Everything posted by BruceVC
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Sequel to Ultima Underworld out on Kickstarter now!
Aha, now there's a reason for me to up my pledge above the minimum (I have a rule for myself that I never pledge more than the minimum to get the goods for any game that doens't provide a version for an open platform, so basically Linux as I don't expect game companies to start caring about the BSDs anytime soon ) Time to work through the updates to see if they said anything yet to alleviate the technical concerns I had concerning the feasibility of what they want to do with the budget they have. I have never understood why people really choose Linux over Windows, my basic argument being " why change something that is interoperable and works " But I respect your decision to base your KS funding on support for multi-platforms
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Danish Terror Attack
That's crazy. Some nutcase goes berzerk and instead of improving the handling of nutcases they turn it into an act of *cough*racism*cough* terrorism. There is so much fantasy in this, including the other links in that article, that it's beginnning to sound like a script for a movie. Not sure why you think the plan is extreme or unreasonable ? They will be investing in things like intelligence gathering and making sure the police and security forces are better equipped and trained. Seems normal to me?
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The consequences of political correctness
this made me laugh with its logic It is quite funny to think of people being accused of trolling but they were responding to a troll comment who in fact probably wasn't trolling but could have been... it potentially could go on and on ..
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The consequences of political correctness
Yeah I don't think people are intentionally Trolling, I see people disagreeing with each other. This is not the same thing as Trolling Never thought you were so sensitive, I see this thread as normal debate? What did you think of the GG thread if you feel people are being rude to others on this thread?
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Dragon Age: Inquisition
Good thats all that matters, are you having fun? If you are then everything else is superfluous. Welcome to the world of " only judging games on whether they are fun "
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Danish Terror Attack
You have raised some good points, IMO America has achieved better integration amongst its Muslim communities than many European countries Now that doesn't mean the USA isn't a victim of homegrown terrorism, we know they are. Its just that you don't seem to have these ghettos of people who are completely disillusioned with there country they now call home. And you may be right, in the USA it could be because people immigrating to the USA work harder to become citizens...so there is more value to that citizenship. So once again thats an interesting point
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Danish Terror Attack
Because no matter how loathsome you and I may find an individual, those individuals sometimes still have a social network. Relatives, gang members, fellow inmates etc. I've got no illusions about there not being sympathisers who sees his actions as an outlet of their own anger and frustrations at the injustice of life. Some turn to gangs, some turn to hooliganism, some turn to drugs, and yes, some turn to ideological extremism. Yes, even a small place like Denmark has it's share of people who looks for something to blame for their misery, whether that misery is inflicted or self inflicted. Fair enough. So basically you are saying there will always be instances of this type of violence and there is no reason for the Danish government to rethink their policies around integration and dealing with homegrown extremism? In others words lets not " throw the baby out with the bath water "
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Danish Terror Attack
This may be the exact truth, this was an incident of criminality and has nothing to do with ideology. Despite the fact he targeted members of the Jewish community this could just be how he was influenced What worries me is the support he still seems to have received from some sectors of community? How do you explain that ?
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Danish Terror Attack
This is interesting personal insight from someone who lives in the region So do you think the Danish social model of real attempts at integration and understanding is the way to go, or do you feel if someone leaves a country to fight Jihad they then forfeit there European citizenship and if they return they could be arrrested and or refused entry? I feel that if you choose to join groups like ISIS then you need to realize you can't just come home when convenient. So I'm not sure I agree with the Danish approach which is very conciliatory and still attempts to bring people who have been possibly radicalised back into Danish culture? None of this has anything to do with the attacks that recently occurred in Denmark. The guy the authorities said did the act was born in Denmark. He never went overseas to fight for ISIS or anyone else. This is interesting personal insight from someone who lives in the region So do you think the Danish social model of real attempts at integration and understanding is the way to go, or do you feel if someone leaves a country to fight Jihad they then forfeit there European citizenship and if they return they could be arrrested and or refused entry? I feel that if you choose to join groups like ISIS then you need to realize you can't just come home when convenient. So I'm not sure I agree with the Danish approach which is very conciliatory and still attempts to bring people who have been possibly radicalised back into Danish culture? As other have already said, this guy has never been in Syria nor has he been fighting alongside ISIS. Just a local drug dealer turned nutso. What i find appaling is the local support he gets from his actions. Sounds like breeding ground for masochists, sociopaths and evil people in general. As long as they are around as a positive feedback loop, then terrorist attacks are here to stay as a cultural phenomenon. I am not explaining myself properly, I know this gunmen didn't fight for ISIS. This is just a talking point that highlights a broader issue around integration that European countries are grappling with The Danes for example believe in assimilating people back to Danish culture who return from Jihad, do you guys think this is an effective strategy?
