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Post by Kellen on Apr 29, 2023 11:30:23 GMT
Read every comment and that was... entertaining. Somewhat naïve, somewhat arrogant, but certainly entertaining. Out of interest, do you own a firearm or a lot of your friends own one (or more)? Aren't you sad though, that because of the perceived issues, your country has quite a bad name in a lot of the world, and certainly considering (we perceive) that Americans actually have quite high opinions of their country? |
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Post by Kellen on Apr 29, 2023 12:48:58 GMT
Thank you for asking. Sure, I own many guns, three dozen or so. Almost all are hunting rifles in different calibers. Guns are just tools and the proper tool is needed for the job at hand. Calibers get repeated several times for two primary reasons. First, I have three children raised as hunters with a love of the wilderness, and so at minimum each hunting caliber is repeated four times. The second reason is upgrades in quality. Earlier rifles were not always highest quality, so as years passed and financial circumstances improved I trended toward "replacing" my hunting rifles with more customized versions that were generally lighter, more accurate, and more reliable. In truth there was some vanity at play there; a cheap rifle kills just as effectively as an expensive one, and a deer, elk, bear, cougar, etc. won't know the difference. Sort of like buying an upgraded car, the functionality is nicer, but doesn't get you from points A to B any more effectively. Also on the vanity front is an African big game rifle, by far the largest caliber I own. That one is what we would locally call a range queen, not really used for hunting in North America, but instead just fired for fun at the gun range. In other words, I dind't buy it for active hunting which to me is more of a vanity purchase, or at least frivolous. That said, I would love to hunt Africa with it some day, but doubt that will ever happen. Also must note that every hunt requires a side arm as a last line of defense when hunting. When you are hauling your ass up a mountainside in the wilderness at zero-dark-thirty in the driving rain, twenty miles from the nearest human being, and encounter a hungry bear or cougar at close quarters, your scoped rifle is generally not very useful. A handgun (at minimum 44 magnum) is your best defense and nobody in those conditions ever feels they have "too much" gun. As for the misnamed "assault rifle" that Biden says has only one purpose and that is mass murder, I can tell you I was damned glad to have an AR-10 with a ten-clip when I was deep in the wilderness hunting with my son and two black bear cubs came tumbling through the brush in front of us. Mommy bear was right behind and got quite aggressive at us, but thankfully decided to take her cubs and move on, probably because there were two of us and I was not alone. Bears do not always go down easily, so I definitely did not feel I had "too much" gun on that occasion. Also have some guns that were inherited, as well as some modern calibers like 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC which have displaced older, more traditional calibers that I used in years past. As for feelings about country, I separate country from culture. I am rather dismayed by many elements of American culture today, though in truth those same elements can be seen in other countries as well. I find the lack of quality leadership in American politics today to be appalling. It doesn't take a genius to recognize American leadership is at a low point in its history, and fear the future consequences that will have, both domestically and internationally (especially for Taiwan). That dismay does not undermine my allegiance to the rights and freedoms embedded in the American constitution, and as a wilderness-oriented person I have perhaps a more bottom-up love of country than the average American in the modern era. I just returned from a two-month excursion to Europe and Asia and can say with some confidence that every nation I've been to has citizens who love their country as much as I love mine, irrespective of each countries' unique warts. And of course I am educated enough to realize that every country has its own share of dark history their citizens would prefer not to celebrate today, so tend toward caution when it comes to throwing bricks in glass houses. Lastly, I am a firm believer that individuals make individual choices and it is a bit silly to absolve individual responsibility on the altar of society.
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Post by zx9 on Apr 30, 2023 14:26:59 GMT
Thank you for asking. Sure, I own many guns, three dozen or so. Almost all are hunting rifles in different calibers. Guns are just tools and the proper tool is needed for the job at hand. Calibers get repeated several times for two primary reasons. First, I have three children raised as hunters with a love of the wilderness, and so at minimum each hunting caliber is repeated four times. The second reason is upgrades in quality. Earlier rifles were not always highest quality, so as years passed and financial circumstances improved I trended toward "replacing" my hunting rifles with more customized versions that were generally lighter, more accurate, and more reliable. In truth there was some vanity at play there; a cheap rifle kills just as effectively as an expensive one, and a deer, elk, bear, cougar, etc. won't know the difference. Sort of like buying an upgraded car, the functionality is nicer, but doesn't get you from points A to B any more effectively. Also on the vanity front is an African big game rifle, by far the largest caliber I own. That one is what we would locally call a range queen, not really used for hunting in North America, but instead just fired for fun at the gun range. In other words, I dind't buy it for active hunting which to me is more of a vanity purchase, or at least frivolous. That said, I would love to hunt Africa with it some day, but doubt that will ever happen. Also must note that every hunt requires a side arm as a last line of defense when hunting. When you are hauling your ass up a mountainside in the wilderness at zero-dark-thirty in the driving rain, twenty miles from the nearest human being, and encounter a hungry bear or cougar at close quarters, your scoped rifle is generally not very useful. A handgun (at minimum 44 magnum) is your best defense and nobody in those conditions ever feels they have "too much" gun. As for the misnamed "assault rifle" that Biden says has only one purpose and that is mass murder, I can tell you I was damned glad to have an AR-10 with a ten-clip when I was deep in the wilderness hunting with my son and two black bear cubs came tumbling through the brush in front of us. Mommy bear was right behind and got quite aggressive at us, but thankfully decided to take her cubs and move on, probably because there were two of us and I was not alone. Bears do not always go down easily, so I definitely did not feel I had "too much" gun on that occasion. Also have some guns that were inherited, as well as some modern calibers like 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC which have displaced older, more traditional calibers that I used in years past. As for feelings about country, I separate country from culture. I am rather dismayed by many elements of American culture today, though in truth those same elements can be seen in other countries as well. I find the lack of quality leadership in American politics today to be appalling. It doesn't take a genius to recognize American leadership is at a low point in its history, and fear the future consequences that will have, both domestically and internationally (especially for Taiwan). That dismay does not undermine my allegiance to the rights and freedoms embedded in the American constitution, and as a wilderness-oriented person I have perhaps a more bottom-up love of country than the average American in the modern era. I just returned from a two-month excursion to Europe and Asia and can say with some confidence that every nation I've been to has citizens who love their country as much as I love mine, irrespective of each countries' unique warts. And of course I am educated enough to realize that every country has its own share of dark history their citizens would prefer not to celebrate today, so tend toward caution when it comes to throwing bricks in glass houses. Lastly, I am a firm believer that individuals make individual choices and it is a bit silly to absolve individual responsibility on the altar of society. That was a long but well reasoned reply. It is always good to hear a subject debated and expounded on rather than closed down with a I am right / you are wrong answer, which is something of an internet way it would appear. |
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Post by pixelpuffin on May 13, 2023 7:19:15 GMT
I have a 15yr old son, so I’m mindful of what I say
But, personally I think humans have overstayed their welcome.
I really do think this is as good as it gets, from here on it only gets worse, crime, corruption, diseases, weather etc etc
It makes me sad (naturally)
But what I cannot get my head around, no matter how much I think it over and over…
We know drugs is primarily the root cause of most issues, the greed for money, the wastage of human lives, thefts to pay for drug use, intimidation, bearings, threats, murders etc etc = massive no go areas, massive policing, huge incarceration costs etc etc etc etc…..
Drugs - the absolute bane of human existence… are we agreed??
So, why not develop a genetic disease that will target and eradicate all forms of drugs grown be released airborne. I imagine the technical know how was perfected decades ago.
We have moved on massively with renewable energy be it solar/wind
I see no reason why monolithic industrial buildings with full rooftop solar panels could not grow these drugs in a secure environment for medical needs.
It would solve so many of the worlds problems.
So I ask myself why has this not happening
It’s corruption isn’t it? On such a massive scale , worldwide corruption.
The tragedy is I have no respect for governments, royalty, police etc etc. I think they are all bent and no better than those dealing in the drug crimes/related crimes.
The human race needs to go.
