Well, if that's the way you want to look at it, feel free to your opinion.
Well, if that's the way you want to look at it, feel free to your opinion.
Well, I don't think eco activists are 'wrong,
That Onion video just felt a bit 'fitting for your post.
But it's not really 'good from an environmental perspective, to 'have oil fires, I think.
Even if environmentalists want us to stop using so much oil, that doesn't mean they want us for example, dumping it in the ocean to get rid of it.
I haven't a clue.
For all I know the situation in the Middle East could go either way.
My 'current prediction is Iran lasts the month, until which point the American Congress votes.
I 'think the 30-day clock was initiated on March 3, 2026.
But I don't 'know what will happen then.
Perhaps the American Congress 'does vote to continue on, maybe they don't.
Maybe Trump continues on in 'some fashion anyhow, just more limited.
Maybe Iran becomes willing to reach an agreement if America then withdraws some at that point.
But maybe Iran refuses anyhow, even 'if Congress votes for America to withdraw, even if America 'does withdraw.
Maybe Iran says, we don't care, we still consider ourselves at war with you, pay us war reparations.
. . .
From a Trump view,
Even if Congress votes for a withdrawal, I'm not sure he will see it as a loss.
Focus of America in this conflict perhaps has been to take a gamble on destabilizing the Iran regime.
The Iranian government killed a bunch of protestors, maybe Trump and his people figured the Iranian people wouldn't be able or willing to make a change themselves.
So perhaps Trump and his people decided to increase the odds of the Iranian people making a regime change. By weakening the Iranian powers in control, and by displaying the 'weakness of the people in charge of Iran.
Their inability to defend their people, the 'consequences of all their "Death to America" rhetoric and use of terrorist proxies.
. . .
Trump has said something along the lines of, can it really get worse for us, even if another guy comes to power who hates us?
They 'already hate us and work with our enemies against us and our goals.
I don't think he's 'quite right, I think things 'could get worse for America, maybe worse people in charge of Iran, but (Shrug) I don't know the odds.
A 'lot 'could happen in the Middle East right now, far more that what I've said.
Survivors Of Gas Station Explosion Mourn Tragic Loss Of Gas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edl0l3VaIks
True, it can also be frustrating to have to apply to other people's standards,
Especially if their standards seem too high or seem needlessly complex.
Best solution I think,
Would be an option for creating debates with no 'required Reason for Decision. Or 'low Reason for Decision.
Let people get what they ask for or are willing to accept.
. . .
Course on another hand, if we create more types of debates, does that fracture the community?
Same way having multiple versions of WoW might fracture Community?
I'd be up for a debate, though I don't have much spirit for it at the moment.
I took you up on your parenting debate, I don't know enough about religion for the other two.
I think it's a positive action to talk about voting on this site,
Maybe it will encourage people to vote more.
I'd be willing to talk 'some about how voting on the site might be increased.
1, Let people know there is a vote solicitation thread,
https://www.debatecraft.com/forum/c/debatecraft/posts/48/vote-requests
2, Bring up the voting leaderboard in conversation,
I thought it was kind of fun on DebateArt, to tag someone when I passed them on the voting leaderboard.
. . .
I feel a bit burnt out of voting,
A big part of why I did it in the past was the leaderboard, but it's kind of frustrating to lose 2 websites worth of effort.
I'm still in the top 10 on DebateCraft though.
Sigh of relief, temporary or not.
An MMORPG where the world expands or contracts, depending on how many players are logged in, or in a certain zone.
Fair point on #7,
As for #8 I voted on your debate.
Pity your opponent was an AI.
I think a lot of people don't want to live in a country where the government is given too much power to decide how their children should be treated or taught.
A number of Anti Theists would consider religious households abuse,
And vice versa some Theist societies against other religions or Atheism.
(Shrug) Course, some people would 'like government to more closely regulate the children in their society.
So long as 'they have the power.
AI response. . .
(Shrug)
Nazi Germany had the Hitler Youth,
"By December 1936, Hitler Youth membership had reached over five million.[19] That same month, membership became mandatory for Aryans under the Gesetz über die Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth Law)"
Hitler Youth - Wikipedia
Where do you get your statistics on how often kids are abused by their parents?
I can only speak on it anecdotally.
And my observations say it's not 'that bad.
I think a 'degree of government is not bad, but it's a balancing act.
"Actually, before government took control, US parents were marrying their kids at age 9, and child labor was everywhere." SatanLucy
What is to stop the government from making low age marriage legal, or child labor legal?
Both 'have been legalized by the government in the past, and maybe in some parts of the world currently.
I don't like giving government an inch, sometimes.
"Marriage" SatanLucy. . . Procreation, has arguably been 'very different throughout history.
Before changes in society and medicine.
