Randomness thread, part two.

[Luco]

Holy fuck balls! This exists.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/commen...ship_with_his/

I wish my mom was hot

[spoonitnow]

Holy fuck balls! This exists.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/commen...ship_with_his/

That kind of stuff goes on a lot more than people seem to think. I've been involved with multiple situations with two sisters, and I've seen a son-mom situation in person.

[Luco]

Meanwhile, in hicksville...

[spoonitnow]

Meanwhile, in hicksville...

It's not just in the south, and none of the people I was referring to above were from here aside from twin sisters who I went to school with (though their family was originally from Boston).

[spoonitnow]

Good Reddit discussion of small business owners talking about how fucked they would be by the minimum wage moving to $15/hour: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/c...ers_of_reddit/

I own a small food business. Things are already very difficult for me as it is. Basically have had great plans and they haven't come to fruition as I had hoped. I already put in a ton of hours to keep labor low. But I can only do so much.
The issue isn't just the wage. It's the nightmare that goes along with dealing with employees. In completely unskilled positions, finding good help is extremely difficult. The turnover in the food industry is insane. Plus no one takes it seriously, they all know it isn't a career. But these aren't the type of people generally who have plans for a career. They just have other personal things they care about more. So even if min wage went up, they wouldn't change their behavior because they now are making a living wage.
But if you were to come ask my employees if they would prefer minimum wage to go up and that means that I would have to let them go, but they could now make more at their next job, they would all tell you to leave it alone. The good ones who are responsible are grateful for the job, even if they don't like it. If I post a single ad offering minimum wage, I will literally get 100 application in under 48 hours. That's not a joke. What would happen to these people if a lot of businesses go under?
Since I have been struggling I started a small online business. I have zero employees. I make much much more doing that. But I provide no jobs for anyone. But it's so easy. I don't do any hiring. No payroll, no insurance, no break laws, no scheduling, no drama. None of that. So if my business goes under, I feel terrible for the kids who I won't be able to help. I've given so many kids their first job and helped them get another. But my business isn't unicef. So I will move on to a structure where I never have to deal with employees of any kind again. Keep raising that minimum wage to a million, because I am definitely done. Small business owners already get the shaft as it is.

[oskar]

Good Reddit discussion of small business owners talking about how fucked they would be by the minimum wage moving to $15/hour: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/c...ers_of_reddit/

I can only speak from a european perspective. I could almost double employee wages if it wasn't for wage tax, social security bullshit and the legal work it requires to hire someone.

[oskar]

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/c...a_menu/cuu8rpa

[a500lbgorilla]

I wish my mom was hot

Interesting how the whole spiel got started. An injury kept him from jerking it, he gets edgy, so the mom steps in to deliver him some relief.

[rong]

Even as horny teen I'm not accepting that offer.

[wufwugy]

I can only speak from a european perspective. I could almost double employee wages if it wasn't for wage tax, social security bullshit and the legal work it requires to hire someone.

While increasing employment and social mobility since hiring and firing would come with low costs.

We already know how to make unemployment a thing of the past and put everybody on the path to wealth. We just gotta do it. But hey, people prefer reactionary morals that give them their collectivist order and economic justice.

[aubreymcfate]

Meanwhile, in hicksville...

the neighboring town to where i grew up is called hicksville, lol

have you guys ever hiked up a mountain in the rain (inwardly grumbling the whole way about how you could be chilling and spacing out to your favorite tunes instead of only barely evading gnarly cactuses with every laborious step) only to find yourself under a literal cathedral of the most incredible rainbows you've ever seen when you reached the summit?

'cause that's what happened to me the other day and it was ballerific. A+ nature.

[a500lbgorilla]

Nah, I find being outdoors really cuts into the amount of time I get to be indoors.

[aubreymcfate]

i quickly went inside afterwards, once i hopped one of those rainbow bridges and made my way into ganondorf's castle

[MadMojoMonkey]

Is the S or the C the silent letter in scent?

[MadMojoMonkey]

Nah, I find being outdoors really cuts into the amount of time I get to be indoors.

After further research, I've determined the two to be related via an inverse proportionality.

[rong]

I now own a caravan. So I bring the inside outside. I also do my utmost to keep the outside outside of the inside. It's complicated stuff.

[rong]

In other news, I'm about to buy a homeless guy some breakfast. Feels good.

[spoonitnow]

In other news, I'm about to buy a homeless guy some breakfast. Feels good.

