Rants and WTF are you talking about and Coronavirus!

[QUOTE=Pessimist;2478072]As for internet and radicalization, etc. Internet and social media may be amplifying and accelerating some trends but if one is so easily inclined to readily subscribe to crazy conspiracy theories, I would not be rationalizing their craziness by blaming it on technology. This goes back to the victimhood complex, or others wanting to see victims when there are only crazies. For instance, this QAnon stuff. Apparently a whole bunch of people believe a guy called Q will come up as a messiah and clean up this world. This bunch also believes some really weird stuff per media reports, including that Bill Gates is a vampire And drinks children's blood or that Bill Gates wants to put a chip in everybody and control them and so on. Occasionally, I see one of these guys even post in WSJ comments, and it is a publication where the average subscriber has an annual income of $160,000. Hardly someone that you would call marginalized or left behind. My point: if someone is crazy enough to jettison common sense and a rational brain and subscribe to obviously outlandish and bizarre ideas, it is because that person is crazy and not because of technology or this and that.[/QUOTE]I think you are underestimating the power of herd mentality. Like I keep saying, most people are intellectually lazy and even when things do not make logical sense, they will fall in line. Most people think prostitution is wrong, calling the girl a victim, we know this is more often not the case. Nazis scapegoated all Jews, we know that the average Jew had no part in the economics state of 1920's Germany. Most Trumpers, prostitution opponents, 1930's Germans are / were not crazy. Yet, herd mentality allows bullshit beliefs to propagate. Digital technology just makes it that much easier.

[QUOTE=Mursenary;2478298]I think you are underestimating the power of herd mentality. Like I keep saying, most people are intellectually lazy and even when things do not make logical sense, they will fall in line. Most people think prostitution is wrong, calling the girl a victim, we know this is more often not the case. Nazis scapegoated all Jews, we know that the average Jew had no part in the economics state of 1920's Germany. Most Trumpers, prostitution opponents, 1930's Germans are / were not crazy. Yet, herd mentality allows bullshit beliefs to propagate. Digital technology just makes it that much easier.[/QUOTE]Before social media there was talk radio. I am not minimizing the power of internet in exerting influence on people, but we are talking about conspiracy theories which by definition are extreme views and in my view the people inclined to subscribe to conspiracy theories on a constant basis are already somewhat kooky and congregate with like minded people on social forums. BTW, I don't think you meant it that way, but there is not sufficient equivalence between Nazis and their enablers in 1930's, Trumpers or trump voters, and people against prostitution. Nazis were just monsters, we all know. Trump voters were almost 50% of US and even if you don't agree with them, can't say that 50% of this country is super extreme. Well you can say it, but they would say the same about you / me, and then it descends into an endless squabble. Roughly half the people I know in my personal and professional life are GOPers or Dems, and if I set their political views aside, all of them are not any different from normal. Finally, people can have a lot of reasons to be against prostitution. Yes, I partake in paid sex and I reject their views, but they are entitled to their views. Also, some girls could very well be victims. I occasionally read vague references to lover boys, pimps and other stuff on this site itself. Who knows the complete truth. I know I don't. My view on this is a bit like I enjoy my steak but don't want the cow slaughtered in front of me.

[QUOTE=Mursenary;2478298]I think you are underestimating the power of herd mentality. Like I keep saying, most people are intellectually lazy and even when things do not make logical sense, they will fall in line. Most people think prostitution is wrong, calling the girl a victim, we know this is more often not the case. Nazis scapegoated all Jews, we know that the average Jew had no part in the economics state of 1920's Germany. Most Trumpers, prostitution opponents, 1930's Germans are / were not crazy. Yet, herd mentality allows bullshit beliefs to propagate. Digital technology just makes it that much easier.[/QUOTE]I would say confirmation bias weighs more heavily than intellectual laziness. If someone is emotionally invested, they seek out only evidence that corroborates their beliefs, and discard the rest. Therefore two people can look at the same evidence, and arrive at different conclusions (we even see this even in the clubs). Here is a story about 68 yo physics professor who met a Czech bikini model (or more accurately some scammer posing as a Bikini model) who got duped into being a drug mule. Even while he sat in prison, he still clung to hope that this would "all be sorted out" and that he and his bikini model girlfriend, who he never met, could finally be together. As you touched on in one of your previous posts, his delusion was partly based on the need to "feel special". This caused him to have a tenuous grip on reality:

[QUOTE]"A total of three psychological evaluations were presented at the trial, and two agreed that he had the traits of a [b]narcissistic personality an overblown and unrealistic image of himself[/b]. One concluded that it did not constitute a pathology, while the other suggested that there were pathological aspects to his narcissism that [b]led to gaps in his understanding of reality.[/b]"

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/magazine/the-professor-the-bikini-model-and-the-suitcase-full-of-trouble.html[/QUOTE]An American psychologist administered IQ tests to the twenty or so defendants at the Nuremberg trial. The average score was about two standard deviations higher than average. I suppose someone could be be intellectually gifted and lazy with regard to educating themselves on specific issues, but I tend to believe that there were other reasons. Also, I think there are situations where it is permissible to be intellectually lazy. For example, Hitler, who most would consider a narcissist, overestimated his own abilities as a military strategist. If he had deferred to the experts and the advice of his field marshalls, perhaps Germany would have won the war.

