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
When you listen to the howls of outrage from the American right-wing, do remember that Jeb Bush, one of the Republican establishment candidates, said three weeks ago that he'd be prepared to take in Middle Eastern refugees... but only if they were Christians
. This isn't just Trump being insane. This is him taking yet another proposal from what passes for the Republican mainstream, stripping out the dogwhistling and pretence, and daring the rest of the pack to follow him once he's brought their rhetoric to its logical conclusion.
They aren't mad because he's too racist for them. They're mad because he's saying it out loud.
What's precedent ever done for us?But it's also because he's speaking too broadly. Most of them were okay with targeting the Syrian refugees, because were a relatively specific case, and used the Paris attacks to back themselves up.
Refusing entry to all Muslims, including US citizens, targets a lot of people who even they think should not be targeted, even though it is a perfectly natural extension of their thought process (which they recognize only here as past the point of being palatable to a larger audience).
In light of all this discussion, I found this video rather salient.
![]()
![]()
Are you gonna antagonize someone you know is armed with a deadly weapon?
Anyway, the whole thing strikes me as more than a bit silly, but the only actively stupid part is that they apparently decided to do this without the university's permission, which is Not Okay. I'm pretty meh on the "gun-free zone" concept, and they specifically said that they're going to be using fake cardboard guns rather than real weapons or realistic replicas, so I don't see that being an issue.
edited 9th Dec '15 4:49:39 PM by NativeJovian
Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
I would argue that statement's correct technically.
Of course, even an armed society shouldn't leave guns laying around half-hazardly.
Leviticus 19:34I'm pretty sure "mock mass shooting" is in of itself just a bad idea.
As for how to antagonise someone who is armed, say way you antagonise people who aren't, I mean I guess you could go for a society where everyone lives in fear that the guy next to them might flip and kill them, but that sounds very not fun.
We can do a comparison, let's look at the societies were everyone is arme, how polite is Somalia again?
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Sure, Somalia isn't polite, but taking away guns wouldn't necessarily solve the problem per say.
Conversely, look at Iceland. Lots of guns, one of the safest places in the world.
Leviticus 19:34Yes but their guns "A license is required to own or possess firearms. National government safety course required before applying for a license. Special license required to own pistols. Pistols may only be used for target shooting at a licensed range. Semi automatic firearms have caliber restrictions. Automatic firearms not permitted."
The countries that lead on guns per capita are the US, Serbia, Yeman, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia. The Swiss would be 4th but I'm not counting milita guns which are not equipped with ammunition, thus reducing their numbers significantly. Sweden is 8th actually, but again it's licensed and regulated gun ownership, something much of the US lacks.
edited 9th Dec '15 5:39:58 PM by Silasw
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranI saw a lot of people independently talking about Trump today. Did he do something more outrageous than usual?
Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's PlayEvery day I see something new that Donald Trump has done to offend the people of the Internet and I think...
People are gonna get tired of hating him eventually, right? Then he'll just go back to being a forgotten politically irrelevant billionaire.
edited 9th Dec '15 9:13:45 PM by Keybreak
You gotta believe me when I scare you away, all that I wish for is that you would stay

While both are, really, just blind chance in happening, the eagle wins out for my because I can more easily picture the bird doing that intentionally.