Comments

  • What is the most uninteresting philosopher/philosophy?
    Anyways, what are other people's most uninteresting philosopher/philosophy and why?schopenhauer1

    Jordan Peterson. A bumbling, jumbled pile of garbage from what I can tell. No substance whatsoever. I’m reluctant to even include him— but many consider him a “philosopher.” Oy.

    More classically: I agree about Wittgenstein to a degree. But mostly nearly all the analytic types from the 50s. :yawn:
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)


    Yes. Fun to watch the corporate-owned trickle-downers try to navigate all this.

    Yeah, he’ll pretty much say anything at this point. Taxes, abortion, electric cars (now that Elon is on his side, he likes them), anything.

    And always remember: they’re EATING the DAWGS.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    If democrats had majority control of congress Trump could pass legislation supporting workers.praxis

    True— but that’s assuming he wants to help workers; his entire business and political life says otherwise.
  • Chinese Cars
    Trump wins and inexplicably prevents on "blood bath" he promises a 100% tariff, but they would still be cheap.Fooloso4

    There’s already a 100% tariff.

    And yes I’d buy one. BYD seems fine to me.
  • Donald Trump (All General Trump Conversations Here)
    I think the doddering dotard should now take his very-stable genius brain, with his best words, and drop out of this race.

    The obese, 78-year old lunatic should enjoy himself. He’s most likely only running again to avoid court losses anyway— and since he has never had any principles, he can do it. Just drop out that make up a story, say it a thousand times, and his supporters will come up believe it’s true.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Israel actually sent in special commando troops to al-shifa hospital. I don't believe any civilians were killed during the operation miraculously.BitconnectCarlos

    So it can be done… :chin:

    I thought causalities were inevitable because war is hell, WWII, good intentions and so on.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    “They’re eating the DOGS!”
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    What to do about the rockets being fired from the hospital?BitconnectCarlos

    We have the answer: obliterate the hospital, and everyone in it. Since they’re non-human anyway, it doesn’t matter much.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Guess we just can't go to war then.BitconnectCarlos

    Yeah, I guess nothing can be done. Genocides are inevitable.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    I maintain that Israel does not intentionally murder civilians.BitconnectCarlos

    Yeah, because it isn’t obvious that bombing schools and hospitals and shelters — because “Hamas is there” — will result in civilian deaths.

    Likud has unintentionally killed 300 thousand people.

    “When they do it, it’s terrorism. When we do it, it’s counter-terrorism.” How tiresome.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    doesn't take away from the fact that the Biden administration carries responsibility for things going to hellTzeentch

    :up:
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    What national abortion ban?NOS4A2

    A ban can be enacted under the Comstock Act, if the DOJ (at the president's direction) so chooses. I doubt the Supreme Court would stop it. It's a very real possibility. The fact that Trump is backing away from the rhetoric because he sees at as the political liability that it is means exactly nothing.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    The Biden administration's colossal failures of diplomacy vis-á-vis Ukraine and Israel are very important to me.Tzeentch

    Understandable. It's important to me too, and Biden has been an utter failure in that respect. It's the one area that Trump may (accidentally) be better for the world. I don't see how he'd be any better on Israel, but perhaps I've missed something.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    I think there's zero basis to argue that Trump was worse in any meaningful way.Tzeentch

    To pick one: environment. The IRA was meaningful, and has (and will continue to have, unless somehow dismantled if Trump is elected) meaningful impacts on a transition to less emissions— yes, despite current levels of oil production.

    To say nothing about actions at the EPA, SEC, FTC, and NLRB— which have been surprisingly good. Oh and the education department’s canceling of student debt has been fantastic, despite the courts blocking much of that effort.

    It takes effort not to see differences, unless there’s some real partisan skewering of perception.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    There is no lesser evil.Tzeentch

    Yeah, actually there is. Trump is the greater evil. Don’t overthink it.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    Taylor Swift has endorsed Harris.

    “It’s over.”
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    Trump is so old and his bullshit is so tiresome after 9 years, I think many people will vote for Harris just so they won’t ever have to hear from this guy again.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    It’s a good example of what this is all about: Trump is a dangerous, incoherent imbecile. Anyone with a couple brain cells realize you gotta vote against that.

    Harris could have been replaced with a mannequin and still win.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    Ukraine has been working towards implementing a modern, free, transparent democracy.jorndoe

    :lol:
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    Well he’s making it pretty easy for Kamala, who’s an awful actress.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    God this is fucking embarrassing.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    15 minutes in— She looks nervous, dry-mouthed, and is delivering memorized lines, ignoring the questions. She’s delivering them without stuttering and with coherence, but it looks fake and forced.

    Trump is his usual rambling, incoherent buffoon self — repeating his rally lines reflexively. But he looks more natural doing it.

    Man, it would have been nice to have Bernie up there with Trump just once.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Would you rather see it a Muslim state?BitconnectCarlos

    Nope.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Having 6 million Palestinians come to Israel brings "Israel as a Jewish state" into question.BitconnectCarlos

    As it should.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    magnitudes more strife and difference.BitconnectCarlos

    I’d say the strife the last few decades has been pretty bad— so you better be sure. I don’t see it as a certainty. Maybe pockets of violence— maybe just issues at first but not in the long run, etc. Giving Likud and Hamas less power could be the ultimate result, which would be good.

