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happycamper

Arguing outside of MWCboard

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We argue a lot and it can sometimes be frustrating, but there is a level of assumed competence and research ability on here that raises the discussion level.

I am in the middle of talking about the economics of the Harry Potter world on a facebook group because that's the kind of person I am. I saw several posts that talked about how UTTERLY CAPITALISTIC the harry potter world is, because the Weasleys are poor and because trade in this world exists. 

I get in to it a little bit and state that it the wizarding world seems almost pre-capitalistic; there are no known investors in anything, there are no factories or mass production areas known, and everyone with a wand is theoretically capable of what anyone else with a wand is capable. After reflection, I decided that it was a kind of socialist-feudal hybrid that essentially completely skipped capitalism.

I get rebuked, sharply, because in the Wizarding world there are class divisions, and there is private property, and there is money, so of course it is capitalist. I end up having to explain what capitalism is, and what the historical dialectic is, and about the philosophical origins of private property (thanks Rousseau!) to explain what socialism is to people who identify as socialist. 

What are your interesting anecdotes about trying to argue with people off of MWCboard? 

Remember that every argument you have with someone on MWCboard is actually the continuation of a different argument they had with someone else also on MWCboard. 

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2 hours ago, happycamper said:

We argue a lot and it can sometimes be frustrating, but there is a level of assumed competence and research ability on here that raises the discussion level.

I am in the middle of talking about the economics of the Harry Potter world on a facebook group because that's the kind of person I am. I saw several posts that talked about how UTTERLY CAPITALISTIC the harry potter world is, because the Weasleys are poor and because trade in this world exists. 

I get in to it a little bit and state that it the wizarding world seems almost pre-capitalistic; there are no known investors in anything, there are no factories or mass production areas known, and everyone with a wand is theoretically capable of what anyone else with a wand is capable. After reflection, I decided that it was a kind of socialist-feudal hybrid that essentially completely skipped capitalism.

I get rebuked, sharply, because in the Wizarding world there are class divisions, and there is private property, and there is money, so of course it is capitalist. I end up having to explain what capitalism is, and what the historical dialectic is, and about the philosophical origins of private property (thanks Rousseau!) to explain what socialism is to people who identify as socialist. 

What are your interesting anecdotes about trying to argue with people off of MWCboard? 

Well first off, nobody understands my "Best Buy parking lot" comments off the MWCBoard. 

bsu_retro_bsu_logo_helmet.b_1.jpg

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I got into an argument with my mentor/adviser a couple months ago over the term "It is what it is." I believe it came up because I told him that I knew that Lebron would sign with the Lakers because the NBA wouldn't allow the team to be irrelevant for much longer. And I believe I said, "The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is." He's a historian, and he claims that the term is a kind of hitsoriographical blasphemy because it removes all agency for historical actors. If you suggest that "It is what it is," you are allowing forces to act upon you instead of finding ways to act against the structures in place. I told him that effective historical actors understood those structures, accepted them and found ways to act within them. 

He told me that all great historical actors refused to accept that "It is what it is." I told him that all great historical actors fit into the Greg Maddox theory of historical actors - they accepted and acted within their limitations, thus making them more effective. I then used various examples of truisms that people had to accept at the time before finding ways to make changes. "Slavery exists. It is what it is. The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is. Colonialism exists. It is what it is. The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is. Segregation exists. It is what it is. The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is." 

He's from LA<, and he got really mad at me, which I thought was weird. But funny, too. Now whenever I am in a group of people talking, and he's there, I always try to find a way to say, "Well, like my adviser always tells me 'It is what it is.'" 

Planning is an exercise of power, and in a modern state much real power is suffused with boredom. The agents of planning are usually boring; the planning process is boring; the implementation of plans is always boring. In a democracy boredom works for bureaucracies and corporations as smell works for skunk. It keeps danger away. Power does not have to be exercised behind the scenes. It can be open. The audience is asleep. The modern world is forged amidst our inattention.

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Guest #1Stunner
Just now, AndroidAggie said:

i hate arguing even on mwcboard let alone real life

What about at your inlaws?  Aren't they BYU fans?

Do you ever try to argue with your mother in law?

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1 hour ago, happycamper said:

We argue a lot and it can sometimes be frustrating, but there is a level of assumed competence and research ability on here that raises the discussion level.

I am in the middle of talking about the economics of the Harry Potter world on a facebook group because that's the kind of person I am. I saw several posts that talked about how UTTERLY CAPITALISTIC the harry potter world is, because the Weasleys are poor and because trade in this world exists. 

I get in to it a little bit and state that it the wizarding world seems almost pre-capitalistic; there are no known investors in anything, there are no factories or mass production areas known, and everyone with a wand is theoretically capable of what anyone else with a wand is capable. After reflection, I decided that it was a kind of socialist-feudal hybrid that essentially completely skipped capitalism.

I get rebuked, sharply, because in the Wizarding world there are class divisions, and there is private property, and there is money, so of course it is capitalist. I end up having to explain what capitalism is, and what the historical dialectic is, and about the philosophical origins of private property (thanks Rousseau!) to explain what socialism is to people who identify as socialist. 

What are your interesting anecdotes about trying to argue with people off of MWCboard? 

So, is the Potter world more Keynesian or Austrian in nature?

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Guest #1Stunner
4 minutes ago, AndroidAggie said:

what about them being byu fans?

as a rule, i don't try to argue with anyone.

I don't disagree. 

