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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#329101: Sep 26th 2020 at 11:52:10 AM

Re: Maher ranting about the prevalence of the name 'Muhammad' in Europe: I admit this is going off-topic a bit, but isn't the reason for that particular statistic got more to do with the fact that several countries in Europe - mostly in the Balkans, like Albania - are Muslim-majority and have been for centuries? I also think that Islamic families are more likely to choose from a smaller 'pool' of names than Christian or Non-Religious ones, and therefore Muhammad is disproportionately common compared to other names, but I don't know if that's true. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#329102: Sep 26th 2020 at 11:55:55 AM

He was ranting specifically about the UK, but you’re correct that the reason for its commonality in the UK is that culturally a British-Muslin family has a smaller pool of names they’re likely to pick from than a other groups in the country.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the 2nd and 3rd most common names were similarly connected to specific cultural groups.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#329103: Sep 26th 2020 at 11:58:29 AM

Ah, I see. I must have missed that bit. Admittedly I skimmed over it so I wouldn't be annoyed so much by the stupidity. :V

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
raziel365 Anka Aquila from South of the Far West (Veteran) Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
Anka Aquila
#329104: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:01:20 PM

You know, given how important is Catholic Christianity in Latin America, I'm going to assume that Maher also sees the region as "backwards" as the Middle East.

Instead of focusing on relatives that divide us, we should find the absolutes that tie us.
PresidentStalkeyes Eats moldy bread and flies into windows from United Kingdom of England-land Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Do you like me? (Yes ⎕ Definitely ⎕ Absolutely!!! ⎕)
Eats moldy bread and flies into windows
#329105: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:09:21 PM

If he considers religion in general to be an inherent sign of 'backwardness', let's not forget huge swathes of Africa, and India, and First Nations/Indigenous communities in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand. ...Come to think of it, arguably most of the world. Except Antarctica.

Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Sep 26th 2020 at 8:10:15 PM

Those sell-by-dates won't stop me because I can't read!
raziel365 Anka Aquila from South of the Far West (Veteran) Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
Anka Aquila
#329106: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:14:36 PM

Even European countries like Spain, Portugal and Italy could count.

Instead of focusing on relatives that divide us, we should find the absolutes that tie us.
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#329107: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:21:28 PM

@Forenperser If you're responding to me, to clarify what I was saying: The people I was pointing out were not specifically examples of people who were evil because they were motivated by atheism, nor were all of them even atheists.

What I was saying is that they were people who were evil for reasons not especially attributable to religion. For example, Hitler was not an atheist, but Nazism as an ideology is orthogonal to religion.

The position I'm stating is not that religion is good necessarily. I am simply refuting the specifically antitheistic position that religion is effectively the primary driver of oppression and conflict.

To refute this position, one doesn't necessarily need to say anything positive about religion, nor negative about atheism. One simply has to point out enough (and/or extreme enough) examples of evil that cannot explained by religious motivation.

Leviticus 19:34
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329108: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:26:54 PM

Stalin f.e. was simply a paranoid, power-hungry fuck, he did not kill people because of his atheistic worldview, which is why I always find it rather exhausting when people draw this card while trying to defend religious fundamentalists (who specifically do kill because of their religious worldview).

Just as religious people have murdered people in the name of God, there are many authoritarian atheist regimes that have murdered religious people because they view people of faith as enemies of the state. Stalin used the church against the Nazis but massive numbers of religious people were murdered by the State for being religious.

Both persecutions are monstrous. Freedom of faith is fundamental to faith having any meaning or society being free.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#329109: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:28:30 PM

Protagonist said it best [awesome]


In some great news, 61% of Americans support abolishing the Electoral college

It's obviously not going to apply to this election but this is a great sign for electoral reform.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#329110: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:30:28 PM

Christ, 61%....I actually wouldn't have guessed it would be that high but that's honestly huge.

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#329111: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:32:06 PM

89% of Democrats and 68% of Independents.

Edit: As the tweet below notes, it's been about the same since 2000.

Edited by nova92 on Sep 26th 2020 at 12:33:26 PM

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#329112: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:40:37 PM

Ah, I see the twitter comments are talking about how this is well designed and intentional and people don't understand the point of the electoral college. Which is apparently to obsess over Florida in practical terms.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#329113: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:40:59 PM

What is the intended result of abolishing the electoral college?What would it change?

Genuine question because getting rid of the electoral college gets banded about a lot

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#329114: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:42:25 PM

[up]The less-voted candidate (like Trump) won’t have a chance to win, is the main thing. Also, campaigns won’t disproportionately favor swing states.

My musician page
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#329115: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:43:35 PM

OK,that ideally what it should do,but put in practise I'm not so sure

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#329116: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:44:03 PM

If the president is elected based on the popular vote then:

  1. Swing states are not super important.
  2. Being a voter for the minority party in a non-swing state actually has an effect.

[up] How would it not? The less popular candidate is definitively the one who gets less votes. If that's the definition of who wins the election...

Edited by RainehDaze on Sep 26th 2020 at 8:44:39 PM

WillKeaton from Alberta, Canada Since: Jun, 2010
#329117: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:44:34 PM

What would it actually take to abolish the College though?

Edited by WillKeaton on Sep 26th 2020 at 1:44:43 PM

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#329118: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:44:53 PM

The issue is very simple. Fundamentally, an institution that allows a president to be voted in by a minority of people is antidemocratic, full stop. It also doesn't actually do anything people proclaim it does.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#329119: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:45:46 PM

[up][up] In actuality? A constitutional amendment. In practicality? Enough states joining the NPVIC and saying they're awarding their electors based on the results of the popular vote.

Which will inevitably be legally challenged even though the wording in the constitution is that states choose how their electors are awarded however they want.

Edited by RainehDaze on Sep 26th 2020 at 8:46:27 PM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329120: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:46:24 PM

I changed my opinion on the Electoral College abolishment because no one wants to actually make the reforms necessary to make it work like universal mail-in ballots, attacking disenfranchisement, and adding all US territories as voting states like DC as well as Puerto Rico. Oh and the Electors aren't allowed to actually vote against monsters.

I have no doubt that authoritarians will benefit from its removal but they've won in this battle to dismantle a democratic institution. The Confederacy is laughing from its grave.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Sep 26th 2020 at 12:47:12 PM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#329121: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:47:00 PM

Please don't start that discussion again like it was ever a good or functional idea. It was doomed to never work the instant the states didn't have a 50/50 voter split.

Edited by RainehDaze on Sep 26th 2020 at 8:47:42 PM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329122: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:47:31 PM

You realize the Electoral College was created to prevent universal slavery, right? The American South would have had a supermajority if not for its existence.

But Im not going to argue. The bad guys won. There's no saving it.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Sep 26th 2020 at 12:48:32 PM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#329123: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:48:20 PM

Oh and the Electors aren't allowed to actually vote against monsters.

The electors wouldn’t have gotten their position if they weren’t going to vote in monsters anyway given who chooses them.

My musician page
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#329124: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:49:08 PM

The electors wouldn’t have gotten their position if they weren’t going to vote in monsters anyway given who chooses them.

The GOP destroyed democracy in Red States. You have my agreement.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#329125: Sep 26th 2020 at 12:49:30 PM

If that was the case, it wouldn't have been the south pushing for the Senate. It's yet another useless compromise. It's a completely worthless institution. It's overly complicated and was doomed to succumb to FPTP flaws where only close races matter at all.


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