Randomness thread, part two.

[OngBonga]

Well, the guy they claimed did it is white, so that immediately makes it unusual for ISIS. Also, he killed himself without taking out any infidels in the process. I know that might sound ridiculous, but the bullet that killed him was only ever intended to kill him. It's not like a bomb that intends to kill lots. His suicide is un-Islamic. No virgins await him.

ISIS claim is bollocks.

[Poopadoop]

The trigger for civil war will be outlawing guns.

then they have nothing to worry about...

[OngBonga]

then they have nothing to worry about...

Well it depends how hard they try. If this incident is what I suspect, then they're trying very hard indeed.

[BananaStand]

As to the "how does one amass an arsenal and their gf isn't suspicious"... I thought you lived in Murica, Mr. Stand.

Once upon a time I had a sinus infection that was giving me a headache. I bought sudafed for it. Doing that required me to take a little ticket to the pharmacy counter, providing my ID, and having my purchase limited to one package. It helped a little with my runny nose, but did little to stifle the headache.

The next day I saw my doctor who suggested I try a combo-drug made of Sudafed and Aleve blended together. After that I went to work but stopped at a nearby drugstore beforehand to purchase this new miracle drug. It was a different chain of drugstore, in a different state. Despite that clever trickery on my part, the machine beeped and I was told that I had already purchased too much sudafed. Apparently the government decided that there is a limit to how much sudafed a non-criminal would need at one time, and I was going to be over that limit.

You're telling me they can't do the same thing with bullets? The Aurora shooter was allowed to buy thousands upon thousands of rounds of ammo over the internet with no questions asked. This Vegas guy had dozens of not-fucking-around killing machines, and you're telling me nobody could knock on his door and say "whatchya doin?"

[Savy]

Government controlled Sudafed

If you've got a sinus infection & your doctor is prescribing Sudafed I'd get a new one.

Fwiw I'm pretty sure I said this method would be result in lots of deaths & injuries yet you shit on the idea.

[MadMojoMonkey]

You're telling me they can't do the same thing with bullets?

'Cause bullets are about as hard to make as a store-bought cake mix.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Government controlled Sudafed

If you've got a sinus infection & your doctor is prescribing Sudafed I'd get a new one.

Fwiw I'm pretty sure I said this method would be result in lots of deaths & injuries yet you shit on the idea.

Sudafed is controlled because it has a chemical that can be used to make "crank," or bathtub crystal meth. Pseudo-effedrine, if I recall... it's basically the name of the drug.

[wufwugy]

The brother defo not telling the truth. Dat body language

[OngBonga]

If you've got a sinus infection & your doctor is prescribing Sudafed I'd get a new one.

Yeah like that would help.

Best course of action is water and rest, however treatment of sinusitis is worth a staggering £11b.

This is where we're headed if we keep screwing over the NHS. In fact we're probably already there and I'm just being naive.

[Poopadoop]

This Vegas guy had dozens of not-fucking-around killing machines, and you're telling me nobody could knock on his door and say "whatchya doin?"

Who's gonna go knocking on about a million doors?

Also, "zomfg government trying to disarm the citizenry, zomg"

[OngBonga]

Also, who the fuck buys sudafed instead of ibuprofen?

Sinusitis. The clue is in the name. -itis means inflammation, and ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory. Literally cheaper than water.

[OngBonga]

Nyquil and sudafed...

[Poopadoop]

NHS is a bit of a joke. I went to the doc with a spasming back one time after i had just moved here; it was just killing me, I couldn't even stand up straight. I swear the guy was about 75 yrs old. He gets out a tongue depressor and starts testing my reflexes, running it over the soles of my feet.

I said 'my toes work fine, it's my back that's seizing up. Can i get something for the pain?' Guy prescribes me 'extra-strength' paracetomol.

Oh great, so now I can go hobble to the drugstore and get twice as much of the weakest painkiller ever invented. Obviously he found it easier to believe I was the world's greatest actor/drug seeker than some guy who actually could use some codeine or whatever.

[wufwugy]

From :45 to 6:30. Informative forensic psychiatrist assessment of the event.

[Poopadoop]

Sudafed is controlled because it has a chemical that can be used to make "crank," or bathtub crystal meth. Pseudo-effedrine, if I recall... it's basically the name of the drug.

