Think about this when buying your next computer

[Skybird]

Just that.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,druck-665061,00.html

And think even more when considering different options of how to discard your old computer.

[OneToughHerring]

Why do you want us to print that page?

Worthy subject, anyhow.

[SteamWake]

I dont know how much truth that article holds.

I know here in florida at least there are very stringent regulations and processing agenceys / plants designed and operated with the sole purpose of dealing with discareded electronics of all types, computers included.

For anything that 'slips by' the original screening the landfill dumps are constantly 'patrolled' and any discarded electonics from an AA battery to large televisions are extracted and sent to the processing plant.

A good deal of time and money is spent by the goverment to assure that we are not 'posining' anything.

[GoldenRivet]

I dont know how much truth that article holds.

I know here in florida at least there are very stringent regulations and processing agenceys / plants designed and operated with the sole purpose of dealing with discareded electronics of all types, computers included.

For anything that 'slips by' the original screening the landfill dumps are constantly 'patrolled' and any discarded electonics from an AA battery to large televisions are extracted and sent to the processing plant.

A good deal of time and money is spent by the goverment to assure that we are not 'posining' anything.

correct.

I dont know how they do things in Sierra Leone but over here we dont allow that sort of thing

[gutted]

no sympathy from me.

maybe if they quit fighting each other, and move into the 21st century and manufacture something the world wants... they wouldn't be our dumpsters.

same goes for every other backwards country.

[OneToughHerring]

no sympathy from me.

maybe if they quit fighting each other, and move into the 21st century and manufacture something the world wants... they wouldn't be our dumpsters.

same goes for every other backwards country.

Like the USA?

[Skybird]

The United Nations estimates that up to 50 million tons of electronic waste are thrown away globally each year. It costs about €3.50 ($5.30) to properly dispose of an old CRT monitor in Germany. But it costs only €1.50 to stick it on a container ship to Ghana.

An international treaty, the Basel Convention, came into effect in 1989. The treaty is sound in its concept, forbidding developed countries from carrying out unauthorized dumping of computer waste in less developed countries. A total of 172 countries have signed the convention, but three of them never ratified it: Haiti, Afghanistan, and the United States. According to estimates by the US Environmental Protection Agency, around 40 million computers are discarded each year in the US alone.

European Union directives with acronyms like WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) followed the Basel Convention, and individual countries have signed them into law. Germany's waste disposal laws are among the world's strictest, and shipping computer waste to Ghana can lead to a prison sentence. In theory.

The German government recently set out to examine how things look in practice. Experts at the German Federal Environment Agency are still completing a paper that will be published in the coming weeks, but the upshot is already clear -- there are serious holes in the country's recycling system. According to the study, export firms in Germany ship 100,000 tons of discarded electrical appliances south each year, far more than experts had feared.

"This is a business worth millions, not something that falls under petty crime," says Knut Sander at the Hamburg-based environmental institute Ökopol. He authored the study, which took him months to research. His investigations landed him warnings that he should watch out for his own safety.

Having laws and treaties (or not) is one thing. Reality is a different thing.

You guys now see the problem?

[August]

Yeah because it's better to let those poor kids starve to death than allow them to do a potentially dangerous job. :doh:

[OneToughHerring]

Yeah because it's better to let those poor kids starve to death than allow them to do a potentially dangerous job. :doh:

Planning to go there and starve kids? Usually it's napalm for the kids when it comes to you Americans.

[NeonSamurai]

More then potentially dangerous, are you aware of the kind of stuff found in electronics like circuit boards and how they extract the valuable material? The stuff is full of mercury, lead, and other toxins (plus plastics, etc) and the valuable metals are usually extracted by burning it in an open fire. Its pure explotation and circumventing environmental regulations.

This is just like how they dismantle ships in the various third world countries. Absolutely no regard for the workers or environment, only money.

[gutted]

M the valuable metals are usually extracted by burning it in an open fire. Its pure explotation and circumventing environmental regulations.

This is just like how they dismantle ships in the various third world countries. Absolutely no regard for the workers or environment, only money.

natural selection at work.

i dont see the problem.

if you know the socket has electricity in it, and you still put a fork in it... why should i care?

