Good night everyone - everywhere on earth - Way way way off topic

[Olham 164]

This is not meant to be or to become a political thread.

I only wonder every late evening, when I watch the main evening news, if there is anywhere

on earth a place with no economic problems. It seems, that a lot of money was burnt in the

world wide financial crisis, and more may follow, before it can get reformed.

 

Even the big USA have many existencial problems; Greece is deep in the red numbers, but also

Poland, Ireland, and most other European countries. Germany, although still regarded as a

stronghold in Europe, has just made the biggest new indebtedness in it's history.

 

Everone everywhere in the world seems to be trying to make ends meet.

 

And so I often wonder, when I'm sitting there on my sofa: can you all sleep?

Sometimes, I don't even want to see the news anymore, and then I still keep watching them.

And it may sound strange: but to see, that it seems to be the same almost everywhere;

that you all may have the same problems, where ever you live, comforts me a little bit.

Hope you won't get that wrong.

 

I wish you all a good night - and a sound sleep, despite of all that.

[Rickitycrate 10]

Olham, yes the misery is widespread. It may get worse before it gets better and affect more people than now. In my little Rickityworld there is rejoicing as I have found a job at long last. A modest job for sure but I am grateful to have some personal income for awhile at least. My best wishes to all.

[JFM 18]

I sleep very well.

 

Don't watch the news on television. Here, at least, in many regards, it isn't. My father had a career in television news and I was raised within it--it's redundantly event driven (notice how when there is an earthquake that they suddenly report every single earthquake on earth; or when there is a shark attack they go wild for a couple weeks about sharks [i actually saw them go live from a helicopter over the ocean to show sharks swimming--"Sharks have been spotting prowling {note the menacing word--they weren't swimming, but "prowling"} not two miles off Florida's beaches"--mmm hmmm, this is "news"] and all about advertising and cross-promotion and ratings. Which is fine, but they pretend their main motivation is "caring." Feh. These people are assigned drama coaches--literally--to project "caring." In many regards these people are actors. When the cameras turn off, so do they.

 

And (since I'm on a mini-rant) hey, Weather Channel! Please, no more reports with weathermen standing outside in a hurricane. We know it's windy, okay? We've figured it out. By the way, they've invented these clear wall-thingies called "windows" that actually allow you to take video from inside a structure while keeping you out of the "dangers" of a storm. Going out into a hurricane to report "yep, sure is windy out here" is akin to a reporter dashing into a burning building and going "yep, sure is hot and smokey in here." No sh*t.

[Bullethead 12]

This is not meant to be or to become a political thread.

 

OK, then I won't comment on how the Obamination has kicked the world's economy while it was down

 

I only wonder every late evening, when I watch the main evening news, if there is anywhere

on earth a place with no economic problems.

 

Yup. Here in Lousy Anna's armpit we're doing no worse than usual. How is a poor, Iron Age barbarian redneck going to notice a world-wide economic disaster until he finally cuts up the last of several rusting cars on blocks in his front yard? Lucky for me, I've invested time in learing to be a paleolithic barbarian redneck, despite this being a flint-poor region, so I can hold out longer than most. It won't be until I run out bones to turn into weapons and tools (after having exhausted all the scrap iron, broken glass, and toilet tanks) that I'll complain, and I don't see that happening in my remaining lifetime. So while all you city slickers are starving, I'll be eating venison 3 meals a day, 365 days a year, except when starving city slickers try to invade my space. Then I'll eat "long pig".

 

But all this is just preparation for the worst-case scenario. I really don't expect things to get anywhere near this bad. Still, nothing like being ready for it if it happens (fingers crossed).

 

And so I often wonder, when I'm sitting there on my sofa: can you all sleep?

 

Sure thing. I've been to enough PTSD therapy that the several hundred ghosts who made me that way no longer keep me awake. And if they can't rob me of sleep, nothing can .

 

I wish you all a good night - and a sound sleep, despite of all that.

 

Thanks. Being a nihilist anyway, I look on the present situation with glee tempered by pessimism. I'm afraid these days civilization is too redundant and wide-spread to crash as utterly as it has many times in the past. Humanity has weathered far worse storms than this one, both before and after civilization was invented. I mean, we're living in what passes these days as the Dark Ages, given that the prior world order totally collapsed at the end or as a near-term result of WW1. Really, we EARNED the traditional 500-year period of anarchy after that with few records to tell the tale to future historians, for which I'd be quite grateful. I mean, no taxes to pay, every man for himself: humanity's natural state. Problem is, I'm lamenting this on the internet, which happened not long afterwards in historical terms, and the internet prevents old-school Dark Ages. Bummer .

