Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Nuclear1 on October 19, 2009, 12:23:09 am
-
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/10/06/u-s-now-most-admired-nation-on-the-planet/
The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.
It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).
“What’s really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009,” said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.
He believes that during the previous administration of George W. Bush the United States suffered in the world ranking with its unpopular foreign policies but since Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country’s status has risen globally.
“There is no other explanation,” Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.
-
It was more fun when we were hated. :(
-
“There is no other explanation,” Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.
Oh? There is NO other explanation? I suppose this Anholt guy has never heard of a little movie called Anaconda 3: Offspring starring David Hasselhoff? No, of course, our dramatic ascent in international renown following the film's Nov 20, 2008 direct-to-DVD release must be purely coincidental! It's all thanks to Obama, right? The 'Hoff factor couldn't possibly edge countries like GERMANY bwahaha Pass the Kool-Aid Simon!!!
-
As much as I'm usually suspicious of 'no other factor!' explanations, I really do think it's probably Obama.
He's far more loved overseas than he is here.
-
It's partly Obama being Obama, and partly Obama not being Bush. The fact that the country is back on a diplomatic path and a member of the international community is doing pretty well for our image abroad.
-
I wonder what life would be like if McCain had been elected.
Probably more silliness.
-
As much as I'm usually suspicious of 'no other factor!' explanations, I really do think it's probably Obama.
He's far more loved overseas than he is here.
Dude, I'm talking about THE David Hasselhoff, not David Hasselhoff the optometrist, David Hasselhoff the Austrian kid, etc.
In an Anaconda movie.
-
He was in Red Alert 3. That was great.
-
^_^
-
Who were the survey subjects?
I only asked because I would have thought Japan would have beaten Germany. If not for the nerdlove just tech output. . I know I admire Japan more than germany, no offense. . They recovered so well after . . . . Well, you know.
-
Who were the survey subjects?
I only asked because I would have thought Japan would have beaten Germany. If not for the nerdlove just tech output. . I know I admire Japan more than germany, no offense. . They recovered so well after . . . . Well, you know.
Maybe because Germany actually invented new stuff instead of just copying and improving someone elses stuff. :p
-
I also got the impression that Japanese society kind of rubbed other people the wrong way
(yes there is a joke in there)
-
I don't think it's so much admiration as relief to be honest, at least under Obama the US doesn't feel like such a loose cannon, and there's no longer that 'straining at the leash to bomb someone' feeling from the Whitehouse.
-
^_^
-
You have a really, really skewed view of what Japan is actually like.
-
Who were the survey subjects?
I only asked because I would have thought Japan would have beaten Germany. If not for the nerdlove just tech output. . I know I admire Japan more than germany, no offense. . They recovered so well after . . . . Well, you know.
what? the war?
Its jsut that obama to the outside seems like an embodiment of everything that could go right in the states, and with his election it seemed like the US might become a great place. but don't worry, congress is demonstrating that he isn't everything in states' government, and unfortunately, it seems like the rest of the world doesn't quite see as well as those of us on the continent.
I wouldn't say i admire the states that much ATM, but if education, health care, standard of living, and religion's place in the government were fixed, then i would.
-
^_^
-
You had a woman?
-
You have a really, really skewed view of what Japan is actually like.
Well I did have a woman from there who is a native there who speaks pretty good English, and I also read about it quite a bit, including statistics. So I'm more likely to know more about that particular country than you, no offense.
Yeah, no.
You had a woman?
Seriously.
-
Japan and white people who spooge over everything the Japanese do/make seriously damage my calm.
Anyway, there's not a lot to admire about the US, generally. We are, after all, a country started by terrorists. :P The ideals, I suppose are admirable. But what America likes to think of itself as/as doing is generally pretty far removed from what the US actually is/does.
I think admiration is the wrong word entirely. Relief is more like it.
We don't even do the bare minimum of potentially admiration-worthy things, like guaranteeing quality health care for everyone, or not murdering tens of thousands of innocent people for monetary gain.
-
^_^
-
All fine points, except...
...invaded...Japan...on foot?
-
^_^
-
We are, after all, a country started by terrorists. :P The ideals, I suppose are admirable.
Speaking of which today in 1781 – At Yorktown, Virginia, representatives of British commander Lord Cornwallis handed over Cornwallis' sword and formally surrendered in person to George Washington and the comte de Rochambeau, ending the American Revolutionary War.
-
All fine points, except...
...invaded...Japan...on foot?
I'd replace that particular argument with the vicious firebombing campaigns that alone killed as many people as the two nuclear bombs.
In each and every war, atrocities are committed by both sides, but history rarely reflects this.
EDIT - Yes, viscous firebombing campaigns. Frikken spellchecker.
-
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/10/06/u-s-now-most-admired-nation-on-the-planet/
The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.
It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).
“What’s really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009,” said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year.
He believes that during the previous administration of George W. Bush the United States suffered in the world ranking with its unpopular foreign policies but since Obama was elected, and despite the recent economic turmoil, the country’s status has risen globally.
“There is no other explanation,” Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.
Like Frak it is
-
^_^
-
The firebombing campaigns were, supposedly, targeted at Japanese industry. Everything else was collateral damage, although correspondence between Air Force leaders makes it clear it was in their minds more of "secondary targets". Studying the literature of the time, it's not entirely clear where LeMay and co. derived their authority to undertake this particular tactic (theater commanders and even higher Air Force command were not consulted), or how they believed it would be more effective then, say, aerial mining of Japanese ports.
On the other hand, I doubt you'll meet a single US veteran of the Pacific War who does not believe that the use of the atomic bombs was a wise and proper decision compared to launching Operations Olympic and Coronet. Anyone who has examined the operational studies conducted in preparation knows that they were not describing it as a "blood-soaked apocalypse" for ****s and giggles. The US expected to absorb nearly as many casualities as the entire European war. The virtual extermination of the Japanese race was foreseen, and that was not an intentional side-effect.
The use of atomic weapons, compared to that, was merciful for all sides.
-
Both the firebombings (in Pacific and Atlantic theaters) and the use of the atomic bombs were atrocities.
They may have prevented larger-scale atrocities, but they were atrocities nonetheless.
-
Willliam Calley
-
I'm still disgusted by something I only learned the day before yesterday: the US actually executed some of the Japanese involved in waterboarding American POWs. (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2007/dec/18/john-mccain/history-supports-mccains-stance-on-waterboarding/)
Hypocrisy is the highest form of patriotism. :P
-
I'm still disgusted by something I only learned the day before yesterday: the US actually executed some of the Japanese involved in waterboarding American POWs. (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2007/dec/18/john-mccain/history-supports-mccains-stance-on-waterboarding/)
Hypocrisy is the highest form of patriotism. :P
:blah:
I like reality. It is a world without moral absolutes, in which we are free to choose who is and who isn't evil.
-
The firebombing campaigns were, supposedly, targeted at Japanese industry. Everything else was collateral damage, although correspondence between Air Force leaders makes it clear it was in their minds more of "secondary targets". Studying the literature of the time, it's not entirely clear where LeMay and co. derived their authority to undertake this particular tactic (theater commanders and even higher Air Force command were not consulted), or how they believed it would be more effective then, say, aerial mining of Japanese ports.
On the other hand, I doubt you'll meet a single US veteran of the Pacific War who does not believe that the use of the atomic bombs was a wise and proper decision compared to launching Operations Olympic and Coronet. Anyone who has examined the operational studies conducted in preparation knows that they were not describing it as a "blood-soaked apocalypse" for ****s and giggles. The US expected to absorb nearly as many casualities as the entire European war. The virtual extermination of the Japanese race was foreseen, and that was not an intentional side-effect.
The use of atomic weapons, compared to that, was merciful for all sides.
Interestingly enough, I'm doing my term paper on this subject. The US expected to soak up about 40,000 dead, not half a million. The bomb was dropped out of expediency, not purely out of saving US lives. Postwar relations with Russia were also a major consideration, as a demonstration would go a long way as political capital, especially if that demonstration proved the US had the balls to drop them on cities.
As to the "single US veteran" point, every single military commander in the Pacific was aghast at the bomb's use. Leahy, Nimitz, Eisenhower, and MacArthur all publicly denounced the bombings on an already-defeated Japan.
I can and will cite sources if you want to argue over this (for fun, of course).
-
Those are wildly at variance with the sources I've seen. Max Hastings, despite his tendancy to editorialize, offers 40,000 dead and several hundred thousand wounded as the expected cost of Operation Coronet, which is just invading Kyushu. The Honshu invasion was expected to be worse.
Also, yes, the top commanders were aghast. They don't have the benefit of hindsight. The firebombings had not convinced the Japanese government to surrender; the total blockade caused by aerial mining once the B-29s were pulled off the firebombing mission had not caused them to surrender. They made overtures because of starvation two months before the end, but then withdrew them, signalling they were willing to continue the fight. They were known to be diehards from a myraid of engagements by now. A completely rational enemy would have surrendered after the Marianas, a merely desperate one after Leyte. Japan might be defeated by any rational standards, but they were now far beyond rational behavior.
And the "single veteran" point was worded more carefully than you think; the people who would have had to do the actual invading, the infantry, tankers, artillery enlisted, NCOs, junior officers? I doubt you can cite a single source where they were against the decision. They also happen to be the only ones you can still meet. :P
-
“There is no other explanation,” Anholt said in an interview, referring to the impact of Obama.
DAS HASSELHOFF! HE IS THE REAL REASON!!!111!
I also got the impression that Japanese society kind of rubbed other people the wrong way
I see what you did thar.
And this is now a debate about US involvment in WWII, including but not limited to, their atomic bombs, firebombing campaign and various other war actions. By the way, no where do I remember the US invading Japan on foot. In fact I seem to recall the nukes were dropped specifically to avoid doing that, and the massive casualties that would result.
-
Battle of Okinawa. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_okinawa)
-
Okinawa was technically Japanese soil, with the civilian population that goes with it.
Those are wildly at variance with the sources I've seen. Max Hastings, despite his tendancy to editorialize, offers 40,000 dead and several hundred thousand wounded as the expected cost of Operation Coronet, which is just invading Kyushu. The Honshu invasion was expected to be worse.
The Joint War Plans Committee gave an estimate of 193,500 casualties on June 15, 1945, including 40,000 dead and 150,000 wounded. The given estimates were for the invasion of Southern Kyushu, followed by the Tokyo plain on Honshu. Those are the official estimates from the time, total, and hindsight matters nothing for the perceived motivations of the bombings. MacArthur endorsed those estimates, based on a number of reasons. One of the most prominent being the high number of potential landing sites. The Japanese military would be unable to position all of their troops at a guaranteed point of assault, and casualties would be much lower, as a result of that, since a large percentage of casualties occur during the breaching assault.
