World News and Headline stories.
- Thread starter Tachi
- Start date
mangaman74
Akatsuki
what next, a ban on Englishman/Irishman/Scotsman jokes as they are racist?
ayase
State Alchemist
But each time different people are the butt of those jokes, and that's a nationality / culture thing rather than anything genetic. Making fun of redheads does seem to be the last acceptable form of prejudice. People can say it's just a bit of fun but it sure as hell isn't for kids at school. Like Tach said, no-one would ever release a card saying: "Santa loves all kids, even Black ones." would they?
One rule for everyone or no rules at all.
Actually that would make a pretty good campaign slogan...
One rule for everyone or no rules at all.
Actually that would make a pretty good campaign slogan...
ayase
State Alchemist
Just watching the Copenhagen thing... Obama has gone grey really fast. I wonder if it's the stress or all the scary **** you learn when you become President.
"Hello Mr President, I'm the head of the CIA, pleased to meet ya. Now before we continue, yes we have aliens locked up in Area 51 and yes we shot Kennedy. Everybody always wants to know that. Now before you get any ideas, if we could do it to Kennedy then... get the picture? Good. We'll get on fine."
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Just been informed of the ban on good swimsuits as well. What utter luddite bollocks. If other countries feel disadvantaged then they can develop better swimsuits. If they can't, tough luck - it's like an arms race. Like the runner with the artificial legs. He should be allowed to compete and if people with real legs want to beat him, well then they'll have to have their legs cut off and better ones grafted on. This is progress! When the Americans invented the microchip did they say: "Nah, we'd better not use it to help win the space race. Wouldn't be fair on the Russians." Did they hell.
"Hello Mr President, I'm the head of the CIA, pleased to meet ya. Now before we continue, yes we have aliens locked up in Area 51 and yes we shot Kennedy. Everybody always wants to know that. Now before you get any ideas, if we could do it to Kennedy then... get the picture? Good. We'll get on fine."
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Just been informed of the ban on good swimsuits as well. What utter luddite bollocks. If other countries feel disadvantaged then they can develop better swimsuits. If they can't, tough luck - it's like an arms race. Like the runner with the artificial legs. He should be allowed to compete and if people with real legs want to beat him, well then they'll have to have their legs cut off and better ones grafted on. This is progress! When the Americans invented the microchip did they say: "Nah, we'd better not use it to help win the space race. Wouldn't be fair on the Russians." Did they hell.
Ayase I agree with those choices.
The runner with artificial legs - It's not that he uses artificial legs, it's the type of legs he uses. I read before that they add spring to his step. I would have to look into it again to confirm that for certain though. If it is true then that is unfair advantage.
The swimsuit - Again this is only based on if what is told in that article is true. It says the buoyancy has been proven untrue but if it compresses muscles then the swimmers are winning because of the suit, not (just) because of their abilities.
The runner with artificial legs - It's not that he uses artificial legs, it's the type of legs he uses. I read before that they add spring to his step. I would have to look into it again to confirm that for certain though. If it is true then that is unfair advantage.
The swimsuit - Again this is only based on if what is told in that article is true. It says the buoyancy has been proven untrue but if it compresses muscles then the swimmers are winning because of the suit, not (just) because of their abilities.
ayase
State Alchemist
Ah, but if they're winning because of the suit then are they not winning because of the abilities of the researchers who invented them? I think abilities we have gained through acquisition of skills and knowledge are actually more impressive and worthy of praise than natural physical ability. There's always a human component of course, and only the best swimmers in the best suits would win. Rather than banning them, we should give the research teams from Speedo and Adidas medals as well when people wearing their suits win for developing such impressive technology.
Same goes for the legs. So his man-made, artificial legs are superior to flesh and blood human legs. Up yours natural selection, humanity is in control now! Anything which encourages the development and use of human augmentation has to be a good thing in my book. Sport may just be that thing if the Olympics could be turned into a competition between countries to develop the best cyborg technology (and perhaps eventually mech battles, if technology proved entirely superior to nature and we didn't need the human component any more. It happened in car factories).
ps. This is another one of those areas where my mad scientist persona takes over. Feel free to continue the discussion, it's something which interests me a lot and which I'd happily take part in, but also know I'm not likely to change my mind on this issue.
Same goes for the legs. So his man-made, artificial legs are superior to flesh and blood human legs. Up yours natural selection, humanity is in control now! Anything which encourages the development and use of human augmentation has to be a good thing in my book. Sport may just be that thing if the Olympics could be turned into a competition between countries to develop the best cyborg technology (and perhaps eventually mech battles, if technology proved entirely superior to nature and we didn't need the human component any more. It happened in car factories).
ps. This is another one of those areas where my mad scientist persona takes over. Feel free to continue the discussion, it's something which interests me a lot and which I'd happily take part in, but also know I'm not likely to change my mind on this issue.
ayase
State Alchemist
Anyone have any views on the new idea in France for a law against psychological violence?
Seems like a really good idea to me. I've always thought the only law (my "One Commandment") should be "Don't harm others physically or psychologically". At the moment they're talking about just couples, but I'd like to see a similar law rolled out across the board. Give people some legal defence against school bullies, harsh employers and obnoxious chavs.
Seems like a really good idea to me. I've always thought the only law (my "One Commandment") should be "Don't harm others physically or psychologically". At the moment they're talking about just couples, but I'd like to see a similar law rolled out across the board. Give people some legal defence against school bullies, harsh employers and obnoxious chavs.
chaos
The Boss
nothing on school bullies or chavs, but definitely on employers though:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harassment_%28UK%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harassment_%28UK%29
ayase
State Alchemist
From that article I've found we do actually have a law for dealing with this in public:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentiona ... r_distress
Does anyone ever use it though, I wonder? And it's great how an adequate defence is that the accused was harassing, alarming or distressing someone in a private house. :roll:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentiona ... r_distress
Does anyone ever use it though, I wonder? And it's great how an adequate defence is that the accused was harassing, alarming or distressing someone in a private house. :roll: