Politics

[cpr0312]

 

[BSO Dave]

 

[sgt_zim]

@Sabattiboy you are obviously free to say and post whatever you like but some of your posts seem quite cynical and conspiratorial more often than not. Is there a reason for this outlook? Did you have some negative experiences with a deceptive authority that shaped these views or suspicions? I think a healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing but if someone thinks everyone is ALWAYS lying or hiding things, I, for one, sometimes suspect that person of the same. I could be wrong. I am not trying to upset you. Just curious about your level of distrust. I believe the MSM has chosen sides and I am skeptical of many things they put out and also many politicians but I do know of some good people with those occupations.

can't speak for @Sabbatiboy, but for me, I don't trust the media, or politicians, as far as I can throw them.

There's a psychological condition most people suffer from, truly. It's called the Gell Mann Amnesia effect.

So you watch a new story one day, on a topic about which you are expert. Guns, for example (that's an easy one for most of us here). You practically laugh at how wrong they are in discussing guns. Then tomorrow, they run a news story about a subject where you aren't an expert, and you forget all about how horribly wrong they were on guns and largely accept what they're saying on this new subject. Meanwhile, some expert on this topic is watching it, saying the same WTF we would have on guns.

The sad thing is one doesn't have to be an expert to see how wrong the media is, and most politicians, on most things on which they bloviate. A decent education is enough to go "WTF...are these guys all liars, or are they idiots?"

I never knew this condition had an official name until the last couple years (I'm 53 now), but I was aware of its existence as a kid. Dad's a (retired) PhD entomologist and spent his entire life in agriculture. The news would run a story on ag or some insecticide or herbicide, and Dad would almost get apoplectic over how wrong they were.

IMO, the media and politicians are SO consistently wrong on SO many things, it's nearly impossible to give them the benefit of Hanlon's Razor. Even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while.

I do not distrust everyone. If most of the dudes here were my friends IRL, I'd trust you as much as I trust my small circle of actual friends. Not that I'd distrust you guys, I'd just be guarded until the relationships were established.

 

[Red Leg]

can't speak for @Sabbatiboy, but for me, I don't trust the media, or politicians, as far as I can throw them.

There's a psychological condition most people suffer from, truly. It's called the Gell Mann Amnesia effect.

So you watch a new story one day, on a topic about which you are expert. Guns, for example (that's an easy one for most of us here). You practically laugh at how wrong they are in discussing guns. Then tomorrow, they run a news story about a subject where you aren't an expert, and you forget all about how horribly wrong they were on guns and largely accept what they're saying on this new subject. Meanwhile, some expert on this topic is watching it, saying the same WTF we would have on guns.

The sad thing is one doesn't have to be an expert to see how wrong the media is, and most politicians, on most things on which they bloviate. A decent education is enough to go "WTF...are these guys all liars, or are they idiots?"

I never knew this condition had an official name until the last couple years (I'm 53 now), but I was aware of its existence as a kid. Dad's a (retired) PhD entomologist and spent his entire life in agriculture. The news would run a story on ag or some insecticide or herbicide, and Dad would almost get apoplectic over how wrong they were.

IMO, the media and politicians are SO consistently wrong on SO many things, it's nearly impossible to give them the benefit of Hanlon's Razor. Even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while.

I do not distrust everyone. If most of the dudes here were my friends IRL, I'd trust you as much as I trust my small circle of actual friends. Not that I'd distrust you guys, I'd just be guarded until the relationships were established.

Just remember, the same can be said about posts on an internet forum.

 

[sgt_zim]

Touché, LOL

 

[Foxi]

I wonder, how this all will reflect on next EU firearms directive, in private ownership of guns?
Their previous intentions was to ban semi automatic rifles (which did not pass), and to limit magazine capacities?
It will also be interesting to see how it will reflect German gun laws, as they are some of the most strict in EU.

as a hunter you can't complain so much about the gun laws in Germany.
OK, I may own only 2 handguns, now and then three. That's it.
And I would like to buy a revolver or pistol every year.But that's the way it is.
Long guns I may own more than I actually need directly(I write this of course not in a German forum where the offices read along ).After the hunt I have to close them properly, if children in the house also right..This happens almost reflexively.
But what is really annoying is the puritanical zeal of the courts that deny you the reliability for the weapons already if you do not pay the dog tax and is sentenced for it.
This is also tax evasion and is punishable.

p.s. as a hunter and as a sport shooter you are allowed to have weapons (unloaded and locked) in your house.
For a normal mortal the effort for it is futile

 

[mark-hunter]

The long term question, on EU commision, and then any next EU firearm directive will be: the policy on selfdefence firearms. (Czech model?)

