BruceVC

Wow this is a very concerning post about life in the Russian federation, I'm hoping some of it is just propaganda. But some of it is truth as well

So long as you believe mutually exclusive things- like Ukrainian gas prices should not be subsidised, except by Russia of all people; there should be freedom of speech, but things some people may find offensive should be banned etc- you're always going to come across as a troll because anyone with a grasp of basic logic is going to wonder why you're so frequently, and stridently, inconsistent and come up with the answer that you're trolling. There's a reason people are convinced Oby is a troll, he posts vast amounts of pro Russian/ anti west stuff with very little in the way of consistency or logic about it, it isn't a consistent set of beliefs that an actual person would have but rather a bunch of stuff chosen to get a reaction and to fit Russia = good/ strong, west = bad/ weak. If you take the position that the IMF mandating an end to Ukrainian gas subsidies is good, but Russia ending them is bad you're doing exactly what Oby does. Your belief does not, in fact, have anything to do with the subsidies themselves. Your actual belief is that IMF = good, and Russia = bad so IMF ending subsidies must be good and Russia ending subsidies must be bad; and you contort the subsidy issue into a logic knot to try and fit that, basic, belief and narrative. Because it quite simply does not fit and you try to insist that it does it immediately make you look like a troll, because when viewed as being about subsidies alone you are taking a fundamentally inconsistent position- until you reduce it back to the actual equation. Thanks for this post; it has been very interesting to see reasons why some people think I’m a troll. I have wondering why and now I understand, I want to take the time to explain a very important point around why this view of me is incorrect and misplaced The premise of your characterization of me is based on the view that my posts are at times illogical and inconsistent with the facts as you see them. And there is the actual problem, you think I am trolling but in fact either I’m not explaining myself properly or you do not simply understand my view. Almost every debate I’ve had around numerous issues like the definition of free speech, sexism in the gaming industry or the situation in Ukraine is not based on some strange unsubstantiated view I have or some irritating conspiracy theory. I do my research and my comments are based primarily on the facts, current reality of the situation and historical context. I get my information from various sources and I can back it up with links if necessary. You think it is trolling but the real point here is you are wrong and don’t seem to want to see the truth about certain situations in the world. Let me just give you one example to highlight as you raised it and it’s about the gas subsidies. The IMF is about to lend Ukraine tens of billions of dollars. The IMF has a prudent policy where they audit countries that they lend money to ensure they have capacity to pay the loans back. One of the steps the IMF can insist on is financial structural reforms. The IMF has some of the most brilliant economic minds in the world and they can easily identify where there are economic pressures on certain countries that need there assistance, this is not hard to understand as normally these countries are obviously struggling. But they don’t do this to punish countries, these steps make sense as transformation is needed to make sure their economies are viable and to ensure they can pay back any loan from the IMF. This is banking 101; you don’t lend money to someone who can’t pay you back. They have made it clear that in order for Ukraine to receive the necessary loans several things about how they run there economy have to change, one of them is the fact that Naftogaz has been selling gas to Ukrainians for less than they have been buying it from Russia for. This is obviously illogical and has to end. Yes this will be a negative for Ukrainians but it has long term advantages of helping Naftogaz become profitable or least not running at a loss. This is a good strategic move to help Ukraine, I’ll say it again. This is a good move to improve the Ukrainian economic situation and is part of the needed economic reform. Russia decided to inflate gas prices purely as a politically punitive move. They are doing this because Ukraine has decided to align with the EU and frankly they don’t care about the consequences, they didn’t need to do this but the IMF does need to insist on financial reform before it lends vast amounts of money to Ukraine. You talk about my comments not being logical but it stupefies me that you and others can’t or won’t see the obvious difference between the intentions of the IMF and Russia ending the gas subsidies. I can substantiate almost all points in the same way I have explained the above point so I hope this puts to rest the absurd suggestion that I troll in debates, remember being factually correct is not a sign of trolling. Finally there are times when I have been wrong in discussions, like the misplaced “Ban the Bossy word campaign” but this is not one of them

Yep, Poland for Russians is just yet another rebelled province Vistula Land inhabited by traitorous separatists. Punishment of your country for this is just question of time. Russians never forgive and never forget. Meanwhile US for us is grand enemy, but respectable and honorable enemy, our hate to them is form of our sadistic love. "Punishment of your country for this is just question of time" you make me laugh sometimes. But the scary thought is I wonder if some Russians do see Poland like this?

