PRESIDENT OBAMA

[G.W.K]

Chess?

Nah, I'm not good at that game. Understand it, can't play it. 

G.W.K

[johnny-boy]

Tiddlywinks anyone?

[argerichfan]

Surely we are hearing from the most stupid woman in the entire universe.

Well at least on Pianostreet.     Alas, there are perhaps many other Americans in the Red States who would probably agree with her.  What a thought, god forbid. 

Over 12,000 posts of pure, unadulterated, ignorant rubbish... not that I've bothered to read even the barest fraction of them.  A sampling is more than sufficient to see that we're dealing with the most deranged and sick person I've ever encountered on any forum.   

[morningstar]

Nah, I'm not good at that game. Understand it, can't play it. 

G.W.K

I mean like a black piece on a white square or something. Anyone?

[ahinton]

Well at least on Pianostreet.     Alas, there are perhaps many other Americans in the Red States who would probably agree with her.  What a thought, god forbid.

"God forbid"? You might care to consider rephrasing that!...

Over 12,000 posts of pure, unadulterated, ignorant rubbish... not that I've bothered to read even the barest fraction of them.  A sampling is more than sufficient to see that we're dealing with the most deranged and sick person I've ever encountered on any forum.   

Over 12,000 posts, yes - "pure, unadulterated"? - I find myself less than qualified to comment on either the purity or otherwise of their content or the commission or otherwise of adulterous acts of any kind by the poster concerned - "ignorant rubbish"? - well, I would certainly not go so far as to claim that all of those 12,000+ posts contain nothing but that.

One would not need to read more of them than that "barest fraction" that you say you have read in order to get a perspective on the content, for there is undoubtedly a massive quantity of largely repetitious material, usually along very specifically sectarian Christian, Bible-punching, creationist lines and an apparently unquenchable propensity for dragging such references, sometimes at immense and unwarranted length, into topic discussions where they seem at best to be of questionable relevance.

I do not believe that all of these posts are necessarily like that, however, although the mere fact of the 12,000+ post count - a record way beyond precedence and expectation on this forum - is itself more than sufficient to suggest that the volume of material that you do deride is more than ample. The belief systems of each individual are, quite rightly, matters for those individuals themselves whose sole prerogative it is to adhere to them, but their overbearing and persistent promulgation in discussion fora where they are likely to have relatively little bearing on thread topics seems inappropriate.

As to the "rubbish" aspect, I do not and will not rubbish anyone's beliefs and statements unless they are scientifically disprovable as, for example, the creationist ones are - and even then I will simply dispute them on that basis rather than "rubbish" them; I might also draw attention to statements that are not scientifically provable and which make claims for which there is insufficient evidence in their support, just as I might upbraid someone for abject and deliberate failure to recognise that almost every conceivable aspect of society has changed beyond recognition since Biblical times - indeed I have done both of these things on more than one occasion - but that is not quite the same as making a bald statement such as you have done here.

I have never met the poster concerned but I have not refrained from addressing these views directly, as well as here on the forum.

"The most deranged and sick person I've ever encountered on any forum"? You must lead an innocent life! In all seriousness, I cannot help but think that you may be ascribing to the contents of the posts concerned a good deal more importance than some of them might reasonably merit...

Best,

Alistair

[michel dvorsky]

ahinton, things don't have to be blatantly disprovable to be intellectually contemptible. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot

Disclaimer: this analogy (1952) is before we sent anything (Sputnik, 1957) or anyone (Gagarin, 1961) into space. 

[argerichfan]

"The most deranged and sick person I've ever encountered on any forum"? You must lead an innocent life!

Alistair, I said 'the most deranged and sick person I've ever encountered on any forum'.  (And I hardly lead an innocent life.)  I'm an active member of five other forums (one of which we share), and I've never remotely run into the likes of the subject of our discussion here. 

[ramseytheii]

No, now there's a Black and White President.

What do you mean?  He's properly African-American.

Walter Ramsey

[johnny-boy]

What do you mean?  He's properly African-American.

Walter Ramsey

Obama had a White mother and a Black father, thus; we now have a Black and White president.

[ahinton]

ahinton, things don't have to be blatantly disprovable to be intellectually contemptible. 

I didn't say that they do - nor do I disagree with you.

Best,

Alistair

[ramseytheii]

Obama had a White mother and a Black father, thus; we now have a Black and White president.

