Quote by Tantaleyes
I'm in favor of free speech for everyone, and I'm a member of a minority group that's received a lot of hate speech, threats, property damage, and violence.
but what about hate speech? do you draw the line there, or do you think that should be allowed as well?
Quote by Tantaleyes
If you could show to the assistant DA or court what it was that made you feel that he's a threat to your daughter.
i think that fact that he's at a fricken' school bus stop with a weapon that has become synonymous with killing school kids in the US is enough reason to put a hole in him, don't you? or should i ask him? "excuse me, sir, are you going to shoot my kid?" or maybe wait until he does before shooting him? hey, my daughter is dead, but dammit, justice was served after the fact.
Quote by Tantaleyes
Yes. He'll have to go somewhere else to make his point. I'm assuming he's American and the gun's legal, so he's got a right to own it. He's not concealing it, so he doesn't need a permit for that.
so, theoretical. i have a conceal-carry permit. i have a handgun. he shows up at the bus stop, he's carrying an AR-15. I'm picking up my kid, i feel that he's a threat to my daughter. i shoot him. would i be within my rights?
btw, let's take an informal poll. raise your hand if you or a minority that you represent have never been the target of hate speech. thing is, it's easy to say, FREE SPEECH FOR EVERYONE if you've never been the recipient of hate speech, threats, property damage, or violence simply because you're a member of a minority. some of you are lucky, and will never experience it. thing is, you have to remember that it's very hard to have any kind of perspective if that's true. not a condemnation. simply a fact.
Quote by JustAMan
It’s a shame the haters fail to see and understand that we are all entitled to our own perspectives and truths. I often wonder if it is fear at the root of their horrible behaviors…?
sure we are. but we're not all entitled to voice them in a publicly sanctioned setting. you can go ahead and hate - fill in your 'favorite' minority here - that doesn't give you the right to openly debate your opinions at a publicly funded academic setting. there does need to be a line drawn, and if something falls under the guise of hate speech, i think that's a clear sign that the line has just been crossed.
Quote by Ironic
It's true that all POVs aren't equally valid. That's why there needs to be free speech - so the different POVs can be compared. The idea of actively suppressing others' opinions reminds me of how medieval church dogma was used. Not good then, and not good now.
cool. i believe that all men are potential rapists and should be castrated at birth. that's my POV.
there is a difference between allowing free speech and allowing hate speech. thing is, now that it's not as popular to hate black people, people are finding other people to hate. Trans people seem to be the most popular target these days and it's still kind of okay to hate them in our society, so people are jumping on the bandwagon while they can. that's not a difference of opinion, that's pure bigotry and hate.
oh, and i should mention that the hatred of Jews seems to be growing in popularity too.
The place; a highway. The time; now. Debbie Thompson, aTypical small town girl trying to escape the humdrum of unfulfilled dreams for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. All she needs is a ride. She’s about to find one, one that takes an unexpected detour… through The Erotic Zone.
Quote by Chryses
Then perhaps you can answer the question noll has not: Why cannot one set member provide helpful information about another set member? That is what he has claimed and failed to warrant.
why would i be answering for Noll? he can answer for himself. i mean, you really want me to start answering for other members here? not going to like when i start answering for you, i guarantee it lol
Quote by Ironic
I do something positive, and you know I do, so suggesting I'm not isn't true.
Never said you didn't. What I did say is that you could do more, but don't. Because it's inconvenient. That's an argument that has been used through history as an excuse and it's just kind of tired. I will give you points for doing some things if that helps.
Quote by Ironic
I don't need to explain to you why I don't do as much as you think I should. And since you already know I make an effort, your comment about how my work schedule makes it "impossible to be eco-friendly" isn't true.
no, you don't, but that just makes you seem like you're making excuses because doing something positive is inconvienient and you don't want to. like, you could simply say, i'm a truck driver, so doing this is impossible because... and i'd go, okay, i get that and then maybe make a suggestion, like why don't you try this? wouldn't be telling anyone any personal information, really - unless you're a spy for the Italians, in which case maybe not say that in public?
