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Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

robert.ocallahan.org

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Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#171

Post by grzm »

kapauldo wrote: post #169

He loses all credibility by boastfully declaring himself "christian." He is guilty of the same elitism he decries the u.s. policy for.

Give him the benefit of the doubt. It's something he's proud of and wants to be identified with. Besides, it's not even in the post itself. I don't see at all that this is some kind of declaration of elitism, any more than the "Hacker" and "Repatriated Kiwi" are. I could interpret those uncharitably as well, but would consider it crass to do so, particularly without knowing more about him.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#172

Post by nodamage »

imron wrote: post #167
nodamage wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm amazed by the cognitive dissonance necessary to equate people who are legal permanent residents of the United States with militants who are the targets of military action in ISIS-controlled territory. I also think it's hilarious that the right is now all of a sudden pretending to give a shit about all the "bombing and killing the US has been doing" when they clearly supported the invasion of Iraq and all the mili…

Firstly, I'm not on the right. I used to consider myself on the left, but given the Left's recent behaviour I no longer feel I belong there either. I'm also not from the US. I am however of Muslim heritage. My parents are Muslim (though not the middle-eastern variety) but they encouraged me and my siblings to make our own choice regarding religion (not all Islam is as strict on this as is made out). I chose not to fo…

If you're not on the right it must be an enormous coincidence that you're repeating the same conservative talking point being posted all over HN and the internet.

No one believes the US is only bombing militants, but obviously they are not intentionally targeting civilians either. The bombing of the hospital was clearly a huge, unfortunate mistake, but somehow has been twisted by those with an agenda into "Obama has a policy of bombing hospitals", which is absurd.

For the record I was opposed to Bush's original invasion of Iraq and subsequent military actions in the Middle East, along with Obama's (and now Trump's) continuation of said military actions (including the aforementioned use of drone strikes), and I fully agree that America should get the hell out of the Middle East because we're clearly doing more harm than good in the region.

That being said, Trump's blanket ban targeted normal, lawful permanent residents living in the United States, and as implemented left them stranded and unable to return home to their families if they happened to be outside of the country on Friday, for no reason other than what passport they happen to hold, so I think it's entirely understandable why people are so strongly opposed to it.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#173

Post by imron »

nodamage wrote: post #172
imron wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Firstly, I'm not on the right. I used to consider myself on the left, but given the Left's recent behaviour I no longer feel I belong there either. I'm also not from the US. I am however of Muslim heritage. My parents are Muslim (though not the middle-eastern variety) but they encouraged me and my siblings to make our own choice regarding religion (not all Islam is as strict on this as is made out). I chose not to fo…

If you're not on the right it must be an enormous coincidence that you're repeating the same conservative talking point being posted all over HN and the internet. No one believes the US is only bombing militants, but obviously they are not intentionally targeting civilians either. The bombing of the hospital was clearly a huge, unfortunate mistake, but somehow has been twisted by those with an agenda into "Obama has…

> If you're not on the right it must be an enormous coincidence that you're repeating the same conservative talking point being posted all over HN and the internet

Enormous coincidence it is then. Or perhaps your assumption that it's only conservatives/people on the right making those points is in error?

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#174

Post by nodamage »

imron wrote: post #173
nodamage wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're not on the right it must be an enormous coincidence that you're repeating the same conservative talking point being posted all over HN and the internet. No one believes the US is only bombing militants, but obviously they are not intentionally targeting civilians either. The bombing of the hospital was clearly a huge, unfortunate mistake, but somehow has been twisted by those with an agenda into "Obama has…

> If you're not on the right it must be an enormous coincidence that you're repeating the same conservative talking point being posted all over HN and the internet Enormous coincidence it is then. Or perhaps your assumption that it's only conservatives/people on the right making those points is in error?

Well, so far I've only seen conservatives attempt to make the massively flawed argument: "well Obama has already been bombing these countries, so who cares about a few visas?" as if they were referring to the same groups of people.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#175

Post by croon »

Silhouette wrote: post #152
ryandamm wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually think we suffer from false equivalency in the US. The two parties are radically different, the rhetoric is radically different. It's not that we suffer from a lack of consensus, it's that the right in the US has swerved sharply right, while the left has meandered a little left lately (but rightward across a ~30 year time span). The first source I could find, it's not universally agreed upon, but here: http…

The irony of your comment is that while you might well be right about the trends, by global political standards the two main parties in the US are barely distinguishable, except for a few clear dividing lines like guns or abortion.

I think that's the point.

