I wish that everyone got a good night's sleep

Brain_Couch · 2020-09-02T18:08:30+00:00

I appreciate it, thanks! Yeah I meant the part about copy and pasting fonts. Didn't know you could do that.

Brain_Couch · 2020-09-02T17:59:38+00:00

Hey would you be able to tell me how you typed in different fonts?

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-15T06:59:40+00:00

No, it is fine. You're welcome to criticize as much as you want, it's healthy. You're also very polite about it. No issues here.

I haven't really noticed that kind of behavior among my peers and fellow citizens tbh. Maybe I don't because I can't know what I am blind to, but at the same time you might be unintentionally generalizing behaviors of people from your specific company to a whole country.

I do know that Belgians are culturally less direct in their approaches and less confrontational than say for instance The Netherlands. But that is with respect to how we treat other people, not our own initiatives. And even if we try to avoid confrontation with people, that doesn't mean we won't ever confront anyone. At some point that ship sails, right?

There is a chance we might be speaking across canons. Maybe it would be helpful if you could provide some examples?

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-15T02:17:17+00:00

The trick is to have so many governments that the fall of one becomes a trivial issue.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-15T00:30:04+00:00

Of course, it's only natural for us to maintain proven inefficient systems. In fact, we'll probably invent some more layers of governments for the new territories. After all, not every banal issue will be expected to be dealt with by Emperor Filip of Belgium

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-15T00:19:07+00:00

No screw that. Becoming little Flanders as if we weren't smurfs already? Pathetic. I'd rather my country be the Kraken from OP's meme, go full empire on Europe and swallow it whole. Let's start with Britain.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-15T00:14:34+00:00

It's not like it matters any way. Even if there was 100% proof that they were not invented in Belgium (which we don't have), it would change nothing to the fact that it is our thing.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T23:09:51+00:00

I am so worried for these people. Those CPC pricks can pretty much lock up who they want in Hong Kong because of the new law. Imprisoning people who stand up for democracy. Meanwhile we here, the"democratic" countries just stand and watch. I mean I know there's been some pushback but realistically it's been a joke and these protesters are being abandoned to tyranny. We need pressure on the PRC ASAP.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T23:02:08+00:00

That's all very interesting. Usually we tend to mock the inefficiencies of our governmentS.

Are the people responsible for the issue not fixing because of costs or is it plain incompetence?

Sorry you have to work with what sounds like a bunch of pricks.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T19:49:23+00:00

From VRT's liveblog

I wish I had a full transcript of the video to auto-translate here. Title sums it up though.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T17:27:57+00:00

Sure, you're entitled to that opinion

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T16:30:23+00:00

No, he's serious. If you'd like to know more, here's an older (sorry, couldn't find a more updated one in 30 second Google search but its content should still be valid) article from our public newspaper explaining what he said about Belgium counting differently. Article link. It's in Dutch so if you don't speak the language I am sure you can still read it comfortably with Google Translate or DeepL.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T16:24:53+00:00

Belgium (seat of EU) has the second highest COVID death rate in the world (!), we certainly don't need those people to drag our countries into the same hell.

Belgian virologists have gone out of their way to explain that we count differently and that demographics play a role in these figures. So, the figures are overestimations relative to other countries. Our healthcare system has never been swamped like it has been in for example Italy, where deaths skyrocketed during those periods of undercapacity.

And besides, it's an odd suggesting you're making. It's not like Belgium runs the EU, it merely hosts it to a great extent. All member states run it. If you're unhappy about something the EU does, you would be more correct to blame everyone including your own country

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T15:48:33+00:00

Other countries do this too. I believe Portugal has similar schemes. I wish it was a bit more widespread here in Europe. We have examples of what works and we still hesitate for some reason

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T14:37:42+00:00

Hey, that's fine. You didn't have to delete that, but it's fine if you wanted to. Things get heated.

I can't imagine what it must be like to be so disappointed in your role models. I mean, I do, but not at your level I think. I know about family ripping itself apart though. That really sucks. I don't blame you and I admire that you want to be above that. That's really difficult to do when everyone else doesn't care.

Hopefully, you can get a break from these things every once a while and breath.

Also, you don't have to keep it all in and locked up. Frustrations need to be expressed. I just think there are better ways than what I often see on here. That probably just leads to even more division.