    You seem far too certain for such an important possibility.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    different community with different values there can very well end up being strife as both groupsBitconnectCarlos

    Isn’t there strife now?
  • Ukraine Crisis
    This is convenient framing that you, like some other posters, like to proscribe for us.Echarmion

    It’s a framing because that’s what you, and others, are constantly doing. You just did it above, and you know it.

    For example:

    US as the great Satan and the Ukrainians as the hapless victims.Echarmion

    The US is not a great Satan and Ukrainians are not hapless victims, although most of the population is. Ditto Russia.

    That framing is leading you to exclude the russian war deadEcharmion

    I feel for the Russian dead as well. But they’re the invading force, so yes I de-emphasize that. Doesn’t mean it’s right to kill innocent people — regardless of nationality.

    This war is also a russian tragedy. How do you propose to understand it if you're not even seeing that side of the equation?Echarmion

    I think it’s an unfortunate move by Russia— even stupid in a political and strategic sense. But they do seem to be winning, and now have a lot of leverage. I don’t necessarily like that, but that seems to be the case so far.

    So it’s tough to say it’s a “tragedy” for Putin. The Russian people on the other hand— yeah, maybe it is.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    Hey Mikie, what do you think of the idea of a mosque being built next to your house?BitconnectCarlos

    Ohh cool, I love when people play Socrates!

    I’d have no problem with a mosque next to my house! Muslims are kick-ass people, so far as my personal experiences go. And you are asking me, after all — so there you have it. You wouldn’t? Why?

    They'll blast calls to prayer 5x daily including at like 3am (don't worry, the times will shift.) Excited? Great! Embrace diversity.BitconnectCarlos

    Being woken up at 3am would be annoying to me. I find Christian church bells irritating sometimes too, but they’re generally pleasant. 3am not so much.

    Also, hope you're not a dog owner.BitconnectCarlos

    I am. But why do you ask? …

    They don't have the best reputation in Islamic texts so be careful.BitconnectCarlos

    The Quran is anti-dog? Guess I should watch out for those Christians then too..some nasty stuff in that Bible.

    Well that was fun. Now about that genocide…
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    “We can’t let people in — they’re vicious animals.”

    “Some behave that way because they’ve been living in concentration camps.”

    “Yes but we have no choice but to keep them there.”

    “Why?”

    “Because they’re vicious animals.”

    And on and on we go.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    You should explain why people's rights cannot be exercised.Benkei

    Because it’s “self evident.” Get with the program.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    So you'd agree countries are not literally forced to start an offensive war?Echarmion

    “Forced”? Of course not — no one had a gun to Bush’s head to invade Afghanistan or Iraq, or Bibi’s head to start a genocide in Gaza. Or Putin’s head to invade Ukraine. In a certain sense, no wars are “forced.” In another, whenever you want to justify one, just say it was “defensive.”

    I see 573 pages has done no good. We’re apparently still at “If you disagree with me you think Putin is good.” Pity.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    war is inevitable.Echarmion

    Nope.
  • Israel killing civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
    The genocide continues, thanks to Bibi. Another Hitler wannabe. How sadly ironic.
  • Ukraine Crisis
    Kind of sad that Ukrainians have to suffer and die because they’re in between a proxy war instigated by the United States. I feel for them. Still hoping for a ceasefire.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)


    Russia and China want to influence the election as much as possible— of course they do. The US does it all the time. (The difference is that we’ll support a coup or invade.)

    But the Russian influence is mostly social media. Why wouldn’t they do so? They’ll fund people who are already saying things they like, unleash a bunch of bots, etc. But what’s the actual impact? I doubt it’s very much. The claims are overblown. Just as they were in 2016. Hillary didn’t lose because of a Russian bot farm; she lost because she sucked.

    It’s still interesting to see what they’re rooting for. In China’s case, mostly just chaos and division. For Russia, mostly undermining support for Ukraine. Not rocket science to see why this would be the case.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    They'll deliver as little as they can get away with.Tzeentch

    Yeah.

    Suppose they did nothing. Would you then vote Trump?Tzeentch

    If Trump were offering something better on other issues, yes. Nuclear weapons, healthcare, education, guns, anything. His stopping funding for Ukraine would be a bright spot, but for the wrong reasons — and it’s uncertain whether he would. On Israel he’s even more hawkish than Biden.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    You think the establishment gives two shits about climate or pollution? :brow:Tzeentch

    I think they want to get elected, and the environmental vote is getting larger and more vocal.

    You think Trump and the republicans give two shits about abortion? No. But they sure did scrap Roe v Wade. It’s not always lip service. Sometimes you have to deliver, even if it’s too little (IRA was biggest climate investment in history — and yet still too little; would have never happened under Trump.)
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    Summary so far:

    (1) Trump was the worst president in history (or close), a traitor to the country, a degenerate con man, and pathological liar— on top of being an empty narcissist with no ideas other than personal branding. A climate denier and plutocrat lover, to boot.

    (2) Trump is rightfully hated and extremely unpopular. Currently losing in the polling, which is no surprise.

    (3) Harris is a boring, establishment candidate. And is now likely to win, given the choices.

    What a shame the Republican Party and their slaves have no souls. It’s sad. But at least it makes it easier for them to lose, as they’ve been doing the last 8 years. Given that they’re the party of climate denial and pro-pollution, I’m at least happy about that.

    Incidentally, it looks like North Carolina is now in play— which is interesting.
  • US Election 2024 (All general discussion)
    eating a shit sandwich and starving themselves180 Proof

    Bad example. I think I’d rather starve than eat shit. :lol: