NationStates Jolt Archive

I just came to nationstates after hearing my friend talk about it. I have glanced through the forums and I have made a few posts. What I find is disheartening. The thing that gets me is that all those both in America and Europe are just as pig headed as the other. America is a young nation and Europe as seen the raise and fall of empires. These so called flame wars only prove to illustrate why there will never be peace. No matter what happens everyone will still find a reason to hate.

Do these flame wars serve a point? Do they change the bad aspects of any government? Do they make life easier for the needy? Do they bring much needed reforms? No they dont. Why argue over something you cannot change. It will only bring more animosity. But everyone continues to argue.

Being new to this site. And to America I see both sides of the pond as equallyt disturbing and wrong. So the question is. Are we all still human? When we cannot treat each other with a modicum of respect?

It's because you're all human that you divide yourselves into groups, disagree, argue and fight. It's in human nature to do so.

It's because you're all human that you divide yourselves into groups, disagree, argue and fight. It's in human nature to do so.

Does that mean that your not human?

I think it was Tajfel (wow I actually remembered some Psychology...)that showed that just being in a group causes you to discriminate against others
Tajfel core study (http://www.holah.karoo.net/tajfel.htm)

Pretty much the main purpose of these forums is for us to come here and argue our heads off about various topics. Mostly we do this here because in real life we would be risking violence by some of those who disagree with us. Discussion is human. A flamewar is just words, and you will find remarkably few people here who actually would refuse to fraternise with or think themselves far superior to those of another culture.

Being human means that it is in our natures to destroy and to fight. And its pathetic that these forums clearly illustrate that point all to well. Knit picking at pointless things. Arguing over moot points. Im sure there are many well educated people on this forum, but why can these supposedly educated people not talk about their points in an intelligent manner and not have it reduced to a pissing contest?

We don't come here to hold hands and sing kumbaya. We come here to debate with one another about any manner of events. We know we're not changing the world by arguing here; we're not trying to. We're just venting frustrations and making ourselves heard in a way we could never do in real life.

Does that mean that your not human?

I think it was Tajfel (wow I actually remembered some Psychology...)that showed that just being in a group causes you to discriminate against others
Tajfel core study (http://www.holah.karoo.net/tajfel.htm)
Correct. I'm a giant extraterrestrial ant.

I just came to nationstates after hearing my friend talk about it. I have glanced through the forums and I have made a few posts. What I find is disheartening. The thing that gets me is that all those both in America and Europe are just as pig headed as the other. America is a young nation and Europe as seen the raise and fall of empires. These so called flame wars only prove to illustrate why there will never be peace. No matter what happens everyone will still find a reason to hate.

Do these flame wars serve a point? Do they change the bad aspects of any government? Do they make life easier for the needy? Do they bring much needed reforms? No they dont. Why argue over something you cannot change. It will only bring more animosity. But everyone continues to argue.

Being new to this site. And to America I see both sides of the pond as equallyt disturbing and wrong. So the question is. Are we all still human? When we cannot treat each other with a modicum of respect?



Human nature. I could go on, but I won't.

We don't come here to hold hands and sing kumbaya. We come here to debate with one another about any manner of events. We know we're not changing the world by arguing here; we're not trying to. We're just venting frustrations and making ourselves heard in a way we could never do in real life.

Most of the "debates" I have seen do not amount to much. Many threads the original topic was lost and its just a pointless exchange of insults. So arguing over Socialism and Captialism. On Anti-Americanism. These are not topics that one discuss. These are topics when just use to voice their unwarranted hatred on an subject of choice.

Correct. I'm a giant extraterrestrial ant.
Yeah well, I'm a giant extraterrestrial anteater. Prepare to meet thy tongue-y DOOM!

Anyway, what the first post is assuming is that humans should be naturally altruistic (sp?) rather than selfish. In many situations, I find selfishness wins.

Correct. I'm a giant extraterrestrial ant.
You too? I thought I was the only one!
I am against groups in politics because that corrupts the system even more. I am a strong believer in the individual. I found a blog with a theory about individualism somewhere and I'll give it you if I can find it.

Most of the "debates" I have seen do not amount to much. Many threads the original topic was lost and its just a pointless exchange of insults. So arguing over Socialism and Captialism. On Anti-Americanism. These are not topics that one discuss. These are topics when just use to voice their unwarranted hatred on an subject of choice.

