came out nude and without sex, we'd die out very quickly. Deal with it. Almost without exception we get some evangelist spouting off about some anti sex/drug thing and in the future they get found out, self loathing and 'do as I say, not as I do' going on there? But it's okay, because the ratings driven TV companies will simply put out what the public want, and what they want is what we give em...Violence is good...sex is bad.

This leaves the intelligent but psychotic kid who woke today and decided he'd go and murder someone, anyone, in his place of learning. His his head fucked because of outside influences, no doubt time will tell.

[West of the Rockies]

YorkshirePud said:  Violence is good...sex is bad.

And don't forget about violent sex!  Actually, there is a TON of very violent sexual content in even the mainstream entertainment industry.  I recall studies that showed in a lot of films, there were scenes of sexuality followed immediately by scenes of violence against women (especially in slasher films and the like).  What message this odd juxtaposition sends to young viewers is undetermined I guess.... There are LOADS AND LOADS of very violent porn for every very sociopathic taste.  It is all more than a little disconcerting.

[albrecht]

Britain has a higher violent crime rate than the US according to some studies but due to gun ban most of those (likewise in the USA also interestingly) not done with guns. The British and Americans are a very violent people. Whether it is cultural or a result of our media (especially in the USA), school system, upbringing, multi-culturalism, religion, history of colonialism/sectarian conflict/and wars, or over-medications I don't know. Clearly, in my mind, there is something about over-crowding and segregation of the poor (or minorities) that leads to violence. Look at how crime rate is much higher in council estates, public housing, inner-cities, etc. We also tend to drink more and use more illegal, and legal, drugs than any other countries and drink leads to lots of violence. We also seem to have a higher incidence of "serial killers". But maybe because I only see English media other countries are as bad. But for stable, "rich" countries we are the most violent.

And the Puritanical memories that somehow sex is bad and the paradoxical acceptance of ultra-violent movies, tv, and games for children is also bizarre and perverted. And when sex is shown it is often linked to violence or exploitation in some way.

[Yorkshire pud]

Britain has a higher violent crime rate than the US according to some studies but due to gun ban most of those (likewise in the USA also interestingly) not done with guns. The British and Americans are a very violent people. Whether it is cultural or a result of our media (especially in the USA), school system, upbringing, multi-culturalism, religion, history of colonialism/sectarian conflict/and wars, or over-medications I don't know. Clearly, in my mind, there is something about over-crowding and segregation of the poor (or minorities) that leads to violence. Look at how crime rate is much higher in council estates, public housing, inner-cities, etc. We also tend to drink more and use more illegal, and legal, drugs than any other countries and drink leads to lots of violence. We also seem to have a higher incidence of "serial killers". But maybe because I only see English media other countries are as bad. But for stable, "rich" countries we are the most violent.

And the Puritanical memories that somehow sex is bad and the paradoxical acceptance of ultra-violent movies, tv, and games for children is also bizarre and perverted. And when sex is shown it is often linked to violence or exploitation in some way.

The violent crime rate isn't higher in the Uk compared with the US, It's the way it's reported for such crimes. For instance someone saying they have been assaulted will be reported as an assault, NOT the conviction (if any). So the actual (for instance) assault cases that lead to a successful conviction are less than the reported figures. The likes of Alex Jones (and our rags that want to beat up the police/politician that day) use the higher figures to 'prove' their point. Plus we have different crimes with similar names, or vice versa, some amalgamated, some don't exist in the other country. Our gun deaths vary between 40-50 per year. There was a spike two years ago when a taxi driver with a shotgun licence drove around Cumbria shooting various people he had singled out (including his brother and solicitor) and killed them. He'd flipped and as a consequence the annual total went much higher than was usual. The fifty also includes suicides and ND's. But we also have very strict gun laws, and thankfully very very few mass killings. So few it makes the headlines for weeks afterwards.

On the sex/violence thing; I was pointing out how it's usually lumped together by the professionally outraged. It's as absurd as saying NASCAR is the same as tree climbing in how they should be treated by the viewing public.

[albrecht]

The violent crime rate isn't higher in the Uk compared with the US, It's the way it's reported for such crimes. For instance someone saying they have been assaulted will be reported as an assault, NOT the conviction (if any). So the actual (for instance) assault cases that lead to a successful conviction are less than the reported figures. The likes of Alex Jones (and our rags that want to beat up the police/politician that day) use the higher figures to 'prove' their point. Plus we have different crimes with similar names, or vice versa, some amalgamated, some don't exist in the other country. Our gun deaths vary between 40-50 per year. There was a spike two years ago when a taxi driver with a shotgun licence drove around Cumbria shooting various people he had singled out (including his brother and solicitor) and killed them. He'd flipped and as a consequence the annual total went much higher than was usual. The fifty also includes suicides and ND's. But we also have very strict gun laws, and thankfully very very few mass killings. So few it makes the headlines for weeks afterwards.

On the sex/violence thing; I was pointing out how it's usually lumped together by the professionally outraged. It's as absurd as saying NASCAR is the same as tree climbing in how they should be treated by the viewing public.