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Danish Terror Attack
No, I am really asking if the Danish method of integration works? If the objective is to prevent locals from being radicalised what methodology is best? I'm not saying the Danes are wrong because there is a valid point that this was a lone gunmen and this doesn't represent any possible terrorist attacks that Denmark may incur But yet if you read Meshuggers posts you will see that this gunman has received some widespread support from some of the Muslim community in Denmark, so it begs the question "has the Danish approach really been effective?" If you look at the French situation there attempts of integration with the Algerian community haven't been effective, you have these ghettos of Algerians who are disillusioned and feel outside French society. But that didn't appear to be the situation in Denmark. Yet you had this incident in Copenhagen, which could be attributed as an act of criminality and not ideology, yet you still see support for his actions? I have posted the link below so you can familiarize yourself, if you haven't already, with what I mean by the " Danish approach to homegrown extremism". Its a unique concept as far as I know http://www.newsweek.com/2015/01/23/how-denmark-learnt-its-own-charlie-hebdo-moment-299065.html
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Danish Terror Attack
This is interesting personal insight from someone who lives in the region So do you think the Danish social model of real attempts at integration and understanding is the way to go, or do you feel if someone leaves a country to fight Jihad they then forfeit there European citizenship and if they return they could be arrrested and or refused entry? I feel that if you choose to join groups like ISIS then you need to realize you can't just come home when convenient. So I'm not sure I agree with the Danish approach which is very conciliatory and still attempts to bring people who have been possibly radicalised back into Danish culture?
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Danish Terror Attack
Thanks Vals, I appreciate your sincere support around my posts But this Danish attack is actually relevant because it leads to how effective integration is or isn't. In other words you can integrate people as much as possible but that still doesn't guarantee you won't face an attack, so now the Europeans are grappling with how they can reduce internal attacks from extremists and what is the best approach to this? Is heavy handedness the right way? Or the way the Danes have been dealing with it. That Newsweek link is particularly pertinent because it shows us just how far the Danes have gone to ensure people don't feel marginalized These are questions we all should be asking ourselves, how do we make immigrants feel truly part of a country and culture of a country . The objective being " if they feel integrated they wouldn't join a jihad and they definitely wouldn't attack the country that gave them a home " ?
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Danish Terror Attack
http://www.wsj.com/articles/danish-police-kill-suspect-in-copenhagen-shootings-1423989155 This type of event is sadly not uncommon, last weekend Copenhagen was subjected to terror attacks by a lone gunmen with ideological sympathies to ISIS The gunman was killed but this incident raises an interesting question around how Denmark has been dealing with Islamic extremism and how they treat Danish fighters who leave Denmark to join groups like ISIS http://www.newsweek.com/2015/01/23/how-denmark-learnt-its-own-charlie-hebdo-moment-299065.html Basically after the infamous Danish Cartoons of 2005 the Danes started a program of real integration for the Muslim community, probably more effective than any other European country. They even provide social workers and psychologists for returning Jihadists, very different to most other countries where citizens who leave to join terrorists organisations are monitored and are considered real threats to their home country Up to now Denmark has avoided homegrown terrorists attacking their own country but this latest incident has possibly changed this. Because the questions now I imagine being asked is "does being understanding and offering the carrot really work when addressing extremism"? So what do you think? Do the Danes with their methodology of reconciliation and integration provide the best system to reduce extremism? Or are they too soft and the French and British have a better way of dealing with internal terror threats where fighters who come back are considered real threats Maybe this was a one off incident in Denmark and the Danes need to stay the course? All opinions welcome and of course views from our Danish members especially welcome
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The consequences of political correctness
Its interesting they have that view because the Baltic states are traditionally very anti-USSR and were very glad when Communism ended With Russia annexing parts of Ukraine the Baltic states have been very nervous and have been solidifying there support for NATO and the West, Obama has committed to stand by them against any Russia aggression. The thought of the Baltic states falling under the domain of Russia again is something which they consider anathema http://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/100000003089662/obama-affirms-rock-solid-support-for-baltic-states.html
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The consequences of political correctness
Yes security is one factor in many that make up a successful government and happy, progressive society
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The consequences of political correctness
Nothing. Road police had battons to regulate traffic. Normal police on the street while they I'm sure had guns somewhere they didn't carry them. Violent street crime was practically nonexistent. Women could leave their baby carts with the baby outside a shop's door and it would be safe because even if something happened the random passers by would take care of it. It is unthinkable today but it was real. This was of course a small town, bigger cities were a little more hectic but only slightly. It sounds you are suggesting life was better under the USSR?
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The consequences of political correctness
Oh Nonek, thats clever and cheeky..I like it
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The consequences of political correctness
Well you flounced out of that thread several times after just stoking things up, so does seem like you were just trolling the thread with your silly act. Which is fine really, just don't pretend it was anything more than that - I highly doubt someone like you would ever be won over or something to make your purpose in there for something more lofty. And there you go again, suggesting I was acting in the GG thread. As I mentioned I did want to engage on certain topics in that thread but I wasn't following some parts of the whole GG story as intently as others so I thought it was best I disengaged because I was asked to give my opinion on things I had no idea what people were talking about. I explained this all, so going forward I tried to only comment on topics related to GG that I was well versed in, like the CNN story And remember in a debate you may not agree 100 % with someone but that doesn't mean you can't recognise a good or valid point. That was how I looked at the whole GG debates I participated in
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The consequences of political correctness
Is that better or worse when being offensive is considered politically correct? ... Oh man, that was deep thoughts. Too much coffee again. You funny
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The consequences of political correctness
Oh no need to worry about that Nonek, as someone who has had several debates with you I can assure you can be quite rude and dismissive at times and since you don't believe in political correctness its obviously got nothing to do with that. So bad manners and poor posting etiquette are definitely not just related to people who believe in political correctness
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The consequences of political correctness
You constantly seen to think less of me or doubt my posting intentions I went to the GG thread to discuss the GG movement, yes I didn't agree with most of it but there were some valid points raised. I didn't think it was correct the CNN assessment of GG and I raised that. I also didn't like the fact that certain elements of anti-GG were also sexist and dismissive of women who supported GG, like the criticism of that porn star. She raised some very valid points about the right of women to work in the porn industry and all the good they did to help disenfranchised women...yet her money wasn't good enough for some and she was criticised for her endeavors to help other women. I thought this was wrong and I unequivocally stated that So I'm not sure why you think I kept trying to snipe at people, disagreeing with people and stating that disagreement is not sniping...its called debate
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The consequences of political correctness
example? The GG thread is a good example of this, it was fine and interesting in the beginning but then it just never ended and there were more than enough examples of people in that thread displaying outrage over issues that really weren't issues. This is in turn lead to a constant and subtle perception of sexism and dislike of anything related to feminism. Granted not everyone demonstrated this view on that thread but enough people did where the end result was most people just didn't feel comfortable going to that thread to discuss topics related to GG
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Interesting developments in some USA Media circles
But it's not like it's ever been any different. It's you who has grown up and become wiser and more critical - if you believe it used to be different it's probably because you remember accepting things without a thought as a youngster. I would argue we are in the greatest era of mankind ever seen. We have made so many technological advancements in fields like medicine and science...how can this not be a fantastic time to live ? Oh no argument there. I was just commenting on how hard it is to trust anyone anymore. To quote Robert Hess "I wake up every day hoping to meet an honest man. I go to bed disappointed almost every night" Ah yes, okay I see your point. My bad
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Interesting developments in some USA Media circles
But it's not like it's ever been any different. It's you who has grown up and become wiser and more critical - if you believe it used to be different it's probably because you remember accepting things without a thought as a youngster. I would argue we are in the greatest era of mankind ever seen. We have made so many technological advancements in fields like medicine and science...how can this not be a fantastic time to live ?
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The consequences of political correctness
I have been asking this for the last two pages. Please define it yourself and we take it from there. And I did! "Expecting people to not behave like racist/sexist/etc. ****wads" is pretty much my definition. I want something more formal, do better! So the definition may differ because its based on the word "political " which will differ from region to region and within cultures. So political correctness will be different in Saudi Arabia than Sweden...I think we all understand that But this is a Western forum where there are clear rules that are defined that you will not discriminate against people based on sexual orientation or race or sex or many other things So "political correctness " in this context is that you won't use offensive or derogatory comments when addressing these groups or encourage dislike of these groups through some discussion Thats just one example of what political correctness means Ok, i will play nice here. How can a vibrant and open society grow if it depends on the sensibilities of the one feeling most offended? Excellent question, but you are misunderstanding something. We don't concern ourselves with the feelings of minority groups, for example, because this helps us grow as a society. We do it to prevent us going backwards. In the Western world we should be striving for a society that is completely tolerant of all groups so if you allow offensive comments to run rampant on a forum you are taking that forum backwards...this applies to the general level of how a society is measured nowadays. So in summary societies don't grow based on how they treat victims of abuse but they can get taken backwards. Russia is a good example of this