Piano Forum

Non Piano Board => Anything but piano => Topic started by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 04:52:33 AM

Title: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 04:52:33 AM
There are three forms of freedom:

Physically, are we free to do everything that we want to do?
Psychologically, are we free to do everything we wish to do?
Morally are we free to do everything we want?

It is becoming quite apparent that in the 21st century restrictions on these three forms of freedom are slowly being tightened more and more.



We all like to think that we live in a world of freedom, the West brags about it all the time. Bush even says "They hate us because we are free". But what is so free about the democracy anyway? America is slowly stripping away what constitutes freedom with their army having the authority to indefinitely detaining US citizens without trial. This even goes against the very nature of justice where people are supposed to be considered innocent before proven guilty.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/21/ndaa-indefinite-detention-bill-rand-paul_n_2347774.html


In my own country there are many issues which also spit in the face of freedom. Look at Australia's attempt to control communications like censoring the internet for example and we all know that Communist China's internet is severely censored. Recently they where debating whether shopping centers would have the right to tell parents with screaming children to leave the complex. I mean really!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Australia
https://www.mamamia.com.au/parenting/shopping-centre-banning-kids/
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: j_menz on February 22, 2013, 04:57:59 AM
Recently they where debating whether shopping centers would have the right to tell parents with screaming children to leave the complex. I mean really!

Quite so. That shouldn't be a right (a choice), it should be mandatory (they have to, under legal sanction).
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:07:31 AM
Freedom Case: GUANTANAMO

This detention centre was called a "sad chapter in American history" by the president Obama yet attempts to close this complex has failed repeated attempts. During the 2008 campaign, Obama promised to close the camp within his first year in office. He first took action within his first two days in office, issuing a suspension of prosecutions at the camp but his actions didn't take long to grind to a complete halt. The biggest blow came when President Obama signed the Defence Authorization Bill stopping the talk of transferring the prisoners to mainland America or foreign countries who had offered to house the prisoners.
 

The problem with Guantanamo is that it allow the Military and civilian courts different rights and the new bill passed late last year allows them to detained people without trial for years on end.

Guantanamo was established by President George Bush in January 2002 soon after 911 attack. The camp was originally used as a place to store particularly dangerous prisoners as they were not given any rights granted under the Geneva Conventions however this stance has changed over the years and now the camp is widely seen as a symbol that perverts civil rights.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074576/President-Obama-signs-law-detain-terror-suspects-indefinitely.html
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:08:53 AM
Quite so. That shouldn't be a right (a choice), it should be mandatory (they have to, under legal sanction).
So what do parents who have no money to afford baby sitting do when they need to go shopping? Leave their children in the car with the aircon running? lol
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:11:02 AM
What about smokers and drinkers? Why are the smokers given such a bad case, banned from smoking anywhere in public, yet people can drink and get drunk in a pub, then go out into public. Why is alcohol in the West countries so socially acceptable? In many East countries it is a disgrace but smoking is a tradition.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: outin on February 22, 2013, 05:17:12 AM
So what do parents who have no money to afford baby sitting do when they need to go shopping? Leave their children in the car with the aircon running? lol

Maybe they should just create child free zones for people like me and J-man? If they want my money that is... At present I avoid going to shopping malls at all costs.

To your original question, freedom is mostly an illusion in the present times. The closest you can get to being free is to withdraw as much as possible from the society.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: j_menz on February 22, 2013, 05:19:36 AM
So what do parents who have no money to afford baby sitting do ...?

Try contraception until they can.

Freedom is all well and good when it's MY freedom. It's bloody inconvenient when it's someone elses.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 05:21:31 AM
There are three forms of freedom:

Physically, are we free to do everything that we want to do?
Psychologically, are we free to do everything we wish to do?
Morally are we free to do everything we want?

It is becoming quite apparent that in the 21st century restrictions on these three forms of freedom are slowly being tightened more and more.

First of all, it would make sense to determine "freedom", "free will" as concepts and see what limits them. This is useful in itself for one's own survival and psychological health. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has some really good articles about this, for example:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freewill/

In my own country there are many issues which also spit in the face of freedom. Look at Australia's attempt to control communications like censoring the internet for example and we all know that Communist China's internet is severely censored.

