Jerks don't always look like jerks to everyone else. I know. I'm friends with and have been friends with jerks who treat other people like dirt, but I don't speak up or do anything about it and continue to associate with them, because if I didn't I wouldn't have any friends, and I like them as long as they're nice to me.
I bet you know and like a lot of jerks who aren't jerks to you.
Jerks don't always look like jerks to everyone else. I know. I'm friends with and have been friends with jerks who treat other people like dirt, but I don't speak up or do anything about it and continue to associate with them, because if I didn't I wouldn't have any friends, and I like them as long as they're nice to me.
Well, I suppose then everyone's a little bit of a jerk in someone's perspective. Some people are just more obvious than others. I know my brother decided a bunch of my friends were jerks because they were bitching about how Firefox wasn't working at all with this one website they were trying to use.
My main point, though, was that men think that women say they want nice guys when they actually want jerks and that women think that men say they want nice girls when they actually want someone to put out. I think it's a mutual misunderstanding by the outliers who don't fall into the "jerk/slut" category.
I'm a jerk. I have been a massive jerk to a million people. I don't think everyone is a jerk all the time, but I think some people are. What are the criteria? Doing something that classifies as jerk activity, and keeping that going with no intention of quitting. That's a jerk. Several people I know have at least ONE trait that makes them a jerk.
Icedhope is one of the few, and I mean FEW people I can think of where I can't think of one of these traits. Yet.
EDIT: I may have just thought of one.
EDIT EDIT: No...on second thought it wouldn't count.
Since when did extrovert = asshole? My guy is an extrovert, and I've never had anyone treat me with more kindness and respect than he has shown me (even after I rejected his initial advance and said I just wanted to be friends... guess I failed at that plan, heh).
He is an absolute gem and I make sure he knows it every single day.
So quantity increased, but what about relationship quality (like long-term partner potential)? I guess it doesn't matter if that's not what you're interested in though, and fair enough.
Longest relationship in years came out of it. Simultaneously it should so be acknowledged that you can't keep that up more than a few weeks in unless you want to self destruct.
So. Honest question that is sure to offend plenty of people, even on this board, but I think it's a good question and a good portion of the users of this forum are intelligent enough to discuss this question intelligently and logically.
When can we reclaim the swastika from the Nazis?
Before the Nazis, the swastika was universally recognized as a symbol of good luck and good will, akin to the peace sign but before hippies were ever a thing. Now, perversely, this once noble symbol has been corrupted and twisted into a symbol of murder and lust for stolen power.
To me, this is a crying shame, especially given that it's still recognized in East Asian countries as a Buddhist symbol and apparently lacks much of the stigma to which we ascribe it in the West. If this symbol can still carry its original intentions there, why not here?
Yes, I am aware that this is an incredibly sensitive question but you people are my sounding board, even if all of approximately three of you ever read my posts, so I figure this might be a good place to ask and not come off as some kind of fascist or something.
ADDENDUM: Also, wouldn't reclaiming a symbol which they tried to corrupt be a fitting final victory over the Nazis? Just a thought.
It's so ingrained into western society to associate the swastika with Nazism, I'm not sure that it can ever be reclaimed. At the very least, not so long as World War II is so ingrained in our society, and with as many WWII movies, video games, and documentaries as I still see coming out, I don't think that's going to happen for quite some time.
That's not to say that it can't happen once WWII is just a part of our history, but our society is keeping it alive as sort of a living memory even for people far too young to have lived it. And I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing, just that it is.
And yes, I know there's a large overlap between history and society, but for the sake of this argument, I'm using "history" to mean a more passive part of our past that we acknowledge happened but don't dwell on, and "society" to mean a more recent part of our past that is more than just words in a textbook. There's probably better ways to say it, but this is how I said it.
These are fair points. Even more to Guruguru's point, I highly doubt that places like, say, the former Soviet Union or modern Israel will ever see it reclaimed. Still, it's a shame that an ancient good luck symbol was co-opted and utterly ruined by racists and murderers.
Then again, so was neoclassical architecture and tasteful military uniform design, so there's another big fuck you to 1930s Germany.
Anyway, this is why it's bad for me to mix my miscellaneous World War II research with Internet posting at 4AM.
When can we reclaim the swastika from the Nazis?
[...]
ADDENDUM: Also, wouldn't reclaiming a symbol which they tried to corrupt be a fitting final victory over the Nazis? Just a thought.
Once a symbol acquires a certain meaning, it's hard to separate the two, and IMPOSSIBLE if the symbol is still actively used with that meaning.
