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I guess if I had to give a short answer (thus less confusing) I would just say: I love America and that's why I defend it.

And what makes you love America more than loving who you are as a human being?

See, I probably will never understand this.

I believe in myself as an individual more so than my country because I believe my individuality can provide me with a greater understanding of the nature of things more so than my country can.

My country lies to me -- like any other western, political propaganda-based country.

They don't really care about me or speak for me -- all they're interested in is getting my vote.

Meanwhile, I feel I'm honest with myself -- And I have great confidence in myself and my ability.

And that is why I'll probably never understand why people place their country above themselves.

[[humor]]

Dammit!  I typed up this long ass reply and the server crashed or something ... It didn't post.  here's the second version:

DM: I'm interested -- how come you're more likely to defend an insult against your country as opposed to an insult against yourself?
To you, what makes your country more important than yourself as an individual?

People on these forums don't know me personally ... so if they cast personal insults against me I tend to just laugh it off.  There are times when an insult (even from somebody I don't know) can hit close to the mark and I might defend myself.  I guess I just think casting personal insults isn't the right thing to do (and yes, I know I've done it from time to time ... sometimes my temper gets the best of me).

I truely believe that duty to one's country superscedes concern for the individual.  I want my kids (assuming I have some one day) to have the same lifestyle/opportunities that I had and I will do whatever is needed to insure that for them by keeping my country the way it is.  Even if it's detrimental to my own well being.  Yes, there are things in America that need fixing and aren't 'good' by modern standards ... but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world.  [humor]Especially France[/humor]

So, because of that, I feel a strong desire to defend my country from insult or attack.

Cheers,
dm

I didn't undertsand from your reply what made country more important than the individual.

Just to verify -- Is it because you want to have kids one day and thus the desire to defend your country more so than yourself is based upon your future offspring?

If so, how come you state that there are things that need fixing even though in the previous sentance you say that you want to keep you country just the way it is for your kids?

I'm not trying to make any point here -- just trying to understand, despite whether I agree or not.

SSH: The buttered toast gag has been around even before computers.

In fact, I think it was around when cats and buttered toast were first invented.  

This post will stay as there has been some debate in the other forums about Microsoft.

But in future, it would be preferable if old jokes like this stayed in people's in-boxes.

What about some new material?

DM: I'm interested -- how come you're more likely to defend an insult against your country as opposed to an insult against yourself?

To you, what makes your country more important than yourself as an individual?



plasticman: sorry, I misunderstood.

As for my choosing of him, I just picked the first name that popped into my head.

Being a fan of filmmakers, I just thought of him.

Sure, I could have picked Godard or someone else, but Cousteau's name just hung there.

damn, i couldn't even name a famous australian besides crocodile dundee and nicole kidman.

I don't know about famous -- just because someone is famous, doesn't always follow that they contribute something that's very awe-inspiring or beneficial.

But there are a few Australians that pop into mind.

Fred Hollows, for example.

it seems that the less you know about something or someone, the more you need to criticize it...

I like this.

I'm going to write it down right now and post it on my wall.

Thank you, plasticman.

Las: I'm thinking that maybe both socialisation and genetics have an affect.

There's proof on both accounts and neither disqualifies the other.

Andail: I'm racking my brain trying to remember which class it was.

I think it was one on basic human development.

The type of class where you study theories of Piaget, Eriksen, Kohlberg, Gardner, etc

It was for a teaching degree (incompleted).

dg's mention of cousteau is kinda funny. in spite of his accomplishments...

But I'm talking about his accomplishments.

You see, I'm not really interested in whether he was detestable or not -- I don't really have any inkling to meet the man (Besides, he's dead).

But, his films are extraordinary!

It reminds me of people who call Yahtzee things like detestable -- despite people's personal opinions, he has made some great accomplishments, especially his games.

And I just don't understand why people can appreciate a great work of cinema/game/art/creative venture, despite personal standing of the creator.

It seems more like nitpicking than bringing up a valid argument.

As a side point, I can name numerous American filmmakers that are just as detestable -- But I still appreciate their work!  



EDIT: While on the subject of nitpicking, do people look for minor things to "make fun of"/"argue over" because they feel insecure over being challenged on something?

I don't mean this to anyone in particular -- I mean this as a general comment on the grand scale of things in society.

Things like: Americans making fun of the French because they feel insecure of people accusing them of being war-like (In other words, using the French as a scapegoat).

Or French people getting defensive because they haven't had a strong military record (and let's face it, military accomplishments are a very masculine aspect of society and most of the leaders in the world are men, etc, etc, etc)

I'm not accusing Americans of being war-mongers or calling the French a bunch of pansies -- I merely use both as examples for a point.

And my point is: do people really feel so insecure that they have to argue with minor nitpicky commentary?

I'd like to hear other people's thoughts on this.