[QUOTE=Pessimist;2478347]Before social media there was talk radio. I am not minimizing the power of internet in exerting influence on people, but we are talking about conspiracy theories which by definition are extreme views and in my view the people inclined to subscribe to conspiracy theories on a constant basis are already somewhat kooky and congregate with like minded people on social forums. BTW, I don't think you meant it that way, but there is not sufficient equivalence between Nazis and their enablers in 1930's, Trumpers or trump voters, and people against prostitution. Nazis were just monsters, we all know. Trump voters were almost 50% of US and even if you don't agree with them, can't say that 50% of this country is super extreme. Well you can say it, but they would say the same about you / me, and then it descends into an endless squabble. Roughly half the people I know in my personal and professional life are GOPers or Dems, and if I set their political views aside, all of them are not any different from normal. Finally, people can have a lot of reasons to be against prostitution. Yes, I partake in paid sex and I reject their views, but they are entitled to their views. Also, some girls could very well be victims. I occasionally read vague references to lover boys, pimps and other stuff on this site itself. Who knows the complete truth. I know I don't. My view on this is a bit like I enjoy my steak but don't want the cow slaughtered in front of me.[/QUOTE]I think internet platforms are a league up from talk radio as it lets the user more easily actively participate. That makes it even easier for people to subscribe to off the wall ideas. Grandmas and bored housewives can scroll a facebook feed, see some propaganda video, see real people commenting, and believe that there is a real significant community that gives credence to whatever message. It's a positive feedback loop.

Not all Trumpers are conspiracy theorists, but hell yes I am comparing Trumpers to Nazi enablers.

[QUOTE=McAdonis;2478355]I would say confirmation bias weighs more heavily than intellectual laziness. If someone is emotionally invested, they seek out only evidence that corroborates their beliefs, and discard the rest. Therefore two people can look at the same evidence, and arrive at different conclusions (we even see this even in the clubs). Here is a story about 68 yo physics professor who met a Czech bikini model (or more accurately some scammer posing as a Bikini model) who got duped into being a drug mule. Even while he sat in prison, he still clung to hope that this would "all be sorted out" and that he and his bikini model girlfriend, who he never met, could finally be together. As you touched on in one of your previous posts, his delusion was partly based on the need to "feel special". This caused him to have a tenuous grip on reality:

An American psychologist administered IQ tests to the twenty or so defendants at the Nuremberg trial. The average score was about two standard deviations higher than average. I suppose someone could be be intellectually gifted and lazy with regard to educating themselves on specific issues, but I tend to believe that there were other reasons. Also, I think there are situations where it is permissible to be intellectually lazy. For example, Hitler, who most would consider a narcissist, overestimated his own abilities as a military strategist. If he had deferred to the experts and the advice of his field marshalls, perhaps Germany would have won the war.[/QUOTE]Yeah, I think I used the term personal reckoning, or lack thereof, which is along the same line as confirmation bias.

Not sure we should use your Hitler example as example for being intellectually lazy. His actions were clouded in pride and narcissism rather than an example of using intelligence. The intelligent thing to do would have been to defer people with more expertise, not sure that would be a case of green lighting intellectual laziness. But yes, you don't have to be "on" all the time. I certainly am not.

I am almost starting to believe that the spike in corona virus cases in Germany is a hoax too these days.

Take for instance the outbreak at the slaughter house in Bielefeld. Well, as it apparently goes, Bielefeld does not even exist.

Look at it this way:

1. Do you know anyone from Bielefeld?

2. Have you ever been to Bielefeld?

3. Do you know anyone who has ever been to Bielefeld?

[QUOTE=Pistons;2478592]I am almost starting to believe that the spike in corona virus cases in Germany is a hoax too these days.

Take for instance the outbreak at the slaughter house in Bielefeld. Well, as it apparently goes, Bielefeld does not even exist.

Look at it this way:

1. Do you know anyone from Bielefeld?

2. Have you ever been to Bielefeld?

3. Do you know anyone who has ever been to Bielefeld?[/QUOTE]Armania Bielefeld played Bundesliga 1 few years ago.

[QUOTE=Pistons;2478592]I am almost starting to believe that the spike in corona virus cases in Germany is a hoax too these days.

Take for instance the outbreak at the slaughter house in Bielefeld. Well, as it apparently goes, Bielefeld does not even exist.

Look at it this way:

1. Do you know anyone from Bielefeld?

2. Have you ever been to Bielefeld?

3. Do you know anyone who has ever been to Bielefeld?[/QUOTE]Hehe, yes, the classic German joke about "on the highway there is only an exit sign for Bielefeld, but the city itself doesn't exist."