Instead you were raised as a Russophobic. Nah, he is a Russian pragmatist. He is informed and accurate about his assessment of Russian foreign policy

Ooooohhhhhhhhh....!!!!!!! No, not death threats, please!!! PLEASE!! All those billions are just NOT WORTH IT, MAKE IT STOPI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is the monetary value of a human life? Do you think there is one....I don't. I'm sure these death threats are just bluster and people venting but its still completely unnecessary and not nice to be on the receiving end of them

Tagaziel would complain if Russia gave the gas away for free since it would- obviously- be an attempt to curry favour and then reestablish the old soviet empire! Ah, you must have been avoiding the SJW/ Romance threads then. Most sensible. "Tagaziel would complain if Russia gave the gas away for free since it would- obviously- be an attempt to curry favour and then reestablish the old soviet empire!" You funny Zora but there is some truth in that statement if it ever happened which it won't ...but I'm not a Troll. I stand by what I say on various issues because I believe it

y I wanted to respond to Amenteps comments because he has made me realize I have made some assumptions and he has asked some pertinent questions, I still believe I am correct in my assessment of her situation but I want to share additional parts of the story This lady is our business units office administrator. She does the office admin, like load the quotes we do into the ERP financial system, and makes the travel arrangements so for example she will book hotels and flights for us. Every Friday we have our sales meeting and her and I are always at the office early, before 6 am like today, so we always chat and we normally chat about her life. Because she is new in the company, 8 months, I help her to effectively use Excel and other Microsoft office products and how certain processes work and try to steer her away from certain people who can be malicious. She in turn tells me about her family and her dad who recently passed away( it may sound strange with her sharing personal details with me but people generally open up to me for some reason and want to tell me personal things). So we are definitely "work friends" but I don't ever see her outside of work. This is an important point When she went to hospital for the first time she was off work for 1 week so everyone knew about it. When she came back I asked her why. She was a little evasive and didn't say "it was health related" but she said "it was a heart related ". I didn't pry and ask her details. About 2 months ago in the morning I saw her making a toasted sandwich for breakfast and she told me " the doctor had put her on a low GI diet ". I knew then she obviously was on some doctor instructed diet but the issue is she hasn't been sticking to it. She eats junk food everyday and even though I'm not at the office everyday I have asked the people I work with and they all unequivocally have told me that she eats badly So now she is hospital again and her husband has told us its "blood pressure and heart related". So in all honesty I don't know if its due to her diet but all the evidence and everything I have seen and she has told me indicates this. She hasn't asked for my help and part of the problem is " do I really want to get actively involved in her life" as someone mentioned. Anyway that's just some context

Funny but interesting post Bartie

You don't hold MotB on a high regard? Why? Actually that's a good question, I am interested in the answer

This is a good post, I need to respond to it because you have asked some good questions. But I'll do it later as I have an emergency home owners meeting in my complex now

That's okay I don't mind looking ridiculous because then I'll be the same as most of the other people partaking in this debate

With all due respects its irrelevant where you have lived, you obviously don't understand the reality of why Russia is doing what they are doing around inflating gas prices. Tagaziel is 100 % correct. Also the actual infrastructure that carries the gas comes primarily from Russia so its not just a simple case of Ukraine saying " that's okay, we will just use gas from another country" because the pipes and mechanisms to get the gas to Ukraine don't exist

Thanks for all suggestions, there have been some good points raised. But I don't get this "why do I care" view. I care because I am human being and I empathize with people who are less fortunate with me. Why do Doctors without Borders exist? Why do NGO's exist? Why do people try to help a stranger who is about to jump off a bridge. In all these cases we don't know the people involved but people still get involved and want to alleviate the pain and suffering of others. I would say this is one of the things that makes us human? But I do accept I could make the situation unintentionally worse for her

That's good advice. I was wondering where I recognized your profile picture from and then I remembered, its a rakshasa from the AD&D Monster Manual

So you have never tried to help someone in your life who is on a destructive course? I hear what you are saying, but then we need to ask questions about "what is societies role in trying to help people " This is a very difficult for me to bring up with her. It would be much easier to do nothing and to rather watch her eat junk food every day. Also after her first trip to the hospital she was put on some sort of diet from the doctor but she isn't sticking to it. So should I rather inquire about the diet she is suppose to be adhering to?