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Post by dreampolice on May 13, 2023 7:34:46 GMT
I had a text the other day from my friend who is in the US visiting friends in Florida (My friend is British and lives in UK) On his text he sent a photo of their households gun., an AK machine gun. The people they were visiting are in a new house, so my friend hadn't been to it before. He wasn't sure they'd arrived at the right address, so he sent his wife to knock on the door as he didn't fancy getting shot. He is black. She is white. I know he said it tongue in cheek (I hope!), but that is reality for some now I guess, certainly with the "stand your ground" act (or whatever it is called) that the GOP are really pushing.  AK by Nigel G, on Flickr |
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Post by dreampolice on May 13, 2023 7:40:36 GMT
I have a 15yr old son, so I’m mindful of what I say But, personally I think humans have overstayed their welcome. I really do think this is as good as it gets, from here on it only gets worse, crime, corruption, diseases, weather etc etc It makes me sad (naturally) But what I cannot get my head around, no matter how much I think it over and over… We know drugs is primarily the root cause of most issues, the greed for money, the wastage of human lives, thefts to pay for drug use, intimidation, bearings, threats, murders etc etc = massive no go areas, massive policing, huge incarceration costs etc etc etc etc….. Drugs - the absolute bane of human existence… are we agreed?? So, why not develop a genetic disease that will target and eradicate all forms of drugs grown be released airborne. I imagine the technical know how was perfected decades ago. We have moved on massively with renewable energy be it solar/wind I see no reason why monolithic industrial buildings with full rooftop solar panels could not grow these drugs in a secure environment for medical needs. It would solve so many of the worlds problems. So I ask myself why has this not happening It’s corruption isn’t it? On such a massive scale , worldwide corruption. The tragedy is I have no respect for governments, royalty, police etc etc. I think they are all bent and no better than those dealing in the drug crimes/related crimes. The human race needs to go. Right. OK. Be a bit of waste of time, money, energy making those places, if the human race should go. Just let us all carry on. |
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Post by zou on May 13, 2023 7:56:29 GMT
I have a 15yr old son, so I’m mindful of what I say But, personally I think humans have overstayed their welcome. I really do think this is as good as it gets, from here on it only gets worse, crime, corruption, diseases, weather etc etc It makes me sad (naturally) But what I cannot get my head around, no matter how much I think it over and over… We know drugs is primarily the root cause of most issues, the greed for money, the wastage of human lives, thefts to pay for drug use, intimidation, bearings, threats, murders etc etc = massive no go areas, massive policing, huge incarceration costs etc etc etc etc….. Drugs - the absolute bane of human existence… are we agreed?? So, why not develop a genetic disease that will target and eradicate all forms of drugs grown be released airborne. I imagine the technical know how was perfected decades ago. We have moved on massively with renewable energy be it solar/wind I see no reason why monolithic industrial buildings with full rooftop solar panels could not grow these drugs in a secure environment for medical needs. It would solve so many of the worlds problems. So I ask myself why has this not happening It’s corruption isn’t it? On such a massive scale , worldwide corruption. The tragedy is I have no respect for governments, royalty, police etc etc. I think they are all bent and no better than those dealing in the drug crimes/related crimes. The human race needs to go. No, we are not agreed. |
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Post by geoffr on May 13, 2023 8:15:42 GMT
I have a 15yr old son, so I’m mindful of what I say But, personally I think humans have overstayed their welcome. I really do think this is as good as it gets, from here on it only gets worse, crime, corruption, diseases, weather etc etc It makes me sad (naturally) But what I cannot get my head around, no matter how much I think it over and over… We know drugs is primarily the root cause of most issues, the greed for money, the wastage of human lives, thefts to pay for drug use, intimidation, bearings, threats, murders etc etc = massive no go areas, massive policing, huge incarceration costs etc etc etc etc….. Drugs - the absolute bane of human existence… are we agreed?? So, why not develop a genetic disease that will target and eradicate all forms of drugs grown be released airborne. I imagine the technical know how was perfected decades ago. We have moved on massively with renewable energy be it solar/wind I see no reason why monolithic industrial buildings with full rooftop solar panels could not grow these drugs in a secure environment for medical needs. It would solve so many of the worlds problems. So I ask myself why has this not happening It’s corruption isn’t it? On such a massive scale , worldwide corruption. The tragedy is I have no respect for governments, royalty, police etc etc. I think they are all bent and no better than those dealing in the drug crimes/related crimes. The human race needs to go. No, we are not agreed. We are not.
I think the problem is boredom bored youngsters turn to drugs to relieve the boredom.
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Post by zou on May 13, 2023 8:21:59 GMT
Pretty much everyone uses drugs to some extent, whether class A narcotics, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, painkillers, whatever. Not sure where the moral panic comes from (not true, it's right wing media, politicians, and religious sorts) about drugs, but anyone who thinks they are either the cause of the world's problems or the biggest issue needing attention, is liable to be deemed aff their heid on drugs.  |
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Post by MJB on May 13, 2023 8:22:30 GMT
I'll have a pint of what ever he's been smoking.
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Post by dreampolice on May 13, 2023 8:34:18 GMT
I'll have a pint of what ever he's been smoking. TBF I think it may have been written by his child, the sort of ill thought out things that youngsters with little real life experience, write. |
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Post by andy on May 13, 2023 8:35:19 GMT
I have a 15yr old son, so I’m mindful of what I say But, personally I think humans have overstayed their welcome. I really do think this is as good as it gets, from here on it only gets worse, crime, corruption, diseases, weather etc etc It makes me sad (naturally) But what I cannot get my head around, no matter how much I think it over and over… We know drugs is primarily the root cause of most issues, the greed for money, the wastage of human lives, thefts to pay for drug use, intimidation, bearings, threats, murders etc etc = massive no go areas, massive policing, huge incarceration costs etc etc etc etc….. Drugs - the absolute bane of human existence… are we agreed?? So, why not develop a genetic disease that will target and eradicate all forms of drugs grown be released airborne. I imagine the technical know how was perfected decades ago. We have moved on massively with renewable energy be it solar/wind I see no reason why monolithic industrial buildings with full rooftop solar panels could not grow these drugs in a secure environment for medical needs. It would solve so many of the worlds problems. So I ask myself why has this not happening It’s corruption isn’t it? On such a massive scale , worldwide corruption. The tragedy is I have no respect for governments, royalty, police etc etc. I think they are all bent and no better than those dealing in the drug crimes/related crimes. The human race needs to go. I don't agree either. That said I suspect a number of stabbings in the UK could be over weed debts and that is simply because it isn't legal here, IMO. Some drugs are completely synthetic lab creations. Also paying for buildings and solar panels is likely to be a lot more expensive than waiting for the illicit market to cultivate land and crops then taking off them to use in the licit market. |
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Post by pixelpuffin on May 13, 2023 10:28:12 GMT
Pretty much everyone uses drugs to some extent, whether class A narcotics, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, painkillers, whatever. Not sure where the moral panic comes from (not true, it's right wing media, politicians, and religious sorts) about drugs, but anyone who thinks they are either the cause of the world's problems or the biggest issue needing attention, is liable to be deemed aff their heid on drugs. Maybe in your circle, certainly not in mine. I don’t personally know anyone who uses drugs, I don’t do coffee, alcohol, tobacco. Obviously I’m in the minority. We had the misfortune of having to take son to Wembley a few weeks back. That was a eye opener…what a shithole!! Walking round you either had the stench of weed or piss!! And this is our capital!! Apologies for my language but urine doesn’t quite have the shock tactic I needed to convey. Until they eradicate the drug issue and associated crimes nothing will change. People are constantly trying to flee their own countries to escape the drug problem. The knock on effect is mass migration, housing shortage, medical shortage, racial tension etc etc and for what?? So the drug cartels, politicians, banks, traffickers, police, thieves and god knows what etc etc can continue to thrive on the gravy train whilst the world just sinks lower and lower. If you think that is a fair price to pay then I am shocked. |
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Post by zou on May 13, 2023 12:23:36 GMT
They're fleeing war and oppression, not the smell of weed. Why no hand wringing over the real issues? Perhaps your drug of choice (the high you chase) is the thrill of sneaking new cameras past your other half? |
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Post by lesleysm2 on May 13, 2023 21:28:38 GMT
For the record Wembley isn't in London |
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