Kids used to die a 'lot,
Women used to have less rights,
Wars used to be much more common,
I'm guessing that marriage at a younger age 'had forces driving it's existence.
"Work -SatanLucy",
Again tech and society has changed a lot.
When Native Americans might scalp your whole family on the frontier, much was expected of 'everyone, no matter their age.
Or when colonizers might attempt to murder your Native American village. Either way.
. . . Banks have not always been so safe or so common,
Families have often been isolated, no easy cars, high reliance and expectation on all people, maybe.
A quarter used to buy more, perhaps,
But what we could buy was also 'smaller, before the modern world.
Censorship greatly aids people in power, of continuing their beliefs, I imagine.
. . . Getting the rest of the 'society they live in, to continue their beliefs I mean.
Some people make the argument that this shows the people in power's beliefs are wrong.
But I don't agree,
For one, I'm a Moral Nihilist.
Two, people can come to believe in stupid or messed up ideas.
People are influence by a lot,
By money, power, hate, love, greed, lust, entertainment, sloth.
I 'understand why people who love certain ways of life, would censor.
(Shrug) I advocate for 'some censorship in society myself.
Censoring kids from cursing for example.
Censoring ads for cigarettes from advertising to children.
"Why is being a bad parent not a crime taken more seriously?" -SatanLucy
Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease, maybe.
For example, some people 'really don't think highly of the foster system. Or families getting split up by such.
Depends on the 'degree of being a bad parent I suppose.
. . .
Might be that intervening is often expensive or inefficient (I'm guessing)
Or maybe 'used to be moreso.
Society has advanced 'quickly in a lot of our recent technology, cameras, phones.
. . Lot of changes in society too, women's rights, abolishment of slavery (Mostly and in many places)
. . .
Course one might still ask why not even in the ancient world, ought being a bad parent not be a crime?
Maybe it was, I'm not a historian on the history of children.
The 'family unit, has been pretty useful, pretty functional, in history, I assume.
Whether small village life, or large empire nation.
Effective at creating people, managing wealth and property.
We humans often value family, well, 'our family.
We have often expected others to respect our families right to each other, as we respect 'their families right to each other.
To a 'degree.
"I never really understood people who keep defending bad parents. Bad parents are main reason why next generation becomes worse." -SatanLucy
(Shrug) My Dad had a bad childhood, worse than mine.
Though that's more of after the fact, my not being hung up on some of his parenting methods, which honestly were not that bad comparative to worse fathers.
'During the fact, well, lot of bad parents are a bit subtle about it.
And 'bad is vague, or a light scale at times.
. . . I'm unsure how much bad parents do or don't realize the effects of bad parenting. My guess is that it is often not so obvious to them. They got treated rough, and they turned out fine, they think.
Common sense often has the benefit of hindsight.
But because we live in world where 95% of people are retarded, and the remaining 5% dont have any real power, we end up with result where world is ran by retards and future generations are raised by mentally ill population. -SatanLucy
I often wonder what the world 'is like.
95% of the people being retarded 'sounds a bit high of an estimate.
"So one of biggest causes for all evil in society is somehow treated as a less serious crime, and in many cases not even a crime at all." -SatanLucy
. . . Lot of people 'really. . Well, in America, 'really don't like giving the government too much control over how they raise their kids I think.
And I'd say for good reason.
Public Education for one, often pushes nonsense narratives that one doesn't agree with. Either side of the aisle.
Towards the end of Debate.org, I was enjoying voting on debates with 'no time limit on votes.
Though I can understand why people might like a conclusion to their debates, me too I'd say. Eventually.
I tend towards 6 months of voting time when I make debates, because it gives the maximum window of opportunity for people to vote on said debates. If a year was an option, I might go with that instead.
Admittedly one can bring their debate to the front of the debates page I think,
Or post a request for votes in the vote request thread.
https://www.debatecraft.com/forum/c/debatecraft/posts/48/vote-requests
Most effective is directly asking people to vote on your debate, directly as in tag their name so they get a notification or send them a message.
But I imagine many people feel awkward about doing that.
. . . Also can feel like work maybe, to have to gather up voters.
I wonder how much accent plays into music genres,
Whether some languages and accents are more suited to some genres than others,
Quicker or slower, syllables, so on.
Everything in life is a gamble,
That one fails sometimes, I do not think by itself is damning,
The context of failure matters,
Sometimes it is acceptable,
And sometimes one wins, or hopes to win later on, based on earlier progress made,
Failure is at times a stepping stone to victory,
And that is no failure at all.
I don't 'feel ashamed about it.
Though, Mencius says,
“A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.”
Well. . . I feel shame about 'other things.
Nothing in particular, some personal, some related to America, some other. (Shrug)
. . . I've talked about Iran a 'bit on DebateCraft, but I don't have too much to say.
I don't 'know too much about the situation.
https://www.debatecraft.com/forum/c/politics/posts/po/attack-on-iran---a-very-very-stupid-mistake?page=1
. . .
'Should I feel shame?
What about?
Well, the 'sudden nature of the situation maybe, doesn't really seem 'honorable or matching with some ideas of international law.
But then, history with Iran has been a bit 'odd for years, maybe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Qasem_Soleimani
Even if we declared and suddenly warred some other nation, say Greenland.
My first feeling would not be shame I think,
But cold calculation on how this effects us.
International politics, is more about calculations and tactics I think.
Though one 'can still feel shame.
I feel a bit ashamed about anyone we left behind in Iraq, that supported our mission there.
'Should I feel shame?
What about?
The deaths of people in Iran?
Well, there's that cold calculation again, and the view that this conflict has been going on for a while in a way.
People die in war. (Shrug)
"Propaganda leaflets, similar to the ones the US distributed throughout Syria and Iraq, were distributed to Afghans by Iranian-linked forces who were "ramping up efforts and started to escalate into violence" amid President Barack Obama's troop withdrawal in 2016, the former senior US official told Insider.
Iran has long relied on proxy forces to wage war against enemies like the US, exacting a heavy toll on US troops in Iraq."
https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-bounties-us-troops-afghanistan-propaganda-leaflets-2020-8
"In August 2018, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei banned direct talks with the United States.[8] According to the US Department of Justice, Iran has since attempted to assassinate US officials and dissidents, including US president Donald Trump.[9][10]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93United_States_relations
At least America isn't kidnapping tourists, or recording videos of chopping off the heads of bound captives.
. . Though arguably my information is not perfect,
And arguably I may be misstating influence of organizations.
'Should I feel shame?
What about?
The callousness of Hegseth?
Hegseth on Iran: 'We Are Punching Them While They're Down'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0S-7eWpkU
No, I mostly just feel irritation at what I view as his lack of understanding of the value of tact.
. . . Though arguably people have different methods of influence.
(Shrug) I didn't vote for Trump, I don't identify politically as a Republican.
I don't 'particularly 'identify with Trump.
'Should I feel shame?
What about?
The Memic Propaganda?
https://www.aol.com/news/ben-stiller-asks-white-house-211442590.html
There's that calculation again.
We humans have 'all used propaganda.
I don't see it as 'ideal, but we used it in WW2, with Bugs Bunny and others.
The enemies of America are undoubtedly using it 'now against 'us.
There is 'intelligence in propaganda and memes.
I feel more preoccupied with weighing the Pros and Cons of such propaganda, than any shame.
And there 'are Cons.
. . . But I. . . I am not impressed by the celebrities complaints.
What, parody is fine when they or Weird Al do it? But not the government?
In such a conflict loyalty to should be to one's own country.
. . Which 'admittedly they have in a 'way.
. . . . . I feel like sneering.
One could even claim the same of people who don't stand or kneel for the anthem, ah yes. Freedom is nice in America, including my freedom not to support 'entertainers who don't show an appreciation for America.
. . .
I 'do admit I worry about dehumanizing our enemy,
Or going at this too blind or overconfident,
I worry about us being too caviler with people's lives.
But I do not feel ashamed about our conflict with Iran.
. . . Partially because I am uneducated to feel 'too strong one way or the other.
Partially because, if this 'is necessary, then it is necessary.
Should more people die 'later, because we were unwilling to die or kill a bit now?
A thought suddenly occurs to me,
As I think of how people enjoy different styles of fiction.
Some people liking fast action place, others enjoying slow purple prose plots.
It might be interesting in a way, to hear a story be told X different times, in X so many ways.
Though, arguably I 'have read a series like that before.
Enders Game and Enders Shadow by Orson Scott Card.
Though thinking on it, he probably 'wrote a bit in the same style for each of the books, to a degree.
. . .
I guess there are franchises that utilize many different authors, and see many different genres.
Often touch on the same 'world, though not 'quite exactly the same conflict.
Yes author A may write a story about Admiral Thrawn and a bunch of killer insects,
And author B may write a story about Admiral Thrawn and some Rebels.
But one did not see 'both authors write about the situation with killer insects or the situation with rebels. From different narrators or style.
(Shrug) Well has happened somewhere, likely 'many times in various places I'd imagine.
LOT OF SPOILERS BELOW.
As I ramble through various books.
I have not seen the movie Apocalypse Now (1979)
I have read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, a few times. Listened to it just yesterday as an audiobook.
In the book, I don't think Kurtz wanted to die, he was still trying to escape back to the tribe he had been living with.
Died of sickness, rather than violence I think.
Though one could argue spiritual sickness can prelude physical sickness, weakness.
