Things that really bother you

jimmyjames30x30 said:

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Air Force Brat said:

Thank you for your very honest reading and attempting to understand where I am coming from, I respect that a great deal. Morever, I believe you have articulated very well where the Chinese concern is??

I believe Mr. Trump has had to be tougher on China and Russia as a result of his domestic opposition, I'll just state once again for the record, that I am NOT a fan of tariffs, neither am I a fan of Mr. Trumps often offensive style....

In general, he is protecting my core values, conservative, pro-life, cutting taxes and allowing the economy to thrive, (tariffs are taxes, and that has hurt many people on a personal level), conservative jurists for the supreme court and lower courts....

Had the Democrats not launched these bogus investigations, (no collusion with the Russians), Mr. Trump and President Xi would have already hammered out a better for all trade agreement, Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin would have de-escalated the war of words and high emotion, the Pres would have an agreement and better relationship with Kim Jung Un, remember during their last meeting the Democrat congress was undermining the President and his administration!

This all puts peace, and the security of each of our nations at risk....

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I will try to avoid getting into discussion about any domestic politics of the USA that isn't relevant to international relations. Strong nations muscling against each other is totally fine because it is what nations should do. The whole trade war, sanctions, etc. are just part of geopolitics and international competition that Humanity has seen A LOT of since the dawn of civilization. That's totally fine. I have no problem with that. Most Chinese people don't have a problem with that either. In fact, they are excited and enjoying the competition.

I actually don't mind Trump and the US current elite's attitude towards China, Iran and Russia. Those attitudes are fine. They are to be expected. It would be strange for humanity if the US leadership don't have such attitude. I don't think the common US citizen will allow such a US leadership to remain in power.

As for the Democrats, their sins are much much greater and deeper than Trump, that's for sure. However, I will still point out that despite the fact that what Trump advocates for or what he want to achieve is in line with ordinary US citizens like you, you should still remain skeptical to any politician, regardless of how much you like him. A politician with all the right intentions are still totally different from a politician that produces results. So far, Trump produced none of the results that good American people who share the same good value with you deserve to see.

Air Force Brat said:

Thank you for your very honest reading and attempting to understand where I am coming from, I respect that a great deal. Morever, I believe you have articulated very well where the Chinese concern is??

I believe Mr. Trump has had to be tougher on China and Russia as a result of his domestic opposition, I'll just state once again for the record, that I am NOT a fan of tariffs, neither am I a fan of Mr. Trumps often offensive style....

In general, he is protecting my core values, conservative, pro-life, cutting taxes and allowing the economy to thrive, (tariffs are taxes, and that has hurt many people on a personal level), conservative jurists for the supreme court and lower courts....

Had the Democrats not launched these bogus investigations, (no collusion with the Russians), Mr. Trump and President Xi would have already hammered out a better for all trade agreement, Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin would have de-escalated the war of words and high emotion, the Pres would have an agreement and better relationship with Kim Jung Un, remember during their last meeting the Democrat congress was undermining the President and his administration!

This all puts peace, and the security of each of our nations at risk....

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I don't have a problem with Trump being offensive, nor him being confrontation with perceived adversaries like China, Iran, Russia, etc. A lot of the politicians I admire have been more vulgar than Trump in politics. Remember Deng Xiaoping? He was a short little guy, but he was vulgar as hell. Politicians are people after all, those who don't hide their human side (even if it has flaws) are much better than the goody-two-shoes. That's why it is 100 times better for China, Russia, and Iran, etc, that Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. No offence to any Hillary supporter out there, but I am Chinese Canadian, so it doesn't really concern me.

jimmyjames30x30 said:

I will try to avoid getting into discussion about any domestic politics of the USA that isn't relevant to international relations. Strong nations muscling against each other is totally fine because it is what nations should do. The whole trade war, sanctions, etc. are just part of geopolitics and international competition that Humanity has seen A LOT of since the dawn of civilization. That's totally fine. I have no problem with that. Most Chinese people don't have a problem with that either. In fact, they are excited and enjoying the competition.

