Posts by Rich of Observationz

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

  • Speaker: Towards a realistic drug policy,

    All mass murderers in NZ were mentally ill, and all smoked pot. I can't locate a link to it, but it stands to reason

    With reasoning like that you should write for the NZ Herald.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Speaker: Towards a realistic drug policy,

    a senior mental health proffessional (sic)

    It's a bit worrying that they should be making an unprovable and easily refuted claim. Not to mention the cause/effect disconnection - I imagine that most mass murderers have eaten cheese, but did cheese cause them to murder.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Speaker: Towards a realistic drug policy,

    The argument is a lot simpler. Its my body. Not yours.

    OMG I agree with Mikee.

    Must do something about that, lets see:

    I don't believe the hippy argument that cannabis is a wonderful and beneficial 'erb, and that if we were allowed it then everyone would stop drinking the Evil Booze and all would be good.

    For one thing, they don't substitute. A spliff doesn't replace a cold beer on a hot day, or a glass of wine with a meal. But mainly, all substances have effects that can be problematic for some people in some circumstances.

    I don't see substance abuse as a problem with substances, but a problem with people. If you have a population with serious issues around self-respect and social exclusion, those will manifest themselves in substance abuse, as well as many other ways. We have that population at the moment - it's a consequence of our socio-economic system delivering bad outcomes for a sizeable minority. Countries with less untrammelled capitalism, like several in northern Europe, have less of these problems. Nor, on the whole, do educated middle class drug users, of whom there are many.

    So fixing drug abuse isn't about controlling access to drugs, it's about social change so people can cope with life (including the existence of psychoactive substances). It's not about making it worse through propertarianism, incidentally.

    Having said that, prohibition (of *any* substance) is one thing that makes matters worse, and we should end it. We need to have some kind of regulation, based on harm reduction, but criminal sanctions against the end user shouldn't be in the mix.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Speaker: Towards a realistic drug policy,

    All mass murderers were pot smokers

    Ok, your homework is to produce a complete list of everyone who murdered four or more people and a reference to them smoking weed. Don't post again until you've done it.

    (I reckon Mohamed Atta and his cohorts didn't smoke dope, it being against their religion and that, but references to the contrary are welcomed).

    Geoff, how do you know which of your students smoke?

    More to the point, how do you know any of them don't?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: You've got to listen to the music,

    [The Pogues] wanted too much money

    Sure it wasn't the rider? Also, does the rule in NZ about not serving "intoxicated" people apply to performers, or is there an exemption for international drunkards of noted talent..

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: You've got to listen to the music,

    Sad as it may seem, Muse are a bigger draw than Neil Young.

    That may be because the target audience for BDO wasn't born when Neil Young was in his prime.

    Although I don't do BDO (I've been twice, and the queues and fencing around the bars reminded me of what gigs must have been like in pre-89 Eastern Europe), I'm glad it isn't all codger rock.

    Otherwise, we'll have a centenarian Paul McCartney and a 102 year old Ringo Starr headlining in 2042.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: You've got to listen to the music,

    I think we may be in the presence of amanfrommars, late of El Reg.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: You've got to listen to the music,

    which group are you with?

    Illuminati Temple. But I didn't tell you that.

    < kiwiburn organisy stuff>
    Also, register on the website if you want a nice placement, eh!
    < / kiwiburn organisy stuff>

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: You've got to listen to the music,

    and what might they be ?

    Psy, trance, house, hardhouse sometimes, electro and breaks occasionally.

    The only vinyl outlets in Wellington, to my knowledge, are Groovy, Samaurai (D&B, dubstep) and Slowboat (slow music).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hard News: You've got to listen to the music,

    i heard some of the original gatherers formed a trust to buy the original canaan downs site. wonder if [luminate] is them

    Almost. The site is, AFAIK, owned by a group of people who encourage festivals up there. Luminate is one such, but I don't think the organisers are in the owning group.

    There is a fairly thriving scene of smallish scale dance parties in NZ. We just had Monster Mash in the Sounds, Madagascar in Auckland, Alien Nation is coming up down south. Getting beyond the few hundred people that attend those is hard - to get to turnouts in the thousands needs a name that your average 19 year old recognises, and they aren't cheap.

    Can I plug Kiwiburn here? Burning Man styled, so nobody gets paid and the music is driven by the participants. But it will be good, and our soundcamp is going to be bigger and better than ever.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

Last ←Newer Page 1 364 365 366 367 368 555 Older→ First