Paracetomol is controlled here because some people prefer death from liver failure to jumping off a bridge.

[wufwugy]

better version that dont need to time skip

[OngBonga]

NHS is a bit of a joke. I went to the doc with a spasming back one time after i had just moved here; it was just killing me, I couldn't even stand up straight. I swear the guy was about 75 yrs old. He gets out a tongue depressor and starts testing my reflexes, running it over the soles of my feet.

I said 'my toes work fine, it's my back that's seizing up. Can i get something for the pain?' Guy prescribes me 'extra-strength' paracetomol.

Oh great, so now I can go hobble to the drugstore and get twice as much of the weakest painkiller ever invented. Obviously he found it easier to believe I was the world's greatest actor/drug seeker than some guy who actually could use some codeine or whatever.

Next time a doc tries top fob you off with paracetamol, tell him bollocks and beg for tramadol. They're careful who they dish that out to, but for back pain it's about the only thing that touches it that a doctor will even consider prescribing.

[OngBonga]

Paracetomol is controlled here because some people prefer death from liver failure to jumping off a bridge.

Paracetamol overdoses are nearly always a cry for attention.

Someone jumping off a bridge... less so.

[BananaStand]

Next time a doc tries top fob you off with paracetamol, tell him bollocks and beg for tramadol. They're careful who they dish that out to, but for back pain it's about the only thing that touches it that a doctor will even consider prescribing.

I've had tramadol for backpain, and I'm sorry dude, but it can't even hold a candle to vicodin. Tramadol is a ton less effective for the pain, and tons less fun.

Also, if you take tramadol, you can forget about having an erection that day. Plan ahead

[Poopadoop]

Paracetamol overdoses are nearly always a cry for attention.

Someone jumping off a bridge... less so.

I thought the logic of restricting it was so that people wouldn't use it to off themselves. I guess the NHS just wants to save money on stomach pumps though. Makes sense.

[BananaStand]

Who's gonna go knocking on about a million doors?

Who says they have to? All the guns were purchased and registered legally. A simple database query will spit out a list of all the potential-psychos the gov't should think about checking up on.

Also, "zomfg government trying to disarm the citizenry, zomg"

People can make that argument if they want. But if you took a poll in america right now, you'd find that those people are in the extreme minority. They are bolstered by an effective gun lobby, which is diminishing.

You'll never see an actual disarming of the citizenry. Guns will always be permitted for the purpose of defending life and property. There are many types of guns that are purpose-build for that exact use. The guns in the vegas-guy's arsenal were weapons designed for the specific purpose of efficiently killing as many human beings as possible.

The 2nd Amendment had two purposes. 1) Allow people to use arms to defend life and property. 2) Allow the citizens to maintain an unspoken threat of military revolution if the government becomes too oppressive. In other words, they had just won independence from a bunch of ninnies because armed colonists were able to fight back against oppression. They thought it was important to maintain that dynamic.

But the never imagined AK-47's, Predator Drones, Tanks, or F-16's.

So in 2017, I think it's safe to say that #2 is obsolete. That's pretty much indisputable. It doesn't matter how many guns you buy at a pawn shop, you'll never stand a chance against the military forces of an industrialized first-world nation. So by process of elimination, the only reason anyone would have a machine gun, would be for killing large numbers of human beings.

We've had bans on assault weapons in this country before, and no one seemed worried about the government disarming citizens.

Seems pretty simple to me. Yes guns are legal. Yes people should be able to buy guns. But here's the rule.....

One trigger pull - One bullet

If pulling the trigger once results in many bullets being fired......that should be an illegal gun.

[Jack Sawyer]

Once upon a time I had a sinus infection that was giving me a headache. I bought sudafed for it. Doing that required me to take a little ticket to the pharmacy counter, providing my ID, and having my purchase limited to one package. It helped a little with my runny nose, but did little to stifle the headache.

The next day I saw my doctor who suggested I try a combo-drug made of Sudafed and Aleve blended together. After that I went to work but stopped at a nearby drugstore beforehand to purchase this new miracle drug. It was a different chain of drugstore, in a different state. Despite that clever trickery on my part, the machine beeped and I was told that I had already purchased too much sudafed. Apparently the government decided that there is a limit to how much sudafed a non-criminal would need at one time, and I was going to be over that limit.