Censorship of the Internet also has its positive sides: protecting children with working parents, for example, from all the aggression. On the one hand, I hate censorship, but on the other hand, I impose it upon myself by implementing a Default Deny policy. I will only go to places I think are good for me and my child surfs the Internet under my guidance so that by the time he gets older, he will have the responsibility to do it himself without being hurt. I block virtually EVERYTHING I did not choose myself by default. If site "A" has 30 third-parties installed for advertising and promotion purposes, then all those 30 are blocked because I only want to see "A". Not good for the Internet economy, but this keeps your operating system clean, by the way. No Anti-Virus needed for "protection", so for that money I can take my boy to the Moscow Zoo.

Recently they where debating whether shopping centers would have the right to tell parents with screaming children to leave the complex. I mean really!

Why would anybody have to put up with my child's bad mood/behavior?

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: ajspiano on February 22, 2013, 05:24:31 AM
I told a child off in a store once. He threw his shoe at a shop attendant and the parent didn't say a word.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:33:22 AM
To your original question, freedom is mostly an illusion in the present times. The closest you can get to being free is to withdraw as much as possible from the society.

I think this is quite true.


I enjoy being a part of the community however so I notice how restricted life actually is. You need to have this and that and this and that if you want to do this or that. You want to walk bare foot around the place? Go for it, but if you go into a shopping center with no shoes on you might be told to leave. You can be told to leave if you are not wearing a shirt even!

You like your pets? Don't take a bird on your shoulder out in public you will be told to leave. It is all these health regulations didn't you know? Blind people with guide dogs, these dogs pose no health problems so are allowed to go anywhere they like, they are special dogs lol.

Smoking and Drinking have got to be the most annoying differences in freedom. A family cannot enjoy a picnic in freedom, if the father or mother opens a can of beer while sitting in a public park you will get fined for public drinking. Gone are the days of having a BBQ washing down it with a can of beer and you smokers cannot smoke anywhere in public without being fined.

Have you seen the cigarette packages in Australia also? The law here has forced them to have graphic images of disease and the warnings need to be a huge font size. What about alcohol which kills more innocent people on the roads? Why is there not pictures of dead people in car accidents on every bottle of alcohol sold?


I can foresee, certainly in America, that eventually life is going to be so tight that you simply will not want to go out in public or travel anywhere on public transport. Americans should compare what it felt like going to a live sports event in the 20th century compared to today's vigorous inspection of each and every person who enters a complex. It didn't take long for these restrictions to come into your life, it happened quite quickly. Certainly it will continue and before you know it you will be put in jail if you do not have your ID card on your person, you could be a terrorist.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:34:23 AM
Why would anybody have to put up with my child's bad mood/behavior?
Why not? People forget that they once where children also.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: fleetfingers on February 22, 2013, 05:36:33 AM
Why would anybody have to put up with my child's bad mood/behavior?

I agree, a shopping center should be able to kick someone out if they feel it's best for their business. Why should the government make that decision? I've never understood that. Someone sets up a business, they can make their own rules. What about their freedom? And is the person with the screaming child being forced to shop there? Do they have a right or "freedom" to tell everyone else what is socially acceptable? And to decide what is acceptable in someone else's store, which they have invested in and own?
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 05:38:38 AM
Why not? People forget that they once where children also.

Because MY child's behavior is MY responsibility. You cannot have freedom without taking responsibility for yourself and for others.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: fleetfingers on February 22, 2013, 05:39:55 AM
Why not? People forget that they once where children also.

I do think that many places are not child-friendly anymore and that people can be too judgmental. I think it depends on the type of screaming and the duration. Even usually well-behaved children can have a bad day and catch a good mom off-guard, putting her in an awkward situation.

Still, the store should be able to judge whether it's bad enough to be asked to leave.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: ajspiano on February 22, 2013, 05:43:04 AM
People forget that they once where children also.

When I was a child I was exceptionally well behaved in such situations, and had I not been my mother or father would have seen that I regretted it very quickly.