[CaptainHaplo]

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here - but we have put forth alot of effort to insure that such things are dealt with appropriately.

Also - the "40 million" pc's a year? How many of those are "retired" pc's that still function, but are replaced by consumers or corporations? My company sanitizes the machines of data, then donates them to various charities. Some of those charities do send the pc's overseas. But not for destruction. They are donated to help run health offices, schools, etc.

In fact, I recall a couple of years ago one charity notified us that they were not going to send any overseas that year because the PC's had been stolen once there - by the locals - to "harvest" for their valuable innards.

So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.

I have to agree with gutted - that is the very picture of pulling yourself out of the gene pool.

[Skybird]

natural selection at work.

i dont see the problem.

if you know the socket has electricity in it, and you still put a fork in it... why should i care?

:nope: (the above quote is to be seen in the context of the situation and discussion)

Sometimes I stroll over such brilliant comments that they make me wish the author a bad, poor future to suffer - so that by that suffering he gets a chance to learn some things for the better.

Some people live in such miserable places in the world, in so deep and dark hell holes of poverty and misery, that they have no choice if they want to survive the running month, laserbrain. Thats true for chinese coal miners. that's true for child slaves doing child labour. That is true for poor people working in India's shipyards and Gana's computer "business".

Or did you think they do that just as a hobby?

[Skybird]

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here - but we have put forth alot of effort to insure that such things are dealt with appropriately.

Also - the "40 million" pc's a year? How many of those are "retired" pc's that still function, but are replaced by consumers or corporations? My company sanitizes the machines of data, then donates them to various charities. Some of those charities do send the pc's overseas. But not for destruction. They are donated to help run health offices, schools, etc.

In fact, I recall a couple of years ago one charity notified us that they were not going to send any overseas that year because the PC's had been stolen once there - by the locals - to "harvest" for their valuable innards.

So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.

I have to agree with gutted - that is the very picture of pulling yourself out of the gene pool.

Yes. They choose that.

:dead:

[NeonSamurai]

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here.

So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.

I have to agree with gutted - that is the very picture of pulling yourself out of the gene pool.

I don't think US corporations are only to blame, there is plenty of blame to go round the world for all the countries (including the countries where it happens, we all know its not the workers who are making money off this). Sure there are sincere attempts made to deal with the material properly, but there are also plenty of corporations that will do their very best to circumvent it just to save a bit of money.

I don't see choice entering into the picture though for the workers. For one thing they are not educated anywhere near enough to be truly aware of the danger they face, or to be able to understand it. Also even if they do, what choice to they have? Either they do it, or they starve to death. That is what makes it exploitation.

[gutted]

my personal belief is that humans as a species have the potential to do anything they put their minds to.

If portions of our species still live like it's the middle ages, its because they choose to.

We as developed nations should not cuddle them because they dont have it as good as us. They have the same flesh and same mind us we do, yet they live in filth and squalor because they allow themselves to be ruled by despots... or allow their religious beliefs to hold back any progress their society could have made in the last 1000 years.

what about those poor starvation nations that have no food you say?

Is it my fault humans settled in places with no food?

no.

as i said, natural selection.


for many many many years, the US has sent food and aid and money to nations all around the world.. and the thanks we get is that they hate us.

so lets just stop sending them aid and let natural selection run its course.

[Shearwater]

i dont see the problem.

Let me show you the problem:

i dont see the problem.

__________________________________________

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here - but we have put forth alot of effort to insure that such things are dealt with appropriately.
[...]
So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.


It's not only about US companies, but it applies generally to any affluent country. I don't doubt that US laws (or any other Western laws) are very strict when it comes to that questionable sort of recycling, and for the most part they work well. Though US didn't join that agreement, but of course they have laws of their own.
Nonetheless, there's plenty of instances where shady companies manage to ship old computers to Africa to do just that sort of thing. It's targetted at them, not at specific countries in general.
And I doubt whether it's really a choice, considering the alternatives.

no sympathy from me.

maybe if they quit fighting each other, and move into the 21st century and manufacture something the world wants... they wouldn't be our dumpsters.

same goes for every other backwards country.

Yeah ... I guess they're just too stupid to figure that out. Natural selection at its finest.