However, this is a country-specific thing. If you want your victory, take a trip to Japan to find the swastika on manholes and temples. The symbol already had its fixed, different meaning when the Nazis entered history, and has kept its original meaning all through WWII and after. Today, the swastika can denote "temple" on Japanese maps.
So. Honest question that is sure to offend plenty of people, even on this board, but I think it's a good question and a good portion of the users of this forum are intelligent enough to discuss this question intelligently and logically.
When can we reclaim the swastika from the Nazis?
What I'd like to know is: When does the United States no longer need to pay reparations to the indians?
I say "indians" because technically they're not "Native Americans"; they just came over here when there was a land bridge from Russia to Alaska.
Okay... yes, we treated them bad back when and the trail of tears was horrible for them. Yes, we conquered them. No, I'm not gloating. But how many other nations who were conquered get paid money, land and are tax-exempt from the conquering nation?
I've been trying to buy a house, and one thing I was told was "make sure the title history for the land documents that it doesn't belong to the indians or you can never sell it again." This happened to my wife's parents. Also, why do we give them money just so they can open casinos everywhere? All casinos are good for is taking money from the desperate.
Okay... yes, we treated them bad back when and the trail of tears was horrible for them. Yes, we conquered them. No, I'm not gloating. But how many other nations who were conquered get paid money, land and are tax-exempt from the conquering nation?
Knock knock.
They "get land"? Uh, just a tiny bit of the stuff that was completely theirs in the first place?
Sorry, but that's the least thing a people should expect for genocide (estd. 12 million victims).
Don't ask what the German government still pays to the Jews, three generations after the Holocaust.
Sure no one feels the responsibility anymore, sure the victims are mostly forgotten. But I've nothing against the continued payment if it serves as a constant history reminder to the government. Some things must not repeat, whatever the cost.
What I'm saying is, that they get money from the government and what they do with it is build casinos.
And if you buy property that doesn't have clear ownership details about how it no longer belongs to them, then you're screwed because they'll never negotiate in any way that lets you have it, no matter how long you've been taking care of it.
I'm not really racist or anything, it's just annoying that there's a giant, ugly casino not a quarter mile from my apartment (the exterior is entirely red sheet metal) which seems like it was custom built to look like a warehouse. It's also annoying that my in-laws can't sell part of their property to people who want to buy it because part of the lad technically belongs to the indians (the line for which runs right through the middle of the house).
What I'm saying is, that they get money from the government and what they do with it is build casinos.
And if you buy property that doesn't have clear ownership details about how it no longer belongs to them, then you're screwed because they'll never negotiate in any way that lets you have it, no matter how long you've been taking care of it.
So essencially nobody is native to anywhere by your logic and we're all africans. Also the ethnic group that was by far the most fucked over by the government, with staggering rates of poverty higher than any other minority group, should be glad that we shoved thier native nations out of thier ancestral homes to live on the least desirable and inhospitable lands that the government doesnt want. I mean these isolated and infertile places are perfect for starting honest businesses, right?
What I'd like to know is: When does the United States no longer need to pay reparations to the indians?
I say "indians" because technically they're not "Native Americans"; they just came over here when there was a land bridge from Russia to Alaska.
Okay... yes, we treated them bad back when and the trail of tears was horrible for them. Yes, we conquered them. No, I'm not gloating. But how many other nations who were conquered get paid money, land and are tax-exempt from the conquering nation?
I've been trying to buy a house, and one thing I was told was "make sure the title history for the land documents that it doesn't belong to the indians or you can never sell it again." This happened to my wife's parents. Also, why do we give them money just so they can open casinos everywhere? All casinos are good for is taking money from the desperate.
Pants was mentioning how he wondered how long it would take for the swastika to not be directly associated with the Nazis, as the swastika itself apparently had a history before that of good fortune. It's unfortunate, but I agree with those who say it won't happen until those events are no more than words in a history book.
My thought process then turned to wondering how long it would take to get over something my country did a hundred years before that.
Also, African-Americans were/are in a really bad way too. They got (and in some areas still get) dumped on a whole lot, but it seems to me that they as a culture have overcome quite a crap-ton of it. They've come a really long way in getting well-deserved equality (by societal standards) and I think that's really cool.
I also look over and see that stupid ugly-as-crap indian casino across the street, and think about how my in-laws can't sell their house...and I'm annoyed by it.
It's unfortunate, but I agree with those who say it won't happen until those events are no more than words in a history book.
The German people have a very valid concern that one day, the Holocaust is looked upon as nothing more than words in a history book. And they do everything in their power to not let that happen.
The German people have a very valid concern that one day, the Holocaust is looked upon as nothing more than words in a history book. And they do everything in their power to not let that happen.