But if certain people are dicks (as is sometimes the case with inlaws, or an asshole brother in law or something), it can be therapeutic to "poke the bear", so to speak.

 

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Just now, #1Stunner said:

I don't disagree. 

But if certain people are dicks (as is sometimes the case with inlaws, or a asshole brother in law or something), it can be therapeutic to "poke the bear", so to speak.

my in-laws are great.  my father in law talks to me about byu athletics too much for my taste, but it's his way of communicating with me so i try to roll with it.

my asshole brother in law is an asshole irrespective of being a byu fan.

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Guest #1Stunner
Just now, AndroidAggie said:

my in-laws are great.  my father in law talks to me about byu athletics too much for my taste, but it's his way of communicating with me so i try to roll with it.

my asshole brother in law is an asshole irrespective of being a byu fan.

Yeah, I empathize with you about having an asshole for a brother in law.   

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3 minutes ago, AndroidAggie said:

my in-laws are great.  my father in law talks to me about byu athletics too much for my taste, but it's his way of communicating with me so i try to roll with it.

my asshole brother in law is an asshole irrespective of being a byu fan.

You should get all your in laws a copy of "Roughing It" by Mark Twain for Christmas. 

Planning is an exercise of power, and in a modern state much real power is suffused with boredom. The agents of planning are usually boring; the planning process is boring; the implementation of plans is always boring. In a democracy boredom works for bureaucracies and corporations as smell works for skunk. It keeps danger away. Power does not have to be exercised behind the scenes. It can be open. The audience is asleep. The modern world is forged amidst our inattention.

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1 hour ago, happycamper said:

We argue a lot and it can sometimes be frustrating, but there is a level of assumed competence and research ability on here that raises the discussion level.

I am in the middle of talking about the economics of the Harry Potter world on a facebook group because that's the kind of person I am. I saw several posts that talked about how UTTERLY CAPITALISTIC the harry potter world is, because the Weasleys are poor and because trade in this world exists. 

I get in to it a little bit and state that it the wizarding world seems almost pre-capitalistic; there are no known investors in anything, there are no factories or mass production areas known, and everyone with a wand is theoretically capable of what anyone else with a wand is capable. After reflection, I decided that it was a kind of socialist-feudal hybrid that essentially completely skipped capitalism.

I get rebuked, sharply, because in the Wizarding world there are class divisions, and there is private property, and there is money, so of course it is capitalist. I end up having to explain what capitalism is, and what the historical dialectic is, and about the philosophical origins of private property (thanks Rousseau!) to explain what socialism is to people who identify as socialist. 

What are your interesting anecdotes about trying to argue with people off of MWCboard? 

You're doing it wrong. Just toss a grenade and leave

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28 minutes ago, AndroidAggie said:

i hate arguing even on mwcboard let alone real life

Well that's what happens when your opinions are wrong

22 minutes ago, nomascows said:

So, is the Potter world more Keynesian or Austrian in nature?

Socialist. Everyone has magic, everyone has wands, everyone owns their own means of production.

AND SOMEHOW THERE IS STILL POVERTY?!

Remember that every argument you have with someone on MWCboard is actually the continuation of a different argument they had with someone else also on MWCboard. 

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On 12/7/2018 at 6:42 PM, Joe from WY said:

People say they want to fight me on here. In real life, people do want to fight me. 

 

I'd rather have a few drinks and maybe smoke a joint than fight you. You go to Beirut for vacation for Christ sakes. You're too crazy for me to throw hands with you. 

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On 12/7/2018 at 7:42 PM, Joe from WY said:

People say they want to fight me on here. In real life, people do want to fight me. 

 

Skinny dude problems

Remember that every argument you have with someone on MWCboard is actually the continuation of a different argument they had with someone else also on MWCboard. 

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On 12/7/2018 at 5:32 PM, smltwnrckr said:

I got into an argument with my mentor/adviser a couple months ago over the term "It is what it is." I believe it came up because I told him that I knew that Lebron would sign with the Lakers because the NBA wouldn't allow the team to be irrelevant for much longer. And I believe I said, "The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is." He's a historian, and he claims that the term is a kind of hitsoriographical blasphemy because it removes all agency for historical actors. If you suggest that "It is what it is," you are allowing forces to act upon you instead of finding ways to act against the structures in place. I told him that effective historical actors understood those structures, accepted them and found ways to act within them. 

He told me that all great historical actors refused to accept that "It is what it is." I told him that all great historical actors fit into the Greg Maddox theory of historical actors - they accepted and acted within their limitations, thus making them more effective. I then used various examples of truisms that people had to accept at the time before finding ways to make changes. "Slavery exists. It is what it is. The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is. Colonialism exists. It is what it is. The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is. Segregation exists. It is what it is. The NBA makes sure the Lakers are good. It is what it is." 

He's from LA<, and he got really mad at me, which I thought was weird. But funny, too. Now whenever I am in a group of people talking, and he's there, I always try to find a way to say, "Well, like my adviser always tells me 'It is what it is.'" 

Are you or were you in a graduate program?

On 12/1/2016 at 12:26 PM, WyomingCoog said:

I own a vehicle likely worth more than everything you own combined and just flew first class (including a ticket for a 2 1/2 year old), round trip to Las Vegas and I'm not 35 yet. When you accomplish something outside of finishing a book, let me know. When's the last time you saw a 2 year old fly first class in their own seat? Don't tell me about elite.  

28 minutes ago, NorCalCoug said:

I’d happily compare IQ’s with you any day of the week.

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