Zoraptor Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 In the classic capital letter definitions Oligarchy and Democracy are immiscible, true, but the general definition of little letter democracy and oligarchy are a bit more flexible than those from C5 BC. That may in part be because telling everyone that Their Vote Counts is a good way of stilling dissent even if most of the time you get to vote for hand picked 'establishment' candidates from a small potential pool, but it is also because Democracy is a form of government prone to monumental stupidities based on populist rhetoric, petty rivalries, ignorance and kneejerk reactions which makes the situation in most little d democracies look positively sane and Oligarchy fundamentally ain't going to appeal as an ideal to the general populace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rostere Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Just read this: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/07/a-land-without-guns-how-japan-has-virtually-eliminated-shooting-deaths/260189/ "Well, overkill is my middle name. And my last name. And all of my other names as well!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcador Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 "The Japanese and American ways of thinking about crime, privacy, and police powers are so different -- and Japan is such a generally peaceful country -- that it's functionally impossible to fully isolate and compare the two gun control regiments" Hmmm. Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurlshort Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 I assume most people in Japan are killed with ninja stars and samurai swords. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pidesco Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I think you mean tentacles. 1 "My hovercraft is full of eels!" - Hungarian touristI am Dan Quayle of the Romans.I want to tattoo a map of the Netherlands on my nether lands.Heja Sverige!!Everyone should cuffawkle more.The wrench is your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcador Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Or mecha-related violence. Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyCrimson Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Even Blue Oyster Cult knew it was Godzilla. “Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.” – Alan Watts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calax Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I think it's more the question of "there is no real sense of privacy in Japan in the way americans think of it" Victor of the 5 year fan fic competition! Kevin Butler will awesome your face off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOK222 Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 Pretty much, also comparing the U.S. to Switzerland is wrong as well. They're actually responsible gun owners, and a highly militaristic society at that. So yeah. Ka-ka-ka-ka-Cocaine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurlshort Posted February 5, 2013 Author Share Posted February 5, 2013 Comparing any small nation to one large nation that is basically 50 smaller ones is fairly silly as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravenshrike Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 I think it's more the question of "there is no real sense of privacy in Japan in the way americans think of it" There's also the fact that the Yakuza itself frowns upon gun trafficking. When the major crime organizations of a relatively xenophobic island nation are completely in sync with the law, there is not going to be an overlarge black market in the product in question. "You know, there's more to being an evil despot than getting cake whenever you want it" "If that's what you think, you're DOING IT WRONG." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjshae Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) Annual US market for guns: $2.8 billion 2012 US market for games: $14.1 billion Your move, Congress. Actually I'm all in favor of responsible video game ownership, just as I much prefer responsible gun ownership. I'm just suggesting that Congress shouldn't necessary expect to safely throw the video games industry under the bus in order to sate the virulent propaganda of the NRA. Edited February 6, 2013 by rjshae "It has just been discovered that research causes cancer in rats." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orogun01 Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Annual US market for guns: $2.8 billion 2012 US market for games: $14.1 billion Your move, Congress. Actually I'm all in favor of responsible video game ownership, just as I much prefer responsible gun ownership. I'm just suggesting that Congress shouldn't necessary expect to safely throw the video games industry under the bus in order to sate the virulent propaganda of the NRA. Man, I think it may be cheaper to buy a gun rob game stores I'd say the answer to that question is kind of like the answer to "who's the sucker in this poker game?"* *If you can't tell, it's you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoonDing Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 I assume most people in Japan are killed with ninja stars and samurai swords. Most are actually killed during illegal drift racing. The ending of the words is ALMSIVI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rostere Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Comparing any small nation to one large nation that is basically 50 smaller ones is fairly silly as well. Why is that? (The argument about size, not the one about the US being composed of several smaller states?) "Well, overkill is my middle name. And my last name. And all of my other names as well!