Babydoll
Blue Crack Addict
For one thing, one of many things: Africa isn't a country. There's no "African" language.
Yes, the Superthread, not Describe. This has always been the land of informed political discussion.
I have a story I told a couple friends about - including Wild, Dani.
While at the check out counter at Target the other day, the sales associate asked me if I wanted to apply for a Target card as they always do. I said no. She kept pressing me for one, as is her job. I told her the reason - I'm not a US citizen so I can't have one. (and I really can't). She then proceeds to ask me where I'm from. I reply "Tanzania."
She's like "Huh??? What's that?"
Me: "East Africa."
Her: "Never heard of it..."
Me: "Ok.. "
Her: "Then how come you speak English if you're from, like, Africa??"
Me: ".... I learnt it in school."
Her: "You went to school there??"
Me: "Yes."
Her: "And they taught English??? "
Me: "Uh huh..."
Her: " Wow... don't people in Africa speak African?? That chanting thing..."
Me: *disgusted, leaves*
Has it? I've been in here before and posted a couple of times, but got the feeling it was mostly banter (always a good thing ) - the sort of thing that's great when you know people in the thread, but not when you don't. So I never used to post in here. If I'd have seen more political discussion I would've done
I don't understand what you're getting at when you call this describe? I've never been a describe poster, so I wouldn't know, but isn't the only difference the people as opposed to the conversation?
And I personally don't see anything wrong with being an idealist, I think there is only ever opportunity for social revolution (what we're very in need of here in England at the moment) with he presence of idealist thinkers Without the idealists, you'll always be hitting a brick wall.
Oh wow Zee, that's just....I don't even know what to say.
I have gotten a lot of "how come you speak English so well?" or (this was actually really funny, I laughed at the person) "do all Colombian people look like you?"....
I have gotten a lot of "how come you speak English so well?" or (this was actually really funny, I laughed at the person) "do all Colombian people look like you?"....
Oh wow Zee, that's just....I don't even know what to say.
I have gotten a lot of "how come you speak English so well?" or (this was actually really funny, I laughed at the person) "do all Colombian people look like you?"....
People in general are just stupid. Even in my whitest of whiteness, I encountered utter fools when I was in the US. Including one who was surprised how well I knew English. My favourite, though, was the chap who tried to tell me that New Zealand is north of Australia. No, I've flown between the two probably about 30 times now. I think I know where my two countries of residence are comparatively located.
Axver what is your view on abortion?
It has devolved into more mindless banter than in the past - of course, it is a chat thread, but everything in moderation, you know? We claim to have had Interference's only calm, rational abortion debate. Vazza and I are both Political Science majors, she graduated with honours in it earlier this year, and we also used to have a number of FYM regulars post here until they left, so we'd have some very in depth discussions. It isn't - perhaps past tense would be better - unusual for the actual Superthread crowd to have a theoretical political debate in conjunction with, say, a sports discussion or oversharing. What I would say we don't welcome is vapidity or shallowness, regardless of whether the topic is politics or sport or whatever.
While I would say I have my idealist strand on what should be done, it is necessary to be pragmatic about what actually could be done. Hence I tend to get lumped in to things such as International Relations realism (due to my analysis of the system as it stands), despite my quite strong disagreement with realists over what constitutes the best political behaviour for achieving beneficial outcomes. I think the most fundamental point is that realism emphasises competition while I emphasise co-operation.
Miss me???
Stupid pc & more stupid hubby
Why does this remind me of the time in an airport when i kept telling someone I was Irish and he just kept replying with "you're english?". Normally I'm not nationalist at all but grouping Ireland and England together always annoys me; they're two different countries all I want is people to know that...
Why does this remind me of the time in an airport when i kept telling someone I was Irish and he just kept replying with "you're english?". Normally I'm not nationalist at all but grouping Ireland and England together always annoys me; they're two different countries all I want is people to know that...
*Me and Axver kill the thread with our horrifically long posts*
Oh, it seems not everyone's been killed
Someone in America asked me if I was irish (because of my accent, which couldn't be any more English if it tried ), when I said 'No, I'm English' they replied - "Oh, well, same thing!"
... not quite.
I'm the same way with Australia and New Zealand. I do like both countries, I wouldn't be a citizen of Australia and continue to live in it if I didn't think it's better for me to live here than elsewhere, but I also think very highly of New Zealand, I wouldn't be a historian of it if I didn't feel strongly about it, and I really don't appreciate the two being lumped together.
Someone in America asked me if I was irish (because of my accent, which couldn't be any more English if it tried ), when I said 'No, I'm English' they replied - "Oh, well, same thing!"
... not quite.
My favorite from all the glaringly ignorant and ridiculously stupid comments I've encountered is "If you're from Tanzania why aren't you black?"
I mean.....
I think there's just been a shift in the groups in here - yes, some people who have drifted may come back now and again, but I'm sorry to say I think the superthread as you know it has changed. Perhaps the best thing you can do is maintain the general debate when you're here, and work with who you've got. Unless you want the thread to die as sad and lonely death like it will if people keep bickering. I like the mix, too, being able to debate on political issues, when it suits, and being able to chat about the most mundane of things, when it suits. And I wouldn't say a conversation, because of its topic, is necessarily a vapid one. But vacuous chat is something I cannot bear, and something I've yet to meet in here yet thank god.
I'd make a reply to your stance, it's just I'm in such agreement with it that there's little left to say. Only that I don't agree that realism always encourages competition. I think there can be equivocally based, yet equally static, realism that is incongruous (in it's aim) with myself and what I hope for. Yet what I believe, and what I think is the best political way forward, will always be inexplicably linked. Because I'm too much of an idealist
I can really see why you're coming from Axver. I mean personally abortion just seems wrong to me; I wouldn't go all the way to say it was murder but I just can't agree with it...but then again it is the woman's choice and I would never support it being illegal...even if I disagree with it completely...if that makes any sense
Why does this remind me of the time in an airport when i kept telling someone I was Irish and he just kept replying with "you're english?". Normally I'm not nationalist at all but grouping Ireland and England together always annoys me; they're two different countries all I want is people to know that...
Someone in America asked me if I was irish (because of my accent, which couldn't be any more English if it tried ), when I said 'No, I'm English' they replied - "Oh, well, same thing!"
... not quite.
I can really see why you're coming from Axver. I mean personally abortion just seems wrong to me; I wouldn't go all the way to say it was murder but I just can't agree with it...but then again it is the woman's choice and I would never support it being illegal...even if I disagree with it completely...if that makes any sense