I definitely think a store should have the right to refuse patrons that can't behave, be they children or adults. A store is not obliged to provide for all. I certainly wouldn't agree to continue providing piano lessons for a child that was disrespectful toward me or my home/property.

Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: fleetfingers on February 22, 2013, 05:43:14 AM
So what do parents who have no money to afford baby sitting do when they need to go shopping? Leave their children in the car with the aircon running? lol

Where I live, one would be investigated by CPS for doing such a thing.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: j_menz on February 22, 2013, 05:43:30 AM
I do think that many places are not child-friendly anymore

Not nearly enough of them.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:43:46 AM
Does a screaming child scream in everyone ears constantly? No they are moving around, you will not have to experience it for a long time. Some families have not much money and they cannot choose where to shop, some parents have difficult children and that is not completely their fault.

People are overly sensitive to what stands out and what is not the norm. Should we also remove mentally handicapped people who cannot control the sound coming from themselves? Should we ban people with Tourette because they do not fit in with the norm? This is the problem. Society wants everything to look normal and the same, they don't want things to be different. This is a terrible miscarriage of justice, humans are unique and should not fit a mold to enjoy freedom.

Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:49:06 AM
Where I live, one would be investigated by CPS for doing such a thing.
Yeah I know and that is understandable. We had to smash in a car window once because of that situation and they did not dare take us to court over it. It is obvious that a parents with a problematic child has no choice but to take the child into the shops. If the child starts crying do they then take them outside and wait for the crying to stop then go back in? Shopping for groceries might take the entire day!

I do not have children and I don't care if children are crying in public or making a noise. It is not like I am following them around the entire shopping center! And if they are in the food hall eating next to me I will deal with it, it is not like I have to deal with it 100% of the time I go shopping. What do they do about a crying child on an airplane then? I flew to America and it took 20 hours and there was an infant crying and making a noise the entire time. Should they ban also infants from crying?


Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: j_menz on February 22, 2013, 05:49:32 AM
Some families have not much money and they cannot choose where to shop, some parents have difficult children and that is not completely their fault.

Some people simply should not be allowed to breed.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: j_menz on February 22, 2013, 05:50:49 AM
What do they do about a crying child on an airplane then?

Parachute. Push. Peace.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 05:51:08 AM
Because MY child's behavior is MY responsibility. You cannot have freedom without taking responsibility for yourself and for others.
Lets hope we don't live in your world.

Some people simply should not be allowed to breed.
Lol. True but they should have the freedom to do so anyway. I know some people have children so they could get that children bonus of a few grand from the government lol.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: ajspiano on February 22, 2013, 05:52:40 AM

Lol. True but they should have the freedom to do so anyway. I know some people have children so they could get that children bonus of a few grand from the government lol.
There are cases here where parents have deliberately had more children to increase their centrelink benefit I believe.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 05:57:17 AM
Does a screaming child scream in everyone ears constantly? No they are moving around, you will not have to experience it for a long time.

Still, when you look at orangutans, for example, when a child behaves badly, the mother will slap him. That's nature: show others the acceptable limit. If you don't take this responsibility, then somebody else may decide to do it for you: exercise his "freedom", take out his gun and shoot the child and/or you.

People are overly sensitive to what stands out and what is not the norm. Should we also remove mentally handicapped people who cannot control the sound coming from themselves? Should we ban people with Tourette because they do not fit in with the norm? This is the problem. Society wants everything to look normal and the same, they don't want things to be different. This is a terrible miscarriage of justice, humans are unique and should not fit a mold to enjoy freedom.

I think that problem is different; there is no INTENT to disturb others, to attract negative attention, etc., and everybody knows this. I think if a disabled person shouts, curses loudly, starts hitting people, etc., he/she will also be removed from the premises, which is reasonable.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:01:06 AM
There are cases here where parents have deliberate had more children to increase their centrelink benefit I believe.
Yeah it is true. I know certain families where the parents chose to earn less from work so that they could receive more benefits. It is just a terrible circle of poverty. I do charity work at the church donating food vouchers and food baskets to the needy and you notice the grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren all from one family come to get benefits over the years. Welfare payments is one of the most screwed up systems don't get me talking about it! What is even worse is the housing situation in Australia, families do not have an easy time finding a home to rent and the government housing can't keep up. I constantly read in the newspapers of families who are living in their car because the law forced them to find a new place in 60 days and they could not and were not assisted.

Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 06:02:11 AM
Because MY child's behavior is MY responsibility. You cannot have freedom without taking responsibility for yourself and for others.

Lets hope we don't live in your world.

What do you mean? What's wrong with taking responsibility for yourself and others?

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:02:29 AM
Still, when you look at orangutans, for example, when a child behaves badly, the mother will slap him. That's nature: show others the acceptable limit. If you don't take this responsibility, then somebody else may decide to do it for you: exercise his "freedom", take out his gun and shoot the child and/or you.
?

I think that problem is different; there is no INTENT to disturb others, to attract negative attention, etc., and everybody knows this. I think if a disabled person shouts, curses loudly, starts hitting people, etc., he/she will also be removed from the premises, which is reasonable.
And you can judge exactly what causes every single child to be unhappy in public? You should be a doctor!
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:03:14 AM
Lets hope we don't live in your world.

What do you mean? What's wrong with taking responsibility for yourself and others?

Paul
I'm sorry arguing has been disabled (*) nothing personal against anyone.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 06:04:22 AM
?
And you can judge exactly what causes every single child to be unhappy in public? You should be a doctor!

No. You get up, leave the premises where you are disturbing others and find out what's wrong, if necessary with the help of a doctor.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:06:00 AM
No. You get up, leave the premises where you are disturbing others and find out what's wrong, if necessary with the help of a doctor.

Paul
I'm sorry that does not highlight freedom of choice. Your solution is irrelevant to many others.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 06:08:12 AM
I'm sorry arguing has been disabled (*) nothing personal against anyone.

I disabled PM so that I won't be harassed by anyone, so that "secrets", usually discussed through PM, cannot be used against me in a distorted form outside that PM environment (sad experience). What I have to say, I'll say in the open; nothing behind the scenes. What does that have to do with the topic?

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:09:25 AM
I disabled PM so that I won't be harassed by anyone, so that "secrets", usually discussed through PM, cannot be used against me in a distorted form outside that PM environment (sad experience). What I have to say, I'll say in the open; nothing behind the scenes. What does that have to do with the topic?

Paul
I'm sorry arguing has been disabled (*) nothing personal against anyone.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 06:10:57 AM
I'm sorry that does not highlight freedom of choice. Your solution is irrelevant to many others.

How is that? I think most of the others will be grateful that I leave them with their own freedom to eat their dinner in a quiet fashion, enjoy their shopping experience undisturbed.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:15:10 AM
How is that? I think most of the others will be grateful that I leave them with their own freedom to eat their dinner in a quiet fashion, enjoy their shopping experience undisturbed.
Good for you. You are only one person in a world of billions all who have different situations than yourself. Surprising isn't it!
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 06:17:34 AM
Good for you. You are only one person in a world of billions all who have different situations than yourself. Surprising isn't it!

I am merely explaining a mechanism. My freedom stops where other people's freedom starts.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:19:16 AM
I am merely explaining a mechanism. My freedom stops where other people's freedom starts.

Paul

"A" being the operative word. What you say makes no sense for other people in different situations than yourself. It is really not that difficult to understand lol.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:25:12 AM
Over population in US jails is becoming a larger and larger problem. This is for many reasons, one large reason is that mental health services are severely underfunded and many inmates are in jail because of health problems rather than a law problem. Why are these people denied the freedom of health service? The health service in US is in tatters itself, anyone visiting america who gets sick should buy a ticket to Canada to be treated, you will leave a US hospital without even the shirt on your back!

US citizens have a terrible health insurance situation which causes a great deal of problems to their choices in freedom.

Look at the prisoner overpopulation in San Quentin for example. The prison's gymnasium is being used to hold prisoners and bunk beds! There are more than 360 inmates that live there because there's no room anywhere else in the facility.

(https://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens16501371_1294799947crowded-prisons.jpg)

https://www.squidoo.com/prison-overcrowding-is-quickly-becoming-a-major-problem-in-the-united-states


Maybe the USA needs to stop waging war and start looking after their people and their own health? Mental health worldwide is swept under the carpet. Suicides are still considered choice where almost all the time it is treatable mental health issues which caused it. Freedom? Bah!
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 06:34:13 AM
Over population in US jails [...]

