Are you a Vulcan?

That’s the kind of scientist I want to be. I wish it paid.

I can’t handle stupid right now.

I enjoy this.

Apparently putting a huge number of people in jail for minor possession of a drug that is only illegal because of racist 70s politics is spotless, and doing so to support capitalizing the prison system, is spotless. I call it dehumanizing and unconstitutional, but I just care about empirical data that apparently is completely unimportant in tribalist capitalist worshiping countries like the USA.

There’s a fat old man with a red hat and a gun sitting on my first switch. I’m gonna go ahead and see if I can fix the other switch while everyone else is getting run over.

In Florida, I have heard it from way too many people to feel comfortable. Republicans will say how they are ready if Trump loses. They say it’s because there is no way he can lose unless it’s all rigged. They believe this will happen. The worst I heard was a guy saying he will shoot anybody he suspects is not on his team. Others were not quite as ready, but definitely as angry and ignorant with the means. Some of the more intellectual I talk to are quick to point out the flaws of Democrats and how that said is more violent because of all the riots.

Living here is scary. It would be a war of ignorance, frustration, and hate against a false enemy. It will be a passionate group of clueless rebels without an enemy based in reality. Anyone could become a casualty in the chaos. These people are anti-intellectual, basing everything on what they call “common sense.” What that actually mean is whatever reinforces their anger in the moment is the truth no matter how ignorant or hypocritical.

It feels too real that citizens will be taking up arms. The worst part is not knowing who they will attack since the enemy is all in their heads.

I realized this around 15 years ago. I would listen to a lot different sources on the radio. I was amazed at how predictable and malicious this was.

When I heard an intelligent conversation from the left or center, I could identify the new word of the day that was used in context with important meaning. I knew that by the next day I could turn on Glenn Beck and hear that word bastardized into his regressive spin. I wish I could think of some examples but it was so long ago.

Thank you for the correction. It can be applied in the Socratic method. I ask questions to understand someone’s position and continue into how they came to those conclusions. At no point do I pressure for answers though. The idea is just to keep the person talking so you can understand their poimt of view to the best of your ability. It has a side effect of healthy personal reflection for all parties involved.

But then I hear so many Trump voters would have voted for Bernie. So who is the real spoiler?

Just look at the other responses to my comments.

In real life it can be better or worse. Some of the closest people in my life get immediately defensive. It’s sometimes easier to talk with strangers. More often than not, I will find a passion point that is the limit of conversation. At those times I just listen as much as possible. How much I engage depends on how they rect to my questions.

I have conversed with quite a few vegans and none of them have pushed their morals on others. Some of them have been very upfront about their veganism. I am wondering where you are that you see vegans being so revolutionary.

I was unaware that my message implied a 100% requirement. That part of the comment was meant to be about how I see them trying to define the line between what is vegan and what isn’t. I see now how this is being interpreted and it is my fault for being unclear.

I am not confused. I am curious and fascinated on how people come to their conclusions. I know exactly what epistomology means. I have used it for conversations with many vegans about their choices as well as on other personally held beliefs. I could be a lot better at it but it has helped me show that I am curious and respectful.

Each vegan will have their own answer. If you are truly curious, and a vegan is sharing their mindset with you, ask them.

The response to light color does not stand on its own. That is merely one parallel from many. It is true plants do not have a nervous system like animals, but they do have similar responses to stimuli. Parallels can be drawn to sight, sound/touch and smell/taste.

Sentience is another topic that is defined subjectively. From context it is clear you make a central nervous system a foundational requirement. I could also apply this to technology, so I would need clarification from you to understand what it means to you. I do not hold to a personal definition for sentience because I have found neither a universal nor scientific understanding of the idea.

As for the last paragraph: yup.

There was no tone of judgement in my response. I hope that’s not what you got from it. I said I find it fascinating the way they think. This is not limited to vegans but it is easier to get someone to talk about this than other beliefs.

I have no doubt that minimizing suffering is the higher goal. I meant that if their goal is to to use no food or product that involves using animals (within their personal definition) that they will find nothing in this world that is without impact from or to animals. That’s what makes it impossible.

over 130 million votes wasted in 2016. We are fucked.

I find vegan intellect fascinating. I love hearing their responses to my epistomology. They all make it up as they go along. It’s very similar to religious beliefs in the way it is personal. Each has their own set beliefs on where to draw the line of what is vegan and what is not.

My personal understanding of the world is that plants aren’t so different from animals that they can be classified separately from other food sources. For example, how much different is r-selected reproduction from a fruiting plant. Plants react differently to different colors of light and so do we.

It helps to understand the goal of a vegan. The extent to which we are tied to every living thing on Earth means that many vegans have set impossible goals.

Just fascinating.

i want all to be literally all. but i also want the ability to block some things everywhere. I enjoy many of the nsfw posts, but have blocked way too many anime style nsfw.