A long overdue Open Thread for Non-Personal Stuff. (There’s also one for personal stuff.)
As always, no trolls or MRAs. Let me know if any show up.
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Open Thread for Non-Personal Stuff, 5/16 Triumphant Hedgehog Edition
@ paradoxy and Robert
There’s a really good example of the use of heightening the contradictions in Heinlein’s “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” (which is a pretty good manual for revolutionaries generally)
***Spoiler***
In the story the ‘bad guys’ are clearly about to concede to a lot of the revolutionaries demands. The leaders of the revolution have to deliberately frustrate that in order to keep up the tension to gain a full revolution rather than a negotiated compromise.
@Moggie:
I am, of course, a hideously evil man. It is known.
@katz
This actually one of my standard arguments for moderates: either we elect strong progressives, or we get heads on spikes. Possibly we get a fascist dictatorship and then heads on spikes, but that’s where massive inequality always ends up, sooner or later, unless it’s addressed some other way first.
@Alan
The thing is, there, that the revolutionaries can’t take the settlement, because the terms of it would create insurmountable problems in the very near future. Taking the settlement would’ve meant a total collapse of lunar agriculture within decades, leading to the certain deaths of the entire population. That wasn’t a matter of ‘heightening the contradictions’ that was a matter of cold brute reality.
Fantastic thread, everyone. Excellent links and as always lots of brain food on topics ranging far and wide. I’m feeling happy and expansive this morning (it’s finally looking like winter has arrived, please let it be so); the kittens are playing; teaching is almost over for the semester … I really love being part of this blog community and I love that it’s not an echo chamber like some have been.
And, pretty amazing news! The state of Victoria here in Aust. has issued a formal government apology to those convicted under previous anti-gay laws (apparently it’s the first time ever that a state has issued an apology on this). Also people can have their convictions expunged.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2016/05/28/victorias-apology-homosexual-criminality-laws/14643576003304?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Saturday%20Briefing%20110&utm_content=The%20Saturday%20Briefing%20110%20CID_665e898ef42a44baf12bf64108ab7eef&utm_source=EDM&utm_term=READ%20MORE
The article is very moving. Kudos to the state premier for some seriously respectful comments.
FWIW, I’m far left myself, being a pinko commie sympathizer and all, I just think any politician is only as good as their ability to accomplish their goals within the system that exists, with the people who are there. Otherwise they’re just inciting the heads-on-pikes crowd by promising what they can’t deliver.
@Bob: that Bloom County seems weird. I’d expect the rant about being muzzled to come from Binkleys’ DAD…
@Nequam
I think BB is making a point that the whole “we should say whatever the hell we want” is a very childish idea to begin with.
Yeah, but if you remember the original comic, Bink’s dad was totally the straw macho conservative to Bink’s straw sensitive liberal.
I get the impression Breathed changed it up only because he couldn’t make the punchline work if the roles were as usual.
Anti-choice groups use targeted advertising to send ads to women considering abortion. Due to how new location tracking systems are, this is presently perfectly legal.
Additionally, while there is no evidence that anyone has done so to date, the article lists a number of ways they could tie advertising profiles to specific identities of patients or clinic workers. It’s highly advisable to not bring phones to clinics or if that is not possible, to switch off location services.
Um, I think I must be losing it – I could have sworn that I posted a general question somewhere around here about any experiences/opinions people might happen to have wrt drugs for ADHD (stattera vs ritalin) but now I can’t find it – or remember which thread.
Maybe it went into moderation, or got eaten by gremlins???
@ opposable thumbs
I haven’t seen it. And I’ve gone through all the posts today (been one of those nightmare days at work).
Sometimes WordPress does seem to eat things.
Haven’t seen it.
I take Ritalin; my experience is that it is indeed a heavy appatite suppressent and can throw off my sleep schedule, especially if I take it late, but it is pretty effective.
Damn those gremlins!
I take Concerta, which is a modified form of Ritalin. I tolerate it really well, but individual responses seem to be highly variable. I’ve never taken Strattera, so I’m afraid I can’t help with that. It’s the non-stimulant one, right?
Strattera is atomoxetine hydrochloride; I think you’re right Viscaria about it being the non-stimulant one.
It does seem to be quite individually variable, how people respond, from what you say and what I’ve heard elsewhere agrees.
Close relative of mine is currently on Strattera; as they’re two different drug groups and both are commonly prescribed, it occurred to me that there might possibly be someone who’s got thoughts about the pros and cons of one vs t’other.
Thank you!
(yes, looks like my earlier comment might have got eaten 🙂 )
Too lazy to see if it’s been mentioned upthread, but Mic put out a story about the use of (((echos))) as racist dogwhistles for the alt-right. The story also mentions our old friend Milo Yiannopoulos, who tweeted an anti-Trump story he found on Mic last week and unleashed some racist replies using the ((())) against a Jewish staff member of Mic.
Here’s the link. Interesting read, as I have never heard of the use of ((())) before.
I saw that (((echoes))) article. Disturbing stuff. One of the U.S.’s two major political parties has as its nominee someone who is worshipped by these people. And he can’t be troubled to tell them off.
And Paul Ryan just endorsed him. Because of course he did. Because apparently the most important thing about being a Republican today is to be a coward.
In other news, Johnny Depp is a apparently an abusive asshole. (Or, according to his lawyer, Amber Heard is just making up the physical abuse ’cause she wants his money.)
Sigh.
@littleknown
CN: biphobia, trans erasure
According to the media, it’s her fault for being bi and having lesbian friends, making him suspicious that he’s cheating on her. It’s really gross and I saw a guy on a feminist site ‘splaining to a bi person that bi people can’t be happy in monogamous relationships because they’ll always miss the aspects of the other sex from the one they’re in a committed relationship with. I haven’t checked if those comments were removed, but I was so. freaking. angry. after reading that bullshit.
This doesn’t even make sense. If you’re a straight woman and you like both dark haired and blond guys and wind up in a monogamous relationship with a blond man, wouldn’t that mean you can’t be happy with your relationship because you miss dating/sex with dark haired men? You could say this about any relationship. Anyone could potentially miss being with other types of people when they’re in a monogamous relationship. It’s hardly exclusive to bi people.
@wwth
Exactly. And even if you think it’s somehow about desire for specific sex acts, that’s something you might miss if you’ve only ever had a specific gender partner, too. Your partner might not be into all the stuff you’re into; that doesn’t mean you’re going to leave them for someone who is into that.
My ex boyfriend’s abuse was definitely related to my bisexuality. It was not my fault.
That (((echoes))) thing is absolutely awful.
A quick heads up to anyone here who’s involved at all in organized atheism/skepticism, it has come to my attention that one Dan Linford, prominent skeptical philosopher and ersatz feminist, is in fact a predatory shithead, and should be avoided.
Regular viewers will know of my “Grrrr!” attitude whenever anyone suggest ‘girls can’t fight’; so I was grateful to a friend for sending me this.
(Don’t worry, it was all very consensual)
https://youtu.be/1xFWyyTx86w
I should stress that in the above encounter the guy wasn’t trying to be an asshole or prove a point or anything. His mates put him up to it just to see how he got on.
@Dalillama
Thanks. My wife told me about this earlier today.
Muhammad Ali died.