I recommend you to open your own anti-US blog and install a Facebook "Like" button. I'm sure you'll be very popular among the masses.
P.S.: Ever seen a Russian jail? ;D

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lloyd_cdb on February 22, 2013, 06:40:52 AM
I recommend you to open your own anti-US blog and install a Facebook "Like" button. I'm sure you'll be very popular among the masses.
P.S.: Ever seen a Russian jail? ;D

Paul

In regards to P.S.: I've been stalking this thread writing essays, but it's been going too fast for me to actually post them. This was easy to respond to, so I figured I could write a couple sentences. Comparison doesn't make a situation any better. If everyone in the world was 300 pounds, would a 280 pound person be healthy? Regardless, I think you know where my opinion stands on most of the crap in this thread...
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:43:17 AM
lloyd_cdb and p2u you both need to realize are are only one voice, your horse is quite high. I merely throw down ideas and thoughts and people can make their own assessment. You both however fear that if people don't see it IN YOUR WAY that there is something going on which needs to be quashed. Thanks for bumping my threads.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lloyd_cdb on February 22, 2013, 06:43:50 AM
Australians are horrible people. Discuss:

https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/law/aboriginal-prison-rates

Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:45:25 AM
I think what was done to the Aboriginals in post colonial Australia was an atrocity and many Australians believe the same. The Government itself said "sorry" and we have a national sorry day, I don't see the US saying sorry to the native Indians?
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lloyd_cdb on February 22, 2013, 06:48:57 AM
lloyd_cdb and p2u you both need to realize are are only one voice, your horse is quite high. I merely throw down ideas and thoughts and people can make their own assessment. You both however fear that if people don't see it IN YOUR WAY that there is something going on which needs to be quashed. Thanks for bumping my threads.
It's not a fear of seeing it in my way. It reminds me of the US VP debates last year. Paul Ryan made 90% of his facts up on the spot, yet 49% of the population believed it because he said it.
Saying whatever you like is a great example of freedom. Freedom of speech doesn't make speech intelligent. You have no idea what freedom even is in the US, and I doubt you've even been on US soil considering the things you've mentioned about our lack of freedom. Your comments are nothing but tabloid headlines expecting people to agree with you, or simply trying to incite arguments. You criticize the US media, yet you display the EXACT same characteristics. Sensationalism and slander, great method for conversation.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:51:05 AM
I think Australia is terribly racist also even though we are very much a multicultural society. The "give them a go" motto itself is laced with racism, yes give them a go only because they are different? Most white Australians have nothing to do with any Aboriginals raced people, there is generally a sense of wariness between the two, it is a terrible racist feeling even though most will not admit it.

So you may see I am not only US critical. The US however is a much much bigger fish than Australia and Australia tends to lag behind the US in trends. What happens in the US usually happens here many years later. The fact that some members think I am against the US is fine, you are welcome to your unintelligent opinion. The fact that I say I am not anti-US will also be not accepted by the minority of trouble makers here on pianostreet, as if they know what I think better than myself? You are conspiracy theorists through and through if you do not take my word for it. lol double standards much?
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 06:51:39 AM
I merely throw down ideas and thoughts and people can make their own assessment.

The problem is: most can't if they are not warned about the consequences. One needs at least a 99.9 percentile on the verbal section of the GMAT (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_Management_Admission_Test) (especially "critical reasoning/arguments") to be able to assess the merit of the data being thrown about on the Internet.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lloyd_cdb on February 22, 2013, 06:51:44 AM
I think what was done to the Aboriginals in post colonial Australia was an atrocity and many Australians believe the same. The Government itself said "sorry" and we have a national sorry day, I don't see the US saying sorry to the native Indians?
I'd personally rather not pay taxes than get a written apology. Call me crazy. Empty words are empty words. Oops, I slaughtered you, MY BAD!
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:53:37 AM
The problem is: most can't if they are not warned about the consequences. One needs at least a 99.9 percentile on the verbal section of the GMAT (especially "critical reasoning") to be able to assess the merit of the data being thrown about on the Internet.
There is no problems in my mind thus what you say does not make sense to many others.


You have no idea what freedom even is in the US, and I doubt you've even been on US soil considering the things you've mentioned about our lack of freedom. Your comments are nothing but tabloid headlines expecting people to agree with you, or simply trying to incite arguments. You criticize the US media, yet you display the EXACT same characteristics. Sensationalism and slander, great method for conversation.
You are welcome to your unsubstantiated claims. Everything I have written here is true, you have to take off your conspiracy theorist hat for a moment.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 06:54:15 AM
I'd personally rather not pay taxes than get a written apology. Call me crazy. Empty words are empty words. Oops, I slaughtered you, MY BAD!
You're crazy.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lloyd_cdb on February 22, 2013, 06:57:22 AM
The fact that some members think I am against the US is fine, you are welcome to your unintelligent opinion. The fact that I say I am not anti-US will also be not accepted by the minority of trouble makers here on pianostreet, as if they know what I think better than myself? You are conspiracy theorists through and through if you do not take my word for it. lol double standards much?
Let's say I posted 100 links about how black people were ruining society: discuss.

How many 'unintelligent people' would call me racist? You are posting slanderous comments, many of which are factually incorrect. you don't bother fact checking yet throw them out here anyway claiming them as discussion points. Accusations are not discussions.

When was the last time you went to a sporting event in the US? How were you treated by security? What freedoms were ripped from you the moment you stepped foot on our soil?
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lloyd_cdb on February 22, 2013, 06:58:48 AM
You're crazy.
How is that crazy? Native Americans don't pay taxes on their reservations, taxes which account for half of my income. You would rather someone say 'sorry' and then take your money rather than keep it and just be ignored? That's just plain silly.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 07:04:25 AM
There is no problems in my mind thus what you say does not make sense to many others.

I was not talking about YOUR mind in particular. I said "most", referring to the average reader. Do you want to say that your opinion is also the opinion of MOST readers? ("thus")

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 07:06:14 AM
Let's say I posted 100 links about how black people were ruining society: discuss.

How many 'unintelligent people' would call me racist? You are posting slanderous comments, many of which are factually incorrect. you don't bother fact checking yet throw them out here anyway claiming them as discussion points. Accusations are not discussions.

When was the last time you went to a sporting event in the US? How were you treated by security? What freedoms were ripped from you the moment you stepped foot on our soil?
How does this have any relevance to this thread? It doesn't. Also you are only ONE opinion you are not the king of a country or a president speaking for a country. You are welcome to your opinion but that is not going to stop me from voicing my own interests. You have to learn to deal with it lol.



How is that crazy?
Well you told me to call you crazy, it wasn't my choice. I thought you like getting your way?
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 07:09:21 AM
I was not talking about YOUR mind in particular. I said "most", referring to the average reader. Do you want to say that your opinion is also the opinion of MOST readers? ("thus")
This has nothing to do with this thread please stay on topic.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 07:19:14 AM
This has nothing to do with this thread please stay on topic.

This has to do with how you set up an argument in this topic, so I think it's perfectly on topic. But OK, it's your topic. You decide. :)

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 07:21:22 AM
OK, it's your topic. You decide. :)
Decide what? I have already decided to share what I want to share without your permission long before you ever existed here.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 07:22:40 AM
Decide what? I have already decided to share what I want to share without your permission long before you ever existed here.

Hate speech. Yeah, so I noticed.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: thalbergmad on February 22, 2013, 08:04:06 AM
So what do parents who have no money to afford baby sitting do when they need to go shopping? Leave their children in the car with the aircon running? lol

Kids should be gagged and then chained to the railings along with the push bikes.

Noisy little gits.

Thal
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: thalbergmad on February 22, 2013, 08:07:09 AM
My Country (England) is pretty free.

You can only be jailed for speeding and saying anything negative about Islam.

Apart from that, you can do pretty much what you want.

Thal
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: ahinton on February 22, 2013, 09:35:05 AM
Kids should be gagged and then chained to the railings along with the push bikes.

