Are you kind of a big deal?

[Malak]

Do0d, I understand what you are going for here and have more sympathy for it than might be apparent, but the ham-handed clumsiness of your approach has made you seem more cluelessly arrogant than idealistically humble.

My intention wasn't to come off as humble. I wasn't bragging about myself at any stage, so arrogant isn't exactly right either. I can see why you can get that feeling though. It was more a dislike for politics that you are seeing. Politics as much as religion give the illusion of righteousness.

 

[illusion88]

I was living in Salt Lake from Jan 2007 - June 2010. For the past few months I have been in California. I get calls, or texts or facebook messages more than once a week from friends asking where I am, when I'm coming back, and how I'm doing. I'm a big deal! People care about me, man!

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

My house does not smell like rich mahogany

Why would it? Did this guy Rich Mahogany bang your wife, eat your food, then fart or something? :\

 

[TridenT]

What do you think?

Of course I am.

 

[zinfamous]

Yes, seriously. I know an Indian who grew up in a respectable family, on his way to high rank in a government job. Left it all when he was studying abroad. When he went back to India to help people, he was nearly beat to death. He doesn't stop going back. Just because the government doesn't want you, or even makes laws against you, doesn't actually prevent you from making those decisions. Can't be Christian in China, but the church is growing even still. We've got Burma refugees throughout my hood, they host a church service in our church. We also have another new group of refugees from another Asian country come and will be hosting a church service in our church. While many escape to America, many also go back and continue to help their country.

No government can stop you. No law can prevent you from doing what is right. The only thing that stops you, is you. Anything less than an idealistic hope for this world is the definition of defeatism. Even for you I have hope.

OK. I actually see what you're getting at and you do have something of a point. But the corollary here is that these people have to flee their homeland to even give themselves a chance. While that is sometimes possible in certain places, simply b/c these countries allow such movement, this is certainly not true everywhere. Do you seriously think someone in NK or Burma has any expected chance to escape? Would you basically accuse them of "not wanting it enough" if they are unable to escape and become representatives for change in their country? That is ridiculously naive.

on top of that, even in China or India, there are plenty of situations (being born a girl, in some shithole rural village, some lower class), that absolutely prevents one from having any kind of upward mobility.

I think you have an argument here, but again--it is certainly not a universal truth. The world is simply not the rainbows and sunshine that you want it to be.

 

[meltdown75]

absolutely not

 

[zinfamous]

absolutely not

Well I think you're a big deal.

:wub:

 

[meltdown75]

aw shucks

 

[disappoint]

I'm as delusional as they come.

 

[arcenite]

Since you did not provide a definition of 'big deal', I will say -- YES.

 

[bfdd]

I am.

 

[Malak]

OK. I actually see what you're getting at and you do have something of a point. But the corollary here is that these people have to flee their homeland to even give themselves a chance.

Actually most of them don't. While there are a lot of refugees here, many stay behind and some that come here go back. People that want to make a difference do it regardless of circumstances. The Indian guy didn't flee, he was kicked out. But that didn't stop him from going back every year.

While that is sometimes possible in certain places, simply b/c these countries allow such movement, this is certainly not true everywhere. Do you seriously think someone in NK or Burma has any expected chance to escape? Would you basically accuse them of "not wanting it enough" if they are unable to escape and become representatives for change in their country? That is ridiculously naive.

As I've stated already, escape is not a precursor to change or making a difference. North Korea is as hot as it comes, but people still try. Burma gets tons of help, inside and out. There are hundreds of thousands of refugees out of Burma already, so of course I think they have a chance to escape if they want. Don't believe what Rambo said, people are making a difference without the use of guns.

on top of that, even in China or India, there are plenty of situations (being born a girl, in some shithole rural village, some lower class), that absolutely prevents one from having any kind of upward mobility.

I think you have an argument here, but again--it is certainly not a universal truth. The world is simply not the rainbows and sunshine that you want it to be.

You make a generalization to disagree with my generalization. Abandoned babies are the only ones with no upward mobility. I make no point about the world being full of rainbows and sunshine, quite the contrary. Diamonds are formed under incredible amounts of pressure, and even in the worst of it people are shining.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Not really. I like a low profile, so even if I were I'd pretend otherwise, but at the moment nope.

 

[olds]

fuck yeah dawg. Those shirts out there you see were based on me.

The OP said "deal", not "dick".

 

[Zargon]

Petty and logically inaccurate insults do get a tad annoying after a while. If you are going to insult me, at least make it accurate and funny. I don't have any problem laughing at my own expense, but what you typed just makes me roll my eyes.

right back at ya

basic civics elude you? seriously?

I found the post pretty hilarious, but not mostly because of you, but that the person would point it out to you on elevator. that kind of egotism/big fish/small pond syndrome is a staple of local government

the funny from you is all these grandiose theories on the human conditional and transecnding ones place in society, but apparantly lack a remote grasp of the framework of your own society and government.

 

[IcePickFreak]

who, me?

 

[moshquerade]

nope.

i just do my thing.

 

[zinfamous]

Actually most of them don't. While there are a lot of refugees here, many stay behind and some that come here go back. People that want to make a difference do it regardless of circumstances. The Indian guy didn't flee, he was kicked out. But that didn't stop him from going back every year.



As I've stated already, escape is not a precursor to change or making a difference. North Korea is as hot as it comes, but people still try. Burma gets tons of help, inside and out. There are hundreds of thousands of refugees out of Burma already, so of course I think they have a chance to escape if they want. Don't believe what Rambo said, people are making a difference without the use of guns.



You make a generalization to disagree with my generalization. Abandoned babies are the only ones with no upward mobility. I make no point about the world being full of rainbows and sunshine, quite the contrary. Diamonds are formed under incredible amounts of pressure, and even in the worst of it people are shining.

You sound like someone who has interpreted and understood life only through a series of metaphor and nice little analogies. I'm sure you enjoy your little "chicken soupy" grasp on things, but the truth is that while this may all sound nice and convenient...none of it flies when you actually get into the real world.

 

[Locut0s]

nope.

i just do my thing.

teeth? ()

 

[moshquerade]

teeth? ()

:thumbsup:

 

[Locut0s]

You sound like someone who has interpreted and understood life only through a series of metaphor and nice little analogies. I'm sure you enjoy your little "chicken soupy" grasp on things, but the truth is that while this may all sound nice and convenient...none of it flies when you actually get into the real world.

You do realize of course the above description and, Malak himself, sadly describe a significant portion, if not the majority, of the western population.

 

[Locut0s]

:thumbsup:

Speaking of which I've got a cleaning coming up with my hygienist. My teeth are good but I've never been good with my gums, recession swelling and some gingivitis, and she never forgets to let me know it Wish she was pretty, then maybe I'd be motivated to do better! Hay maybe you should do mine

 

[Wyndru]

The "biggest deal" visitor (IMO) I saw on AT was probably that guy from Runic Games who wrote (or recorded I don't remember) the music for Diablo and Torchlight. I think he only posted in that one thread though.

Oh, and I think I saw a thread in P&N where people were talking about a politician, and either the politician or his PR rep came on and responded. Again, only for that post though.

Anyone know of any others, past or present that are known to be a big deal? I'm curious if we are among the famous here at AT

 

[CPA]

My Dad always ended up President of whatever sports thing or youth group I was involved in. He also always ended up in a high ranking position, often President, in the professional groups he belonged to.

But he never let it any of this go to his head.

He said the position is always yielded to the chump most willing to give up large chunks of his time for free.

As for you being awesome, no one who can't properly spell "advice" or who simply doesn't know advice /= advise should be allowed to label themselves awesome unless they misspell "awesome," which would work in a kind of post-modern, self-referential way.

bolded for truth. BTW, I was not gloating, just detailing how the position is out in the public, which I felt answered a "yes" to the OP's question.

PS. I will NOT be president at the end of this year...I hate being in this position.

Oh, and I'm still awsome.

 

[bfdd]

nope.

i just do my thing.

generally we who are big deals just kind of do our thing so you should like totally be a big deal.