You're telling me they can't do the same thing with bullets? The Aurora shooter was allowed to buy thousands upon thousands of rounds of ammo over the internet with no questions asked. This Vegas guy had dozens of not-fucking-around killing machines, and you're telling me nobody could knock on his door and say "whatchya doin?"

BananaStand arguing FOR gun control???!! I didn't think I'd ever see anything remotely like this

[BananaStand]

BananaStand arguing FOR gun control???!! I didn't think I'd ever see anything remotely like this

Why? Just because I tend to vote conservative, doesn't mean I'm some kind of slave to republican doctrine. I'm a registered independent buddy, and I make up my own mind issue-by-issue, while being as consistent as I can.

I'm a pro-choice, anti-machine-gun, atheist who believes in limited government, low taxes, and an aggressive foreign policy. Most pundits would say I'm an anomaly who doesn't really fit the ideology of either party. However, if the partisans out there realized that the vast majority of people in America actually think like I do, then we'd probably have a more effective government.

[OngBonga]

I've had tramadol for backpain, and I'm sorry dude, but it can't even hold a candle to vicodin. Tramadol is a ton less effective for the pain, and tons less fun.

Also, if you take tramadol, you can forget about having an erection that day. Plan ahead

If I've got back spasms, I don't think an erection is going to be particularly useful.

No idea what vicodin is, maybe I'll ask my doc for it if ever I have a bad back.

[OngBonga]

I thought the logic of restricting it was so that people wouldn't use it to off themselves. I guess the NHS just wants to save money on stomach pumps though. Makes sense.

Yeah partly this, no doubt. And of course a lot of these cries for attention do actually result in game over, because it's a stupid and dangerous thing to do.

[BananaStand]

No idea what vicodin is.

That can't be right. Maybe it just has a different name in soccer-country. The generic name is 'hydrocodone'. It's in the same family of opioid pain killers as oxycontin

[Jack Sawyer]

I believe in an aggressive foreign policy

What do you mean with this?

[Savy]

if the partisans out there realized that the vast majority of people in America actually think like I do, then we'd probably have a more effective government.

In what way? That they all don't fit into perfectly neat political packages? Or on the issues?

[OngBonga]

That can't be right. Maybe it just has a different name in soccer-country. The generic name is 'hydrocodone'. It's in the same family of opioid pain killers as oxycontin

Did some digging, seems it's not easily available here.

While Vicodin is not available in Britain (unless you manage to order it over the net, or have a fancy private doctor, of course)...

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...lbeing.health1

[BananaStand]

What do you mean with this?

Mostly it means we start being less-nice to the Saudi's

[BananaStand]

Did some digging, seems it's not easily available here.

Dude, that article is from 2001. I'll bet anything that they're a little more prevalent now.

[Jack Sawyer]

Why? Just because I tend to vote conservative, doesn't mean I'm some kind of slave to republican doctrine. I'm a registered independent buddy, and I make up my own mind issue-by-issue, while being as consistent as I can.

I'm a pro-choice, anti-machine-gun, atheist who believes in limited government, low taxes, and an aggressive foreign policy. Most pundits would say I'm an anomaly who doesn't really fit the ideology of either party. However, if the partisans out there realized that the vast majority of people in America actually think like I do, then we'd probably have a more effective government.

So not just a rah rah "amerika! fuck yeah!" cheerleader for the republican party. I have some newfound admiration for you

Mostly it means we start being less-nice to the Saudi's

Aligning with the Bern

[OngBonga]

Dude, that article is from 2001. I'll bet anything that they're a little more prevalent now.

I googled "vicodin uk" and that was one of the top searches. I have no idea tbh, but I've never heard of it or any of the alt names I could find for it. I don't care enough to do more than google the shit and read the wiki page.

[OngBonga]

Mostly it means we start being less-nice to the Saudi's

Well you'd quickly fuck the American economy if you were in charge.

[Poopadoop]

Who says they have to? All the guns were purchased and registered legally. A simple database query will spit out a list of all the potential-psychos the gov't should think about checking up on.