I'm going to make a derisive comparison: A parent trying to cooperate with their child (if they can't assert dominance) will in many cases resort to move closer to the childs position, like getting them a candy as a reward if they put their shoes on. It doesn't matter much if the parent is in the right, if there is no way to convince the other party. Then diplomacy on your part is the last resort.

I'm not saying this is the right thing to do, but it does make logical sense.

If the GOP relentlessly moves to the right, and refuses to be bipartisan on anything (even something as basic and frankly obvious as public healthcare), then you're forced to move to the best they can agree on, as someone mentioned earlier: romneycare. I'm in no way knocking the core ideals of: less government spending, sane tax legislation, less hurdles to start a business, more freedom over what to put in your body, etc. But that's not what any of the GOP brass is about, at least not anymore.

It's fucked, but somehow tens of millions of people keep voting to fuck themselves, on basically all issues other than gun control and abortions. As a non-native, it's beyond baffling. But I guess Republican Jesus loves guns, female subservience and anarcho-capitalism.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#176

Post by croon »

ryandamm wrote: post #149
refurb wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

all of whom were openly racist, xenophobic Thank you for taking the first step at bringing both sides together! If we can just convince one side they are wrong and frankly evil, we can start the healing process.

I actually think we suffer from false equivalency in the US. The two parties are radically different, the rhetoric is radically different. It's not that we suffer from a lack of consensus, it's that the right in the US has swerved sharply right, while the left has meandered a little left lately (but rightward across a ~30 year time span). The first source I could find, it's not universally agreed upon, but here: http…

This is spot on.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#177

Post by ryandamm »

Silhouette wrote: post #152
ryandamm wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually think we suffer from false equivalency in the US. The two parties are radically different, the rhetoric is radically different. It's not that we suffer from a lack of consensus, it's that the right in the US has swerved sharply right, while the left has meandered a little left lately (but rightward across a ~30 year time span). The first source I could find, it's not universally agreed upon, but here: http…

The irony of your comment is that while you might well be right about the trends, by global political standards the two main parties in the US are barely distinguishable, except for a few clear dividing lines like guns or abortion.

Yeah, that's true too. A global perspective on US politics is usually depressing.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#178

Post by ryandamm »

croon wrote: post #175
Silhouette wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The irony of your comment is that while you might well be right about the trends, by global political standards the two main parties in the US are barely distinguishable, except for a few clear dividing lines like guns or abortion.

I think that's the point. I'm going to make a derisive comparison: A parent trying to cooperate with their child (if they can't assert dominance) will in many cases resort to move closer to the childs position, like getting them a candy as a reward if they put their shoes on. It doesn't matter much if the parent is in the right, if there is no way to convince the other party. Then diplomacy on your part is the last r…

As a native, it's baffling. I think the only explanation is the breakdown between input and output; when spin and now outright confabulation carry more weight than facts, people can easily be swayed to vote against their own self interest.

Basically, Fox News created the Tea Party. Which in turn helped the rise of Breitbart and other, even more insane outlets. It's a howling echo chamber of lies, whose fuel is hate and ultimate outcome is more inequality... which is perhaps the real motive underneath it all.

So that's a series of guesses, but yeah, still baffling.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#179

Post by semi-extrinsic »

Neliquat wrote: post #137
semi-extrinsic wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree this is overlooked. I know of a research group at a high-profile university in Europe that had to hide the fact they had a key team member from Iran when they applied for using a large US supercomputer. IIRC this was back in 2013. So they got a user account for one European-born team member, who gave the login details to the Iranian person who then did the actual work on the supercomputer.

You should not post details of international fraud in public forums buddy.

Meh. I have no relation to the university in question, I don't know any names of those involved; the story was told to me by a casual acquaintance some years back, who had heard it from someone else etc. so it's hardly substantive details. If the CIA want to investigate every Iranian who used to be in some undisclosed European university half a decade ago (probably tens of thousands of people, with no central records to tap; said person might just be visiting for some months and not registered anywhere), on the basis of internet hearsay, they can be my guest.

Re: Tripling Down Against USA Conference Hosting

#180

Post by Buge »

ctrl_freak wrote: post #84
Buge wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Canada can require you to give up your phone password when entering. As far as I heard, the US does not require that (but can confiscate your phone). Is there possibly another country that doesn't require it?

US CBP definitely can ask for your passcode/passwords. There was a post on HN last week about a guy who refused to turn over his passcode: https://vc.gg/blog/so-its-been-a-while.html

Yes, the US can ask for you password, but they can't require you to give up your password. If you don't give your password, they confiscate your device. In Canada, if you don't give your password they can charge you with a crime and you can spend up to a year in jail.
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