en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2450034 Comments by bossplaya96 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/06/4364/#IDComment141147761 Peace, a word that I, and most of the people I surround myself with, take for granted. Living in a relatively tranquil society where I don’t have to worry about constantly being attacked, loathed and threatened, it is hard for me to say that I can relate to the Israel/ Palestine conflict. Sam say’s “You and I and everyone around us are crazy when we think that we can understand what is going on.” Well, I am no fool; I honestly cannot begin to comprehend what it is like to be involved in this conflict, nor do I see it coming to an end anytime soon. My reasoning behind this pessimistic approach is simple: without peace, there can be no resolution. As aforementioned, I live in a society where I do not experience much hate, at least not publicly anyways. In Israel/Palestine, from a young age, children are taught this idea of hate for the opposing Religion that leads them down a path traveled for far too many years. Until this “inherent” form of education is corrected, I see no end to this conflict. However, I believe the conflict itself to be completely legitimate; who really is entitled to the land they wage war over? The thing that tickles me is that all of these religious fighters are fighting for a god. What I don’t understand is, that each religious deity actually promoted peace and tranquility. When I see men on television shouting that they are “killing in the name of Allah,” or “killing for God”, I just shake my head. Do Allah or God want lives taken and blood shed in their name over something that could be solved via other peaceful, non-violent alternatives? I think not. For a solution and peace to happen, both sides must realize that the war they rage is not right. When I do wrong by someone else, the first thing I do is recognize my mistake and apologize. While it may seem almost unrealistic to apply such a basic idea to a conflict of this magnitude, it only seems right. Both sides are right in some ways, however both sides are also quite wrong. Until each side recognizes their own faults rather than the faults of their enemy, this conflict will see no end. Ultimately, this issue comes down to a battle between war and peace. There is no good guy, there is no bad guy; there are two stubborn guys who each think they are correct and will stop at nothing until one or the other prevails. I sit here today with one thought in mind; there will be no victor in this “holy war,” because without peace, there can be no victory. Sat, 9 Apr 2011 02:40:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/06/4364/#IDComment141147761 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/what-reasons-make-multiculturalism-positive-for-the-us-119-blog/#IDComment139213410 Multiculturalism is what America was founded on. It is important that we embrace all the cultures in America, called the “great melting pot”. Had it not been for the great migration, immigration and Ellis Island in the 19th century, our country would not have the character it has to this day. It is something that gives us our identity, how could it not be a positive thing? Looking at other countries, European countries for example, they each have their own identity and history, going back centuries further than ours. But the attraction of the US, cities like New York especially, have been world renowned for being a global center of culture. It is in these characteristics that America is so great. America’s very character comes form the fact that it is so diverse. In no other country would one see so many colors of people, origins and cultures all in one place. The fact that America is the land of opportunity, a great democracy and that it is so diverse feed on each other. Many groups of people internationally over the years have come to America for its opportunities, and many have found success. That is why it is not accurate to say you are simply “American”. Most people refer to their immigrant ancestors’ origins when asked what their heritage is. America is all about accepting other people’s differences. There are racists, but they represent a small demonization (the ones that are outwardly racist at least). Another reason that America is one of the key players in the world is because of its diversity. Not only do people come here for opportunities, but because anyone can find a home here peacefully, without oppression. The principles this country was founded upon was the idea that you can express yourself freely and live your life to your vision, regardless of what the masses are doing or what the government wants. The government here exerts no power on the free will of its people. It affects us financially mostly with policies on taxes and welfare programs. But the government will never tell you what religion to practice or what to believe in. That in itself is what makes the country so great and so united and so strong. We are following in the current world trend of globalization, becoming more and more connected to our international brothers and sisters with virtually every race and countryman on the globe having some, albeit some smaller than others, representation here. Multiculturalism is important not in all countries, but very much so in America, for the reasons listed above. It’s no wonder people flock to our cities to see our shows, movies, sports, eat our diverse food and experience our unique cities. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 22:36:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/what-reasons-make-multiculturalism-positive-for-the-us-119-blog/#IDComment139213410 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/23/if-men-could-menstruate/#IDComment135949562 What? Not that this ridiculous and frankly silly question even deserves to be entertained, but what about the literally hundreds of products on the market that are marketed specifically towards men exclusively that aren’t free? I cant think of a single disadvantage women have economically at an institutional level other than the possibility that the hiring manager of a firm is a sexist and gives a job to a less qualified male. This question was not thought of through logic, but rather emotion. I can’t believe that Sam would even entertain this post, it is literally absurd. It is tiring to hear over and over what men don’t “care” about or listen to when there are more important things than knowing more than the basics of a women’s menstrual cycle. I think most educated men are aware of it and why it occurs, and those who aren’t probably aren’t very educated at all. I don’t see it as an issue, that should concern any women, considering there are more important issues for women than educating men on something that doesn’t