Fat is a type of crazy

39 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

There is now, and has never been, Democracy.

It is just another tool to tell the Sheeple to keep them in line and obey

Australia

Not perfect, there is influence by the powerful, rich, and the media, but pretty good. Free and fair elections. You seem to be aiming for absolutes so you become disappointed.

Same with people.

Most I think have some natural moderation process to keep us between too good and too bad. There are exceptions, and some of those are the high profile leaders who get the headlines, while your neighbours, friends, and family and most people on this site are fairly goodish  people. 

Things such as drugs, money,  and power can intoxicate and throw us off track towards taking actions that hurt, or hinder others, but the sign that people are not too bad are the societal controls in place to either help us or punish us when we go to far. In countries like Australia. 

You can do your thing each day. That's a sign people aren't too bad where you are. 

37 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Stopping the publication is a Ban on Free Speech.

I may not agree with you, but I will stand up for your right to say it.

This goes for any subject - and I mean ANY

You can not draw lines - you either have Free Speech - or you don't

 

Facebook in Myanmar let free speech reign. Not for ethical reasons but because they didn't want the cost of moderation. Chatter started about the Rohingya and that they were responsible for this and that. As usual there is a tiny bit of truth but then constant lies and exaggerations led to a full blown massacre, and those that could, had to flee to the neighboring country. That's despite them having a history in the country for 100's of years. It is widely accepted that facebook added to it by letting lies, fear, and hate spread so much faster and get out of control than it would otherwise. That's an example where I think free speech has to be moderated and it can apply to certain similar situations.

What if Jim Jones could have got on Facebook and told people around the world to drink the Kool aid. 

For covid there are possibilities, ideas, half truths, exaggerations and out right lies.  Yes it is hard to define which is which but not impossible - most things should be left alone but outright lies by powerful and influential people should at least have a warning sign. 

These are just examples where some moderation may be appropriate if lives are at stake. 

It's an interesting topic as to if people who believe in god, i.e. who have faith, are more akin to those who are suspicious of power to a strong degree, e.g. many on Asean Now who believe in conspiracies about elections, covid and or climate change etc , or those that accept the consensus of science and are more likely to comply with such consensus.

I am more like the latter and see the former as extrapolating way beyond what they actually know, and on basing their opinions on feelings, and on joining dots for which there is no evidence. This is similar to a belief in god where faith means you start with a belief and work back from there.

Others might say I am like a sheep who needs to question things more, and look behind the scenes, and that this is similar to a belief in god where I am making a leap in faith.

To that I would say that life in general probably requires some leap of faith from time to time but that no leap is required for following the consensus if you have an open mind.

Starting with the premise of things being all due to power, corruption, and lies is a leap of faith that human nature is bad and that nothing is as it seems - a type of paranoia. 

So we all probably think we have an open mind but stick to our positions. I would like to think following science and not being unnecessarily cynical about each and every decision made by the educated and powerful, while still hopefully keeping an open mind, requires the least leap of faith. 

51 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

No $ runs it. They use religion to motivate people. They use fear. Fear of god. Athiests use fear too, earth ending climate con, you will die covid. Its all a big $ con really. Cancer kills far more they dont ban junk food or smokes. $ rules. $ gives power. Humans are scum at the top.

Is belief in god really like actions taken to stop the spread of a disease? I am interested who benefits from the so called covid con in Australia. And how do those that benefit influence government decision making?  You seem pretty sure so you should be able to provide a clear and articulate response. 

Sydney shut down a bit late and they have 10 times the cases of Melbourne. Thanks Dan. Imagine if no lockdowns in Sydney. Lots in hospital right now. 

The causation between junk food and cancer, compared to  covid and illness, is just a bit weaker. Also if  you eat junk food and drink beer it doesn't affect me. Except taxes in hospitals. That's the reason they don't ban it. They give people a choice.

Hard to give people a choice with covid because your actions affect others.

I said I'll stop talking covid because it's boring. After this.  

26 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

I appreciate it, but yes, it's a bit hopeful to think that "self interest can be consistent with the interest of society ".

...Actually, that was supposed to be the goal of Christianity..

Why? Many countries doing OK with this thinking.

My idea is self interest through being informed and thinking it through for yourself. Not indoctrination leading to no logic and common sense. Just a cultish belief in  heaven and hell and tribalism leading to wars and dodgy crusades and not letting other cultures be. Priests acting badly. A bit of charity too. Put it on the scale and the bad outweighs the good because it's based on a fantasy and control and not on human nature. It's all been said before. 