[Sailor Steve]

Planning to go there and starve kids? Usually it's napalm for the kids when it comes to you Americans.
August proposed that a potentially dangerous job was better than starvation.

You proposed the theory that Americans intentionally drop napalm on children.

I propose that this was an unwarranted attack, and further propose that you be censured.

[gutted]

I propose the world stops shedding tears for stupid people.


When katrina rolled through here, and they said "get out". i got out.

all the idiots who stayed and got stranded cried foul when they were called refugees. Al Sharpton: "This is america, you dont call americans refugees!! thats just racist!!".

well im sorry, what should we call you? we cant call you evacuees.. because you didnt evacuate! you're a refugee.. live with it.

[OneToughHerring]

August proposed that a potentially dangerous job was better than starvation.

You proposed the theory that Americans intentionally drop napalm on children.

I propose that this was an unwarranted attack, and further propose that you be censured.

It he who brought up the issue of those kids starving not me. So...what exactly does he mean then?

You can ban me for all you want but don't posture as some kind of bastion of free speech you ****ing racists.

[GoldenRivet]

You can ban me for all you want but don't posture as some kind of bastion of free speech you ****ing racists.

This from someone who makes comments that blanket an entire people into "child napalmers" ??? (see quote below)

Planning to go there and starve kids? Usually it's napalm for the kids when it comes to you Americans.

Interesting comments by you in this thread OTH... interesting indeed.:nope:

[OneToughHerring]

This from someone who makes comments that blanket an entire people into "child napalmers" ??? (see quote below)



Interesting comments by you in this thread OTH... interesting indeed.:nope:

Yep, I answered August's comment with the type of answer it deserved.

But by all means, ban me and let SB & co. get away with writing several page long racist rants. Free speech, riiight.

[XabbaRus]

Well reading this you will see that you are brigged.

You don't make reasoned thought out comments you just lash out with a straight attack usually at America and Americans with no rationale at all, and you like to call Skybird racist.

I don't agree with a lot of what Skybird writes but I wouldn't call him racist.

It just seems that you don't get it and can't see why you upset people. You can't have it both ways.

[Sailor Steve]

It he who brought up the issue of those kids starving not me. So...what exactly does he mean then?
I normally wouldn't reply to someone who can't respond in kind, but I think this requires it.

What he meant was that if the choice is having a dangerous job or starving, by all means go with the dangerous job, though a non-dangerous job will be preferable. August never proposed that kids should starve. That kind of reverse comment is called sarcasm.

You can ban me for all you want but don't posture as some kind of bastion of free speech you ****ing racists.
Arguing, even forcefully, even passionately, is free speech. Direct attacks, including name-calling, are not.

[SteamWake]

So ummm...

Hey keep those same thoughts in mind when purchasing a hybrid car.

I would be willing to bet there are 10 times more heavy / toxic metals in one of those that most computers. :03:

[GoldenRivet]

So ummm...

Hey keep those same thoughts in mind when purchasing a hybrid car.

I would be willing to bet there are 10 times more heavy / toxic metals in one of those that most computers. :03:

I'm right behind you at the betting booth on that one.

[August]

What he meant was that if the choice is having a dangerous job or starving, by all means go with the dangerous job, though a non-dangerous job will be preferable. August never proposed that kids should starve. That kind of reverse comment is called sarcasm.

Thank you Steve. That was exactly what I meant and all that I meant. It's difficult to believe that even with a language barrier anything more could have been read into it.

[nikimcbee]

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/images/ranks/brig.gif
Wow, we done caught us a troll, Jim Bob.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlY1rEgDKoQ
:haha:

[nikimcbee]

So ummm...

Hey keep those same thoughts in mind when purchasing a hybrid car.

I would be willing to bet there are 10 times more heavy / toxic metals in one of those that most computers. :03:

Yeah, that's so oldschool. They don't even use lead anymore in the manufacturung process anymore in processors.:know: But you are correct, those hybrid batteries are really toxic, and they mine them up in canada. I don't remember what the metal is though.:-?

[Dowly]

Salute Gutted.

I like your mindset, very similar to mine.

And I dont understand why people here are gasping over what you said. :shifty:

True words, every single one of them.