Also, yes, the top commanders were aghast. They don't have the benefit of hindsight. The firebombings had not convinced the Japanese government to surrender; the total blockade caused by aerial mining once the B-29s were pulled off the firebombing mission had not caused them to surrender. They made overtures because of starvation two months before the end, but then withdrew them, signalling they were willing to continue the fight. They were known to be diehards from a myraid of engagements by now. A completely rational enemy would have surrendered after the Marianas, a merely desperate one after Leyte. Japan might be defeated by any rational standards, but they were now far beyond rational behavior.
I will grant you that they were not acting rationally, but do you know why? The Japanese military wanted above all else to preserve the institution of the Emperor. They knew the war was lost, but they hoped that a final, decisively bloody campaign would persuade the US to accept the condition that Emperor be allowed to remain in place during their surrender. Yes, a small minority of die-hards did attempt to prolong the war after the decision was made, but they lost, and are unimportant. However, even that small core of fanatics was motivated by a desire to see the Institution of the Emperor survive, mostly because the Allies had called for nothing less than Unconditional Surrender. In fact, it was almost entirely that small minority that prolonged the war due to its influence in the Japanese government.
I am having trouble finding the reference at the moment, but by the beginning of August, nearly half of the Emperor's advisors advocated accepting the Unconditional Surrender declaration at Potsdam.
And the "single veteran" point was worded more carefully than you think; the people who would have had to do the actual invading, the infantry, tankers, artillery enlisted, NCOs, junior officers? I doubt you can cite a single source where they were against the decision. They also happen to be the only ones you can still meet.
Touche. However, people like that normally are not the voices of history for the books. As such, it would seem difficult to confirm or deny that statement on any level for the time being. Please do not misunderstand that I am against the dropping of the bomb. I firmly believe it was necessary. However, it was not necessary for all the reasons people like to think of.
Interesting fun fact for those not currently arguing: The March 9-10, 1945 firebombing of Tokyo caused more immediate deaths than the Hiroshima explosion, over 83,000.
-
Though it's probably not a popular viewpoint, the way I see it, war is hell, no matter how you try to pretty it up. That's particularly true when engaged in a total war such as WWII. You can try to do what you can to mitigate the impact of what you're doing, but in the end, everyone is doing something that sixty years of perspective could potentially label an "atrocity." As horrific as their effects were, if the firebombings of Tokyo and the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki enabled the war to conclude significantly more swiftly than it would have without taking those actions, then from where I'm sitting, they were the right decision.
That being said, regarding the atomic bomb, I share the opinion of most of the physicists who originally worked on the Manhattan Project. Though obtaining such a weapon before Germany was able to do so was crucial, it's something that never should have come into existence in the first place in an ideal world. We shouldn't possess the ability to destroy ourselves completely.
-
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4813/hahana.png)
heh...
-
That HAS to be satire
-
He's not a typical troll, at least. Except for the all caps, he has good grammar.
-
Plus I thought we didn't really want the Olympics since they're bad.
-
And besides, you already have David Haselhoff.
-
anything that is good is bad if your political enemies are in power.
and while we are on the subject of Japan, it's my favorite foreign country, they are one of the most racist modern nations, yet at the same time, they are trying their hardest to improve themselves. I love how they came defeated out of the second world war, a war where they committed some of the worst acts humanity has known, and became not only a massive economic superpower but also they became a cornerstone of international peace. I mean it's almost as if they managed to learn from their mistakes or something! I love the pride they have in their nation, and I think they earned it. I look forward to our continued friendship and rivalry.
Nippon Banzai !
/*opens rosetta stone and tries to learn to speak Japanese again*/
-
Though it's probably not a popular viewpoint, the way I see it, war is hell, no matter how you try to pretty it up. That's particularly true when engaged in a total war such as WWII. You can try to do what you can to mitigate the impact of what you're doing, but in the end, everyone is doing something that sixty years of perspective could potentially label an "atrocity." As horrific as their effects were, if the firebombings of Tokyo and the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki enabled the war to conclude significantly more swiftly than it would have without taking those actions, then from where I'm sitting, they were the right decision.
That being said, regarding the atomic bomb, I share the opinion of most of the physicists who originally worked on the Manhattan Project. Though obtaining such a weapon before Germany was able to do so was crucial, it's something that never should have come into existence in the first place in an ideal world. We shouldn't possess the ability to destroy ourselves completely.
I agree. Nonetheless, the firebombings and atomic bombings were heinous atrocities.
I do not think there was any better alternative, but - as we all learned from the Mass Effect morality system - 'good' and 'evil' are sometimes two separate meters that fill up independently.
-
I mean it's almost as if they managed to learn from their mistakes or something!
No, they didn't. Many of them still can't face up to their country's horrible atrocities. They don't keep much of a military because they aren't allowed to.
but also they became a cornerstone of international peace.
Yes and no. They aren't causing a lot of trouble but there is a large amount of mistrust between them and the rest of Asia, and with good reason.
they are trying their hardest to improve themselves.