I actually don't mind Trump and the US current elite's attitude towards China, Iran and Russia. Those attitudes are fine. They are to be expected. It would be strange for humanity if the US leadership don't have such attitude. I don't think the common US citizen will allow such a US leadership to remain in power.

As for the Democrats, their sins are much much greater and deeper than Trump, that's for sure. However, I will still point out that despite the fact that what Trump advocates for or what he want to achieve is in line with ordinary US citizens like you, you should still remain skeptical to any politician, regardless of how much you like him. A politician with all the right intentions are still totally different from a politician that produces results. So far, Trump produced none of the results that good American people who share the same good value with you deserve to see.

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Actually this kind of regressive attitude about international relations, and social relations in general, is why social progress is so hard to achieve. If one thinks of social arrangements as technology you are essentially saying that it is OK to not expect or use technology because human nature is human nature, this is the exact same as saying it is cold in the winter so just be cold and don't try to get warm.

PanAsian said:

Actually this kind of regressive attitude about international relations, and social relations in general, is why social progress is so hard to achieve. If one thinks of social arrangements as technology you are essentially saying that it is OK to not expect or use technology because human nature is human nature, this is the exact same as saying it is cold in the winter so just be cold and don't try to get warm.

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It's not regressive, it's realistic. Competition, war and confrontation are natural. In fact, conflict is the precursor to social progress such as technology, philosophy, international institution, international agreements and shared values, etc. "Regressive" is about trump trying to destroy the norm which humanity has come in term with through civilization.

"Regressive" is about blackmailing your own allies (which sacrifices long-term/strategic interest) for short-term gain. "Regressive" is about quitting Paris Climate Agreement, JCPOA, etc, just to put your own name on it.
"Regressive" is about tapping into populism, taking advantage of the un-informed masses, instead of education, discussion, debate and building public consent.

Chinese civilization has no problem with an adversary or even an enemy that has honor, self-control, commitment, and the strength to stand for what they believe.

We Chinese are fine with the Manchu's, because the Manchus are at least civilized enough to know to honor their former enemy Governor Shi Kefa for his great loyalty to the Ming Dynasty.\

We Chinese are NOT fine with a man who say he want to pull out of NATO, pull out of Korea and Japan, accusing them of "taking advantages of the USA". This remind us of King You of Zhou (周幽王), and his farce "烽火戲諸侯". We are not Russia, we don't rejoice in the decline of virtue and Value Systems in our enemy. We want to fight civilized people, not thugs. We aren't happy about civilized adversaries who turn themselves into thugs just to feel more "empowered".

jimmyjames30x30 said:

It's not regressive, it's realistic. Competition, war and confrontation are natural. In fact, conflict is the precursor to social progress such as technology, philosophy, international institution, international agreements and shared values, etc. "Regressive" is about trump trying to destroy the norm which humanity has come in term with through civilization.

"Regressive" is about blackmailing your own allies (which sacrifices long-term/strategic interest) for short-term gain. "Regressive" is about quitting Paris Climate Agreement, JCPOA, etc, just to put your own name on it.
"Regressive" is about tapping into populism, taking advantage of the un-informed masses, instead of education, discussion, debate and building public consent.

Chinese civilization has no problem with an adversary or even an enemy that has honor, self-control, commitment, and the strength to stand for what they believe.

We Chinese are fine with the Manchu's, because the Manchus are at least civilized enough to know to honor their former enemy Governor Shi Kefa for his great loyalty to the Ming Dynasty.\

We Chinese are NOT fine with a man who say he want to pull out of NATO, pull out of Korea and Japan, accusing them of "taking advantages of the USA". This remind us of King You of Zhou (周幽王), and his farce "烽火戲諸侯". We are not Russia, we don't rejoice in the decline of virtue and Value Systems in our enemy. We want to fight civilized people, not thugs. We aren't happy about civilized adversaries who turn themselves into thugs just to feel more "empowered".