You cant help those countries by paying everything to them, do you except that they really would want to start putting their backs into it and try and make their lives better when they can just sit put and let the western worlds pay everything for them? :doh:

[Buddahaid]

Er... How about those Saints!

Budda

[gutted]

Er... How about those Saints!

Budda


Speechless.

[Shearwater]

Speechless.

Thankfully.

[gutted]

Salute Gutted.

I like your mindset, very similar to mine.

And I dont understand why people here are gasping over what you said. :shifty:

True words, every single one of them.

You cant help those countries by paying everything to them, do you except that they really would want to start putting their backs into it and try and make their lives better when they can just sit put and let the western worlds pay everything for them? :doh:


yeah, im somewhat of a harsh, abrupt, cold person. Sometimes getting critisized for showing no emotion by my own family members. When i should be happy, im only slightly amused. When i should be sad, im rather blank.

But its only because i see the world for what it is. I dont live in the clouds. And the whole political correctness hoopla needs to die 1 thousand deaths.

we cant keep catering to the lowest common denominator. in kids sports... why should everyone get a trophy? ohhh because we dont want their feelings hurt!!! no.... you lost! no trophy for you! get over it! kids need to learn at a young age that they aren't special.. and that life will throw them no bones. Thats why the youth today is so messed up. There are no consequences. If they can't make an A, they moan so that the standard for getting an A gets lowered.

nowhere in the constitution does it protect your "feelings". if you dont like something... don't look at it, or go shop somewhere else. you're NOT "special".


/the end

[Buddahaid]

Just about pulled my hair out when Fox switched to the Forty-whiners after the Redskins missed the FG. :damn:

Buddahaid

We now return control to the angry mobs topic of US bashing/defending. :sunny:

[SteamWake]

Yeah, that's so oldschool. They don't even use lead anymore in the manufacturung process anymore in processors.:know: But you are correct, those hybrid batteries are really toxic, and they mine them up in canada. I don't remember what the metal is though.:-?

Nickel Metal Hydride most likely Nimh they call them.

But other metals are involved as well fun elements like arsinide and lithium and gold.

But you find these in nearly all modern electronics.

[kiwi_2005]

yeah, im somewhat of a harsh, abrupt, cold person. Sometimes getting critisized for showing no emotion by my own family members. When i should be happy, im only slightly amused. When i should be sad, im rather blank.

But its only because i see the world for what it is. I dont live in the clouds. And the whole political correctness hoopla needs to die 1 thousand deaths.

we cant keep catering to the lowest common denominator. in kids sports... why should everyone get a trophy? ohhh because we dont want their feelings hurt!!! no.... you lost! no trophy for you! get over it! kids need to learn at a young age that they aren't special.. and that life will throw them no bones. Thats why the youth today is so messed up. There are no consequences. If they can't make an A, they moan so that the standard for getting an A gets lowered.

nowhere in the constitution does it protect your "feelings". if you dont like something... don't look at it, or go shop somewhere else. you're NOT "special".


/the end

Wow You come across to me as having a pretty grim picture of the world. Cheer up buddie.

I think its a good thing that the USA runs around and helps everyone what other power nation does that? Even when the crap hits the fan of nations that aren't so friendly with USA, USA will send aid for its citizens. The USA even beat little old New Zealand in sending aid to Samoa when the tusami (4 stories high went 700mtrs inland -187 lives lost) hit a month or so ago. And we are suppose to be the protectors of our neighboring islands! The kiwi forums were packed with posters complaining on how slack we were that the USA tidy up the mess for us.

It is better to give than receive, it is better to serve than to be served. J C.

Yep PC bs is taking over the world. I agree. In New Zealand a law passed last yr where parents are not allowed to discipline their children. A simple smack will land you in court. To the PC w**kers smacking your children will lead them to a violent lifestyle later in life. What a load of friggin BS! I smacked my boys when they needed it, both adults now and they are not violent and they respect others especially their dad so thats a bonus :)

Not saying if you dont smack your kids they will fail, but discipline is needed in the family there is nothing wrong with a smack on the backside or hand when needed. But now if a child is misbehaving we are instead to call for "time out" and sit them down and go through steps on why they spat the dummy and try to understand them. :rotfl2: What a load of crap. A simple smack on the backside would of fixed it. One other PC BS has come out where some professor is encouraging mothers to ask their babies if its okay if they change their nappy as this will not lead to confusion later on in their adult lives :har:

That professor should be locked up for stupidity.

