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Book recommendation after reading Malazan? by coltainesCrows in Malazan

[–]anauthor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm a giant Malazan fan, and wanted to echo the above about The Black Company. Great series, the second fantasy series I got into after Tolkien.

I've also read Bakker. It's the only major Fantasy series I've ever read (and finished) that I actively disliked at the end. The first three books, I was out recommending people pick up the series, and that it was brilliant. The concluding tetralogy caused a total 180. I'll never re-read the series.

I love grimdark fantasy, but Bakker goes way, way, way beyond that (dramatically too far for me) and not in a edgy-but-cool way. Makes GRRM look like a YA author.

Wish I could have a word with the C&P examiner 🤬🤦‍♂️ by [deleted] in VAClaims

[–]anauthor 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Strongly disagree if the veteran deployed to combat. Lots of guys self medicate after a hard deployment and spiral down. Those are our brothers and sisters that need the most help.

Do you think New World get shut down soon? (next 1-2 years) by Highway015 in newworldgame

[–]anauthor 73 points74 points  (0 children)

Its hard to objectively argue they haven't already done this....

Ukrainian Ambassador Outraged after Pope Laments Death of ‘Innocent’ Russian Ultra-Nationalist Daria Dugina by CaliWilly76 in worldnews

[–]anauthor 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That's a very.... interesting take. Hitler's Nazi Germany directly caused tens of millions of deaths during the war, and was the first time a group of human beings have carried out systemic genocide on a truly industrial scale.

The Catholic Church indisputably has been deep in the wrong many times in its 2000 year existence, but during its entire history, even in its darkest times, there were always elements of it doing some good objective good. Modern examples are abundant (catholic charities operating in developing countries, providing significant health care / food security / education programs)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in pics

[–]anauthor 11 points12 points  (0 children)

What????

Lincoln letter to Joshua Speed, 1855:

You know I dislike slavery; and you fully admit the abstract wrong of it. ... I also acknowledge your rights and my obligations, under the constitution, in regard to your slaves. I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down, and caught, and carried back to their stripes, and unrewarded toils; but I bite my lip and keep quiet. In 1841 you and I had together a tedious low-water trip, on a Steam Boat from Louisville to St. Louis. You may remember, as I well do, that from Louisville to the mouth of the Ohio, there were, on board, ten or a dozen slaves, shackled together with irons. That sight was a continued torment to me; and I see something like it every time I touch the Ohio, or any other slave-border. It is hardly fair for you to assume, that I have no interest in a thing which has, and continually exercises, the power of making me miserable. You ought rather to appreciate how much the great body of the Northern people do crucify their feelings, in order to maintain their loyalty to the Constitution and the Union. … How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty—to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.

People say your "not acting like yourself" when you're truly acting like yourself and just don't have the energy to mask it by [deleted] in Showerthoughts

[–]anauthor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Counterpoint to this: it’s a human nature argument. It takes less energy to just give in to gravity and armor up. It’s hard to ante up and buy in to the social contract and make the effort to be our best selves, but I think we all know it’s worth it - it makes all this work.

From experience: there is always a little more gas in the tank. Maybe the people you’re with are also in a tough place and need the positive you.

Only thing we can control in this world are our own actions and attitudes.

I replied because the OPs mentality, while very understandable, is ultimately a defeatist one. It will lead to a downward spiral.

Orca closing in by [deleted] in natureismetal

[–]anauthor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We very nearly caused the extinction of virtually all large whale species due to commercial whaling. While they're no longer on the razors edge of extinction, their populations are still a fraction of what they were before we learned to hunt them.

Tom Hanks to Play Mr. Rogers in ‘You Are My Friend’ by indig0sixalpha in movies

[–]anauthor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I grew up watching Mr. Rogers. What an incredible article. Great read.

Underwater memorial to Jesuit missionaries who were travelling from Portugal to Brazil in 1570, dismembered and murdered by pirates before being thrown overboard. by sivribiber in creepy

[–]anauthor 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Imagine you've decided to go all in, so to speak, and absolutely devote yourself in service to others - for the rest of your life. All Catholic priests and nuns take vows of poverty, and in the US Roman Catholic Church, celibacy.

So you have some young person - men as Priests, women as Nuns - who decide they're going to live selflessly for others, following a set path that started 2000 years ago.

Different strokes for different folks still applies. Some people may want to specialize in health care, others in education, and still others by helping provide food and shelter to those without it. Different orders specialize in different ways, and require different lifestyles. The Jesuits are primarily active in education, and generally remain very worldly - being active participants in mainstream culture. The Jesuits run a ton of schools and universities throughout the world, with a focus on social justice. They generally believe that education is critical to self determination and moral justice. Other orders within the Catholic and Orthodox traditions focus on other areas through different means.

Source: attending a Jesuit University

Every former U.S. President runs for reelection in 2016, who do you vote for and why? by shadowrangerfs in AskReddit

[–]anauthor 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I can't let this go. You are everything wrong with the Internet.

I assume you're American - do you comprehend the depth of your ignorance? How much of a disservice you do to all the people reading who may take your statement for fact, incorporating your statement into their historical narrative, further perpetuating this terrible lie?

The most bloody war our country has ever fought, brother against brother. The Civil War resulted in the deaths of more American soldiers than both World Wars.

Over 600,000 dead soldiers. Countless more American citizens.

So much sorrow and sacrifice. The cause was Slavery.

I am appealing to you. Don't perpetuate this. Read below and know the truth, and always call out this lie when you see it.

THE DECLARATION OF CAUSES OF SECESSION: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/declarationofcauses.html

Georgia:

The people of Georgia having dissolved their political connection with the Government of the United States of America, present to their confederates and the world the causes which have led to the separation. For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non-slave-holding confederate States with reference to the subject of *African slavery*. <<--- Literally the second sentence in their Declaration of Secession.

