If the global market Collapses in a forest on MLK day, does it make a sound?

[Kidlicious]

I am bested.

[LordShiva]

Actually, since both teh bullet and teh target are subject to teh same downward force, if you lead teh target you end up missing.

[Riesstiu IV]

Originally posted by Agathon
When do we get to shoot the rich people?

Seeing as you live in Australia, a first world nation with some of the highest standards of living in the world, will you be offing yourself anytime soon? How does your living compare to the billions of people in the world who live below the poverty line? Obviously it can't be too bad since you seem to have an internet connection and your own computer (a mac no less.) You're probably in the upper 5% globally and are therefore rich.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Actually, since both teh bullet and teh target are subject to teh same downward force, if you lead teh target you end up missing.

You start physics classes next week?

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Riesstiu IV
Seeing as you live in Australia, a first world nation with some of the highest standards of living in the world, will you be offing yourself anytime soon? How does your living compare to the billions of people in the world who live below the poverty line? Obviously it can't be too bad since you seem to have an internet connection and your own computer (a mac no less.) You're probably in the upper 5% globally and are therefore rich.

QFT.

Aggie, you know what you have to do.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Riesstiu IV

Seeing as you live in Australia, a first world nation with some of the highest standards of living in the world, will you be offing yourself anytime soon?

First I am going to shoot you, for the temerity of even assuming that I am in any way, shape or form connected to those Ocker sheep shaggers across the Tasman.

How does your living compare to the billions of people in the world who live below the poverty line? Obviously it can't be too bad since you seem to have an internet connection and your own computer (a mac no less.) You're probably in the upper 5% globally and are therefore rich.

I'm not particularly rich, but I'd be perfectly happy to take a hit in my standard of living, along with everyone else, if it would help fix world problems. I suspect some of our fascist pig friends would be less willing.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Actually, since both teh bullet and teh target are subject to teh same downward force, if you lead teh target you end up missing.

Air resistance affects them differently, so you should probably lag the target.

[LordShiva]

New Zealanders calling Aussies sheep shaggers?

[Blake]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Actually, since both teh bullet and teh target are subject to teh same downward force, if you lead teh target you end up missing.

Doesn't matter, you still need to lead the target relative to what you'd normally do.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by LordShiva
New Zealanders calling Aussies sheep shaggers?

Do you not know how much money the Australian government spends in a malicious campaign to blame New Zealanders for Australian bestiality? Hint: it's not called New South Wales for nothing.



Interestingly a Canadian was once walking in the Australian countryside, and saw an Australian furiously shagging a ewe.

"Shouldn't you be shearing that sheep?", he asked.

Came the reply: "I ain't shearin' this sheep with no bastard!!".

[Agathon]

Originally posted by notyoueither

You start physics classes next week?

In an ideal world, he's right. One of the fun physics lectures I went to used a marble catapult and a stuffed monkey dropped from the roof of the lecture hall to demonstrate this.

In practice, I guess your reaction time would mean you have to lead the target. Then again, if you're doing it in Halo 3 you have to lead the target by 20 degrees to make up for the lag.

[Riesstiu IV]

Originally posted by Agathon
I'm not particularly rich, but I'd be perfectly happy to take a hit in my standard of living, along with everyone else, if it would help fix world problems. I suspect some of our fascist pig friends would be less willing.

Sure, you may not consider yourself rich but looking at the broader world perspective it's not the case. By global standards you, I, and most everyone on these forums posting from a developed nations are in the upper echelons. We consume more than our fair share of resources. If you're more than happy to take a hit in your standard of living, you could conceivable do something about right now instead of posting on a forum complaining about the fascist pigs and oppression of the proletariat. Why not donate 20% of your yearly earnings to a struggling Maori family? Why not sell you're computer, buy two used computers with the proceeds and donate one? Why not set an example?

I find it fascinating that college communists spend so much time arguing about marxist theory and the disparity/wealth gap between various populations around the world but rarely are they proactive themselves and it's even rarer to find a communist who will make personal sacrifices to help even out the gap.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Riesstiu IV

Sure, you may not consider yourself rich but looking at the broader world perspective it's not the case. By global standards you, I, and most everyone on these forums posting from a developed nations are in the upper echelons. We consume more than our fair share of resources. If you're more than happy to take a hit in your standard of living, you could conceivable do something about right now instead of posting on a forum complaining about the fascist pigs and oppression of the proletariat. Why not donate 20% of your yearly earnings to a struggling Maori family? Why not sell you're computer, buy two used computers with the proceeds and donate one? Why not set an example?

I find it fascinating that college communists spend so much time arguing about marxist theory and the disparity/wealth gap between various populations around the world but rarely are they proactive themselves and it's even rarer to find a communist who will make personal sacrifices to help even out the gap.

Haven't I discussed this before? Personal charity is a poor substitute for proper action and always has been. The externalities involved in charitable donations lower the propensity of the community at large to do something about the problem. It sounds harsh, but charity often makes things worse because of this. That's not to impugn the motives of the charitable at all, but to argue that it is a counterproductive solution (except perhaps in rare cases like Gates and Buffet, who have enough money to make an immediate massive difference).

People in the States should understand this quite well. The US has a great tradition of philanthropy, and some fine people have done fine things, yet it hasn't really worked overall.

Similarly, I don't think that replacing welfare with charity is a good idea. As for struggling Maori families, there really aren't any by world standards. They would probably fall into the "rich" bracket, since they are as eligible as any other New Zealander to receive government services, welfare benefits and universal healthcare.

[Blake]

Originally posted by Agathon
Similarly, I don't think that replacing welfare with charity is a good idea. As for struggling Maori families, there really aren't any by world standards. They would probably fall into the "rich" bracket, since they are as eligible as any other New Zealander to receive government services, welfare benefits and universal healthcare.

This is quite true.

I know some "struggling" NZ families, and if they struggle, it is not for lack of money, but for excess of booze, smokes, gambling and domestic violence [throw wifey through the window and there's both a health and repair bill].

Unfortunately this is a vicious cycle and not one which can be solved by throwing more money at the problem, nor by denying the families money.

It is downright hard to persuade someone to give up these kind of vices. Once someone is so trapped, if they get more money, that money tends to be spent in the same way. If you try punitive measures (like denying money) it just reinforces the "need" for these vices while increasing crime to fund them.

If there was an easy solution, it would have been implemented, but once such cycles are ingrained, they are HARD to break. The solution would certainly be a grassroots one, governments are fundamentally inept at solving problems at such a personal level.

There are very few charitable causes where it's more useful to donate money than time - unless you have an ungodly amount of money. Of course most people aren't capable of donating time productively - they don't know how.

[EPW]

Originally posted by Blake


It's a greeeaaaat time for people whose happiness does not depend the least on money.

Maybe I'm not happier than usual, but certainly RELATIVELY speaking, I must be happier!

.

So you take pleasure in other people's suffering instead?