Random Thoughts 2: Arbitrary Speculations

[Ryika]

No, she didn't exactly stand still and instead jumped all over the place, rubbed her body against my legs, and moved around me while I followed her as good as I could with my hands. Maybe "pet" is the wrong word for that, what I mean is that I engaged her for that amount of time.

I'm no cat owner, so I can't definitively say that she was in heat, but that's what it seemed like to me.

 

[Traitorfish]

No, I think you're naive because you think you can overthrow the current system and end up with something that is better than where we're moving towards right now, given the lessons of history. It is much more likely, probably almost inevitable, that we would create utter chaos that will ultimately set us back in time and force us to re-do a lot of progress we're making now. I can see a future where socialism replaces capitalism, but such a future will have to grow from the current system, one step at a time.

This is the crux of the matter, because it's not clear to me how anyone with a shred of political awareness could look at the last four decades and think that we're proceeding towards even the most watered-down socialism "one step at a time".

If you want a lesson of history, it's that no sort of progress was ever achieved by quietly waiting for it to manifest itself.

 

[Broken_Erika]

One step forward, Two steps back.

 

[Ryika]

This is the crux of the matter, because it's not clear to me how anyone with a shred of political awareness could look at the last four decades and think that we're proceeding towards even the most watered-down socialism "one step at a time".

It's not supposed to lead to socialism, it's supposed to lead to greater social equality and better standards of living. A society that has high social equality, and a level of automation that has designated most of its population to being consumers anyway, may then choose to safely transition into a system of actual socialism - or not, it's probably "too SciFi" to really know what happens at that point.

In any case, our societies are improving from a social point of view in literally any metric that compares how the standards of a class of people has changed over time. Life in our societies is getting better and better, and for more and more people.

 

[Traitorfish]

It's not supposed to lead to socialism, it's supposed to lead to greater social equality and better standards of living. A society that has high social equality, and a level of automation that has designated most of its population to being consumers anyway, may then choose to safely transition into a system of actual socialism - or not, it's probably "too SciFi" to really know what happens at that point.

In any case, our societies are improving from a social point of view in literally any metric that compares how the standards of a class of people has changed over time. Life in our societies is getting better and better, and for more and more people.

But as Commodore has unintentionally demonstrated, none of that has produced a society which is more just. Increased living standards are to be welcomed (even if we might feel more naturally inclined to compare our living standards to our parents than our great-great-grandparents), but if there's nothing guaranteeing your access to them except your economic utility to somebody who would cheerfully have you broken up for spare parts, then you're living in a world is fundamentally hostile to you, which are you not so much inhabiting as surviving. Ten thousand years of human progress are a marvel to behold, there's no doubting it, but if access to the fruits of that progress is conditional on demonstrating your ability to produce a profit for somebody else, if living at anything beyond a level of bare material survival is conditional on allowing the employing class to entrench the very power which places you in a position of dependence, then for whose benefit has that progress been achieved?

If you refuse to differentiate between the system working for people, and people working for the system, then you are in no position to formulate the sorts of criticisms to necessary to force even the meager improvements you're prepared to anticipate.

 

[Ryika]

But as Commodore has unintentionally demonstrated, none of that has produced a society which is more just. Increased living standards are to be welcomed (even if we might feel more naturally inclined to compare our living standards to our parents than our great-great-grandparents), but if there's nothing guaranteeing your access to them except your economic utility to somebody who would cheerfully have you broken up for spare parts, then you're living in a world is fundamentally hostile to you, which are you not so much inhabiting as surviving.

What fantasy world are you talking about? Even a person that is unemployable still has a decent living standard in Germany. We've progressed so far that the average unemployable person "in poverty" (poverty being a relative term that compares your position in society to other members of society) can own a pc, a tv, a decently-sized apartment, has enough money every month to afford a healthy diet and still has some money left for some recreational activities (or, to waste it on cigarettes).

Ten thousand years of human progress are a marvel to behold, there's no doubting it, but if access to the fruits of that progress is conditional on demonstrating your ability to produce a profit for somebody else, if living at anything beyond a level of bare material survival is conditional on allowing the employing class to entrench the very power which places you in a position of dependence, then for whose benefit has that progress been achieved?

You're not really saying anything here. The world IS fundamentally hostile to you, and there are people who will want to take advantage of you in one way or another, independent from what system we use. A socialism where we suddenly all work together and nobody has to fear being taken advantage of, does not and will not exist - at least not until we're able to modify our genetic makeup and literally change how the human species works, in which case "non-hostile capitalism" is a thing, too.

And your depiction of the "employing class" is of course also more than comical.

If you refuse to differentiate between the system working for people, and people working for the system, then you are in no position to formulate the sorts of criticisms to necessary to force even the meager improvements you're prepared to anticipate.

"The system" is subject to rules made by the people, and we regulate "the system" as we see fit. The only thing that prevents those rules from being implemented is a lack of social awareness.

