Do we all have to be activists these days or at least do we have to support those activists?

[NoshowJones]

On 11/23/2022 at 7:02 PM, KhunLA said:

Gets my vote ... ????

 

Self rule ... not my place to tell others how to live.

About ten years ago there was a big protest against capitalism with people camping out in the grounds next to counsellers offices in the centre off Glasgow. If I was living there at the time I would have joined them.

[zzaa09]

The deeper practice of living one's protest....

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, NoshowJones said:

About ten years ago there was a big protest against capitalism with people camping out in the grounds next to counsellers offices in the centre off Glasgow. If I was living there at the time I would have joined them.

And protest against capitalism? To get what? Communism?

I don't think capitalism is perfect. But in restricted form it seems to be the best of the options.

[StreetCowboy]

On 11/30/2022 at 5:40 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

My choice for groundhog day would either be the virtually deserted beach on the Thai Gulf coast with my wife to be, or Railay West with the most beautiful temporary Thai GF I ever had.

The month I had with each being as close to paradise as ever I had in this life, I can't decide between them.

 

 

At risk of diverting the topic, were I to suffer an interminable repetition of the same day, I hope it would be one of those dreadful hangover days of which you recall little, and nothing of the day before.  The headache may be hellish, but better an interminable moment of pain than the tedium of eternal repetition without hope of alternative.

[ozimoron]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And protest against capitalism? To get what? Communism?

I don't think capitalism is perfect. But in restricted form it seems to be the best of the options.

Socialism. Almost all countries in the world are to a greater or lesser degree socialist. None are communist.

[StreetCowboy]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And protest against capitalism? To get what? Communism?

I don't think capitalism is perfect. But in restricted form it seems to be the best of the options.

Better an anarcho-cynicalist commune.

 

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

Better an anarcho-cynicalist commune.

 

No! Not communism, capitalism is OK up to a point, it has gotten worse since the pandemic. If I was lucky enough to find a way of making money quick, sure, I would buy a big expensive house, cars, take expensive holidays, stay in the best hotels.

But I would never forget the people who helped me get rich, and I would not be scared to cut my profits when I had enough money to last me and my family for life. It is the greed part of capitalism I hate.

It's the system where the rich keep getting richer on the backs of the poor, and they just get poorer.

Maybe you get the gist of what I mean.

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

But I would never forget the people who helped me get rich, and I would not be scared to cut my profits when I had enough money to last me and my family for life. It is the greed part of capitalism I hate.

That seems is the difficult part for many people. When is enough enough ?

Having a small apartment and a small car and enough to eat is enough. But because I work so hard I should really own a bigger apartment and a better car and eat some decent food. I think even this little part can spiral for some time. And then are all those other expenses.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

6 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

At risk of diverting the topic, were I to suffer an interminable repetition of the same day, I hope it would be one of those dreadful hangover days of which you recall little, and nothing of the day before.  The headache may be hellish, but better an interminable moment of pain than the tedium of eternal repetition without hope of alternative.

Fair enough. In that case I'd make it a day when I was staying in Dynasty Inn almost next door to Nana Plaza in 1996. It would be the same day, but with so many cute girls in Bkk no day would end up with the same one ( unless I really liked her ). With a flight, I could even end up going to sleep on Samui ( back then Samui was great ).

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Fair enough. In that case I'd make it a day when I was staying in Dynasty Inn almost next door to Nana Plaza in 1996. It would be the same day, but with so many cute girls in Bkk no day would end up with the same one ( unless I really liked her ). With a flight, I could even end up going to sleep on Samui ( back then Samui was great ).

Are you Ricardo?

Or do you remember Ricardo?

He used to hang out in that same place about the same time.

[hotchilli]

On 11/23/2022 at 1:09 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Why?

Not that I care about football, but just in case I would be a football fan. Does this also mean I have to be an activist who insists on gay rights? Why?

Do I have to care about how many people had accidents on construction sites?

Should the world only watch the world cup if it would be in a wonderful land with no accidents, 100% perfect human rights record, etc.?

You think too much... 

[JCauto]

On 11/23/2022 at 3:04 PM, Stocky said:

Life isn't fair - once you accept that as a fact, then everything else falls into place.

Kind of a trivial point in my opinion. Sure, life isn't fair, that should be obvious to anyone with eyes, ears and a brain. 

The real point is hidden - once you accept that as a fact, what is it you do about it?

This thread is somewhat of a continuation of an interesting discussion from a week or so ago about what makes an "activist" versus a "keyboard warrior" or whatever. The difference is "action". So going back to your point, for example, I accept that life isn't fair as a fact, and it inspires me to do whatever I can with my short time on this earth to make it a bit fairer in my particular little corner of the world. You on the other hand accept that life isn't fair, and rather than be inspired, you're daunted and instead choose to simply shrug your shoulders and use this as an excuse for not doing anything. Hence, you're a "keyboard warrior", while I'm an "activist". By the way, I don't think that there's anything wrong with either choice, simply because so much depends on individual circumstance.

Seems to me that this is a bigger issue than simply "activist" versus "non-activist" because so much about whether one does anything about something is related to that individual's personal circumstances. In order for people to become activist about issues they care about, there needs to be a worldview that there is a point to doing something and that you're personally willing to be the one that does something about that even though you most likely won't get a tangible reward for it, and quite possibly will have to go through some difficult experiences along the way. This is the main difference, and it's more similar to the difference between cynicism and optimism. This is another reason why Conservatives will almost ALWAYS <deleted> on the people who are activist, because the very nature of Conservatism is to maintain the status quo and not be activist except in service of that cause.

[JCauto]

On 11/24/2022 at 6:36 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Sport has been propaganda for ages. When a team win at the Olympics people act as though the country won, which is a nonsense, especially in professional sport when the team members may not even be of that nationality.

There's a word for it now - sportwashing.

[JCauto]

11 minutes ago, JCauto said:

Kind of a trivial point in my opinion. Sure, life isn't fair, that should be obvious to anyone with eyes, ears and a brain. 

The real point is hidden - once you accept that as a fact, what is it you do about it?

This thread is somewhat of a continuation of an interesting discussion from a week or so ago about what makes an "activist" versus a "keyboard warrior" or whatever. The difference is "action". So going back to your point, for example, I accept that life isn't fair as a fact, and it inspires me to do whatever I can with my short time on this earth to make it a bit fairer in my particular little corner of the world. You on the other hand accept that life isn't fair, and rather than be inspired, you're daunted and instead choose to simply shrug your shoulders and use this as an excuse for not doing anything. Hence, you're a "keyboard warrior", while I'm an "activist". By the way, I don't think that there's anything wrong with either choice, simply because so much depends on individual circumstance.

Seems to me that this is a bigger issue than simply "activist" versus "non-activist" because so much about whether one does anything about something is related to that individual's personal circumstances. In order for people to become activist about issues they care about, there needs to be a worldview that there is a point to doing something and that you're personally willing to be the one that does something about that even though you most likely won't get a tangible reward for it, and quite possibly will have to go through some difficult experiences along the way. This is the main difference, and it's more similar to the difference between cynicism and optimism. This is another reason why Conservatives will almost ALWAYS <deleted> on the people who are activist, because the very nature of Conservatism is to maintain the status quo and not be activist except in service of that cause.

LOL. Just realized it is the same thread. Glad the discussion continues.

[OneMoreFarang]

I think this video is a wonderful example of those activist and their supporters.

I don't support everything from Jordan Peterson. But in this case I think he describes the situation very well.

 

 

[zzaa09]

21 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

Better an anarcho-cynicalist commune.

 

Yes...of course.

Anarcho Syndicalism. 

Whatever that is. 

 

????

[Fat is a type of crazy]

CNN has a show on now called Heroes and many of the heroes are celebrities who have done something good. Can seem corny and self serving. But saw a story about Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis who set up a go fund me for humanitarian aide to Ukraine. They put a lot of effort into it.  it Has gained USD 30 million. Not too shabby. 

Edited December 11, 2022 by Fat is a type of crazy

[ozimoron]

wrong thread before coffee...

Edited December 11, 2022 by ozimoron

[seedy]

Unless you are active in the cause you espouse - you are a dilettante.

Speaking words that sound good - like a politician - yet actually doing nothing to advance any cause you 'support'

Get on the ground, boots dirty, sweat streaming.

Then you can call yourself an activist - not another person paying "Lip Service" to some random cause you read about online while relaxing in your PJ's

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/10/2022 at 12:27 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

Are you Ricardo?

Or do you remember Ricardo?

He used to hang out in that same place about the same time.

It's possible that we passed each other, but I wasn't interested in guys, if you know what I mean.

If you mean the Dynasty Inn, it was a great place for anyone that visited frequently, as could leave a bag at hotel for free. All changed when owner died and taken over by son. Went boutique and expensive ( they even took down the painting of the naked lady outside toilets ), plus couldn't leave bag, so I went to Pattaya instead, with Bell Bus direct from airport. 

Everything good ends, BS lasts forever.

If mean Nana, definitely not interested in guys there. I spent many happy hours in that place, but even that lost it's appeal after purachai ruined it.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/11/2022 at 12:39 AM, zzaa09 said:

Yes...of course.

Anarcho Syndicalism. 

Whatever that is. 

 

????

I looked it up. IMO just another BS political system for a few to be big for their 15 minutes.

[OneMoreFarang]

35 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It's possible that we passed each other, but I wasn't interested in guys, if you know what I mean.

If you mean the Dynasty Inn, it was a great place for anyone that visited frequently, as could leave a bag at hotel for free. All changed when owner died and taken over by son. Went boutique and expensive ( they even took down the painting of the naked lady outside toilets ), plus couldn't leave bag, so I went to Pattaya instead, with Bell Bus direct from airport. 

Everything good ends, BS lasts forever.

If mean Nana, definitely not interested in guys there. I spent many happy hours in that place, but even that lost it's appeal after purachai ruined it.

I know what you mean.

Ricardo was for years a regular drinking "outside" the Dynasty Inn. And he also visited NANA a lot.

I knew him from work. 

[zzaa09]

On 12/10/2022 at 5:43 PM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

CNN has a show on now called Heroes and many of the heroes are celebrities who have done something good. Can seem corny and self serving. But saw a story about Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis who set up a go fund me for humanitarian aide to Ukraine. They put a lot of effort into it.  it Has gained USD 30 million. Not too shabby. 

Yet, the American homeless are currently uncountable and societal breakdown is at a all time low. 

Why not start at home instead of delving into the usual propagandized fashion that most have fallen for. 

All too easy to exist within the illusion that they invent for you.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

52 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Yet, the American homeless are currently uncountable and societal breakdown is at a all time low. 

Why not start at home instead of delving into the usual propagandized fashion that most have fallen for. 

All too easy to exist within the illusion that they invent for you.

You can be cynical, but as it happens he is involved in Habitat for Humanity, which builds houses for the poor and All Day Foundation, which help at risk youth pursue a better future and A day made better, where they donate $1000 to 1000 teachers. He started a charity that works against child sex trafficking and is an ambassador for Unicef etc etc. All hail Ashton Kutcher. I didn't know this myself but google makes him out to be a decent sort of chap.  

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I didn't know this myself but google makes him out to be a decent sort of chap.  

It seems Sam Bankman-Fried also donated some money... ???? 

[seedy]

3 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Why not start at home instead of delving into the usual propagandized fashion that most have fallen for.

They all follow the 'Cause Du Jour'

This allows maximum exposure via media, more 'Pats' on the back, etc.

No coverage for the one child who dies of starvation every 10 seconds.

Nothing to see here - move along.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I know what you mean.

Ricardo was for years a regular drinking "outside" the Dynasty Inn. And he also visited NANA a lot.

I knew him from work

They started the outside area after smoking was banned inside public buildings, but I don't smoke and preferred inside reading the provided Bkk Post, so never had an opportunity to chat with someone out there.

That hotel was brilliant, but when it went trendy and expensive I started staying at Honey Hotel near Asoke, on the rare times I stayed in Bkk. Honey hotel was a real Vietnam war era hotel, and I quite liked it, but not being a Soi Cowboy fan I had a trek to get to Nana. IMO it was a tragedy when they demolished the Honey hotel. It should have been preserved as a museum of better times in Bkk.

[thaibeachlovers]

20 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I know what you mean.

Ricardo was for years a regular drinking "outside" the Dynasty Inn. And he also visited NANA a lot.

I knew him from work. 

He may have been there after the glory days of Nana mid 90s as the outside area wasn't created till they banned smoking inside, but I'm sure he can tell a story or three about Nana that will never be published.

Hollywood Royale was THE gogo back then ( sadly gone forever ) and I saw some sights in it that may never be seen again. Happy days back then.

The other go to gogo was G Spot- an apt name for it- naked on stage, naked on the seats- a young guy's wet dream come to life.

purachai, may he rot in hell, put a stop to all that.

[zzaa09]

On 12/10/2022 at 9:59 PM, seedy said:

Unless you are active in the cause you espouse - you are a dilettante.

Speaking words that sound good - like a politician - yet actually doing nothing to advance any cause you 'support'

Get on the ground, boots dirty, sweat streaming.

Then you can call yourself an activist - not another person paying "Lip Service" to some random cause you read about online while relaxing in your PJ's

 

There's much more financial gain from the ideals of activism and protest than the actual practice.

You can imagine why many consider such all a bogus scheme. 

[seedy]

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

There's much more financial gain from the ideals of activism and protest than the actual practice.

You can imagine why many consider such all a bogus scheme. 

True - just look at the manure that comes out of the mouths of Politicians !

As a child of the 60's the 'Bloom has been off the Rose' for quite a while now.

Sad as it is ...