Heart of Space

The dollar inflating has absolutely nothing to do with the NSA. If the dollar falls to zero it will not affect the NSA 0.1%

Yea, I think it is an American phenomenon. There aren't really libertarians in Europe eh? None of the "lets go back to the gold standard" types?

Anarcho-capitalists and small government types slob all over the knob of bitcoin because it's a newer superior form of the gold standard.

It is an anarchist dream in the sense that they believe it's actually a superior form of currency in terms of the functionality and success of your economy. I would debate God himself if he disagreed with me on that point and it would be an easy debate to win. Decentralized deflationary currency would absolutely never work as well as a centralized one. Period.

I recommend a book on this subject. It basically highlights some of the economic turmoil caused by competing currencies on the global market. The basic idea is that each country has incentive to manipulate the value of their currency relative to others in order to gain economic advantage in trade. The problem is that the inevitable conclusion to these currency wars is that they are ultimately destructive to all parties. Now of course the USA wants a global currency, but they also want to be in control of that currency much like the FED currently controls the creation of US dollars. Obviously, there are a few major super powers that will not bend the knee to this since accepting a global currency as the currency for your country means that the US would have 100% economic power over you. But it's interesting non-the-less that they are slowly pushing in that direction. It will be interesting to see where this goes.

Because there is a huge incentive in being the worlds greatest super power. You tend to be able to make the rules of the game and bend others to your will. Basically what the US has been doing in recent history and what the British empire did before that. If you want specific historical examples of this, read about the Opium wars, or a more modern example would be the Petrodollar system and the economic hegemony it afforded the US. Great empires historically aren't great only because of the principles they stand on. They're great because they plunder, rob, and destroy their opposition. In the same sense, the US has economically robbed the world and waged a subtle economic war by taking advantage of it's power. The US has waged hot war for this purpose as well of course. Modern China is extremely ruthless and intelligent in this respect. China fights a smart war with economics, information, culture and other ways.

It's a bit different when that data goes straight to the CCP and will be used to further the agenda of an authoritarian regime. I'm a very anti-war person, but you have to see the CCP for what it is and we definitely have to take the proper defensive measures. In this case our love of freedom will be a weakness that they will use and exploit.

It's definitely difficult to characterize games this way, but kinda a fun topic. HUGE SPOILERS FOR THE GAME AHEAD. My pick: Final Fantasy X The reason is that the plot like that had never been done in a video game to the degree it was. 1) It addresses religion and shows it's capacity to manipulate and be used for nefarious purposes. The main characters eventually question dogmatic aspects of the religion which would have led to the sacrifice and death of one of the main characters and also continued the cycle of suffering and death in the world. The supposed God of the religion "Yu Yevon," was actually was the essence of a wizard from the distant past. Yu Yevon was able to perpetuate itself for thousands of years through the cycle that the religion created with Summoners and a pilgrimage to destroy "Sin" which was a giant monster entity, summoned by Yu Yevon, that caused destruction and suffering in the world. 2) It also addresses racism and xenophobia, as well as a fear of progress and scientific discovery. The aforementioned religion deemed "Machina" or machine technology as something that was sacrilegious. The people falsely attributed the presence of the monster "Sin" as a result of the use of machine technology. There was a race of people that were banished to an island because of their use of technology. You as the player even fight them and see them as the bad guys throughout most of the game until a particular part. But the game's plot explores this idea with so much nuance, no game has done it like they did since. 3) It also explores spiritual idea's. The main character, who's life you explore in the end you learn that his entire existence was a lie. He and everything about him was a dream brought into the world for the purpose of defeating "Sin," the final boss of the game. Once that purpose is completed the dream ends and so does his existence. The final scene with him is him fading out of existence as he jumps through the clouds off an airship. He dies. Imagine playing this shit when you're 12. Some of the aspects of the game have not aged too well, but the story is one of a kind and was extremely ambitious. Maybe the most ambitious I've ever seen in a video game, no one has done anything like it since. People don't appreciate this games story enough in my opinion.

Are you talking like Sweden, or like Japan? I agree, it's very possible to derive morals without religion, in fact, I think it's preferable. I wasn't trying to make that lame religious argument that you can't be moral without religion. I more refer to uneducated people from 3rd world countries types, similar to what you describe here. Without religion for a lot of these types of people I feel it is difficult to come to terms with your suffering and have a sense purpose in a positive direction. Religion can do both those things, albeit in a flawed and dogmatic way. Obviously, a more educated person in a modern society see's the flaws in religion and is able to have some basic ethical philosophy that they lives their lives by. Again though, even those people fall prey to a Machiavellian Nihilistic world view, but that's a different conversation.

I actually enjoy sharing perspectives with religious people. I've had great conversations about the general nature of things like God and sin. The conversation usually falls apart and they get a bit triggered once you start to ask basic questions about the dogmatic nature of the religion. Like for example if you question specifics of their holy books. As much as I try to use non-triggering language and show that I'm genuine and altruistic in my curiosity, it's very hard for people to not get at least a little upset. In terms of Atheism being a good thing for this particular kid. I don't know, it could be bad for him. I don't think atheism is necessarily good for the average person. A lot of people really genuinely need religion to be a moral person, or to feel some sense or purpose and be at peace with their existence.

Yea, I think that's fair. I like it as a map for the progression of human thought. Kind of recently I've seen some bad uses of it that made me feel bothered by how people were using it. That's really the feeling I was expressing.

I don't know much about the study of spiral dynamics. I just see how people have been using them and they are using it in an unhelpful way. Consider it more of a criticism of the people using it rather than a criticism of spiral dynamics because I only have a surface level understanding of it.

I mean I get the allure of it and I think it has some use as a tool to understand idea's and characterize them relative to their effect on the progress of civilization. Kinda as you said though, people are using it to lazily characterize and stereotype individuals through the lenses of it. It's starting to become cringe worthy when everyone literally can't have a single conversation without bringing up spiral dynamics colors.

People are goofballs with this spiral dynamics stuff. Real humans don't conform to a neat and orderly chart that defines certain beliefs and ways of thinking. Real humans have contradictory idea's and beliefs, and are ideologically messy. No one person is all green, or all orange, or whatever. People are a rainbow of different ways of thinking. I hadn't been to this forum in a while and when I return everyone is obsessed with characterizing everything from a spiral dynamics perspective. To me it's an interesting idea, but it's a fad that's being taken way too seriously and it's chart far too literally and strictly. I think that SD is better at characterizing specific idea's or beliefs rather than people themselves. But man, some of ya'll gotta get out of this SD box ya'll are in, it's just getting silly and profoundly unhelpful in terms of characterizing entire groups of people. I think a big part of the appeal of SD is to make certain people feel more evolved than other people. Or to give the illusion that they are a "higher level" or "lower level" of thinking versus someone else.

I relate to this. One of my first great fears that I ever formed was of the Christian hell. It sent me into a spiral of depression at a young age as I panicked in isolation thinking of friends I knew who weren't saved that were going to burn in hell for eternity. I had no one to talk to about it, so the fear just festered. It's ok to be afraid of something, especially a concept like this. But do not shy away from dealing and confronting your fear. I think the more you understand how reality works the less you will fear things like this. For one, hell is suppose to be pure infinite suffering. But what is the nature of suffering? Suffering only exists in contrast to not suffering. So, ironically, if you existed in a state of only suffering, the suffering would become meaningless because it doesn't exist in contrast to 'not suffering.' The state of "only suffering" or "only not suffering" would ultimately become the same thing, which is definition-less nothing. Everything is nothing when relativity fades. That's why life is such a mixed bag, because such a range of experience is possible. The greatest sadness in the universe only exists in the universe where the greatest happiness also exists. They can't exist without each other. It's why you fear hell so much in the first place. Because hell is a representation of greater suffering in contrast to where you are now.

I don't know about "enlightened" compassion specifically, but I can speak to the experience of compassion in general. I think on a basic level it is a feeling of connection even love with another conscious being. What flows from that connection is a sense of empathy and appreciation for the unique struggles that life brings for that individual. Generally, when I feel compassion for someone I want to reduce their suffering in some way. Console them if they're feeling sad, or increase their sense of joy. It's an extremely wholesome feeling and an experience that feels healthy, positive, and full of love. The words "good" or "bad" don't encapsulate it very well.

He's panicking and just flailing around in the dark hoping something works.

"It's the next thing to ISIS" Lol oh these poor ignorant people. My goodness.

I actually would second your concern. I believe you can unintentionally get yourself into a hairy situation messing with some of this stuff. My personal decision is to stay away from that sort of stuff. It's based on personal experience.

I think both perspectives are correct. I agree, I think he was acting in what way he thought was best. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Man, what a genuine fascist. All his policy is based on fear, paranoia, and coming up with fantasies in his own mind concerning worse case scenario's.

Did you see his comments regarding what's coming in the future? At first he was vague saying he didn't want to say what he see's coming, implying something very dark for the future of the world. And then brought up the question, "what weapons will WWIII be fought with? WWIV will be fought with sticks and Stones." I mean if those aren't apocalyptic statements I don't know what is. I also think he unfairly stereotypes green thinking. Smart and well spoken, but his old is showing.

Man, he's so apocalyptic in his view of the future.

I'm going through one of the most emotionally difficult times in my life. My greatest fears are constantly at the forefront of my mind. And I've had to come face to face with my own sins and devilry. I am in pain and I feel alone. I only ask that you say a prayer for me. Thank you.

Thanks for your message @Nahm, I hope you are well. My state has improved a lot. I visited with my family and feel much better. It's the tough times that keep me humble and help me appreciate life more.