Isn't Filesharing A Socialist Activity?

[Tyke]

Originally posted by REALITY@22 May 2003 - 17:59
Holy Shit...

This post is heading to the SHITTER in a hurry.

It made page 4 before going OT!

That's not bad going really!

[OlderThanDirt]

mijj wrote:

As long as there's a net gain for the West's enforced impoverishment and servility of the 3rd world, (with token charity to assuage guilt and somehow hint that it's "not our fault") - there will be poverty in the 3rd world.

... and ...

Allende1973 wrote

Name one other country that TAKES as much as the USA. The West treated Africa as it's own personal war arena, carved it up arbiterially, used the land for cash crops thereby fostering the dependancy that continues to this day, multi nationals still pay a pittence for raw materials and labour while exploiting Africa. The world economic and political institutions are weighted against Africa and pro-USA/Europe.
Against this, you really think your pitiful charity means a damn thing? Your 50 bucks a year might stop you having to think or worry about Africa, but every time you go to Wal-Mart and every time you vote, you are re-enforcing the system.
And thats without even mentioning the USA's activities in Latin America.
Sorry, but most in the world would be grateful if the USA/Europe did a lot less 'giving' and do lot more to redress the systemic inbalance.

... and yada yada yada. Yup, everything in the world is the fault of the big bad USA. Where have I heard that diatribe before? Hell, most of the 3rd world was 3rd world even before the USA existed. And for every one of those countries we've (ahem) exploited, let me just say this. For every resource we've appropriated from a 3rd world country, there was someone in that country willing to sell it to us. This is a kind-of reverse logic from, for example, how countries deal with a drug problem. All the consternation and rage is directed against the "buyer" while countries are willing to overlook the transgressions of the "seller." OK, one more question. Name one country in the world ... ANY country ... that does things for another country for purely altruistic motives ... without expecting anything in return. Time to grow up and realize that everybody's in it for themselves (and that includes nations). And regarding the do lot more to redress the systemic imbalance part, when are other countries going to stop asking us to fix their problems and get off their hineys to try fixing their own? Really!!! The USA is the only country that gets damned when we meddle in other people's affairs ... and damned if we want to stop meddling. Case in point (Saudi Arabia):

REALITY wrote:

Holy Shit...

This post is heading to the SHITTER in a hurry.

The topic, "Isn't Filesharing A Socialist Activity," was guaranteed to go off-topic, hehe, since one of the words in the topic was political. But, getting back on topic, I think that most people don't wake up in the morning and say, "Well, let's see who we can rip off today." I think filesharing, while theft is a big byproduct, is mostly done as a means of flipping the bird at authority (corporations and corporate-friendly law). And that isn't socialism, it's anarchy.

[mijj]

Originally posted by REALITY@22 May 2003 - 17:22
You RETARD, I'm being sarcastic...
Hope you are as well...

Gee!

I guess that makes you a retard too, huh?

[mijj]

Yup, everything in the world is the fault of the big bad USA. Where have I heard that diatribe before? Hell, most of the 3rd world was 3rd world even before the USA existed.

... there's no need to exagurate, OlderThanDirt. We know the US is responsible for the criminal behaviour of the US. Slavery exported to the third world is one of the crimes. You're happy with that as long as you can blame someone else, but a lot of people aren't happy with that. So - there's no need to come out all petulant and outraged.

Smile - and the world will smile with you! Hug a kitten, OlderThanDirt, you'll feel better for it.

And for every one of those countries we've (ahem) exploited, let me just say this. For every resource we've appropriated from a 3rd world country, there was someone in that country willing to sell it to us.

... oh! I guess that's an admission by OlderThanDirt that the US is oppressing the third world for profit. The weasily getout being they asked the US to do it to them. (Is the US above manipulating local politics for the benefit of the US? hmmmm - I wonder what OlderThanDirt would say if he were still here amongst us? God bless his tormented soul. )

[OlderThanDirt]

mijj wrote:

We know the US is responsible for the criminal behaviour of the US.

We??? Who's WE?

Slavery exported to the third world is one of the crimes.

Are you suggesting the USA invented slavery? Thought that went all the way back to Biblical Egypt (at least).

You're happy with that as long as you can blame someone else, but a lot of people aren't happy with that.

Nah. I'd only be happy if the blame is shared. We may be the Great Satan but there are plenty of other Satans to go around.

So - there's no need to come out all petulant and outraged.

I'm neither. It just gets a bit tiresome to see all the finger-pointing in the USA's direction when there are many directions fingers need to point.

Hug a kitten, OlderThanDirt, you'll feel better for it.

I do ... every time I get a chance. Her name is Velcro.

I wrote:

And for every one of those countries we've (ahem) exploited, let me just say this. For every resource we've appropriated from a 3rd world country, there was someone in that country willing to sell it to us.

You replied:

... oh! I guess that's an admission by OlderThanDirt that the US is oppressing the third world for profit. The weasily getout being they asked the US to do it to them.

Hmmm ... let's see if I understand your logic. I guess when I buy an apple from a grocer who's wants to sell me an apple, I'm oppressing the grocer. I'll have to think about that the next time I go to the store.

Is the US above manipulating local politics for the benefit of the US?

Goodness, of course not ... nor are US politicians above manipulating local politics for their own benefit. But, that's what we have elections for ... to weed out the ones who aren't representing us properly.

hmmmm - I wonder what OlderThanDirt would say if he were still here amongst us?

Did I go somewhere?

God bless his tormented soul.

Hehe, if I believed in a God who could "bless" anything, I'd ask God to bless something other than my soul (which, to my knowledge, is not tormented). The really tormented souls are those whose myopic vision of where blame lies won't let them see peripherally. But that's OK. The USA has been the world's whipping-boy for a long time and it probably won't change anytime soon.

Have a nice day!

[J'Pol]

Well that seems to be that then.

File sharing is not socialist. It is not political in any way.

It's chaps getting stuff they want that they either can't find, cant afford, or just cant be arsed paying for.

Everything else is just so much smoke and mirrors.

[OlderThanDirt]

JPaul wrote:

Well that seems to be that then.

File sharing is not socialist. It is not political in any way.

It's chaps getting stuff they want that they either can't find, cant afford, or just cant be arsed paying for.

Everything else is just so much smoke and mirrors.

Sounds good to me, hehe.

[Allende1973]

For every resource we've appropriated from a 3rd world country, there was someone in that country willing to sell it to us.

Well thats OK then, so long as there is a King/Chief/Leader who is willing to collaborate and sell out his people, why not? And you seriously think most people in Africa have a choice in who they sell to?

Time to grow up and realize that everybody's in it for themselves (and that includes nations).

Again, that must be OK then, why should we try and improve anything? What right do we have to criticise?

And regarding the do lot more to redress the systemic imbalance part, when are other countries going to stop asking us to fix their problems and get off their hineys to try fixing their own? Really!!!

I think you may have got a little over-excited here. Eithier that, or you really are telling Africians to get off their ass and sort themselves out

The USA is the only country that gets damned when we meddle in other people's affairs ... and damned if we want to stop meddling. Case in point (Saudi Arabia):

Dude, the only people that want a American presence in Saudi are the Saudi ruling elite.

[mijj]

OlderThanDirt - you seem to be getting hysterical in your defence of Corporate US's crimes.

Take it easy. Take some time off. Have a banana.

[OlderThanDirt]

Allende1973 wrote:

Well thats OK then, so long as there is a King/Chief/Leader who is willing to collaborate and sell out his people, why not? And you seriously think most people in Africa have a choice in who they sell to?

And assuming they didn't have a choice, do you mean we shouldn't buy from their leaders? Certainly you're not suggesting we invade countries to liberate them ... are you? Yes, ultimately the people do have a choice. Rebellions in Africa over the years are a testament to the people who choose to stand up to dictators. The same is true in South America.

Again, that must be OK then, why should we try and improve anything? What right do we have to criticise?

Nothing wrong with improvement or criticism. It just irks me to see people who think that failure to improve society's lot falls exclusively on the doorstep of the USA.

I think you may have got a little over-excited here. Eithier that, or you really are telling Africians to get off their ass and sort themselves out.

Not over-excited at all, just realistic. And I didn't say "Africans" (referring to people), I said "countries." The desert tribes in Kenya, for example, have been on one aid program or another since I was a child ... long before massive development encroached on their homelands. And in their culture, they have only one form of "social security" ... having children who, in theory, will look after their well-being when they grow old. So, when we give them aid and they regain their health, guess what? They have more babies ... who later fall into the aid program cycle, regain their health, and have even more babies. Where's the government of Kenya while all this is going on? Should the US invade them to fix their "social security" problem? Should we require forced sterilization in exchange for our aid so that the cycle finally stops? If we took such direct actions, we'd be seen as interfering in their culture. And if we don't, our aid is chastised as not enough. Damned if we do. Damned if we don't.

Dude, the only people that want a American presence in Saudi are the Saudi ruling elite.

... and the first King Faisal ruled back in the early 1900s, long before the US even imported a drop of oil from any country. Are you suggesting they'll like their ruling elite more when American presence ends? The Saudis have hated their ruling elite for a long, long time ... and it has nothing to do with America. It has everything to do with the royal family being a bunch of playboys and drunkards ... lifestyles THEY chose to live without anybody's help.

mijj wrote:

OlderThanDirt - you seem to be getting hysterical in your defence of Corporate US's crimes.

I'm not hysterical, you're a bad reader. I freely admitted that the USA was the Great Satan. Does that sound like a defense to you? All I'm suggesting is that there are a lot of "lesser" Satans out there who must share the blame for problems in this world.

Take it easy. Take some time off. Have a banana.

You take it easy, too, see an optometrist, and eat lots of carrots.