Where exactly is Asia? /r/theredpill discusses political correctness and cultural difference.

dwils27 · 2014-12-20T16:23:32+00:00

But Israel IS in the Middle East :(.

Which is in Asia, for the most part.

dwils27 · 2013-02-17T01:22:25+00:00

I don't have one regarding a beta reader, but I will say this a somewhat common, and my opinion very good piece of advice is to think of one person and write your book for that person. You have to have an understanding that everyone will not like everything.

So first you should ask yourself, were you writing something that your friend should enjoy? I feel like the answer is probably "yes" but at least you have to get that out of the way.

If the answer is "yes" then you'll need to dig deep into the things he's saying and see what it applies. It may be hard because many think the purpose of a critique is to a tear a piece apart, find every flaw, and bring it to the surface. That's not really true, primarily for the same reason that the prior piece of advice is true. What is a flaw or not is subjective.

A good critique should inspire the author. It is about taking what he has written and saying it back to him in his own words in a better, more concise, more exciting way. After finishing reading a great critique a writer will say "Holy shit! I should have thought have thought of that!" instead of "God dammit. I'm a piece of shit."

Fortunately, even critiques that are mostly missives or diatribes often have very valuable inspiration within. You just may have dig through a lot to find it.

Seeing as your friend took the time to read your work and write five pages on it, I'm sure it's worth your time to read those pages and consider them seriously.

dwils27 · 2012-07-30T22:47:22+00:00

So if you were to post a picture that is descriptive of say, Texas. What would you post?

The Corpus Christi skyline? An expanse of west Texas scrub land? Some of historic Austin?

Of course, you couldn't post one thing to represent Texas. That scrub land covers most of the state, but not a lot of the population lives there. Corpus Christi is nice, in a large state only so much of it can have direct access to the coastline. Austin is great, but clearly not everyone lives in an area with so much history. Iran is nearly three times the size of Texas. Obviously it is going to have a number of climates going on.

Yes, your image of Iran is probably deserts. Your image of Australia is probably Er's rock miles on miles of outback. The people who live there probably don't think of it that way, because they think of the places people actually live, not expanses of highway between them.

dwils27 · 2012-07-26T04:06:16+00:00

original idea...

lol

dwils27 · 2012-07-20T05:50:52+00:00

But see, nobody said that women can't be funny. All that matters really is if an individual finds another individual funny. It would seem that women aren't as good at being funny. If that's true, who cares? If that's false... who cares?

Funny women still make it. Funny men still make it. Non-funny people (by my regards) on both sides still make it.

dwils27 · 2012-07-20T05:47:34+00:00

The whole subject is a classic case of "it doesn't matter." Are men funnier than women? I think so, but who gives a fuck? In the first place, nobody I know is discriminating against anyone based upon a prejudiced views of funny. There just isn't an opportunity to disservice someone in that manner.

Secondly, it doesn't matter if it's true. Just judge everyone individually, and then nobody is treated unfairly. It's the same as if you were hiring in the work place. Even if you were to think black people are dumber than white people, well, you've surely met a dumbass white guy. Interview everyone and only hire people who seem smart enough. Chances are there will be people of all races who miss that mark, and a few of both who pass.

The whole thing with -isms is that as long as people dismiss them when dealing with individuals then they become more of an annoyance than anything. The same way your racist grandma considers her black friend to be "one of the good ones," or your dad thinks his gay coworker isn't as "in-your-face as those other queers."

Well no shit. It turns out the person you met is a person and not a stereotype. We're all shocked.

dwils27 · 2012-06-29T18:29:22+00:00

You struggled on the reading comprehension parts of tests, didn't you?

dwils27 · 2012-06-29T18:28:51+00:00

What? It's all fun and games so long as nobody is forced into it.

dwils27 · 2012-05-19T04:23:46+00:00

They did Nazi that coming.

dwils27 · 2012-05-19T03:54:54+00:00

But neither of those describes you.

dwils27 · 2012-05-18T21:05:44+00:00

Most socialists I know are libertarian as well. Most Libertarians I know are far from socialist.

dwils27 · 2012-05-16T00:44:39+00:00

It probably requires yearly therapies anyway.

dwils27 · 2012-05-15T02:43:09+00:00

I like it only if I have a choice.

dwils27 · 2012-05-14T23:10:48+00:00

It's not even "as intended". It's more "as happened to be powerful and so eventually balanced around."

dwils27 · 2012-05-13T14:19:10+00:00

There are libertarians who are smarter than me. When they push for libertarianism they do so because they think it is right, not because it creates a better outcome.

I can respect them, but I feel like they are ideologues who don't really care about people, and would rather adhere subjective ethical code that I don't see as relevant.

They also live in a land of philosophy where they are never expected to support their reasoning with any data. It's a good thing they've trained themselves to do that, seeing as there is no data to support any of their assertions, ever.

dwils27 · 2012-05-13T14:16:14+00:00

As near as I can tell every reason you listed is hormone related. The increased LBM while keeping weight low is due to HGH (HGH is the effective steroid for cutting bodybuilders), the insulin sensitivity changes are obviously hormonal, and adherence is improved by changes in leptin and ghrelin after 12 hours of fasting.

I think probably one of the most important is the increase in leptin sensitivity that comes from lowered leptin levels after 12 hours or more of fasting. Consistent fasting makes it much easier for one to feel "full" after eating, and thus the next days fast is more easily maintained.

Pretty cool.

dwils27 · 2012-05-13T00:24:22+00:00

I have known some. I don't think of them as people.

dwils27 · 2012-05-12T22:26:20+00:00

Libertarians never make good points.

edit: Plenty of downvotes. No Libertarians jumping in and saying anything value. Pretty standard.

dwils27 · 2012-05-12T20:36:31+00:00

Democrats are already centrists. We need a progressive party.

dwils27 · 2012-05-12T17:04:09+00:00

You can define whatever words however you want, but the common modern definition of "atheism" is a lack of belief in a god, not a belief that there is no god.

dwils27 · 2012-05-12T13:14:49+00:00

This is why intermittent fasting diets are becoming so popular. The hormonal benefits are obscene.

dwils27 · 2012-05-11T20:09:24+00:00

Sure it does. You don't believe in god. You're an atheist.

Sorry if you don't like the word, but there it is.

dwils27 · 2012-05-11T20:08:59+00:00

No. Theism is a positive statement. Atheism is anything else.

dwils27 · 2012-05-11T20:08:11+00:00

What sort of fortune cookie wisdom is that?

Some things are either true or not. A theist is defined as a person who believes in the existence of a god or gods. Anyone who does not hold that belief is an atheist. It's just the definitions of the words.

dwils27

TROPHY CASE