What Extremist Views Do You Admit To Having?

[Jas]

6. Anti-speed-limit legislation. The problem is not how fast people drive, it's whether they're capable of safely controlling their vehicles at that speed.

Agreed. However, I would still impose speed limits in residential/high pedestrian traffic areas, and school zones. But for the most part, speed limits are a cash cow, especially with multinova.

 

[luchog]

Anyone caught seriously using terms like "proactive", "implementize", "core competencies", or "rearrange paradigms", without a shred of detectable irony, should be hauled out into the streets and summarily executed as an example to all.

 

[Cleon]

Theoretically, or practically?

To an extent, both. Hard to put into words without writing an entire essay, which I really don't have time for at the moment.

I think a democratic, secular state in that region is not possible. If it's democratic, it won't stay secular for long, regardless of what any constitution might say.

If that's the case, Israel is doomed anyway. At least with my way, there would be much less bloodshed.

No argument with the sentiment, but if you insist on a strict reading of the amendment, it says "Congress shall make no law repsecting the establishment of religion." If you want to be a literalist, it says nothing about the president, other executive departments, or state governments.

Clearly a strict reading alone is not sufficient to understand the intent of the words.

Point taken, but the Constitution explicitely applies those amendments to the states, if memory serves.

The point I was trying to make is that all of the drives to put prayer in schools, remove evolution from science curriculums, keep "under God" in the Pledge, etc., is a direct violation of the establishment clause. Trying to pretend it isn't is like trying to pretend water isn't wet.

 

[Cleon]

Anyone caught seriously using terms like "proactive", "implementize", "core competencies", or "rearrange paradigms", without a shred of detectable irony, should be hauled out into the streets and summarily executed as an example to all.

At my last job, we once got a CEO who used this sentence at an all-employee meeting:

"We must proactively focus our synergy into a new paradigm."

With a straight face. And no, I'm not making that up. I'm not that creative.

(The managers, of course, all nodded thoughtfully as they digested the wise words. Inexplicably, however, the entire IT department started shaking uncontrollably as we all tried to keep from bursting out laughing.)

 

[Darat]

Anyone caught seriously using terms like "proactive", "implementize", "core competencies", or "rearrange paradigms", without a shred of detectable irony, should be hauled out into the streets and summarily executed as an example to all.

Unless playing boardroom bingo of course.

 

[Darat]

At my last job, we once got a CEO who used this sentence at an all-employee meeting:

"We must proactively focus our synergy into a new paradigm."

With a straight face. And no, I'm not making that up. I'm not that creative.

(The managers, of course, all nodded thoughtfully as they digested the wise words. Inexplicably, however, the entire IT department started shaking uncontrollably as we all tried to keep from bursting out laughing.)

When I was doing internal presentations and my team was present I would see how many I could slip in before the first one of them burst out laughing - sometimes some of us do know what we are saying...

 

[New Ager]

I think that pretzels should be slightly larger.

President Bush thinks they should be smaller.

 

[IllegalArgument]

But isn't the avoidance of detriment to oneself in refraining from what you call "hedonism" in effect pursuing happiness and pleasure and thus hedonistic in and of itself? That's what I never got about attacks on hedonism. When someone says hedonism is destructive, they are trying to escape pain and be hedonistic.

Yes, but I think that leads them right back into pain, hence the term, hedonic treadmill.

No one starts drinking with the goal of an alcoholic, but it happens because of habituation, which to escape that pain of withdrawl or try and recreate that memory of pleasure, a person must drink more, which leads to...

Now, hedonism in my book, doesn't just include addictive substances like drugs. Consumerism, is another example.

 

[BPSCG]

Yeah...that's one of mine too. And every time I observe an example of woefully-inadequate parenting, I start wondering whether we couldn't devise some kind of "test" that people should be required to pass before being allowed to breed!!

I don't often say that out loud, though.

You should, though. I've often asked* why do you have to have a license to have a car, a license to have a dog, but nothing more than a cooperating sperm and egg to have a kid?

* ...usually when I see some stupendously incompetent parenting...

 

[Luke T.]

We're wandering into challenges again. Let's just stick to your own personal beliefs that you know you have more than the average emotional attachment to.

Since people are already opening up and being honest about things they get a little sweaty over, it is counterproductive to turn up the heat even more.

Questions directed at clarification are fine. Disagreeing with someone's definition or predicted outcome of their secret wishes falls more into a challenge.

 

[BPSCG]

Can anyone think of views I’ve espoused here that they consider extreme (apart from the ones I’ve mentioned)?

Practically every view you espouse is extreme, Darat, so all anyone has to do is sift randomly through your posts...

 

[Seismosaurus]

That's a pretty brave thing to admit. I'm ashamed of it, but I have to agree. And not just war--any catastrophic event.

I spent a good five minutes hesitating before hitting the submit button on that one...

Yeah, I'm kinda ashamed of it a bit too, when I think about it. But I feel how I feel, I don't have a dial that switches my emotions to what they are supposed to be.

I still remember the night Gulf War I kicked off. I spent from midnight to three in the morning on the phone with a friend whilst watching the coverage. I felt like a kid on christmas.

Ever notice that all that footage of smart bombs was absent from Gulf War II? It's those new GPS guided bombs they use. No laser designation, so you don't get gunsight footage of the bomb hitting. I hate those new bombs.

