Seasons
This is a forum or general chit-chat, small talk, a "hey, how ya doing?" and such. Or hell, get crazy deep on something. Whatever you like.
Posts 3,894 - 3,905 of 6,170
There is a group of adult students I work with who I constantly advise to avoid qualifiers like "I think" or "I feel" or I believe" in their formal writing. Some of them think it sounds too "stuck up" to omit IMHO, as if they can't see other points of view if they are assertive about their own logic.
They're doing better than most of the kids I teach that believe the key to winning an argument is shouting louder than the other person, and failing that, on who can do the best "ya mum" put down.
Mind you this seems to be how most people think these days. It seems every time there's an issue being debated by politicians in the media it isn't about who has the best point or evidence, it's about who has the best sound bite. There was more I wanted to say about the nature of argument in general when the Quantum debate was running hot, but I lost the thread of it. I'm sure I had a good point in me somewhere, but after trying to follow the actual debate itself for 18 posts at a time, my brain was usually too synonymous with toothpaste for me to form a coherent thought.
he went after Talkie Toaster too I only wish that those type of fellows would go after Talkie Toaster..it would serve them right. <+2>Zap Sizzle..
<0>I have noticed that my female bot attracts a lot more crazies than the other two.
Is it true that absinthe turns the world strange colors?
Only if you used it as eyedrops - then the world would probably go green (though I imagine you'd be in far too much pain to notice
)
I have noticed that my female bot attracts a lot more crazies than the other two.
That's why my female bots are not labelled as such in their profiles. Yes, they are female, but harder to find that way.
So, Bev, how about that War and Peace, eh?
Don't tease, Irina. I haven't read much Tolstoy, but I could talk about it anyway. I'm actually reading Kafka at the moment. Would you like to hear my theories about how The Trial relates t post patriot act America and how the biggest threat to democracy is internal rather than external?
The Trial relates to post patriot act America and how the biggest threat to democracy is internal rather than external? I didn't think anyone else thought that all the 'Homeland Security' sounded a bit scary. I am beginning to think life is getting a bit too much like a story by Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky .
I didn't think anyone else thought that all the 'Homeland Security' sounded a bit scary.
So, you live in Texas then? Come visit the blue states sometime. The weather isn't as nice, but we don't think you can fight for "freedom" and suspend the Constitution. Anyone who destroys the thing we are supposed to be fighting for is doing the terrorist work for them (or taking advantage of fear and anger to gain power).
Posts 3,894 - 3,905 of 6,170
Mind you this seems to be how most people think these days. It seems every time there's an issue being debated by politicians in the media it isn't about who has the best point or evidence, it's about who has the best sound bite. There was more I wanted to say about the nature of argument in general when the Quantum debate was running hot, but I lost the thread of it. I'm sure I had a good point in me somewhere, but after trying to follow the actual debate itself for 18 posts at a time, my brain was usually too synonymous with toothpaste for me to form a coherent thought.
Is it true that absinthe turns the world strange colors? I have often thought that the US blamed it unfairly for causing damage..vodka and whiskey can kill a person to.
Only if you used it as eyedrops - then the world would probably go green (though I imagine you'd be in far too much pain to notice
)
That's why my female bots are not labelled as such in their profiles. Yes, they are female, but harder to find that way.
Don't tease, Irina. I haven't read much Tolstoy, but I could talk about it anyway. I'm actually reading Kafka at the moment. Would you like to hear my theories about how The Trial relates t post patriot act America and how the biggest threat to democracy is internal rather than external?
So, you live in Texas then? Come visit the blue states sometime. The weather isn't as nice, but we don't think you can fight for "freedom" and suspend the Constitution. Anyone who destroys the thing we are supposed to be fighting for is doing the terrorist work for them (or taking advantage of fear and anger to gain power).
I am living in Canada, it just seemed that there was so many personal freedoms lost. I realize how terrible the times were and how frightened people were. But to be imprisoned,without due process, wire tapped, and to need passports to go through Friendship Park, just seem overkill!
Prob123, when I wrote that I thought I remembered you being from Canada. It's just that you said you didn't know anyone who found the Patriot Act scary. Maybe it's not as scary if it doesn't effect you much.
To be fair, Homeland Security and the Patriot Act is no worse than the red scare or putting Japanese Americans in camps during WWII. It won't effect most of us corn fed Yankies enough to complain much. It's only a small minority being spied on without warrants, held without habeas corpus and denied a right to an attorney. I don't think there are even many secret "trials" but the thing about secret trials, is, well, they are secret.
Just in case you come to visit, there is an interesting project at http://bureauit.org/antiterror/ . If you program yu cell phone to dial 1 212 998 3394 and you find yourself being denied civil rights, you can press a button on your cell phone and everything that happens to you will be recorded and available on the internet. I'd keep the phone in your pocket or say "just let me turn this off please" when you call.
Not that I wish you bad luck with the few fascists within our government that like to take things too far. It's just that you had those suspicious comments. And you read. That's dangerous in itself.
To be fair, Homeland Security and the Patriot Act is no worse than the red scare or putting Japanese Americans in camps during WWII. It won't effect most of us corn fed Yankies enough to complain much. It's only a small minority being spied on without warrants, held without habeas corpus and denied a right to an attorney. I don't think there are even many secret "trials" but the thing about secret trials, is, well, they are secret.
Just in case you come to visit, there is an interesting project at http://bureauit.org/antiterror/ . If you program yu cell phone to dial 1 212 998 3394 and you find yourself being denied civil rights, you can press a button on your cell phone and everything that happens to you will be recorded and available on the internet. I'd keep the phone in your pocket or say "just let me turn this off please" when you call.
Not that I wish you bad luck with the few fascists within our government that like to take things too far. It's just that you had those suspicious comments. And you read. That's dangerous in itself.
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