Kurtz was well known for the amount of ivory he collected, though his competitors dismissed it as fossil for having been dug up.
Kurtz briefly talked about justice, earlier in a journal I think he had high ideals, until they degraded and he wrote exterminate all the brutes.
. . . Kurtz though, unlike Curze, had the appearance of higher ideals I think, before he fell off.
Curze started in pretty quick into the Night Haunter I think.
. . . Though some have argued Kurtz was 'many different ideals to many different people. That he was more like water, fitting into whatever container, person, environment he came across.
The power of nurture.
Though that is not to say the natives of Africa 'was so much or the only influence.
The prime amount of brutality and depravity one reads in the Heart of Darkness, comes from the colonizers, taking advantage of their moment of greater power to indulge their greed.
. . There is a Russian in the book, a follower of Kurtz.
Reminds me of Elver a bit, but Elver realized that Curze feared he was wrong.
No woman that I recall, Curze being close to.
. . .
Another book,
In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka.
Torture execution, assumptions of guilt, submitting oneself to the punishment, but the 'punishment malfunctions and is very quick, the grave of the former Commandant, where it is written by his believers that the Commandant will rise from the dead someday.
But then, Curze 'possibly suffered greatly in the years leading 'up to his death.
. . .
Another book,
Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky.
There is a conversation about the 'Extraordinary Man, who accomplishes great benefits for the people, by making small sacrifices of others.
Razumihin expressing horror at the idea of such morally allowed and 'encouraged bloodshed.
Later when questioned about people who mistake themselves as great and able men who fail in their ends,
Raskolnikov says they will suffer the consequences of their failure, prison for example. But also their conscience.
"But the real geniuses," asked Razumihin frowning, "those who have the 'right to murder?"
"Oughtn't they suffer at all even for the blood they've shed?"
Raskolnikov,
"Why the word 'ought? It's not a matter of permission or prohibition. He will suffer if he is sorry for his victim. Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have a great sadness on earth, he added dreamily, not in the tone of the conversation.
Suicide comes up frequently in the book in many different characters.
Sonia for example, does not commit suicide, by her faith, and by her step families need of her.
Svidrigailov, perhaps finding he has nothing but hedonism and cannot truly connect with others, does.
Konrad Curze, I am not sure ever much 'connected with anyone in a positive manner, if he he did, it was always contrasted or polluted.
Svidrigailov, I do not 'think was 'sorry for others.
Raskolnikov though, perhaps was.
There is the argument I see people make at times though, of Warhammer, the need for speed in the Great Crusade,
Terrible threats all around,
Oncoming moments that will have to be faced, The Heresy.
Just listened to Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
I've read it before, just felt like going for an audiobook version of it this time.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad | Full Audiobook
Gates of Imagination
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q0CsfyCiNA
AI,
Suddenly I think of genies in lamps,
Whether one should risk a wish, not knowing whether it 'might be an evil genie who will twist your wish.
Or whether one ought free the genie, not 'knowing their true character.
Or a Deck of Many Things.
Maybe, and maybe not.
It's not as if US and Iran interactions have only 'suddenly happened.
Been going on for years.
Chernobyl did not stop humans from creating nukes,
But a thought occurs to me, on how 'little various publics in different countries 'knew about nukes and radiation.
http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff100/fv00071.htm
http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff100/fv00072.htm
Hard to say what 'people know, tech companies and CEOs, not always clear visioned.
Government leaders not always wise people.
And either one, not always want to tell the public the truth, 'if they even know the truth.
. . .
I can't think of any real life examples, off the top of my head.
But 'sometimes, I think humans need to see real life concrete examples.
For them, something can't happen until it 'has happened once at some point.
. . .
Memorial Honors Victims Of Imminent Dam Disaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjfrJzdx7DA
. . .
Well, people need concrete examples because many science caused dangers are 'maybe this could happen.
They are new tech, not so tested, not so understood.
Not 'so much by the scientists, even less by general public.
Interesting perspective.
I am and was aware of that,
. . . I suppose I just find "church with a nuke" a bit vague in meaning.
Hm.
"Nations are the opposite and worship self-preservation."
I suppose the meaning to be an argument that people with Strong and High Ideological beliefs beyond Selfishness, Survival, Money, can be a bit unpredictable?
. . . Eh, been a lot of Selfish countries in history that invaded other countries.
Hm, I don't think I consider most churches suicide cults.
People/Nations have 'values is what I mean by calling them Churches though.
Even 'Atheists end up ascribing to some sort of values and creeds.
. . .
I admire Crusaders, though I dislike it when they conscript people into their Crusades.
Crusaders being in my view, people who effort their morality and values into the world I mean.
Though I suppose people can be isolationist in their values.
Are all nations not churches?