1 hour ago, mauGR1 said:

Fair analysis, but with religion disappearing from the mind of ordinary folks, it's already happening in western countries, will there be some "power-vacuum" which needs to be filled ?

And, taking for granted that unifying people is good for everyone, or at least for the majority, what will be the main unifying factor ?

Surely we're going to see some interesting changes in the society in the next few years. 

 

 

Religion can often be a good thing for a sense of community and many do help people in practical terms. It also adds to the 'us' and 'them' mentality. So what if god and religion is gone. 

It would be nice to think it could be love to bring us together but self interest might be enough. As Morrissey said 'If it's not love then it's the bomb that will keep us together'.

As we become aware that there is not likely to be a god, and if there is, they are not protecting us,  the importance of self control becomes necessary. This is since now we are able to destroy ourselves with bombs, or climate change, or a slow disintegration of society or whatever.  

Human nature seems to be to protect ourselves and our tribe. It could be that we are not so bad and that, without a god, it can still feel good to help our tribe and others even if it doesn't lead to heaven. 

It might help if our leaders can send the message, and have policies that back it up,  that self interest can be consistent with the interest of society, and that our tribe is now bigger than just your family, political party or religion whether we like it or not.

The economic and social policies could act as a carrot and stick to ideally lead to the conclusion that the world is, if not totally fair, a place where if you work hard you can give you and your tribe a decent and free life, and can assist those who can't fend for themselves.

The outcome being  that you can benefit yourself and that this is consistent with not destroying what others have created.

It might sound a bit hopeful but in my opinion an imperfect form of the above exists in many countries like Australia and New Zealand. 

56 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

I don't really like fanatics too.

But, do you really think that, if it was possible to erase religion propaganda from the haters' mind, fanaticism and extremism will cease to exist ?

Or even more, would evil disappear from this planet if any religious belief could be erased ?

You would still have the odd charismatic leader pushing people astray but it would be a lot less. It is shocking sometimes just how much people can be influenced by stuff on the internet and if the tool of extreme religion was gone it would make  a huge difference. Religion has the advantage of uniting people and controlling them as a force whereas a lot of conspiracy lunacy is disjointed and often involves some sad guy separate in his little world.  

I think this topic is mixing two concepts that can be similar but not the same.

You can be narcissistic, i.e.  admire oneself and one's appearance, and still be aware and sympathetic and helpful to others e.g. Hollywood stars helping in Haiti might fit this category where you might say there is a mixed motive. 

On the other hand in terms of caring for others you might have, at one extreme,  psychopaths, and at the other, people who are just cold, apathetic, uncaring, cold and just indifferent.

I think it comes down to the nurture nature thing.

Some are just born cold. I think most people feel good  helping others but some don't. 

On the nurture side it can relate to how  successful you have been in the past at fulfilling your objectives of helping others and what treatment you got in return. You may lose confidence in what you can achieve. You may have helped others and they burned you in return.

I think in the end we are all after something which is a bit greedy which is to feel good.

I enjoyed the works of Ayn Rand, not because of the right wing politics, but because she reminds us that the final motivation is to benefit ourselves even if it is just to feel good. Selfishness can be a good thing if you can believe in yourself and that you are a good person. That could be getting a bit narcissistic though. 

3 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

Dear friends (atheists, believers and everything in between)

I know there's no need to announce it and it is really a bit cringeworthy tbh, but this will be my last post on this thread. Leaving without a goodbye would not be right either, especially after 2+ years contributing to this thread.

It was a fun rollercoaster. ???? I always tried to reply politely to posters who gave me the same level of respect. Those who were out seeking only confrontation I usually ignored, but at times couldn't help myself dishing out in equal manner. lol I'm especially glad that I could eventually find an amicable level of conversation with my nemesis. 55 (you know who you are)

This thread was a great way of sharpening my intellectual tools and more importantly, steered me back to the regular practice of meditation. Now, more then ever, I'm convinced that no amount of intellectual debating can equal direct experience. Now it's time to focus on other things in life.

That being said, I hope you all find what you are seeking and that it will make you more complete. It doesn't matter whether you believe or not, one day we will all face our last breath and what will matter at that point is only how much we were able to love and be loved. 

So long, and thanks for all the fish. ???? 

Live long and prosper. ????