Honestly I haven't seen it that much. They still typically see themselves as second to the top, looking down on the rest of the world, excluding the western part of course. It is against Japanese character to change.
-
these are all accurate criticisms. they do tend to gloss over their darker chapters, though in America we don't exactly bring up the fact that the only reason our nation exists is because we genocided a whole native population. so I can understand them not wanting to bring it up, but I can also most definitely sympathize with China and Korea's outrage over this.
but I can't help but feel they are ernistly trying to improve. perhaps I am simply mistaking their sense of thinking they are better for them trying to become better, but then that feeds back into that strong national pride I mentioned as one of the reasons I like them.
-
^_^
-
well, he lives in China, of course he's going to say bad things about Japan, it's practically the national sport of every nation in that region that isn't Japan on account of Japans historic policy of extensive rape ****ing all of them for resources and fun.
I don't recall him bad mouthing China, ever. I'm fairly sure he hasn't, I mean he isn't in jail for one thing.
-
^_^
-
I think he's just trying to put what he sees as unwarranted admiration into perspective.
-
Yeah. I like Japan enough; anyone who watches a decent amount of anime will have some amount of love for that country. What I dislike are people who automatically assume Japanese made stuff to be superior, and will preach about said superiority to anyone and everyone.
-
You know Kosh, for someone who chose to move to that part of the world, you sure say bad things about China and its surrounding areas, including Japan.
I say what deserves to be said, based on the evidence at hand. To do otherwise would be intellectually dishonest.
If you don't like it in that part of the world, why did you move there?
Have you ever thought about the reason why I came here and did NOT go to Japan? One thing that has become clear about China, it will most certainly not become like Japan. Japan made a conscious choice 50 years ago to keep everything the same, that is not the case in China. Japan is stagnate because they chose to be that way, while there is a great deal of change happening in China. That is why I chose it, because of what it will be.
I don't recall him bad mouthing China, ever. I'm fairly sure he hasn't, I mean he isn't in jail for one thing.
I criticize things about China that deserve criticism, like everything else.
Lucky I live in a relatively safe state like Oregon or I would have a reason to feel much more fear.
.......
You're seriously from there? That is creepy.
And there is police corruption here too, Kosh.
Not to the extent that there is in Japan. Last I checked local government in the US wasn't in bed with the mafia.
Police here often can get away with beating people
Evidence please.
I think he's just trying to put what he sees as unwarranted admiration into perspective.
Yes.
What I dislike are people who automatically assume Japanese made stuff to be superior, and will preach about said superiority to anyone and everyone.
Whenever you meet those people just point out the various exploding Sony batteries that have occured off and on over the past decade.
Also, he and I have talked in PMs and stuff and he doesn't seem to like their culture.
Very few things annoy me more than asiaphilia. If Japanese culture is so enlightened then where are all the ground breaking inventions that they have made? The reason Germany has such a high degree of admiration is because they invented so many things. For example, modern education, state funded health care, national pension programs, the car, diesel motors, jets, aspirin, flourescent lamps, cathode ray tubes, amoung many others plus a long list of nobel prizes for physics and chemistry from 1901 to 1939.
-
I criticize things about China that deserve criticism, like everything else.
I couldn't recall anything :)
so what do you think China is going to be?
-
In many ways it will much more closely reflect modern western culture than it will Japanese. It is still hard to say that for sure what it will be, but that is the general trend.
When they talk about "generation gap" in China, usually they are referring to someone who is only about 5 years younger (or older depending on the perspective).
I couldn't recall anything
Nothings been brought up in a while. :)
-
^_^
-
Seems to assume western culture equals the USA. If I recall correctly from my Western Civilization class the majority of it dealt with Europe. :P
-
If everything is westernized, it would all be pretty much the same.
You forget something, not everyone in western civilizations are the same. Western civilization itself can and does change, while Japanese in general do not. This is why Japan's attempt at being a global power was doomed from the start.
It's not right to alter a cuture to a way you like it.
It is not about the way I like it, it is what is best for them and their people.
You also develop a culture that puts money even before their own spouse. It is sad.
In reality eastern cultures do this to a far far greater extent.
Well Japan has the best robotic tech in the world.
Because they put more effort into it. Interesting how they do this but don't utilize their own people in an efficient manner, but that would require changes that they are not so willing to make.
They also tend to put more effort into making it to the garbage can and keeping their place clean and not being pigs like many people here. A lot of garbage on the ground and I don't even licve in the city.
It is like that in most parts of Asia, Japan and south korea are the exceptions. But I do question their cleanliness given that public urination is a not so rare event in Japan.
It is failry safe compared to living in New York and DC
I will give them credit for that, and it is something that can be assimilated.
-
As much as I like Japan I can see why someone else would not. I like and respect stubbornness. another way of interpreting stubbornness is as kosh has pointed out, an unwillingness to change. To say the Japanese are stubborn, would be simply flat out wrong, to say they are an eternal monument to pure and unwavering stubbornness, would be getting a little closer to the truth. now because I happen to be an individual who considers stubbornness to be a likable personality trait this only enhances my opinion of Japan, but if you are a person who can not stand it, then you are not going to get along with the culture.
now as much as I like the country, and I might want to visit, I would never want to live there, I know how they think of foreigners, and I know how 'fun' it would be for me, a Gaijin without a family history mapped back to the 12th century, to try to get a job that didn't involve cleaning or food preparation. the very reasons I like them are the same reasons I wouldn't want to live there, odd isn't it?