And still there are some that claim it never happened at all.
Thankfully, at least THAT is more of an international idea. Racism is alive and well in our country, which totally freaks me out, but at least holocaust denial gets you out into the spotlight in a way no one wants to be in Germany.
What I'd like to know is: When does the United States no longer need to pay reparations to the indians?
I say "indians" because technically they're not "Native Americans"; they just came over here when there was a land bridge from Russia to Alaska.
Okay... yes, we treated them bad back when and the trail of tears was horrible for them. Yes, we conquered them. No, I'm not gloating. But how many other nations who were conquered get paid money, land and are tax-exempt from the conquering nation?
I've been trying to buy a house, and one thing I was told was "make sure the title history for the land documents that it doesn't belong to the indians or you can never sell it again." This happened to my wife's parents. Also, why do we give them money just so they can open casinos everywhere? All casinos are good for is taking money from the desperate.
You're talking about a small minority profiting from casinos. Native Americans lead in lack of education, alcoholism, poverty, overall employment and a host of other social ills. The majority do not build and profit from casinos.
Here is a handy chart to show how bad life is for the average Native American.
The German people have a very valid concern that one day, the Holocaust is looked upon as nothing more than words in a history book. And they do everything in their power to not let that happen.
I have a lot of respect for this. It baffles me that a few of our American history writers (of which I am a member of this troubled group) have taken to a reinterpretation that says the best thing that ever happened to Native Americans and Africans was for us to enslave them.
The whitewashing of American history is ridiculous. Nobody knows of our slaughter of the Philippines during the war with Spain (and the fact that the basis for war was suspect), or the wars we instigated in order to get control of the Panama canal, for instance. I'm not saying Americans should feel bad for all of that happening. Not at all, I feel terrible when Americans, especially Anglo Americans, feel bad about something that happened in the distant past or some racism on the part of their grandparents. I just want Americans to learn from it.
Thankfully, at least THAT is more of an international idea. Racism is alive and well in our country, which totally freaks me out, but at least holocaust denial gets you out into the spotlight in a way no one wants to be in Germany.
I am typically against reparation schemes of any sort, due to my disbelief in the concept of inherited guilt, but, well... the Indians kind of sort of desperately need it.
I am typically against reparation schemes of any sort, due to my disbelief in the concept of inherited guilt, but, well... the Indians kind of sort of desperately need it.
Yeah. I don't think money handouts are the answer, but they definitely need financial assistance and productivity incentives, something to motivate productivity. Other things, like education, they just outright need help.
Yeah. I don't think money handouts are the answer, but they definitely need financial assistance and productivity incentives, something to motivate productivity. Other things, like education, they just outright need help.
Ah, like the Soviet construction efforts in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Or Chinese aid in Africa as opposed to US aid efforts.
Comments
I bet you know and like a lot of jerks who aren't jerks to you.
Well, I suppose then everyone's a little bit of a jerk in someone's perspective. Some people are just more obvious than others. I know my brother decided a bunch of my friends were jerks because they were bitching about how Firefox wasn't working at all with this one website they were trying to use.
My main point, though, was that men think that women say they want nice guys when they actually want jerks and that women think that men say they want nice girls when they actually want someone to put out. I think it's a mutual misunderstanding by the outliers who don't fall into the "jerk/slut" category.
Icedhope is one of the few, and I mean FEW people I can think of where I can't think of one of these traits. Yet.
EDIT: I may have just thought of one.
EDIT EDIT: No...on second thought it wouldn't count.
Longest relationship in years came out of it. Simultaneously it should so be acknowledged that you can't keep that up more than a few weeks in unless you want to self destruct.
When can we reclaim the swastika from the Nazis?
Before the Nazis, the swastika was universally recognized as a symbol of good luck and good will, akin to the peace sign but before hippies were ever a thing. Now, perversely, this once noble symbol has been corrupted and twisted into a symbol of murder and lust for stolen power.
To me, this is a crying shame, especially given that it's still recognized in East Asian countries as a Buddhist symbol and apparently lacks much of the stigma to which we ascribe it in the West. If this symbol can still carry its original intentions there, why not here?
Yes, I am aware that this is an incredibly sensitive question but you people are my sounding board, even if all of approximately three of you ever read my posts, so I figure this might be a good place to ask and not come off as some kind of fascist or something.
ADDENDUM: Also, wouldn't reclaiming a symbol which they tried to corrupt be a fitting final victory over the Nazis? Just a thought.
That's not to say that it can't happen once WWII is just a part of our history, but our society is keeping it alive as sort of a living memory even for people far too young to have lived it. And I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing, just that it is.
And yes, I know there's a large overlap between history and society, but for the sake of this argument, I'm using "history" to mean a more passive part of our past that we acknowledge happened but don't dwell on, and "society" to mean a more recent part of our past that is more than just words in a textbook. There's probably better ways to say it, but this is how I said it.
Then again, so was neoclassical architecture and tasteful military uniform design, so there's another big fuck you to 1930s Germany.
Anyway, this is why it's bad for me to mix my miscellaneous World War II research with Internet posting at 4AM.
EDIT: In the USA.
Once a symbol acquires a certain meaning, it's hard to separate the two, and IMPOSSIBLE if the symbol is still actively used with that meaning.
However, this is a country-specific thing. If you want your victory, take a trip to Japan to find the swastika on manholes and temples. The symbol already had its fixed, different meaning when the Nazis entered history, and has kept its original meaning all through WWII and after. Today, the swastika can denote "temple" on Japanese maps.
http://www.japanese-buddhism.com/swastika.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCCKGvzj1NY
But only because I had a fucking awesome night!!
This is not helping my hangover rage.
What I'd like to know is: When does the United States no longer need to pay reparations to the indians?
I say "indians" because technically they're not "Native Americans"; they just came over here when there was a land bridge from Russia to Alaska.
Okay... yes, we treated them bad back when and the trail of tears was horrible for them. Yes, we conquered them. No, I'm not gloating. But how many other nations who were conquered get paid money, land and are tax-exempt from the conquering nation?
I've been trying to buy a house, and one thing I was told was "make sure the title history for the land documents that it doesn't belong to the indians or you can never sell it again." This happened to my wife's parents. Also, why do we give them money just so they can open casinos everywhere? All casinos are good for is taking money from the desperate.
Knock knock.
They "get land"? Uh, just a tiny bit of the stuff that was completely theirs in the first place?
Sorry, but that's the least thing a people should expect for genocide (estd. 12 million victims).
Don't ask what the German government still pays to the Jews, three generations after the Holocaust.
Sure no one feels the responsibility anymore, sure the victims are mostly forgotten. But I've nothing against the continued payment if it serves as a constant history reminder to the government. Some things must not repeat, whatever the cost.
And if you buy property that doesn't have clear ownership details about how it no longer belongs to them, then you're screwed because they'll never negotiate in any way that lets you have it, no matter how long you've been taking care of it.
And they never have to pay taxes.
Oh you've done it now, he's coming for you.
You finally out offended me. Good show.
My thought process then turned to wondering how long it would take to get over something my country did a hundred years before that.
Also, African-Americans were/are in a really bad way too. They got (and in some areas still get) dumped on a whole lot, but it seems to me that they as a culture have overcome quite a crap-ton of it. They've come a really long way in getting well-deserved equality (by societal standards) and I think that's really cool.
I also look over and see that stupid ugly-as-crap indian casino across the street, and think about how my in-laws can't sell their house...and I'm annoyed by it.
I'm sorry if I offend.
The German people have a very valid concern that one day, the Holocaust is looked upon as nothing more than words in a history book. And they do everything in their power to not let that happen.
And still there are some that claim it never happened at all.
You're talking about a small minority profiting from casinos. Native Americans lead in lack of education, alcoholism, poverty, overall employment and a host of other social ills. The majority do not build and profit from casinos.
Here is a handy chart to show how bad life is for the average Native American.
I have a lot of respect for this. It baffles me that a few of our American history writers (of which I am a member of this troubled group) have taken to a reinterpretation that says the best thing that ever happened to Native Americans and Africans was for us to enslave them.
The whitewashing of American history is ridiculous. Nobody knows of our slaughter of the Philippines during the war with Spain (and the fact that the basis for war was suspect), or the wars we instigated in order to get control of the Panama canal, for instance. I'm not saying Americans should feel bad for all of that happening. Not at all, I feel terrible when Americans, especially Anglo Americans, feel bad about something that happened in the distant past or some racism on the part of their grandparents. I just want Americans to learn from it.
Last thing I heard, the Amish are doing pretty well financially. Quite opposed to the Native American people.
They save a lot not buying the modern stuff we can't live with out.
The also have one of the highest rates of happiness in the country.
Amen to that.
Holy level cap, Batman!
I am typically against reparation schemes of any sort, due to my disbelief in the concept of inherited guilt, but, well... the Indians kind of sort of desperately need it.
Yeah. I don't think money handouts are the answer, but they definitely need financial assistance and productivity incentives, something to motivate productivity. Other things, like education, they just outright need help.
Ah, like the Soviet construction efforts in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Or Chinese aid in Africa as opposed to US aid efforts.
http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31663