Some semi-politics

[Schmoky]

I just can't wait any longer; I need some intelligent conversation. Since I'm only allowed in the Shark Pool right now, I guess I'll just make due. Someone bring up any random thing happening now... politics, world events, religon, whatever.


MUST... SHARE... OPINIONS... *GRUNT*

[Arcedo Darkmist]

Scotty died

[Lenny]

Scotty ='(

[chordie leforge]

Wait till you get in. We have a grand ole time in our own private politics forum.

[Schmoky]

Lol, I'm looking over at the politics forums, and a little tear comes to my eye... a tear of jealousy :cry: .

But about Scotty... yeah, he was cool. He was a tough-as-hell war hero, too. But like a real one, not some John Kerry type war hero. He got his middle finger blown off, and got shot in the chest, only to have the metal cigarette package in his breast pocket save him.

And if there's anyone out there willing to argue the fact that Star Trek wasn't an extremely influential show in American pop culture... well than what kind o' crack you be smokin'? Even if you are a Star Wars junkie, you still have to be able to respect the amazing longevity and freshness that that series had.

I named my dog after Scotty.

[Lenny]

We're not talking about Scotty from star-trek, are we?

[Schmoky]

Yeah, we are actually... sorry to be the one to break the news, but he passed away on Wednesday, July 21st.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/21/doohan.space.ap/index.html

^For more info^

[EmeraldFalcon89]

D'uh.

Here's something from our politics forums: Is it wrong that the deaths of 100 Palestinians in a train accident is not even heard of, while 50 deaths of English dominates the news, merely because they were killed with a bomb intead of another train?

[Schmoky]

I'm sure this side of the arguement has already been thouroughly covered over on your front, but anyway...


I don't think that this is wrong, since the main focus of the story isn't the deaths, but rather the fact that they were murdered, not accidently killed. Actually though, I don't even know of the Palestinian train crash that you're talking about, which I guess further proves your point. Was it an accidental crash?

But about the British attack, the reason this is so focused upon is because it is, after all, an attack. It's not just the fact that these terrorists were out to kill englishmen, but also the reason why they did it. They are opposed to what the englishmen stand for, or what they think they stand for.


Or maybe I'm missing the point of your post. Or maybe I'm misinformed.

[Crack Monk]

I'm sure this side of the arguement has already been thouroughly covered over on your front, but anyway...


I don't think that this is wrong, since the main focus of the story isn't the deaths, but rather the fact that they were murdered, not accidently killed. Actually though, I don't even know of the Palestinian train crash that you're talking about, which I guess further proves your point. Was it an accidental crash?

But about the British attack, the reason this is so focused upon is because it is, after all, an attack. It's not just the fact that these terrorists were out to kill englishmen, but also the reason why they did it. They are opposed to what the englishmen stand for, or what they think they stand for.


Or maybe I'm missing the point of your post. Or maybe I'm misinformed.

That's actually the point that EmeraldFalcon argued in the Politics forum. I refrained from joining, since getting into these things often pisses me off. (People have a tendency to blatantly ignore any logic to make their point. My head then explodes, and I shout "LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" but no one notices. They just continue making points like, "Everyone knows the deaths in England were related to Fritos. I mean, did you see anyone eating Fritos when it happened? Yeah, that's what I thought. Obviously the Fritos were in hiding.")

I completely forgot what I was talking about before I interrupted myself.

Oh, right. I agree with you entirely. The reason the thing in England got coverage isn't merely because they died, but because they were murdered. I mean, if every tragedy resulting in death got that much coverage, every channel would be playing news 24 hours a day. Look how many people die in car wrecks, or from serious diseases. People already know that this happens. But, when something comes along where people are murdered, then there's something new for them to learn (For instance, a possible way to avoid getting murdered themselves.)

[Schmoky]

Elementary.

[Crack Monk]

Elementary? Did you just insult me in a vague, seemingly meaningless fashion? Whoooaaa. I've got a good 45 years on you, young man. If anything, YOU are elementary! Oh, that's right. Take THAT.

[Schmoky]

No, I meant elementary in the way Sherlock Holmes said it. You know, "Elementary, my dear Watson".

[Crack Monk]

Ahhh. In that case... I have no interesting reply for you.

And, no one has presented the opposite side of the "100 accidental deaths vs. 50 murders" argument, so the debate has died.

[Schmoky]

I guess that's because my point was so good. Yes. Let's go with that.

[Crack Monk]

Indeed.

Oh, I know. I'll copy and pastes someone else's argument off of the Politics thread, and then you can knock that down also.