-
I think Kosh would be quite qualified to criticize things in China. He, after all, lives there.
My impression from China was also that money is much more important there than it appears to outside.
-
The Chinese are rather nationalistic; to them if you are as patriotic as them, their respect will increase for you. It's all about 'face' in Asian countries.
-
To say the Japanese are stubborn, would be simply flat out wrong, to say they are an eternal monument to pure and unwavering stubbornness, would be getting a little closer to the truth. now because I happen to be an individual who considers stubbornness to be a likable personality trait this only enhances my opinion of Japan, but if you are a person who can not stand it, then you are not going to get along with the culture.
It isn't really a question of what I like or prefer, it is about the effects that it has on their society and their country. In this case the effects are highly detrimental.
I would never want to live there, I know how they think of foreigners, and I know how 'fun' it would be for me, a Gaijin without a family history mapped back to the 12th century, to try to get a job that didn't involve cleaning or food preparation. the very reasons I like them are the same reasons I wouldn't want to live there, odd isn't it?
Ironic.
My impression from China was also that money is much more important there than it appears to outside.
It is true, but my impression is that is largely a result of the country's recent economic history. 30 years no one had much in the way of real money, now everyone has opportunities so naturally they all want a slice of the pie.
Take this story for what you will (http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20091016_1.htm)
The Chinese are rather nationalistic;
Long ago, way Back in the Day (tm) Europe and the US were like that, eventually most of it petered out. I would guess the same would happen here (hopefully).
-
^_^
-
That made less sense than Glenn Beck having a rant while under the influence of LSD
-
^_^
-
tl;dr, guys, she cheated on him. She also wasn't a good stereotypical subservient Asian girl. Just another internet Japanese girlfriend.
-
Welcome...to the desert of the real.
And get into the 20th century at least, srsly.
-
That was a really bizarre posting.
-
^_^
-
What the ****?
-
What the ****?
-
Needs more Dwarves and Betamax VHS
-
:blah:
-
What the ****?
Seriously, dude. :wtf:
-
Stalking and harassment! What a hero.
-
?????
-
too immature and too easily manipulated by the bad influences of her friends to follow the rules of love and from her being weak minded
What are these rules and where may I find them? And sometimes you need to stop attributing everything wrong with something to other people.
For the rest:
What the ****?
-
^_^
-
Probably. You came across as a bit of a stalker.
-
^_^
-
too immature and too easily manipulated by the bad influences of her friends to follow the rules of love and from her being weak minded
What are these rules and where may I find them?
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that being unfaithful, lying, and not sharing info is breaking the rules of a love relationship, if you have social skills or any knowledge of how love relationships work, that is. Or maybe some people don't mind people doing that to them if they lack self respect. You are 16 and I'm not sure if you had a serious relationship before yet, or maybe you don't see those qualities (honesty, being faithful, and communication) as something important in relationships? What the...? If someone is unfaithful and plays with my mind, you bet I won't let them get away with it and I will let people know the truth. What goes around comes around.
But must I continue talking about this? We can get back to discussing admired countries? I wonder if I made a mistake by discussing my story.
17 thank you. I wasn't so much disputing that some things are reprehensible in realationships, merely trying to point out that there aren't really "rules" of love. Or of anything else not academic, really. If the rules are all relative, they aren't "rules." Also, please leave speculation of my own personal life out of one of these discussions. Feel free to bring up yours, of your own volition, but leave mine alone.
EDIT BEFORE THE POST: Well, I consider stalking to be when you follow someone around physically. I think it is ok to gather data on people via the internet in order to find out if they are trustworthy or telling the truth. I might have been a good detective. My train of thought and lacking trust in many people has saved me a few times. I don't mind if someone sees data on me via the internet, but I'm usually careful not to post too much. Maybe I posta pic or 2 though.
Still stalking. Stalking does not imply merely physical tailing. Using your own "rules," might it not be better to just ask?
Anyway, who cares if we're still on topic? It's an interesting discussion. :p
-
It's not stalking it's research..
:nervous:
-
...So I had her give me her contact list and I gathered evidence and compared a name I heard in the that voice mail, was like Andre, but I found it to be Anh Tri after gathering data of his id on other websites and matching the voice mail memories I have in my head. He sounded like a VN/American and I found he lived in San Diego. Other data matched. One night I stood up until 7am looking for data.
Stalking.
Too bad for Anh Tri Nguyen when I posted in his Yahoo 360 profile about what I knew what he did, and I posted it for all his friends to read on his Yahoo 360 profile that I found. He eventually deleted his account after I did that several times, used fake emailer on him, told some of his contacts directly about what he did and what kind of person he is, and I even took some of his pictures as evidence and altered one of them in paint to have horns, a mustache, big thick eyebrows, a pointy go ti, and text that says (Anh Tri la trai dao duc) which means (Anh Tri is immoral), and then I put it as my display pic in my 360 profile and he even saw it :D:D:D Amazing what I can do without ever meeting him in person. I laugh and smile when I think about it.
Harrassment.
-
Relationships require a degree of trust. If that trust is burnt, so be it: it's part of what makes us human. I'd say that trusting and being burnt is a better decision than never trusting in the first place.