Here's a theory:

When I was studying to be a teacher, one of the possibilities we learned in terms of homosexuality was that there is not just a binary opposition of hetrosexual/homosexual, but varying degrees of sexuality between the two extremes. (Obviously, as people can claim to be bisexual)

But I'm interested to know if genetics determine not only hetro and homo, but bi, semi-bi, bi-curious, etc, etc, etc

Interesting thought.

Anyone know where Yoda's walking stick is?

And any clue where I get salt to attract the bees?

You know, I've also noticed that no one really had a problem with the French until this last year.

Huh?
I remember hearing jokes about the french for my entire life. It's just been amplified in recent times.

(btw, I've been to France before, and they weren't all that nice to me. Maybe they don't like tourists, or something)

But most of the jokes weren't that they suck at war.

Most of the jokes were that they don't wash and are really snooty to people (as you said, they don't like tourists).

But there have been many great things and people that come out of France.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau anyone?

[laddy]

And teh irish all dress like a lepricon and says "top o teh morning to you!!!"

I would like to put you straight on that. They say, "Top o teh mornin' to you, laddy." regardless of age or gender.

And they still dress like leprichans, right?

That's what watching TV has taught me.


You know, I've also noticed that no one really had a problem with the French until this last year.

Could it be that a lot of people (some even non-American) got caught up in the whole French/Freedom thing, and now are just looking for things about the French to complain about.

And fucking Freedom Fries -- Whoever though of that little piece of political PR/spin/propaganda should be shot, because it's pitiful even for propaganda standards.

And people got sucked into it, which makes it even worse.

I like that Roger can move in 8 directions.

Look, if if you had one chance,
To make a sequel to Monkey Island,
Would you take it and make it, or give it up?

Yo, his fingers are breaking, chair cracking, programming is time-taking
There is coffee in his mouth already
Chris is forgetting
But on the site the new version look ready
To win the crowds applause, but he keeps on saying
That he got it scripted, the whole forum has the version pictured
He opens his site, but no ones downloaded
Helm choking, is it out!? Everybody's bitching now
The deadlines run out, time's up, over  WHOA!
Snap back to normality, oh there goes  Flippy_D
Oh, there goes Raggit, he had a stroke, he's so mad at me
But I won't be pissed off that easy, no they wont have it
He knows his ass is against the desk
It don't matter, he's got a Visual Basic for Dummies, he knows that
But he's chokin', he's so pissed that he dosen't know
What to put in the new version
That's when it's back to the pub again, yo
This whole rhapsody, better go capture Bill Gates
And hope no hackers attack him.

Your gonna lose yourself in the scripting
The moment you own it you better charge Euros, oh
You only get one day, don't mess up your keyboard
Cuz people like Mods come once in a lifetime , yo
Your gonna lose yourself in the scripting
The moment you own it you better charge Euros, oh
You only get one day, don't mess up your keyboard
Cuz people like Helm come once in a lifetime, yo.
So here it uploads, it's my game
Internet give me fame
Cuz maybe this it the only oppurtunity to become a moderator, a new name.  

You can make any game you want to, man.

* DGMacphee gives mitar an Oscar!

Yeah, the French ares losers at wars!!!1!

And us Australians ride teh kangaroo to work everyday!!1!

And teh amerikans all rides bombs and teh is wear cowboy hats!!!11!

And teh irish all dress like a lepricon and says "top o teh morning to you!!!"

* DGMacphee repeats endless list of stereotyped jokes written in highly amusing littlewilly style until eyeballs bleed!

Good choice.

In your first post, you said "the problem is without her I have no girl in my life" -- But I think it's positive to face life without her.

It's better to face and embrace the unknown and the uncertain as you'll learn way more about yourself.

Nobody knows any rich people who work for Apple. If they exist, they shamefully hang their heads in public.

Does the word 'Pixar' mean anything to you?

No Layabout, how come your posts always include sex0r? I am not hitting on Yufster I am talking to her.

I've had sex in my time and it's never been a bad thing.

Was it you or DG that had the 14 yr olds hitting on them?

m0ds

That was Layabout -- Mine was the 'camel story'.

Or rich.

The atari was always 100% realtime and never lagged or hung.

It did crash though when a program didn't work.

However, I used the expression 'bombed out' because, instead of an actual error message, it would display a row of little bombs with fuses and the number of them corresponded to the error message.

It's actually better with multi-player!

Doom in black and white???

MY GOD!!!

Actually, I remembered this guy in a black trenchcoat who always wrote in a notepad -- He stood over me and watched my every move on my Atari ST.

Me: What are you doing?

Trenchcoat man: I'm a spy watching your every move.

Me: Why?

Trenchcoat man: Because the internet hasn't been invented yet and Bill Gates need to know everything about your PC.

Me: But this isn't a PC -- It's an Atari.

Trenchcoat man: Really? Oh. That's different.

Me: ...

Trenchcoat man: ...

Me: Get out of my house.