Fifty dead in London and it's major news for ever. Can anybdoy even remember the recent asian Tsumani which saw 300,000 killed, millions homeless, orphanded, straving and bereaved? We just stopped hearing about it. "That whole Tsunami thing is SO over now, dude".

I was listening to an incredible Indian author on the radio last night. He said in the aftermath of the Tsunami, stock exchanges in India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand soared to all time record highs. The rich were salivating at the thought of the aid money* due to start rolling in. They knew they would get the contracts to "rebuild" and "alleviate the suffering". Vested interests galore. Just like an Asian Halliburton. Aid only got to the suffering poor after the pockets of the rich had been well lined. Of course much of that "aid" money would have found it's way back to rich US corporations and their shareholders. Some things never change.

Also, and even more shocking, is the complete lack of coverage of the man made destruction of over 84,000 homes in Mumbai, India. This was done to let in rich land "developers". In comparison the tsunami destroyed ony 35,000 homes in total in all countries affected. Of course the developers were representing themselves as well as "western interests". Why haven't we heard about the eviction of 85,000 households? How many people has that made homeless? After these people were evicted the land developers praised the government then went to attend fund raising events for victims of the tsunami.

Then consider every night on the "news" we keep seeing that awful man Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Every night we see footage of his goons evicting poor people from their homes. We never stop hearing about it. But when it's our goons evicting poor people en masse nothing is said. The point is our media doesn't mind if poor people are evicted as such. All that really matters is whether the evictors are toeing the corporate line to make our companies richer. Fuck the evictees.

This author also talks about government policies, invented by the IMF (our banks), supporting our pesticide companies like Monsanto, which are even further impoverishing Indian farmers. So much so that they are committing suicide en masse. Again we have heard nothing of this.

Listen to the radio program here. It's an ace show. The first bit is about US politics. It's all well worth listening to.

You can listen to it here in sll sorts of formats. The program in question is the one of 13/07.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/lnl/

* Before you americans bleat about how you gave too much in aid for the tsunami, here is a reality check. Your country only gave US$1 Billion in aid and only after everybody slagged them off for being stingy. Even Australia managed to find US$413 Million also and we are one twelfth your population.. Of course the US is spending something more than US$1 Billion per WEEK to "liberate" Iraq. That must be a more "humanitarian" cause than the tsunami.
Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-08-26-iraq-war-clock_x.htm
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/tsunami/pdf/trm_response.pdf

Note to self: Never buy a Mc Donalds franchise in Pakistan.

Which basically can be summed up to, "300,000 of people died in the tsunami, but no one cared because (A), it was a natural disaster and not a terrorist attack, and (B), because only foreigners died."

How do you argue against THAT, Mr... Mr... Mr. Fancypants? (Sorry, my insult generator is broken.)

[Schmoky]

Fancypants?!?? FANCYPANTS?!?! Nobody calls me Fancypants!

Basically, my arguement to that is... just what I said before, because the terrorist attack did more than kill people, it attempted to throw England into dissarry, and it did this maliciously, it is more newsworthy. People dying doesn't sell papers. Fine, call the newspeople money-grubbing whores. Microsoft still sucks.


Fancypants [on] my ass.

[Arcedo Darkmist]

Fancypants?!?? FANCYPANTS?!?! Nobody calls me Fancypants!

Basically, my arguement to that is... just what I said before, because the terrorist attack did more than kill people, it attempted to throw England into dissarry, and it did this maliciously, it is more newsworthy. People dying doesn't sell papers. Fine, call the newspeople money-grubbing whores. Microsoft still sucks.


Fancypants [on] my ass.

Well then Joe, then what dose sell newspapers, personaly I just buy the paper for the obituary page... and the comics.

[Schmoky]

Matt?!? I should've known... how dare you create a comeback to what should've been the final post in this thread, al beit a few "good jobs" from various onlookers. HOW DARE YOU! I guess... this means war. First one to get into the REAL 1337.com wins... ready... GO!

[Arcedo Darkmist]

Joe dont be a fool, you already lost the cup cake war, do you really want to start anathor?

[Schmoky]

Let's try to keep the inside, out-of-internet jokes on the down-low, eh matt?

[Arcedo Darkmist]

Only b/c my interpretation of your post said please

[Crack Monk]

Inside jokes? I feel left out. Time to use my own inside jokes.

*starts up a game*

*realizes that no one is around that knows about this one*

*feels even more left out*

*gets some lasagna*

Where's wHat when you need him?

[Arcedo Darkmist]

Crack Monk, this is one inside joke I think you will be much happier being on the outside.

[Schmoky]

Ouch... I have a stinging feeling of not belonging... I'm gonna go make myself throw up to fit in.



( :puke: )