When people say crypto is the answer to cash, I ask them what happens when the internet is down
Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
261–270 of 437 posts
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#262Earlier quoted context omitted.
There were a total of 117 lynchings in India in 2019, compared to 41 for the US in the same time period. This is the same number of lynchings on a per capita basis - while 117 lynchings is a 117 too many, the number is effectively negligible in a country of 1.2 billion people. Execution style hit jobs on rivals? When did these happen? Are you simply making up executions in your mind? Claiming India will collapse in 1…
Is there a source for the 41 lynchings in America?
In my above comment, in order to acertain the data and compare India's statistics to those of the US, I tried googling it, but could not seem to find any reliable answers. As an alternative, I decided to use ChatGPT.
Unfortunately, I did not do my due diligence and visit each link - the links seemed to be authentic, and I went along with it. ChatGPT gave me the number 41 and the links that I have mentioned above.
Now that you have pointed it out, I tried visiting those links and the pages seem to not exist. I also put them in the Wayback Machine, which says it hasn't archived them.
That's why you'll notice the statistics are for 2019 - the pandemic is not yet part of the equation and I expected ChatGPT to have information for 2019.
I fear ChatGPT may have 'hallucinated' the data and the links. I can't seem to find a reliable source for the 41 lynchings. As such, my comment above stands moot, and I hope it is ignored - I can't seem to find the delete option.
I do sincerely apologize. It was not my intention to spread misinformation. I didn't do my due diligence, and now know better.
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#263Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don’t know how you can look at the expansion of democracy worldwide over the 20th century and say it’s just wishful thinking!
By most metrics, democracy is currently in contraction.
The space of democracy is already taken by the leader of the freeworld that dictates how democracy should look like. So if you can't play the game, it is logical to want to play your own game.
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#264Earlier quoted context omitted.
>The reason for the oppression is, a large portion of every country actually wants to be oppressed. Nobody wants to be oppressed. A large portion of the population often wants to be oppressors themselves. They are addicted to controlling others. This might be raising tax on X group, or criminalizing Y minority. Many people don't like voluntary association and choice. They want compelled behavior that conforms to thei…
are you familiar with the lower middle-class rednecks who form the republican party, and elect people who at every turn scam them, screw them, and try to take away their medical benefits and social security? yes, they do want to be oppressed - but by their own people. not by your people. my wife is a chinese xpat who got her master's here and stayed. when we go to visit her old parents who have a picture of mao on th…
Unfortunately this is so true. I made this experience after travelling to oppressed countries. Just to add, a lot of time it is a net positive for the people, and more complex than propagated from the outside.
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#265Note: My comment is about communication restrictions and not about Imran Khan or Pakistan.
Restricting communication does indeed introduce a bias in information that people may get and thus the opinion they may forge. As such, freedom of communication is a pilar of democracy. But in some cases, communication may also be harmful and should be limited. Regardless if the info is true or false, if it may generate a harmful mass movement, it should be restrained. It's a bit more subtile than that, but I can't develop for conciseness.
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#266Earlier quoted context omitted.
What you suggest is impossible, because you are attacking a wrench on the head problem with a coding solution. You can always get a dish and connect to your choice of orbital provider, if your ISP - which is regulated - is blocked. The problem is, guys with guns will come to your door, beat you with a wrench, and put you in jail. Now if we solve for the real issue - lack of freedom because of a ruling class, the tech…
> EU citizens have no freedom of speech I was thinking exactly that the other day, while watching a TV show on national publicly funded television, where a variety of pundits where discussing the first year of the present term of the ruling president, and the on-set comedian summed up the situation : "the panel and the country is split in two : those that don't like the ruler, and those who hate him". The youngest pa…
The problem with it is that you only have free speech until someone higher in the power structure decides whatever you're saying is insulting.
Free speech in the US is actually limited in some ways, for example speech is only protected from abridgement by the government, something that's becoming more relevant by the day as social media platforms gain more and more sway over the public discourse.
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#267Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll give the country 10 years to implode I am willing to take a bet for any $$ value with 10x odds in your favor to contest that claim. more inclusive, social justice oriented, and less violent Hot take. If you genuinely cared about these things, you'd end up a supporter of the Modi Govt. I do not mind views that are diametrically opposite to me. But, every article in western media seems to be written by someone who…
You have to be living under a rock to not see the continuous degradation of press freedom in the country. You can go through this research for some in-depth review https://indianculturalforum.in/2021/01/08/behind-bars-arrest...
Is it the same research that put Pakistan and Afghanistan way above India?
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#268I would like to believe there is a future where blocking access to the internet is unilaterally impossible. Major powers being able to pull the rug on what has become a foundation of modern society like this is too scary of a thing to allow. What could the answer be? Satellite-powered relays and DIY-able user devices to talk to them?
What you suggest is impossible, because you are attacking a wrench on the head problem with a coding solution. You can always get a dish and connect to your choice of orbital provider, if your ISP - which is regulated - is blocked. The problem is, guys with guns will come to your door, beat you with a wrench, and put you in jail. Now if we solve for the real issue - lack of freedom because of a ruling class, the tech…
> EU citizens have no freedom of speech
Although this is not a EU thing, thus varies country by country, that’s something I’m not happy about the European approach to freedom of speech.
It’s usually the Nazi stuff and defamation that is not allowed, so it doesn’t affect most people but still is in principle I would prefer the absolute free speech. The American approach is better on this.
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#269Earlier quoted context omitted.
What you suggest is impossible, because you are attacking a wrench on the head problem with a coding solution. You can always get a dish and connect to your choice of orbital provider, if your ISP - which is regulated - is blocked. The problem is, guys with guns will come to your door, beat you with a wrench, and put you in jail. Now if we solve for the real issue - lack of freedom because of a ruling class, the tech…
As a EU citizen I’m a bit offended, how do EU citizens have no freedom of speech?
You just got told so.
Re: Internet disrupted in Pakistan amid arrest of former PM Imran Khan
#270Earlier quoted context omitted.
Paki here, here to give the sad truth: while he most definitely profited from this (and other) deals, the fact that this deal was passed through when he was in office without any issue then , and the fact that the other party (the property tycoon) is NOT also been indicted means that there is most definitely a political manoeuvre. The same happened with the previous PM, Nawaz Sharif. Most people remember his name wit…
I'm seriously confused how people can remotely equate them. Nawaz sharif is worth 100s of millions. He's driving around in Bentleys in London for 4 years while his brother is PM of Pakistan. I really want to know what did IK profit in the current allegations? He's creating a university where students learn for free like his decades old hospitals where people get free healthcare.
I am not exactly sure what I can say that will convince you.
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Not everything is about money, some times it's about power.
Just because one is more corrupt doesn't mean the other is not corrupt.
Just because one does good thing doesn't mean that everything they do is good.
Just because a certain thing is good doesn't mean it's not also a white-washing attempt.
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I really don't want to get into a he-said she-said, because frankly I damn care.
Also, before I get accused of favoritism, let me just say beforehand that me ( and my family) were voters of the party Mr. Khan belongs to (PTI) during the 2013 and 2018 elections.
This is not a good guy / bad guy kinda deal. This is a political struggle between two factions, and the less emotionally attached you are, the better you can judge it.