[quote]vroom wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
We built up those huge debts policing the globe and trying to provide a safety net for needy people. Those were bad things, huh…
When we DO implode financially, you Canadians will (a) have to fend for yourselves defensively or (2) have a neighbor who has a Hitler at the helm, looking for lebensraum, who got elected by promising to restore order.
Good luck on both counts.
Dude, are you masturbating while you dream up these wild fantasies? That’s quite the imagination you have, old troll.[/quote]
What part of anything I said was erroneous, Inspector? The massive debts? Sending troops all over the globe?
C’mon Inspector, you can do better…then again, maybe you can’t. Pathetic…
[quote]unbending wrote:
That was directed towards lixy. I don’t ever want to have any type of discussion with him.[/quote]
Last I checked, you called Sloth and I names, while replying to a post that wasn’t addressed to you in the first place.
Sounds like you were begging to have one particular “type of discussion” with me. That is, one where you dodge the arguments and unilaterally degrade the level of intellectualism by resorting to aggression.
Except that groundbreaking discoveries are rarely made by corporations but by some capitalist maverick and that even the cleverest military devices translate poorly into comsumer goods so what remains is pretty much capitalism and relatively low taxes.[/quote]
I disagree that about the military devices poorly translating. The fact that you’re having this relatively anonymous conversation using a computer over the internet stands in direct opposition to the idea several times over.
Between the DoD and NASA (born from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency and Navy Research Labs), while not the sine qua non of innovation, are at the core of a majority of the technology most of us enjoy today and shouldn’t be written off.
[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Lefties created a mixed economy, which allows large corporations to buy and wield influence. This leads to the abuses you attribute to capitalism.
[/quote]
This is absolutely true but on the other hand, how do we keep businesses from committing profit motivated crimes–a la, ENRON and WorldCom?
No, I have nothing against Republicans–personally. I am speaking about people who put personal interest (profit) over human decency–people who call themselves “liberal democrats” can be just as guilty of this.
To be consistent and fair we need to scrutinize all behavior of all people, not just people who don’t fall into the particular political ideology that we agree with.
[quote]Sloth wrote:
100meters wrote:
Sloth wrote:
My take. The US will invent the most efficient and effective means to achieve the same goals. Then, we’ll sell it to nations who’ve over-burdened their economies with standards many could not achieve.
Yes, that and many other amazing things will happen as soon as Bush leaves.
Oh, I agree. It’ll have to be a different republican. But, on a more serious note. I don’t think either party will have much to do with it. I believe it’ll basically come down to the ingenuity of the private sector.[/quote]
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
Yes, we would all like to thank the very intelligent folks - like you and Vroom - for being a notch above intellectually.[/quote]
Who said you have to be a genius to be able to think by your own influence and not by others’?
You have to have some intelligence, an IQ above retardation. But sometimes too much can be a setback.
[quote]
How do you guys do it? The heightened mind? The objective wisdom? The above-it-all-ness?
Very, very impressive to us Paleolithic types.[/quote]
[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
To be consistent and fair we need to scrutinize all behavior of all people, not just people who don’t fall into the particular political ideology that we agree with.[/quote]
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
Yes, we would all like to thank the very intelligent folks - like you and Vroom - for being a notch above intellectually.[/quote]
You must have some type of intelligence complex or something. Needing deprogramming need not have anything to do with ones intelligence.
[quote]How do you guys do it? The heightened mind? The objective wisdom? The above-it-all-ness?
Very, very impressive to us Paleolithic types.[/quote]
You insecurity is showing… you’d better start stocking up on tissues.
You must have some type of intelligence complex or something. Needing deprogramming need not have anything to do with ones intelligence.[/quote]
No, actually, I don’t - I am just still perplexed why every single post of yours has to include how your opponent is “programmed”, but you, in all your wisdom, are always above such.
I still haven’t figured it out.
It would be odd to characterize me as having an “intellectual insecurity” problem - after all, I am not the one that feels the need to end nearly every post with a “I am an independent thinker above silly influences, but my opponents are not”.
It is a direct quandary in search of an answer - why is it that your opponents are always - always - in need of breaking out of brainwash, programming, or brainless cheerleading?
You are above all of that and guilty of none of those sins of ignorance (when your opponents are). Tell us all - how can we all get to your self-described level?
You obviously want us to all to be on that level - hence your comments at the end of your posts - so instruct us, wise one: how do we get as smart and “unprogrammed” as you?
[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
Lefties created a mixed economy, which allows large corporations to buy and wield influence. This leads to the abuses you attribute to capitalism.
This is absolutely true but on the other hand, how do we keep businesses from committing profit motivated crimes–a la, ENRON and WorldCom?
[/quote]
You think that white collar crime is the only crime that can be crushed by some magic law?
We learn to live with it, like with every other crime.
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
It would be odd to characterize me as having an “intellectual insecurity” problem - after all, I am not the one that feels the need to end nearly every post with a “I am an independent thinker above silly influences, but my opponents are not”. [/quote]
The very fact that you would characterize someone else in such a way, when it really isn’t so, would point to your insecurities.
Why does it make you and others cry so many tears that I point it out? You do understand that when people are immersed in things they can lose sight of them, right?
This is your attributed characterization, not mine. I’m certainly not one to claim I have characters or virtues. Your continued interpretation of things I say in this way speaks to your mind, not mine.
What level? Seriously, what the fuck are you smoking? Oh, wait, does asking you what you are smoking somehow imply that I think I’m above smoking? Oh, this is so complex!
Maybe, and this is just a thought, put some honest thought into the issues being raised, instead of working so hard to ascribe some mystery fucking mindset behind the words.
As a mindreader, you suck.
Sorry if that somehow twists in your mind to have you think I am elevating myself in some way.