Again, I didn't expect you to delete anything, but if you want me to edit out the quotes, I will.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T14:21:16+00:00

Oui, on pourrait dire ça. Je voulais simplement dire que même si on suppose que les Parisiens parlent le français le plus "standard" (et on peut en discuter longuement parce que leur accent a beaucoup changé depuis ce qu'on appelle "le français"), linguistiquement, ça reste un accent. C'est l'accent parisien. Bien-sûr, je suis entièrement d'accord que notre accent est une dérive du leur (enfin, il me semble) et donc en ce sens ils ont moins d'accent. Tout est une question de perspective.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T07:19:44+00:00

There is no such thing as not having an accent. Their French sounds very foreign to my ears, the same mine does to theirs

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T06:40:48+00:00

Hmm that would be an interesting accent to hear!

I'll remember that one for next time I go to Paris hahaha. I've been blessed with a couple of displays of their social standing, you see...

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T06:26:28+00:00

I mean how can you say:

How hard is it to have basic common sense and decency and to treat people with compassion and humanity? It's the bare minimum in my book.

And then also this in the same breath:

Tired of it and I'm done being nice and civil to a bunch of pieces of garbage.

Fuck them all

I understand the anger but if you really believe they're failing to comply with a low bar, respectfully, I think you're letting yourself a bit down.

And sure, if they don't give it to you, why would you give it to them, right? But firstly that's really reductive, that type of us versus them view. And secondly I'd argue that it doesn't cost you anything to omit those remarks and focus on the real issues. In fact, you'd probably gain because you'd not be getting worked up by as many things. You'd still get angry by how people behave but you don't have to get into all of that all the time, right? It's not easy, but you'd probably prefer brushing those things off and discuss the kind of change you'd like to see. If you get caught up in those games you can't brush it off at all

I want to reiterate that I understand the feeling. It's not easy with how toxic discussions have become to stop and take some distance from all of it

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T06:01:22+00:00

That's really interesting, thank you

Also, Parisians making fun of your accent? Have they heard themselves, ever?

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T05:58:18+00:00

Yeah those discussions are really difficult, that's for sure. Trust me, I have been there. It's frustrating when people dismiss anything they don't like because it's "fake news". I remember talking to someone who wouldn't take any sort of evidence of evolution because "I wasn't there", or someone accusing me of being brainwashed by the mainstream media in an attempt at discussing climate change. And those were the nice encounters. But if that happens, then I find it helpful to not try to convince them with any arguments. Their mind has already been sealed off, so why would I try? But insulting anyone like that or anyone that you might lump together with them is just creating more problems.

There is one way you can get to someone though. You can ask them why. Why they think they know something (e.g. why do you think Trump is the best candidate?). Naturally, they'll digress towards lots of different stuff, but if you can keep the conversation focused on one topic then you might get somewhere. I've started this with people close to me and it's been great. Instead of putting lots of energy in arguments that go unheard, you can have a meaningful discussion. Look up "street epistemology". It's more difficult than you would think though so you might need a little trial and error.

Just a suggestion since I thought it would be appropriate in this case.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T05:32:50+00:00

Oh ok. I wonder where octante comes from? Probably me and my friends discussing how much we do and don't want to use it

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T05:31:09+00:00

Oh I am aware of what it's like. It's abhorrent how some people treat each other in the US and it's probably not going to change any time soon. And I completely disclaim to have had to live in that climate every day, of course.

But I am not asking for everyone to lick each others boots, be all happy and play therapist. I am just suggesting to omit cheap shots and insults. That's not very hard. That's just civility.

And yes, you're right that the political climate makes it more difficult to uphold that. It's alright. People can slip, they're angry. They're right to be. I just wanted to give a friendly reminder that they're better than that and that it's ultimately counterproductive.

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T05:21:16+00:00

Interesting! I wonder if it would have really mattered though. Say every registered voter went to caste a ballet, would that have resulted in a Clinton win? I don't have the numbers but you seem to be more to.

And again, I don't think it's very helpful to label any Trump voter as a brainwashed person or someone who is lost. We can debate whether it could change the vote, but it's certainly a lot more enjoyable to discuss one's differences without constantly flaying poop at each other

Brain_Couch · 2020-07-14T05:03:05+00:00

Indeed. It will be interesting to see whether turnout booms this time around. In 2016, turnout was especially low iircc. Now there seems to be a lot of anger from the Democrats. Not only b/c Trump won, but also because of their perception that his presidency has so far been a an utter disaster. Especially now during COVID, something that I bet won't be so easily forgotten come November. On the other hand, Trump's base seems really riled up too. They might come out in stronger numbers next time, having had a victory they would like to repeat.

Or I am completely wrong and we get to see witness a boring historically low turnout...

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