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The point of contention I have is with the half-the-story statements in your first paragraph, which you then proceed to implicitly contradict, which was my point.

"Competition, war and confrontation are natural." As much as is co-operation, peace, and harmony.

"In fact, conflict is the precursor to social progress such as technology, philosophy, international institution, international agreements and shared values, etc." This is just a laughable generalization, for example shared values are often shared not as a result of conflict but because they are actually common. Harmony and a desire for more of it is a precursor to social progress etc.

Just because we might live in or be heading into a time of conflict there is no need to put conflict on a pedestal per its alleged inevitability or some such.

PanAsian said:

The point of contention I have is with the half-the-story statements in your first paragraph, which you then proceed to implicitly contradict, which was my point.

"Competition, war and confrontation are natural." As much as is co-operation, peace, and harmony.

"In fact, conflict is the precursor to social progress such as technology, philosophy, international institution, international agreements and shared values, etc." This is just a laughable generalization, for example shared values are often shared not as a result of conflict but because they are actually common. Harmony and a desire for more of it is a precursor to social progress etc.

Just because we might live in or be heading into a time of conflict there is no need to put conflict on a pedestal per its alleged inevitability or some such.

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What is your point?

PanAsian said:

The point of contention I have is with the half-the-story statements in your first paragraph, which you then proceed to implicitly contradict, which was my point.

"Competition, war and confrontation are natural." As much as is co-operation, peace, and harmony.

"In fact, conflict is the precursor to social progress such as technology, philosophy, international institution, international agreements and shared values, etc." This is just a laughable generalization, for example shared values are often shared not as a result of conflict but because they are actually common. Harmony and a desire for more of it is a precursor to social progress etc.

Just because we might live in or be heading into a time of conflict there is no need to put conflict on a pedestal per its alleged inevitability or some such.

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Let me put my point in simple language.

The USA is a powerful large nation, viewed by many in the world as the only superpower existing today. China is also a powerful large nation that is viewed by many to be the upcoming superpower. Are you suggesting that the majority of people in the USA from the common folks to the top elites should just go on with their life either not giving a damn about China's growth, or just assume that China's growth will have no fundamental impact on their lives what-so-ever? I am Chinese, I would NEVER be naive enough to assume this.

The people in the USA don't know nearly enough about China to not view it as a culture and nation alien to their own US of A to a degree above their comprehension. The USA is VERY DIFFERENT from Britain and the early European colonial powers. Colonial powers are hungry for colonies, they are explorers, they explore other cultures. The USA is an inward-oriented nation, they aren't that interested in exploring the outside world; if they want foreign culture, they will import foreign culture (aka. immigration). Do you expect the citizens of an inward oriented nation like the USA to be a proactive explorer of a nation to "discover" and "learn" about China like UK, Germany, France and Japan did in the colonial era? Forget it, many Americans don't even care to learn about people and places outside of their own city or state. Do you really expect these people who have a habit of not caring about anything outside of their own little lives to immediately pursue "harmony and a desire for ... social progress" when faced with an alien culture on a path of explosive rise in raw industrial and economical power, alien culture which the common people of the USA have never had the habit of discovering, exploring and learning about?

I know your point. You are one of those idealist dreamer who always says "if only we.....". You need to grow up, to gain some maturity to understand causality and inevitability. Yes, of course if only the people of USA learn to be nice and accepting and seek harmony, they would have not friction and conflict what so ever. However, we don't live in a "if only" world. We live in a world of reality.

Ladies and Gentlemen. If I might beg your pardon for a moment and voice a personal grievance.
In my day to day affairs I must work with the Public. Throughout my Adult life I have worked with the public. So it is that having just returned from my day at work I feel particularly irked.
In the early part of the last century the American author Emily Post wrote a great treatise on the norms of western etiquette. That great woman were she alive today I feel would agree with me that it is beyond a minor breach of social behavior to blast ones favorite songs as you walk around without a care for those around you.
Yes many businesses pipe selections of music into their stores and backgrounds. However that does not give the average individual the license to blast Their own selections without a care.
Those of us whom are employed by said business under stand the monotony and annoyance of it after all we have no choice but to be inundated for the bulk of 2 months of the calendar year with the regaling of the 12 days of Christmas, the tail of Rudolph the red nosed rain deer, a Child witnessing her mother having an extramarital affair with Santa Claus and being bit continuous Marry Christmas and happy New Years.
You dear public have a choice we do not. The designers of personal music entertainment have long graced us with a means of encapsulating the personal musical experience for just such a situation. Head phones. Yes head phones a personal speaker system worn over the ears or if you find that these lack comfort ear buds a even more compact option often supplied free of cost by makers.
Now please understand I have no issues if you are out in the world enjoying you selection of music as you and your companions engage in team sports or group activities. For these yes fell free to crank that personal stereo. It may drive me to leave when your personal car drives by dropping the base on Britney Spears. Yet I cannot complain.
However when entering a building or place of business it is rather annoying to have to shout over or work around you well your pockets “grace” us with the fine works modern soft metal or the epic tracks of the latest R&B hip hop.
One must ask oneself dear friends how would you feel if, I came to your place of work with a Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen blasting from my trousers at full concert volume?
Or more so did so as I graced you with a personal take on my own operatic rendition at full volume along with it?
Again we who work with the public can understand sometimes you get caught with your favorite song but we ask please keep it to yourself.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

Ladies and Gentlemen. If I might beg your pardon for a moment and voice a personal grievance.
In my day to day affairs I must work with the Public. Throughout my Adult life I have worked with the public. So it is that having just returned from my day at work I feel particularly irked.
In the early part of the last century the American author Emily Post wrote a great treatise on the norms of western etiquette. That great woman were she alive today I feel would agree with me that it is beyond a minor breach of social behavior to blast ones favorite songs as you walk around without a care for those around you.
Yes many businesses pipe selections of music into their stores and backgrounds. However that does not give the average individual the license to blast Their own selections without a care.
Those of us whom are employed by said business under stand the monotony and annoyance of it after all we have no choice but to be inundated for the bulk of 2 months of the calendar year with the regaling of the 12 days of Christmas, the tail of Rudolph the red nosed rain deer, a Child witnessing her mother having an extramarital affair with Santa Claus and being bit continuous Marry Christmas and happy New Years.
You dear public have a choice we do not. The designers of personal music entertainment have long graced us with a means of encapsulating the personal musical experience for just such a situation. Head phones. Yes head phones a personal speaker system worn over the ears or if you find that these lack comfort ear buds a even more compact option often supplied free of cost by makers.
Now please understand I have no issues if you are out in the world enjoying you selection of music as you and your companions engage in team sports or group activities. For these yes fell free to crank that personal stereo. It may drive me to leave when your personal car drives by dropping the base on Britney Spears. Yet I cannot complain.
However when entering a building or place of business it is rather annoying to have to shout over or work around you well your pockets “grace” us with the fine works modern soft metal or the epic tracks of the latest R&B hip hop.
One must ask oneself dear friends how would you feel if, I came to your place of work with a Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen blasting from my trousers at full concert volume?
Or more so did so as I graced you with a personal take on my own operatic rendition at full volume along with it?
Again we who work with the public can understand sometimes you get caught with your favorite song but we ask please keep it to yourself.

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Only in the U.S.A. ...eh?

Never noticed that ty0e of behaviour here.

Mind you there.was a time when some folks drove around in their V8 or whatever with a souped up sound system. One can hear them coming a mile away with the thump thump of the base competing with the roar of the V8.

It really bothers me that the western MSM reporting of Hong Kong extridiction bill is so bias, and full of propoanda.
So here's a link of the excellent analysis of the extridiction bill in hong kong.