I’m off to the gym to go push some mediocre weight… I hope that makes you feel better about yourself.
The very fact that you would characterize someone else in such a way, when it really isn’t so, would point to your insecurities.[/quote]
Hmm - how is directly pointing out what you do in every post a “characterization”?
And enough with the “insecurities” - it’s just dumb.
Well, there are no tears, but might it be because - wait for it - me and others think that you aren’t pointing out anything at all, but merely haughtily acting as though you are, and we are calling you on it because you sound like a fool?
If you say your opponent is “programmed”, clearly you think you are not, else you wouldn’t say such a ridiculous thing every single time you type.
I see you are trying to dodge - there is no reason. I was simply asking what we can all do to get “unprogrammed” so we can be the independent thinker you are.
Forget it, Vroom - you aren’t much for direct answers anyway. This is off-topic - back to the thread.
You must have some type of intelligence complex or something. Needing deprogramming need not have anything to do with ones intelligence.
No, actually, I don’t - I am just still perplexed why every single post of yours has to include how your opponent is “programmed”, but you, in all your wisdom, are always above such.
I still haven’t figured it out.
[/quote]
Ever see the SpongeBob episode (I have a 6 year old) where they have a Magic Conch shell? Pull a string and it says one of a few responses. The characters worship it as an all-seeing omniscient demi-god. Just think of Vroomie as the Magic Conch! “All Hail the Magic Conch!!”
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
If you say your opponent is “programmed”, clearly you think you are not, else you wouldn’t say such a ridiculous thing every single time you type.[/quote]
Wait for it.
Perhaps my programming is different than yours! Oh my, the shock, the horror. When you see it, feel free to point it out to me. I’ll give it some thought.
It, having my own blindnesses pointed out, has happened to me before…
LOL. Asshole. You were throwing insults and characterizations. If you honestly thought there was merit to being deprogrammed, you wouldn’t be dismissing the concept a few paragraphs earlier in this same post.
If you ask a question, instead of endlessly turning the thread towards how my style of conversing makes you cry, I’ll try to answer it.
Just try to come up with questions that aren’t equivalent to “have you quit beating your wife”. If you can.
P.S. I find it funny that you step in on these occasions when my comments are not even directed at you. I think maybe you are obsessed…
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
Well, there are no tears, but might it be because - wait for it - me and others think that you aren’t pointing out anything at all, but merely haughtily acting as though you are, and we are calling you on it because you sound like a fool?[/quote]
This, by the way, has me (and I’m sure some others) rolling in the fucking aisles!!!
I’m sorry you probably won’t get the joke, but please rest your ego and put away the tissue box, it has nothing at all to do with me elevating myself (or putting you down).
If you ask a question, instead of endlessly turning the thread towards how my style of conversing makes you cry, I’ll try to answer it.[/quote]
You must stop the whole “crying” thing - you just can’t pull off the tough guy shtick.
Here is the thing: if you get to complain constantly about “cheerleading”, “drinking KoolAid”, and all your opponents being “programmed” while you remain enlightened - and you do - don’t we, in turn, have as a matter of right to complain about your pretentious windbaggery?
As is, it’s more fun to watch you expose yourself. But I am done. It has distracted from the topic.
Well, since I responded directly to Unbending, it was more his ball to pick up. But I did mention you, to be fair - but does that mean that when people don’t direct comments specific to you, you can’t swoop in and insert a moronic Vroomism - “cheerleader”, “cognitive dissonance” (look what I learned in sociology class today!), “programmed” - because I assume you take your own advice that you hand out here?
[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
You must stop the whole “crying” thing - you just can’t pull off the tough guy shtick.[/quote]
LOL.
Again with the silly characterizations. I’m not implying I’m tough when I point out how you are in need of tissues…
I’m suggesting you are an insecure puss. I presume you do get that and are just trying to spin it around. Look, see, I do give you some credit!
Not all my opponents are programmed. Some of them appear to be. Just about everybody, including me, will have absorbed some programming at some point.
Some people break free of it, and some don’t. So what? It has nothing to do with any type of elevation… that is simply a crutch you use, far too often I might add, to help you dismiss what I say.
Again with the silly characterizations. I’m not implying I’m tough when I point out how you are in need of tissues…[/quote]
Yes, but I am not “crying”, so you aren’t any good at this at all. Is it “crying” when you call someone a “cheerleader”? No? Then it’s not crying when I remark on you being a pretentious windbag.
Oh yes, Vroom - by all accounts around these parts, that characterization makes sense. End sarcasm.
This makes me chuckle. “Insecure”? I have been called a lot of things by people who disagree with me, but “insecure” isn’t one.
The hilarious thing is that you actually think my - or anyone else’s - complaints about your chin-pulling putting on of airs actually hurts our feelings because you somehow think we aren’t very smart (hence the insecurity claims). That, of course, has nothing to do with the complaint, but whatever helps you sleep at night.
And none of what you just typed answered my question.
If you get to complain about all those things, then don’t we get to return in kind?
No, it is actually something you use in nearly every single post. Why do you insist on doing it if it is as meaningless as you now explain?
Wait, I think I get it now - you own the sole prerogative of calling out “characterizations” with your cheap supply of Vroomisms, but none of the rest of us do. But that is no good.
You say people don’t know what the hell they are talking about because they are mindless “cheerleaders” who don’t think for themselves - I am saying you don’t know what the hell you are talking about because you are a limited, pompous windbag who tries to act like he knows more than he actually does and who hides it all behind the conceit of “my opponents aren’t as enlightened as me”.
See? Characterizations = two way street. If you don’t care for it, no problem - but it will cut both ways in the meantime.
And - I am done. I have distracted from the thread long enough.
