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16
The Show / FTL and child sex
« on: November 03, 2009, 11:13:40 AM »
One of the things that I keep hearing in discussions about children and sex is the assumption that the kids are okay with it. Mark's position that there "ought to be" a one-size-fits-all age of consent is silly, but Ian keeps implying in his responses that it is NEVER okay to restrict sex between children and adults. I got really pissed off listening to Friday's podcast where Ian was defending a man who FORCED his children to watch pornography.
Unless the article was just being outright sensationalist, this was clearly a case of child abuse. I know in my case, I thought the idea of sexual intercourse was downright yucky until about the age of 12, maybe a bit later. And that had nothing to do with being taught that sex was bad, because I was never taught that. The reason was purely biological, and if my parents had shown me porn to teach me about sex I would have been horrified. I think I might have had nightmares.
I think it's safe to assume that unless the girls in the story were extremely unusual in their sexual interest, that they were probably forced in fact. Which leads me to ask the question: how can one be completely against using force against children in the case of discipline or just plain abuse, but be perfectly okay with parents who compel their children into sexual situations?
I think the default position seems to be that prepubescent kids would be generally okay with that sort of thing. If it isn't then that needs to be cleared up. I believe that a child (i.e., a prepubescent person) actually consenting to sex with an adult is a very unlikely situation. To say that having an interest in preventing that sort of thing is statist or bigoted "fascist" is rather like saying that there is a problem with someone patroling a neighborhood to prevent rape.
The fact is that it must be examined on a case by case basis, but it's probably safe to start with the position that children cannot, or at least do not, consent to sex. If I were an arbitor and someone brought an allegation of sexual impropriety between a child and an adult to me, I would put the burden of proof on the adult to show that the child did, in fact, consent - whereas I would put the burden of proof on the accuser if the younger person was biologically an adult (13 or older generally). I would further have no problem with people putting an end to sexual relationships of all kinds in which consent is not clear, even if it meant taking children away from those who initiated sexual content with them.
Apparently to some, that would make me a fascist. *shrug* Okay.
Unless the article was just being outright sensationalist, this was clearly a case of child abuse. I know in my case, I thought the idea of sexual intercourse was downright yucky until about the age of 12, maybe a bit later. And that had nothing to do with being taught that sex was bad, because I was never taught that. The reason was purely biological, and if my parents had shown me porn to teach me about sex I would have been horrified. I think I might have had nightmares.
I think it's safe to assume that unless the girls in the story were extremely unusual in their sexual interest, that they were probably forced in fact. Which leads me to ask the question: how can one be completely against using force against children in the case of discipline or just plain abuse, but be perfectly okay with parents who compel their children into sexual situations?
I think the default position seems to be that prepubescent kids would be generally okay with that sort of thing. If it isn't then that needs to be cleared up. I believe that a child (i.e., a prepubescent person) actually consenting to sex with an adult is a very unlikely situation. To say that having an interest in preventing that sort of thing is statist or bigoted "fascist" is rather like saying that there is a problem with someone patroling a neighborhood to prevent rape.
The fact is that it must be examined on a case by case basis, but it's probably safe to start with the position that children cannot, or at least do not, consent to sex. If I were an arbitor and someone brought an allegation of sexual impropriety between a child and an adult to me, I would put the burden of proof on the adult to show that the child did, in fact, consent - whereas I would put the burden of proof on the accuser if the younger person was biologically an adult (13 or older generally). I would further have no problem with people putting an end to sexual relationships of all kinds in which consent is not clear, even if it meant taking children away from those who initiated sexual content with them.
Apparently to some, that would make me a fascist. *shrug* Okay.
17
General / Why am I not drunk
« on: October 31, 2009, 02:03:38 AM »
I spent almost $40 on liquor tonight. Including quite a bit of scotch. And I'm stone-ass sober.
Legal mind-altering experiences are apparently, in my case, prohibitively expensive.
Legal mind-altering experiences are apparently, in my case, prohibitively expensive.
18
General / I am so awesome. Come and see how awesome I am
« on: October 07, 2009, 08:26:23 PM »
I bet all the womens will want me now.
19
General / Happy Birthday Ludwig von Mises!
« on: September 29, 2009, 08:18:45 PM »
Yeah, I know he's dead and all but it's a chance to show off this crappy photoshop I did last year. 
20
General / Propoganda infomercial (attn: Think Twice crew)
« on: September 20, 2009, 09:44:05 PM »
I've been thinking about an infomercial along these lines.
It starts with text on a black background, with background music like Clubbed to Death (doesn't have to be that in particular; I just like the kind of energy in that song). So it starts out slow and sort of melancholy and the text says something like "In the last century, almost 10,000,000 people died from privately owned guns." (I don't know if that's accurate, from all I've been able to figure out the number is actually more like half that).
That fades out, people think "oh boy, and anti-gun commercial".
Then new text appears: "Meanwhile, governments have killed"
Music picks up; a counter begins to rise from zero, as pictures and eventually film clips from WWI, WWII, the holocaust, communist purges, the killing fields, and onward into the wars of the 20th century, as well as things like Saddam's murder of the Kurds, the Bosnian conflict, Waco and Ruby Ridge, both Iraq wars, Afghanistan, 9/11, and including police state murders. The counter tops 200 Million and keeps going, new text says: "...and still going."
Images and counter fade out; text fades in: "Who do you trust?"
Or something like that. I'd like to see lots of videos along these lines spread over the internets. It would go a long way, I think, to dislodging the statist memes that are so embedded in pop culture.
It starts with text on a black background, with background music like Clubbed to Death (doesn't have to be that in particular; I just like the kind of energy in that song). So it starts out slow and sort of melancholy and the text says something like "In the last century, almost 10,000,000 people died from privately owned guns." (I don't know if that's accurate, from all I've been able to figure out the number is actually more like half that).
That fades out, people think "oh boy, and anti-gun commercial".
Then new text appears: "Meanwhile, governments have killed"
Music picks up; a counter begins to rise from zero, as pictures and eventually film clips from WWI, WWII, the holocaust, communist purges, the killing fields, and onward into the wars of the 20th century, as well as things like Saddam's murder of the Kurds, the Bosnian conflict, Waco and Ruby Ridge, both Iraq wars, Afghanistan, 9/11, and including police state murders. The counter tops 200 Million and keeps going, new text says: "...and still going."
Images and counter fade out; text fades in: "Who do you trust?"
Or something like that. I'd like to see lots of videos along these lines spread over the internets. It would go a long way, I think, to dislodging the statist memes that are so embedded in pop culture.
21
Photoshops / Kanye West interruption meme thread
« on: September 19, 2009, 01:39:10 PM »
I hate pop music more than you do. But I gave in and watched the infamous moment from the VMA thing on YouTube, and now I'm having fun with the Kanye West interrupts (x) and compares (x) to (y) meme. So I made a shoop. Poast yours here, or any funny ones you find on the web.
22
General / Robert Heinlein thread.
« on: September 02, 2009, 08:50:31 PM »
Title self-explanatory. Discuss Heinlein's work, political philosophy, sense of Humor, etc.
My favorite works of his are, in no order of preference:
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Citizen of the Galaxy
Time Enough for Love
The Tunnel in the Sky
Methuselah's Children
I think those, better than any others, express his libertarian views. However all of his others are worth reading, IMO. The only one I wouldn't read again is I Will Fear No Evil, although I wouldn't warn anyone off from reading it once.
I haven't read For Us, the Living yet. Nor have many of his fans whom, as I understand, didn't know that there are still books of his being published posthumously. Another one along those lines is Variable Star, written by Spider Robinson but based entirely on RH's outline (basically he just added the dialogue and some narration).
One of the general themes I wanted to bring up is that it seems like RH had a sort of bipolar way of writing about sexuality. In his adult fiction, his characters are almost always polyamorous and sex is heavily featured in the story. His juveniles, on the other hand, are squeaky-clean in a very 1950's sort of way. As in, his main characters often abandon love for their careers. He never seemed to find a happy medium between hedonism and celibacy. This isn't meant as a criticism of his writing; just an observation.
Also, I've been thinking that Rocket Ship Galileo should be made into a movie, except with some changes. (If you don't want the plot of the novel spoiled, don't read this text)
The protagonists are harrassed by government officials as well as saboteurs, the former being opposed to a private moon landing. I'd also do away with the aliens on the moon, add some characters to be killed by the Moon Nazis, and make the battle between the boys and the Moon Nazis more dramatic. And when they return to Earth they are threatened into keeping quiet about their mission, and forced to watch NASA take credit for the first moon landing twenty years later.
It would be delightfully absurdist, I think.
My favorite works of his are, in no order of preference:
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Citizen of the Galaxy
Time Enough for Love
The Tunnel in the Sky
Methuselah's Children
I think those, better than any others, express his libertarian views. However all of his others are worth reading, IMO. The only one I wouldn't read again is I Will Fear No Evil, although I wouldn't warn anyone off from reading it once.