During 9/11, I felt damned excited. Of course I knew it was a tragedy, and I would've helped if there was something I could do, but at the same time I remember watching and thinking, somewhat oddly, "Finally, something is happening!" It was exhilarating.

I was also...well, inappropriately aroused for the rest of that day (and I've heard from several other people who report the same). It was extremely disappointing to me to discover that I had the machinery of a rape-and-pillage savage under my intellectual shell.

Jeremy

9/11 I watched on happening live on TV since I happened to be home off work that day. I didn't really get the same buzz off of that - I was pretty detached about the whole thing really. I do remember being very surprised that the buildings came down, to the extent that I didn't actually believe the first one had fallen until maybe ten minutes later. I know how strong steel buildings are, so it was really amazing to see that happen.

One thing that stood out - the BBC showed a really close up view from a helicopter camera that was tracking a guy who had jumped off. I'll never forget seeing him just tumble and tumble and tumble like he was never going to hit the ground. For all the documentaries I've seen since, I've never once seen that repeated.

 

[Batman Jr.]

Yes, but I think that leads them right back into pain, hence the term, hedonic treadmill.

No one starts drinking with the goal of an alcoholic, but it happens because of habituation, which to escape that pain of withdrawl or try and recreate that memory of pleasure, a person must drink more, which leads to...

Now, hedonism in my book, doesn't just include addictive substances like drugs. Consumerism, is another example.

I guess this is just a semantic difference, but I feel that you're really just objecting to a miscalculation of strategies with the aim of achieving happiness rather than the actual pursuit of happiness. Hedonism, when not tamed by a rigorous logic to guide the compulsion to experience pleasure, can be dangerous; however, this danger is arguably not the fault of hedonism but instead the methods chosen to satiate the ethic. You could be hedonistic and conclude that since getting drunk can feel good temporarily, you should drink. Conversely, you could be hedonistic and examine the situation and realize that the emotional burdens of excessive drinking will eventually outweigh the emotional benefits and decide not to drink.

 

[corplinx]

Oh, one other extreme position for me: while I am very much pro-choice, I think Roe v. Wade is increasingly undefensible and probably should not have been decided as it was...

Shhh. Pro-choice but anti-roe v. wade is an intellectual position the masses can't understand and apparently neither can the Senate judiciary committee. Its heresy of the highest order. Its not extreme, just too smart for the humanoids.

 

[BPSCG]

4. I think the State of Israel, as we know it, should disappear and be replaced with a democratic, secular state for all residents, with no special benefit or penalty based on religion or ethnicity.

I think the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as we know it, should disappear and be replaced with a democratic, secular state for all residents, with no special benefit or penalty based on religion or ethnicity.

I think the mullahcracy of Iran, as we know it, should disappear and be replaced with a democratic, secular state for all residents, with no special benefit or penalty based on religion or ethnicity.

I think the kleptocracy of Syria, as we know it, should disappear and be replaced with a democratic, secular state for all residents, with no special benefit or penalty based on religion or ethnicity.

And so on...

 

[gnome]

Oh yeah, I'm for socialized health care. The health care system we have now is nuts and free market rules don't apply. Between VA, medicaid, welfare, and medicare the bulk of it is already subsidised on the public dime anyway, we may as well go the rest of the way and get the working poor access to preventative medicine.

Am I allowed to take the opposite of the "you're a moron for believing that" in this thread and instead say:



Or would that be just as bad?

 

[BPSCG]

Oh yeah, I'm for socialized health care. The health care system we have now is nuts and free market rules don't apply. Between VA, medicaid, welfare, and medicare the bulk of it is already subsidised on the public dime anyway, we may as well go the rest of the way and get the working poor access to preventative medicine.

Yeah, socialized medicine is a great idea. The poorest drug-and-booze addled street person can stagger into any hospital emergency room and get his face stitched up from his encounter with the sidewalk. He won't get the same quality of care as a paying patient would, but the Democrats want to change that. Someday, if the Dems have their way, we'll all get the same quality of care as the booze hound.

Which is still better than he'd get in that island country just south of Florida with the great socialist health-care system.

 

[Luke T.]

Shhh. Pro-choice but anti-roe v. wade is an intellectual position the masses can't understand and apparently neither can the Senate judiciary committee. Its heresy of the highest order. Its not extreme, just too smart for the humanoids.

But it is just the thing I am looking for in this topic.

So corplinx, now that you are here, what gets you foaming at the mouth? (avatar reference)

 

[Cleon]

I think the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as we know it, should disappear and be replaced with a democratic, secular state for all residents, with no special benefit or penalty based on religion or ethnicity.

I think the mullahcracy of Iran, as we know it, should disappear and be replaced with a democratic, secular state for all residents, with no special benefit or penalty based on religion or ethnicity.

I think the kleptocracy of Syria, as we know it, should disappear and be replaced with a democratic, secular state for all residents, with no special benefit or penalty based on religion or ethnicity.

And so on...

I don't disagree with any of the above.

However, mine is considered an "extreme" position, while yours are not. Odd how that works.

 

[Luke T.]

Am I allowed to take the opposite of the "you're a moron for believing that" in this thread and instead say:



Or would that be just as bad?

No, that's fine! Maybe somebody will admit to a crazy idea that somebody else never thought of and that somebody else will find they like. And it is always nice to know you are not alone in thinking what you think.