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TheFirstMonk

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Posts posted by TheFirstMonk

    Dat evil Republican party

    in General Politics

    I've stayed away from this particular parts of the GC forums and with reason. I've come realize over the years that people will believe and support whatever political party they've aligned themselves with regardless of the person.

     

    Exactly. No one views it as an outsider. There are flaws on both sides, but people will only point out the flaws on the party they haven't aligned thierselves with. Its also funny to see them point out flaws that makes no difference, is irrelevant or they didnt even care about until the media told them it was a flaw.

     

     

    What you're describing is possibly tribalism, at least the western version of it. Having said that, I think it's sort of an erroneous belief that no one is able to overcome that pattern of thinking. Difficult perhaps but not an impossibility.

     

    True, there are people to which this mindset definitely applies to, and it's quite infuriating when it comes to politics. I'd like to believe that a number of Americans are receptive to civil debate, but the conversation feels dominated by a few loud voices with this need to differentiate to extremes. That is not to say there are no differences between people and political parties because there certainly are, and there are definitely topics which are divisive. But there is also the ridiculous notion that there is absolutely nothing in common or that the average person is incapable of considering various viewpoints that may or may not contradict their own.

     

    I don't always agree with what ZeroDamage says, but I don't write him off as someone I can't have a debate with before hearing him out. Fast and Furious program? When I first read about it, I thought "gun walking" was the dumbest idea I'd ever heard of because of so many scenarios in which it could go wrong. If Dodson's testimony is to be believed, gun walking was knowingly implemented with Fast and Furious with bad results; if he is not to be believed (he's been accused of being the rogue distributor with two other ATF agents responsible for the Fast and Furious' gun walking incident), then it's still bad albeit with a different set of people to finger as responsible (though it still happened under the president's watch regardless of the extent to which he may have been aware of the ATF's actions). I'd like to see what the documents being withheld have to say to clarify the specifics of the operation. Biden's "chains" comment? Unnecessarily melodramatic if he really was playing the crowd; I'd prefer that he simply state actual effects of financial deregulation rather than use hyperbole.

     

    Like NOFX and probably a lot of other people, I don't align myself with either party. I gravitate towards what I perceive as reasonable perspectives or well thought out arguments; if they happen to be conservative or liberal (if those labels mean anything anymore), so be it. If I see or read something that effectively deconstructs what I previously thought, I don't see a reason why I can't adapt. I don't like stupid though. In the past few days, Todd Akin has pretty much become reviled by Americans (myself included) regardless of their political spectrum. Why? It's not because he's a Republican because I'd equally hate his statements about "legitimate" or "forcible" rape if he were a Democrat. It's because he's stupid. Akin tried to invoke tribalism when he said the "liberal media" were trying to force him out; ergo, anyone who opposes him must be an apparatus of that machine. If true, that doesn't explain why members of his own party have asked him to step down. I can be cynical and claim his party's requests to step down is merely a tactic to preserve their political life expectancy and/ or distance themselves from his position, and that may be so for some of his peers. However, there must also be some with a high school-level sex education and general understanding of the female body who have rejected his dumb ideas surrounding rape. Would I be surprised if a Democratic equivalent of Akin popped up one day (if it hasn't already)? No, and I expect people to nail that person to the wall for his/ her stupidity too.

     

    Having said that, going back to the original question of this topic: I don't have a problem with the average person who identifies with the Republican Party as much I do with their leaders (it should be noted that I have issues with the Democratic leadership too). I may disagree with that person on various subjects, and there admittedly may be a few topics that we can't reconcile with one another, but I don't expect either of us to call the other a "bad guy" or "evil" unless there was something hideously wrong (drinking puppy blood, for instance).

    Steam Summer Sale 2012

    in Everything Else Gaming

    Last day of sales today (technically). What's everyone's total haul?

     

    Fallout 3 GOTY: $4.99

    Deus Ex Human Revolution: Free (traded credit from GMG.com)

     

    ...that's it for me. One day, I'll get Skyrim and Dead Island and download all those free MMOs on Steam, but I'm in no hurry. Anyone else?

    • Like 1

    Activision to Make The Walking Dead FPS

    in Multi-Player FPS

    We all know how movies based on tv shows and/or movies usually turn out. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for an accurate video game depiction of "The Punisher"

     

    Punishment not justice. Uncensored and uncut.

     

    You just watched that short fan film with Thomas Jane, didn't you?

     

    Kidding aside, I played the demo for Volition's Punisher game way back in 2004-2005? I actually liked it.

    Borderlands 2

    in Adventure, Action, RPG

    If they support multiplayer better than the first and fix the enemy AI, I'll feel a lot better about it; I liked the first one too, but it did have some glaring issues that others have already pointed out. If I get it, I'll be going Commando (har har) or Assassin.

     

    I will say that I've always liked Borderlands' twisted sense of humor. I think that's what drew me in when I first heard about it. Tiny Tina sounds like a fun character (NSFW language): http://kotaku.com/5925832/meet-borderlands-2s-craziest-new-character

    Anyone want 75% off Serious Sam 3?

    in Multi-Player FPS

    · Edited by TheFirstMonk

    Let me know. I have a code you can use on Steam to get 75% off the game.

    I heard the Raptr might work on the Steam version. Has anyone tried this?

     

    EDIT: Meant to say that the code from Raptr might stack with the current discount on Steam. If so, you can shave off more money and make the purchase $2.50 (current price is $9.99) theoretically. Anyone try it yet?

    The Secret World - First Impressions

    in MMOs

    Monk!!! :) :) :)

     

    How come you don't play CSS no more?

     

    It's complicated. I don't have an internet connection at home anymore (I'm currently using a nearby building's computer), so I can't really play multiplayer games. Plus, I'm busy looking for work.

     

    I'll drop back in one day. :happy:

    The Secret World - First Impressions

    in MMOs

    I took their faction test a long time ago (can't remember if I'm Dragon or Illuminati; probably Dragon). From what I've read, the level up system is quite different since you don't grind for experience in the traditional MMO style. I've also heard that the stories and characters are quite good; that's the part I'm intrigued about.

     

    I'll wait for a bit to see if it goes the F2P route in 2-3 years.

    US Travel Tips

    in What's Up?

    Don't walk alone through any bad areas of town, unless he likes being mugged.

    This. Even in the "nicer" commercial/shopping areas on Mich. Ave north of the river, I wouldn't walk around alone at night. As for tipping, doing so in a restaurant or to a bell hop at a hotel or cabbie would be the only situations that I would think call for it. If he is going to be spending a lot of time downtown, he should also familiarize himself with the train system. It's not the nicest public transport I've seen, but it can get you almost anywhere you need to go, including the suburbs.

     

    For example: i had to explain to him that calling a black person the N-word is something you should never do. :ignore:

     

    I wasn't aware that this word was used in such a manner in other countries, but I think your warning bares repeating. NEVER EVER EVER EVER USE THAT WORD. Even if he hears a black person say it to another black person, he should never use it himself.

     

    Lighter note:

     

    Make sure to tell him he needs to try authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza. I personally recommend Gino's East just off of Michigan Avenue. mmmmmmmm.........

     

    Pretty much all of this post, although I prefer Lou Malnati's to Gino's East; still, Gino's East is not bad (I had a bad experience with a hostess at one of their restaurants though).

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