Generic autocracy Vs totalitarianism

[Traitorfish]

Thank god that all major historical figures have such simple, one-dimensional psychologies, or we might have to start thinking more than we talk.

 

[Pangur Bán]

I heard that Stalin was born from an unnatural union between Hitler's mother and a demon. In fact, Hitler is actually Stalin's half-brother, but a different demon was Hitler's father.

But I also heard that Hitler's mother and Stalin's mother were different, but that the same demon was their father.

Who knows what to believe, these talking heads confuse me.

 

[James Stuart]

lol. Do you know anything about Stalin? Even since early age the guy was a lier, a sociapath and a thug. He was nothing but a power hungry criminal from the start. The book "young Stalin" talks about this.

Yes, because lying sociopaths join an outlawed, powerless political organisation and work their up through the ranks through diligence and hard work. Stalin was a mean piece of work, but all the evidence indicates that he genuinely believed in communism, though he failed to live up to it practice.

Please try to argue more intelligently than "lol. Do you know anything about Stalin?" I know plenty about Stalin; I've not read Young Stalin, but I've read other biographies. Nothing recent, admittedly, but I know about his early life before the Party. He almost became a priest; like many young men who joined the communist movement, Stalin was an idealist in search of something greater than himself to serve. And like many middle aged men in the communist movement, he abandoned his ideals when offered a choice between upholding them and accumulating personal power. Being a bad communist doesn't mean he didn't believe in the theory.

 

[Borachio]

Thank god that all major historical figures have such simple, one-dimensional psychologies, or we might have to start thinking more than we talk.

But if we didn't talk how would we know what we were thinking? Did you ever think of that, eh?

 

[James Stuart]

But if we didn't talk how would we know what we were thinking? Did you ever think of that, eh?

He thought of it, but he didn't know he thought of it because he didn't say it out loud.

 

[Borachio]

There's a theory that whenever you think verbally your larynx responds subvocally and that a keen-eyed observer can tell exactly what you're thinking.

I generally wear a scarf in company.

 

[James Stuart]

There's a theory that whenever you think verbally your larynx responds subvocally and that a keen-eyed observer can tell exactly what you're thinking.

I generally wear a scarf in company.

That's really, really interesting. Never heard that theory anywher before. I can't really ask you about it in a red diamond thread though. If you can dig it up, you should start a new thread about it. I'm sure it will be full of people badmouthing Obama and arguing over economics within two pages; it's the OT way.

 

[Borachio]

Wut?

I think I can detect a note of sarcasm underneath that scarf you're wearing.

But don't blame me. If you want a better joke, you should write it yourself.

 

[James Stuart]

Wut?

I think I can detect a note of sarcasm underneath that scarf you're wearing.

But don't blame me. If you want a better joke, you should write it yourself.

I didn't actually notice your scarf comment. I have no idea if you ninja-edited, or if I'm just an idiot who doesn't notice the last sentence of posts. I meant that the larynx thing was interesting, if true.

 

[Borachio]

Oops! I'm sorry, I don't believe it is a true story. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's fiction.

It's a nice story though. Especially the scarf bit.