The next question is how many guns does someone have to own to get on the psycho list? And the next question is how many guns does the average psycho own, and do these variables in fact correlate? Note that your sample size in the present case is infinitesimally small. There are lots of psychos who only own one or a few guns, and a lot of gun buffs who aren't dangerous to other people, and certainly aren't psychos.

People can make that argument if they want. But if you took a poll in america right now, you'd find that those people are in the extreme minority. They are bolstered by an effective gun lobby, which is diminishing.

You'll never see an actual disarming of the citizenry. Guns will always be permitted for the purpose of defending life and property. There are many types of guns that are purpose-build for that exact use. The guns in the vegas-guy's arsenal were weapons designed for the specific purpose of efficiently killing as many human beings as possible.

The 2nd Amendment had two purposes. 1) Allow people to use arms to defend life and property. 2) Allow the citizens to maintain an unspoken threat of military revolution if the government becomes too oppressive. In other words, they had just won independence from a bunch of ninnies because armed colonists were able to fight back against oppression. They thought it was important to maintain that dynamic.

But the never imagined AK-47's, Predator Drones, Tanks, or F-16's.

So in 2017, I think it's safe to say that #2 is obsolete. That's pretty much indisputable. It doesn't matter how many guns you buy at a pawn shop, you'll never stand a chance against the military forces of an industrialized first-world nation. So by process of elimination, the only reason anyone would have a machine gun, would be for killing large numbers of human beings.

We've had bans on assault weapons in this country before, and no one seemed worried about the government disarming citizens.

Seems pretty simple to me. Yes guns are legal. Yes people should be able to buy guns. But here's the rule.....

One trigger pull - One bullet

If pulling the trigger once results in many bullets being fired......that should be an illegal gun.

I absolutely agree. But as long as I can remember, there was always vociferous opposition to banning automatic or semi-automatic weapons, which I assumed was why it hasn't happened in recent years (like decades afaik).

[BananaStand]

I absolutely agree. But as long as I can remember, there was always vociferous opposition to banning automatic or semi-automatic weapons, which I assumed was why it hasn't happened in recent years (like decades afaik).

The last one expired in 2004

While banning the really bad guns seems like all-upside, which is why I support it, I'm still not convinced it will make a meaningful impact. Crazy people will still do crazy things. Tim McVeigh didn't need any assault weapons

[BananaStand]

The next question is how many guns does someone have to own to get on the psycho list?

I don't know. But I'm sure there are 'experts' out there who can tell you what amount of guns is reasonable. Just like they can tell you how much sudafed you're allowed to have.

And the next question is how many guns does the average psycho own, and do these variables in fact correlate?

Doesn't matter.

Note that your sample size in the present case is infinitesimally small.

Still doesn't matter.

There are lots of psychos who only own one or a few guns

Well the answer there is to ban all guns. Since that isn't gonna happen, we have to accept the tragedies as unintended consequencies. But since these particular psychos have so few guns, the tragedies will be small and contained.

and a lot of gun buffs who aren't dangerous to other people, and certainly aren't psychos.

Ok, so when the ATF knocks on those people's doors, they won't find a psycho. And I'm saying "knock on their door" figuratively. I don't think anyone's rights are being violated if someone in the federal government were alerted to unusual purchases, and then began making lawful inquiries about that person.

I keep using the Aurora CO shooting as an example. Shouldn't someone have thought it strange that thousands of rounds of ammunition were being ordered from and delivered to, a college campus? I'm sure there ways to investigate that without violating someone's rights

[MadMojoMonkey]

However, if the partisans out there realized that the vast majority of people in America actually think like I do, then we'd probably have a more effective government.

Funny.

However, if Mr. Stand and others like him realized that the vast majority of people in America actually think like I do, then we'd probably have a more effective government.

[BananaStand]

In what way? That they all don't fit into perfectly neat political packages? Or on the issues?

If you took a poll right now you would find...

An overwhelming majority of people support a person's right to choose on abortion. Even if they themselves are pro-life, they at least respect other people's right to choose. I'm guessing there's a 3 to 1 or larger majority on this.

There's probably a 4 to 1 or possibly larger majority of people who support some common sense gun control measures that would keep instruments of war out of the civilian theater.

