Where are YOU?

[Devons Daddy]

totally agree on all points.
still got detetnion without trail.
i have said many times for the record this is the authority figure state run by the state many times.
you would not begin to imagine the amount of restrictions on citizens here.
but i have enjoyed an excellent life style within it.i have to admit.
but funny one to share. you want to keep tropical fish? they recently reapealled the law which required you had to get a license.

but yes it is a dictorship not in a regime style of military but defeintely one non the less.
it does fly in the face of all many of believe in though.
its almost communsim done correctly. for want of a better description.

[The Monarch]

hmm bonny scotland specifically a wee town called darnley

[Oddboy]

Devon's Daddy is Bennett Beany.

[Generally Contrary]

-its almost communsim done correctly. for want of a better description-  Does the PAP know you say this? ;-)

I abhor 'emoticons', but do see their necessity in certain cases.  Much like police powers...

Well, we could get into an endless discussion on communism (actually, we can't, have haven't done enough reading, thinking or talking to discuss interpretations of Marx et al.).  But I'll leave it that my vision of socialism is a democratic one, in which people take part in debate and have an influence over politics that extends beyond the choosing of well-funded pre-determined alternatives at the ballot box.  Of course, for this to even hope to function we either need to bring greater economic equality (or remove wealth from the political equation - opinions and proposals should be judged in themselves rather than how much money the speaker has behind him) and invest heavily in a universal life-long education system, particularly with regard to critical thinking.    

I don't want to end this thread - I have found it very interesting (and I apologise if I have monopolised it) and I don't want to stifle anybody's right to reply - but, given that I am in a minority (which I am acutely aware of when I have this discussion at work, at home, in the pub), I don't want to alienate everybody on this board.  I certainly wouldn't want to be thought of as second only to 'he whose name shall remian unspoken'.

I also don't want to be lynched at Comics 2003.
;-)

[Tiplodocus]

Tried to post an longer version of this earlier but it failed.

I do apologise if I caused any upset by posting the original "It's only a car" thing.

I don't think I could wish death upon someone who stole my car/burgled me no matter how much hassle it caused me; there's just no comparison.  (and I speak from experience).

Of course, I've never had extreme experiences like Karne (my deepest sympathies) so I really don't know how I'd feel in that situation.

[Matt Timson]

"However, to try to draw equivalence between a phrase used by me to describe my own opinions, and a comment made by you to describe them is quite a leap of logic."

Sorry, but did you miss the part where I told you my comments were never directed at *you* specifically?  You assumed that I was talking to you, while I assumed that you were dismissing my opinion due to it not being as "carefully considered" as your own.

The "equivalence" that you're looking for here is that we both made incorrect assumptions that offended the other.  Hardly "a leap of logic" by any stretch of the imagination.

Either way, I think it's best that we agree to disagree...

[Oddboy]

I don't wish death on anyone either.
But I can acknowledge that some people deserve it, not that I'd want to be the one that had the final word on the matter.

No, I don't think people deserve death for nicking my car (maybe if they were driving it recklessly afterwards, endangering others etc).
They deserve to never listen to music ever & have a soggy bed & be seperated from their loved ones, that sounds fair.
Hmm... A prison with a leaky tap sounds like the perfect punishment.

[Matt Timson]

... Before I make my way down to Comics 2003 and get mighty UNliberal on your ass!!!

Matt (who for the benefit of the dull witted, is now joking)

;)

[Tiplodocus]

Yes, that sounds like a good punishment, Odders.

(So long as it helps the criminals learn the errors of their ways and rehabilitates and doesn't just give them a more intensive training for a criminal career as often seems the case.)

I often think that prison works best at stopping nice people such as, if I may be so bold, you and I from committing crime. The thought of doing some hard time makes me whimper!  But it may not be the same deterrent for less sensitive souls.

[Generally Contrary]

Dull witted!?!  You talking to me? ;-)

[Slippery PD]

Can I say how good this ultimately futile discussion is.  We are never gonna really agree, are we??  AJ yer not the only "bleeding heart" liberal here.  But I couldnt live in scandanavia, the price of beer is too expensive.

Its why I really like this board, we can fall out and disagree but at least the argument is kinda "adult".

Now whose candy ass do I whip!  Said slippo in an 8 year old voice......

[Proudhuff]

AJ Bartlett: were all in a minority of one when you get down to any discussion. Maybe its just a Jock thing but i aways find people who agree in general terms  tend to try and find out what they disagree on asap...
There's a quote something like:
'The only normal people are people you don't know yet'

Bartlett for Prez!

Proudhuff

[Fifty]

I am in Takachiho, Miyazaki, Japan

[Jared Katooie]

Well whats wrong with lobotomies thats what I want to know. All perfectly painless and humane and they dont even know how to reoffend afterwards.

Personally however I feel that anyone, anywhere has the potential to be a decent person if they receive kindness and love.*

J.




*after the lobotomy of course.

[Richmond Clements]

That was a hell of a good discussion, boys and girls.
Singapore... like everywhere else, it has it's good and bad. I think, and this is my opinion, you might be safe. But I think it would be a saftey edged with fear.
Dredd said it all: Justice has a price, and the price is freedom.