Boy, this video brought back some really nice memories for me. I spent a year living in West Papua (the other half of the island that belongs to Indonesia). Although the people I worked and lived with were not seeing white people for the first time, it was still one helluva a culture difference.

>> ^KnivesOut:

This video gave me chills. The first contact, with the armed warriors approaching the camera-wielding white ghosts.... That could have gone really poorly. What brave people, on both sides.


Never once did I worry about anything like that. While it is true that there is near constant tribal fighting on the island, I would contend that the larger society is extremely peaceful. Always welcoming and trustful with huge smiles and even bigger feasts for anyone that came to their villages.

Basically, violence there comes in downward spirals that start with directed aggression. That mostly has to do with the fact that they believe wholeheartedly in equality. If one tribe raids a village and kills someone, then retribution must be made and one person form the attacking tribe must be killed. Of course, the raid that seeks retribution ends up killing two people, so then the attacks start again. This goes on and on until the numbers are equal on each side, which can take a while. However, if you come in peace, there is nothing to worry about.

As pointed out in Guns, Germs, and Steel, they are also an extremely democratic society. There is no chief, only a 'big man' whose job it is to facilitate discussions and carry out the final decisions. In this way, it is unlikely that one person would freak out and somehow cause something terrible to happen since they must rely on the consent of the entire tribe.

>> ^raverman:

I come bringing viruses and diseases you have no immunity to and no medicines to treat. Here eat my food and handle my possessions.


It's not quite the same situation as it was with Native Americans or those tribes still surviving in the Amazon. While these people may have never had direct contact with a white person before, they certainly had indirect contact. Europeans have been visiting the island since the spice trade began in the 14th century.

The tribes can be roughly divided into coastal peoples and mountain peoples. The coastal peoples have had contact with Europeans for hundreds of years and built up tolerances to their diseases. Mountain people sometimes comes to the beach, and vice-versa, so in this way, resistances to common European diseases are pretty well dispersed among the population.

Actually, it is the white people that are in much more danger of falling ill. We are poorly equipped to handle malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. This, in part, is why there were still 'uncontacted' tribes well into the 20th century.


It's been almost a year since I lived there, and I must say that it is the one place I constantly dream of returning to. They could really use the money from tourism so if you are looking for something off the beaten path without being extremely dangerous, I suggest you check it out. It really is a paradise.

It's also the color of Breast Cancer Supporters. Maybe some of those folks were really rallying for Breast Cancer Research?


>> ^westy:

The fans should have had a big man on man snog sessoin or all had penis photographs or had a big sign that said WE LOVE GAYS . MAN love 4 the win.
I get that the pink thing is simply a method of communicating the idea and support i just resent that pink is meant to be the gay / femail colour.

The fans should have had a big man on man snog sessoin or all had penis photographs or had a big sign that said WE LOVE GAYS . MAN love 4 the win.

I get that the pink thing is simply a method of communicating the idea and support i just resent that pink is meant to be the gay / femail colour.

>> ^Xax:

Whatever happened... it really sucks for him that the whole world is judging him now, whereas back in my day, it would've been a few kids on the school yard and that's probably it. He's 12. He maybe deserved getting his ass handed to him. He doesn't deserve the derision and judgement (and probably harassment) of the world for this. Hopefully he succeeds despite his parentage and does well in life.


The 'abused becomes the abuser' excuse doesn't wash. The peer pressure excuse doesn't wash. These kids should be taking personal responsibility for their actions. He thought he could play at being a big man dominating others, for whatever reason, well now it's coming back to bite him in the ass. And I for one am pleased as punch. The broken leg, the humiliation and derision etc are the wages of his actions.

As a person who was frequently bullied and stood up for myself (and usually came out of the fight in a better condition than the bully) I have little sympathy for him. You pick a fight, you're gambling that the other guy isn't going to kick your ass. Bullies either gang up or pick what they think are soft targets because they are, at heart, cowards. Rat boy bet wrong.

>> ^dystopianfuturetoday:

Hey Mr. Fear, how nice of you to try and intimidate people who disagree with you. You use your influence on this site in a very authoritarian manner for someone who is so against authoritarianism. I'm not trying to start a fight, just pointing something out you might not have noticed. I've done this kind of thing too in the past, so I know what I'm talking about.
Why poison the well and discourage a healthy conversation? >> ^blankfist:
And from the supporters we'll hear nothing but excuses and apologies. Party of peace.



It's ok I'm not intimidated...I'll just keep threatening QM with the wrath of god to feel like a big man and all is well.

It appears we are not the asshats eachother thought to be.

my name is Brent. I like to ride a mountain bike, massive earphones on and enjoy the outside.
long, or short walks on the beach.
In reply to this comment by Fantomas:
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms;
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."

Suprisingly no mention of baldness.

How on earth did we get to this point? From trading silly insults to hair (or lack thereof) to Shakespeare. If only all life's conversations evolved in this matter.

In reply to this comment by BoneRemake:
I shave my head, I bypass the entire ordeal of hair. half the time facial hair is longer then my scalp hair. its odd. 18-27 complete hippy look, long hair cut on occasions but that was once in a blue moon soo long scraggly hair and facial hair was prevalent for damn near ten years. Then this shaving and such started. reminds me of hearing something about Shakespeare 7 life's of men. or something like that.

In reply to this comment by Fantomas:
The irony of the whole affair is that I actually have a fairly full beard myself, although I do shave my neck. I guess that makes me a neckbeard in denial. With the modus operandi of neckbeards being rage over the internet, it only serves to confirm the diagnosis.

In reply to this comment by BoneRemake:
" neckbeard "

made me *sad to admit* almost piss myself.

hydrating after work and sifting can be messy.

Awwwww. You made that big man cry.

Really and truly, two lucky people.

May all be so lucky. I am.

<ObligatoryYakovSmirnoffJoke>

In America, you do not want to cross big man in boots. In soviet Russia, big man in boots crosses you!

</ObligatoryYakovSmirnoffJoke>

In reply to this comment by Someone:
Yeah, it take a "real big man" to bully a tiny bird eh? This video wasn't funny at all in my opinion. It's obvious the little tweet held hostage wants freedom!

Yeah, it take a "real big man" to bully a tiny bird eh? This video wasn't funny at all in my opinion. It's obvious the little tweet held hostage wants freedom!

Big Man Japan-Documentary-style flick on the legacy of Japan's giant, electrically-charged, stigmatic protector- Masaru Daisatô - Dai-Nihonjin!

Twisted film, worth the watch

>> ^Drachen_Jager:
Not really robotic, it's a guy in a suit. Cool suit, but not robotic.


Boy, then that's one hellofa big man in that t-rex suit!

I support a magical prayer based health care plan. Prayer works better than science for curing the sick. Just ask Jesus. Oh wait. He's dead. Well... if magic from the creator of the universe can't save Jesus' ass from the cross, then what the fuck. We should just all kill each other now and get it over with.. then we can all be happy and live in heaven together in peace. I hear they have the most amazing socialized programs in heaven. Heck.. all your food, housing, entertainment is flat free and provided by the big man in the sky himself!

"that's the nature of these people (ACORN, or blacks, or just people this guy doesn't like i guess), they try their best to incite you so that you will act in an inappropriate fashion, and then they will claim you for your actions"

this after trying to get the whole crowd to attack them, and asking them to try something (it takes a big man to pick a fight with a woman).

>> ^ForgedReality:
I'd have called that fucker out. "Did you have something you wanted to contribute? Hey, stop being a PUSSY, and come down here man-to-man. Come on down here and state your case to the cameras. Come over here face to face, and we'll sort you out. Or are you too scared? Let's go big man, or I'm coming over there. What way do you want it?"
That dumb mullet-wearing hick would get knocked the fuck out.

Uh oh...we've got ourselves an internet tough guy.