Tentative guidelines now on sidebar.

dhamster · 2012-05-23T02:31:19.885708+00:00

Uuuh, I probably would if I knew what it involved.

dhamster · 2012-05-23T02:24:08.551438+00:00

dhamster · 2012-05-23T02:19:59.789112+00:00

/r/fitness also has a weekly "stupid questions" thread where people ask the questions that don't really deserve a thread of their own.

Saarrex · 2012-05-23T02:05:53.250910+00:00

It's a PBS documentary, so it should be on their website or something.

IAmAWhaleSexologist · 2012-05-22T20:27:27.542486+00:00

I sub there because occasionally there is something great that comes out of it. It used to be God awful (Notch v Yogscast, anyone?), and it's certainly improved, but not enough to warrant me not making fun of it from time to time in /r/Minecraftcirclejerk.

Saarrex · 2012-05-22T20:14:50.352755+00:00

"Young Yakuza" was the name of the documentary

Saarrex · 2012-05-22T20:14:41.295165+00:00

"Young Yakuza" was the name of the documentary

Il_Baffo · 2012-05-22T19:55:07.313156+00:00

The people up there aren't idiots; most hold advanced degrees from very good law schools. Yes, they may be misguided, but in the end they try to do the right thing and they're far from stupid.

Congressmen will look for economists whose views fit into their political agenda and use them to confirm what they already believe, not challenge them.

Economists always disagree; Paul Krugman may be a liberal, but many other economists are more free market. In truth, most economists disagree with politicians. Most want less taxes for the rich and higher wages for the working class (any economics textbook will say these two are major factors in the growth of a nation); some want less taxes for the rich and no minimum wage; others want more taxes for the rich and lower wages for workers. Economists are even decided on if minimum wage helps or hurts; some argue that it hurts the less skilled of the less skilled because employers have no incentive to hire an individual who has no idea what he's doing, and instead will hire those who have experience. Since you'll be paying both equally, why hire the one who you have to train instead of the one who will be able to start working the second you hire him?

Basically, economics is such a large, complex subject that even if there was a "House Committee on Economics" it would have to be broken down more into labor, macroeconomics, microeconomics, agriculture, industrial, trade, law, etc. So the would have to specialize further. This is just annoying and hurtful, because why elect someone who is just an expert in Corn Production in Indiana?

Most do listen to experts. On C-SPAN in a subcomittee hearing about a television regulation act from the 1940s or sometime, a Republican Senator was convinced that internet television would hurt the advertisers and therefore production studios wouldn't want to put money into shows. An advertising psychologist came before the committee and said "it works just as well, if not better." It was longer, and she showed him the studies she and everyone performed. He turned his opinion around and withdrew his complaint.

Not all Senators are like that; most are, because most are like us. There are a few who hold their opinion steadfast, but in the end they listen to reason like we do. Then again, we don't either, and engineers, economists, etc. are just as likely to be hardheaded and stubborn as we are since they -- too -- are human.

Il_Baffo · 2012-05-22T18:53:46.961486+00:00

You're forgetting that while congress aren't economists or engineers, they call them before subcommittees, committees, etc. hearings every day. And they can get the best economists, engineers, doctors, sociologists, mental health professionals, et al. that exists. Division of labor is a beautiful thing, and this enables Congress to do more than if they had these professions themselves. Congress doesn't blindly make decisions; they carefully consider everything they are told before deciding.

Consider, for instance, the Uniform Code of Military Justice. When Congress originally wrote it, most may have been in the military but not in any way that matters. They called before them Generals, Military Historians, Military Experts, and tons more professionals. Because of this, they were able to literally write the book on military codes and conducts.

If they were all of the above, they would have been able to do the above just as easily, if not easier, but the same people also make laws pertaining to infrastructure, education, and other important matters. They need to be flexible and listen to those who know; they need to know more about the rules of the Congress than the laws of physics because they leave that to those who know more about it than them.

