The Question Thread

[Laetitia]

If you are an extreme introvert, what is the best way to make that clear and understandable to people who expect you to go out and do things with them on less than two hours' notice? 

Explain it to them in a simple and honest way that you need more time to prepare yourself for the torment that is other people.

I have found that the only person who understands this is another introvert; and that's not ever the person who asks on short notice. (If they do, you know it's an emergency.)

[hellbilly]

Are Puke and Bile related?

[Rillion]

Are Puke and Bile related?

Yes, they're twin brothers.  Bile was firstborn with Puke quickly following. 

[hellbilly]

hehe

[Laetitia]

What's more annoying than an AFLAC plush duck, which screams AFLAC 3 times for each squeeze, in the hands of a 9 year old?

Nothing. Don't let its cuteness and fashionable fitness wear fool you.

[Diogenes The Cynic]

How many different addresses have you lived under? I counted myself at 17 the other day.

[Laetitia]

How many different addresses have you lived under? I counted myself at 17 the other day.

Nifty question! I think I have 18 as an adult... And another 10, if I add childhood homes.

[Rillion]

How many different addresses have you lived under? I counted myself at 17 the other day.

15 for me, 3 states in the U.S., 3 countries.  

And I lived at the first address for 18 years. 

[freeAgent]

How many different addresses have you lived under? I counted myself at 17 the other day.

I've only lived at 6 addresses so far.

[Riddler]

5 addresses
in the SAME FUCKING TOWN
how lame

[yamnuska]

How many different addresses have you lived under? I counted myself at 17 the other day.

For my entire life , 19 different addresses, 7 different countries (Canada, US, England, France, Morocco, Slovenia, South Africa), pretty stable as a kid but as an adult I can't make up my fucking mind as to where I want to live. Someplace in the hills or mountains where I can kick back and have a drink with friends and let life happen, put down roots, grow some crops, have 12 kids, etc. I'm not a yank so I can't just move to the US, I'd be in NH already if I was a yank, nice cheap housing with lots of land down in them parts, nice. Up here in LaLa land people are still going cukoo over real estate, "Prices only ever go up!" Oh I can't wait for the crash.

[Harry Tuttle]

That's a tough one, especially with military experience. What is the time limit on living somewhere before you call it an address? If I count only places in which I have actually received mail then I think the answer is 24 addresses.  Since I've now been at the same address for 3.5 years I think I have set my adult record.

[mikehz]

Ten. Two of them right now. Day after tomorrow, it's going up to eleven, total.

[Rillion]

Rant to follow:

Libertarians are not atheists are not skeptics are not scientists are not philosophers.  This much has been made abundantly clear to me.  

I'll talk to someone who believes in all manner of tomfoolery if they seem like a calm, rational, friendly person.  Reasonable people can disagree on many things related to any of the above topics, and if you think that their disagreement with you on its own makes them a stupid, irrational, hateful person, then there's something wrong with you.  Everybody is ignorant and irrational about certain things.  If, on the whole, they are intelligent and thoughtful, they can be persuaded to believe something else.  Or maybe they can persuade you.  But the conversation is at least worth it.  

I don't especially care that PZ Myers, though a great scientist, skeptic, and atheist, thinks libertarianism is rubbish.  

I do care that a philosopher like Massimo Pigliucci thinks that we don't have the right to bear arms because such right was acknowledged in the Bill of Rights for a different reason than most people want it today.  Let's grant that the Constitution is indeed the law of the land (I know, this may be difficult to do).  And let's grant (this might be difficult as well) that the people who wrote the Bill of Rights, Jefferson and Madison, actually knew what they were talking about.  Does that mean that our rights are dependent on their intentions?  Would they even want that to be the case?  Should we even give a fuck what they wanted?  

I love how people who would never claim that free speech rights don't include TV or the internet suddenly become originalists when it comes to the right to bear arms.  For fuck's sale, be consistent.  If the reason that Madison and Jefferson acknowledged is relevant for one right; it's relevant for another.  If it isn't relevant for one, it's not relevant for the rest.   Make up your mind.  If you think the Bill of Rights is binding but don't like one of the rights acknowledged, introduce a new fucking amendment which negates it (such as the 21st Amendment, which ended Prohibition).  Don't pretend that the current amendments say something other than what they say.   I know opponents of gun ownership won't do that, because they know it would never fly.  But trying to ban gun ownership via any other means is unreasonable and dishonest.  If your arguments are so good, bring them.  Otherwise, shut the hell up.

</end rant> You were warned.  

[anarchir]

I think thats one of the wonderful things about discussing a voluntary society; politically, its consistent. Philosophically on a basic level it is too, but religiously (as Ian has proved through personal example) it is not.