Posts by chris

Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First

  • Hard News: Libya,

    that this is not another Iraq – what exactly is it?

    A clear restipulation that the UN is fundamentally an instrument of war, propelled by the security council’s arms industries, flexing its muscle in conflicts with the scope to
    a) be justified as a fight for potential democracy.
    b) serve as a staging ground for weapons testing without undue scrutiny.
    c) function as a lucrative arms market for a significant enough timespan to mutually benefit UNSC members.

    If i could compare this war to any, it would be the Spanish Civil War, it’s a war against fascism.

    Fascism has and will continue to be tolerated in all the other countries and war torn dictatorships that fail to satisfy the above criteria.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Field Theory: Japan moves,

    <takes note>

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Field Theory: Japan moves,

    but you could be called fucking stupid.

    The dismissive tone indicates that perhaps 2/7 days of sanity is better for the soul than a lifetime of paranoia.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Thread, It Is Open,

    The PR coup.

    Did Google leave mainland China? Yes, they moved their local base of operations to Hong Kong.

    So how is it that Google HK still maintains mainland Chinese advertising and still seems very much to cater to the Chinese market?

    They now outsource the work previously handled by the China base back to private Chinese IT companies and in this way currently have more Chinese working for them than they previously did when operations were based in China.

    This info garnered from a number of Beijing IT professionals whose companies are contracted to do this work.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Thread, It Is Open,

    I agree Carol, but this example is culturally specific, as for example in China locals would have no qualms giving and taking this kind of superficial analysis with absolute honesty. Their lying occurs more in situations requiring collective analysis. This discrepancy in terms of highlighting the respective subjectivity of the platforms implies a potential for total truth, yet for some reason all cultures (as far as I know) find avenues and justification for lying.

    It’d be an interesting thought experiment – what would happen if we were to conduct all our social interactions with total honesty? Would it be better or worse? My feeling is that it would all turn to custard pretty quickly.

    You find out who your true friends are fast, family dynamics are reconfigured and it becomes pretty damn hard to hold down almost any job you'd care to name (not from situations where you'd tell your boss exactly what you think of him/her, but simply that almost all jobs require us to routinely lie)

    The world is not a fair place. Still amazing, but.

    Tis true,

    I agree Andin, janitors at best, and our roles somewhat undermined in that those who would janit responsibly seem to be those with very little to take care of, whilst those with the opposing attitude, possess the greater portion of the earth.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Thread, It Is Open,

    Certainly Carol is weighs on me, for where is the gain in sending Phyllis out looking like that, knowing other people may be thinking the same thing I am? Don't we want Phyllis to look her best?

    Social lubricant as you say; a societal machine that requires bullshit as lubricant, can we do no better?

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Thread, It Is Open,

    I'm happy to furnish you with some random examples of platforms for untruth:

    This is God punishing you....
    This house will last 150 years...
    No Phyllis you look great in that frock...
    It's the best purchase you'll ever make....
    Brutus is an honourable man....
    I'm working late at the office...
    You're a very special, clever little so and so...
    I left my last job because....
    No honey I would never so much as look at another woman...
    One day you'll realise your school years were the best years of your life...
    Energizer keeps going and going...
    Santa is watching you....
    Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?...
    When you're my age you'll understand....
    The customer comes first...
    We're just good friends...
    Before God we are all equally wise and equally foolish...

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Thread, It Is Open,

    Why are human beings so prepossessed with lying. Civilization is built upon layer upon layer of lies, to the extent that to successfully assimilate and contribute one must not only be adept in the practice but more significantly able to successfully ignore/ obscure truth to function adequately socially. Why do we allow our greatest liars to lead us? Why do so many insist on the monogamous tradition only to sabotage that coupling with their greatest whoppers? Does this pattern need to be turned around or is it a benign societal tumour, and if push came to shove could this mass tendency be reversed so your children live in a more honest world?

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: About Arie,

    One of the things that makes us so reluctant to lie, methinks

    Thanks Kracklite, that's exactly what's on my mind at the moment, if i may cross thread.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: About Arie,

    Chris, I’ve lived with autism in the family for 20 years, and you will never convince me to use that as a default term.

    Fair dos, that wasn’t really my motivation, essentially I’m simply more with Benny and Islander. If pressed, something more formal such as “the young Asperger man” as used in your initial post, seems appropriately descriptive. Tangentially, Russell, did you happen to get that note I sent? I hope it reached you in the spirit in which it was intended.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

Last ←Newer Page 1 74 75 76 77 78 130 Older→ First