>> ^ant:

>> ^silvercord:
promote




Hi Ant! Long time no talk. I couldn't resist bringing about a bit of Sift past into our holiday season. Best wishes to you and yours.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sc

This is what happens when the journalist asks questions for which no talking point has been prepared.

I love how the first 20 mins or so had no talking but so much story telling. Pixar are really film genius's.

Of course waterboarding is torture. Any act that is deliberately performed on an unwilling participant is torture. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong. The real question is, "What level of torture is appropriate?"

When prisoners are captured, it is unrealistic to expect that NO pressure of any kind will ever be applied to get information out of them. Involuntary confinement, lousy food, no talking, 'mean face' interrogations, bright lights, handcuffs, shackles, shouting, loud music, irregular sleep times... All these things are forms of pressure... TORTURE. No one seems to be upset about it. Why is that?

It is my observation that Waterboarding as a topic is almost entirely political. A bunch of radicals on 'one side' want to prosecute political opponents on the 'other side' for something - anything. Detainee abuses became a political vehicle to that end. This despite the factual reality that this kind of torture (and far worse) has gone on for decades. No one had a problem with prisoner treatment under Clinton, Bush 1, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, FDR, et al.

Selective outrage makes me suspicious. When a person really believe in something then they believe it at all times for ALL people - not just when they have a political axe to grind. I don't see 'thinking' when it comes to this issue. I see people reactionism, groupspeak, talking points, and a LOT of people who are rather too willing to let someone else do thier thinking for them.

I fully expect a lot of snap-reaction to this comment. That's fine. But ask yourself... "Why do I object to waterboarding, but not to interrogations, imprisonment, and all other forms of torture?"

*silence*

THIS IS A LIBRARY YOUNG MAN! NO TALKING!

>> ^jonny:
Why has nearly everyone else that has engaged in such behavior been given a warning, or at least a forum (siftiquisition) in which to defend themselves? Berticus was afforded no such luxury. He was banned less than 30 minutes after his actions. No talk. No vote. No consensus. Boom. Gone.

Actually, good point. I believe berticus was suspended to remain consistent with other choices the admin has made, and, believe me, I really wish berti was here because he's really the salt of the Sift. I'm torn on this one, but I think the idea behind the temporary suspension of berticus was for consistency more than any other nefarious means. I know your comment about Stalin is meant to be a bit drastic to make a point, but it's a bit overboard, no?

I do believe berticus should've been given a Siftquisition. Personally, I do. But, I think this is one of those times when those in charge would've been damned if they did and damned if they didn't. I don't think we should incite martyrdom from a two week ban. We miss him. I do. He was more than cool in my book.

>> ^dag:
Berticus is a good dude - and I'm sorry we had to suspend him for 2 weeks - but we're doing our best to be even-handed and consistent with the rules.

That's just it dag - you did not have to ban him and you are not being consistent in your application of the rules. Why has nearly everyone else that has engaged in such behavior been given a warning, or at least a forum (siftiquisition) in which to defend themselves? Berticus was afforded no such luxury. He was banned less than 30 minutes after his actions. No talk. No vote. No consensus. Boom. Gone.

[edit] Apologies for editing the previous comment while you were responding. My mind is kind of racing right now and I realized there were a couple details left out. And deep apologies to everyone for such crass use of "faggot".

A professional media manager says:

"Israel has the sympathy and understanding of much of the international community..."

"[Israel] has the sympathy and understanding (or so) of much of the moderate Arab and Muslim world]..."

"...no other democracy would have waited so long or reacted any differently..."

"Hamas... is not only a danger to Israel but a danger to the region..."

"This is a fight between moderates and extremists, and I think that everybody around the world doesn't want to see extremism prevail."

Then...

"There are no talking points."

Where's Letterman's lie counter?

Love it!

Note to Bill Maher:

The next time you get to answer a David Brooks criticism - eviscerate the bastard.

Redsky,

The cons are all about war. War is the answer to everything they do. No talk, just fight. Like a bad John Wayne WWII flick. Don't talk, just punch somebody in the mouth and show everybody how tough you are.

Obama, if he's elected, will be attacked 24/7.

Bank on it.

Bush and his plebes have been protected 24/7, and any time the truth leaked out about their perfidy, the cons in the aisles screamed "liberal media." Most Americans are so damned stupid that they can't tell the truth from a lie. If it's the truth, but it exposes Bush and Cheney, then it's just liberal "hatred" and you can't beat that.

We've lost. We've lost to corruption supported by stupidity.

Nothing can beat that except its own cancerous nature.

Well, that's it... your views are completely insane, and you will either learn that in the future by discovering that you were grossly wrong in your thinking, or hopefully not, by putting them into practice and discovering the deep damage you do to children by acting in that way.


And man... to try and make little of a couple of kids, of ages 6 and 10 engaging in sex is just.... WOW. You are really, and truly misguided.

And now I really have finished with this topic, there's no talking you around as you are obviously somewhat deranged.

Well, maybe the odd assassination or two during this presidential farce would liven things up a bit, eh? After all, isn't it the good ol' American way?

In fact, why not arm all the candidates to the teeth with knives and guns, drop them into a huge walled off arena and let them go at it for a whole week? Stream the entire bloodbath live 24/7, last one standing wins the entire planet to do with as they please.

Come on, who wouldn't want to watch Obama wearing only khaki shorts and a bandana blowing John McCain's head all over the wall with a 7.62mm armour piercing round? And you know Hillary is gonna look damn hot in full SWAT gear with an AK47 strapped to her back.

No debate, no talking points, just good old fashioned bloody slaughter, dismembered limbs and bullets through the spine.

I bet they're planning it right now.

I know what you mean.

In reply to this comment by arvana:
Thanks; likewise. I just haven't been hanging out much in comment-land as it's become a bit too fratboyish for my tastes lately.

In reply to this comment by oxdottir:
hi there. I still notice how many of the videos I like are yours...

In reply to this comment by arvana:
Fixed.

Long time no talk -- how's you?  *hugs*


In reply to this comment by oxdottir:
*dead
It's not just slow loading, I checked at the original tube url.

Thanks; likewise. I just haven't been hanging out much in comment-land as it's become a bit too fratboyish for my tastes lately.

In reply to this comment by oxdottir:
hi there. I still notice how many of the videos I like are yours...

In reply to this comment by arvana:
Fixed.

Long time no talk -- how's you?  *hugs*


In reply to this comment by oxdottir:
*dead
It's not just slow loading, I checked at the original tube url.

hi there. I still notice how many of the videos I like are yours...

In reply to this comment by arvana:
Fixed.

Long time no talk -- how's you?  *hugs*


In reply to this comment by oxdottir:
*dead
It's not just slow loading, I checked at the original tube url.

What, no talking refrigerator?