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

 

[Red Leg]

I have said it often, that Jack Keane is a national treasure. I must assume the primary pearl clutcher in the White House is Jake Sullivan. He is a political animal (I would say hack, but that would give hacks a bad name) and has no real experience in military matters or foreign policy. Thus he is the perfect choice for a national security advisor.

His only concern is how any of this affects poll numbers.

 

[Woodcarver]

 

[Woodcarver]

 

[WAB]

These were research facilities. During the Soviet era, several of those labs were used for bio-weaponry research. There are dozens across Eastern Europe. Whether any of the ones in Ukraine follow better protocols than Wuhan, I have no clue. Among other research, some are doing research on any number of bacterial and viral diseases that represent a threat to humankind. As far as I have read, there was no attempt to develop gain of function strains. None of these likely would respond well to the stray Russian artillery round.

The problem with biological or viral samples is that you can't afford to miss anything. Yes thermite will destroy both, but unless the sample is contained in someway, how can one be sure it was fully destroyed?

Time for a chemical engineer to chime in. Thermite will certainly destroy what is in close contact, but it will equally almost certainly disperse viable chemicals/organisms. When we destroy agents like these we design contained facilities (incinerators) and closely control the temperature, time and oxygen levels. Some are better destroyed with excess O2, some with O2 deficiency, some require chemical catalysts. You can’t safely use an ad hoc approach.

 

[Wheels]

 

[Scott CWO]

can't speak for @Sabbatiboy, but for me, I don't trust the media, or politicians, as far as I can throw them.

There's a psychological condition most people suffer from, truly. It's called the Gell Mann Amnesia effect.

So you watch a new story one day, on a topic about which you are expert. Guns, for example (that's an easy one for most of us here). You practically laugh at how wrong they are in discussing guns. Then tomorrow, they run a news story about a subject where you aren't an expert, and you forget all about how horribly wrong they were on guns and largely accept what they're saying on this new subject. Meanwhile, some expert on this topic is watching it, saying the same WTF we would have on guns.

The sad thing is one doesn't have to be an expert to see how wrong the media is, and most politicians, on most things on which they bloviate. A decent education is enough to go "WTF...are these guys all liars, or are they idiots?"

I never knew this condition had an official name until the last couple years (I'm 53 now), but I was aware of its existence as a kid. Dad's a (retired) PhD entomologist and spent his entire life in agriculture. The news would run a story on ag or some insecticide or herbicide, and Dad would almost get apoplectic over how wrong they were.

IMO, the media and politicians are SO consistently wrong on SO many things, it's nearly impossible to give them the benefit of Hanlon's Razor. Even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while.

I do not distrust everyone. If most of the dudes here were my friends IRL, I'd trust you as much as I trust my small circle of actual friends. Not that I'd distrust you guys, I'd just be guarded until the relationships were established.

Yes, I am also skeptical and do not trust the media and almost all politicians. I also see the stupid stories on subjects that I know a lot about and shake my head. I am not blind to a healthy skepticism on other topics on which I am not an expert. Perhaps I framed my question incorrectly. I just noticed a penchant for everything being a conspiracy and everything being bad. Such as that we are lied to about EVERYTHING by the government. I think @Red Leg has responded with good information about chemical weapons and I will believe him even though I have not seen it with my own eyes. Others on this site (and other sites) won't believe anything that they have not seen with their own eyes, no matter the source. I am not naive but I would hate to have that outlook on everything.

 

[Ray B]

When I was in staging (the process Marines went through prior to being sent to WestPac in 1967) a sgt that had just returned gave us some advice, he said "Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see". It appears that it is true not only for those going overseas 50 years ago, but also to the present day.

 

[jpr9954]

 

[Red Leg]

As another example of our addled chief executive going off script, at the end of his speech in Poland he almost shouted "For God's sake, this man can not remain in power!" Unfortunately, that would make the US, if not NATO as a whole, calling for regime change. That would widen the course of the conflict enormously.

In less than an hour, a White House spokesman issued the following "clarification."

"The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change."

 

[Newboomer]

"Putin cannot remain in power!" Oh, well, just another example of foot in mouth disease. He should go back to his basement and take his whore with him.

 

[Ray B]

He should go back to his basement and take his whore with him.

Are you referring to Mrs Biden, Kampala Kamala or someone else?