Hi All Sometimes we like to ask for general advice around personal issues or just get the advice of people on these forums. I generally ask my RL friends for serious advice but there are times when its interesting to the opinions of our erudite members. So I thought a thread dedicated to people wanting to pose questions to the community might be appropriate Let me start with with the problem I have that I would like some input on There is a women in my office who does the office admin, she is in her late 40's and her and I get on really well. But she is obese, very overweight. Whenever I'm at the office I see her eating junk food and when we go for business unit lunches or dinners she eats whatever she wants and its all large and unhealthy portions In the last 6 months she has been hospitalized twice for eating related reasons. She is literally "eating herself death". Now I want to say something to her in a polite and dimdiplomaticy about her eating habits, she has a 8 year daughter who she obviously loves and my view is even if she claims its her life and she can do what she wants she has a resresponsibility her daughter and family So here is my dilemma, do you think I should say something and if so how do I approach her? No one else in my office wants to get involved for a variety of reasons but my view is if she suddenly drops dead and we all go to her funeral what are we all going to say and think? Surly we should say something in a way that doesn't embarrass her. My advice wouldn't be draconian, she just needs to cut out all the junk food I see her eating and order something healthy when she orders from our canteen? Yes she could still eat unhealthily at home but her husband and daughter are at home so I imagine she is more reserved. Anyway any input would be great. Finally I am only thinking of saying anything because I am concerned about her. There is no surreptitious motive behind me wanting to help her

Welcome , good to have you aboard

That sounds like a awesome little eatery and I took a look at the menu. Very appetizing. Your wife had the lamb bourguignon, did she enjoy it?

Gromnir you are horribly and egregiously wrong about Ziets, he is a very talented writer and very creative ...and he knows how to write meaningful Romance you could be correct that he is a talented writer, but we don't know 'pon which to base that-- surely not motb. am honestly uncertain what he did for fo:nv, but we don't recall meaningful romance in that game, so we doubt you is using that game as a reference. am admitting that we is likely not giving zeits his due, but am not certain what work of his deserves greater Gromnir consideration. HA! Good Fun! Fair enough maybe someone else can give more information, here is his Wiki information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Ziets

Kaine I doubt you are talking about the same Torment we are talking about ..

Gromnir you are horribly and egregiously wrong about Ziets, he is a very talented writer and very creative ...and he knows how to write meaningful Romance

Yeah I agree, I am so excited with all the games on the horizon like PoE and ToN

Wow, that looks good. I am very interested in any feedback around this game

Cast Iron Skin and you can tank indefinitely. Or... Cast Mirror Image then Stone Skin then Simulacrum then have your Simulacrum cast a Project image. Then have your Project image cast Improved haste, and Shapechange: Mind Flayer then go to work on the front lines while your Simulacrum buffs your party with more improved Hastes, Mass invisibility, and spirit armor. In the meantime, you can spam the battle field with Horrid Wiltings, chain lightnings, Disintigrates, Emotion: Hopelessness and fireballs. You will then (literally) be able to say that your mage is Tanking, DPSing and Crowd Controlling Simultaneously. Throw in a couple of Vampiric touches by your simulacrum, and you can say that you're Tanking, DPSing, Crowd Controlling, and healing simultaneously. But no. Class roles aren't as flexible in BG2 as they are in WoW. LOL Edit: ROFL To be fair, only the mage classes could do that. BG2 had the best magic from any game ever, but the other classes weren't so flexible. Also surly you couldn't do that all the time because you would run out of spells and need to rest After a level not even that. Just cast Wish and select to regain all your spells Interesting strategy, I never used Wish in BG2

Cast Iron Skin and you can tank indefinitely. Or... Cast Mirror Image then Stone Skin then Simulacrum then have your Simulacrum cast a Project image. Then have your Project image cast Improved haste, and Shapechange: Mind Flayer then go to work on the front lines while your Simulacrum buffs your party with more improved Hastes, Mass invisibility, and spirit armor. In the meantime, you can spam the battle field with Horrid Wiltings, chain lightnings, Disintigrates, Emotion: Hopelessness and fireballs. You will then (literally) be able to say that your mage is Tanking, DPSing and Crowd Controlling Simultaneously. Throw in a couple of Vampiric touches by your simulacrum, and you can say that you're Tanking, DPSing, Crowd Controlling, and healing simultaneously. But no. Class roles aren't as flexible in BG2 as they are in WoW. LOL Edit: ROFL To be fair, only the mage classes could do that. BG2 had the best magic from any game ever, but the other classes weren't so flexible. Also surly you couldn't do that all the time because you would run out of spells and need to rest ?