Hope to see your thoughts and ideas on other topics. Best wishes. 

6 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Do you believe in the Easter Bunny and why?

Happy to as a kid since as long as Easter eggs kept coming that was good enough for me

20 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

Another famous song, dedicated to Lord Krishna. 

 

He got his inspiration from Lord Krisna, and famously, from He's so fine from the Chiffons. Was disappointed to see it was such a close copy as this is one of the first songs I remember liking as a kid.

Bought the Jesus Christ Superstar original soundtrack album at a second hand shop and loved it for a time. Saw the show in the 70's as a kid but it all seemed a bit serious.

Lyrics from King Herod's Song, familiar to fans, are appropriate to last nights debate about if Jesus was a thing:

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

This is actually a topic near and dear to my heart.

 

Although I believe that I do not suffer from personality disorder, yet I DO know that I am somewhat neurotically inclined to experience minor paranoia, from time to time, and even a sense of persecution, on occasion.

 

Sometimes, I think that people are watching me.

I feel it most markedly each time I post a questionable post on this forum, especially.

 

I mean, I know that my posts are GOOD, but I also know that people are watching me as I type my posts in the privacy of my own house, even minutes before I type them.

 

This occasionally leads me to my irrational belief that I might be experiencing some sort of persecution from members or others, particularly those who know what I am about to post, even days before I had the inkling that I would post anything.

 

Sometimes, there are forum members who reply to my posts, even before I have posted my posts. And, I know why..

 

Another thing I have noticed is that, no matter what I post, after I post, my posts seem to have been written by somebody else, and not by me.

 

Yet, when I finally realize that it must have been I who made the post, then, I begin to feel anxious. Because, I know that I am incorrect, and, in truth, my posts are being written by somebody else.

 

I have checked out this inventory:  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

 

But still, there is no clear mention about my condition, nor where, exactly, I should be classified in the DSM-5.

 

Everybody knows that when one is feeling paranoia, then it is difficult to trust anyone. And, if I cannot trust anyone, then how can I get any help?

 

This seems like such a Catch-22.

 

What do you think?

 

I think I am saner than most people here. Yet, how can I know for sure, if I cannot trust anyone to tell me the truth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have interesting posts and  it  can be hard to know if posts are serious or are in jest. You appear to  recognise there could be an issue. It  doesn't hurt to take stock and make sure all is well. 

You don't have to trust   .. if serious you could get a couple of opinions from professionals and see how you feel. 

8 hours ago, FarangULong said:

It's thanks to guys like him, that more and more women are acting exactly like that, including the mental gymnastics that whatever they did, it's your fault, the switching on the "little girl" voice when you do get mad, throwing temper tantrums and being completely illogical, to get their way (as people tend to get tired of arguing with someone like that, and then just submit, instead of telling them to straighten out or I'll leave)...

 

They have it so easy manipulating those guys, and more and more guys are becoming like that (I'm thinking it has to do with this whole pushing for "don't be toxic-masculine", and such), in turn creating more princess-syndrome women.

 

I stopped feeling sorry for guys like that, but I'm starting to despise them, because they make it that much harder for everyone else, who doesn't want to put up with this craziness. If man act anything like this, then it's "he's bat <deleted> crazy" and what not. Or if he does something typically male (well what used to mean "manly" anyway) "boys will be boys" doesn't count, if she does it's "well girls will be girls teeheee". And they enable it.

 

I suggest these people should read "the manipulated man" by Esther Vilar, it should be a huge eye opener for many of these simping fools... Not that they will, but then he shouldn't come crying on here, when she divorces him and takes that new house and then some.

 

The fact alone, that the deposit "wasn't a big deal", speaks volumes. Almost all women want the man to take charge, no matter what they say. Just like they don't REALLY want you to be "more in touch with your emotions", and what not. This is even more true for those Thai girls, who don't have that whole torn mentality between 3rd+ wave feminism and their actual nature. All he's doing is proclaiming to her how weak he is, that she has all the control, etc.

There's some truth in this and I have seen many guys stupidly manipulated into buying stuff and pandering to their girls and it can be disturbing.

At the same time I am sure we have all seen a lot of dickish arrogant men who think they are right all the time and drive there women to despair. Yes they might stop their women acting like this but it can be by pushing them into compliance by bullying, boredom, and control. That 'no matter what they say' sounds good but I don't think it is healthy approach and depends if you want a fun life with an equal or someone pushed into compliance. 