I saw a story a while back about a guy who bought a homeless guy lunch, but ended up almost killing the dude because he had severe food allergies.

[oskar]

In other news, I'm about to buy a homeless guy some breakfast. Feels good.

I thought about being charitable. You only have to do one nice thing and it makes you feel great, but then you also have to talk about it to everyone for the rest of the year, so that's exhausting.

[a500lbgorilla]

Pffft, I buy a homeless man breakfast every day.

Because Home is where the heart is and I'm dead inside.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Pffft, I buy a homeless man breakfast every day.

Because Home is where the heart is and I'm dead inside.

[a500lbgorilla]

Fuck yeah, Politics!

[MadMojoMonkey]

Fuck yeah, Politics!

Meh. I watched it and failed to understand why anyone even cares.

cultures

weird


ness


weirdness

[a500lbgorilla]

Weirdness with the promise of meaning something is the only reason I need to be interested.

[spoonitnow]

More Men Are Raped in the US Than Women

Just felt like throwing that out there.

[oskar]

I am petitioning that JRHNBR replaces GOAT as an acronym.

They might not mean the same thing but they are interchangeable in just about any situation.

[a500lbgorilla]

no thx

[spoonitnow]

I hate playing Don't Starve Together with my fucking girlfriend. She just built a random ass fucking chest to hold poop like out away from our camp. I'm like what the fuck are you doing? She says it's because of the smell that it shouldn't be near our camp. I'm like are you fucking shitting me.

LOL GET IT SHITTING ME

[MadMojoMonkey]

I hate playing Don't Starve Together with my fucking girlfriend. She just built a random ass fucking chest to hold poop like out away from our camp. I'm like what the fuck are you doing? She says it's because of the smell that it shouldn't be near our camp. I'm like are you fucking shitting me.

LOL GET IT SHITTING ME

https://youtu.be/ZI0hvm10AHo?t=3m29s

[aubreymcfate]

moab is so goddamn cool. when you spend most of your life in NY you don't realize the US has some pretty phenomenal geographic splendors. canyons are like natural cathedrals. I still have ethnocentric Greek pride bc I'm pretty sure that shit is genetic (mention famous people who happen to be greek to plebian greeks and they'll flap around excitedly as if it has some kind of bearing on their individual worth), so to me Greece is the epitome of earthly beauty, but the canyons on the west coast are pretty fucking awesome (as in, biblically awe inspiring)

mmm - google words you're curious about + etymology. apparently the "c" in "scent" is a mystery. linguistic vagaries are fascinating.

[oskar]

moab is so goddamn cool. when you spend most of your life in NY you don't realize the US has some pretty phenomenal geographic splendors. canyons are like natural cathedrals. I still have ethnocentric Greek pride bc I'm pretty sure that shit is genetic (mention famous people who happen to be greek to plebian greeks and they'll flap around excitedly as if it has some kind of bearing on their individual worth), so to me Greece is the epitome of earthly beauty, but the canyons on the west coast are pretty fucking awesome (as in, biblically awe inspiring)

mmm - google words you're curious about + etymology. apparently the "c" in "scent" is a mystery. linguistic vagaries are fascinating.

Greece has some fantastic canyons, North America has some great mountains, but the flatlands of lower Austria are JRHNBR.

[a500lbgorilla]

Really, no thx.

[boost]

A priest, a preacher, a rabbi and a jihadist walk into a bar...

[a500lbgorilla]

[spoonitnow]

So I'm sitting on the beach this morning typing this at around 9 am.

[spoonitnow]

You people never fucking post.

[MadMojoMonkey]

[a500lbgorilla]

Anyone up for Round 1?

[MadMojoMonkey]

Anyone up for Round 1?

WTF? Are you in need of mental guidance?
This is the dumbest idea I've ever heard.
"Hey, guys, let's all say stupid shit we don't agree with for the sake of filling the air with our mouth sounds!"
-le derp
The last thing the world needs is fabricated aggression buoyed by ignorant abuse. Outside the realm of entertainment, the use of melodrama is a crutch of the feeble-minded to self-glorify their mundane tribulations.
Can't we just be present in the moment and express our true thoughts with perhaps a little wit?

How about we invest our time and mental energy into exploring what we can do to become better people, for whatever that means to each of us? Perhaps we can root out some of our own ignorance and false assumptions in the process. Maybe even learn how to make sense of the world and societies in which we find ourselves... Perhaps we may discover that the best way to make the world a better place is to start with making ourselves less presumptuous.