That's true, but he also had an African father and an American mother, so we quite literally have an African-American president!

Walter Ramsey

[johnny-boy]

That's true, but he also had an African father and an American mother, so we quite literally have an African-American president!

Walter Ramsey

Not as far as the accepted definition of Afro-American.

The first part of the hyphenated title stands for the person's heritage of origin; the second for the country in which he/she resides.

John

[loonbohol]

Not as far as the accepted definition of Afro-American.

The first part of the hyphenated title stands for the person's heritage of origin; the second for the country in which he/she resides.

John

I wholeheartedly agree

[zheer]

  He is the first black president, since he was democratically elected, it shows that people in U.S.A are looking for change in their government and a brighter future.
 I personally hope so, because what ever the U.S does tends to have a global effect.

[johnny-boy]

  He is the first black president, since he was democratically elected, it shows that people in U.S.A are looking for change in their government and a brighter future.
 I personally hope so, because what ever the U.S does tends to have a global effect.

First Black & White president.

[zheer]

First Black & White president.

   Either way, it is good that he was democratically elected. When the current prime minister of UK took over from Blair it provoked more terrorist attack. This has not been the case when Obama was elected. I honestly believe that the U.S is now able to handle its internatinal relation and many of its own demostic problem.

[ramseytheii]

Not as far as the accepted definition of Afro-American.

The first part of the hyphenated title stands for the person's heritage of origin; the second for the country in which he/she resides.

John

I never said Afro-American, and maybe Afro-American is used in a different way, but as we all know words can have vernacular meanings and literal defintions, and it is literally true that Obama is African-American.  I wonder what the origin of denial over this is!

Walter Ramsey

[johnny-boy]

I never said Afro-American, and maybe Afro-American is used in a different way, but as we all know words can have vernacular meanings and literal defintions, and it is literally true that Obama is African-American.  I wonder what the origin of denial over this is!

Walter Ramsey

I can't help you there Walter. If you refuse to accept the fact that Obama is our first Black & White president.

John

[gyzzzmo]

The only true American is the Indian, will probably take quite some time before a true American actually becomes a president :p

[thalbergmad]

They have just had one.

Bush's real name is Chief bombing twat.

Thal

[johnny-boy]

The only true American is the Indian, will probably take quite some time before a true American actually becomes a president :p

Actuality they are not the "only true Americans".

Dictionary meaning:
American: a citizen of the United States

African American: Black citizen of the United States

Obama: Black and White citizen of the United States

Besides, America didn't become America until the Europeans came here. In fact, the Europeans labeled the natives of this land "Indians".

John

[thalbergmad]

In fact, the Europeans labeled the natives of this land "Indians".

You mean they actually put stickers on them??

Thal

[johnny-boy]

You mean they actually put stickers on them??

Thal

No, they didn't have stickers back then. Knowing the Europeans, they probably used branding irons.

[gyzzzmo]

They have just had one.

Bush's real name is Chief bombing twat.

Thal

I thought it was Chief Frogbrain?

[thalbergmad]

No, they didn't have stickers back then. Knowing the Europeans, they probably used branding irons.

Once the Europeans had introduced them to Smallpox and Measles, i doubt if there were enough left.

Thal

[ramseytheii]

I can't help you there Walter. If you refuse to accept the fact that Obama is our first Black & White president.

John

I agreed with you (https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,31929.msg375042.html#msg375042).  But it was you who denied he was African-American, which is literally true!  And that certainly makes me wonder.

Walter Ramsey

[ramseytheii]

Actuality they are not the "only true Americans".

Dictionary meaning:
American: a citizen of the United States

African American: Black citizen of the United States

Obama: Black and White citizen of the United States

Besides, America didn't become America until the Europeans came here. In fact, the Europeans labeled the natives of this land "Indians".

John

Funny, I found a different definition!


adjective
1.    pertaining to or characteristic of Americans of African ancestry

noun
1.    an American whose ancestors were born in Africa

Check your dictionary!

Walter Ramsey

[johnny-boy]

I agreed with you (https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,31929.msg375042.html#msg375042).  But it was you who denied he was African-American, which is literally true!  And that certainly makes me wonder.

Walter Ramsey

Okay, I'll go along with African-White-American.  "African-American" is denying Obama his "White" heritage. Are you a chauvinist? Do you think only the father’s ethnic background is important?

Probably should just use "American" since "America" stands for all ethnic groups. But if you insist on being more specific, be accurate.

Yeah, there are several dictionary meanings. I just chose the most logical one.

Now you’re making me wonder.

[ramseytheii]

Okay, I'll go along with African-White-American.  "African-American" is denying Obama his "White" heritage. Are you a chauvinist? Do you think only the father’s ethnic background is important?

Probably should just use "American" since "America" stands for all ethnic groups. But if you insist on being more specific, be accurate.

Yeah, there are several dictionary meanings. I just chose the most logical one.

Now you’re making me wonder.

You're making a lot of assumptions, the first being that I am using African in an "ethnic" way.  If his father was a white landowner from South Africa, or a light-skinned northern Egyptian, he would still be an African-American.  You are making descriptions based on the color of people's skin, and I am making them on the national origin of their parents.  What's so inaccurate about that?

Walter Ramsey

[johnny-boy]

You're making a lot of assumptions, the first being that I am using African in an "ethnic" way.  If his father was a white landowner from South Africa, or a light-skinned northern Egyptian, he would still be an African-American.  You are making descriptions based on the color of people's skin, and I am making them on the national origin of their parents.  What's so inaccurate about that?

Walter Ramsey

Huh??? You're either reading someone else's replies or you've had one too many.

You're accusing me of exactly what you were doing.

This discussion is over. You’re way out there somewhere in Confusionville.

 

[ramseytheii]

Your argument was that by calling him "African-American," I was calling him "black" and leaving the "white" out.  It's your own short-sightedness, that thinks African = black!  I am going by passports, you are going by skin colors!  Snap out of it.

Walter Ramsey

[johnny-boy]

Your argument was that by calling him "African-American," I was calling him "black" and leaving the "white" out.  It's your own short-sightedness, that thinks African = black!  I am going by passports, you are going by skin colors!  Snap out of it.

Walter Ramsey

Giving you the benefit of the doubt; then the hyphenated title is inaccurate. Obama is American. He is not African.

No, I was not going by skin color, rather his ethnic origin.

[m19834]

Obama is American.

hmmmm ... it seems to me that actually he is, more correctly, "A citizen of the United States of America" 

[johnny-boy]

"Your argument was that by calling him "African-American," I was calling him "black" and leaving the "white" out"

Really, weren't you?

If it wasn't for his skin color you would have just called him an American.

My family originally came from Norway, but I don't go by "Norwegian-American".

John

[ahinton]

What someone may be in terms of racial origin (insofar as this can even be determined at all with any degree of meaningful accuracy) may be - and indeed often is - different to what they may be in terms of nationality status; K is surely correct when describing the American President-elect as a citizen of the United States but then many people who are not of American origin can legitimately call themselves that. If, for example, the economically ravaged United States were ever to buy the arguably even more economically parlous United Kingdom lock, stock and barrel, one might presume that all current British citizens would automatically become American citizens as a consequence (although one would also have to assume that, in order for this to happen, UK would have first to disconnect from EU in order that the country's citizens were wholly free to become the citizens of another country); whilst I am not, of course, suggesting that this is a likely future occurrence, the point of mentioning it at all is that its outcome would make obviously no difference to the racial origins of any of those then ex-British citizens.

In any event, isn't the most important matter that of how successful the new President will be in office over whatever term he may remain there?

Best,

Alistair

[gyzzzmo]

In any event, isn't the most important matter that of how successful the new President will be in office over whatever term he may remain there?

Best,

Alistair

Should be yes, but past decades of American elections have proven that its not important what the president/candidate does and thinks, but its about how he smiles for tv and how much funds he can raise for the elections.

[ahinton]

Should be yes, but past decades of American elections have proven that its not important what the president/candidate does and thinks, but its about how he smiles for tv and how much funds he can raise for the elections.

On the face of it, this might appear to be all too sadly true, yet I should add that the American electorate must at least have concerned itself with what the President has done and has thought, otherwise the likelihood of a change of government such as that for which that it has just voted would surely be small indeed; furthermore, were smiling for the cameras and election fundraising success the only considerations that might influence the end results, I would have to say that, whilst I do not know how much was raised for the elections that returned George W Bush as President, I cannot immediately recall a whole lot of occasions when he in particular seemed to be playing to the cameras, let alone smiling at them...

Best,

Alistair