so i was theorizing......Follow

Ok, so Karma is this huge thing here, or so I'm told. But you know what, I've recently come to the conclusion I give a rats a$$ about Karma. This is why, because I dont care if you dont like me. All i care is that I voice my opinion in a manner that is clear, and if need be beligerant and hateful. Some times the guy standing on your foot has to be hit to move him. Sometimes there is no PC way out of a situation, and to be honest I think PC is a term for 'politically corrupt'. So you;re nice and never offend anyone, you only eat vegan foods, wear clothes that dont harm a living creature, and NEVER EVER say anything that might be harsh or offensive. Congratulations, our forefathers hate you.

How does this relate to FFXI? I'll tell you how, when im playing a game and a lovely friend from across the Atlantic says "Yank" i shrug it off, but as soon as any American says '***', 'Limey', or even in some cases 'Asian' people come un-freaking-glued. These are usually the same people that pratice something called reverse dicrimination. Why are we sooooo concerned? Why does it matter if we use terms like '***' or 'Limey'? Well yes it is offensive, to some. It's mostly culture, I know that, but here's the real question. WHY ARE THE NORTH AMERICANS THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE EXPECTED TO BEND TO THE WILLS AND/OR NEEDS OF ANOTHER CULTURE? Thats right, because we live in a "democracy", or more appropriately a "republic" (dont ask me what I think of these, they're not really pretty), where (so it says in the constitution) all men are yada yada yada. So that means we have to respect every one, every creed, every culture.

I would almost agree with that reasoning for this, EXCEPT, that we, as a culture, are rarely respected. Yes so my government screwed up, yes my president is a moron at times, yes my economy does have influence in places it shouldn't. Buttttt thats not me. Thats not any other american I personally know. As individuals we are treated like dirt for the sins of our parents. This is all fine and dandy, but here's one for you:

If some one ever tells you America is Imperialistic, or Empiristic laugh at them. The last great empires were British (India, Africa, the Carribean) and the French, (Africa, and South America). Everyone also seems to think we started Vietnam, but in fact it was Frances Police and Military there that started this. (You can look it up, its also featured prominently in 'We Were Soldiers') So how are we evil incarnate? Thats right because our zealous government wants to make the world safer, not that it can be done by any one nation mind you. Now why do we want to do this? Why do we as a nation allow this to happen? Because between the people who want everyone on Earth equal (and expect our government to feed starving people in Africa, and remove evil dictators), and a trigger happy administration (come on, even if you support the war, which I do, "end justifies the means", you have to admit it was quick to guns) we have PCed ourselves to death. So the next time some one says something in-game that insults you, remember, its only a word. Period. No one can ever expect 2 alien cultures to mesh perfectly, this is why South Vietnamese helped the North. But what you say, and how you carry yourself reflect your culture, Japanese, American, Dutch, British.

We alllllll have bias. Mention the "Bomb" to a JPN player, or tell a brit that if it weren't for american weapons the 'Battle for Britain' would have been lost, you'll see old animosities come out. Why? Because you remind them of a time that they weren't doing so well, but then how many NA players get offended by the word 'Yank'? A DEROGATORY term from as far back as the civil war and most likely revolutionary. I've never met an NA player that was ever offended by it, just like im not offended by 'cracker', 'boss', 'whitey' or a myriad of other words. Why am i not? Because if I were offended that would make the word have power. It would raise it from word to epitaph, and why would we want that?

My point in all this is all cultures should work TOGETHER to mesh better. Most people just seem to take for granted that NA players often try to change for others. For some reason we want to impress JPN, BRIT, and GER people. Why? What makes them superior to us? My answer to this. Because JPN players tend to be polite to me, so I try hard to be polite to them. My only logic, the golden rule. Its cyclical you know, it has to be returned to be earned. Use the words you want to use, be as tactful as you want to be, be as rude as you want to be, but always remember that THAT is what Karma is. And learn to tell the difference between venting, and a full on attack at some one, thing, or institution. You'll be happier for longer if you do.


Aries. God of War.
Ghost of a conscience.

PS If you read all of this im sorry, its probably a waste of time. ^^

Can we get the elevator speech?

Psst, British Empire (India, Africa, the Carribean, Australia/NZ, Canada). FTFY.

Aries, how can you walk with that huge chip on your shoulder man?

would you happen to be talking about the inhospitable wastelands of jungles that France got ahold of in order to create the most useless organizations in history the F.F.L.?

if so.. LOL

Are you sure this is your theory, I have heard this before, but I have never heard of you!

This is my point *** master, dont critique unless you read it. I was theorizing is just a title, not all titles directly relate to content. Nor do i give a rats rosy red *** if you've heard of me. For all you know I'm Bush's nephew, or Churchills great grandson, even if i was a public figure it wouldn't matter, the net affords me the same anonymity as it does you. Which in most cases only makes people complete 'Net Assassins', people who spend every minute out there trying to put others down because they themselves feel inferior in the real world. Flame away, I dont really care, i posted a thought. I see its karmas doing ok, meaning at least some people read it and thats all that matters to me.