The benefits of trusting and being right, after all, are quite significant.
-
AHA! So YOU'RE the one who used that fake emailer! Tip for next time: It's NGTM-1R, not R1
-
Aha, yeah, I remember that.
If you're gonna harass fellow forumites under a false name you might as well get the false name right, High Max.
-
;-)
-
...So I had her give me her contact list and I gathered evidence and compared a name I heard in the that voice mail, was like Andre, but I found it to be Anh Tri after gathering data of his id on other websites and matching the voice mail memories I have in my head. He sounded like a VN/American and I found he lived in San Diego. Other data matched. One night I stood up until 7am looking for data.
Stalking.
Too bad for Anh Tri Nguyen when I posted in his Yahoo 360 profile about what I knew what he did, and I posted it for all his friends to read on his Yahoo 360 profile that I found. He eventually deleted his account after I did that several times, used fake emailer on him, told some of his contacts directly about what he did and what kind of person he is, and I even took some of his pictures as evidence and altered one of them in paint to have horns, a mustache, big thick eyebrows, a pointy go ti, and text that says (Anh Tri la trai dao duc) which means (Anh Tri is immoral), and then I put it as my display pic in my 360 profile and he even saw it :D:D:D Amazing what I can do without ever meeting him in person. I laugh and smile when I think about it.
Harrassment.
So, they deserved it. What they did was 10 times worse. Also, he shouldn't be dumb enough to post that info publicly. It was too easy. Also, if a girl loves me and I took her back, it is my business to make sure she means it and is honest and I have the right to know, and I saved myself. I made a smart choice and I would do it again.
@Bat: Well, I didn't study his name well enough. Usually I do. I also sent one to Nightmare posing as Mobius and let him know it was me when he opened it.
It was funny when I posed as someone appearing as their own sname and email and I let them know it was me and they thought I hacked their account but then I explained it to them and showed them the program. :D
Just preserving for posterity.
If you didn't seem so comically harmless I might bring you up for a ban.
I hope that some day you overcome your problems and achieve happiness.
-
;-)
-
To High Max,
For a martial artist, you seem to have a lot of time to spend in the net. Though I admit, you wouldn't be the first one that I have heard of. Also I don't think destroying somebody's reputation is what I would consider funny.
-
:nod:
-
It is true, but my impression is that is largely a result of the country's recent economic history. 30 years no one had much in the way of real money, now everyone has opportunities so naturally they all want a slice of the pie.
I also thought that way before. Unfortunately, after thinking it a bit and pondering through all the evidence I have seen so far indicated that the current situation is nothing new in the history of China. PM me if you want to discuss this.
On topic, US reputation has changed really quickly around here and I think quite a lot of people see the current developments as a positive sign.
-
;-)
-
So, they deserved it. What they did was 10 times, no, 100 times worse. Also, Anh Tri shouldn't be dumb enough to post that info publicly. It was too easy. Also, if a girl loves me and I took her back, it is my business to make sure she means it and is honest and I have the right to know, and I saved myself. I made a smart choice and I would do it again.
wow poe's law.
I always knew you were a stupid ****er, but wow.
-
;-)
-
yeah, why don't you stalk me?
oh yeah, you already tried that, what did it get you?
I didn't even notice because you decided to respond with a four page vomit.
**** you you god damned idiot.
-
She wasn't Japanese. She was a new gen VN girl who had some problems from her past but she tried to make most people think she was good. I was quite mean to her with my words after I found out. The average Vietnamese girl doesn't act crazy like that, but in some ways, the country is going through a 60's trend. The Japanese one I had was in person and a good women and was before this.
It's possible that Huyen loved me but was too immature and too easily manipulated by the bad influences of her friends to follow the rules of love and from her being weak minded, and perhaps didn't love me as much as she made me think. She is only 22 and was 19 at the time. After all, I seen her sad and cry on webcam sometimes and she told her family and I how she missed me and said it quite often. But when she got lonely, she probably often times loses control and was crazy sometimes and can't be trusted, is one reason she did those strange things. Also, it wasn't just an internet girl. I know her sister in person.
Anyways, I shouldn't talk more about it since it's offtopic.
Or perhaps you were too immature to realize that such a relationship had no substance to begin with. I find your obsession with people's premarital sexual behaviors as the biggest factor in determining cultures general lvel of respect to be highly illogical.
It lists Japan as the 5th most peaceful nation in the world.
It wasn't their choice, the US forced them to be this way.
So, they deserved it. What they did was 10 times worse.
If this was in the US you would be legally liable under the cyber bullying act.
-
;-)
-
Debating with High Max is a waste of time. He won't get it.
Let's not get started down this road.
-
Whatever
-
I seriously thought there was a setting somewhere that i could list users I wanted to ignore and in the forum anytime they posted the message would be blank or something. the only thing I can find seems to only relate to PMs.
-
To be honest, I used to believe in abstinence because that's what my parents taught me.
I was stupid.
In fact I can't form my sentences correclty. R3IOWQEGYHFNI4UW3.
-
;-)
-
If I have no one, I can just do it alone.
Ladies and gentlemen, the only thing High Max has said all day that makes any sense.
-
;-)
-
Urgh. Please stop, guys.