[gutted]

nah, i just see all this lunacy around me and its turning me into a cynic.

[CaptainHaplo]

Guttted - mind if I keep you in mind for a cabinet position? I am the same way on some things, but more relaxed on others. What are you views on foreign policy?

[gutted]

Guttted - mind if I keep you in mind for a cabinet position? I am the same way on some things, but more relaxed on others. What are you views on foreign policy?

I'm a fan of Theodore Roosevelt's saying of:

"Speak softly and carry a big stick".

The previous administration was ALL stick.
The current administration is all talk and no stick.


Or in other words:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/cvn-diplomacy.jpg

[Blacklight]

I have issues with this article. I HIGHLY doubt that our old American computers are being shipped over to Nigeria to be dumped. That stuff is recycled here, either that, or they make their way to American dumps and get buried here. It's just another article bashing Americans.

[Shearwater]

I have issues with this article. I HIGHLY doubt that our old American computers are being shipped over to Nigeria to be dumped. That stuff is recycled here, either that, or they make their way to American dumps and get buried here. It's just another article bashing Americans.

I think there's some truth to it, but SPIEGEL sometimes has a way of passing information quite selectively to its readers. It's often a peculiar blend of information and interpretation despite calling itself a "news magazine." I'm a regular reader, but I often disagree (and I can see why others do as well).

[Skybird]

It's just another article bashing Americans.

To quote just the headline:

How Europe's discarded computer are poisoning Africa'S kids.

The article then mentions existing laws and regulations being avoided/broken becasue they create solutions more than twice as expensive than just shipping the waste illegally to africa.

much of what it is about is due to violations of laws - european ones, and american ones. That is different to Indias ship wrecking industry, that also founds modern slave labour: but nevertheless it is perfectly legal, and that means exploiting the weakness of those poor dogs is legal, too.

there are so many examples. Poisonous waste, for example, being dumped in some third world country. Yes, we have laws forbidding that. and still they get violated. Then, dumping nuclear waste. Relabelling no longer valid/fresh medical drugs, and selling them in the third world with forged expirations dates although they could do more good than bad now. And pefectly legal western industries still produce and sell chemical agents to the third world that to use in the EU or the US already is forbidden by law, due to their toxicity.

[OneToughHerring]

Thank you Steve. That was exactly what I meant and all that I meant. It's difficult to believe that even with a language barrier anything more could have been read into it.

Are you two like siamese twins or something? Do you share the same brain?

You said

Yeah because it's better to let those poor kids starve to death than allow them to do a potentially dangerous job. :doh:

Giving them two (2) options, either to starve to death or to engage in some hazardous or slavery type work. Now as is known from real life, this is often the case with US corporations, they don't care much about human rights or the health of the workers. US also supports things such as trafficking in humans and child prostitution in the Far-East.

And as far as napalm, it has has also been used by the US against children in the third world and is still used in some form today. Plenty of pics around, I hope I don't need to post those here.

But I don't mind going to the brig to bring attention to a worthy cause. :up:

[Sailor Steve]

Are you two like siamese twins or something? Do you share the same brain?
August said something. You misunderstood and went on the attack. I tried to clear up the misunderstanding. I got it right and he thanked me. So now you are insulting and attacking again. I haven't called you any names, and I haven't insulted or questioned your intelligence. Can you please show the same respect?

Giving them two (2) options, either to starve to death or to engage in some hazardous or slavery type work. Now as is known from real life, this is often the case with US corporations, they don't care much about human rights or the health of the workers. US also supports things such as trafficking in humans and child prostitution in the Far-East.

And as far as napalm, it has has also been used by the US against children in the third world and is still used in some form today. Plenty of pics around, I hope I don't need to post those here.
And most of us don't disagree.

But I don't mind going to the brig to bring attention to a worthy cause. :up:
You didn't go to the brig because you brought up anything. You went to the brig because you insisted on making a personal attack. You can make your points with intelligence, or you can throw mud at people you disagree with. As the saying goes, you catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.

[NeonSamurai]

I would add that its not purely US corporations which engage in all this bad stuff, plenty of blame to go around to the rest of the world.

[nikimcbee]

I would add that its not purely US corporations which engage in all this bad stuff, plenty of blame to go around to the rest of the world.

...then there's China:o (or, I'll throw in the semi-conductor industry located in Asia).

They are "safety-challenged.":o

Actually, the semi-conductor industry has gone through great strides to elliminate the dangerous chemicals from the manufactering process (Pb).

[OneToughHerring]

August said something. You misunderstood and went on the attack. I tried to clear up the misunderstanding. I got it right and he thanked me. So now you are insulting and attacking again. I haven't called you any names, and I haven't insulted or questioned your intelligence. Can you please show the same respect?

You seem to defend August's point about giving kids two choises, to starve or to engage in some slavery type work. Now these are not the only two choices anywhere but it seems that some individuals seem to like to promote a world view according to which they are and indeed should be the only two choises available for children in the third world.

Yes I understand the other side of the argument, which is "avoid death with horrible slavery type work" but I don't agree with this. This argument serves to promote the building of a world where those two actually are the only choices available, especially when related to the trade and foreign politics of the US.

Now that's about as wordy as I'm going to get, I'm not SB and don't wish to be.

[Sailor Steve]

You seem to defend August's point about giving kids two choises, to starve or to engage in some slavery type work. Now these are not the only two choices anywhere but it seems that some individuals seem to like to promote a world view according to which they are and indeed should be the only two choises available for children in the third world.
I don't defend August's point. You questioned whether he wanted to go there and starve kids, and I pointed out that that wasn't what he said or meant. And I answered your comment that we wanted to drop napalm on children. And that's all I did.

Yes I understand the other side of the argument, which is "avoid death with horrible slavery type work" but I don't agree with this. This argument serves to promote the building of a world where those two actually are the only choices available, especially when related to the trade and foreign politics of the US.
I think you might be overreacting to what I took as an off-the-cuff answer from August to the way Skybird looks at things. In my comment I said "if those were the only choices". But I could also be wrong, and I'm not really up-to-date on this whole argument, so I can't say much more.

[August]

:roll:

[Shearwater]

Yes I understand the other side of the argument, which is "avoid death with horrible slavery type work" but I don't agree with this. This argument serves to promote the building of a world where those two actually are the only choices available, especially when related to the trade and foreign politics of the US.

Few people in this thread do, and instead of following your red cousin, you should get at them instead ...
Why not simply call it a day and accept August's and Steve's explanations as a gesture of your good will?

[OneToughHerring]

Few people in this thread do, and instead of following your red cousin, you should get at them instead ...
Why not simply call it a day and accept August's and Steve's explanations as a gesture of your good will?

Do you live in this thread? Does this thread make up the universe you live in? If so then I suggest you broaden your horizons a little and converse with other people, you know, outside this thread.

[Shearwater]

Do you live in this thread? Does this thread make up the universe you live in? If so then I suggest you broaden your horizons a little and converse with other people, you know, outside this thread.

First question:
Yes, I can leave you my address if you wish (send me a PM).
Second question:
No, and yes I actually do sometimes.

Let me tell you that as far as the article this thread is about, I guess I agree with you to about 85% (I've read it a week or so in the paper edition of Spiegel while I was on the train, and it was the first article that got my attention). And post #19 was about the single most blatant piece of ignorance I've seen on GT for a long time (now I got it off my chest), but I simply didn't see much of a point in putting a lot of reasoning into a reply to a mindless post. It's simply giving it undue credit.

Listen, I'm not here to make August's or Steve's point. I just say that unlike them, your way of putting things sometimes make it hard to agree with you.
When you don't get carried away by ranting, I actually enjoy reading most of your posts.

[OneToughHerring]

Well I did go the brig, unlike the writers of the myriad of messages here in SS radioroom that border on racism or are blatantly racist. But hey, since Neal & co. think that's cool then who am I to say otherwise in this particular community.

The red 'card' at the lower right corner of the message signals that that particular message has recieved an infraction, I got one for two messages, the napalm one and the other one.

[Shearwater]

Nah, the mods are the epitome of awesomeness.

(working on my anti-brig insurance here)


But really, you do have a point here :yep:

[Sailor Steve]

Well I did go the brig, unlike the writers of the myriad of messages here in SS radioroom that border on racism or are blatantly racist. But hey, since Neal & co. think that's cool then who am I to say otherwise in this particular community.
I've only once ever reported what I thought was a bad post, and it was quite some time ago. I'd like to know, though - who is it you think gets away with being blatantly racist? I've seen Neal and the moderators come down pretty hard on people who went over the line, and it didn't matter who they were (or who they thought they were).

And I've seen them cut quite a bit of slack when they were being accused of favoritism. If you think somebody is over the line, report it. If you think it's me, say so. I think I've apologised for things I've said more than anybody else here.

[SteamWake]

How in the hell did a thread about enviromental impact of discarded computers degrade into a he said she said diatribe on race and 'acceptable' posting content.

No seriously, is it really that hard to stick to the subject at hand? So easly lead down the path. :doh:

[OneToughHerring]

How in the hell did a thread about enviromental impact of discarded computers degrade into a he said she said diatribe on race and 'acceptable' posting content.

No seriously, is it really that hard to stick to the subject at hand? So easly lead down the path. :doh:

Because the kids in third world countries have two choices according to the US, either to starve to death or work in dangerous conditions.

[Onkel Neal]

Because the kids in third world countries have two choices according to the US, either to starve to death or work in dangerous conditions.


Yes, because we control all the kids in the third world and their fates.

[OneToughHerring]

Yes, because we control all the kids in the third world and their fates.

Actually, you're not far off the truth there.

[Sailor Steve]

Because the kids in third world countries have two choices according to the US, either to starve to death or work in dangerous conditions.
And once again you automatically resort to being rude and insulting.

And that, SteamWake, is exactly how it happened in the first place.

[OneToughHerring]

And once again you automatically resort to being rude and insulting.

And that, SteamWake, is exactly how it happened in the first place.

Are you the US? You know, you can say anything you want about Finland in my presence, I won't mind. In fact I'll take part in criticising Finland with you.

Rude and insulting? :doh:

[August]

Yes, because we control all the kids in the third world and their fates.

I keep all my third world kids slaving away to make decorative gravel for my garden, by hand, :stare: muahahahaha!

[Onkel Neal]

Actually, you're not far off the truth there.


Yes, we know you are frustrated and you hate us. Ok, can we move on? :O:

[nikimcbee]

Yes, we know you are frustrated and you hate us. Ok, can we move on? :O:

Wastegate?:hmmm:

[Sailor Steve]

Are you the US? You know, you can say anything you want about Finland in my presence, I won't mind. In fact I'll take part in criticising Finland with you.

Rude and insulting? :doh:
Okay, the Finns actually attacked the Russians first, and invited them to invade.

Rude and insulting, not true, and unnecessary. And also something I wouldn't say except as a joke, or as an example.

Criticize the US all you want, and as you say I'll either defend or join you; but generic catch-all dismissals are indeed rude and insulting, not true, and unnecessary.

[Snestorm]

I have heard of The Right To Free Speach.
I've never heard of The Right To Not Be Offended.

[TDK1044]

Well I did go the brig, unlike the writers of the myriad of messages here in SS radioroom that border on racism or are blatantly racist. But hey, since Neal & co. think that's cool then who am I to say otherwise in this particular community.


I wonder if, before you made the above statement, you actually knew the definition of Racism and how it differs from Bigotry? I suggest that you take some time in order to achieve some level of education before making a fool of yourself here again.


Racism:
The prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races.

Bigotry:
One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

[August]

I have heard of The Right To Free Speach.
I've never heard of The Right To Not Be Offended.

How about the right to an education? :)

[Snestorm]

How about the right to an education? :)

The RIGHT to an EDUCATION is fine.
MANDATOTY INDOCTRINATION is not.

[SteamWake]

I have heard of The Right To Free Speach.
I've never heard of The Right To Not Be Offended.


http://mklasing.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/your-constitutional-right-to-not-be-offended/

:haha:

[Skybird]

The man on that pic. :)

Where there is a will to derail something created in even the only very best intentions, nevertheless there will always be a way. It's easier to destroy, than to build.