 

But anyway, regard this as a message of hope. I've seen worse in my own lifetime and you have, too. And now is nowhere near as bad as things can get. If it bothers you, or if you'd really like to see everything go down the toilet, then do as I do and learn to knap flint and throw and atlatl dart. But if you don't think things are bad enough for such measures, or if you sadly don't expect such measures to become truly necessary, then buck up

[Duce Lewis 3]

Olham, yes the misery is widespread. It may get worse before it gets better and affect more people than now. In my little Rickityworld there is rejoicing as I have found a job at long last. A modest job for sure but I am grateful to have some personal income for awhile at least. My best wishes to all.

I hear you Rickity

I've been there, when the bills are still coming in and no one's responding to the resumes

Glad to hear you're doing OK

 

IMO the 70's were worse, but this may drag on for awhile

And communist China is now giving us economic lessens huh?

 

Hope everyone can batten down the hatches and ride this storm out

[Von Paulus 8]

This is not meant to be or to become a political thread.

I only wonder every late evening, when I watch the main evening news, if there is anywhere

on earth a place with no economic problems. It seems, that a lot of money was burnt in the

world wide financial crisis, and more may follow, before it can get reformed.

 

Even the big USA have many existencial problems; Greece is deep in the red numbers, but also

Poland, Ireland, and most other European countries. Germany, although still regarded as a

stronghold in Europe, has just made the biggest new indebtedness in it's history.

 

Everone everywhere in the world seems to be trying to make ends meet.

 

And so I often wonder, when I'm sitting there on my sofa: can you all sleep?

Sometimes, I don't even want to see the news anymore, and then I still keep watching them.

And it may sound strange: but to see, that it seems to be the same almost everywhere;

that you all may have the same problems, where ever you live, comforts me a little bit.

Hope you won't get that wrong.

 

I wish you all a good night - and a sound sleep, despite of all that.

I canceled my Time Magazine subscription last year. I don't read or see any news anymore. It's just too depressing and most of the times it's not even objective.

My country is livingh in a economic crisis since 2002, since our President of European Comission, Mr. Durão Barroso, was elected prime minister. He run away after two years because he was more attracted to the position offered by European Community and mainly because he was just incompetent, as like most politicians are, to solve anything besides which tie should he wear in the morning.

8 years of crisis. After Greece it will be Portugal that will hit the bankruptcy button. Here, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

 

I sleep well, so far... only sometimes I wake and have a panic attack. Anxiety.

I don't think anymore about tomorrow. No more plans.

I usually say to myself that the future doesn't exist. I've that famous picture in my head, in which an allied soldier will be beheaded by a Japanese executioner, when I say that.

 

Good night and sleep well. I will, listening at the sound of Bach's Goldberg Variations.

[Von Paulus 8]

It's rather entertaining sitting in background, secure in the knowledge that the Liberal solution just won't work. No matter where the country, normally the Liberal mindset, refuses to take responsabiliy, and throws more money at the problem.

 

We just hope someone awakens and realizes, there is problem. In time to offer a solution

 

By the way uncleal, in Europe it's not so much the liberal mindset but more the greedy neo-conservative mindset that is only thinking how to take full power and kill all our individual rights.

[catch 81]

I sleep very well.

 

Don't watch the news on television. Here, at least, in many regards, it isn't. My father had a career in television news and I was raised within it--it's redundantly event driven (notice how when there is an earthquake that they suddenly report every single earthquake on earth; or when there is a shark attack they go wild for a couple weeks about sharks [i actually saw them go live from a helicopter over the ocean to show sharks swimming--"Sharks have been spotting prowling {note the menacing word--they weren't swimming, but "prowling"} not two miles off Florida's beaches"--mmm hmmm, this is "news"] and all about advertising and cross-promotion and ratings. Which is fine, but they pretend their main motivation is "caring." Feh. These people are assigned drama coaches--literally--to project "caring." In many regards these people are actors. When the cameras turn off, so do they.

 

And (since I'm on a mini-rant) hey, Weather Channel! Please, no more reports with weathermen standing outside in a hurricane. We know it's windy, okay? We've figured it out. By the way, they've invented these clear wall-thingies called "windows" that actually allow you to take video from inside a structure while keeping you out of the "dangers" of a storm. Going out into a hurricane to report "yep, sure is windy out here" is akin to a reporter dashing into a burning building and going "yep, sure is hot and smokey in here." No sh*t.

 

In all countries there are greedy mega-maniacal bastards with classic psychopathic tendencies. Australia spat out such a person in Rupert Murdoch who runs the American media these days ... and by default, the world. He was an ahole before he left Australia in his quest for psychopathic world domination, control and obscene wealth. His method, as you describe, dumbs down the population in all worldly things, including politics, and promotes the short attention span whilst spinning his particular right wing bias. Entertaining it is not. The fact that a large proportion of people believe his s**te and agendas verbatim without thoughtful debate shows what we have largely become. The most arrogant, thoughtless, mindless, selfish, greedy, self-obsessed, idiotic creatures on the planet (OFF devs excluded of course).