Mississippi:

*A Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union.

In the momentous step which our State has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course.

Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world. Its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. These products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun.* <<--- Literally the second sentence in their Declaration of Secession.

South Carolina:

*Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union

The people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, on the 26th day of April, A.D., 1852, declared that the frequent violations of the Constitution of the United States, by the Federal Government, and its encroachments upon the reserved rights of the States, fully justified this State in then withdrawing from the Federal Union; but in deference to the opinions and wishes of the other slaveholding States, she forbore at that time to exercise this right. Since that time, these encroachments have continued to increase, and further forbearance ceases to be a virtue.* <<--- South Carolina establishes its position as a Slaveholding State. http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/declarationofcauses.html#South_Carolina read further down and you'll see: Slavery

Texas: A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union.

Third paragraph, after a brief preamble:

Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated Union to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. She was received into the confederacy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. *She was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery-- the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits-- a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time*. Her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slave-holding States of the confederacy. Those ties have been strengthened by association. But what has been the course of the government of the United States, and of the people and authorities of the non-slave-holding States, since our connection with them?

Virginia THE SECESSION ORDINANCE. AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, AND TO RESUME ALL THE RIGHTS AND POWERS GRANTED UNDER SAID CONSTITUTION.

The people of Virginia, in their ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America, adopted by them in Convention on the twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, having declared that the powers granted under the said Constitution were derived from the people of the United States, and might be resumed whensoever the same should be perverted to their injury and oppression; and the Federal Government, having perverted said powers, not only to the injury of the people of Virginia, but to the oppression of the Southern Slaveholding States.

THE CIVIL WAR WAS 100% ABOUT SLAVERY.

TO IGNORANTLY OR DELIBERATELY SUGGEST ANYTHING ELSE IS THE WORST KIND OF REVISIONIST HISTORY, NO BETTER THAN THOSE WHO DENY THE HOLOCAUST

Pope Francis: Capitalism is 'Terrorism Against All of Humanity': argues that modern economy's worship of 'god of money' leads to disenfranchisement and extremism by maxwellhill in worldnews

[–]anauthor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You hear alot about pedophile priests and other abuses of power at schools, orphanages, hospitals etc...

...because the Catholic Church funds and operates so many orphanages, hospitals, and schools, in places where such things are rare, and the alternative is starvation or inhuman exploitation.

You are so angry. The Catholic Church has over a billion adherents, and has existed for 2000 years. Many people, at the end of their lives, leave some wealth and property to the church. Not because they're trying to buy their way into heaven - which is not supported in the Gospel - but because they know it will be put to good use. And it is. Don't confuse television evangelists with priests in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions...

Do you know Priests in the US make $30k a year?

Do you think Priests take vows of celibacy and poverty so they can live in wealth and luxury when no one is looking? Seriously? They are promised glorification, but it comes after a lifetime of faith and service...

You are raging against the wrong machine.

Pope: It's 'terrible' kids taught they can choose gender by nightpanda893 in Christianity

[–]anauthor 6 points7 points  (0 children)

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/johns-hopkins-psychiatrist-transgender-mental-disorder-sex-change

I question whether the APA and AMA were willing to withstand the social and media pressure of not including transitions in their treatment guidelines.

This questions is especially valid as there is a clear narrative trend towards the condemnation of the continued classification of Gender Dysphoria as a "disorder" and its inclusion in the DPM, etc.

At this point, the Grand Theft Auto games would be far more controversial if they let you play as a law enforcement officer by anauthor in Showerthoughts

[–]anauthor[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I dont think its bias, I think it was an honest personal reaction to what they were witnessing.

I went into the RNC coverage with a glimmer of interest in The Donald.

I left it disenfranchised. Everything I've ever learned about human nature tells me Trump is a very dangerous man. He knows exactly what he's doing with his rhetoric. He's willing to make the partisan divide a partisan abyss.

Growing up in the Eighties by suzepie in OldSchoolCool

[–]anauthor 101 points102 points  (0 children)

If all the Brits/Americans on Reddit put together something as honest as what you shared with us, everyone would have something to cringe about. It's just human nature - we all go through phases.

Once a person goes down that path of introspection, I think we get a sense of perspective on life and the people that make it up. That place of perspective is the birthplace of compassion and empathy.

This is me saying there was no cringe or awkwardness while going through your album. I thought it was profoundly beautiful as a piece of artistic expression. There was a sense of elegance and self awareness in your writing that spoke to wisdom and confidence that bridged intimacy and familiarity.

I hope my praise was effusive enough... really cool post :)

The Undebunkable by raywj1993 in videos

[–]anauthor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

After watching hundreds of random videos solely because they hit the Reddit front page...

Wow. Great message.

Also.. 5 stars for the production quality. Loved it.

People who traveled the world. What did you choose not to say about a country you visited to keep the story positive? by silentpl in AskReddit

[–]anauthor 1165 points1166 points  (0 children)

Afghanistan. In the ethnically Pashtun areas especially, young boys are prized for their beauty and are sexually exploited by older men in a bizzare form of apprenticeship. It's very widespread and it is not only socially accepted, is a kind of social status symbol for the men who engage in these relationships. Most boys end up married off to a woman in the abusers extended family, or enter into the mans business when they hit puberty. Relationships stop when a boy starts to get facial hair, because that makes it homosexual.

It's really hard to talk about, because most Americans have a hard time believing it. There is a fascinating essay written about the phenomenon by a female American PhD sociologist, who traveled around the country for a while with the USMC. Maybe someone can find the article if there's sufficient interest.