And what are you currently accomplishing? What does this thread accomplish, other than to give you an outlet to whine. We're not trying to cure cancer with these threads. We're just arguing.

We're just arguing.

My favourite hobby...

If you look at the way humans are about groups its strange that when an "alien" comes along from nowhere the fighting groups band together to get rid of the invader. E.G WW2 where France and Britain, enemies for CENTURIES are being threatened by Germany, they forgett all that history albeit temporarily and band together for the greater good of beating back the invader.

I think that the only way humans will stop killing eachother is if Earth ever came under invasion by Aliens of quite a different kind.....

Here is that theory of individualism. The author is Mr. Mises (not the economist :( )
NOTE: This is to be taken within a philosophical context.

The purest form of power known to humankind is that of the the power over oneself.This power is not corrupted by the often overwhelmign desire to have control over others and limit your fellow man's liberty to act or do as he wishes. Nor is it corrupted by the urge to force one's own "morality" and "ethics" your fellow man. The qualities present in politics can be seen in this form, but to varying degrees. The most disruptive and dangerous quality is for the most part absent. One quality that is clearly present in both forms is governance. This pure power, at least in the eyes of man, possesses the element of governance, though it is present in a different expression;it is the ability to govern oneself and and to avoid falling prey to agitprop and dogma of all sorts. This power is the ability to make one truly independent and free from the grasps of collective distortion and the animosity often present in an absolute morality. One who possesses this power is a true individual and not a bairn to the State ideals. It is, however, most unfortunate that there are very few of these people. In the whol of history hitherto there have never been more than a precious strain of man at this level of an independent mind, for these people are worthy of being called a true Individual.

These people, these deities among men, are the creative geniuses who of their own thought have become free. These people are independent in mind and sound in logic and have clear reason concerning reality. The Individuals do not, and passionately refuse to, impede on the free will of others. They have overcome fear of death that will inevitably befall them and have come to the conclusion that it is all part of reality. To reach this state it requires one to battle through ones lamenting.One must not allow emotion to corrupt him or to lead him astray. One must attain full governance over emotion and become the master. Determination is key. Through cynicism the Individual has come to thus state and rather than sorrow and embrace it in all its glory and thus the chains of emotivism are removed from callous feet, feet which have tread the enduring path. Through cynicism the Individual has overcome optimism and illogic in exchange for realism and a modest character. One must not bemoan oneself with petty anxieties of the heart. Through cynicism one transforms and knows that he is responsible for his life.

The Individual must not assist others in a transformation of their own. For it would corrupt and negate the purpose of individualism in its entierty. By giving another assistance it removes the idea of independence and and places the person in question in a far deeper grave comprised of servitude and more reliance upon others. Each person must become this and attain pure power without charity, one must do it by ones own mind and by the sweat of ones own body, anything else would be false. If another comes to you and pleads for your assistance in his or her transformation you must firmly deny them. Why say I this? As mentioned previously each person is responsible for his or her own life and no other is beholden to it. By collaborating on this you would be sending the person on a dreadful path. One may present true power to another, but the other may not realize what it actually is. This is because he has not earned it and fails to recognize its significance.

And what are you currently accomplishing? What does this thread accomplish, other than to give you an outlet to whine. We're not trying to cure cancer with these threads. We're just arguing.

^ I agree with him. Dude, you're not doing anything else but enticing the fire. If you don't like it here, you don't have to stay. It is a bit intimidating, but you'll get used to it. You don't have to join in on some of the immature bouts, but you can really learn a lot while having a good argument.

While I recognize that much of what goes on here serves little purpose other than arguement ad infinitum. Yes, at times it does bring out the worst in people. However, I have also found a few people I consider friends, even people I disagree with. I have grown as a person. My understanding of others, their perspectives, the foundational principles of their belief structures, their humanity, have all been enhanced. I've learned things I didn't know. I have a large level of practice developing patience in talking to people I disagree with and who seem at times incapable of understanding my perspective and how to better communicate my perspectives to others. I've had my beliefs strengthened by being faced to examine them at a deeper level in order to present my ideas in a more complete manner. I've learned new ideas and perspectives that have become my own as a result of the interaction and I very much appreciate having had the opportunity, even if that means that I have faced ridicule and meanness on occasion. It has been worth it.

So, I'd say my humanity and who I am have benefited greatly from having been here.

We are all human...right?I'm not. That's why they seem so irrational to me. Don't you agree?