 

[Traitorfish]

What fantasy world are you talking about? Even a person that is unemployable still has a decent living standard in Germany. We've progressed so far that the average unemployable person "in poverty" (poverty being a relative term that compares your position in society to other members of society) can own a pc, a tv, a decently-sized apartment, has enough money every month to afford a healthy diet and still has some money left for some recreational activities (or, to waste it on cigarettes).

I keep forgetting that you're a teenager.

 

[Takhisis]

It's dry like good wine?

But not good like dry wine.

Ryika, you're putting up an act
stop it

She isn't. I don't mean this is a good thing, mind you.

I'm still alive after >35 years of living with a feminist lawyer named Kit.
That's 9 times longer than Hasselhoff's golden era lasted.

You're speaking of David Hasselhoff to a German.

I have never done so on political issues at all, and only ever focused on social issues

Politics is about solving social issues.

I bought a proper Egg Slicer last week, and it's incredible how much that has improved my enjoyment of bread with eggs on it. Having equal-sized slices of egg is so much better than the hastily cut eggs that I normally ate. Incredible how such a small change can bring so much enjoyment.

Wobbly, half-cooked eggs eaten directly with a spoon still taste best though.

Do you put anything on the eggs?

in Germany

Yeah, well, but, see, like, the rest of the world don't live in no Germany, like.

 

[Ryika]

Do you put anything on the eggs?

Just a bit of Salt!

Yeah, well, but, see, like, the rest of the world don't live in no Germany, like.

That doesn't matter, because I used Germany as an example of a country where "Capitalism infused with Social Policies" works, so clearly the generalized statements that were made about it don't make sense. Not that I'm suggesting that Germany is the land of Milk and Honey or anything, but it has clearly managed to lay the basic foundation of such a system, and that system works just fine. People have a basic living standard that is extremely high compared to what existed throughout all of human history, the balance between worker rights and employer rights seems pretty fair overall (with some blind spots, particularly for people who come out of unemployment and are trying to find long-term employment where capitalism is indeed allowed to implement pretty predatory practices).

 

[Ferocitus]

If you want a lesson of history, it's that no sort of progress was ever achieved by quietly waiting for it to manifest itself.

Incrementalism: Eliminating foot-binding one toe per year.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

I mean, you are essentially Ryika-lite.

"frequently self-admits to taking on different personas and perspectives for a laugh" is the relevant point here, and that doesn't apply to me at all.

You don't participate in threads unless there's someone you can disagree with.

So? As far as I'm aware that isn't against the rules, and also I don't see how that remotely has any bearing on how/if I can tell when someone else is being sarcastic.

You both consider it a good day if what you say makes people upset.

Oh and that's bollocks too by the way. I mean I could say you consider it a good day when you see a pensioner get mugged I suppose. I have just as much evidence for that claim.

 

[Arakhor]

Moderator Action: Stop slagging off each other and move the ongoing capitalism debate elsewhere. This is the "random thoughts" thread, not the "longwinded discussions and personal jibes" thread.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Ryika]

Frozen Strawberries are amazing. You're forced to eat them slowly, so you they last longer, and when you take small bites, they taste so great when they melt on your tongue and unleash more and more of their flavor over time.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

Yeah but you clearly don't really mean that do you, that's just some recyled strawberry talking point.

 

[BenitoChavez]

This is my 1000th post.

If my calculations are correct, at this rate I'll take over as the CFC member with the most posts around Nov. 23rd, 2236

 

[Synobun]

This is my 1000th post.

If my calculations are correct, at this rate I'll take over as the CFC member with the most posts around Nov. 23rd, 2236

You've got a long way to go, padawan.

 

[Lohrenswald]

She isn't. I don't mean this is a good thing, mind you

The only person who acts more on this site than Ryika is you

 

[Ryika]

Trump is such a cutie. His skill in card games is very high as well.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

This is my 1000th post.

If my calculations are correct, at this rate I'll take over as the CFC member with the most posts around Nov. 23rd, 2236

Alas, poor lolrus.

You'd best make sure to do most of your posting in the non-serial threads. Every time they get archived, we lose whatever post count we gained (which I think is extremely unfair).

No, she didn't exactly stand still and instead jumped all over the place, rubbed her body against my legs, and moved around me while I followed her as good as I could with my hands. Maybe "pet" is the wrong word for that, what I mean is that I engaged her for that amount of time.

I'm no cat owner, so I can't definitively say that she was in heat, but that's what it seemed like to me.

A cat in heat will make mewling noises, and will frequently howl very loudly. At that point all they want is the attention of the nearest intact tom cat.

I'm honestly not sure the description of what else cats do is appropriate to post here. If you're really curious, no doubt there are videos available. No, I won't be posting any.

 

[Lexicus]

You'd best make sure to do most of your posting in the non-serial threads. Every time they get archived, we lose whatever post count we gained (which I think is extremely unfair).

Wait, what? For real? I'm being ripped off! I'm owed what I assume is thousands of extra posts on my postcount! I DEMAND JUSTICE AND REPARATIONS