Share your experience, tips, advice, questions…
As it seems most communities world-wide are going into voluntary or enforced quarantine that involves staying at home and avoiding physical contact as much as possible, I thought we could have a thread where we could try a bit of mutual support by cheering each other up over the next few days, weeks, months… Who knows?
I don’t know: suggestions on films to watch, books to read, gardening tips, exercise ideas
Usual rules apply plus a guideline. Let’s be kind and supportive to each other.
A truth? An opinion, surely!
All in favor of totalitarianism!
Remind me again what happens to dissidents in China. Or doctors who try to speak the truth.
China’s response to SARS-CoV2 places them in the middle of the pack, with the UK and France. Not as good as New Zealand, but way better than the US Federal Government…
According to what metric?
Do you have an actual scientific study you can cite?
🙂
Mung,
Like Chelsea Manning you mean?
Is there more than one, truth?
phoodoo,
I agree that China has made a tremendous progress in the last 20 years or so. But, to eliminate thigs, like spitting in the public, will take more than affluent society, no?
Communism, Socialism, Fascism, Totalitarianism. But worse than any or all of these is Racism! Let’s ignore the facts, to save sensibilities.
Do you think the Chinese Communist Government downplayed the risk?
Mung,
Capitalism….
Yes, just as the American Capitalist Government did, both for economic reasons.
Mung,
Well Mung, I have pointed out maybe 30 different things that the Chinese government has done well with their society, which has resulted in country that has become one of the safest and most stable places in the world. Perfect, no, but very good results. There are no guns, drug addicts, homeless camps, mass shootings; the police don’t run around like they are above the law, there aren’t financial incentives to put people in prisons, they don’t handcuff five year olds, and they don’t need armed guards in junior high classes wrestling kids to the ground because they they didn’t do their math homework.
So, I have asked you to tell me something good about Trump. Its a herculean task, I realize that, but you trying to turn this into a National Review talking points game, that’s not convincing. There are so many ills in America right now, it’s almost impossible to know what to begin to fix, because it all needs fixing. Its a totally broken system, being driven into the gutter by the one of the biggest swamp dwellers of the modern era. So do you really want to play the game of comparisons? I am not asking you to tell me what Trump does better than China, I don’t want to set the bar too high for him, I am asking you what does he do well at all? Anything? Does he have any talent for anything, other than just being a self-serving hate monger? Are there any small things you can think of that he does well? Are there any principals he adheres to that you respect? Does he have any great ideas for the future?
Trump doesn’t have the education to actually have any ideas or a coherent plan. Every time he is thrown into a situation where he has to make a decision, what he does is just fall back on his dumb cartoon character routine. “We will get the best, it will be beautiful…by the way, do you know I am a genius. Hey Pence, you were just saying that about me last week, right?” So he is feckless, this is a given. But what really incenses me about him, is that he has taken even the idea of a “Good America” and turned that into a juvenile taunting bully, that the entire world now laughs at and says, “This is your President? America? This is the best guy you can choose? And you like him? And you might even reelect him? ”
The world no longer aspires to be like America. Congratulations. This is his legacy.
Just not the same blatantly obvious fact. Ironical.
New Orleans, Detroit , New York , Atlanta , will remember , next week there will be more, The Republican Governor of Florida is turning away drivers with out of state license plates from entering the state. That will be something to remember.
Many think it is ok to lose 80, 90, 150,000 or more citizens in order not to inconvenience them , many will remember “ everyone dies” when the same people preach about the sanctity of life .
phoodoo,
No, it precedes his legacy by quite a few years. The decline/fall of the “American Dream” comes from well before him in the eyes of “the world” (which countries have you lived in for prolonged periods other than the USA, such that you know with some familiarity the opinions you impute to “the world”?). Exaggeration does a blame game no favours.
Notably, phoodoo, who seems to be a citizen of the USA, didn’t respond to the video I posted previously, from 2012: https://youtu.be/VMqcLUqYqrs
Now’s phoodoo’s opportunity to say why the current PoTUS is solely responsible for the 30-50 year decline in opinion of the USA from the rest of the world which “no longer aspires to be like (US)America”. Now’s phoodoo’s chance to explain the EXISTENCE of this video from 2012. Will he show care to try answering to this video, instead of over-simplifying with condescending rage, blaming one man for failures (supposedly without *any* successes) of a populous economic-cultural-social-political-religious system?
Vote for Bernie!
So the Chinese conservative capitalaists lied, and you imbibed the koolaid.
I could be wrong, but I think phoodoo is in China.
Gregory,
No, you are completely wrong. While Obama was in office, there were still many many people of other countries who really respected America, who wanted to emigrate there not just for economic opportunities but because of the democratic ideals of America, people wanted to raise their kids there, people looked to America for leadership and world justice. That was entirely erased under this one president. You can say it lessened under other presidents, but it was never completely erased like it is now. This is totally unprecedented..
Gregory,
And just so you know, because of my work, this is a subject that I am very very familiar with. It is a subject that gets discussed with me on an almost daily basis. I have a very clear picture of this situation, more than anyone else here, I can guarantee you that.
While it is true that the former high opinion of the USA in Europe has been eroding for decades, I must agree with phoodoo that Trumps undisguised disdain for its former allies and his open admiration for murderous autocrats has markedly increased this trend. There is the notable exception of the figureheads of the right-wing populist parties; they love the guy.
Corneel,
So do my right-wing friends. It’s unfathomable.
Heard yesterday that someone I have met many times socially (friends of good friend) died in a hospital in Montpellier a few days ago. Covid-19 suspected. She was in her late sixties.
Also my nephew, I heard today, is recovering at home after becoming ill resulting in a difficult night when paramedics attended and treated him (he wasn’t hospitalized). He’s 26. He was tested and Covid-19 confirmed.
I wonder if Barry Arrington’s right-wing views are clouding what judgement he possesses. This latest thread makes depressing reading. I hope his influence is no broader than current Uncommon Descent readers.
Neil Rickert,
A USAmerican citizen in China? This would help for context. American ex-pats are a different story altogether than people living in the USA railing vehemently against their President.
phoodoo,
Why not directly address the video then? It packs a punch against your “greatness & attractiveness until Trump” theory, no matter which way one slices it. Give it a shot? Or persist that you “know” & that anyone who disagrees with your “perspective” is “completely wrong.” No much of an open door for civilised discussion there.
While you’re obviously not a person on my top-10,000 list of people of credibility when it comes to discussing “Intelligent Design” theory, not least since you are a pro-IDist, and some kind of angry, condescending, hurt-mongering, apparently “quasi-theist” (please forgive, I don’t recall your worldview position as being well-articulated here), it is unclear why you think relentlessly attacking what you call “the orange idiot/moron”, makes you appear as a balanced or appealing “dialogue partner” on the topic of geo-politics or domestic US politics either. Jus sayin.
Be welcome to rip apart anything that this man has said about the US President, particularly regarding his “intelligence” or lack thereof, or the right of Republicans to support the person they voted for and the policies he has implemented while at the helm. I have no interest whatsoever to “defend” the US President here, especially as a non-USA citizen. I will pay attention if you come up with something coherent without hissing a fit in the meantime. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=peterson+on+trump
This is probably true.
My perspective:
America was widely respected after WW2, although it deserved some criticism. But it did provide a lot of leadership.
Then came the Bush (dubya) presidency 2001-2008. America lost a lot of respect at that time, mainly because Bush was a terrible president.
Then came the Obama presidency, and America regained its respect.
And then disaster (DDT, Donald Disastrous Trump) hit us. People who called themselves Christians chose to behave in an extremely unchristian fashion, and voted for this morally bankrupt fool.
I’m not sure that America can ever again recover that respect.
He possesses judgement? That’s news to me.
No, I think he is thoroughly Chinese. But I don’t know for sure. He (or she) has only ever given vague hints.
Neil Rickert,
Yes, I agree with all of this.
Neil Rickert,
I am not Chinese. But I don’t like people attacking people because they are Asian. I am a blond haired westerner, and I still understand racism.
Alan Fox,
Yes, a longer version of the Daily Mail comment I mentioned earlier. I guess sticking to one’s guns come hell or high water is a virtue in some circles.
Gregory,
I know all about Jordan Peterson. I don’t find his intellect to be even the slightest compelling. He is a pseudo-intellectual bore. Him and Ben Shapiro should have a competition to see who can spew more erroneous truths and inane blather whilst sending crack addicts into a deep apathetic sleep.
And I know much more about the subject of the international perception of America than Peterson does. I think writer Tabatha Southey said it best about Peterson- “He is the stupid man’s smart person.” Ben Shapiro and Milo Yiannopoulos might object.
Neil Rickert,
I used to think there couldn’t possibly be a worse combination than Bush/Cheney. Boy, was that naive. I believe Bush at least possessed some assemblance of a soul.
phoodoo,
As Springsteen sang, Born in the USA? I ask for voluntary disclosure because ex-pat US citizens can be excessively scathing, as you quite obviously tend to display in your language here. I know more than a few of these creatures. Thanks if you’re willing to say.
I have no hesitation to admit I’m a Canadian re-pat, now back in Canada, since I’ve voluntarily disclosed my RLI here.
Sock puppet temper tantrums are a dime a dozen these days online. So is sheer & utter hatred of political leaders, even if displayed much more rarely by truly devout theists.
Regarding Peterson, the hard part for radical & alt-leftist SJW detractors is that he has a solid record as a clinical psychologist, treating 1,000s of patients, and comes with high recommendation from not a few women lawyers, who he’s helped with their “empowerment”, one of the topics that come up in his clinical work. Those who would lay heavy political lather onto Peterson’s insights into problems with “western civilisation” display blindness to realities that any balanced, thinking person could easily recognise. I have nothing to say about Shapiro or Milo, thanks.