-
I think it's funny how High Max gets all pissed off when people judge his lunacy and creepiness, but thinks it's totally fine to call me a selfish, ugly slut. :P
-
;-)
-
I think it's funny how High Max gets all pissed off when people judge his lunacy and creepiness, but thinks it's totally fine to call me a selfish, ugly slut. :P
She learns! :p
-
;-)
-
I think you're about the least enigmatic person I know.
That website you linked to is a pseudoscientific garbage dump just like any of a billion other places run by idiots on the Web. 'Open minded people' might enjoy it, if you mean 'open to anyone coming along and ****ting into your brainpan.'
Anyway, if you want more attention go get a guest spot on Oprah. This thread has turned into a forum for you to indulge your masochistic social failings.
I think it's time to
LOCK AROUND THE CLOCK
but I'll leave it open so people can make fun of that idiotic misunderstanding of quantum mechanics.
Seriously, I read it, and at first I was like ' :wtf:'
but then I luled.
-
;-)
-
Could you outline a testable prediction made by one of these websites?
I've actually read a lot of the scientific literature on NDEs. We know what causes them and what effects they have. There's nothing mystical about them - it's rooted in the neural architecture of the brain. Fun stuff.
-
;-)
-
High Max, if the moon were made of barbecue spare ribs, would you eat it?
-
It is close minded to say that all are caused by the same things and that they are all just a product of the mind.
To the contrary: it is open minded to accept whatever there is evidence for. All I require is a testable prediction.
Religion and mysticism require one to arbitrarily select a single possibility amongst myriad choices, close oneself off to other options, and believe hard in that random pick. In some cases it works out, but I would not call it 'open-minded'.
-
It is close minded to say that all are caused by the same things and that they are all just a product of the mind.
To the contrary: it is open minded to accept whatever there is evidence for. All I require is a testable prediction.
Religion and mysticism require one to arbitrarily select a single possibility amongst myriad choices, close oneself off to other options, and believe hard in that random pick. In some cases it works out, but I would not call it 'open-minded'.
Bingo. Have a cookie.
-
It is close minded to say that all are caused by the same things and that they are all just a product of the mind.
To the contrary: it is open minded to accept whatever there is evidence for. All I require is a testable prediction.
Religion and mysticism require one to arbitrarily select a single possibility amongst myriad choices, close oneself off to other options, and believe hard in that random pick. In some cases it works out, but I would not call it 'open-minded'.
Bingo. Have a cookie.
Have a whole frikken jar of cookies man. You hit the ****ing nail on the head without hitting your thumb.
I think that basically sums up High Max's "problem", eh?
-
No. No it doesn't. A summary of logical limitations of religious faith (and by the way, "mysticism" has a relatively specific meaning where religion is concerned, and I take no small issue with the context in which it was used here) doesn't even begin to describe what we've witnessed in this thread. High Max is either an extremely artful troll, or someone whose problems are way past idle academic debate.
-
It is close minded to say that all are caused by the same things and that they are all just a product of the mind.
To the contrary: it is open minded to accept whatever there is evidence for. All I require is a testable prediction.
Religion and mysticism require one to arbitrarily select a single possibility amongst myriad choices, close oneself off to other options, and believe hard in that random pick. In some cases it works out, but I would not call it 'open-minded'.
I often enjoy your posts. :nod:
I don't believe that religion doesn't have any evidence to support it but I do believe it is an inferior theory to a purely natural world. Mainly because the assumption of God's existence. But that is something I accept on faith and my reasons are purely philosophical.
I also believe that absolute "religious" truth can be known and can go beyond the myriad of choices in the interest of saving everyone's time (especially mine) I suggest we not go too deep into this line of thought. :P
-
I do want to say that this doesn't mean that faith is bad. It just means that faith is faith, and shouldn't be conflated with reason.
If God could be explained he could be limited, and God is by nature omnipotent, no? Whatever He or She or It is, if you believe such a critter exists.
-
I do want to say that this doesn't mean that faith is bad. It just means that faith is faith, and shouldn't be conflated with reason.
If God could be explained he could be limited, and God is by nature omnipotent, no? Whatever He or She or It is, if you believe such a critter exists.
Correct faith is just that... faith. :)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1
-
Quite.
-
Just to yank things back to a previous point of inanity, what was being referenced two pages ago when High Max was talking about spoofing NGTM-1R, or some such nonsense? I must have missed whatever it was when it happened, and I could use some cheap lulz.
-
High Max sent me a fake email as "NGTM-R1" telling me this:
Hi, boy. You need balance in life or you will have more violence. Too much freedom= violence, too much supression of it = violence. Maybe you don't know that USA isn't exactly the safest country and far from the happiest, but you can kiss the feet of the war loving mongerers like the generals and admirals, if you want........You some sort of transvestite know it all 16 year old?......... You don't think outside the box because you only care about usa and its culture and you think it is always right and also give into peer pressure, numbnuts. I don't care to waste my life with liberal fanatic losers who can't mix beliefs and like to live a ****ty lifestyle and not take resposibility........The human race doesn't deserve to exist forever and it won't since nothing lasts forever, in my experience. that means luck doesn't last forever. I wonder if you ever worked a day in you life "labor" or did your mommy and daddy pamper you with material things. So weak. I've done labor more than you, I'm sure. I've worked with christmas trees, chain saws, gas powered pressure washers, weed trimmer, ect, and I've done it a lot and swept the store's parking lot countless times. I have the scars to prove that I've done a lot of things like that........You kids think you know it all. Seems old people have the same problem. I admit I don't know it all......But I hate those who use others for sex and money and I hope the worst for those weak fools........Stop kissing America's ass and get off your high horse and be your own person instead of doing what everyone else does, like a drone. Go to urbandictionary.com and look up drone.
