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"That's Why You Don't Have Any Friends."

joethepeacock.blogspot.co.uk

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Re: "That's Why You Don't Have Any Friends."

#201

Post by xixi77 »

Tooluka wrote: post #27
magv wrote: post #19

Is this a US thing? In Ukraine, no-one is weird. No-one is a geek, or a nerd -- there aren't even equivalent words in our language. Nobody thinks less of you if you're smart, shy, or talk about transistors on occasion. There are no "popular kids", and even the scariest kid in school is not a bully. So, again, what is wrong with US schools?

I'm from Ukraine and I can say that at least in case of one school you are wrong. There was complete pack of school BS - nerds, geeks, alpha's, omega's, dominance games, bullying, etc. etc. And it was a little better than average school in the capital. I wondered at times what it is like in the regional schools... PS: you don't need to call geek "a geek" to bully him ;)

Those (regional or generally crappy) places can actually be better for some people -- true, bullying for the select unlucky few can be far worse, but on the other hand in my experience the rest of the students tend to be less cliquish compared to the "a little better than average" places.

Re: "That's Why You Don't Have Any Friends."

#202

Post by Aloisius »

xixi77 wrote: post #196
Aloisius wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being combative, antagonistic and argumentative doesn't make you weird. It makes you a bully.

I've met quite a few people who enjoy arguing about something far more than discussing favorite sports teams, or comparative benefits of different restaurant chains (eww!!), or the color of someone's socks (no, I'm not inventing this), or whatever their kids are doing in school. Of course you would want to stay away from idiots, but say OWS vs. libertarianism, or whether AAPL is a good investment, or pretty much anyt…

There is a vast difference between liking to have interesting and energetic discussions or debates about something you care and/or are interested in and provoking someone for the sake of having an argument.

Provoking someone for the sake of having an argument is a passive-aggressive way for insecure people to get their rocks off by either winning an argument or simply upsetting someone. It may not be hitting someone, but it is bullying.

As someone who used to do it when I was much younger, it simply isn't a good trait to have.

Re: "That's Why You Don't Have Any Friends."

#203

Post by xixi77 »

Aloisius wrote: post #202
xixi77 wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've met quite a few people who enjoy arguing about something far more than discussing favorite sports teams, or comparative benefits of different restaurant chains (eww!!), or the color of someone's socks (no, I'm not inventing this), or whatever their kids are doing in school. Of course you would want to stay away from idiots, but say OWS vs. libertarianism, or whether AAPL is a good investment, or pretty much anyt…

There is a vast difference between liking to have interesting and energetic discussions or debates about something you care and/or are interested in and provoking someone for the sake of having an argument. Provoking someone for the sake of having an argument is a passive-aggressive way for insecure people to get their rocks off by either winning an argument or simply upsetting someone. It may not be hitting someone,…

argument for the sake of argument is fun. Even better if it is about something we don't care about.

but yes, provoking someone who does not want to have an argument usually only leads to mutual frustration, so it is indeed a pretty stupid thing to do.

Re: "That's Why You Don't Have Any Friends."

#204

Post by pascalr »

Retric wrote: post #178
pascalr wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I barely look at comments now because it's too often about little flaws and rarely about the main idea. You don't learn by arguing, it's pointless. Someone cannot be told the truth, he has to learn it by himself. "I can only show you the door, you have to walk through it.", Morpheus. I'd like to see comments about how to improve the idea and making even better, but I haven't found a single comment that does this yet.…

Don't read to far into kids's movies. http://xkcd.com/566/

It isn't just a kid's movie. You should watch it again.

Check on Google for "best philosophical movies" and it's always in the top 10.

Re: "That's Why You Don't Have Any Friends."

#206

Post by Retric »

pascalr wrote: post #204
Retric wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't read to far into kids's movies. http://xkcd.com/566/

It isn't just a kid's movie. You should watch it again. Check on Google for "best philosophical movies" and it's always in the top 10.

If you want deep science fiction that's still accessible, I would suggest 'the cold equations'. It's not a high budget film, but it captures the essence of classic science fiction instead of the Disneyland crap that makes up most of those lists.
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