Quote by Ironic
That's a pretty mug.
I've already told you some of what I do to reduce my pollution input. I've already told you the interrogation's over, but you refuse to stop asking me to explain what I do or don't do, as if you get to decide how I should change to be more the way you think I should be. Most of what you've posted to this thread has been critical of what I'm doing to help. You feel entitled to criticize me for not doing what you think is enough. There's nothing I can do to prevent you from doing that, but I think you should take a step back and think about your choices.
The only way I can know you is through what I read. Thats why I think you're nasty. You've explained away your nastiness towards me by blaming it on all the people you deal with here that don't share your opinions. OK. I'm sure you're right. But that doesn't entitle you to give me a hard time because I don't do all the eco-friendly things you do or you think I should.
thanks - a gift from my wife. i'm kind of a Disney-head. what you can't really tell from the picture is that it has a bit of a sparkle to it, too. it's also themulated - lol - that is SO not a word, my brain is freezing right now - it keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. mostly use it for my teas - ices and hot. apple juice sometimes, too. yep, i do - my advice? do what i do - ignore me when you're tired of the conversation. it's perfectly fine, won't hurt my feelings. i don't have anything to respond to, i won't respond, simple as that. you give me an opening, though, and i'm going to bull my way in. i've learned over the years that being quiet just means you don't get heard. 
and the thing is, i DO feel entitled to criticize anyone who i think isn't doing enough - i also welcome people who are doing far more than me to criticize me - fair game - i could do more, and if you tell me how, i will probably take it to heart. at present, i try...
here's the thing. if you were just messing up your own place - not dusting, tossing cigarette butts on the carpet, i wouldn't care. this is our world. it's the only one we have. i live here too - so what you do, or don't do, affects me. that's why - those mesh bags? i see someone using the plastic ones at the market, i'll give them a few - not out of the goodness of my heart, btw, but because i'm selfish and i like our planet and i've heard that Mars is cold and kind of barren.
well, here's the thing - i'm all over the site with posts - the only way you know me by reading TT posts. go check out my posts in Rumps, or the mental health posts, or ANY posts besides this one - thing is, all i have to judge YOU (and most of the other TT regulars is... TT posts where people don't come off as very nice (remember Damon X? despite being in agreement with him on most issues, he was NOT very nice - hell, even at my least nicest i am way nicer then he ever was lol
so no, i don't blame "my nastiest" (i'm not, that's your opinion) on people that don't share my opinions - not just them, at least - Felix shares my opinions too, and i'm always happy to call him out when he's being an ass. if the old threads were still available i'd hunt down all the past threads where i was actually being reasonable and people responded in ways that make me look like a saint - some pretty horrifying name-calling and threats, etc. some bad enough that people got banned for it. so yeah, i stopped being "nice".
i do step back and think about my choices. that's why i do a lot of the things i do. like i said, not perfect, but it's why i am a vegetarian, why i recycle, why i shop at thrift stores, why i bring my own bags, etc etc. i even gave up reading physical books (which kills me still) because kindle doesn't use the same physical resources and we've started cutting down on using amazon cause dude, freaking packaging materials are off the charts with them. and yes, we still DO use them, and i wish i could say differently, but it's convenient, so see, I totally get it. i try to assuage the guilt by cleaning up my act in other ways.
so yeah, little things add up. there are too many people on this planet and we are using up resources and polluting it at an alarming rate (don't even get me started on climate change - you'll regret it lol) i would rather try doing something now than waiting until it's too late do to anything, dig?
