Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nick Danger
But to answer your question, even though it is obviously a rhetorical one, what I would say to the guy who's been driving for 30 years is that driving a car doesn't qualify a person to work on cars in the same way that operating a business in the USA qualifies someone to have an opinion on the U.S. economy.
Lol, you understand the economy because you are part of it? I guess you must also understand the mysteries of the universe because you are part of that as well. Guess what - everyone else in the country is part of the same economy, so why is your understanding superior?
I'm surprised you haven't given us one of your anecdotes - maybe about the time you chatted with the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and he said you knew more about the economy than all of the PhDs who worked for him.
I didn't see any economics books on you reading list. Have you ever read anything on economics?
Smart people make use of the knowledge of others who have spent time building that knowledge. Smart people don't think they don't need sources because they know everything already. You really are a classic American blowhard - equal parts arrogance and ignorance. All piss and wind, as they say.
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nick Danger
You actually have a much better chance of changing MY mind about something than practically anyone else you've ever argued with on the internet, Flighty. If someone presents a solid argument to me, it doesn't matter where it falls on the political or moral spectrum, I will respect the argument itself. I'm WIDE OPEN to new information.
As you are a man with anecdotes for every occasion, perhaps you could give us one as an example of of where someone was able to change your mind on an issue. An open-minded person like you must have many examples to choose from.
I don't mean something trivial like the population of Australia. I mean something that mattered where you previously had a definite view that you were persuaded was wrong.
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
filghy2
Lol, you understand the economy because you are part of it? I guess you must also understand the mysteries of the universe because you are part of that as well. Guess what - everyone else in the country is part of the same economy, so why is your understanding superior?
I'm surprised you haven't given us one of your anecdotes - maybe about the time you chatted with the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and he said you knew more about the economy than all of the PhDs who worked for him.
I didn't see any economics books on you reading list. Have you ever read anything on economics?
Smart people make use of the knowledge of others who have spent time building that knowledge. Smart people don't think they don't need sources because they know everything already. You really are a classic American blowhard - equal parts arrogance and ignorance. All piss and wind, as they say.
Flattery will get you nowhere, Flighty.
You remind me of a kid I knew, Doug M. Good buddy of mine from my pre-pubescent years. Doug knew EVERYTHING about baseball, you could name a player and he'd tell you every team he ever played for, his current batting average, his jersey number. He knew all the strategies, loved to talk about the suicide squeeze or the slap bunt, and he was smart too. We'd be watching a game and he'd say "Why aren't they shifting the infield left?" then sure enough the batter would send one screaming down the 3rd-base line. He was a young baseball super-fan.
I played Little League but Doug didn't. I think it was because he was kinda fat and embarrassed to put on those stretch pants but for whatever reason he never played ball. And one day, we were like 12, and Mike from the neighborhood came by on his bicycle while we were shooting basketball in Doug's driveway and said they were getting a game together up at the high school. I was game and Doug came along kinda reluctantly. We picked sides, had about 15 guys, and Doug, poor kid, made a complete fool of himself on the field. It was a catastrophe of epic proportions, grounders all went right between his legs, he misjudged a couple of fly balls badly, struck out every time he stepped up to the plate. He was awful at baseball.
Now there's a lesson in there for you somewhere, Flighty. But I'm gonna let you figure out what it is for yourself.
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
filghy2
As you are a man with anecdotes for every occasion, perhaps you could give us one as an example of of where someone was able to change your mind on an issue. An open-minded person like you must have many examples to choose from.
I don't mean something trivial like the population of Australia. I mean something that mattered where you previously had a definite view that you were persuaded was wrong.
Sure Flighty.
Condoleezza Rice changed my mind about women in politics. I was pretty blatantly sexist until I saw her give a speech about democracy in Egypt in the mid-'00's, and I suddenly realized I was quite proud she was representing the USA.
I used to do my own taxes until my friend Pat sat me down one day and showed me that I was a complete moron and needed to start trusting professionals.
Mark Zuckerberg changed my mind about investing in IPO's.
Steph Curry changed my mind about professional basketball. I'd stopped watching it for decades until I saw him play, now I'm a fan again.
Barrack Obama's book A Promised Land changed my mind about Michelle being transgender, and also gave me a lot of insight into the value of building the self-worth of the people around you.
The Willie Wonka machine at the Sahara changed my mind about playing slots, haven't touched them since I lost a c-note on it in about 10 minutes.
Change is good, Flighty. You should consider changing it up some, your passive-aggressive behavior is holding you back.
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
filghy2
You really are a classic American blowhard - equal parts arrogance and ignorance. All piss and wind, as they say.
One of my closest friends in college was a guy from New Zealand who decided to stay in the U.S. after college. Coincidentally enough he texted me about two months before the pandemic hit even though I hadn't heard from him in more than 10 years. We exchanged a few texts and he said he'd be in touch if he was in Pittsburgh. That was it but I've often wondered what was going through his mind as the pandemic hit (he's now in Florida) given that he's in one of the big hotspots and New Zealand is a model for public health. I realize I could text him back or call him but it's sometimes awkward to catch up.
Anyhow, he told me that living in the U.S he didn't really see the whole "loud American" stereotype that much but when he was back home Americans stuck out like a sore thumb. Complaining about how things should be done, making a scene, calling attention to themselves. I know you probably anticipate that some fit the mold and some don't. When I was in Australia I noticed probably one out of a hundred people would have their panties in all kinds of a twist about "arrogant yanks" and take it out on me. It was easy enough to tell them to fuck off unless they were bigger than me in which case I'd say, "good luck with that." (I don't assume New Zealand and Australia are that similar, except close geographically and the accent is kind of similar)
Nick is one of those dudes that if I invited him to Jewish passover he'd tell us the crackers would rise if we added some yeast:).
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
broncofan
Nick is one of those dudes that if I invited him to Jewish passover he'd tell us the crackers would rise if we added some yeast:).
Anyone who for a moment thinks Michelle Obama is transgendered is a bagel short of a good breakfast. I assume you can get bagels in Pittsburgh -fresh ones, not the ones that are wrapped in plastic with 'New York' on the label as if that was the imprimatur of quality. (Note: Montreal, allegedly makes the best in the world).
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
broncofan
Nick is one of those dudes that if I invited him to Jewish passover he'd tell us the crackers would rise if we added some yeast:).
LOL! Well first of all I'd decline that invitation, Bronco, but if I did go you might be right. I'm a pragmatist, and not necessarily by choice, I was just thrown to the wolves at a young age and I had to learn how to contend on my own.
Flighty's one of those guys who thinks you can learn everything you need to know from textbooks. He's no dumbass but he's not nearly as think as he smarts he is. Christ, I could tell some stories about skullduggery, thievery, corruption, extortion. But I think I'll tell this one because it just came to me. My father told me this story a long time ago and he swears it's true but it really sounds too awesome to be true.
Guy my dad (allegedly) knew was driving down the street and saw a near-new Mercedes convertible sitting in a driveway with a For Sale sign on it. He was in the market so he knocked on the door, and a nice-looking well-dressed woman answered. He asked if he could take the car for a test drive so she handed him the keys.
He drove it and it ran like a dream. He came back and said, "So, how much?" She said, "Oh I need to get at least $500 for it."
He said, "Seriously?" She said, "Yes, $500." So the guy wrote her a check for $500, she signed the title and the car was his.
That night the guy had a serious bout of conscience and couldn't sleep. The next day he went back to the lady's house and knocked. She came to the door and he said, "Listen maam, I've been thinking about this car deal and I think maybe you've made a big mistake."
She said, "There's no mistake, the car is yours."
He said, "Maam, do you know how much that car is worth?"
She said, "Of course I do, that car is worth about $40,000."
He said, "Well okay then, why did you sell it to me for $500?"
She said, "My husband thinks I don't know he's in the Bahamas with his mistress. Yesterday I got a telegram saying 'Sell my car and send me the money.'"
So you know man, there go hundreds of years of Flighty's "economic theory" out the window. I sometimes wonder if his textbooks ever touch on the CIA practice of issuing loans to Central American countries that they know can never be repaid, then taking over their industries one by one. I wonder if he has the textbook answer to what to do when the United Fruit Company shows up in your midst and starts bribing officials and exploiting workers? Do you go full Keynesian on that ass? Or do you put them on their heels by bombing their transport ships with the Efficient Market Hypothesis?
Frankly I'm fine with people like Flighty theorizing and hypothesizing. I'm fully aware that figuring out how economics works on a macro scale is a full-time occupation. But when they try throwing around their textbook answers as if they know it all, all I can think is, "What about all the other guys with DIFFERENT theories who think THEY know it all?"
I mentioned I love theoretical physics. But I hate math, Bronco, fucking hate it. That would be problematic for me if there weren't so many people who love math doing the legwork for me, so I can just enjoy their results. I take my Quantum Field Theory well-done, with no calculus and a side of explanatory condescension. But I like my economics raw.
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stavros
Anyone who for a moment thinks Michelle Obama is transgendered is a bagel short of a good breakfast. I assume you can get bagels in Pittsburgh -fresh ones, not the ones that are wrapped in plastic with 'New York' on the label as if that was the imprimatur of quality. (Note: Montreal, allegedly makes the best in the world).
Well, she's got EXTREMELY broad shoulders for a woman, Stavros. And there's a video floating around on the internet showing her coming out of a townhouse in a hurry and what appears to be a possible penis bulging out the front of her dress. Then there's Obama's unprecedented championing of LGBTQ rights. So it certainly got me to thinking. But I'm now convinced she is definitely the mother of his children, which of course couldn't be the case were she trans.
You're pretty judgmental for a guy who actually thinks Sandy Hook happened, I mean who's really missing a bagel here?
BTW I know, I KNOW, you're just dying to reply to me. But as a man of honor who has already said he won't do so anymore, you're kinda stuck now. I just want to say, I won't hold it against you if you go back on your word. I mean I'm provoking you, so it's extenuating circumstances.
If not, feel free to continue talking about me as if I'm not even here.
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Re: The Viper Room - NO SCRUBS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stavros
Anyone who for a moment thinks Michelle Obama is transgendered is a bagel short of a good breakfast. I assume you can get bagels in Pittsburgh -fresh ones, not the ones that are wrapped in plastic with 'New York' on the label as if that was the imprimatur of quality. (Note: Montreal, allegedly makes the best in the world).
I've heard that about Montreal. There are some good bagel places in Pittsburgh but I don't know if they've survived the pandemic. I'll have to ask around. I'm trying to think of Nick's version of the four questions;
I'll be with you later Nick. Declining invitations and such!
