This Shit with North Korea is Getting More Than Just a Bit Scary.....

stickstones

Vapor concierge
Never having been to those countries, I know my perspective on them is mostly that of media bias, and not first hand experience, thus skewed. The difference is I am honest enough to admit so.

I agree. But you can't call someone out for being influenced by the media using an argument that has been similarly influenced by the media, right?
 

macbill

Oh No! Mr macbill!!
Staff member
The US hasn't had much luck with regime change in the last few hundred years. I realize the desire to make the world a better place sometimes requires it (Germany in WWII), it is not a good idea to unilaterally decide who gets to rule.
 

invertedisdead

PHASE3
Manufacturer
I agree. But you can't call someone out for being influenced by the media using an argument that has been similarly influenced by the media, right?

The media provides information to be weighed and considered, but often not enough sources are presented to gain a rational perspective. I'm openly admitting that I need more information to make an opinion with integrity, instead of forming an opinion solely influenced by the media. I would say that is the difference.
 
Last edited:

HD Springer

Well-Known Member
The media provides information to be weighed and considered, but often not enough sources are presented to gain a rational perspective. I'm openly admitting that I need more information to make an opinion with integrity, instead of forming an opinion solely influenced by the media. I would say that is the difference.


But we have all been doing the same thing. Expressing our opinions on whatever news/media that we could find. Some express them more often or even more aggressively. But in the end there all just opinions. And honestly there's no right or wrong. IMO. Or even any need to sway others opinions.
 

howie105

Well-Known Member
I agree. But you can't call someone out for being influenced by the media using an argument that has been similarly influenced by the media, right?

With respect, much of our governmental presentation (not necessarily actual policy) is just a reflection of a media presentation that is composed for a particular demographic. We often see opposing political leadership calling each other out over a media driven position from their equally media driven position.
 
Now, if you wish to argue...as some do...that the USA and rest of the known civilized world should tolerate N. Korea and their homicidal, whack job dictator, having nuclear arms and ICBMs to delivery them, then I think you have very muddled thinking....if it can be called thinking at all.

Cheers and flame on
But the world must tolerate the USA having a homicidal whack job dictator with nuclear arms. You guys are describing North Korea and Kim but it is identical to Trump.
 

little maggie

Well-Known Member
This may be off topic. I think we all have strong opinions about what's going on. To me the issues is not what kind of country Korea is but what kind of country I live in. I just starting reading a book by Sinclair Lewis written in the 1930's called "It Can't Happen Here". I strongly recommend it.
 

KeroZen

Chronic vapaholic
Reposting a publication from The Hampton Institute:

4EMcJbA.jpg


"The US has 800 military bases in 63 countries worldwide, and military personnel presently active in 156 countries.

The US has been at war or in a military conflict for 224 of its 241 years in existence.

The US defense budget is over $610 billion yearly, which is higher than the defense budgets of the next 8 countries combined: China (215), Russia (69), Saudi Arabia (63), UK (48), France (55), India (55), Japan (46), and Germany (41).

The US is the only country that has ever dropped a nuclear bomb on a population, killing about 200,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

A December 2013 WIN/Gallup poll asked 67,806 respondents from 65 countries, "Which country do you think is the greatest threat to peace in the world today?" 24% of respondents said the US. The next highest perceived threat was Pakistan at 8%. 5% believed North Korea was the greatest threat.

The US has 6,800 nuclear armaments.
North Korea has less than 10.

The US has overthrown or attempted to overthrow 57 foreign governments since WW2.

North Korea has overthrown or attempted to overthrow 0 foreign governments since 1953.

About sums up the "conflict."
 

stickstones

Vapor concierge
With respect, much of our governmental presentation (not necessarily actual policy) is just a reflection of a media presentation that is composed for a particular demographic. We often see opposing political leadership calling each other out over a media driven position from their equally media driven position.

I was thinking about this yesterday. It's a sad state of affairs in our modern world that once information becomes abundant and nearly free we no longer feel we can trust it. When I was younger there were fewer reports from abroad and we took them as truth. Not saying they were truthful, but I honestly don't know who or what to believe anymore and the first question that comes up in my mind when reading headlines is 'what is the author's motivation and what are they trying to get me to do.' I've become an old skeptic in a lot of ways...
 

lwien

Well-Known Member
I was thinking about this yesterday. It's a sad state of affairs in our modern world that once information becomes abundant and nearly free we no longer feel we can trust it. When I was younger there were fewer reports from abroad and we took them as truth. Not saying they were truthful, but I honestly don't know who or what to believe anymore and the first question that comes up in my mind when reading headlines is 'what is the author's motivation and what are they trying to get me to do.' I've become an old skeptic in a lot of ways...

Yup, hard to find unbiased reporting these days. It used to be that broadcast news was a separate entity of the networks and wasn't expected to generate revenue. Not any more, so now they target a specific demographic to generate that revenue.

So what is happening now is that most people get their news in a silo. In other words, they only tune into the news that supports their preconceived ideas of how politics and the world works rather than getting their news from sources that challenge their preconceived ideas about politics and how the world works. You then add in social media and so called "news" blogs and it becomes even worse.

So now, being that it seems like there is absolutely no unbiased reporting going on anywhere, if one does not want to live in a silo, they have to get their news from multiple sources that target different demographics, then shuffle the cards, lay them out on the table and try to make sense of it all.
 
Last edited:

Baron23

Well-Known Member
You guys are describing North Korea and Kim but it is identical to Trump.

That is almost the definition of hysterical hyperbole and exaggeration.....all in my opinion, only! LOL

So what is happening now is that most people get their news in a silo. In other words, they only tune into the news that supports their preconceived ideas of how politics and the world works rather than getting their news from sources that challenge their preconceived ideas about politics and how the world works. You then add in social media and so called "news" blogs and it becomes even worse.

So now, being that it seems like there is absolutely no unbiased reporting going on anywhere, if one does not want to live in a silo, they have to get their news from multiple sources that target different demographics, then shuffle the cards, lay them out on the table and try to make sense of it all.

I couldn't agree with this more. Today, even more so than in times past, I believe it is incumbent upon the citizens of our country to expend the effort to educate themselves on important issues facing us. We cannot rely on any particular source in the media nor party platforms to guide us in our political expressions.
 
Last edited:

vapirtoo

Well-Known Member
And you have to pretty well educated and
passionate to want to read those cards rather than just accept the media's take on things
 
vapirtoo,
  • Like
Reactions: lwien

lwien

Well-Known Member
Yeah, the problem is that there are a lot of people, as a matter of fact, I'd say that most people are perfectly happy living in their silo and actually don't want their preconceived ideas to be challenged or to say it another way................myopia run amok.
 

KeroZen

Chronic vapaholic
Fire And Fury...And Profits! Korea Crisis Great For The War Industry

US 'Greatest Threat To World Peace'? With Lew Rockwell

New Survey: Americans Afraid Of Major War. Whose Fault?

Guam is Bracing for a Massive American Military Intrusion (2008)
 

turk

turk
.....there is a "professional wrestling" component to everything trump does and says...at least that's my observation...in some sense ...you can't take much of what he says....seriously...it's like he's standing in a ring...with a microphone...talking like ric flair...who trump has a lot in common with...(who many americans would be perfectly comfortable ..having as president ).
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
Folks need to get their information about current events from several sources. Be educated about the policies of your fave politician and see if it lines up with your beliefs. The next election for president isn't that far off when you think about it. They start campaigning 2 years before the election. I want to see some new faces.

Normally I dont look forward to the campaigning of a presidential election. In this case it's different. I hope not too much damage is done in the meantime.

Cool heads must prevail in times of crisis. The twitter BS needs to stop. This president is stooping low and is bringing himself to the level of Little Kim.
 

little maggie

Well-Known Member
I usually read the Huffington Post and Fox news. It's interesting how selective they are and what they leave off. Since this is a thread about Korea- I find it alarming that Trumps threats have increased his popularity which was quite low before. He is getting rewarded for his militaristic stance.

Trumps plan in future elections which may prove successful is to prevent the election of Republican's who disagree with him by backing some obscure Republican's who are aligned with him. If Trump's supporters like this violent president I don't see why he can't succeed.

Just curious- are there many people who didn't vote who still feel like Hilary would have been as bad as Trump?
 
little maggie,

Baron23

Well-Known Member
Trumps plan in future elections which may prove successful is to prevent the election of Republican's who disagree with him by backing some obscure Republican's who are aligned with him.

Well, if so it sure is hard to see given Trumps recent endorsement of Luther Strange in AL for special election for Sessions' seat, Strange being the establishment candidate as compared to the far right candidate in Rep Mo Brooks.

Oh, and I wouldn't vote for Hillary then, now, or at the end of time when she was the last politician in the world. My vote, my choice :nod::tup::wave:
 
Baron23,

howie105

Well-Known Member
Just curious- are there many people who didn't vote who still feel like Hilary would have been as bad as Trump?

Without being able to look at her actual administration there no way to say better or worse. She lost me on past performance and positions. Trump was a reality TV guy with a populace presentation and not much in the way of an actual policy specifics so I wouldn't vote for him either. As weird as it appears today I still wouldn't change my vote, neither of the above.
 
Top Bottom