Through friends, family and colleagues, I know a couple of people who have recently been tested positive but all have zero! Symptoms, yet they set a crazy chain of events in motion that requires more friends, family and colleagues to also be tested. Everybody else tested negative, so that leaves a lot of questions with regards to all those "thousands of positive cases" that you hear and read about daily in the European media.

But nobody is allowed to question the authorities, and even fundamental democratic rights (the right to protest and assembly) are suspended in this 'democratic' European Union, as Berlin bans any protests of people who question the government response: [URL]https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-bans-large-weekend-protests-against-coronavirus-restrictions-citing-health-grounds/a-54709887[/URL].

Meanwhile, the European propaganda mainstream media and politicians are crying about "dictator Lukashenko" in Belarus, while their own governments are effectively doing the same at home.

Is anybody here still naive enough to think that FKK clubs are opening this year? Even if Artemis opens on the 1st of September, you better enjoy it quickly, because I don't think it will not take long before it will be forced to close again "because of positive cases."

When you confront these Covid Fanatics with the statistics from Sweden without lockdown or masks, all you hear is silence because it doesn't fit their totalitarian lockdown and "we need a vaccine" narrative. Nobody can or wants to explain why Sweden scores better than Spain, UK, Italy or Belgium:

[URL]https://www.statista.com/statistics/...n-inhabitants/[/URL]

Europe has a long history of fascist and communist dictatorships (Germany, Spain, Italy, communist Eastern Europe) and is the kind of Covid Dictatorship that will develop: a Spanish police officer without a mask is hitting girls for not properly wearing their masks: [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fILTX9jM114[/URL].

Don't be naive to say: "it can not happen again."

[QUOTE=Mursenary;2478292]I believe that you are speaking about the leaders while the previous poster had the followers in mind. The oligarchies and autocratic figures throughout history probably knew better but the fools that follow them probably actually believed the bogus conspiracy theories. What's happening in America at the moment is a prime example, 1930's Germany another. It's just more reinforcement that the masses are bored and intellectually lazy which makes them proned to be sold these crockpot theories.[/QUOTE]The leaders are deceitful but the masses who follow them have their biases. Those who are unbiased will not go along. A biased person knows he is wrong and becomes proactive upon being encouraged. Fascists and the like play on people's prejudice.

[QUOTE=Sirioja;2478672]Armania Bielefeld played Bundesliga 1 few years ago.[/QUOTE]It's a German joke from the start of the internet, look up the Bielefeld conspiracy for the story. Even Angela Merkel got into it by saying that she thought that she had been there.

[QUOTE=Downandup;2478813]It's a German joke from the start of the internet, look up the Bielefeld conspiracy for the story. Even Angela Merkel got into it by saying that she thought that she had been there.[/QUOTE]Hehe, well as the story goes, map makers do add all these fake names and locations in order to avoid getting copied. So its a great joke. But shouldn't have to explain jokes. That's boring. Rather just tag along. On the same note, flat earth is also mainly a joke. And so are plenty of other conspiracy theories. Realizing which ones are jokes, and which ones are not jokes might be hard for some people. But whatever?

[QUOTE=HammerTime96;2478717]Is anybody here still naive enough to think that FKK clubs are opening this year? Even if Artemis opens on the 1st of September, you better enjoy it quickly, because I don't think it will not take long before it will be forced to close again "because of positive cases."

When you confront these Covid Fanatics with the statistics from Sweden without lockdown or masks, all you hear is silence because it doesn't fit their totalitarian lockdown and "we need a vaccine" narrative. Nobody can or wants to explain why Sweden scores better than Spain, UK, Italy or Belgium:

[URL]https://www.statista.com/statistics/...n-inhabitants/[/URL].[/QUOTE]Post is kinda already defeated before he even brought up the question as FKKs are already open in Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and the lone club in Czech.

Try comparing Sweden's numbers to their cultural and geographic peers. 500 deaths per million versus 50 in Denmark, Finland, and Norway.

Like I said, western culture breeds selfishness especially when people refuse to see passed 6 feet in front of them.

[QUOTE=Pistons;2478847]Hehe, well as the story goes, map makers do add all these fake names and locations in order to avoid getting copied. So its a great joke. But shouldn't have to explain jokes. That's boring. Rather just tag along. On the same note, flat earth is also mainly a joke. And so are plenty of other conspiracy theories. Realizing which ones are jokes, and which ones are not jokes might be hard for some people. But whatever?[/QUOTE]Poor delivery is often the downfall of many would-be good jokes.

I don't understand the Swedish fan boys here. As Mursenary said, there have been ten times more deaths in Sweden than in Norway or Finland, the neighbor countries which enforced a lockdown during the peak of the epidemy. Even your government says that they should have handled things differently. Do they brainwash you in Sweden?

EL: yes there is full employment for native christian or European candidates. For immigrants there is often a language and cultural gap with make the things more difficult. I can tell you if you are cook, salesman, nurse, auto mechanic, electrician, carpenter, truck driver. You find easily a job in few days. Like every where if you don t speak the local language, you don t adapt to the local habits it is a hard to integrate in any country. It will be very difficult for you to find Asian unemployed people in Germany.