I’ve studied international relations and economics and I’m quite capable of forming my own opinions all by myself. The news media just provides information. The only place where I read the comments of people is here and nobody here coerces me into believing anything because you’re all crazy except Zezel.
- Canada Cup

Aw thanks CC.

The disconnect between people and basic facts in Western societies now is disturbingly reminiscent of Soviet or North Korean situations. But without state control of info! It's crazy. The number of people that buy into poop like QAnon...wt actual (frank)...this some Jonestown poop all through the internet. It's (frank)ing sad. People are as crazy as radical Islamists with the MAGA poop, then the far edge of the left is (frank)ed also. Bad scene. Too much aggro.
- Zezel

The number of people that think that believing ideas because they exist outside of the mainstream is "critical thinking" is definitely concerning. I'm not saying that the MSM is unbiased, but someone who is capable of asking the right questions, reading the subtext, and identifying the biases (ie. the W5) is more informed than someone who ignores the news altogether.

Yes, they are using it as PR opportunity. If you actually took the time to read Taleb's thread you would realize that the reactions to the Borat character are complicated with some feeling extreme offense. #CancelBorat is a thing.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/...ron-cohen-trnd/index.html

The argument is that "Borat" uses Kazakhstan as a prop, as a means of illustrating issues in America. But the prop itself is discarded.

Maybe "Borat" helps viewers get to know America a little bit better. But nobody walks away with a deeper knowledge of Kazakhstan. Some might even read that last sentence and laugh. Which, of course, is part of the problem.

But hey, that marketing slogan.
- mjones242

Sure, he makes fun of the people of Kazakhstan. I guess I always found it so over the top that it’s hard to take seriously. You can’t call it prejudiced because we don’t really have any preset views of Kazakhstan which I kind of thought was part of the joke. It kind of reminded me of the Austin Powers villain from Belgium.

It just seems like a stretch to get bothered by an obviously fictitious rendition of a country.

Sure, he makes fun of the people of Kazakhstan. I guess I always found it so over the top that it’s hard to take seriously. You can’t call it prejudiced because we don’t really have any preset views of Kazakhstan which I kind of thought was part of the joke. It kind of reminded me of the Austin Powers villain from Belgium.

It just seems like a stretch to get bothered by an obviously fictitious rendition of a country.
- Canada Cup

The dutch

I’ve studied international relations and economics and I’m quite capable of forming my own opinions all by myself. The news media just provides information. The only place where I read the comments of people is here and nobody here coerces me into believing anything because you’re all crazy except Zezel.
- Canada Cup

If you don't mind me saying it; I suspect you was taken ill a large part of those lessons, Sir.

The dutch
- TheMussel

Right. I hate the Belgians on my own

Right. I hate the Belgians on my own
- Canada Cup

I don't mind the belgians. They invented french fries and cyclocross.

If you don't mind me saying it; I suspect you was taken ill a large part of those lessons, Sir.
- 21peter

They cashed my cheque and gave me my degree so that means I know what I’m talking about. That’s the way it works.

They cashed my cheque and gave me my degree so that means I know what I’m talking about. That’s the way it works.
- Canada Cup

the donald trump method eh

I don't mind the belgians. They invented french fries and cyclocross.
- TheMussel

And then (frank)ed it up by putting mayonnaise on it. The French fries that is.

The number of people that think that believing ideas outside of the mainstream is "critical thinking" is definitely concerning. I'm not saying that the MSM is unbiased, but someone who is capable of asking the right questions, reading the subtext, and identifying the biases (ie. the W5) is more informed than someone who ignores the news altogether.
- TheMussel

The skepticism and mistrust of media and government is certainly understandable, but as a response people have decided to believe total nonsense instead. It's magical thinking. Critical thinking and basic media literacy are missing, which is not a good thing in a supposed information society.

And then (frank)ed it up by putting mayonnaise on it. The French fries that is.
- Canada Cup

Mayo is a perfectly good fries dip

the donald trump method eh
- TheMussel

My cheque cleared

And then (frank)ed it up by putting mayonnaise on it. The French fries that is.
- Canada Cup

It took French Canadians to perfect french fries by putting cheese curds and gravy on them.

You know what else is (frank)ing awesome on fries? (frank)ing bolognese pasta sauce. With parm and everything, just like spaghetti. You're welcome.

His authority as an academic isn't represented in the tweet though.
It's an emotional plea and opinion supported by spurious anecdotal evidence and containing a thinly veiled political jab.
- TheMussel

Ehh... so Taleb may have used a few too many question marks to convey his incredulity. That doesn't invalidate his central argument though, does it?

Not sure how you came to the conclusion that his anecdotal evidence is "spurious".

Also, calling out something for being a "thinly veiled political jab" is not a valid argument of his position - you are not attacking the argument you are attacking the motive.

You know what else is (frank)ing awesome on fries? (frank)ing bolognese pasta sauce. With parm and everything, just like spaghetti. You're welcome.
- Zezel

you need to go get yourself an italian poutine friend

Love him or hate him. Gotta admit it’s pretty savage to confirm ACB on Hilarys birthday.

The League doesn’t need a Council to get serious about these issues. They played up the BLM stuff when the moment came and made a big thing about working with the Hockey Diversity Alliance. Once the attention died down they ended up not doing anything.

I have no idea if this Council is a serious thing. It would be nice if it was. I don’t have a lot of faith that the NHL will do much more than issue a few press releases though.
- Canada Cup

Thank you.

you need to go get yourself an italian poutine friend
- TheMussel

Definitely

The disconnect between people and basic facts in Western societies now is disturbingly reminiscent of Soviet or North Korean situations. But without state control of info! It's crazy. The number of people that buy into poop like QAnon...wt actual (frank)...this some Jonestown poop all through the internet. It's (frank)ing sad. People are as crazy as radical Islamists with the MAGA poop, then the far edge of the left is (frank)ed also. Bad scene. Too much aggro.
- Zezel

Nahh... MAGA followers may be colossal idiots but they're not cutting the heads off of tourists, apostates, atheists, or homosexuals. And neither are the far left Antifa Bernie Bros... well, except for a few statues, I guess.

Sure, he makes fun of the people of Kazakhstan. I guess I always found it so over the top that it’s hard to take seriously. You can’t call it prejudiced because we don’t really have any preset views of Kazakhstan which I kind of thought was part of the joke. It kind of reminded me of the Austin Powers villain from Belgium.

It just seems like a stretch to get bothered by an obviously fictitious rendition of a country.
- Canada Cup

Sure, to you. That's your privilege.

Ehh... so Taleb may have used a few too many question marks to convey his incredulity. That doesn't invalidate his central argument though, does it?

Not sure how you came to the conclusion that his anecdotal evidence is "spurious".

Also, calling out something for being a "thinly veiled political jab" is not a valid argument of his position - you are not attacking the argument you are attacking the motive.
- mjones242

I am attacking the motive because he's expressing his outrage, not writing an objective paper on the subject. And yes it's spurious, the 20 people he talked to in Kazakhstan is representative of the whole population? He called it the nearly most racist movie ever made (!!!) and then attacked the people on the "left" for enabling or encouraging it.

I see very little that is accurate, objective, thoughtful or unbiased in his statement as a whole, and the idea that he's a phd in mathematics certainly doesn't magically make it any of those things. IMO

I cooked two steaks. One was supposed to be for later. But I was hungry from cycling. So things happened to both steaks.

Nahh... MAGA followers may be colossal idiots but they're not cutting the heads off of tourists, apostates, atheists, or homosexuals. And neither are the far left Antifa Bernie Bros... well, except for a few statues, I guess.
- mjones242

MAGA inspired shooters have murdered a lot of people in the last couple of years.