[Snestorm]

http://mklasing.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/your-constitutional-right-to-not-be-offended/

:haha:

After watching the video, and skipping "Celebration", I see we seem to share the same understanding of this subject.

Free Speech was never written into the US Constitution to protect popular speech.

[Sailor Steve]

The RIGHT to an EDUCATION is fine.
MANDATOTY INDOCTRINATION is not.
It looks to me like he was making a joke about your misspelling of the word 'speech'.

And speaking of which - mandatoty?:rotfl2: I know that's just a simple typo, but I always try to proofread my posts, so I do take jabs at people who obviously don't

Now to the real question - exactly what are you defining as education vs mandatory indoctrination, as it pertains to posts here? Were my comments involved? If so, tell me and we'll discuss it.

[Snestorm]

It looks to me like he was making a joke about your misspelling of the word 'speech'.

And speaking of which - mandatoty?:rotfl2: I know that's just a simple typo, but I always try to proofread my posts, so I do take jabs at people who obviously don't

Now to the real question - exactly what are you defining as education vs mandatory indoctrination, as it pertains to posts here? Were my comments involved? If so, tell me and we'll discuss it.

OK, now I understand why he seemed to be steering so far off from where we had been.
That being said, I'd rather skip "the real question".

OK, now for the spelling, and all that goes with it.:
I'd be willing to bet that I spell better in english, than you can in danish.
English is my second language. Am I forgiven?

[Thomen]

. Am I forgiven?

Can't speak for him naturally, but I would show leniency for some Tuborg. :D

[Snestorm]

Can't speak for him naturally, but I would show leniency for some Tuborg. :D

It's a deal. Tuborg for you. Carlsberg for me. That realy does sound so good.

[Sailor Steve]

OK, now I understand why he seemed to be steering so far off from where we had been.
That being said, I'd rather skip "the real question".
:DL Okay.

OK, now for the spelling, and all that goes with it.:
I'd be willing to bet that I spell better in english, than you can in danish.
And you'd win that bet. I didn't realize...hey wait - it's your fault for not giving your location! Yeah, that's right, Steve, blame the other guy!:rotfl2:
Sorry, I've just shifted into 'silly' mode.

English is my second language. Am I forgiven?
Nothing to forgive, which in case of translation misunderstandings means "yes, of course". I have to ask for the same forgiveness now.

[Snestorm]

:DL Okay.


And you'd win that bet. I didn't realize...hey wait - it's your fault for not giving your location! Yeah, that's right, Steve, blame the other guy!:rotfl2:
Sorry, I've just shifted into 'silly' mode.


Nothing to forgive, which in case of translation misunderstandings means "yes, of course". I have to ask for the same forgiveness now.

So, again there's nothing to forgive.

[OneToughHerring]

but generic catch-all dismissals are indeed rude and insulting, not true, and unnecessary.

Does that apply to just this thread, threads about the US or even threads concerning, say, muslims that there seem to be quite a few of here in SS Radioroom?

Mind you, I don't have a problem with you saying that Finland attacked first but I'm not sure if Happy Times or Dowly will agree with you about that. :DL

[Snestorm]

It's a deal. Tuborg for you. Carlsberg for me. That realy does sound so good.

Can't speak for him naturally, but I would show leniency for some Tuborg. :D

Something to hold you over. It should provide a good laugh.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngSUa3cwIw8

[Thomen]

Something to hold you over. It should provide a good laugh.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngSUa3cwIw8

Yep.. thanks! :yeah:

[Sailor Steve]

Does that apply to just this thread, threads about the US or even threads concerning, say, muslims that there seem to be quite a few of here in SS Radioroom?
Absolutely. I've called people on it before. Even said something similar to Neal once, a very long time ago.

Mind you, I don't have a problem with you saying that Finland attacked first but I'm not sure if Happy Times or Dowly will agree with you about that. :DL
:rotfl2:

And rightly so, since I'd be wrong. But the past is past, and I consider many people from many countries to be friends. Even CCIP, though George hasn't been around lately.

[SteamWake]

Soooo...

Hey... like how about all those heavy metals in the compact flourescent lamps oh and gallenium (sp?) arsinide in LED's. :06: