1 hour ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Not agreeing with the thought process is one thing, but being incapable of at least understanding it only demonstrates that your mind is closed or it is shallow.

 

Here's an analogy for your clarification: Do you find Mount Everest impressive? I think most people do, even though over 300 have died on the mountain and around 200 bodies are still up there. I feel for the fallen and their families, but am still very impressed by that mountain with no disrespect intended. 

As clueless as the op I see. It’s definitely not appropriate to use “impressive” to describe an event that causes widespread loss of life and suffering. In that context, a more accurate descriptor might be something like “devastating”, “catastrophic”, or even “unfathomable”.

It’s important to be sensitive and respectful when discussing events that cause human suffering, and the loss of life from an earthquake is certainly not something to be impressed by.

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

I'd prefer they did not post threads like this... really shows how much of a piece of <deleted> the OP is.

 

Well, the OP is NOT God, even you must realize...although....some here DO think that I am God.

 

If I were God, then I would BAN all quaking from the world.

 

And, I wish that some here would direct their IRE and FRUSTRATIONs with God's earthquakes....AT ME.

 

You see, if they want to express their displeasure with earthquakes, then they really need to have a talk with God, and not blame me, which seems to be what is happening here.

 

I do not foretell the future, either.  I have no seismograph, and I would need many more than one, to tell the location and depth of a quake. Most times, at least in the past, the quakes we felt, which rocked us good, did almost zero damage.  Each and every one was frightening, since we never knew in advance which might be the BIG ONE.  So, what a relief when each one finally stopped.

 

I must say that this recent one was a very Looooooong one, for sure.

 

But there is really no way of knowing the extent of a quake, or location of a quake, or when the next one will happen with any precision....yet.

 

We are good at knowing the location of a quake, but I don't have the instruments installed.

Maybe I should connect to the USGS warning system, you think?

 

Still, I am not God.

Only god can choose to ban or keep earthquakes for the good of Mankind, and NOT ME...so please keep this in mind.

 

Thank you.

Just now, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Well, the OP is NOT God, even you must realize...although....some here DO think that I am God.

 

 

 

Most here think you are a piece of <deleted>.

17 minutes ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

“impressive” to describe an event

 

Impressive is the NUMBER of quakes around the ring of fire.

VERY IMPRESSIVE.

 

The number of quakes is impressive, and the destruction of an event can be devastating.

 

Of course, if you go back and look, you will see that I am correct, once again.

 

Many thousands of quakes a year is a very impressive number.

 

VERY impressive, in fact.

 

But it seems that you might be intentionally misconstruing what was both written and intended.

This is your goal, obviously.

But, as to why you get off on something like this.....I have a guess for that, too.

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Most here think you are a piece of <deleted>.

 

Why don't you just do a poll, then....

It UPS to you.

 

 

Nice one.

The most out of place phrase when you talk about the disaster which killed hundreds of the innocent.

It is nothing like a happy event.

6 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Why don't you just do a poll, then....

It UPS to you.

 

 

 

Why would I do a poll ?

7 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Why would I do a poll ?

 

I cannot advise you, what you should do...

I am not God, remember?

 

 

15 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

Nice one.

The most out of place phrase when you talk about the disaster which killed hundreds of the innocent.

It is nothing like a happy event.

 

Nice, the word, can have various meanings, based on time and context.

But, I don't really need tell YOU, do I?

Your English seems fairly fluent.

Or, I could be wrong.

 

ANYWAY:  I am not about to give a refresher course in SEMANTICS here, by any means.  Therefore, no need to keep asking....

 

38 minutes ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

As clueless as the op I see. It’s definitely not appropriate to use “impressive” to describe an event that causes widespread loss of life and suffering. In that context, a more accurate descriptor might be something like “devastating”, “catastrophic”, or even “unfathomable”.

 

The earthquake left an 'impression' on me, therefore it was 'impressive'. I don't need your help deciding on an appropriate adjective to describe my thoughts and feelings. I agree that the event was 'devastating' and 'catastrophic', and that leaves an impression on me. I would not agree to 'unfathomable'. None of your descriptors describe exactly how I feel. To each there own.

24 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

The earthquake left an 'impression' on me, therefore it was 'impressive'.

While “impression” and “impressive” share the same root word (the Latin “imprimere” meaning “to press into”), the words have taken on different connotations in English. Using “impressive” to describe a tragic event can certainly come across as insensitive, even if the event left a deep impression on you.

20 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

While “impression” and “impressive” share the same root word (the Latin “imprimere” meaning “to press into”), the words have taken on different connotations in English. Using “impressive” to describe a tragic event can certainly come across as insensitive, even if the event left a deep impression on you.

 

Of course, the word impressive, as originally used by me on this Topic did NOT describe the earthquake even at being impressive.

 

Instead, impressive, as used by me, was used by me to describe a HIGH FREQUENCY of similar events, and a higher number than most might expect. Therefore, this high-frequency of events in any given year is a VERY IMPRESSIVE NUMBER.

 

Do you think anyone on TV is smart enough to understand the distinction?

I am very much beginning to doubt it.

 

 

21 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

While “impression” and “impressive” share the same root word (the Latin “imprimere” meaning “to press into”), the words have taken on different connotations in English. Using “impressive” to describe a tragic event can certainly come across as insensitive, even if the event left a deep impression on you.

Yes, I can see that many interpret it as insensitive. That is not my intention. Thank you for your explanation.

3 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Yes, I can see that many interpret it as insensitive. That is not my intention. Thank you for your explanation.

 

Please keep in mind that, apparently, most readers here read at about the 3rd-grade level.

Most do not have a high school education, it seems.

Or, at least, it seems like this.

 

Trying to debate with a 3rd grader is tiring, and can also become quite tiresome, in a hurry.

 

You can answer these fools, if you wish.

 

Hat's off to you, and tip of the cap, for your bravery...

 

 

During my time in Taiwan we also had quite a few serious tremors and a couple of 'quakes, one of which shook our house in Shilhin for several minutes and demolished the plaster on most of the ceilings and walls but, fortunately, did not affect the main structure. Very sorry for all those suffering as a result of the Myanmar/Thailand catastrophe.

On 3/28/2025 at 1:27 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

Dear Folks,

 

Sometimes, in Thailand, we forget what earthquakes feel like.

 

Thankfully, today, I have been reminded.

 

And, amazingly, the power did not fail.

 

At first, I thought I might be experiencing vertigo....or...

Worse.

 

Maybe the power will fail soon, however.

 

Who knows.

 

Gamma

 

Note: The quake in NanTou, Taiwan was far worse. Many died. The economy was disrupted. Aftershocks hit us for almost a full year. Power outages, galore.  Earthquakes are unpredictable, frightening, and unavoidable if one lives along the ring of fire.  Some people actually enjoy them, I guess.  One just gets used to them, unless they are not deep down, and close by.

 

 

Can you enjoy knowing that thousands of people died in these hours? 

Pathetic ❗

31 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Can you enjoy knowing that thousands of people died in these hours? 

Pathetic ❗

 

No.

I think it impossible for anyone to enjoy what you mentioned.

Why?

Do you think it possible?

Very odd question, by the way.

8 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

No.

I think it impossible for anyone to enjoy what you mentioned.

Why?

Do you think it possible?

Very odd question, by the way.

It's not my question, but your erratic post.

44 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Can you enjoy knowing that thousands of people died in these hours? 

Pathetic ❗

I'm starting to think that virtue signaling at a time like this is pathetic.

From what I have read there are four major fault lines that run through Burma, and this happened along one of those major faults at the depth of only 10 km, therefore for a 7.7 it was more severe than usual and it spread much farther than usual. Hence the damage in Bangkok. Bangkok is built on relatively unstable soil so it is surprising that there wasn't more major damage and it's fortunate that the number of fatalities were relatively low. 

1 hour ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

I'm starting to think that virtue signaling at a time like this is pathetic.

 

I must agree.

Also, this word pathetic is now being misused on the forum, by an increasing number of posters.

 

I never post pathetic posts, nor "erratic" posts.

 

What might be more interesting is a discussion of the percentage of buildings which have been damaged in Burma, the time to recover, and the possibility of enforcing newer and better building codes when rebuilding eventually happens, as it will.

 

 

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

erratic

 

Erratic is not the word that I would have chosen.

 

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I never post pathetic posts, nor "erratic" posts.

That is your self-opinionated opinion but not necessarily that of many readers on AN.

You know, Guys....

 

Every time I see a natural disaster and utter devastation such as that wrought by a mere earthquake or a giant cyclone, such as NARGIS which took the lives of over...

130,000 souls....

 

I think to myself:  Why are we not doing more to rid our world of NUKES, the thousands of NUKES, now standing ready to....

 

BLOW US ALL TO KINGDOM COME...

 

And, nuclear war will be far worse than anything Mankind has yet experienced.

 

At the close of Bridge Over the River Kwai....

 

One of the characters states:

 

 

And yet, even now, amidst the rubble, in Burma....

Air Strikes are still proceeding, as usual.

 

Truly we live in a very MAD WORLD....

 

 

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Erratic is not the word that I would have chosen.

 

Chose another one. And make yourself happy.

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Chose another one. And make yourself happy.

 

As I noted above:

 

We are living in a MAD and illogical world.

 

We all must come to terms with our world, in our own way.

 

Shaking our fists at the world is not a solution.

 

I would also like to mention one important THING:

 

If we are to reduce the impact of earthquakes, and other natural disasters, then we must be prepared to:

 

Reduce and narrow the widening divide between the HAVES and the HAVE-NOTs.

 

We can greatly decrease the misery and mortality caused by natural disasters if we are willing to stamp out poverty in the world.

 

Why is there such a great divide between the wealth of countries such as Japan, and the poverty of places like Burma?

 

In addition: We must recognize that DEMOCRACY will be crucial in our crusade to fight poverty and inequality, around the world.

 

All people around the world LOVE Democracy.

Anything less than a democratic government is unacceptable to the vast majority of humanity.

 

Anyone who cares about the well-being of our brothers around the world should advocate and fight for democracy, and be willing  to fight for those who suffer under governments which are not democratic.

 

We all know what happens when communism, which is a good thing, slips into authoritarianism....

 

How do we know this?

 

Who here has not read and enjoyed ANIMAL FARM.....!!!!

 

Finally, the Wealthy Countries MUST bear some of the responsibility for helping poorer nations to accumulate enough wealth to protect their citizens from the avoidable calamities caused by poverty.

 

This is the only way, unless, we wish to continue living in such an unstable and MAD World.....

 

 

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

As I noted above:

 

We are living in a MAD and illogical world.

 

We all must come to terms with our world, in our own way.

 

Shaking our fists at the world is not a solution.

 

"Shaking our fists at the world is not a solution."

How true.

However, those altercations fill the headlines, not Stories of peace and harmony.

🙏

On 3/29/2025 at 2:35 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

some here DO think that I am God.

I will be hugely impressed if you can provide even one name as evidence in support of that statement in order to disprove that this is merely a masterclass of an even higher level of your own self delusion. 

1 minute ago, FriscoKid said:

I will be hugely impressed if you can provide even one name as evidence in support of that statement in order to disprove that this is merely a masterclass of an even higher level of your own self delusion. 

 

Gamma