Compared to the rest of "rich" nations or compared to the EU for that matter Britain and the USA rank far higher for violent crimes. And simply getting rid of the legal guns, as the UK, proves doesn't stop the mayhem but does cut gun crimes (most murders and violent assaults aren't done by guns in either country though). Now whether UK&NI vs USA has higher per capita violent crime you're correct that stats are hard to compare and crimes are called different things and the legal systems are different. But regardless it is higher compared to other countries. Though, I must say in terms of riots and group mayhem you lot got it down better than us and in terms of nurse serial killers. We have a few (usually in places like Watts) but you guys get up to it every other weekend it seems. Whether its Mark Duggan, Orange Parades, Old Firm matches, football matches, or Occupy. Take it to the next level. (My personal favorite was watching on the tv the vast amount of bottles/can COVERING the streets in Manchester after Rangers came down to lose a UEFA Cup match. Simply The Best, as they say. Mayor said worst damages to the city since the blitz or something. They can really drink those Blues.)

[Yorkshire pud]

Compared to the rest of "rich" nations or compared to the EU for that matter Britain and the USA rank far higher for violent crimes. And simply getting rid of the legal guns, as the UK, proves doesn't stop the mayhem but does cut gun crimes (most murders and violent assaults aren't done by guns in either country though).

Assuming the data is correct!: this link shows homicide rates, broken down by continent, region and individual countries. Per 100000 population. USA is four times that of the UK, which (and it surprised me) is the same as Portugal and similar to the Netherlands. What I found astonishing is Fiji has a rate twice the UK. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

Now whether UK&NI vs USA has higher per capita violent crime you're correct that stats are hard to compare and crimes are called different things and the legal systems are different. But regardless it is higher compared to other countries. Though, I must say in terms of riots and group mayhem you lot got it down better than us and in terms of nurse serial killers. We have a few (usually in places like Watts) but you guys get up to it every other weekend it seems. Whether its Mark Duggan, Orange Parades, Old Firm matches, football matches, or Occupy. Take it to the next level. (My personal favorite was watching on the tv the vast amount of bottles/can COVERING the streets in Manchester after Rangers came down to lose a UEFA Cup match. Simply The Best, as they say. Mayor said worst damages to the city since the blitz or something. They can really drink those Blues.)

Oh football morons and other sectarian riots is a thread in itself! I have several friends in Manchester and they were apoplectic that a) Rangers were slated to play there and b) the 'fans' were allowed over the border. Their fears were well founded by the knuckle dragging Neanderthals who went on their mission to prove what barely developed cavemen they were (You understand I don't have any strong feelings about football in particular and some of it's fans?)

The Mark Duggin thing was an inevitable result of a few hotheads generating the easily lead and equally moronic to kick up a riot because it was anti police, and then extended to being anti anything that wasn't them. My own opinion is, is that they should have been rounded up and put on an island, somewhere up in the Arctic circle near Murmansk would have been okay, or maybe too lenient.

We had riots in the 80's too, then mainly against Thatchers government. Funny we seem to have riots when it's the Tories in power. They have a knack of pissing off those who can do the most physical damage.

For myself I've never been in or seen one (other than on telly), but I'm sure it's all jolly as they smash up the very place where they live..

[albrecht]

but I'm sure it's all jolly as they smash up the very place where they live..

It is an odd thing that most riots do precisely that, whether it is in Watts or in boroughs of London or in parts of Belfast. In a way I'm thankful that thugs and rioters haven't gotten smarter and thought....gee "why do we burn down our own neighborhood" when we are mad and start to go elsewhere to riot and loot.

[Evil Twin Of Zen]

don't be throwing stuff at this ladys head. she has had a blood clot near her brain just last year.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/apr/10/hillary-clinton-ducks-shoe-thrown-her-during-las-v/

[RealCool Daddio]

Great video from Nabisco, responding to the conservative letter writing campaign and boycott demands after they dared to include homosexual and inter-racial parents in an advertising campaign.

http://youtu.be/cBC-pRFt9OM

[Quick Karl]

Whatup, queers!

[NowhereInTime]

Whatup, queers!

Great.  Another quarter heard from.  Turns out its the hindquarter...

[West of the Rockies]

Every time I see Cruz, I see the junior senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy.   

Oh, and, have you no sense of decency, QuickKarl?  At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

[RealCool Daddio]

[attachimg=1]

[Yorkshire pud]

Every time I see Cruz, I see the junior senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy.   

Oh, and, have you no sense of decency, QuickKarl?  At long last, have you left no sense of decency?

You and your rhetorical questions buddy... Decency decided it would find greener pastures executing virgin girls rather than hang out with Karl. It's a public acceptance thing.

[b_dubb]

Great.  Another quarter heard from.  Turns out its the hindquarter...

Allan Dershowitz is a stool sample with legs. As is QK.

[Yorkshire pud]

Allan Dershowitz is a stool sample with legs. As is QK.

If we get too abusive to him, he'll go whining to MV again and tell him how and why he should keep a check on things on a thread that isn't moderated. But oddly QK has no problem when he piles in on others, especially when it's towards women. Regrettably he hasn't space in his posting box to explain why he's a hypocrite, so if there's any complaint to MV it's his allocation of posting space, which is far less than everyone elses.

Won't anyone think of QK allocation? 

[albrecht]

Allan Dershowitz is a stool sample with legs. As is QK.

Yeah, he was a big defender of torture as I recall. However, I did really enjoy the movie based on his book "Reversal of Fortune". Great movie. Jeremy Irons was excellent.