Feel the Bern!

[Anachronist 2]

I think a lot of the issues come from the difficulty of communicating complex ideas over text and the assumptions made on part of the readers. Also within that is the assumption that an individual represents a larger group, or that the group is inherently valuable. There are a lot of psychological phenomena that deal with both of those issues. For instance, people tend to think what they are good at is important for everyone, because that is their perspective of reality. For instance, people who are really smart think intelligence is very important, people who are very fit and athletic think that athleticism is very important. Diversity is what makes a collective strong, if you have a population of homogeneous specialists then their capacity to adapt and overcome is limited outside of that specialization.

We all think "we" represent America, but really no one can make that claim. It is impossible to construct an ideal person that accurately represents 51% or more of the population of the US. So really we are a bunch of minorities all claiming to be a majority and that our perception is the most common.

Take me for instance. White male, I'm not a woman so that takes me down to 50% or less. I'm white, that takes another 15 or 20% of what is left. I'm an atheist, that knocks me down by another 50% or more of what is left (the same can be said for any religion). I also have more wealth than the median, so knock that down yet again.

So as about as stereotypical as one can get as a well to do white male, I easily represent less than 10% of the US population. So what defines who I am and how I perceive reality is a fraction of what makes the US population, the same can be said for everyone. Is my opinion valuable and worthwhile, I think so, but then I am elevating my 10% or less share above everyone else, all of which can make an equally powerful claim of validity.

For cooperation to occur on a mass scale, we all have to appreciate what the other groups, which are collectively many times greater in number than our own, have to offer. The name of the game is compromise, no one should be completely content.

It is the same as in any relationship, you make compromises for the benefit of your SO, but at least you get to see the immediate effect of those compromises. On a societal level one has to appreciate that compromises being made will not be visible to them, which makes them hard to justify in our tiny primate brains that aren't equipped to handle anything on a macro scale. Our own perception is heavily flawed (every one of us) and to function efficiently, we have to try and understand how and why.

Or you know, we can just keep throwing rocks at each other. Whateves

[wmw999 2,116]

But as long as you only hang out with people like you, you're plenty representative

We're all like other people. It's just that too many extrapolate that to thinking that others are like us. There's a difference...

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[normiss 620]

I'm reminded that when someone asks for your opinion it's "A penny for your thoughts", yet when you interject your opinion, it's "Throwing in your two cents".

[turtlespeed 212]

Thanks for that long thought out reply.

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with it.

My reply . . . Worded as it was . . . Was in reply to this.

Quote

Chatting with HH last year over a few beers he mentioned a desired change in the platform here and was looking at a voting type of forum software as a way to deal with bannings and PITA users.
Apparently, we users would have the ability to vote on poster's comments and the results of bad votes would eventually lead to "blind" type bannings where the user is still able to post and feels like they are participating, yet the ones that voted them down would stop seeing their posts.

Can you see this post???
LaughLaughLaugh

But thanks. It even got a response crop VP Wendy.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[turtlespeed 212]

Hee hee

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[winsor 186]

normiss

I'm reminded that when someone asks for your opinion it's "A penny for your thoughts", yet when you interject your opinion, it's "Throwing in your two cents".

It's the exchange rate. A penny is a British coin, a cent is a Colonial coin.

Traditionally, there were 12 pence per shilling and 20 shillings per pound sterling, so 240 pence per pound. With 'new pence' it's 100 per pound.

Since the pound is worth much more than a dollar, rounding off to a single digit gives you 2 cents per penny.

Close enough for government work.

[Bolas 5]

We're gonna need your posts shortened to sound bites/tweets...

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[Coreeece 2]

Anachronist

I think a lot of the issues come from the difficulty of communicating complex ideas over text and the assumptions made on part of the readers.

When we entertain forums like this one, our differences are magnified. It's always about our differences in religion, politics, sexual orientation - our views on guns, the economy, abortion, etc. - and they're all emotionally charged. All the negativity in this fuckin' place make it seem like it's always the end of the world.

...but in reality - out there in society, we're not focused on any of that shit. In any given day, I'm directly interacting with maybe 10-20 morons whose ideology I absolutely fucking despise - but we keep that shit bottled up, put on a happy smile and go about our business just to keep the world spinning.

It's just like the old adage goes - no religion, guns or politics - because without all that nonsense, we're all pretty much the same.

Anachronist

Or you know, we can just keep throwing rocks at each other. Whateves

Well ya, that's what this place is for - do you really think we're here to agree on everything and solve the world's problems? We need to vent our angst, lest we actually start believing it - and this is as good an outlet as any. The problem here is that some people are just too damn sensitive.

Never was there an answer....not without listening, without seeing - Gilmour

[cvfd1399 0]

Yeah he called the new guy an asshole and got away with it so there is that.

[ryoder 1,381]

tonyhays

Imagine a Sanders/Warren ticket.

Have you seen this?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wade-norris/bernie-sanders-hints-eliz_b_8928406.html

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[normiss 620]

It was a perfect and funny response.

[Texbubba 0]

cvfd1399

Yeah he called the new guy an asshole and got away with it so there is that.

lol Some people think that they own the world and everyone should agree with whatever they come up with. If you don't agree with them the the most common response is the personal attack. Some of you are really, really good at that. lol

Well, that's just fine....until you question or point out their shortcomings and then they jump up and down screaming that you are an asshole. LOL

Funny how they squirm when you put a thought to them that questions their thinking.

Funny how quick they are to misread and misinterpret statements from those who disagree with them.

Funny how they can be sarcastic and whine when it gets thrown back at them.

Anachronist

So really we are a bunch of minorities all claiming to be a majority and that our perception is the most common.

[Texbubba 0]

ryoder

***Imagine a Sanders/Warren ticket.

Have you seen this?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wade-norris/bernie-sanders-hints-eliz_b_8928406.html

God help us.

[tonyhays 86]

I have not. I've done a couple cursory google searches on who she supports and was guessing she will eventually be in his camp. I hope she does it sooner rather than later.

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”