I haven't read For Us, the Living yet. Nor have many of his fans whom, as I understand, didn't know that there are still books of his being published posthumously. Another one along those lines is Variable Star, written by Spider Robinson but based entirely on RH's outline (basically he just added the dialogue and some narration).
One of the general themes I wanted to bring up is that it seems like RH had a sort of bipolar way of writing about sexuality. In his adult fiction, his characters are almost always polyamorous and sex is heavily featured in the story. His juveniles, on the other hand, are squeaky-clean in a very 1950's sort of way. As in, his main characters often abandon love for their careers. He never seemed to find a happy medium between hedonism and celibacy. This isn't meant as a criticism of his writing; just an observation.
Also, I've been thinking that Rocket Ship Galileo should be made into a movie, except with some changes. (If you don't want the plot of the novel spoiled, don't read this text)
The protagonists are harrassed by government officials as well as saboteurs, the former being opposed to a private moon landing. I'd also do away with the aliens on the moon, add some characters to be killed by the Moon Nazis, and make the battle between the boys and the Moon Nazis more dramatic. And when they return to Earth they are threatened into keeping quiet about their mission, and forced to watch NASA take credit for the first moon landing twenty years later.
It would be delightfully absurdist, I think.
23
The Show / Mark: tobacco tastes like mud?!
« on: September 01, 2009, 10:27:39 PM »
If you really think that people don't smoke tobacco for the taste of it, you've never had good tobacco. A good cigar or pipe tobacco has a deep and complex flavor, and the types of flavors vary from one to another. Cigars are described with specific terms like spicy, creamy, beefy, woody, fruity, grassy, and with "notes" of distinct flavors like chocolate or coffee. "Muddy" and/or "sour" are how bad cigars are usually described.
"Muddy" tobacco is usually cheap tobacco; grown in poor soil, uncured and unaged. It is used in cigarettes, which are not smoked for the tobacco, but as a nicotine delivery medium. Since it lacks the complex flavors derived from good soil and the aging process, tar is added to give it sweetness and smoothness, and dangerous chemical preservatives replace the curing process. And nicotine is added, making it far more addictive than natural tobacco, which has about 20% the nicotine.
It is also worth noting that high-quality tobacco is not generally inhaled; the tar added to the cheap stuff aids in inhalation. And inhalation also disturbs the flavor, as the exhaled smoke tastes, frankly, of lung; and lingers in the mouth.
If your tobacco is "muddy", it is either bad tobacco, or you smoke too much to discern flavors. I don't think the latter is the case, since you say you usually only smoke once per day. If you decide to smoke again, I'd suggest not smoking something you can buy in a supermarket. Like cigarettes, cheap cigars are just a drug delivery system. In the meantime, don't suggest that those of us who enjoy fine tobacco smoke bad-tasting weeds in order to get a buzz. It's just not true. I'm no more addicted to tobacco than I am to steak. I enjoy both, but neither are a staple of my lifestyle.
"Muddy" tobacco is usually cheap tobacco; grown in poor soil, uncured and unaged. It is used in cigarettes, which are not smoked for the tobacco, but as a nicotine delivery medium. Since it lacks the complex flavors derived from good soil and the aging process, tar is added to give it sweetness and smoothness, and dangerous chemical preservatives replace the curing process. And nicotine is added, making it far more addictive than natural tobacco, which has about 20% the nicotine.
It is also worth noting that high-quality tobacco is not generally inhaled; the tar added to the cheap stuff aids in inhalation. And inhalation also disturbs the flavor, as the exhaled smoke tastes, frankly, of lung; and lingers in the mouth.
If your tobacco is "muddy", it is either bad tobacco, or you smoke too much to discern flavors. I don't think the latter is the case, since you say you usually only smoke once per day. If you decide to smoke again, I'd suggest not smoking something you can buy in a supermarket. Like cigarettes, cheap cigars are just a drug delivery system. In the meantime, don't suggest that those of us who enjoy fine tobacco smoke bad-tasting weeds in order to get a buzz. It's just not true. I'm no more addicted to tobacco than I am to steak. I enjoy both, but neither are a staple of my lifestyle.
24
The Show / Did I make any sense tonight?
« on: August 26, 2009, 09:50:32 PM »
I called to update on my insulin situation, and to argue for the need for philosophy and objective truth from the standpoint that "memes" or "viral knowledge" are incompetent to change people's paradigms. Did my call make any sense at all, or did I sound like a rambling sophist?
25
General / I has a physics problem
« on: August 03, 2009, 12:58:43 AM »
I'm not good with maths. By which I mean, I can do them, but it takes me a long time. For the curious, this problem has to do with a science fiction story I'm writing. I know enough about the science to figure it out myself, but... well, I'm awfully lazy. So maybe someone here could help me with this problem.
Assume a ship with the capability of constantly accelerating at 1 gravity is headed from Earth to the dwarf planet Eris in the Kuiper Belt. The distance is rougly 2.5 billion miles from Earth at the time of the vessel's departure to where Eris will be at the time of arrival. The ship must maintain normal gravity for the majority of the trip, which is done through constant acceleration.
Keep in mind that there would have to be at least one "flip" where the ship begins to accelerate in the opposite direction in order to arrive at the destination at a relative speed of zero, so the highest speed would be reached in the middle.
Also, the maximum speed of the ship is 1/10th the speed of light, which by what I've figured out so far would not be reached in the given distance at the given rate of acceleration.
What I haven't figured out yet is what the velocity would be after a given time at constant acceleration, which is what I would need to solve the problem. So the question is, accellerating at 1 G, how long would the trip take? And secondly, what would the speed be at the time of the "flip" at the midpoint?
Assume a ship with the capability of constantly accelerating at 1 gravity is headed from Earth to the dwarf planet Eris in the Kuiper Belt. The distance is rougly 2.5 billion miles from Earth at the time of the vessel's departure to where Eris will be at the time of arrival. The ship must maintain normal gravity for the majority of the trip, which is done through constant acceleration.
Keep in mind that there would have to be at least one "flip" where the ship begins to accelerate in the opposite direction in order to arrive at the destination at a relative speed of zero, so the highest speed would be reached in the middle.
Also, the maximum speed of the ship is 1/10th the speed of light, which by what I've figured out so far would not be reached in the given distance at the given rate of acceleration.
What I haven't figured out yet is what the velocity would be after a given time at constant acceleration, which is what I would need to solve the problem. So the question is, accellerating at 1 G, how long would the trip take? And secondly, what would the speed be at the time of the "flip" at the midpoint?
26
General / Omegle thread: post your stranger-trolling logs here!
« on: August 01, 2009, 01:56:35 AM »
http://omegle.com/
Here are a few of mine
Here are a few of mine
Quote
Stranger: asl?
You: i am the singularity
You: ask me any question
You: wait fuck you already asked me one
You: that sort of ruins the whole shtick
You: 25/m/Pennsylvania
Stranger: tits or no tits, this is the question
You: You mean, do I have tits
You: or do I like tits?
You: Because the answer is yes to both
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Quote
Stranger: im a gay guy
You: i'm a straight guy
You: we should start a sitcom
Stranger: lets!
You: ok on a scale from 1 to a mexican stealing a car stereo, how stereotypical are you
Stranger: 5
Stranger: you?
You: Well I'm a free-market anarchist libertarian Christian metal fan who reads classic literature
You: so not very
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Quote
Stranger: are you a horny bitch
You: depends. are you m or f
Stranger: m
You: well alright then.
You: i assume you are horny guy
Stranger: yeah
You: is your dick hard
Stranger: OH YA
Stranger: CHAT ROOMS GET MY DICK SO HARD
You: MINE TOO
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
Quote
Stranger: ı am male and searching have a webcam girl?
You: Yeah I have a webcam girl but I left the basement door open and she got out
You: she'll be back when she gets hungry
You: no skills you know
Stranger: from?
You: from the head trauma
You: she's got the learning capacity of a spring.
Stranger: age?
You: she is biologically capable of bearing children
You: that's all I know
Your conversational partner has disconnected.
27
General / I invented a new drink
« on: July 28, 2009, 12:09:52 AM »
Actually I'm sure it's been done before, but I came up with it independently, and that's all I require of myself to claim invention.
I haven't got the proportions down exactly yet, but the base is 3/4 Coca-Cola, 1/4 milk. Then add Jameson's whisky to taste (about 3 shots in my case, to about a cup and a half of the base). Mix in nutmeg. I haven't come up with a name for it yet. The term "sacred cow" struck me as funny, but that's probably only because I've had 2 of them already and working on my third.
I haven't got the proportions down exactly yet, but the base is 3/4 Coca-Cola, 1/4 milk. Then add Jameson's whisky to taste (about 3 shots in my case, to about a cup and a half of the base). Mix in nutmeg. I haven't come up with a name for it yet. The term "sacred cow" struck me as funny, but that's probably only because I've had 2 of them already and working on my third.
28
General / Audio recording help (attn: Ian)
« on: July 23, 2009, 08:26:02 PM »
I'm recording some essays by Lysander Spooner, which the Mises institute may put in their media archive soon. But I'm running into trouble with the recording. I am using a Rode studio condenser, so the mic is good quality - but there is absolutely no place in the house that I can go to get away from the hum of electronic equipment, which the Rode picks up extraordinarily well. So obviously I've got to soundproof a part of the house. But here's the complication: I'm flat-damn broke. So it will have to be with whatever I have around the house.
So any suggestions, from anyone?
So any suggestions, from anyone?
29
General / Pot operation nearby
« on: June 24, 2009, 12:18:58 AM »
There's a house on the back part of a lot adjacent to my alley that sells pot and blowjobs. I don't have first-hand knowledge, but the evidence is overwhelming. They're not careful at all because the cops around here don't do shit that would involve actual work unless they want overtime, and that's only in the winter.
I'm not complaining about what they sell or that they sell it; I honestly don't care. The problem is that I know some of their frequent customers, and they are real thugs. Two of them are multiple murderers, most of them treat robbery like changing a tire. Meanwhile, the cops just arrested an old lady in another part of town growing pot in her apartment for her own use.
Just another instance of the absolute failure of the police in their supposed purpose of protection, while they go after harmless fiat "criminals". My dad and I have decided to make sure my mom is as good as we are with a pistol over the next couple months.
I'm not complaining about what they sell or that they sell it; I honestly don't care. The problem is that I know some of their frequent customers, and they are real thugs. Two of them are multiple murderers, most of them treat robbery like changing a tire. Meanwhile, the cops just arrested an old lady in another part of town growing pot in her apartment for her own use.
Just another instance of the absolute failure of the police in their supposed purpose of protection, while they go after harmless fiat "criminals". My dad and I have decided to make sure my mom is as good as we are with a pistol over the next couple months.
30
General / JOIN THE FCC. DO IT NAO.
« on: June 23, 2009, 12:51:19 AM »
This is a recruitment thread for the FCC, a libertarian alliance on the online nation simulation game CyberNations.
I intend to bump it vigorously* until everyone on this BBS who plays CN joins the FCC. Or until I get tired of trying, whichever.
Firstly, if you don't have a CyberNations account, I recommend it. It only takes a few minutes a day to maintain a nation, and a couple hours a week to stay up to date on game politics (though one can easily spend hours on it every day if one wishes to be so involved). Go here if you're interested. And once you start a nation, one of the first things you'll need to do is join an alliance. I therefore recommend the FCC.
The FCC is an economically-focused alliance consisting mainly of libertarians, though it does not require any political affiliation to join. Recently having emerged from a major war, though victorious, we are in need of new members. I have been meaning to ask if anyone here is interested in joining up, and now seems like a good time.
Here follow brochure points:
If anyone is interested, go to the FCC forum and get an account. Also, you can visit my nation, Hedge Corporation, by clicking the image below.
*That's what she said
I intend to bump it vigorously* until everyone on this BBS who plays CN joins the FCC. Or until I get tired of trying, whichever.
Firstly, if you don't have a CyberNations account, I recommend it. It only takes a few minutes a day to maintain a nation, and a couple hours a week to stay up to date on game politics (though one can easily spend hours on it every day if one wishes to be so involved). Go here if you're interested. And once you start a nation, one of the first things you'll need to do is join an alliance. I therefore recommend the FCC.
The FCC is an economically-focused alliance consisting mainly of libertarians, though it does not require any political affiliation to join. Recently having emerged from a major war, though victorious, we are in need of new members. I have been meaning to ask if anyone here is interested in joining up, and now seems like a good time.
Here follow brochure points:
- An aggregate nation strength of over 1,000,000 (currently more like 1,200,000).
- Over 250 nukes, distributed amongst nations of varied nation strength.
- An active forum with a well-sized liberty-oriented community.
- A well-developed economic development guide and a system for building up new nations.
- Full protection from aggression, with no restriction on economic activity.
- I'll post more as I think of them.
If anyone is interested, go to the FCC forum and get an account. Also, you can visit my nation, Hedge Corporation, by clicking the image below.
*That's what she said