Noisy little gits.
Leaving aside that even you were a child once (at least as far as I am aware), who would do the gagging and chaining and for how long - and who would pay all of the costs of the ensuing legal action for cruelty to pushbikes that would inevitably be mounted against whoever did it?

Best,

Alistair
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: ahinton on February 22, 2013, 09:39:08 AM
My Country (England) is pretty free.

You can only be jailed for speeding and saying anything negative about Islam.

Apart from that, you can do pretty much what you want.
England isn't "my" country, although I live in it; the fact that I am a Scot neither prompts nor entitles me to regard Scotland as "my" country either, since I neither own it nor have shares in it.

I am no expert on legal or judicial matters but, having lived for quite a large proportion of my life in Scotland, England and now Herefordistan, I have to say that it had never occurred to me that exceeding the legal speed limit and public insults to Islam are the only offences in Britain for which one can be jailed. It's a good thing that it's not true.

Best,

Alistair
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 11:15:19 AM
lloyd_cdb and p2u you both need to realize are are only one voice, your horse is quite high. I merely throw down ideas and thoughts and people can make their own assessment. You both however fear that if people don't see it IN YOUR WAY that there is something going on which needs to be quashed. Thanks for bumping my threads.

The fact that some members think I am against the US is fine, you are welcome to your unintelligent opinion. The fact that I say I am not anti-US will also be not accepted by the minority of trouble makers here on pianostreet, as if they know what I think better than myself? You are conspiracy theorists through and through if you do not take my word for it. lol double standards much?

That is a grave misrepresentation of two people's true intentions and contributions.

You start a topic about "freedom" and immediately confuse it by citing Bush, mentioning a dreadful prison on a US military base, citing from a tabloid resource to illustrate your point, etc. What had you expected after the "Did-the-US-attack-itself" BS in the other thread?

I gave you a clear definition of what I think freedom is. I also gave you the framework of responsibility that limits freedom. Instead of addressing it, you prefer to throw crap around. What exactly is your problem? Why don't you understand that we are not attacking you personally or your opinions, but only the generalisations you create based on flaws in your reasoning?

Besides, two times in a row you misquote my signature as a so-called reply to reasonable argumentation. How is anybody to take you seriously after such cheap tactics?

Everybody who does not share your opinion is a "troublemaker"? Let me see: that's most likely N., that's Lloyd, and that's me. Oh, I forgot the 14-year old girl, littletune, you beat up before an audience with your non-arguments in the "Would you rather" thread. Unfortunately, I was away at that time, because I wouldn't have tolerated that either.

Now you also state that it's we who "have fear", it's we who are the "conspiracy thinkers" etc. What makes you think that? As a matter of fact, when I start attacking BS arguments, I have this motto:

Quote from: Sun Tzu
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

I just cannot tolerate your misrepresentations of facts and people's real intentions anymore. Either you address the concerns or you keep silent. That is also part of freedom: the freedom to take responsible decisions for yourself and the community.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 12:01:38 PM
That is a grave misrepresentation of two people's true intentions and contributions.

You start a topic about "freedom" and immediately confuse it by citing Bush, mentioning a dreadful prison on a US military base, citing from a tabloid resource to illustrate your point, etc. What had you expected after the "Did-the-US-attack-itself" BS in the other thread?
Guantanamo is recognized throughout the world as being a place absent of justice. This is not a conspiracy theory. This is not an opinion but a fact that even the president Barack said was not a good thing for the country. So please do not twist my words to fit your own negative opinions. Please share some opinion about freedom instead of incessantly arguing about nothing.


I gave you a clear definition of what I think freedom is. I also gave you the framework of responsibility that limits freedom. Instead of addressing it, you prefer to throw crap around. What exactly is your problem? Why don't you understand that we are not attacking you personally or your opinions, but only the generalisations you create based on flaws in your reasoning?
You don't have take it so personally that someone doesn't want to talk to you about something. Maybe what you have to say doesn't interest them and it is their freedom to ignore you. If you don't like it that is not my problem.


Besides, two times in a row you misquote my signature as a so-called reply to reasonable argumentation. How is anybody to take you seriously after such cheap tactics?
I have the freedom to say what I want and if I don't want to argue I have the right to say that any way I like so long it is not offensive. I am not being offensive so please don't try to twist my words as you tend to do for some unknown reason.