Naturally, I was sort of pissed. Then again, there were some gems in there like "You some sort of transvestite know it all 16 year old?" and him telling me to do my own thing by following his instructions.
Feel free to lulz at this.
-
Woooowwww. XD
-
Those damn some-sort-of-transvestite-know-it-all-16-year-olds will be the death of civilization as we know it. :lol:
-
I like how his definition of work only includes physical labour. Clearly work based on thinking is completely invalid and we should all go back to beating each other with rocks. Oh, and of course the tirade about how strong and smart he is in the middle. Very entertaining!
What sort of person gets scars from weedtrimming or sweeping?
-
That was priceless. He should do it again!
-
:nervous:
-
That last part should really be on the WHIYL thread. (EDIT: That last part before you edited it)
Anyway, I was less pissed at the content than that you didn't man up and send it yourself.
-
By the way, I am watching Saw V from a torrent download, not in this moment though. I wonder how saw VI will turn out.
I suspect that Jigsaw will have an epiphany whereby he realizes the futility and counter-productiveness of his obsession with torture, and become a Sufi, thus ending the series conclusively with no promise of any more highly profitable Saw movies.
-
Dude, High Max, we're laughing *at* you. You sound like some douchebag twelve year old on youtube.
-
So?
-
Well I read a part of wikipedia saying that the producers plan to make Saw 7 and 8 too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_(franchise)#Future
It's all about the money, isn't it?
-
*_*
-
Actually, I once read a doctoral thesis whose central argument was that the sequels to Naked Gun were made because Leslie Nielsen felt that the franchise's post-structuralist metaphorical structure could not be adequately realized in the space of one feature-length film.
-
I feel it really needs to be pointed out that the purpose of caching is to improve speeds by reducing latency. Therefore arbitrarily deleting it is likely to negatively impact performance.
-
*_*
-
It's probably free RAM being used as disk cache containing game data.
-
High Max sent me a fake email as "NGTM-R1" telling me this:
Hi, boy. You need balance in life or you will have more violence. Too much freedom= violence, too much supression of it = violence. Maybe you don't know that USA isn't exactly the safest country and far from the happiest, but you can kiss the feet of the war loving mongerers like the generals and admirals, if you want........You some sort of transvestite know it all 16 year old?......... You don't think outside the box because you only care about usa and its culture and you think it is always right and also give into peer pressure, numbnuts. I don't care to waste my life with liberal fanatic losers who can't mix beliefs and like to live a ****ty lifestyle and not take resposibility........The human race doesn't deserve to exist forever and it won't since nothing lasts forever, in my experience. that means luck doesn't last forever. I wonder if you ever worked a day in you life "labor" or did your mommy and daddy pamper you with material things. So weak. I've done labor more than you, I'm sure. I've worked with christmas trees, chain saws, gas powered pressure washers, weed trimmer, ect, and I've done it a lot and swept the store's parking lot countless times. I have the scars to prove that I've done a lot of things like that........You kids think you know it all. Seems old people have the same problem. I admit I don't know it all......But I hate those who use others for sex and money and I hope the worst for those weak fools........Stop kissing America's ass and get off your high horse and be your own person instead of doing what everyone else does, like a drone. Go to urbandictionary.com and look up drone.
Naturally, I was sort of pissed. Then again, there were some gems in there like "You some sort of transvestite know it all 16 year old?" and him telling me to do my own thing by following his instructions.
Feel free to lulz at this.
Whoa when did he write that?
-
Sep 12, right after one of the political threads du jour at that time.
-
Out of (slight) interest:
Quote from High Max
By the way, I am watching Saw V from a torrent download, not in this moment though. I wonder how saw VI will turn out.
How does downloading movies from Torrents fit to your morals? Because I would call it "stealing".
-
High Max's morals only apply to people that aren't him.
-
Based on that email I think there was something of a misunderstanding: We don't think the US is always right, just think High Max is always wrong. :p
-
*_*
-
Kosh, You shouldn't speak for everyone like you are all a hive mind
If I see any posts on HLP mostly agreeing with you, I will retract that statement.
Many people I talk to IN PERSON in USA and from other cultures using IM, agree with me on certain points.
We can all agree the Autobahns were a great idea, but that doesn't mean Hitler was right overall (got overshadowed by many really bad things).
-
Can we get him banned for impersonating me or something? Really.
-
If anyone had been fooled for a second, perhaps. :D
I will give a warning now that anyone caught in this kind of stupidity is facing a perma-ban though.
-
I would like to hear if anyone has ever seen a single thing he has ever posted that they are not completely sure was either wrong or nonsensical.
-
Wow, High Max is a retard.
-
Okay guys, cool down with the flaming.
-
:rolleyes:
-
Wait a sec, who had the title of "Rant machine. Push button. Watch him go!" ?
I'm not saling [selling]? it and I will delete it after I am done. Is it still wrong?
Sorry, but I believe the answer to that is yes. Not that I think you're a terrible person for it. :p
-
.