Oh wait... that would mean that we are actively acknowledging that we are fallible, and perhaps may owe someone (or even ourselves) some apologies for being such an insensitive prick who gets all aggro over misunderstandings. That's neither cool nor manly, so I guess we'll just have to let other people tell us how to behave. Then we can find our validation in their opinions. At least they'll think we're cool, rugged men who embrace hatred of anything which implies we have ever misunderstood anything.

Then no one will know that we are secretly cowards who can't even stand up to our own self-awareness in a battle of wits.

[wufwugy]

i reserve the opportunity to do this on issues of race and gender.

[spoonitnow]

The Aspergers is strong in this one.

[MadMojoMonkey]

The Aspergers is strong in this one.

I don't doubt that I'm somewhere on the spectrum, but I'm not far enough in to qualify for a diagnosis.

Besides, I think it's one of my most meta posts, to date...

and I make the most tasty-ass burgers, btw. I mash some diced onion, garlic, salt and pepper in the ground beef, with a dash of Worcestershire Sauce. Then put 'em right on the heat, and let them drip onto the coals for maximum smokey flavor.

[OngBonga]

I found a pic of spoon and his lady...

[a500lbgorilla]

Hey guys, don't worry. Internet Trolls like Those-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named are not long for this peaceful world.

http://time.com/4049106/un-cyber-vio...ical-violence/

If only they had left our precious women alone...

[OngBonga]

There will probably come a time where me and spoon could sue the shit out of each other for the "hurt feelings" we could pretend to have suffered as a result of the general tone we have towards one another. I could sue him more though, he definitely trolls me more. And when I'm trolling him it's purely self defence.

I need a lawyer.

[spoonitnow]

There will probably come a time where me and spoon could sue the shit out of each other for the "hurt feelings" we could pretend to have suffered as a result of the general tone we have towards one another. I could sue him more though, he definitely trolls me more. And when I'm trolling him it's purely self defence.

I need a lawyer.

Trolling doesn't mean what you think it means.

[spoonitnow]

I found a pic of spoon and his lady...

I wear much better-fitting jeans than that. And which lady?

[OngBonga]

Trolling doesn't mean what you think it means.

I'm not aware that trolling has been legally defined.

Wikipedia says this...

In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion,[3] often for their own amusement.

I mean we both easily fit this description, when it comes to a seclection of our interactions over the years at least.

[spoonitnow]

Trolling is (or at least was defined originally as) specifically pretending to hold a position that you do not hold for the purposes outlined in your post above (which is why it's so closely related to Poe's law). At this point, people don't really care so much about what words mean as what they want them to mean, so I'm not sure it matters.

For example, if I pretended to think that Donald Trump would be an excellent president, then I might present an argument along those lines that would get people riled up. It would only be trolling under the original definition if I didn't actually think he would be a good president.

And for the sake of clarity, I'm very much rooting for Donald Trump in this election, but that's more because I view the elections as entertainment and don't really care about who would be the best president (in my view, it's largely irrelevant to the election anyway).

[OngBonga]

I see. Well I consider baiting an emotional response out of someone for the purpose of amusement to be trolling. I'm certainly guilty of that, and so are you. But as defined above, I wouldn't consider that a fitting description for either of us, even though I'm sure we've both done that too on the rare occasion.

Trolling is funny, I don't see what the problem is. Even when I'm successfully baited, I will privately acknowledge excellent trolling when it gets me worked up.

[wufwugy]

(in my view, it's largely irrelevant to the election anyway).

why?

[MadMojoMonkey]

but that's more because I view the elections as entertainment and don't really care about who would be the best president (in my view, it's largely irrelevant to the election anyway).

[MadMojoMonkey]

why?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...ential_primary

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electo...ited_States%29

[spoonitnow]

why?

People don't vote based on who they think will make the best president. Even if they did, democracy gives us a situation where half of the people deciding the president are of below-average intelligence (and even people with average intelligence are pretty fucking dumb). It's a huge spectacle, and it's extremely entertaining.

[OngBonga]

As much as I think deomcarcy is essential, I agree that a huge flaw in it is that the majority of voters are too fucking stupid to make an informed decision. And yes I freely admit I'm one of those people. I blame the state for that. I'm intelligent, but I'm not knwoledgeable. Successive governments have done their utmost to dumb the population down. They're doing a fucking great job of it. I mean lots of people think that 9/11 really happened like they said it did. People just lap up whatever they read. Am I any different? Not really. I'm just cynical, while most people are gullible.

