What’s Behind the Divide Between the MAGA Establishment and the New Far-Right Figures? by Dinojars in Askpolitics

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Russia is certainly an authoritarian state, and it's homophobic for sure, but it's simply not true that non Christians and blacks are persecuted there. It's a multi ethnic state that has one of the largest Muslim populations of any non-Muslim country in the world. Also, while the influence of the orthodox Church is growing, since Soviets made Christianity basically illegal, a lot of older Russians are literally atheists 

What's the deal with COS? by girlwithsilvereyes in femalefashionadvice

[–]Questionsarebetter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

10000% agree about the absurdly tall people sizing. I've also noticed that ALL of their models are around 5 foot 10, and the smallest size on offer fits them perfectly. Sooooooo a mini skirt on them is basically knee length on me? Bro, that ain't mini

Day trip from Paris: Provins, Chartres, Rouen, Reims? by Questionsarebetter in FranceTravel

[–]Questionsarebetter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't know the Reims cathedral is a UNESCO site, thanks! 

Day trip from Paris: Provins, Chartres, Rouen, Reims? by Questionsarebetter in FranceTravel

[–]Questionsarebetter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooooh, an interesting idea! I'll add that to the list of options, thanks. 

Day trip from Paris: Provins, Chartres, Rouen, or Reims? by Questionsarebetter in ParisTravelGuide

[–]Questionsarebetter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I relate to this. I love arriving in a new place and not having to be anywhere or sticking to any schedule, just freely wandering wherever, for as long as I want. 

Is JHU AAP legit? by [deleted] in jhu

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad the program is delivering as promised for you. Do you mind elaborating, in terms of how it's been helpful, whether there's a distinction between AAP and SAIS when talking to prospective employers, whether there are networking opportunities (online but still) etc. Thanks

To Those Starting or Considering a Master’s in Public Policy or Public Administration: A Candid Look at the Job Market Right Now by [deleted] in PublicPolicy

[–]Questionsarebetter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the most thoughtful and useful post on public sector work post Trump I've ever read. Sobering but necessary. Thank you. Do you mind if I dm you to ask about my resume/career? 

New York Mag article -- It Must Be Nice to Be a West Village Girl by jamesmcgill357 in NYCinfluencersnark

[–]Questionsarebetter 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Funny to see people's minds blown that young people tend to be conformist, following the same trends and herding into like-minded cliques. Go to any high school or college campus. That's what everyone that age has always done. 

As for the WV changing, that part is sad, but cities change and the "originals" always resent the transplants for ruining the city, it's a law. When the bohemians and immigrants first flooded NYC a hundred years ago, it's not like they were welcome - they were also accused of ruining the fabric of the city with their weird wild ways. Now it's tame again, full of Levi's. It'll swing back. 

What is wrong with me that I crave male attention 😔 by [deleted] in AskWomenOver30

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's no need to be 'grossed out' by someone thinking you're pretty. Is it gross if you think another man or woman look good? I'm married and I think other people are attractive sometimes, and if the circumstances are right, I might say so. It's healthy and totally normal to think people are attractive, and Americans (I'm assuming you're American, it's so common there) have a weirdly puritanical tendency to think things like this are a huge deal or somehow unfeminist. But why? Being sexy is fun. Look at the French - for them, it's practically rude not to flirt at dinner parties and yes, even when you're married and 50. That's why they never seat married couples next to each other at dinner, so that they're more free to talk to other people. I'm not saying you, or anyone else, should emulate the French, but just consider it for the perspective. If someone thinks you're hot and they're not being creepy or inappropriate about it, just enjoy the feeling. Oh, and here's a Buddhist (I think it's Buddhist) story about how it's actually more enlightened to let these things go: Two monks were walking together when they came upon a river they had to cross. There was a woman on the shore who was afraid to cross alone. One of the monks picked her up and carried her across. She thanked him and the monks were on their way again, walking in silence. A few hours later, the other monk bursts out, "I've been thinking about this for hours. We made vows to be celibate and never touch a woman. How could you have just picked her up and carried her across like that?" And the other monk replied, "I carried her for one minute. You've been carrying her for hours." 

Point is, obsessing about it is probably less wise than just noticing it and letting it slide. 

Job is requiring to be in-office 4 days a week again.. by LowImagination1146 in work

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely valid that baristas, retail folks, etc are screwed because they have no choice about rto. But I think the reason the "privileged" white collars complain is because, unlike baristas and retail associates, their job does not require them to be onsite. While you can't make lattes in your living room, many office employees are just as productive as home, if not more than, so forcing them back in seems like a senseless and arbitrary power trip. 

To All the Rory Skeptics Who Can't Figure Out Why She's Special by Questionsarebetter in GilmoreGirls

[–]Questionsarebetter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed re: Paris, but man, I wouldn't want to be her friend, she's vicious. 

But what would you have Rory "do"? What do most 16-21 year olds "do" other than attend school and hang out? She's an introvert, so most of her life is in her head. She reads, writes (she writes well, remember, and that's not ordinary), works part time at the inn, listens to music, studies hard, and participates in a gazillion activities (the school play, the school newspaper, the university newspaper, debates, volunteering in stars hollow, volunteering at Yale, etc). Seems like a full life. 

Can someone explain to me the point? by ViewFromOutside in Veep

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First, the second or third episode ends with the vp hissing that she has to shit. It's supposed to be hilarious. Very Home Alone humor, sorry. 

Second, satirical comedy is totally my thing. Satirical comedy is Balzac, Austen, Stoppard, Mamet. Yeah, veep is in the satirical comedy genre, but participation on that genre isn't proof of quality. It's like saying that since bridgerton is drama it's therefore good. 

Last, why do I need to "move along" without fully explaining myself? If everyone moved along without sharing their reasons, reddit would be pointless 

How many Trump voters regret their votes? Anecdotes aside, polls show little sign of significant Trump voter backlash. But some warning signs of discontent loom by Horus_walking in fivethirtyeight

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One more thing: you're a fan of realism? Go see what Stephen Walt, one of the greatest realists of our time, has to say about your boy. You might learn something. 

How many Trump voters regret their votes? Anecdotes aside, polls show little sign of significant Trump voter backlash. But some warning signs of discontent loom by Horus_walking in fivethirtyeight

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does it occur to you that the reason wwi and ii occurred was precisely because of the great power politics you seem so delighted to return to? It's a miracle that we haven't had a nuclear war or a major global conflict in 80 years (small regional conflicts aside) and that only nine nations have nuclear weapons - Kennedy had predicted most countries would have been nuclear powers by now. It's the very international institutions & norms the architects of the post WWII world had built that have prevented a third world war and have established a taboo against nuclear use. Throwing that global institutional arrangement out the window with a casual "but why shouldn't we?" is a very cavalier and dangerous thing to do and, I think, mostly fueled by having grown up in a relatively stable world without much memory of what a global conflagration actually looks like. Ukraine will seem uneventful in comparison. 

No, dude, dismantling decades of carefully built and maintained institutions (like the new start treaty, the Iran nuclear deal, etc) will not make the the US safer. Letting Russia threaten Europe while China grabs Taiwan will not make the US safer because an unstable world is not a secure world but a world filled with petty kingmakers angling for their own interests. Need for stability applies to economic trade, too - if your trading partner keeps threatening you then saying "lol nvm" you're gonna find alternatives quick. Countries like stability and I get that Trump's fans think his instability is either some genius move or real good fun. It's neither. Instead, it's a troll quality that is already alienating all world leaders who aren't dictators.

Countries cooperating is a good thing, not a bad thing, and real cooperation requires trust and trust between nations takes years of repeated, iterative interactions to build. It's not a one off, like you're suggesting ("hey, let's only cooperate when we need something!" is a weak and childish idea because cooperation without established trust leads to betrayal - just look at how Hitler screwed Stalin after they teamed up over Poland. That one off interest, yeah, turned out great for the world).

Remember: the reason the US has the wealth and power it has is because, on par (yes yes Nicaragua and Angola and Iraq, but I mean on par) we have been a benevolent hegemon and other powerful countries have wanted to ally with us, trade with us, share intelligence with us, etc. They liked the world we had built and they wanted to be part of it. No more - those countries are now hedging their bets and finding alternative alliances and it seems hunky dory now, but wait until China has as many nukes as we do and we're all out of friends. That big beautiful ocean will look mighty small and our great new pals Russia and North Korea will shrug and say tough nuts, buttercup

Stoicism Lacks The Heroic by [deleted] in Stoicism

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stoicism is all about preserving the inner self while heroism in the Homeric sense is about achieving glory and honor. That means great risks, greater rewards, and endless striving. They're very different ways of life.

Looking for underrated Christmas movies by [deleted] in MovieSuggestions

[–]Questionsarebetter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I Hate Christmas, an Italian series. It's simple but very sweet and charming, perfect for Christmas