Nov 2023 Mod notice:
There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.
If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations
and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines
before posting here.
Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.
If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules
when posting here.
In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
I would agree on both counts
Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 30th 2019 at 1:08:15 AM
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
The debate, though, is how many of those sincerely believe it, and how many are simply trolls (whether paid professionals or teenaged edgelords). And, as mentioned below, the fact that they're a very Vocal Minority.
Edited by ironballs16 on Aug 30th 2019 at 4:21:24 AM
"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"No doubt, I've had the misfortune to see their repugnant arguments before.
But that isn't necessarily the same thing as being common.
Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 30th 2019 at 1:17:52 AM
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji YangYou ask them "So if you destroyed capitalism what would the alternative be?" their answer is typically
1)A libertarian style government -shudder-
2)Some form of communism which they'll argue could really work this time!Never mind how much it falls apart when applied to reality,also the times when communist governments existed weren't really communists,or something
3)Anarchy of some kind
have a listen and have a link to my discord serverI would certainly like to see Liberals and Conservatives on even ground, but the Conservatives are really digging their own grave here. Mind you, on most matters I lean to the former. Ironically, I believe Conservative solutions are the ideal way to deal with Conservative-made problems, if you get my meaning.
ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.Liberals and Progressives already have a hard time finding common grounds on certain issues, Conservatives and anybody from the Left will never ever reconcile.
Edited by Forenperser on Aug 30th 2019 at 10:23:25 AM
Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% ScandinavianYeah, the arguments tend to go "capitalism has been tried for centuries, and it has failed, therefore we should switch to communism because communism has never been seriously attempted" along with "any communist countries that failed don't reflect badly on communism as an economic theory because those countries were ruled by fascism and fascism is not inextricably linked to communism because one is a political policy while the other is an economic policy".
Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Aug 30th 2019 at 1:24:06 AM
I didn't mean to imply that they ought to share hugs and kisses, but be on even grounds in terms of being morally correct, or at least having a point. In today's environment, conservatives have all but embraced the Card-Carrying Villain stereotype.
ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.![]()
Nobody here said leftists say this sort of thing all the time. People simply brought up that radical leftists are a thing online. That's all.
They didn't even say they were the vast majority of leftists online. They simply pointed out they exist.
Please don't misrepresent what other posters are saying.
Edited by M84 on Aug 30th 2019 at 4:38:18 PM
Disgusted, but not surprisedWelp, in Incompetent In Chief news, Trump tweeted out a photo that SHOULD have been classified
using his phone to take a pic of it, saying "I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One."
This, naturally, has led to accusations of US sabotage of the satellite's launch.
"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"Yes, the generalizations of all forms of socialism as a Stalinist blob is annoying[1]. Still, on the bright side, it's growing weaker the further the population drifts away from the Cold War and its various propaganda's. So I imagine socialism will eventually stop being a dirty word (it may have to some extent happened already considering Sander's success).
[1]=Admittidely, in my case it's less from any belief in socialism and more my desire as a Poli Sci major for an accurate representation of various fairly different ideologies.
Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 30th 2019 at 1:39:33 AM
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji YangWell to be fair, Socialism IS considered the first stepping stone for Communism.
It's just that most Conservatives refuse to accept the reality that it isn't necessarily the end goal. Or that Democratic Socialism is a thing.
Edited by Forenperser on Aug 30th 2019 at 10:42:45 AM
Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% ScandinavianSure, but without the Soviet Union and the everpresent specter of Soviet-backed socialism, there is a very real chance of an actually nuanced discussion of what, if any, varieties of socialism should be considered.
It's just that most Conservatives refuse to accept the reality that it isn't necessarily the end goal. Or that Democratic Socialism is a thing.
Right, but communism doesn't mean "authoritarian socialism" it refers to a stateless and classless society which may or may not be possible in a large society.
So socialism does lead to communism (if not necessarily) but that doesn't mean it leads to Stalinism.
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji YangDon't even get me started.
Right-Wingers trying to shift the blame of Nazism to the left wing is one of my biggest Berserk Button's. I mean, how intellectually dishonest and stupid can you be?
Is North Korea a democratic nation? It's in the name, after all!
Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian![]()
Alright, that's theoretical talk now.
While I agree that "Real Communism" hasn't been practiced yet (as it is pretty much incompatible to human nature, lets be honest), the term "Communism" is too much tied to totalitarian regimes to be used in positive context, imO.
Edited by Forenperser on Aug 30th 2019 at 10:48:19 AM
Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian

What is said on twitter has a real impact on the world and the people in it, hate expressed online can cause real-world harm, but at the same time it is not a microcosm of the world as a whole, certain groups have a massively outsized representation on twitter and have that engaged even more though focus on them.
Indeed, Twitter is a very much an amplifier of the loudest voices. Which often tend to be irrelevant kooks or sockpuppets.
Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 30th 2019 at 12:57:36 PM
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang