Post Praetorian

Here I go again...

To abuse him or reward him...?

As have I, apparently...pay me no mind...no mind at all...

...and he's apparently schizophrenic...

Not so sure about that plan either...the last one of our employees who showed up to work consistently dubbed out could not remember very simple instructions despite being a smart fellow. Had to send him home for his own safety...

TV's Frink said:

Possessed said:

I've never read a single comic book or manga.  Has my life  been void?

 Hell, no.  I support this fully.

 Agreed

Here's the deal:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2873214/windows-10-will-be-a-free-upgrade-for-windows-7-and-8-users.html

DuracellEnergizer said:

I don't like beer -- never have, never will.

Agreed

It is possible...further it can be difficult to be motivated once one has tasted escape and found it to be kept in a convenient refrigerator. For every drink you take you should accomplish something useful--but in an inverse fashion: accomplish the useful, then down the de-motivator...which means no drinking before work: have caffeine instead. 

It seems they are also offering Windows 10 free of charge to Windows 7 & Windows 8 users so perhaps this might not be so bad if you have a purchased copy of 7.

Particularly when updating one's version of Windows frequently results in the breaking of cherished programs...

No, ATM, unhappily, it likely cannot...

Ah, from one of my favorite movies...I still miss him...

Let us hope you do not attempt to explain it...4999 times?

DrCrowTStarwars said:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/mcdonalds-february-sales-fall-more-than-expected/ar-AA9yj0I?ocid=ansfinreu11

It easy to see why, the burgers are getting smaller and the prices are going up. The dollar menu is now full of smaller burgers and fries that cost at least $2, they are served luke warm, half the time the order is wrong, and every soda and juice you get from them is watered down. I stopped eating there when I got an orange juice that was nothing but water and orange colouring, it had no taste and they had the nerve to charge me over three bucks for it. I can get half a gallon of juice at the market for half that price. Also the price of a mean there now runs between $7-$11

What might be considered an acceptable price for meanness?

It is interesting because I had a similar deficiency (though in the opposite direction) for which I was forced to wear leg braces for a time...before my feet eventually decided to conform to normal standards. 

Is it to be understood that you are currently a disembodied puzzle?

DuracellEnergizer said:

DrCrowTStarwars said:     

The point is that just because someone has a different worldview then you and they don't know certain facts, that does not make them stupid.

Claiming that the Earth can never run out of room, that it can support countless billions upon billions upon billions of human lives all at once indefinitely, is stupid.

Claiming that all Jews are to held responsible for the death of Christ for what some small group of Jews did over 2000 years ago is stupid.

Claiming that Jews created terrorism is stupid.

Claiming that Christians who do not keep the sabbath, do not abstain from "unclean" meats, and choose to celebrate holidays such as Christmas and Easter aren't true Christians is stupid.

Claiming that seeing flies emerge from a bag of garbage he claims to have sealed airtight is proof that flies can spawn from rotting trash is stupid.

Claiming that smoking tobacco is perfectly harmless 'cause it "kills the germs" and turns the smoke into steam is stupid.

And besides, as I've already said, I don't hate him merely for his low intelligence; the guy is also a bastard and a bully. He once tore a picture I had drawn up just for using electrician's tape to stick it to the refrigerator; I was born or developed in youth some weird hip misalignment which causes my feet to turn out to the sides, so for my entire childhood I had to live with him calling me a penguin; he beat me once and gave me a black eye just because I accidentally broke my glasses while playing with my sister; oh, and finally, when I was still a young kid, he went ahead and started fucking my mother when I was sleeping in the very same bed at the time.

And just FYI, I did try to heal the rift between us some years ago, but the man absolutely refuses to change -- if anything, he only gets worse -- so there is no point in bothering with the man anymore.

 You certainly have my sympathies...it is hoped that your infirmity was treatable?

Were it to be proven that you are a god, are you quite certain that you might equally qualify as being both great and big?

thejediknighthusezni said:

       Whether I am a theist at all would depend upon how broadly one wishes to define "Theism".

       In my broad consideration, Anyone with the power to generate, sustain, and effect great changes in an entire universe qualifies as "God" over that creation. For this reason, I am not uncomfortable with being called a "Theist".