I think that, one thing we can agree on, is that AI is gonna happen - it already is. just letting it happen without at the very least, talking about what the means, how it's going to effect people, taking a hard look at how it's going to be used, not just but us, but by other countries, is better than just ignoring it until it becomes more difficult or impossible to regulate. i think that, at the very least, someone does have to get this thing rolling. is it an attempt to keep all but the big players out? hard to say. i always like to think that people can be altruistic and actually care - i try not to be overly cynical, while still being realistic. so... hard to say. time will tell.
i know a lot of artists and writers are concerned that AI will be used to 'replace' them, especially with the current writers strike going on.... we've had some backroom discussions for a while now about our stance on AI-generated stories for the site - whether we embrace them or discourage them - and really, if they're good enough that no one knows, how do we even monitor them unless someone flat out states that they've used an AI program to write something?
it's new territory - a new frontier, and bluntly, we'll probably blunder our way through it until we figure it out. or don't. no matter what, i am guessing what we (America) decides will be better than what a country like China, Russia, or N.Korea decides and whatever regulations we impose will have no effect on their decisions what do to with it...
Quote by CarltonStJames
That part in bold especially.
IMNewHere, if you like reading novels that will already give you the edge needed of what to do and what not to do. It takes practice, but it's rewarding as hell when your work is out there. You'll even have moments where you're like, "Wait... I wrote that?"
some of my early stuff isn't any good, but it was a stepping stone to some of the later stuff that is actually pretty good - every time you write, you learn, you get better, you figure it out a little more.
Quote by Ironic
And you know nothing about my work life and still feel entitled to criticize me?
here, i'll help you - i'll go first. i'm a social worker. i work with victims of domestic abuse - spouses as well as families - technically, i work 9-5 out of an office. it's very hands on, though, and the hours are very flexible - i do a few evenings a week, some weekends, some overnight work as well. yes, i have a car and an office to keep my stuff in - i don't do a lot of traveling from place to place. like i said, i carry reusable utensils, straws, cups, bowls, and plates - i have a kitchen i can use to wash them with, but sometimes i just shove them in a bag and take them home and do it.
i don't smoke, so no worry about cigarette butts - use my own bags for produce and groceries - they go with me at any place i shop, not just for groceries. keep them in the car trunk. am i perfect? nope. do i try? yep. that's all anyone needs to do - try. it's so simple that it really astounds me that not everyone is doing it.
not like anyone's asking you to pick up after someone else - just take care of your own stuff. you know, control what you can. we all do that, the world is a better place - isn't that kind of a cool goal to be a part of? to achieve?
Quote by Ironic
You know nothing about my work life and feel entitled to criticize me. Thats funny!
ok, so tell me about it - tell me what you do and then maybe I'll understand why you can't carry a reusable coffee cup and a set of utensils around with you. you'd not like a professional scuba diver or something, are you? this is mine, currently, btw.
Quote by Chryses
So, no warrant for your claim the Greek sovereign debt crisis provides no lesson to be learned for another country's possible sovereign debt crisis. Perhaps tomorrow you will have one.
seems to me that he already posted such. trolling again, i see.
Quote by Ironic
You need to be nice to become nicer.
something you should realize, you only know me from my posts in TT. am i nice here? not particularly, but look at the people i have to deal with and maybe you'll get why. Trolls and bigots and racists (i'm not calling you any of these, btw) and misogynists and some downright nasty people - oh, and don't forget all those folks pretending to be gals with more than one account. seriously. so yeah, news to you, people who actually know me, know that i am nice. like i said, you don't know me. want to hear something funny? i assume you're nice too - just misguided.
Quote by Ironic
Also sprite:
" i don't have time to be nicer about it these days."
You'll probably have more success in getting results if you stop giving people who don't share your opinions a hard time.
if you shared my opinions, you probably wouldn't have copped out with "my work schedule doesn't allow me to do most of those things'. news for you - my daily schedule is pretty crazy too, but i still manage.
Quote by Ironic
Also sprite:
" i don't have time to be nicer about it these days."
You'll probably have more success in getting results if you stop giving people who don't share your opinions a hard time.
i didn't say "nice". I said "nicer". i think i'm plenty nice. sure, i could sweet talk you into doing the right thing, but sometimes guilt is a great motivator too, and it really didn't sound like anything i said was going to give you any kind of a push to change your behavior - and when you find yourself tilting at windmills, you just kind of stop trying to be diplomatic.