The funniest part is the biggest douches didnt bother to read it or scan it, yet they felt they should comment on it, bravo. You guys have a strong future in politics, I mean, you dont even have to read something to know what it says. You're a shoe in for Bush's FBI, or his War Council, you'd know what all the reports say and be able to paraphrase them without having read them. Sounds kind of familiar.......maybe your parents already work for him.

Can I just point out there is NO such thing as reverse discrimination. It's universal. Just because the fu[i][/i]cked up standard is Whites hatein' on everyone else, doesn't mean it's suddenly "reversed" when everyone else hates on Whitey.

The problem with your original post was it contradicted itself a bit.

The first half basically says:
=====================
"I'm all for the golden rule, EXCEPT that people treat Americans like ****."

Thus implying that because Americans are treated poorly, we shouldn't make any extra effort to be nice to anyone else.




But the second half of your post says:
===========================
"If everyone works together and follows the golden rule, we'll be alright."



At least that's how I read it.

Yankees, not the same as Yank, just as Japanese isn't the same as ***.



Yes they helped us, they broke a blockade and ended a seige on Washington. After our Forefathers coerced them into action against their own long time enemy. This has been payed for twice over, hence the french still speak french, and not german.



We are a melting pot, making use of the best each culture has brought over, discarding the worst parts. This is how we adapted to an industrial nation in less than a century while other countries foundered and stalled in time.



We have Provinces, Countries trying to decide if they want to be states, given a states rights. These countries CHOOSE to be us Protectorates. Guantanamo Bay has been a US base since before Castro, and FYI, not all americans, and american presidents have considered Castro to be a hostile force. Since the fall of communist Russia he's been largely ignored, with the exception of human rights. Without Russia trying to place nukes on his island he lost much of his world importance.



Britain is a constitutional monarchy, similar except they dont have much choice, while parliament is much like congress and the senate its not the same. While I can't vouche for knowing much about japans new government it doesnt really matter, this wasnt about international government, this was about the US.



The Golden Rule:

Treat Others as you Want to be Treated. There is no contradiction here, Everyone treats us like sh*t, then whine we we are rude to them, the "If everyone works together and follows the golden rule, we'll be alright." would remedy this issue. Treat us with the respect you expect and pennies to dollars it will be returned. There will always be racists, bigots and a$$holes, We all have bias. But the usual first step is recognizing this weakness and working with it. If you know you're prone to be an alchoholic what do you do? Same logic applies here.




Yes yes, just like there was/is no "KKK" or no "****" party, and no "Black Panthers" right? Denial doesnt make it go away. You want an example? Portland Oregon, 22 dead by police shootings. 4 African American, 18 Caucasian American. I can name 2 of the AAs, but none of the 18 CAs, why? Because as soon as an AA is gunned down it becomes a race issue, it doesnt matter if said suspect attempted to drive off with a cop hanging from the window of the car, or if the suspect had 1/4 of a lb of cocaine, they become front page news because of their skin color. The 18 CA victims are quietly ignored, because they're not martyrs to a cause, they were just ordinary CA criminals. It doesnt matter that the AAs commited the same crimes, or that there were 4 and 1/2 times the CAs shot. All that matters is an imaginary race war. And here i thought this was "The Great Melting Pot". Where all races became equal over time and shared this country equally. What a great nation where a cop could shoot some one and be found innocent on any wrong doing and yet because the victim was a specific ethnicity it must be racism, DAMN THE MAN! He's only shooting because youre a different color than he is, I mean, it couldn't have been that you rolled up the window. Reached into the consol of your car, while being so intoxicated that he couldn't understand a word you said! No it couldn't be that he thought you were grabbing a gun, it couldnt be that Interpol showed who you were and let him know you were a felon long before he pulled you over, no its allllll because youre African American and every Caucasian is out to get you. Yeah, theres no "reverse discrimination". Just like the Black Panthers and any other Hate organization was ostracized from this nation 10 years ago.


(Pronunciation Key)reverse discrimination
n.

Discrimination against members of a dominant or majority group, especially when resulting from policies established to correct discrimination against members of a minority or disadvantaged group.

courtesy www.yourdictionary.com[/sm]

[sm]Edited, Fri May 14 01:21:14 2004 by AriesGhost

Totem, I hope that you're reborn as an Arab when you die. The situational irony of the whole mess would be hilarious. Kind of reminds me of the episode of Chapelle's Show where Dave plays a blind, black white-supremacist.

Twiztid

Yeah, they get better benefits post-death for that, too!

I'd personally take 8 dirty whores over Allahs reward, Virgins are boring. And since there are no STDs in heaven I'd be set with them.

And we changed that. Score one for the home team.

I'm your typical American. I think of the rest of the world as "not us". If anything, blame my egocentric society, not me.

Twiztid