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calax Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Comparing any small nation to one large nation that is basically 50 smaller ones is fairly silly as well. Why is that? (The argument about size, not the one about the US being composed of several smaller states?) Smaller nations/communities are by and large more tightly knit. And in general easier to police. In America you've got groups in all different areas, from all different populations and you have to take a week to get from one end to the other. In Japan you can get from Satsuma to the northern provinces in a day or less. Victor of the 5 year fan fic competition! Kevin Butler will awesome your face off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanschu Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Comparing any small nation to one large nation that is basically 50 smaller ones is fairly silly as well. Why is that? (The argument about size, not the one about the US being composed of several smaller states?) Japanese culture in general is a lot more homogeneous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkreku Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Did I ever mention that owning fully automatic assault rifles with 30 round magazines is actually legal in Sweden..? My father owned one up until a couple of years ago, but traded it for a hunting rifle (which is more practical when you, you know, actually hunt). This one. The irony is that Sweden's gun laws are actually more lax than in the US. The big difference is control. Imagine that. Swedes, go to: Spel2, for the latest game reviews in swedish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orogun01 Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Can you elaborate what you mean by "control"? I'd say the answer to that question is kind of like the answer to "who's the sucker in this poker game?"* *If you can't tell, it's you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcador Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Maybe laws about what aspects of weaponry are lax but there's controls on who can own one ? Not sure of the distinction he's referring to. Also that gun's pretty usable for a hunting rifle, no ? I'm guessing it's firing a 7.62 round. Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceVC Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Did I ever mention that owning fully automatic assault rifles with 30 round magazines is actually legal in Sweden..? My father owned one up until a couple of years ago, but traded it for a hunting rifle (which is more practical when you, you know, actually hunt). This one. The irony is that Sweden's gun laws are actually more lax than in the US. The big difference is control. Imagine that. Maybe laws about what aspects of weaponry are lax but there's controls on who can own one ? Not sure of the distinction he's referring to. Also that gun's pretty usable for a hunting rifle, no ? I'm guessing it's firing a 7.62 round. Yeah that would be my interpretation, there are variety of guns in Sweden but they are hard to get legally "Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss” John Milton "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravenshrike Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Did I ever mention that owning fully automatic assault rifles with 30 round magazines is actually legal in Sweden..? My father owned one up until a couple of years ago, but traded it for a hunting rifle (which is more practical when you, you know, actually hunt). This one. The irony is that Sweden's gun laws are actually more lax than in the US. The big difference is control. Imagine that. Between 1934 and 1986 there were a grand total of 3 crimes committed with registered full-auto weapons. 2 of those crimes were committed by LEOs who could have easily gotten access to similar weapons through their jobs. The law banning all full-auto weapons made after 1986 was an amendment slipped into a pro-gun bill as a poison pill, and was never properly voted upon. Instead it was 'deemed' passed contrary to the apparent voice vote by that rat****ing son of a bitch Charles Rangel. "You know, there's more to being an evil despot than getting cake whenever you want it" "If that's what you think, you're DOING IT WRONG." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK htiw klaw eriF Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Lookout, Obama's gunna take ur guns and make ya gay marry an illegal immigrant in a muslim ceremony. "Akiva Goldsman and Alex Kurtzman run the 21st century version of MK ULTRA." - majestic "I'm gonna hunt you down so that I can slap you square in the mouth." - Bartimaeus "Without individual thinking you can't notice the plot holes." - InsaneCommander "Just feed off the suffering of gamers." - Malcador "You are calling my taste crap." -Hurlshort "thankfully it seems like the creators like Hungary less this time around." - Sarex "Don't forget the wakame, dumbass" -Keyrock "Are you trolling or just being inadvertently nonsensical?' -Pidesco "we have already been forced to admit you are at least human" - uuuhhii "I refuse to buy from non-woke businesses" - HoonDing "feral camels are now considered a pest" - Gorth "Melkathi is known to be an overly critical grumpy person" - Melkathi "Oddly enough Sanderson was a lot more direct despite being a Mormon" - Zoraptor "I found it greatly disturbing to scroll through my cartoon's halfing selection of genitalias." - Wormerine "Am I phrasing in the most negative light for them? Yes, but it's not untrue." - ShadySands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luridis Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Lookout, Obama's gunna take ur guns and make ya gay marry an illegal immigrant in a muslim ceremony. Yea! Because every person who supports this or that only votes a party line on all issues because that's what they're told to do, as well as being spoon fed all of the arguments and counter arguments on the issue. If you think people should have guns then that means absolutely that you must be racist, sexist, a warmonger and hate gay people. Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt. - Julius Caesar #define TRUE (!FALSE) I ran across an article where the above statement was found in a release tarball. LOL! Who does something like this? Predictably, this oddity was found when the article's author tried to build said tarball and the compiler promptly went into cardiac arrest. If you're not a developer, imagine telling someone the literal meaning of up is "not down". Such nonsense makes computers, and developers... angry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyCrimson Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Post limit. New thread perhaps? “Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.” – Alan Watts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts