Mister Mister

Hey I'm really sorry for your situation. It sounds really awful, both the miscarriage, and then the evil stepmother situation. However I had to chuckle to myself at your question. Telling a child the truth can never be an "awful" thing, especially about something so benign. It's really weird, I'm coming to understand how important this is to people. It's like a test-run at mass delusion; I find it really creepy honestly when other adults are talking about Santa around kids, there's this smug satisfaction that we're "in on it". Then when kids find out there's no Santa, I think their anger and humiliation at having been is tempered by the fact that now they get to be part of the Illuminati that is entrusted with keeping the other kids from figuring out the ruse. It's really a kind of small corruption. Part of me, while writing this, feels maybe I'm making too much out of it, but then why is this such a big deal to people??? So you are married to a man who used to be married to this woman? You seem like a genuinely thoughtful, caring, empathetic, good person. So how did the same man end up marrying both you and this crazy, cruel, manipulative bitch? Also I'm curious, what is the kid like?

To be fair, Eagles are fucking terrifying

Yes I think that's true. E-mails from Hillary's camp came out saying that they prefer people to be apathetic and disengaged with the system. If only 10% of the population voted, would the State lose any power?

did you say "fridge" as a typo, or because they're large and cold?

unemployment requires no "explanation" as to it's causes; just like poverty, it is mankind's natural state. Employment and wealth can be explained in general by the accumulation of capital, and as a corollary, huge reductions in employment and wealth are generally caused by mis-allocation of capital

I don't know the answer to this question, but ironically refraining from masturbation improves your life. #nowanks

I don't know, and I don't think you can know until you are in that situation, but I would say this: I was jumped by some kids once, and I pulled a knife on them, and I am 95% certain I was ready to stab them in the neck or below the ribs, but they ran scared, and I was relieved I didn't have to make that choice. Fight or flight responses put you in a completely different mindset, most people don't know what they'd be capable of.

Trying to figure out what women in general want is hard enough. Trying to figure out what a crazy radical political fringe of women want is insanity.

That's a very moving story, thank you.

I don't think it's weird at all. We are a social species, and we want to be liked, respected for our virtues by others. It's also natural to be sad realizing the lunacy of people around you.

Nailed it! Also there's the emotional abuse.

It sounds like you have made some great improvements, as far as not spanking, and establishing boundaries, and encouraging more mature habits and choices. However, this telling her what to do "be polite", "don't do X", "Lower your voice", etc., is not great in my opinion. First of all, you want her to respond to reason and negotiation, not demands for obedience, even if they are gentle. Part of this is distinguishing between ethics, aesthetics, and preferences (see UPB for more). But it's important that you don't use the same language for a moral rule that is universal, which you enforce on everyone: yourself, your wife, your extended family, other people, other kids, etc., things that are nice like not making a mess, and things you prefer. I would suggest, don't be afraid to say "it makes me angry when X", or "I'd really like if you did Y," etc. And be prepared for a counter-offer rather than immediate compliance. On the other hand, if you frame it as a moral rule, or a family aesthetic, make sure you are holding others in the family accountable to these same rules. You mentioned that your wife sometimes screams, which I'm sure you know is bad, but then you tell your daughter "lower your voice". How do you deal with your wife when she screams? If you go easy on an adult, but hold a child to a higher standard, they will unconsciously lose respect for you, and the moral rule itself. As far as the family issues, it sounds like you need to take time to get people on the same page. As the easy-going guy, I imagine you have a hard time planting your flag on the hill and saying, "on this, I cannot waiver". But I think you need to be more firm about how it is you wish your daughter to be parented, and come to some conclusion as a family. Because these differing standards, and criticism of your parenting by extended family, is really not good. Those are just some of my initial thoughts. What do you think?

You keep repeating this argument as if it's magic. If it's that easy, then lead the way. Why keep finger-wagging at the wayward Trump-libertarians when you know the magic combination of words that will evaporate the State? That said, I too look forward to the show returning to broader questions, and I imagine Stef does as well.

Right I get that. There are two reasons I imagined it might make sense. One is, if we sign up for a year-long mining contract, neither you or I know what the price of bitcoin will be in a year. The other reason, is that both of us may be interested in BTC as a long-term investment rather than a money making price speculation endeavor. So you get to mine more because I give you some money to help with your costs, and I can protect myself from a rise in cost. But I think I see the problem with that now.

Hi there and Seeing that you are from Mexico, I have to ask what is the perception of the US election, and as someone who crosses the border, what is your assessment of the situation? I think many people assume Mexico is insulted by Trump, and maybe many Mexicans think so as well, but I've also heard some people argue that fixing trade and immigration would ultimately be best for Mexico. Having remittances exceed oil revenues, and exporting all your problems through immigration isn't exactly healthy for their society either. What are your thoughts?

wait, whom did Snowden put at risk? I thought that all he leaked was that the NSA was collecting metadata on Americans in violation of the 4th amendment.

Nice job and I applaud what you're doing. A couple of facts I might add. Only a small percent of whites owned slaves in America. 400,000 white men died in the Civil War. Whites pay a majority of taxes, blacks receive a disproportionate amount of welfare payments. The total number since the 60s is estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Democratic governments in majority white countries have passed and upheld preferential legislation supposedly in favor of blacks and other minorities. Also, I think the tone comes off as very harsh. Maybe this is what people need, I don't know. But it seems like in the interests of diplomacy you could at least acknowledge in some way that the facts and perspectives you are bringing to bear on the conversation are going to be startling to most people, especially black Americans, and especially people of any race who think black Americans are relentless victims of relentless white racism. Think about what kind of person you are trying to persuade, and really try to put yourself in their shoes. It's the hardest thing about this kind of writing I think.

no, can you summarize for me?

Yes, a lot of it is explained by IQ and culture. Jews are a few percentage points of the population, yet they are 30% of millionaires, 40% of billionaires, with high positions in media and finance. It's true they are over-represented as the organizers behind ideologies like communism, but they are also among the very important thinkers in libertarianism/conservatism: Ludwig von Mises, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman, etc. This is just to be expected, as the elite in verbal intelligence include many Jews. So I think the "Jewish Question" stuff is overblown by a few people who obsess over it. If anything we should be taking notes from the Jews as far as how to do very well, and trying to get Jews on our side.

How many people have you convinced?

How are you so certain that it would be positive for America to end? Can you empathize with people who have families and careers who might not be so eager to see economic and political collapse?

Yep. "Carpooling for the environment" seems like an excuse for making it difficult to leave. I appreciate though that they give you all this information up front.

all I care about now is money in my pocket, and safety for the people I care about

Triggering is a real psychological phenomenon, anyone who has experienced trauma knows this. But the real dispute is whether it is reasonable or healthy, to impose restrictions on other peoples' words and behavior so as not to trigger you. My understanding is that there is an older school of thought in psychology, that the best treatment for trauma involves gradually exposing someone to their triggers, and working through the emotions associated with them. The crazy thing about this, is that it is applied only in PC areas, it literally can't be applied Universally. Should we create Muslim-free zones so as not to trigger survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting? Ask women to keep their voices down, for men who grew up being screamed at by their mother? Or how about a curfew for blacks, for people like me who have been victim of random black violence?

ok, well welcome ... sorry about your troubles with mental illness. You should make a thread stating your case, I think it's an interesting subject