Everybody who does not share your opinion is a "troublemaker"? Let me see: that's most likely N., that's Lloyd, and that's me. Oh, I forgot the 14-year old girl, littletune, you beat up before an audience with your non-arguments in the "Would you rather" thread. Unfortunately, I was away at that time, because I wouldn't have tolerated that either.
Irrelevant arguing. You try to make argument out of nothing at all and then are surprised why I don't want to entertain your opinions? I have the freedom to ignore whatever you say and move on. I have the freedom to think whoever I like is troublemakers and I did not name any names, are you feeling guilty? Please stop putting words into my internet mouth :)

Now you also state that it's we who "have fear", it's we who are the "conspiracy thinkers" etc. What makes you think that? As a matter of fact, when I start attacking BS arguments, I have this motto:
You have no opinion but to argue my opinion with me. I don't want to argue and you get hurt over it lol. That is not my problem. Putting question to everything I say as if there is some evil hidden meaning behind it is stupid. It has already been pointed out I am not anti US and happily will strike down my own country for its terrible past. If my interest is in the super powers of this world that is  my freedom to do so.

I just cannot tolerate your misrepresentations of facts and people's real intentions anymore. Either you address the concerns or you keep silent. That is also part of freedom: the freedom to take responsible decisions for yourself and the community.
There is no evidence of any misinterpretation of facts in this thread. Everything discussed is true and has happened, it is not conspiracy thinking. Whatever I choose to piece together my discussion is up to me, I have the freedom to choose what I like and in this thread what I have chosen is acceptable mainstream media knowledge.

If you disagree that prisons in the US are not overpopulated and that Guantanamo is perfectly ok to exist, then argue your point. There is not any use to say that I am wrong and base your entire discussion on that, that is empty, meaningless, you are not going to EVER change my opinion.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 12:22:34 PM
...

I'm not going to argue every point you make because I don't want to look like a fool, trying to explain the obvious to everyone. I'm flabbergasted by the sheer absence of logical links in your replies to what you actually cite. I understand this as a rare case of confusion and a deep desire to evade what is actually under discussion.

Also: a prison is not exactly a place to show as an example of how the absence of freedom works, the more so a notorious prison on some military base.

Paul
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: lostinidlewonder on February 22, 2013, 12:30:02 PM
I'm not going to argue every point you make because I don't want to look like a fool, trying to explain the obvious to everyone. I'm flabbergasted by the sheer absence of logical links in your replies to what you actually cite. I understand this as a rare case of confusion and a deep desire to evade what is actually under discussion.
Well good at least you got that out of your system.

Also: a prison is not exactly a place to show as an example of how the absence of freedom works, the more so a notorious prison on some military base.
In western society however we generally believe we have the basic civil right to a trial not be detained with no reason, no hearing date set. Mainstream society is worried about this situation as it says a great deal about the freedom we all have. In Australia there was one example of a man being detained under the terrorism law then getting a payout for the mistake.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhamed_Haneef


Haneef was arrested on 2 July 2007 at Brisbane Airport, Brisbane, Australia on suspicion of terror-related activities. He is the second cousin once removed of Kafeel Ahmed and Sabeel Ahmed, the operatives in the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack. Haneef's ensuing detention became the longest without charge in recent Australian history, which caused great controversy in Australia and India.
Title: Re: How Free is your country?
Post by: p2u_ on February 22, 2013, 12:41:37 PM

In western society however we generally believe we have the basic civil right to a trial not be detained with no reason, no hearing date set.

I know better than anyone else here what it is to be wrongfully accused without a trial. The pain will never go away and I feel deep, deep compassion for all people with such a fate. You will never hear me argue against the right for a fair trial. I guess I missed the link to what you wanted with the thread. I have other associations with the word "freedom". I associate the absence of a trial with the words "justice"/"injustice", which are a bit different in scope. When I saw your first post, I also thought the topic would be a bit more philosophical, broader, but then I saw examples mentioned that made my hair stand on end. I hope you can understand that. I apologize for any confusion caused.

Paul