Most people are atheists, even the majority of those claiming to align with a particular religion.

If given the choice, I think most sensible people agree with limiting the powers of government

No one wants to pay higher taxes

And only a complete fool believes that America can cultivate its interests abroad by being passive in the face of those who would seek to undermine those interests.

So I'm pretty confident that almost everyone in America is with me straddling the fence between left and right wing politics.

How do you think Trump got elected? He's for limited government, low taxes, aggressive foreign policy, but also doesn't have any interest in changing the 40+ year precedent set by roe-v-wade, and his financial independence means he's not beholden to a gun lobby, or religious special-interests.

The silent majority in the middle finally got a candidate that represents them. No one really cared if he grabbed a few pussies along the way.

[wufwugy]

An irony of those who despise US foreign adventurism and US citizen gun ownership is that it is likely that US citizen gun ownership is impactful regarding keeping the US government from increasing adventurism.

But that's a thing about the US, it subsidizes much of the rest of the world without the rest of the world admitting it.

[wufwugy]

Trade-offs are a thing. I hypothesize why it is easy for many people to engage in arguments in which they think they own the truth and the other doesn't is because they are forgetting that trade-offs are thing. There are good arguments for gun control and good arguments against it. There are good arguments for universal healthcare and good arguments against it. Real scholarship is in figuring out which argument is BETTER, and that is done in part by acknowledging trade-offs. For example, if somebody tells you that universal health insurance is better than not because there is cost reduction in the larger, diverse pool, they are right in that it reduces costs in a vacuum but not necessarily right regarding whether it reduces costs by net. The other arguments need to be incorporated in order to find the net.

[wufwugy]

Mostly it means we start being less-nice to the Saudi's

It's possible the Saudis are cleaning their shit up very well at this point.

[Jack Sawyer]

Yup, domestic terrorism.

Relevant part begins at 9:18

[Jack Sawyer]

Trade-offs are a thing. I hypothesize why it is easy for many people to engage in arguments in which they think they own the truth and the other doesn't is because they are forgetting that trade-offs are thing. There are good arguments for gun control and good arguments against it. There are good arguments for universal healthcare and good arguments against it. Real scholarship is in figuring out which argument is BETTER, and that is done in part by acknowledging trade-offs. For example, if somebody tells you that universal health insurance is better than not because there is cost reduction in the larger, diverse pool, they are right in that it reduces costs in a vacuum but not necessarily right regarding whether it reduces costs by net. The other arguments need to be incorporated in order to find the net.

And this is exactly what we don't have right now. Real scholarship is being dismissed, and no one cares that those dismissing are stakeholders in the dismissal. Case in point: the EU commissioned a study on piracy. The results were to be expected, and were promptly dismissed because it didn't fit the lobbyists narrative. Swept under the rug, hopefully no one would have noticed.

Study after study gets dismissed. The ones the lobbyists happen to agree with are the ones prominently displayed as truth. Fuck the rest. Real world, working examples? Bullshit. You mentioned healthcare, gun control, but there is also net neutrality, country occupations/interventions and the tpp among many other issues right now which this exact manoeuvre is executed on

Actual bonafide research can go fuck itself because it's all about money for the few. And it's sad really.

[wufwugy]

And this is exactly what we don't have right now. Real scholarship is being dismissed, and no one cares that those dismissing are stakeholders in the dismissal. Case in point: the EU commissioned a study on piracy. The results were to be expected, and were promptly dismissed because it didn't fit the lobbyists narrative. Swept under the rug, hopefully no one would have noticed.

Study after study gets dismissed. The ones the lobbyists happen to agree with are the ones prominently displayed as truth. Fuck the rest. Real world, working examples? Bullshit. You mentioned healthcare, gun control, but there is also net neutrality, country occupations/interventions and the tpp among many other issues right now which this exact manoeuvre is executed on

Actual bonafide research can go fuck itself because it's all about money for the few. And it's sad really.

That is correct. You have expressed a key component to why we should be wary of assigning government power to things.

[OngBonga]

It's possible the Saudis are cleaning their shit up very well at this point.

Yep. I wanted to say this, but then again there's a very real danger such comments won't age well.

They've come a mile or two in 15 years, but they've got a fucking marathon to go.

