Navigator wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 12:39 pm
This is kind of strange, as "Guest" and "Guest 3" appear to be arguing between themselves.
It may seem strange on the surface. However, if one person has an agenda that involves normalizing a discussion of IQ and race and making it appear that many people are and should be interested in discussing it, then it doesn't seem so strange.
Good point. I normally don't think nefariously, so I guess I am a bit niave about such things. Glad you are on it.
Changes are needed to save the forum. I have held off posting as it is indeed tiring to deal with personal attacks.
As Trevor noted, he and I may disagree from time to time, but we never attack each other. It is just common curtesy.
orbitx wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 6:21 pm
GenX checking in here. My god people this place sounds worse than the Trump/Biden debate. Why is everyone personally attacking each other? It's childish. I've been following John's work since it first started and believe much of his analysis has been spot on. This country is in a very precarious position at this point, but the best we can do is argue with each other? Perhaps and most likely why we are in the position that we are. As John has written and well documented is that past history tends to repeat itself, but here everyone is trying to decide who it right or wrong. That's the exact problem. It does seem like this country is now on a collision course with destiny and it's gonna get really bumpy. More importantly, how can we help and support each other through these very tumultuous times. The upcoming years are going to be rough, very rough but also agree with John that Americans will find a way to work through this.
I couldn't agree more. Hence the need to start warnings to people that call others "religious fanatics" or "white supremacists" or whatever else. Same goes for general denigration of someone's beliefs. Our country is founded on civil give/take debate. The current devolution of public discourse, as can readily be seen here, is deplorable and a sign of serious trouble ahead.
We're just discussing how to potentially improve the dialogue by lowering the noise floor. It may not even be possible, but it's worth discussing.
I personally don't think we should require registration. I recognize its potential advantages, but I recall on several occasions guests at least purporting to post from or about repressive countries who absolutely needed anonymity, and theirs I think are some of the most valuable posts. Registration would allow hackers to more easily find their identity.
I also agree we've lost some dynamism with John's diminished activity. I'm intensely interested in the discussions here, but primarily as a learner, as I don't have the expertise in world affairs that others do. Looking for others to step up and carry on for John.
For all our faults and shortcomings, I'm still Pro-American. China looks strong on the outside, but they've got a lot of their own difficulties, including their collapsing birth rate, slowing economic growth, and alienating almost everyone. After Taiwan's election, the Philippines congratulated the President on his victory, standard diplomatic protocol. China threatened to burn their cities to the ground. If I was going to wage a war against the U.S., I wouldn't want to anger the country in the best position to blockade me.
We're having recruiting difficulties, although I know a couple of people who served in the military during the immediate post-Vietnam period. Both told me it was far worse then, having to accept recruits with literal mental retardation, over 300 pounds. The transition to a volunteer military wasn't a smooth process.
In a true major conflict, however, many that are ineligible today would either be accepted or drafted regardless. I do expect to see conscription, although likely not at the war's outbreak. Ukraine's proven an excellent example, with a significant number of soldiers on both sides in their late 30s and 40s. Our demographics aren't nearly as abysmal, but unlike WWII, this isn't going to be fought just by men in their 20s. I'm almost 35 with a disability that would render me ineligible today. However, I expect the time will come where I am going to have to serve in some capacity.
I agree with investing in drones, but I wouldn't describe the F-35s or aircraft carriers as useless. It's not uncommon for programs to go over budget, but we finally possess a stealth aircraft we can mass produce. China's own air force has managed a lot of growth, but their pilots don't get anywhere near the training ours do. It's impossible to know for sure how it'll play out. In the 1960s, dogfighting was considered obsolete, with many aircraft lacking guns or any dogfighting training. This came back to bite us in Vietnam. Preparing too much to fight the next war can backfire just as badly as preparing to fight the last war.
I personally don't think we should require registration. I recognize its potential advantages, but I recall on several occasions guests at least purporting to post from or about repressive countries who absolutely needed anonymity, and theirs I think are some of the most valuable posts. Registration would allow hackers to more easily find their identity.
This was the reason given by John to refuse registration. I don't care if a post is by 'guest' or not, I just look at the content.
spottybrowncow wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 7:50 pm
We're just discussing how to potentially improve the dialogue by lowering the noise floor. It may not even be possible, but it's worth discussing.
I personally don't think we should require registration. I recognize its potential advantages, but I recall on several occasions guests at least purporting to post from or about repressive countries who absolutely needed anonymity, and theirs I think are some of the most valuable posts. Registration would allow hackers to more easily find their identity.
I also agree we've lost some dynamism with John's diminished activity. I'm intensely interested in the discussions here, but primarily as a learner, as I don't have the expertise in world affairs that others do. Looking for others to step up and carry on for John.
True. Maybe moderator could do it by IP address, but I think that people posting from repressive countries could have those regimes track by IP address anyway (I don't think just posting as "Guest" would protect them).
Taking a closer look at the activity on this forum, which is not hard to do, there is one IP from which a guest has made over 3,300 posts under various guest handles. There is a registered account associated with this IP that has been rarely used. Most of that activity is on this thread. Several months ago, I asked that guest to stick to one handle and he/she has not. That activity has been eliminated by blocking the IP on a temporary basis. Of course, it could resurface under a different IP and that will be dealt with on a post by post basis. There is not much other current guest activity. The second largest number of guest posts from any one IP is something like 500 over the 16 year life of this forum. It is likely that administering the guest system is an administrative function, which moderators don't have the ability to change. John gave a couple reasons for allowing guests, one of which was mentioned (guest anonymity from hostile regimes). The other, in his words as I can best recall was that, "Believe it or not, the collective knowledge about the world of registered users on this forum is not all that great."
If new registered handles appear, those will be monitored more carefully but keeping in mind that the recent discussion could result in new posters who have the desire to positively contribute to this forum. The huge majority of people who have posted on this board over time have done that. Activity generated by a very small number of posters should not crowd out the potential positive contributions of a large number. I've made additional temporary changes to ensure that does not continue. The end goal is for the forum and this thread in particular to deliver the greatest value to the greatest number of people.
Taking a closer look at the activity on this forum, which is not hard to do, there is one IP from which a guest has made over 3,300 posts under various guest handles.
That sounds nefarious and creepy. That's a lot of effort in order to stymie the forum. It's not just Bob's fault, he's been poked and prodded, which is just as effective a strategy to clog up a forum and make it unpleasant.
The end goal is for the forum and this thread in particular to deliver the greatest value to the greatest number of people
.
You've been working hard and your efforts are appreciated. It's not an easy job.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Top defense and foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines will meet in Manila next month to strengthen strategic ties and discuss regional concerns, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday at a time of escalating concerns over China’s actions in the disputed South China Sea.
Details of the agenda of the July 8 meetings of Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru with their Philippine counterparts were not immediately made public, but two officials of both countries told The Associated Press that efforts were underway to finalize a key defense pact which they hope could be signed during the meetings.
Japan has had a longstanding territorial dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. Meanwhile, Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships have been involved in a series of tense confrontations in the South China Sea, a key global trade route.
https://apnews.com/article/japan-philip ... bce97fb880
The difficulties and dangers of this area continue to grow. Anything involving the Japanese greatly inflammatory. There need not be a plan to start a war, just a confrontation that gets a little bit out of hand.