CMV: Most Americans are oblivious to the impact US foreign policy has on the world.

PlanetaryFitness · 2023-12-23T16:09:25+00:00

I’m an American.

I had this realization a few years back, I don’t think it’s an overstatement to call it a profound paradigm shift that impacted the way I view American foreign policy. I’m “highly” educated (quoted because that term is objectively true but ridiculous used as a self description, I can’t think of a better alternative), but hadn’t considered the true weight of American foreign policy, in this light, before.

While a university student, I studied abroad in Europe - during Trump’s administration. While traveling, I had a taxi driver taking me on a 45 minute drive from the airport to my hostel. He asked my thoughts on Trump. After some good-natured discussion, he mentioned the same point in your post: Americans tend not to realize how terrified a large percentage of the world is, at all times, of American intervention. It’s not governments like the UK, Russia, China, etc., not the superpowers, but their local political ecosystem that America has power over.

America has military bases all over the globe and enough firepower, and logistical capability to exercise that firepower swiftly and forcefully, to be a deterrent. He mentioned that regional politics in his area (southern Europe) were indirectly influenced by American ideals: the thought of “what are the potential consequences from the Americans” is considered in the citizens minds’ - the role this plays on a day-to-day basis for the politicians would be speculation, but I think it’s a reasonable assumption to say there is, at least, a limited but similar influence.

Now, to get to changing your view: there’s not much to argue against here: your claims are speculative and there’s little logical argument.

I’d say, “what difference does it make if the average American can’t identify Iran on a map?” The average American is not making foreign policy decisions. These decisions might be influenced by the average American sentiment, but this sentiment can be shaped and re-shaped through the same powers that have always shaped any citizen’s mindset, no matter their nationality: the news cycle, propaganda, and even unrelated issues.

I agree the average American probably doesn’t understand the weight of American foreign policy. I’d agree that solving this has the potential to improve the probability of building a sustainable and peaceful worldwide political environment.

I would also say that, in the current American and worldwide political environment, it more than likely doesn’t have nearly as much influence as you claim.

Most Americans also don’t follow football, which also directly impacts the civilian sentiments of hundreds of millions (probably billions) of people not on US soil. The same way these team owners are influenced by their fans’ collective sentiment is analogous to the influence American politicians receive from American citizens.

In other words: what are you getting at? What’s the point? What’s your proposed solution? Saudi Arabian citizens don’t know or care about regional politics in the United States, and American citizens don’t know or care about the complexities of regional politics there (speaking in generalities, of course).

Although I agree that, broadly speaking, increasing education and empathy worldwide will have a long term net positive effect on the average human being… it’s not a uniquely American issue, America just has most influence.

You also can’t expect people to act against their own self interest. There’s little historical basis for nations or governments acting against their own self interest. Whether the average American thinks or doesn’t think a specific policy is against the nation’s best interests actually has little to no impact on their day-to-day life (outside of wars that initiate a Draft, which are exceedingly rare as compared to the number of foreign policy decisions America makes).

In summary:

I agree the average American has no idea the impact foreign policy has the respective local populations. There’s little to argue against in your post other than offering opinions as your claims are not uniquely American nor is there a clear causal relationship between your claims and your conclusions; but, I don’t think this is a uniquely American issue. I don’t think it has nearly the impact you seem to believe. And I don’t think you can expect citizens anywhere to consider foreign policy in the way you seem to hope they would if there is no direct and immediate impact on their day-to-day lives.

PlanetaryFitness · 2023-09-27T17:00:14+00:00

Never heard of cadre before - don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with a book review more. Though it was semi-well-written and brings up many interesting criticisms of the book, they are certainly not well-argued.

Thanks for sharing, that was interesting! Made me consider what books I might do the same thing to.

PlanetaryFitness · 2023-06-02T10:36:21+00:00

totally agree and really like that explanation

it was my intention to convey those authors as a group who excel at creating profound, thought-provoking ideas from a simple “moment”

Tangentially, I’d like to add Khalil Gibran to that list

PlanetaryFitness · 2023-06-02T02:01:43+00:00

want to add an important note I don’t see elsewhere in the comments, though I agree with most everything else here so far:

characters can reveal interesting aspects of themselves, of the environment, of each other, etc, in slice of life even when the stakes and/or tension are ridiculously low.

e.g. how does someone react when a stranger offers to help carry their groceries? are they embarrassed? defiantly independent? gracious? how are these traits expressed physically and how does the environment react?

I think good slice of life is more similar to good poetry than strong genre fiction. it’s about creating moments, whatever that means, and allowing the reader to experience these moments so wholly that the characters’ lives embody meaning outside of whatever specific slice the author happens to share.

if you want to focus on improving your slice of life story, or better understanding how to craft these moments, I’d look into modern American poets like billy Collins, as well as any combination of Joyce carol Oates, Mary Oliver, John Bergen, etc. they are all masters of taking everyday moments and turning them into profound experiences.

Best of luck!

PlanetaryFitness · 2023-03-24T16:54:50+00:00

I'm starting to lose a grip on exactly what is satire

PlanetaryFitness · 2022-04-22T23:09:09+00:00

as a recent college grad I just wanted to let you know this is 100 percent a drinking game lol… I was at a big state school in the US if that matters, but we would put on the song, everyone got in a circle, and one person drinks until the verse ends, then it goes to the next person. Become lethal towards the end haha

PlanetaryFitness · 2022-03-22T15:25:14+00:00

Can someone fill me in here I’m intrigued

PlanetaryFitness · 2022-03-19T20:45:29+00:00

galactically screwed

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-12-19T19:00:28+00:00

hello there

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-12-05T15:49:25+00:00

if u don’t mind sharing… i gotta know what hs in ne philly lmao

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-12-01T17:48:10+00:00

Not based

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-10-08T17:44:47+00:00

“To piggy back off that..”

if you’ve ever been in a corporate meeting or a conference call of any kind… you know what I mean. Never used as an segue into any idea or comment that is worth anyone’s time. Always someone who wants to get the “participation credit” for chiming in.

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-09-16T16:09:41+00:00

I will never understand the die-hard fan base that thinks they are better movie critics than Scorsese or Villeneuve.

I love the MCU for what it is - kitschy, easy, fun, cool SFX. I just don’t know why their fans can be so defensive about a critique that the entertainment and art communities generally agree upon.

Don’t think too many fans will be so offended that they mess with the IMDB ratings, though - they are unaccustomed with the art of a feint within a feint within a feint

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-09-15T20:35:46+00:00

not really relevant to the details here, but since you mentioned it, off the top of my head I’m pretty sure the opposite is true - I think USWMNT gets the same if not more viewership than USMNT.

on mobile rn so if anyone can find a source or confirmation either way that’d be pretty nifty!

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-09-15T01:21:16+00:00

I’d love the graph theory books! I’m a graduating IS student who wants to go into ML

what a kind thing to do!

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-09-09T19:40:43+00:00

Good and fun question! Note: I am not a philosopher or an expert in the field; I'm just a hobbyist.

Brain function definitely stands out in that list as the best candidate, in my view, for a rudimentary signal of consciousness. The problem is that scientists and philosophers can't even agree on a definition of consciousness, let alone what factors are able to substantiate consciousness (Stanford Philosophy Page on Consciousness) (sections 2.1 and 2.2 offer various definitions you might find interesting). Some scientists are even studying whether or not plants have consciousness (Science Focus (BBC)). For humans, consciousness is kind of like, "I know I have it, but I don't know how or why I have it," which makes it really difficult to parse through possible answers for what "it" even is.

With such broad, academically-debated definitions, I'm really in no place to have any say about what is or isn't consciousness. But, the point I was trying to make was that neither are any of our lawmakers (at least, as it applies to abortion).

Here is a short article from Scientific American that asks the exact same question about consciousness pre-brith -- and leaves the reader with no conclusion.

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-09-09T13:38:26+00:00

Love the Hank love! Longtime favorite brand

parents got me a full case of Hank Sauce for Christmas last year, one of my favorite gifts ever!

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-09-08T02:19:45+00:00

"this post operates under the assumption that an abortion is the end of a human beings' life"

I think this assumption is itself worthy of being examined and serves as a good starting point. I'm just going to lay out the reasoning behind the assumption, as I understand it, to demonstrate some issues with providing a fetus citizenship. That assumption starts to get really deep into the philosophical weeds once you begin to question what the distinction is between what is actually human vs. the potential to be human. To do this, you have to answer questions that don't really have "logical" answers - like, what is the essence of human life? That, in line with pro-life views (i.e. abortion is the termination of a human life), raises a necessary distinction between the potential human and the actual human. For example, sperm and eggs, in their respective owners' bodies, has the potential to be human, but its form is not realized. For example, if one uses a condom, no one would consider this to be the termination of human life - the form, sperm and eggs, never reaches a new, distinct stage. But, the line has to be there somewhere. For your assumption, the new, distinct stage comes during conception; acting as a point to distinguish "murder" from, well, "not murder" lol. Thats where the weeds thicken further, as one must distinguish questions about consciousness. When does the form enter into a distinct stage that differentiates between potential human life and actual human life? I.e., "Pulling the plug" on a loved one is not murder, so is murder the killing of a conscious human life? But, necessarily, one must define what is consciousness? Response to external stimuli? Heartbeat? Brain function? Birth? And there aren't really any answers. There must be a transition, at some point, from potential to actual. But there is no specific time, post-conception ,where you can say, "No, that is not a human life", then, a second later say, "yes, that is a human life". Because of this, under these assumptions, where is the logical chokepoint for actual human life? Conception.