Mystery78748 · 2012-05-22T09:42:32.909602-07:00

Ok, I'll play devil's advocate. Shoot.

flesmih · 1 day

Where was this? In the desert?

He went everywhere. The whole trip was planned around Jerusalem.

You have things like cities and towns.

That still leaves a fuck ton of land owned by people who aren't even there to look after it and were given sums of money for it. You are entirely missing the point.

Only about 6% of the land in the region was owned by Jews before before Israel was established.

Yes, and the rest was owned by absent landowners. I.e, Palestinians

Actually its a lot more clearcut than you zionist obfuscators would make it out to be.

Simplifying history does more damage that it does harm. "World War One was started by Germany!" "The Civil War was about Slavery/States' Rights!" "The October Revolution was backed by the people of Russia!" All so simplified that it would take a few paragraphs to explain each one in full. Wouldn't it be nice if the world was good vs bad; black/white; "this" vs "that"? That 40 years of political strife, nationalism, a large military-industrial complex and international relations had to form before Russia pushed buttons of every nation in Europe to engage in a world war? That headed tensions between slave-holding and non-slave-holding States that goes back to 1776 had nothing to do with the civil war, and general political instability really had more to do with the Civil War than slaves or States' rights? That the Russian Revolution was hijacked by Bolsheviks who pushed their way into power by force rather than democracy? It would be nice, because it would save us from having to do research and think.

History that is perverted by political beliefs is propaganda. I don't care about Israel, I don't care about Palestine. I am an unbiased 3rd party. I do care about people misusing and misinterpreting history. Both sides are equally at fault; both sides have leaders who are cunts; both sides should shut the fuck up and come to an agreement. But know what won't do it? Changing history.

Saarrex · 1 day

I watched a documentary of the Yakuza with my uncle once, and we were both just astounded by the formality and what not they displayed. A guy submitted a job application to join and my uncle busted out laughing.

Not once did we see any crime, but they were planning on going into a little shop for "protection" money. They decided not to after the shop at a "police protected" sticker on the front door.

flesmih · 1 day

When Twain went to Palestine around 1880 he wrote that he could travel 10 miles before seeing another person. I doubt he was a biased party. Most of the land was willingly sold by absent landowners, not taken.

The history isn't black and white, and the current situation isn't clear cut. Both sides are just as at fault as the other.

flesmih · 1 day

And there's a small percentage who realize the entire thing isn't black and white, good vs evil.

JoshuaHowarth · 1 day

I gagged at the virgin neckbeards in the thread.

I'm simple. redtube youporn mostly. I only need a little bit to get me off. It's not a huge download and store them up thing for me.

FFS, this is worse than that 100% science MMO with dragons.

remton_asq · 1 day

You're already gay: you jerk like others no one else has.

I'm not gay, but I think you are literally the most good looking man ever and want to suck your dick.

twentyone_21 · 1 day

Sastrugi · 1 day

I'm not karma train, but aliens.

Aren't I funny?

twentyone_21 · 1 day

You see that guy posting a [meta] post? Why doesn't he get off his high horse?

JoshuaHowarth · 1 day

The "I am a gamer girl" post made me want to shoot this subreddit. I mean, fucking really?

eroverton · 1 day

Reminds me of a gym teacher I had, and a parable he always told me:

A man was working on the railroad when he was caught stealing nuts and bolts from his job. The manager took him to the supervisor, who in turn took him to the owner. The owner looked at him and told him "instead of firing you, I'm going to educate you." So he sent him off to college to become educated, and when he came back he stole the entire railroad.

redpossum · 1 day

Quite a few. IAmANiggerBiologist exists, I think. I rarely will comment on my username, but it's a surefire way to get karma. "My whale won't fuck me, what do?" As long as I type a paragraph of made up shit I'm just walking into a karma train.

IAmAWhaleSexologist

TROPHY CASE

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