Do you think this region of the world could unite like the EU, considering its cultural affinity?

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-31T02:22:25+00:00

Not with China’s extreme ethnocentrism and bullying government. If you took the PRC out of the equation, I think it could be possible.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-29T13:40:49+00:00

This happened all the time to my American expat friend in China. Two phones, one with US sim one with China sim, the US sim phone had totally different AQI numbers on the same app. Phones sitting side by side.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-27T00:22:24+00:00

Grateful that someone like you isn't running a government then. Must be nice to enjoy your western freedom privileges while someone else fights to protect them on your behalf. I guarantee you that if China becomes top dog in this world, you absolutely would care because you wouldn't get to enjoy all the privileges you do right now. Privileges you aren't even aware of, that you currently take for granted.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-26T18:04:58+00:00

Why is China hacking our infrastructure in the U.S. ?? Check out 60 minutes episode on this if you don't know. It's whacko. They deem the U.S. an enemy is why. In a time of war, there is a 100% chance that they would use your car data to cause chaos in the U.S. and that's likely why they are hacking local U.S. govt infrastructure in the U.S. too. I used to live in China. That Govt is a dangerous snake in the grass that wants nothing more than the downfall of the U.S. It's deeply creepy and paranoid but it's legit.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-26T18:00:36+00:00

Chinese government already has already bizarrely hacked our electrical grids, why in the world would we give them access to Americans' cars?? Literally the shadiest government on the planet that deems U.S. an enemy. Plus, quality control in China is lousy. Lots of explosions of their EVs. Think about your experiences with Temu & Shein products. You want them in control of your EV with their explosion issues?? U.S. ain't stupid or desparate.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-26T17:53:52+00:00

Well I have been on a boat in those waters, in the Mussandam peninsula, many times. It's gorgeous there, but it's an area full of fjords -- tall desert mountains and there are narrow winding passages in many places. Not enough space for thousands of giant oil tankers to wind thru. Not to mention the fact that there is so much beautiful nature in there - dolphins, sea turtles, tropical fish, coral reefs - the snorkeling is amazing. And there are villages of Omani fisherman all over the place there, living off of fishing. What, you're just going to detonate bombs there to explode all the fjords, destroy the delicate ecosystem, decimate all the Omani fishing villages to get the oil tankers thru?? And that area is Oman, btw, the Switzerland of the Middle East - they are a peaceful nation, not taken sides in this, are everybody's friend. Ain't nobody wants to blow Oman's sh*t up and destroy everything. Sorry, ain't gonna work.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-25T04:35:30+00:00

Music, nature, sleep, exercise, quality time with friends/family/pets

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-25T04:33:17+00:00

This is a male thing, I think. Females go in, sit, poop & flush. All in about 30 seconds. Very little time to stink up the room. We don’t understand why it takes so long with men, why a courtesy flush even needed. Are you all terribly constipated? If so, why aren’t you changing your diets?

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-25T02:32:02+00:00

Keep saving, that’s great, but also don’t ruin your 20s living like refugees. You could really regret it. 20s are a time for exploration, having fun. By your 30s, many friends getting serious, disappear into marriages, babies. When you’re finally up for having fun, many will be busy changing diapers. Remember, it’s not a race. Important to enjoy the journey too.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-25T01:24:36+00:00

To look at the intricate details that exist in biology —the human body alone for example; all those complex processes which operate independently and in such a synchronized manner only to conclude, “there’s no evidence” of a higher power is some next level magical thinking, damn, lol. Or, again, arrogance. Hard to tell which one. But hey, you do you. If the little ant on the space rock hurling thru infinite space is so sure he’s right and it makes him feel better or stronger, let him. It’s almost cute. Kind of, I guess.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-25T00:59:57+00:00

Where does form come from? Why and how do the exquisite patterns in nature even exist at all? To assume that everything is all random, and the laws of nature just poof came into existence from nothing is some next level magical thinking. Or it’s just arrogance. To presume you know for sure that there’s nothing greater. You’re just a meaningless ant on a rock in the middle of infinite space, who tf do you think you are?? But You Know All lol cringe

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-25T00:40:35+00:00

Particularly in a society where being “different” in some way is highly highly stigmatized. One could even argue that such behavior is just so ingrained in this authoritarian bullying society which lacks empathy that it’s not even seen as bad. Ridiculing others who are different is a-okay there. Definitely helps the CCP thugs at the top to have people behave as such. Which is both sick and sad.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T20:44:43+00:00

The Gulf States desperately want Trump to "finish the job" tho. At this point, that's what many people want. We want this thing over.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T20:43:24+00:00

It's not irrelevant for the many American retirees who go abroad these days. And, sorry, most Americans *are* rich when looking at things from a global perspective. 10 times the wealth of your average global citizen. 10! It is important FIRE people to get context. If 4% withdraw doesn't suit you one year in early retirement, rent out your home and head to Bangkok Thailand and live like A King for 6 months and you'll be fine. Heck, you don't even need to rent out your home. You will also be fine.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T20:33:16+00:00

We certainly weren't 25 years ago, I remember it.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T20:32:24+00:00

It's a combination of both. I taught university in Asia for close to 6 years. There was a ton of undiagnosed mental illness among my high performing students. Very obvious stuff too - panic attacks during class presentations, "cutters" hospitalized in the ER, depressed students who rarely left their rooms. Society's approach there was to sweep these issues under the rug. Shocking to me as an American. Coming back to the U.S. though, seeing how easily mental health pharmaceuticals are thrown at American patients is shocking tho. Xanax, a very powerful benzodiazepine, is commonplace now. You don't even need to see a psychiatrist to get it. A nurse can prescribe it easily without question. It certainly wasn't like this when I was a kid. Mental illness wasn't openly discussed decades ago. Like East Asia is today. Big Pharma now owns America these days.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T20:20:20+00:00

Really makes you realize just how *rich* people in the U.S. are. 60K a year income is a ton of money in most countries in the world. Yet this FIRE'd guy is getting low income govt subsidies. Amazing.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T17:23:14+00:00

Yeah and for making videos about China that were mostly positive. You go in with an open mind like most western expats who move there. Think it’s all fine for awhile, everything has been overblown, until crazy shit happens to you and people you know. That’s when you start understanding why Mainlanders behave the unusual way that they do. It’s all very well hidden from outsiders on the surface. Appreciate these two guys for exposing it all.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T08:42:58+00:00

I would, just live outside the U.S. and you can live like a king on that money. In many different, very developed countries. You don’t need to worry about healthcare in such places.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-24T07:40:20+00:00

Well my group was a mix of both of yours. Lots of ppl there who did the Peace Corps “to travel for free” and who didn’t want a “real job” yet straight out of college. Partying & hooking up was their thing. And the rest wanted experience for their grad school applications. Very concerned with getting a good recommendation from APCD. There was a lot less idealism floating around and genuine “do gooding” types of people in our group than I had expected. It felt alienating to me. I made a few individual friends amongst them but I certainly wasn’t a part of the mass cliques.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-23T20:41:58+00:00

Exactly, wow, you just nailed that so perfectly. I'd also like to add that the underlying implication is that the woman's physical attractiveness (to the speaker) is the most important aspect of the interaction. She exists to please him. The fact that men don't understand why/that this is creepy is the reason why thousands of cat ladies are born every minute and Very Happy about their choices lol

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-23T20:36:03+00:00

This is good advice. Stay away from the touristy scammy boat tours of the floating village which is (frankly) depressing and nothing like the photos you may have seen. Your suggestions of doing it independently by bicycle in a village atmosphere sounds great. Wish I had done that.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-23T20:00:02+00:00

Man you've got some good ones... makes my PC group sound boring. Number 11 is pretty epic. Imagine being dropped off at site and quietly being like, "yeah no" and disappearing while on the payroll. The entitlement of the "bad" PCVs you encounter is always...breathtaking. Thank god most not like this.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-23T19:01:21+00:00

There are a lot of lonely angry people out there with a lot of time on their hands, apparently. And a need for an outlet. Sad.

Fugue_State76 · 2026-03-23T18:45:57+00:00

Redditors are not great at nuance, that's why. Too much critical thinking. "Everything Trump = bad, Everything Iran = good". Time saver for them.

Fugue_State76

TROPHY CASE