My girlfriend has had her moments and I certainly don't pander to or reward her. I can recognise that a relationship that is 95 per cent good and 5 per cent bad can be good if you feel she is learning how to handle her emotions and I keep an open mind as to if I am a bit responsible. That last part doesn't mean being pussy whipped into submission, or leaving common sense behind, but just being aware that men can be crazy too in different ways. 

1 hour ago, Swiss1960 said:

This from the guy who defended Weinstein and Trump in his first impeachment trial... 

Allegedly linked to Epstein too in more ways than one.

Putting that aside I think Big Tech should stay out of censorship as much as possible. For significant issues though, such as Trump and associates attacks on democracy, and people making dangerous and clearly false claims about the pandemic, the downside of limiting free speech may outweigh the upside. It's all been said before. 

So you can say that free speech should never be limited or you can look at where that line is between a safe and orderly society and the rights of free speech. 

Big Tech is not government too so up to them. You can stop using them and tell others to do the same.  

7 hours ago, Tony125 said:

Yeh a great Government to cheap to go out and buy vaccines  to protect their citzens and hope that by closing the borders it won't get into the country.  Name me another country in the world that restricts their citizens from going overseas or forbids them coming back. Guess since AUS was settled by prisoners you are ok with that <deleted>.  Seems to me they could take precautions with letting those citizens back in who went abroad but  should be no reason to keep them from leaving. Prison Island.

They did buy the rights to make Astrozeneca but that wasn't popular. They backed the wrong horse a bit. Though it's risks seem to be exaggerated. They definitely should have moved faster to get others but it's understandable they didn't buy millions of everything at first just in case. 

I think the rules about leaving Australia are a bit exaggerated too. If you have a good reason you can go. Just have to apply and show you won't come back in a short period and have to be put in quarantine.   

Definitely far from perfect on Covid but not sure Thailand is a shining light in comparison.

14 hours ago, lanng khao said:

Nobody's said the main man..Brian Connolly The sweet, had the same hair me, boss feather cut.. tragic the way he died.

Exactly..

Saw the Sweet a few times but all post Brian so not the real deal. Andy's the only one left.  His Sweet is not too shabby. 

12 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

As we all realize, hooking is not a career that one chooses when one is still in elementary school. This is why the trade is called the Meat Market.

 

When I get to Ellesmere Island, aboard my magic carpet, I will land in a pristine place, pristine in body and mind.

 

I will not peer at women.

Instead, I will peer at heavenly bodies using my small telescope.

 

I know that I will never actually GET to Ellesmere.

Just a dream.

 

The reason I will never get there is because, I do not see the point in going there.

It's only a fantasy.

 

Sometimes, adults must distinguish between fantasy and reality.

 

Still, it is the dream that keeps us alive, maybe.

 

And, maybe it is self-restraint which protects us from eating too much sugar.

 

Sugar.

Ah, honey, honey.

You are my candy girl

 

 

 

 

 

Nice to have fantasies. Allowing your fantasies, feelings, and thoughts free reign on a site like this  runs the risk of crossing the line from interesting to indulgence. 

I think that flows through to all topics on this site and we are all guilty of crossing the line between the two. For me it's not good and bad or political correctness. It's what is interesting and what is indulgence. Not talking about a particular topic or post now. 

38 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I have friends who went there just for fun. They said it was one of the scariest places they had ever been.

 

And American desperados pay 26,000 baht for an hour of that. What can one even say? 

What one can say is if you are happy with Thai ladies no need to bring others down. They have nice smiles. Leave them be. 

On 8/3/2021 at 12:47 AM, Sunmaster said:

Guys, there is a new documentary on Netflix called "Fantastic Fungi". It starts off as a very interesting look into the biology of mushrooms, but then soon starts to talk about the mind altering properties of "magic" mushrooms. 

Funny coincidence or synchronicity. 

They talk about the very same things I've been writing here for the past 2 years and the last 2 months in particular. 

 

Highly recommended. Check it out.

That was interesting. Thanks.  

49 minutes ago, utalkin2me said:

I live in a country that’s decided to make sure not a single person can enjoy themselves, exercise ir do anything productive, because a less than 1% portion of the population is affected by a virus.

You're lucky. Like you have a caring nanny paying  you to stay at home to keep you safe. A boy in his 20's died today in Sydney. Lots of people in hospital. Best not to be like Thailand or worse.