In the end most people are pretty good most of the time.
Our suspicions tend to pull us apart. Humans are a suspicious lot. We act in our own interest most of the time out of convenience but try to get along with others in the process.
Our suspicion sometimes is that others do not care to get along and if they are getting along it is only to throw us off guard long enough to get an advantage :-)
Unfortunately karmat, your Russian story underlines this point. We see the same thing in the forums sometimes.
I applaud Drew and Langdon for taking a risk and having this topic for us to think about. It's a bit tedious at times to think about because, like karmat said, our individual influence often makes us feel unimpowered and wondering why bother.
Maybe these kinds of topics every so often allow us to realize that we all have a lot of the same concerns and hopes.
I applaud Drew and Langdon for taking a risk and having this topic for us to think about. It's a bit tedious at times to think about because, like karmat said, our individual influence often makes us feel unimpowered and wondering why bother.
Originally posted by hokie: Every time I bring the drinking age issue up I usally get a lot of folks saying "Not letting 18 year olds drink is a GOOD thing!"
I say let them drink all they want, just don''t let them drive till they''re 25.
But that''s just me :)
* This message has been edited by the author on 7/24/2002 3:24:31 PM.
Originally posted by myqyl: Originally posted by hokie: [i]Every time I bring the drinking age issue up I usally get a lot of folks saying "Not letting 18 year olds drink is a GOOD thing!"
I say let them drink all they want, just don''t let them drive till they''re 25.
But that''s just me :[/i]
When I ws 18 and in college I must have drank every night. It was $1 for a 72 ounce pitcher at some bar and they were all within walking distance of campus. I admit there was a lot of screwups but no more than now.
And the driving thing. Many states let kids drive at 15-1/2! But make 'em wait till they are 21 to drink a beer?
I don't drink -- i'm weird enough as it is (among other reasons!) In the south, at the buckle of the Bible Belt, I'm called a "tee-totaler." Yikes, I just brought religion into a heated discussion (or formerly heated) of patriotism and politics. Told ya I'm weird.
Thought of an analogy today (my one thought of the day, hokie). When I was little my older sister tormented me every day of my life. It was a regular practice. She was good at it. I took it. Then, one day, one of her friends joined in. The friend was promptly told to leave, and never to speak to me like that again (grin). Lesson? My sister could say or do anything to me, but let some one else, and there would be a price to pay.
As an American, I can say what I want about my government/politics/country, but unless you live here, you can't.
I know that's immature and short-sighted, but I think that's why we get so emotional over it.
When America does something that affects the rest of the world, I think the rest of the world has the right to speak out. Now, if you were poking your sister's friend, wouldn't it be her right to say something about it?
Originally posted by karmat: As an American, I can say what I want about my government/politics/country, but unless you live here, you can't.
I know that's immature and short-sighted, but I think that's why we get so emotional over it.
I wasn't saying is was RIGHT. Nor was I saying that other people in other countries (I am going to stop saying other countries, because as I pointed out, sort of, in another post, what media/government/masses believe/say/do, do not always reflect individual beliefs) didn't have a RIGHT to say what they want. I was simply offering a reason (if perhaps and illogical one) to WHY we react the way we do in such discussions.