Carry on with your self-marginalising radicalism, then, phoodoo, though it doesn’t appear to be healthy in the way you speak with such anger, angst and aggression towards others across the spectrum.
….He said un-impassionedly.
Ha.
phoodoo,
Just an observation, rather calmly & dispassionately stated. Your incessant, unceasing railing against Mods here is visible to anyone who visits this site. Imagining that isn’t clearly visible would reveal a grand delusion.
Gregory,
Did you have something positive to say about trumps principals or intellect, since that is sort of the subject? Or would you prefer to talk about Peterson’s drug addiction, clinical depression and meat only diet? But I am sure he will pick himself up by his bootstraps just fine. I guess that is the advice he gives-from his drug detox room somewhere in Russia.
Sounds like a sweet guy in person though,
phoodoo,
Well, rather than only throwing negativity in a highly imbalanced and blind way, I’d rather think of the 10s of 1,000s of people around the world who Peterson has been helping put their lives back together with encouragement, clearly intended psychological support, and invitation to symbolic thinking (cf. Jonathan Pageau, a confidant of Peterson’s, who isn’t on a meat-only diet with medical-chemical dependencies), particularly those who have faced despair, nihilism, disempowerment, self-destructive ways, hopelessness, interpersonal marginalization, anti-religious activist atheism & over-rationalization, as if scientism were a healthy, rather than highly damaging ideology.
It’s not like listening to an IDist preaching IDT as if that held any answer but pseudo-knowledge & PR antics from the DI, while spewing anger and hated towards both atheists & agnostics, as well as towards Abrahamic monotheists who reasonably, calmly, clearly and convincingly reject IDT / IDism, is a welcome choice.
Sorry, but I’m uninterested to discuss the US President, his decisions, policies or personality here. Carry on without my input.
Ah, I see now…
Blonde joke you’ve never heard before
After becoming very frustrated with the attitude of one of the shopkeepers, the young blonde declared, ‘Well, then, maybe Ill just go out and catch my own alligator and get a pair of alligator shoes for free!’
The shopkeeper replied with a sly smile, ‘Well, little lady, why don’t you go give it a try?’
The blonde headed off to the swamp, determined to catch and alligator. Later in the day, the shopkeeper was driving home and spotted the young woman standing waist-deep in the murky water, shotgun in hand.
He saw a huge 9-foot gator swimming rapidly toward her. With lightning reflexes, the blond took aim, shot the creature and hauled it onto the slippery bank.
Nearby were 7 more dead gators all lying belly up. The shopkeeper watched in amazement as the blond struggled with the gator. Then, rolling her eyes, she screamed in frustration…….
“CRAP!! THIS ONE’S BAREFOOT TOO!!!”
PeterP,
Hunting alligators with a shotgun! Ha, that’s a good one.
slugs…quite effective!
phoodoo, I did get yoru funny!
Fair enough (or should that be “blond enough”). Thanks for the clarification. And I agree with you on racism. But I live in a country where perhaps 40% of the population is racist.
Yes, I was equally naive about that. I expected Bush to go down in history as the worst president ever. But that might never be mentioned, given the comparison with Trump.
As low as that? I’m convinced that racism, tribalism, fear of the outgroup, is the norm and we are capable (to a variable degree) of learning to overcome our biological tendency to prejudice.
I agree that Bush II was very very bad and Trump is even worse, but the presidency has still plenty of room to fall.
One aspect to consider: It seems to me that when the presidency goes bad, then the mechanisms supposed to check it, such as impeachment, never work. This shows something fundamentally rotten about the whole regime. Well, (threat of) impeachment worked once in the history of USA. At other times assassins do the job.
Doubt Bernie would require Governors to be nice to him in order to get aid.
The 40% are those who don’t even try to overcome it. And many are proud of their racism.
Certainly we’ve never had a president who had so little intuitive understanding of what the basic job of the president is, before Trump. Almost anyone picked at random off the street would have surpass Trump in their understanding of what the basic job of the president is. But Reagan and Bush Jr far surpass Trump in the amount of destruction and suffering they have caused. That may be exceeded in Trump’s second term.
The Constitution has a lot of serious flaws, and this is one of them: they ignored the role of political parties. They figured that a perpetual conflict of private interests would prevent the public good from being subordinated to any one set of particular private interests. They didn’t count on massive coordination between branches of government to institute a minortarian or counter-majoritarian choke-hold on legitimate power.
I somewhat disagree. While in-group/out-group tribalism — including degrees of prejudice and distrust — seems to be run pretty deep in human prehistory, fully-fledged dehumanization requires deliberate effort. (And the more we learn about Neolithic trade routes, the more it seems that there have always been zones of interaction between people of different cultures.)
I will pick up on this later (when chores are done).