       I would consider myself a "Passive Theist" in the sense that I feel no special calling to "Win people for Jesus".

      I do tend to become militant towards the militancy of others.

      As for Passive Atheists, I am confident that any genuine atheist who would take a little time to HONESTLY examine the evidence and Logic would soon move to a position of tentative agnosticism, at the least.

This seems reasonable...though perhaps an equally fair outlining of the problem might be made as follows:

Given that the un-knowability of gods must needs be certain, is there not a strong and reasonable expectation that all should be agnostic?

However, given the propensity of hope (and its absence) to functionally focus one's outlook, is it not equally be reasonable to expect that those who might see positive reason for believing in a deity might be considered theists whilst those who might be cynical towards the very idea must become the atheists?

If so, is it not fair to consider the atheist to be little more than a cynical agnostic?

For, given agnosticism may describe knowledge, atheism must describe a lack of belief. Therefor an individual confronted with a lack of knowledge must decide for him or herself how to analyse same. Is it not likely that most might choose such a thing to magnify a personal suspicion merely human nature?

Well you may consider this article to be somewhat helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_humour

As for 70's to 80's era provender: you may recognize SCTV to basically be Canada's version of Not The 9 O'Clock News.

Much of Canada's humor seemingly stems from the realization that we, as a nation, do not have as much of presence on the global stage as do our older or bigger cousins. Much of our humor might be summed up by imagining a room full of focused individuals discussing items of importance while some character in the far back corner waves towards the cameras and makes the odd inside joke appreciated only by the locals of his hometown who might be watching the proceedings live. The Canadian comic, obviously, is that recessed individual and the rest of the country his hometown.

While we recognize that we exaggerate our seeming lack of importance for comedic effect, it is also juxtaposed against a reality that we were one of the few colonies that did not rebel against British rule, but were, in fact, encouraged to leave (at which point we might insert an allusion to being finally forced from the familial nest by an exasperated parent). As such, while we have grown up in our own right, we did not largely do so with 'a gun in hand' so we play a bit with this lack of perceived respectability.

We might be considered the self-effacing, shy fellow in class who is often overlooked, rarely engages in aggression, but who nonetheless enjoys a good laugh--even if it might be at his own expense.

darth_ender said:

^^Fair points, though unfortunate in that it will usually lead to insulting conversation if not handled well. Still, I believe such conversation can be had without belittling believers.

 Agreed

thejediknighthusezni said:

     As with all controversial opinions and viewpoints, the holders thereof can be divided into 'Generally Passive' and 'Generally Militant'.

     A passive sort doesn't especially care and takes no great pains to diminish those who hold a contrary view.

     Someone who is militant in their beliefs will be inclined to belittle, in thought and/or deed, those with opposing positions.

     Personally, I only fault passive atheists for their lack of curiosity towards the information that challenges their position.

     I am profoundly distrustful of the militant variety. FAR too often there is more to their militancy than simple disagreement over the available facts. TOO often it involves the perpetuation and propogation of CRUEL depravities in personal conduct and socio-political constructs.

Might you consider yourself to be more of a Generally Passive Theist or a Generally Militant Theist?

Further, is it not somewhat presumptuous to assume that a Passive Atheist is lacking in curiosity? Is it not equally plausible that such a one might simply understand the limitations of both positions and merely wish to refrain from unnecessary conflict? 

generalfrevious said:

I think it's the latter for the housing situation; The truth is that I have it good at home, but I feel I should have a place at home by now, and unsure if I really want to move out yet. I would rather like to rent, but relatives insist I should buy a house or condo instead. 

If you are earning near $30,000 per year and have few expenses due to being able to live at home in a subsidized manner it seems a perfect situation in which you may save up the required down payment on something manageable. It might be outside of your zone of relative comfort, but then so could be considered all meaningful life experiences.

Please consider very carefully every extraneous purchase at this time. It is a common cycle of despondency that erodes ones finances: bad feeling leads to spending in order to compensate for the feelings, justifying same with a narrative of having 'earned' the privilege or 'needing' the release that spending might provide, but every dollar squandered merely adds to the current problem and postpones its solutions. It is the short-term gain, long-term pain strategy whereas you require the inverse.

A challenge accomplished is as rewarding as a series of indulgences so here is a task for you to consider: this month attempt to spend nothing at all on pleasures of any kind for yourself. Place all of your remaining funds in an interest bearing account and watch the balance increase week by week. You might be surprised how quickly you will amass a down-payment--and, by extension, access to personal freedom.

Religion, on the other hand: I honestly never cared for my religion, but still hang on due to family obligations. Their viewpoints as I grew older seemed to be out of touch with how people really behave, but I have no valid argument. Growing up in a Catholic environment has made me afraid of sex, and I guess I could understand some points they make, but to me Christianity seems to be anti-modern at its core.

 Coming to terms with one's religion can be a sign of maturity: a faith performed under protest is no faith at all, just as being forced into continuing an activity in which one does not personally believe is a form of oppression. You must decide the basic purpose of religion in your life. If you truly believe its tenets, but despise them for being difficult then you must seek the assistance of a priest to find some means of discovering solace in what you must bear; if you truly do not believe that your religion has any basis in reality, and are merely conforming to the wishes of others, you must stop such a behavior at once as it serves no purpose: for if God is real he will likely despise your cowardice and if He is not then it will be you who will learn to resent your younger self after the ones you allowed to dictate such control eventually pass beyond the ability to continue to do so--and thirty more years of your life have slipped away. 

If you do not believe in your religion, let the following basic principles guide you further:

1) Do some reasonable research into your faith before casting it aside. Be certain that you understand it thoroughly--both its weaknesses and strengths--so that you might be honest that you are making a fair, and not merely a reactionary, break. 

2) Decide on the means of delivering your decision. Some individuals are better at orating a subject while others prefer the written word. Given that this is your fight, you should choose the field of battle. 

3) Outline your feelings in the most positive and optimistic terms possible. Do not criticize, accuse, seek to score any points, or single out anyone in your decision. Be as fair, or more-so, to those who consider their faith to be real as you would wish them to be towards your dissenting view. Remain calm and do not return an argument for an argument. Your delivery should inspire a consideration that this decision has come about via a step towards maturity rather than an outbreak of petulance.

4) Leave the door open. Do not be autocratic in your decision, but lean towards it by degrees. While leaving your faith might necessitate a cessation of prayerful activities, it might not necessarily mean that you avoid all contact with the faithful. You might agree to continue a regimen of weekly mass attendance while still living at home in order for your family to save face if such might be a potential issue. Concede to having a concern over your parents' feelings and welfare that appears to supersede your own, but do not allow this to be manipulated into a retraction of your lack of faith: this is not about allowing anyone leverage over you; it is about you doing things for others on your own terms out of respect and/or consideration. Any attempt at bullying or badgering will then allow you to withdraw such actions as a countermeasure so ensure that you fulfill your end of the bargain without begrudging the favor. 

5) Do not seek to de-convert anyone. Actions are the most powerful means of proving or disproving your new-found convictions so do not dilute them with needless words and/or arguments. Further, avoid all conversations regarding religion. Make no comment when it is brought up and respond obliquely when questioned directly. It is not up to you to change anyone else's mind just as it is not up to any other person to change your own.

6) Remain ethical. Behave in a superior moral fashion than you did while religious. You do not need others to point out how far you have fallen into depravity since leaving the Church and to thereby assuage their suspicions that the only reason you wished such an exit was in order to be free of rules and obligations. Prove that you are not a lazy and hollow individual by taking up a new activity or volunteer position. Dress better than before and remain calm in situations that might ordinarily have provoked. Act with kindness and consideration, but do not be anyone's fool.

Feel free to seek further advice from those you might trust as circumstances might require and consider researching information on temperaments so as to better understand the motivations of those around you.

Regards,

Praetorian

I enjoy the humor native to both countries. Further, as a Canadian, I am equally entertained with the self-deprecating style known domestically among English Canadians, as well as the sardonic wit appreciated among the French. 

I admit to watching a good deal of British comedy, but cannot truly be a valuable agent in deciphering which country performs television best as I am stuck in a 70's to 80's rut and so rarely watch much outside of that epoch...