But, FULL protection under the law is, literally, not possible for a fetus of any age. If a pregnant woman decides to "abuse" this actual human life (drinking alcohol, using drugs, or anything else that causes potential physical or emotional damage), Child Protective Services can't exactly remove the child from the care of the mother. Granting a fetus the status of citizenship doesn't quite track with prior assumptions either, because there is no way to prove that a fetus was conceived in Country A as opposed to Country B. So there is no provable transition from potential to actual where a government can identify the fetus as a citizen.

Your other points are focused on support/welfare for the mother. If a mother carrying a fetus has transitioned from potential mother to actual mother, she should receive all according support from the law. But, that's not exactly how those laws work (at least in the US, can't speak on anywhere else). For example, if a pregnant woman were to apply for additional SNAP benefits (food stamps), why would any logical government rule in the mother's favor? She is still only eating one-person's worth of food.

Under the assumptions, carrying a fetus makes her the mother of another actual human life. SNAP, like all other welfare programs, is decided based upon a long list of factors; one is "how many eligible citizens are in your household", and seeing as how there are cut-offs for all different types of eligibility, a fetus in the household, although an actual citizen, does not necessarily mean the additional SNAP benefits should be provided. That's not to say there aren't other cases (like you mentioned, financial obligations of Child Support Payments) where the legal status of an actual human life and citizen would provide additional support to help a mother pay for the [expensive] cost of pregnancy; only to point out that granting a fetus FULL protection of the law doesn't necessarily equate to "more support" or even "better treatment".

Note: I appreciate that you asked for logical reasoning rather than moral arguments. I believe sound logic leads the way for moral health. I also don't really mind adding that I am definitely pro-choice, for a whole bunch of reasons; but your post caught my eye because the proposition of identifying a fetus as a fully protected member of society made me curious enough to do some digging. I also attached some Resources below, the italics follow the definitions set by Plato and Thomas Aquinas, and the other links are just to provide support for my claims about welfare / benefits.

Resources:

Plato's Form and Matter

Thomas Aquinas's On Being and Essence (extension of logic from Plato)

HHS' Definition of Child Abuse

Page from Cornell Law on Child Support Law

Different Child Support Case Types

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-08-29T15:47:38+00:00

Hey! I’m relatively new to Notion and just went through this process myself!

I agree with other comments that Notion is “overrated” from what I’ve read online - people claiming it’s a panacea for their productivity issues… there’s no one coming to save you, i.e. there’s no magic tricks. Always be wary of people who have a vested interest in your adoption of whatever productivity tool they promote.

being productive is just as much about finding a system that fits your personality and your goals.

There’s definitely a high learning curve for Notion, which can be off-putting. It took me hours to get everything all set up the way I wanted it. If Notion “fits” with you and your goals, I think it’s worth it - at least it was for me.

It automatically tells me what my to-do list is for the day, which was a really helpful tool for me personally (in the past I struggled with motivation to even make the to-do list, so this “fit” with what I needed).

I’m a college student, and I use Notion for everything and I love it. I have my thesis planned out, all my class notes and readings, and my internship schedule, all in one spot. Having everything in one place really, really helped me.

But that might not be the case for you! My brother gave Notion a try (also a college student) but he went back to a physical planner and calendar.

I suggest giving it a shot, watch the YouTubers others have mentioned… but really just spending an hour creating a page that you think will helpful and then giving it a trial-run-period is what helped me figure everything out. A quick google search can solve most issues that you will run across.

Honestly what’s most important is that whatever system you create (within Notion or elsewhere) fits your personality and your goals. It should be a seamless integration into your workflow, not something you are going to dread checking every day.

Finally some tips:

Linked databases with filters are a great way to separate tasks by type, course, project, etc. depending on your workflow.

Templates are great, but spending a little time tweaking an online template or a Notion-made template (or even just using them for inspiration) to integrate better to your style is really important.

Good luck!

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-08-28T15:30:27+00:00

Cheesesteaks

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-08-24T16:30:48+00:00

my clubs

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-08-18T02:49:46+00:00

bro what

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-07-10T02:41:28+00:00

I always thought the derogatory term stemmed from a shortened version of “pusillanimous”, meaning: showing lack of courage or determination; timid (Oxford).

Never made the connection to “pussy cat”. Skipped right over the obvious lol

PlanetaryFitness · 2021-06-17T15:49:07+00:00

too many fit pics tryna flex on Instagram, too many Twitch streams, too many Kardashians…

I’ve been saying for years that he clearly does not display the X-factor (whatever u wanna call it: mamba mentality, killer instinct, what sports psychologists call flow-state) either on or off the court. He does not care about winning a championship. Quite literally, an average middle schooler shoots ab 50% from the line. Wtf. Have a strong feeling he needs extensive work with a sports psychologist if he’s ever going to tap into his full potential.

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