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Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

rollingstone.com

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Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#101

Post by legulere »

matt_wulfeck wrote: post #84
legulere wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is not adherence to some constitution (especially the American constitution which contains quite some arbitrary and outdated things), but basic human rights. A constitution can be a legal framework for basic human rights, but many are pretty bad at that and the US has actively decided to not honor human rights (not accepting rulings of the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court,…

What things are outdated? It's a document that outlines the principles of separation of powers and the role of government. I think it is still very much relevant. Even if it was rewritten how would it be improved? Wouldn't we end up with the same principles just maybe worded differently?

The whole voting system for instance. With telecommunication better systems became feasible, and systems that also guarantee proportional representation like MMP [1] were devised.

There are several references to things that don't really apply anymore today. No matter how you might stand on the issue of the right to bear arms, the reference to militias doesn't really fit into the context of today's times.

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-member_proportional_repr...

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#102

Post by astrocat »

brightball wrote: post #36
cel1ne wrote: post #9

We live in the age of fear because the hose of information that floods us is constantly opened further: Letters → Telegram → Telephone → Radio → TV → Internet → Mobile Internet. Human beings need time to manage their emotions. Time spent waiting. Time being bored. Time when NO new information, not even positive, is arriving. We are constantly distracted and thus increasingly unable to sort out our feelings. That is t…

Nailed everything. My goodness. It's like the world needs an EMP day every week.

The Digital Sabbath. Also, while we're reinventing ancient traditions for the modern age, how about a Digital Salat - where you unplug and meditate for a few minutes 5 times a day.

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#103

Post by protomyth »

xexers wrote: post #92
protomyth wrote: post #56

Perhaps Rolling Stone would like a little introspection given their fear mongering and false reporting about the University of Virginia. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/business/media/rolling-sto...

Are you willing to give "Rolling Stone" a second chance? They've been quite apologetic about that incident. Op's piece seems pretty good to me.

Nope, since frankly, I wasn't giving them a chance before the incident. They had their heyday, but they are just another outrage press now. Their Boston Bombing cover was reprehensible. Its just another data point of a trend line.

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#104

Post by phantarch »

jacquesm wrote: post #83
tossaway1 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One reason it matters is because our Constitution explicitly grants citizens (not foreigners) certain rights. Our government is not allowed to violate those rights and if they do, they can technically be held accountable. The government can do shady things to outsiders within the constraints of the Constitution. As long as our government is honoring the Constitution, we have some hope of fixing its problems/flaws. If…

I don't give a fuck about the constitution of a country I don't live in but I too have rights.

Agreed, but tossaway's point hold some merit. If the people in this country aren't playing by the rules they've agreed to, it's going to be more difficult to get them to agree to new rules.

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#105

Post by mancerayder »

(Off Topic)

I posted a similarly-minded article, also from Rolling Stone, and it got flagged. While Trump was in the article's title, the flagger may not have read it since it was a bigger-picture article about the media and political system as a whole.

What's the line between flaggable and acceptable when it comes to articles such as these?

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#106

Post by kefka »

tossaway1 wrote: post #63
jacquesm wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Our government, in the last 8 years, used remotely operated drones to carry out extrajudicial killings of American citizens -- including a teenage boy. Not my government, but still I can't help but wonder why it should matter that they are American citizens. A very large multiple of citizens of other countries is murdered in this way and from where I'm sitting I don't see much difference between the two.

One reason it matters is because our Constitution explicitly grants citizens (not foreigners) certain rights. Our government is not allowed to violate those rights and if they do, they can technically be held accountable. The government can do shady things to outsiders within the constraints of the Constitution. As long as our government is honoring the Constitution, we have some hope of fixing its problems/flaws. If…

Hmmm... https://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bil...

I'm not seeing "citizens" or "non-citizens" in any of these contexts.

What I do see is: "Congress shall make no law", "right of the people", "consent of owner", and likewise.

It's an unpopular view of the Bill of Rights, but shouldn't these rights be extended to everyone, and not merely "citizens"? Cause I'm certainly not seeing that word anywhere in there.

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#107

Post by dv_dt »

tossaway1 wrote: post #63
jacquesm wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Our government, in the last 8 years, used remotely operated drones to carry out extrajudicial killings of American citizens -- including a teenage boy. Not my government, but still I can't help but wonder why it should matter that they are American citizens. A very large multiple of citizens of other countries is murdered in this way and from where I'm sitting I don't see much difference between the two.

One reason it matters is because our Constitution explicitly grants citizens (not foreigners) certain rights. Our government is not allowed to violate those rights and if they do, they can technically be held accountable. The government can do shady things to outsiders within the constraints of the Constitution. As long as our government is honoring the Constitution, we have some hope of fixing its problems/flaws. If…

It is actually a recent development that we differentiate the extension of rights to people vs citizen/noncitizen. And that is worrisome.

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#108

Post by Ccecil »

I have asked no less than 10 people why they listen to talk radio when it is clearly propaganda. The response is strangely always almost verbatim "I like to stay informed". It amazes me that they always say the same thing in response. I have found a similar thing when I mention I have no Facebook account...the response is almost always "I just like to keep in touch with people"...but they never seem to point out these are typically people that they stopped talking to years back for a reason. Has this person called you in the last 10 years? When was the last time you actually saw them in person?

Whenever I get the exact same response from multiple people I start to question the role of social media and "news" in brainwashing of the masses.

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#109

Post by ashark »

oarsinsync wrote: post #87
wu-ikkyu wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What practical use do you get out of reading "news" such as: >Breitbart and its national counterparts, neocon blogs, libertarian thinktanks - to sources I think of as pretty neutral - like the simple feeds of press conglomerates just feeding headlines... If you are feeling such crippling despair from consuming this information, why are you consuming it (Assuming you're not a sadist.)? Especially when you said yoursel…

If you don't understand the opposing viewpoint, you can't discuss it with those that agree with it. You're reduced to "no, you're wrong", which is the same viewpoint they have. Sticking to places that are skewed towards a similar bias as yourself doesn't help you understand those that have differing views to you. It can be especially important to be able to do this when those people are in your family, in order to ke…

Do you enjoy discussing these things with others? If not, I'd suggest stopping. Any good done is probably a drop lost in a rainstorm, and it's not worth any significant amount of harm to your personal happiness, IMO.

Now, local politics, where you can really make a difference, may be another matter. But again, if you're not enjoying it or making a fairly serious commitment to changing things for the better, you'll likely be happier just ignoring it.

Realizing that following national politics and policy is basically no more valuable to myself or to humanity than keeping up with soap operas was liberating. I'd suggest embracing that view if it's affecting your quality of life. It'll let you dip into it when it's interesting to you, without taking it too seriously or getting stressed out by it. Treat outcomes at anything above the county level like the weather, since it may as well be as far as you're personally concerned, unless you're rich or have the right combo of time+talent+will to make a real difference.

Re: Why We're Living in the Age of Fear

#110

Post by malz »

roymurdock wrote: post #65

As a 23 year old I can only imagine what it was like to live through the cold war with the colossal fear of nuclear annihilation soaking into every activity/decision. I feel like it must have been so overwhelming yet intangible - in some ways a nuclear holocaust is much less painful than losing a loved one in a car accident or seeing your country splinter into violent factions. A nuclear holocaust is a quick, binary…

Over 100 million of us watched The Day After when it aired, a TV movie about nuclear war. So not only was it top of mind, the range of media alternatives was so much smaller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_After

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