[Mr. Lucky 0]

It's been my observation that it's not a liberal or 'right wing' issue. It's a problem of producers and non-producers. It's a problem in all countries all over the world made even worse by the speed and depth of communication inter twining the countries together. There are two groups of entities: those who create wealth while not providing anything of value. Then there are those who take from the producers and give to the non producers . Both groups are increasing in number and throwing the economic balance off kilter. I honestly think we need this economic down turn to collapse and cleanse the system so balance can be restored but it won't be pretty and it's the producers who will suffer first before it get's better, as we're seeing. Read 'Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn Rand. It was written @ 75 years ago and it fits any time period.

 

As for news, I'm like most here it seems. I don't watch it, I don't read it, I don;t need it. In this day and age of inundation, I am selective about what information I want.

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

Well, at the end of the day, we as Human Beings have brought it on ourselves.

 

There is enough food to feed the entire worlds population, but we don't.

 

There is fundamental greed throughout the Western Cultures of the world, where the Stupidly Rich give the least, and take the most....and Catch has said it perfectly!

 

Until we start to give as well as receive, we are on the slippery slope...and if that leads to the demise of mankind..we have no-one to blame but ourselves...and the planet will be a much nicer place when we're gone!

[NS13Jarhead 6]

A retired Marine/survivalist friend of mine related a story about a conversation he had with his neighbor a couple of months back. The neighbor jokingly asked him, "Are you stockpiling food so that you will be prepared for when civilization collaped." My buddy said, "No, I'm stockpiling guns, ammuntion, and a list of addresses of people who are stockpiling food." Interesting point of view, no?

Edited March 26, 2010 by NS13Jarhead

[Olham 164]

JFM and Bullethead - that was wonderfull! (What's PTSD therapy?)

 

Von Paulus, music in general, and particularly the "Goldberg Variations" on Bach,

isn't a bad way to overcome momentary negative feelings.

 

Congrats, Rickitycrate!

 

Good one, Jarhead! (Hope he'll never need the addresses!)

 

Edited March 26, 2010 by Olham

[Barkhorn1x 9]

It's quite simple really:

 

1. Almost all countries follow a socialist model

2. The model is deeply flawed as it expands entitlements to the non-productive and increasingly taxes the productive

3. The productive leave or become non-productive themselves (after all, what's the point?)

4. The model is unsustainable as revenues decrease, taxes become confiscatory, the black market flourishes and the dependent classes (almost everyone) blames the government for failing to continue to provide "their" (unearned) benefits

 

Greece is merely an early indication of the fate of the rest of Europe. And the US? California (state w/ the highest taxes) is bankrupt, other large states (NY, MI) are following suit and we have a President who is enchanted with a model that just does not work.

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

The advice to not watch the News is a good starting point!..I haven't bought a Newspaper for over 10 yrs...and the Free one, which some idiots insist on putting through my letterbox every week, is gratefully used for my Collie Puppy Sophie to s**t on! (about all Newspapers are good for IMHO)

[Olham 164]

Widow, you made my day!

[Hasse Wind 46]

Cheer up, people. This isn't the end of the world, though it may seem so to many with personal economic problems.

 

Each generation that goes through such periods of depression are inclined to feel it's something extraordinary and will lead to the complete collapse of their civilization. But such collapses aren't exactly commonplace, and always take place in the context of massive warfare (think about the Great War or the collapse of the Western Roman Empire).

 

Greece is a sad example of huge corruption and miserable level of skill in managing economic policy. It hasn't exactly been the rich man of Europe ever before either. It cannot be compared to the majority of advanced European countries.

 

I'm actually more worried about the gradual Islamization of Europe than the current lousy economy, but I'll shut my mouth now so that things will not become too political.

[Von Paulus 8]

It's quite simple really:

 

1. Almost all countries follow a socialist model

2. The model is deeply flawed as it expands entitlements to the non-productive and increasingly taxes the productive

3. The productive leave or become non-productive themselves (after all, what's the point?)

4. The model is unsustainable as revenues decrease, taxes become confiscatory, the black market flourishes and the dependent classes (almost everyone) blames the government for failing to continue to provide "their" (unearned) benefits

 

Greece is merely an early indication of the fate of the rest of Europe. And the US? California (state w/ the highest taxes) is bankrupt, other large states (NY, MI) are following suit and we have a President who is enchanted with a model that just does not work.

 

I wonder why then the welfare state works relatively well in the Nordic countries. Are they aliens, out of this planet?

 

I speak about my country, which is the reality that I know. And I can tell you. Both the liberal and the conservative agendas, right and left parties, are completely emptied of ideas. The system is on the verge of collapse not because of the welfare state but because of the greed of the big financiers, and corrupted politicians. They manipulate the law and the judicial power. There is a sense of injustice everywhere

It's not the welfare state but it's the wild capitalism without rules, without supervision, which is destroying and corrupting everything.

I've a small business and I'm being strangled by the big ones until the point there is no way for surviving. I cannot compete. I innovate and on the next day they use my idea and they use it and kill my chance. So how can free enterprise survive? The problem is more serious because I'd distribute my richness locally. What they do with the money they earn? They use the money in some obscure operation, somewhere in a fiscal paradise, or wherever but not locally. So basically they are killing the free enterprise and the distribution of wealth.

Globalization is the root of the problem not welfare state.

[Barkhorn1x 9]

I wonder why then the welfare state works relatively well in the Nordic countries. Are they aliens, out of this planet?

 

Dig a bit deeper to find some extra-ordinary circumstances (Norway) and a picture is not so rosey (Sweden).

 

It's not the welfare state but it's the wild capitalism without rules, without supervision, which is destroying and corrupting everything.

 

Hmm...perhaps the Indians and Chinese know something you don't?

 

*****

OK, as this is a divisive topic and I do not come here for the politics/economic policy questions but rather to indulge my passion for WWI flignt simming I am signing off of this thread.

 

On a whole different topic - just got word that my new rig shipped yesteday and will be delivered on Wed. This means I am back to OFF/HitR by next Saturday with all sliders maxed (except terrain ) - so...

Edited March 26, 2010 by Barkhorn1x

[Von Paulus 8]

 

Hmm...perhaps the Indians and Chinese know something you don't?

Yes I agree they are a part of the problem also.

 

OK, as this is a divisive topic and I do not come here for the politics/economic policy questions but rather to indulge my passion for WWI flignt simming I am signing off of this thread.

Yes it's a divise topic and specially come in a hot moment for Americans and Europeans.

I too will sign off, I don't want to cause any "enemies", at least not in here, in the OFF community.

 

On a whole different topic - just got word that my new rig shipped yesteday and will be delivered on Wed. This means I am back to OFF/HitR by next Saturday with all sliders maxed (except terrain ) - so...

Good luck with your rig. I'd only advise you not to max out at the beginning. (it sounds like uncleal). I'd rather go more slowly.

[Barkhorn1x 9]

 

Good luck with your rig. I'd only advise you not to max out at the beginning. (it sounds like uncleal). I'd rather go more slowly.

 

Yes, good advice, I do have some testing to do!

[Olham 164]

Gentlemen, please - I wanted this thread to make each other "look over his garden wall".

Not for political debates, but just to realise, that others may have similar situations.

So I'd be glad if we could stop analysing the political aspects. Thanks all!

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

Gentlemen, please - I wanted this thread to make each other "look over his garden wall".

Not for political debates, but just to realise, that others may have similar situations.

So I'd be glad if we could stop analysing the political aspects. Thanks all!

 

Hahahaha....that will teach you for being Philosophical Olham! :lol:

[Bullethead 12]

My buddy said, "No, I'm stockpiling guns, ammuntion, and a list of addresses of people who are stockpiling food."

 

That's my line! Or at least I thought of it independently back in the Y2K panic

 

(What's PTSD therapy?)

 

PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's called a "disorder" now despite the fact that for the vast bulk of human history (as in up to say the mid-1800s), it was the normal, everyday mindset of every man, woman, and child on the planet. And it still is for the most part in those places that lack the ability to convince the majority of their populations that death and destruction don't exist except on the TV.

 

Basically, when a person is exposed to some traumatic situation (or a lifetime of them), his mind USUALLY instinctively switches to combat survival mode. Problem is, when he's not in a combat situation but is still in this mode, he regards every minor disagreement as a matter of life and death requiring instant, all-out action. Thus, he gets all wound up over trivial stuff and also bites folks' heads off for no good reason. Some folks even get violent. So folks like this have to go to therapy where they teach them this and how to recognize when they're blowing up so they can put the brakes on. They also learn to ignore the ghosts or at least make friends with them so they no longer keep them awake.

 

Anyway, PTSD is a survival adaptation which is quite useful, which is why folks get it, but it's ONLY good as long as everybody else has it. When the surrounding population has led sheltered lives, a person with untreated PTSD is regarded as a dangerous nutjob, despite the fact that he probably got PTSD by allowing the others to be sheltered. by being in the military and/or emergency services. There's gratitude for you .

[Bullethead 12]

I proudly count myself among the amount of people who haven't bought a newspaper in ten years, the only difference between them is yesterdays weather report. All the highly respected periodicals hold tightly to their political bent.

 

Mark Twain said: "If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. But if you do read the newspaper, you're misinformed." Seems just as true today as back then.

[NS13Jarhead 6]

That's my line! Or at least I thought of it independently back in the Y2K panic

 

Must be a "Marine thing".