concern them and frankly doesn’t matter if they know anything about it. The double standards here are unbelievable. For things that men are inclined to know more about but are gender neutral such as sports or home improvement, women don’t concern themselves with it… and that’s ok. Men and women are different, its biology and even neurology. I hope that I never care if women wonder about male masturbation and why the sex drive in men is so much higher or other things that don’t concern them and they don’t need to worry about. There is an infinite sea of knowledge in the world, we couldn’t possibly learn it all in ten lifetimes. So we should focus on THIS of all things? It is so sad to me to hear that people are this narrow minded that they would publicly complain about such a non-issue. Many women earn more and have made more of a name for themselves than most men in the world, through hard work and the ability to transcend the game of playing victim and complaining about the insensitive male stereotype. We should all graduate from this immature school of thought at high school when we don’t really understand anything about the real, outside world. I feel that a person worried about a lack of awareness regarding women’s periods needs a serious change in perspective. I don’t see this as an issue, I see it as self-satisfying righteousness and making excuses for differences between the genders, nothing more. If I were a women concerned about social inequalities I would start with the glass ceiling in corporate America, an issue most of the smart, educated, driven female leaders in America are more concerned with than this nonsense. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 01:11:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/23/if-men-could-menstruate/#IDComment135949562 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/how-do-you-feel-about-the-poor-white-society-and-who-are-you-more-likely-to-help-119-blog/#IDComment134328048 I find it hard to put priority on one group of people to deserve help more than another group based solely on race. If possible I would help all of them, but obviously that is in no one person’s power, no matter how rich or powerful simply because there are only a limited amount of resources available. I think for those Americans that are not racist outwardly, they can be classified as ‘classist’. Even though I don’t mean to be, I tend to look down on people that are lower class. I am not mean but I would discriminate if I were doing interviews. If I had a black person that was clearly well groomed and had manners interview versus a white person who was clearly from a lower class because of what they wear, how they act, their overall appearance, and other factors that contribute to class. I guess I would have to discriminate who I would help for those in poverty if I could, those who were most deserving. If there was a single parent who had employed and on welfare and still struggling to support their family, then I would be more inclined to help that person than someone collecting unemployment who was not disabled and was addicted to drugs, who had no children or children they were neglectful of despite having the ability to care for. I don’t think that welfare or any institutional advantage should be segmented by race, which is why I feel this question is not the best question to ask. It is an interesting probe, maybe some would help the less deserving person of their own race, than another family who was of another race but was trying harder to survive. I think it is sad that there is so much poverty even in America, supposedly the country that has the highest standard of living in the world. But I guess that only applies to the top percentage of the country in terms of wealth. It is an issue that is difficult to deal with, so much money and power to such a limited population. I think most people would be inclined to help others of their own race. The white race is an interesting dynamic is though, because they are traditionally given little to no sympathy with regards to institutional disadvantage, especially in the race conversation. White trash is thrown around and celebrated by most people and no one seems to be defending that group, even though they are worse off than many Americans, no matter what race. There are plenty of whites that are poorer than many blacks, and vice versa, but the black people also have an uphill battle because they live in a racist country. I believe that is the difference. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:57:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/how-do-you-feel-about-the-poor-white-society-and-who-are-you-more-likely-to-help-119-blog/#IDComment134328048 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/what-is-your-opinion-of-affirmative-action-and-has-the-lecture-had-an-effect-on-you-119-blog/#IDComment130745346 I think affirmative action is fundamentally wrong, both for hiring people that are less qualified most likely as an HR criteria and also for denying your company a more qualified applicant. It is ridiculous to me that simply because of a possible circumstantial instance where one person is less well-off than another. It is also absurd that these people are assumed to have a worse chance simply because of their race. Instead of consciously taking into account that that person is a minority and that they deserve a head start, maybe we could try taking race and even name out of the application process, at least for those who will be making the evaluations. In that way it would be much fairer to everyone and there can be no claims of racial discrimination. It literally makes no sense that being another race makes that person more deserving of someone else who is white and has a better resume. I don’t understand the upside to it. It goes against the fundamentals of our economy, it goes against free market capitalism. It is a socialist view and it is something that I consider to be one step forwards, two steps back. Furthermore, no this lecture did not change my view on anything nor has any lecture really changed my views. Statistics are literally all this class is based on. I find that extremely troubling. There are so many misleading things to statistics that anyone in a basic statistic class learns as part of it. Hidden factors, intentionally left out variables, etc. For instance, how can a sample of black people who make up 12% of our country have the EXACT same results of a sample of white people, the people who are much more common and much more of a diverse group of Americans? It is ridiculous how much Richards blames on racial inequality. I agree it does exist but there are more than enough systems in place to correct whatever problems exist and then some. We can’t save the world. Al Sharpton? Really? We are learning that Al Sharpton, a well-known radical that pretty much no one takes seriously anymore is one of the ONLY people speaking about the right thing?? I almost walked out right then and got an absence for the day. It is stuff like this that ends up taking attention away from the right things. For example, at THON, Oprah didn’t show up because it wasn’t diverse enough? We live in central PA and the demographic is skewed to favor whites simply because of what groups have inhabited the area. That day we couldnt just forget about race and acknowledge the beautiful thing that a network of college kids did for nothing other than the good it brought to the world. Another thing in the media, that black actor David Allen Grier responded to saying was ridiculous, was the claim that the Oscars this year are also lacking diversity. Maybe, just maybe, it is because this year no black or “brown” (as Sam always says which I find pretty offensive) people made any really significant pieces this year in the Cinema industry. Which is fine, they are a minority, meaning they are vastly outnumbered, it is harder to make an impact whent there are so much fewer of you. We need to start realizing that we can’t all hold hands and that we live in America, the only country where anyone with something to offer can become successful, regardless of race. It has been proven time and time again throughout history, and I think we are doing just fine here in the U.S. Too many people are looking for handouts and realizing that life is hard and that nothing worthwhile comes easy. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:19:55 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/what-is-your-opinion-of-affirmative-action-and-has-the-lecture-had-an-effect-on-you-119-blog/#IDComment130745346 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-do-you-feel-about-the-way-people-live-in-america-compared-to-other-places-around-the-world-119-blog/#IDComment129036692 I think it is very sad that other countries still have slavery and poverty and these tragedies are so widespread. Not only that, but the idea that the standard of living in America is so rare in other parts of the world, that third world countries comprise millions of people, a hefty percentage of the world’s population. It is amazing that so many people have to lead lives in filth and hunger and disease. These things bring out the worst in people, and the poverty they live in perpetuates this behavior. There is a reason that these problems are not prominent in America, where the standard of living is so high and people don’t need to turn to such desperate measures of surviving in a failing economy. It brings about the question, why do some countries fail when other flourish? I believe it has a lot to do with the fundamentals that country is founded on. Because we live in a democratic, capitalist society with so many checks and balances in place to uphold the system and root out and prevent corruption, it seems to be the most effective way at least for this country. Another reason is the geographical advantages we have here in America. We have such a diverse landscape, and the two coasts provide protection as well as the trade routes to either side of the world. I believe that America is a miracle, arguably the most prolific society in history to live in. I am very proud to be a part of it and most of all; I know how fortunate I am to be living here. Not only am I lucky to live in this country, but also I am lucky to not live in poverty in this country, another very common thing that affects millions. It all comes down to chance. I remember when Sam said that the children in that refuge camp, some of which are potentially smarter or more capable than any of the children we will have, but it comes down to what cards you are dealt in life. It isn’t fair that some people, most people, will never realize their potential as human brings simply because of the institutional barriers that they are being held back and imprisoned by. These barriers are sometimes impossible to escape, and in fact are endless and perpetuating cycles. It is unfair that the world is like that and that there is no order or fairness to anything because I believe everyone deserves a chance to succeed. The American dream is realistic to me, it just depends on whether or not you have something to offer society, or are willing to work hard enough to make ends meet. I believe it is real, and that anyone who believes in it can accomplish it. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:26:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-do-you-feel-about-the-way-people-live-in-america-compared-to-other-places-around-the-world-119-blog/#IDComment129036692 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/03/do-you-think-race-can-stop-being-an-issue-in-the-future-119-blog/#IDComment126055678 I think it’s pretty naïve to say that there are no inherent differences between the races. Not that one race is better or worse than any other, but the fact is there are noticeable differences that seem to be proven by masses of examples. It is harmful to stereotype people, but one problem with racism in this country is that the most commonly used way of combating it is by pretending that we are all the same. I believe the only way to transcend these problems is to embrace those differences, for better or worse, instead of forcing these politically correct ideals into the mindset of society and ignore what we are. I believe that with globalization being a relatively new thing in this world there are still major differences in regions in terms of how people are, but after centuries these borders will become more and more blurry and there will eventually be on universal race. I believe this is a very distant future, but it is something that can be achieved if we keep moving in the right direction trying to absolve the problems and conflicts caused by racist beliefs. I think it is undeniable that these biological differences exist. For example, who can argue that there are barely, if any Asians in professional sports in America and there is a disproportionate ratio of blacks in sports compared to the percentage of African Americans in America. There are many examples that prove that our history plays a part in shaping us as a people. That is the beauty of America, that we are so diverse. It is for this reason we have succeeded as a nation, that we have the most diversity of perhaps any country in the world and we can embrace the strengths of each group of people. These strengths are not limited or exclusive to each individual belonging to a given race, but it can be observed through statistical analysis that there are certain trends that can only be attributed to natural talent. I believe one day perhaps there will be an even playing field for all races, depending on how different we become as a people, what playing field we are talking about, and other factors. But right now, there is no equality in the playing field, simply because these trends lend to people’s beliefs that the stereotypes are true. The only way we can solve that would be to ignore the biological differences between races and, like affirmative action, consider all races evenly giving each race its own quota. With our capitalist system being ruled by profits, this affirmative action idea takes a backseat for example, in sports, where big business trumps all political correctness. They stack up their sports teams without a care for being fair or evening the playing field to make it proportional to race. They simply choose the best. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 02:31:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/03/do-you-think-race-can-stop-being-an-issue-in-the-future-119-blog/#IDComment126055678 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/02/16/lgbt-class-question-three/#IDComment124447963 This is an age-old debate that I have struggled with over the years. It seems that it all depends on what one’s perspective of “confused” really is. Many would argue that gay people, since their sexuality is not “natural” in its failure to provide life, as it cannot perpetuate the human race, are confused in their sexuality. But it all comes down to the question of: if someone KNOWS they are bisexual and thus knows what they want, then who is anyone to tell them they are confused? Bisexuality is sometimes more of an alien than is homosexuality to those who don’t understand. It is hard for many people who are straight to understand why anyone would stray from what they were biologically programmed to do. It is a widely practiced phenomenon, so there are probably various reasons why people are or engage in bisexual tendencies. Either way, for every one they must be very open with their own sexuality. They are someone who is comfortable in their own skin and comfortable enough to explore other possibilities. Many believe that Bi people are simply gay who want to convince themselves or others that they are “normal”. But it is impossible to say whether or not they are gay or straight or bi or if any of these classifications are even legitimate. No one knows what makes someone gay or straight, or why it seems to be that it is not their choice. I have heard of gay people in denial for years or perhaps their whole lives simply because they denied who they were. I knew someone who would go to church and pray for God to make them straight. It is stories like these that make me believe truly it is no one’s choice what sexual orientation they have. I find it hard to understand not being Bi but it is clear to me that they are no more confused than any straight person who knows what they like and what they want. It all comes down to what labels we put on people. In what perspective, in which society in what time period. Should the Romans who had orgies with men and women but were prominent figures in society have been labeled gay or bisexual? It is only what society defines people as that give them labels. I think it is more important to embrace what a person is and how they live their lives according to their own needs.. Everyone is unique and has their own needs and everyone has preferences. Perhaps some bi people are confused and end up being definitively gay or straight. It is hard to say but I truly believe that you are only as confused as you admit to being. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:23:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/02/16/lgbt-class-question-three/#IDComment124447963 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/02/14/men-and-women-were-really-this-different/#IDComment124443382 It doesn’t surprise me in the least that this is something that is a real product on the market. With the porn industry being a thriving one and making up roughly 95% of the Internet’s bandwidth (exaggeration) the guy who invented this sex dummy thing is just a smart entrepreneur taking advantage of an opportunity. Speaking to the sociological side of the issue, there are plenty of sex toys on the market for both men and women. I would find it hard to believe if women’s sex toys didn’t outsell men’s by at least double. Not because women are more preoccupied by sex but because it seems to be much less taboo for a woman to have one than a man. What does surprise me is the need for this robot, with a price tag of $7,000, to be interactive socially. It seems that to fulfill a need as carnal and superficial as sex, one would only need to have a simulation or imitation of the flesh. It must be more than just sex that this Roxxxy satisfies. It seems that this is more of a substitute for something more than sex, but companionship. I believe that for a women, it is impossible to supplement this need for a mate by using a doll, because women seem to be more concerned about interaction after sex occurs than men do. So for some desperate men or men with different or particular needs a doll would satisfy this need. I would be surprised if there was a male counterpart to this Roxxxy doll, for the aforementioned reasons. It is amazing what technology has accomplished, that there is literally a robot that simulates not only sexual intercourse but all the bells and whistles that go with it. I would think that the majority of these purchases would come from single men, but with a handsome disposable income. But at the same time, it seems as though someone who has enough money to throw seven grand at a sex toy would either be smart or good enough to pick up even the least desirable women. So the conclusion I would come to is that it is for those men that believe that they can do better than their “league”. Sometimes pornography and sextoys will fulfill a need that no women that would realistically be a suitor would fulfill. It is hard to understand for most people that someone would make a purchase like this, but it is also probably true that anyone who owns these do not brag about it but do so discreetly. The difference between men and women is that men would never admit to needing a sex toy but a women can more easily say that a man is not satisfying. For a man to say that about women reflects poorly on his “manhood.” Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:48:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/02/14/men-and-women-were-really-this-different/#IDComment124443382 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cd%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment123506711 soc119 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:05:03 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cd%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment123506711