[Jack Sawyer]

That is correct. You have expressed a key component to why we should be wary of assigning government power to things.

Halfway correct. The government is not the problem. The corrupting influence of money is the problem.

There is no greater blind man than one that gets paid not to see. That research gets the fuck-all treatment all the time, and yet lobbyists made money speech somehow, and then use lots of this "speech" to get their desires into legislation makes me want to throw up.

I can't trust corporations to just do whatever, because then we'd have these kinds of things going unchecked all the time

Like lootboxes and microtransactions in todays AAA games. At some point, the govt. has to step in, these things are not going to correct themselves even with how much I'd like it to

[wufwugy]

Yep. I wanted to say this, but then again there's a very real danger such comments won't age well.

They've come a mile or two in 15 years, but they've got a fucking marathon to go.

I've completely changed my opinion on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries since reading Wictor. You've probably seen some of the data and footage he has presented, but it was before you read him that he did most of it. Lots of the footage ended up getting deleted by the hosts, but, in my estimation, it was convincing enough that what we are being told is going on in the Middle East is very much not what's going on.

[wufwugy]

Halfway correct. The government is not the problem.

Government is an essential part of the equation you presented. To give your subsequent arguments credibility, you would need to begin by acknowledging the government's role.

[wufwugy]

Like lootboxes and microtransactions in todays AAA games. At some point, the govt. has to step in, these things are not going to correct themselves even with how much I'd like it to

Are you saying you want the government to step into one of the most productive, well-functioning markets in the world because you view a transitory problem as permanent and because you believe that the government knows how to "fix" this transitory problem even though nobody else does, all at a cost low enough that it wouldn't detract from well-being by net?

[OngBonga]

I've completely changed my opinion on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries since reading Wictor. You've probably seen some of the data and footage he has presented, but it was before you read him that he did most of it. Lots of the footage ended up getting deleted by the hosts, but, in my estimation, it was convincing enough that what we are being told is going on in the Middle East is very much not what's going on.

Wictor has certainly been an influence on me when in comes to KSA, that's for sure. However, I remain a skeptic and still think Wahhabism is dangerously fucked up.

[wufwugy]

Wictor has certainly been an influence on me when in comes to KSA, that's for sure. However, I remain a skeptic and still think Wahhabism is dangerously fucked up.

I certainly do to. I've not seen him defend Wahhabism.

Essentially what he has done is say that he is not interested in expressing opinion on somebody's religion. He has implied that he has some inside sources because of that too. What he's defended, or more like pointed out, is how things going on behind the scenes in the region strongly suggest a push by leadership into modernity.

[wufwugy]

Essentially the GCC countries are tired of being thought of as goat fuckers and terrorists and misogynists. They're stomping the shit out of ISIS with some incredible tech and special forces that there is no evidence are directly in connection to the US, and they're reforming domestically. It's about time.

[OngBonga]

I'm not generally interested in religion, but when it plays a central role in government, it is more than just religion, and becomes geopolitics.

[OngBonga]

Essentially the GCC countries are tired of being thought of as goat fuckers and terrorists and misogynists. They're stomping the shit out of ISIS with some incredible tech and special forces that there is no evidence are directly in connection to the US, and they're reforming domestically. It's about time.

Yeah this is the narative I've been following. According to Wictor, Japan (!) are deeply involved when it comes to modern weapons, and Poland (!) are the nation most responsible for destroying Hamas. I really hope he's legit.

[wufwugy]

Yeah this is the narative I've been following. According to Wictor, Japan (!) are deeply involved when it comes to modern weapons, and Poland (!) are the nation most responsible for destroying Hamas. I really hope he's legit.

Do you have thread links? I haven't seen those ones, but also I haven't read all of his threads for a while.

There were some super awesome ones about six months ago. Video footage of suspects getting sniped in ways we've never seen before. Israeli built directional air blasts and shit (I forget the technical term). In the middle of streets, no collateral. Tons of footage of micro-drones zipping around suspects' holdings that you can barely even see with the naked eye.

[Jack Sawyer]

Are you saying you want the government to step into one of the most productive, well-functioning markets in the world because you view a transitory problem as permanent and because you believe that the government knows how to "fix" this transitory problem even though nobody else does, all at a cost low enough that it wouldn't detract from well-being by net?

Hmmm, it seems to me you are not up to speed with what's going on.

Loot boxes is a practice which is predatory to the nth degree. And yes, gambling should be restricted to casinos, not in games where you can win pretend stuff by wagering pretend money you have to buy with real money

Microtransactions are as well, even moreso when they appear in full price games. Yet at the very least you get the thing you buy, unlike loot boxes, in which you pay to have a chance to get the thing you want

It is gambling, and somebody has to step in to control this shit

[wufwugy]

Hmmm, it seems to me you are not up to speed with what's going on.

Loot boxes is a practice which is predatory to the nth degree. And yes, gambling should be restricted to casinos, not in games where you can win pretend stuff by wagering pretend money you have to buy with real money

Microtransactions are as well, even moreso when they appear in full price games. Yet at the very least you get the thing you buy, unlike loot boxes, in which you pay to have a chance to get the thing you want

It is gambling, and somebody has to step in to control this shit

I know about those. Those being like that are baked into my comment.

What effects do you think government restrictions on gambling have had?

[Jack Sawyer]

Government is an essential part of the equation you presented. To give your subsequent arguments credibility, you would need to begin by acknowledging the government's role.

Wuf, everything taken to the extremes is bad mmmkay?

No govt is just as bad as too much govt. All economic actors have their role; I just find lobbyists to be worse than aids and should be banned from society

[Jack Sawyer]

I know about those. Those being like that are baked into my comment.

What effects do you think government restrictions on gambling have had?

So you think it's okay for a 12 year old to gamble in a racing game? Productive, well-functioning market and all

[wufwugy]

Both of those are absurd absolutes. Tells for cognitive dissonance.

[OngBonga]

Do you have thread links? I haven't seen those ones, but also I haven't read all of his threads for a while.

It's late and I'm going to bed soon, I'll dig tomorrow. Remind me next time we're both online if I forget.

[Jack Sawyer]

Both of those are absurd absolutes. Tells for cognitive dissonance.

Sure.

You seem convinced that only adults are playing these games.

*Edit: And that they are all responsible as well

[wufwugy]

Having skepticism of a belief one holds when argued using cognitive dissonance is a virtue.

[Jack Sawyer]

Having skepticism of a belief one holds when argued using cognitive dissonance is a virtue.

Indeed, as is having common sense

[Jack Sawyer]

[Jack Sawyer]

[Jack Sawyer]

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/06/elon...ane-maria.html

Fuck yeah! Into the 21st century

[wufwugy]

Readers asked me to describe the best argument in favor of the 2nd amendment. So I will.

Gun ownership protects citizens against the risk of a tyrant trying to take over.
At this point in the reading of this blog, half of you are laughing out loud because you imagine the massive U.S. military squaring off against some rag-tag militia group with rubber bands on their AR triggers. Not exactly a fair fight.

It’s also not the point.

The way private gun ownership protects citizens is by being a credible threat against all the civilians who might be in any way associated with a hypothetical tyrannical leader who uses the military against citizens. Citizens probably can’t get close to the leaders in such a scenario, but it would take about an hour to round up their families, and the families of supporters.

That would do it.

America is unconquerable.

http://blog.dilbert.com/post/1661129...trol-arguments

[BananaStand]

Online poker in US??

https://www.digitaltrends.com/featur...ling-us-legal/

[OngBonga]

UK media - there's a category three hurricane on the way, but it's going to be 25 degrees in London! Three cheers for Hurricane Ophelia!

Oh and cue reminder once again that Michael Fish once said there wasn't a hurricane on the way, before we got hit by what wasn't a hurricane.

[wufwugy]

Y'all have to be nice to me otherwise I will report you and will go to jaaaaaaaaaaaaaail

[OngBonga]

Yeah and I bet none of them are Muslims threatening to cut Katie Hopkins' head off.

[OngBonga]

Meanwhile, in Ireland...

Council workers clean up leaves.

Before a hurricane is about to hit.

[Jack Sawyer]

Before a hurricane is about to hit.

I thought you were joking.

I never heard of hurricanes hitting that far up north. It was always an our (Caribbean) thing