If we want improved collective intelligence, then invest more in education. What are Japan and South Korea doing right? They are loosely comparable to the UK in terms of population. Why are they smarter than us? What are they teaching their kids that we're not?

[MadMojoMonkey]

I tend to assume the electoral college was established with much the same thinking in mind... that the uneducated masses can't really be trusted with this decision.

[wufwugy]

As much as I think deomcarcy is essential, I agree that a huge flaw in it is that the majority of voters are too fucking stupid to make an informed decision. And yes I freely admit I'm one of those people. I blame the state for that. I'm intelligent, but I'm not knwoledgeable. Successive governments have done their utmost to dumb the population down. They're doing a fucking great job of it. I mean lots of people think that 9/11 really happened like they said it did. People just lap up whatever they read. Am I any different? Not really. I'm just cynical, while most people are gullible.

If we want improved collective intelligence, then invest more in education. What are Japan and South Korea doing right? They are loosely comparable to the UK in terms of population. Why are they smarter than us? What are they teaching their kids that we're not?

Your first paragraph describes a situation caused by the government's huge investment into education. Your second paragraph prescribes more government investment into education to fix the problem.

Our problems begin when we give up our autonomy over education to the propaganda of government.

Also Japanese and SK kids aren't doing better because of their schools. Culturally the parents deeply value STEM success, so that's where you get that. High Expectations Asian Father is cultural, not a product of education.

[OngBonga]

The uneductaed masses have to be trusted with this decision. If not, then they will never consider the government legitimate. How many stupid people do you think will accept they aren't allowed to vote due to their IQ level? Take the vote away from someone, and they will consider themselves oppressed by government, which is a dangerous state of mind.

[OngBonga]

Your first paragraph describes a situation caused by the government's huge investment into education. Your second paragraph prescribes more government investment into education to fix the problem.

Well actually if we're going to get into education, I agree the problem is government interference. However, the problem is indoctrinisation. Schools are designed to prepare children for a life of work and conformity, rather than focussed on allowing people to reach their full potential.

The problem here is the nature of the government, not the presence of government.

[wufwugy]

The uneductaed masses have to be trusted with this decision. If not, then they will never consider the government legitimate.

Very true. Government gets its power from the legitimacy given to it by the people. It's like Game of Thrones: "power resides where men believe it resides".

There is a third way. Limiting government, so as to not even needing this cycle of dependence.

[OngBonga]

The problem with limiting government, from my pov, is that it moves the power to the markets. I know that's what you advocate, but my problem is that wealthy people, instead of elected people, are those with the true power.

[wufwugy]

Well actually if we're going to get into education, I agree the problem is government interference. However, the problem is indoctrinisation. Schools are designed to prepare children for a life of work and conformity, rather than focussed on allowing people to reach their full potential.

Well, we get nothing but government indoctrination now.

Ever wonder why from the littlest age you can remember, every year you were being hammered into knowing who the "great statesmen" of your "great country" are? Is P.E a requirement in the UK? Yeah, like kids don't know how to run around. Gotta make these wards of the state into productive agents of the regiment. Don't forget the humanities! Where we only learn about respectable moral principles sanctioned by the nation's narrative.

Public education is a nationalist factory. It's how the state has created a society where it no longer needs to defend itself, because it caught us all as young-uns and we defend the state to fulfill the duty molded into our psyche.

[wufwugy]

The problem with limiting government, from my pov, is that it moves the power to the markets. I know that's what you advocate, but my problem is that wealthy people, instead of elected people, are those with the true power.

You're down with the idea that producers act selfishly. Why are you not down with the idea that consumers act selfishly too?

[OngBonga]

You're down with the idea that producers act selfishly. Why are you not down with the idea that consumers act selfishly too?

Nearly everyone acts selfishly, myself included. I'm not ignorant to this fact.

But it's something we should be striving to eliminate from our character. The way the world currently works outright promotes selfishness, on an economic level, while attempting to supress it on a personal level. We're told to be nice to each other, while big business ruthlessly takes advantage of everything it can get away with.

[wufwugy]

Nearly everyone acts selfishly, myself included. I'm not ignorant to this fact.

But it's something we should be striving to eliminate from our character. The way the world currently works outright promotes selfishness, on an economic level, while attempting to supress it on a personal level. We're told to be nice to each other, while big business ruthlessly takes advantage of everything it can get away with.

When you talk business, you're only looking at one side of the equation. Consumers also "ruthlessly take advantage of everything they can get away with".

One of my big problems with the left is that when discussing business they have red in their eyes yet when discussing consumers they're blindfolded. The left has always been like this, from the beginnings of blaming the bourgeoisie for suppressing the proletariat. Meanwhile, what's actually happening is both the bourgeoisie and proletariat are being taken advantage of by the government.

[MadMojoMonkey]

We do altruistic things for selfish reasons. We breath for selfish reasons. We choose our behavior for selfish reasons.

The notion that we should be less selfish is crazy talk. We should stop ignoring the brutal fact that life is trying to kill us all and eat our delicious meaty flesh. It is to our selfish benefit to group together and share our skills to thwart this.

[OngBonga]

When you talk business, you're only looking at one side of the equation. Consumers also "ruthlessly take advantage of everything they can get away with".

One of my big problems with the left is that when discussing business they have red in their eyes yet when discussing consumers they're blindfolded. The left has always been like this, from the beginnings of blaming the bourgeoisie for suppressing the proletariat. Meanwhile, what's actually happening is both the bourgeoisie and proletariat are being taken advantage of by the government.

I don't think this is true. I mean you've seen me say recently that I'm starting to realise people are my problem. I know consumers are ruthless, but that's indoctrination at work. The consumer is a product of his environment. I'm not blind to the flaws of the consumer, I just blame the system for these flaws.

[wufwugy]

I don't think this is true. I mean you've seen me say recently that I'm starting to realise people are my problem. I know consumers are ruthless, but that's indoctrination at work. The consumer is a product of his environment. I'm not blind to the flaws of the consumer, I just blame the system for these flaws.

What do you mean consumers are a product of their environment?

People have all sorts of innate desires. Consumption tastes are very much so a reflection of what people want. The vast majority of products pushed hard by companies fall flat, probably because they don't fit the natural desires that people have.

[OngBonga]

We do altruistic things for selfish reasons. We breath for selfish reasons. We choose our behavior for selfish reasons.

The notion that we should be less selfish is crazy talk. We should stop ignoring the brutal fact that life is trying to kill us all and eat our delicious meaty flesh. It is to our selfish benefit to group together and share our skills to thwart this.

We don't choose to breathe. I mean this is just being technical about the literal translation of "selfish".

Of course, survival is selfish. This isn't the kind of selfish I'm talking about. I'm talking about the "me first" and "why should I" attitude of the masses. That is the result of an economic system that promotes such values. Is such a mind set essential for our survival? I don't think so.

[OngBonga]

What do you mean consumers are a product of their environment?

Why do we consume so much? Because we can.

[wufwugy]

Why do we consume so much? Because we can.

Which comes naturally to the human species itself.

If cavemen had the option to consume like we do, they would.

[wufwugy]

I'm talking about the "me first" and "why should I" attitude of the masses. That is the result of an economic system that promotes such values.

This is precisely what government incentivizes and the opposite of what markets do.

You're talking about naivete, dependence, and entitlement of the masses. Governments gain from those characteristics, and markets are where they go to die.

[OngBonga]

Which comes naturally to the human species itself.

If cavemen had the option to consume like we do, they would.

It's not "natural", it's nurtured. The cavemen didn't consume because they couldn't. Cavemen weren't natural consumers in-waiting.

Is my desire to smoke weed a natural craving? I didn't crave weed before I started smoking it.

[wufwugy]

It's not "natural", it's nurtured. The cavemen didn't consume because they couldn't. Cavemen weren't natural consumers in-waiting.

Cavemen weren't actualized mass consumers, but you're kidding yourself if you think they wouldn't have gotten gluttonous on goods if they had the option.

Is my desire to smoke weed a natural craving? I didn't crave weed before I started smoking it.

This is a view I partially hold and something I have yet to make total sense of. It appears to be true that producers and environment don't create desire, but they can create demand for a previously unavailable thing that fits a natural desire.

[OngBonga]

Cavemen weren't actualized mass consumers, but you're kidding yourself if you think they wouldn't have gotten gluttonous on goods if they had the option.

Of course they would have. I'm not arguing they wouldn't.

Remember what you initially took umbrage with... consumers are a product of their environment. Today, we consume like we do because capitalism makes it easy for us to do so.

It's nurture, not nature. We're not born consumers. Just because it's what we do as default when given the chance, doesn't make it instictive. The only natural thing about consuming like we do is the dopamine that rewards us for doing so. Your smart phone is my bong. You're happy because of brain chemistry, and you like being happy, so you mimic the behaviour.