The climate thing is like the one aspect of him that I like.

I think Gustaf accused me of being a holocaust denier once.

Considering your ancestry.. i sometimes wonder too. 

Lief stated his support for killing Jews in general, but that's more being pro-Holocaust than Holocaust denying. So I apologize if I ever said that. Might have been a slip of the tongue if I did.

I have a soft spot for the Ottoman, since there is a family heirloom of that form over which I have guardianship.

Sweden killed Canada

So Sweden-Finland and USA-Schwitzerland

Hoping for a Finnish-Schwiss final!

That's huge for us. The last time Switzerland won a medal at a world championship was in 1948. I vaguely remember when the Swiss team reached the semi-finals in 1998, but the way they are playing in this tournament is much more impressive. The USA are obviously favored to win but anything can happen now.

I believe the last Swiss medal happened in a championship where only 3 counties took part.

Sweden is like Britain; all kinds of things change, but the underlying patterns are remarkably stable.

With regards to the former, Västerbotten is interesting. What's behind that shift?

I think one explanation is that it used to be very evangelical and thus vote for the Liberals. The decline in religiosity would then make some sense.

Then you have the urbanization - the really rural areas has traditionally often voted Centre while more densely populated parts of rural areas vote left. The former has lost weight over time.

Golden Dawn heiling in parliament.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0L4VMmjsB4&feature=player_embedded

See, this is the kind of stuff that happens when you try to ignore economics.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/05/16/venezuela-toilet-paper-chavez/2165405/

Well, if you want to oppose the only system that has been able to feed people it doesn't make sense to keep eating?

I guess this is primarily about the point where people want others to keep living in poverty and starvation (say the old USSR), get shot or jailed for dissenting on politics (if in say Cuba) and yet will have none of this themselves.

I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying food and freedom but I think at least offering moral support for others to have the same is only polite.

I am running for Mideast Assembly in the election this weekend, as a write-in candidate if necessary.

Oh, and the thing about always complaining about moderators and fascism and freedom of speech, but yet reporting posts directed against himself all the time is something I always find hilariously hypocritical and not particularly endearing in a poster.

This is a nonsensical accusation - like saying criticisms of capitalism are invalid if you drink Starbucks coffee or use an I-phone.

1. It's clearly not the same.
2. To some extent it IS silly to enjoy the benefits of capitalism while claiming that is bad.

But I know hypocrisy is a cornerstone of your whole existence.

Option 1 (normal)

It is a sad reflection on the forum that this would be the normal.

(since, you know, having regular sex instead could be fairly normal too...)

Also, while I'm not saying he's right, I think the way some of you are treating Antonio in this thread is pretty unfair. He's making a valid point and you're just hurling abuse at him. The actual debate there is interesting and should be had.

Oh, and the thing about always complaining about moderators and fascism and freedom of speech, but yet reporting posts directed against himself all the time is something I always find hilariously hypocritical and not particularly endearing in a poster.

He's good on football, but in political terms he crosses some of the important lines (anti-semitism, anti-democratic, pro-genocide and all that jazz).

The anti-mod thing is a bit silly but I can't say I care much about it.

General FF. It takes him a while to come round to things though, but he get's there

Hm? What does this refer to? I always thought I was pretty stubborn.

Switzerland doing bizarrely well so far.

Thanks for the kind words to those who offered them. I'm glad that some of the many people on here I do have a lot of respect for and whose opinions I value highly have somewhat similar feelings in return.

(Averroës seem to have understood one of the principles I operate under, so I'm glad it got through to someone )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gutCFMc5khY

This is still going on?

Seriously.

Why would you enter a thread discussing a fairly important political issue on a forum devoted to political discussion to explicitly state that you don't care?

Most threads on Atlas are about things I don't care about, but I never felt the need to descend from my heights just to state that.

I went over this in IRC already so didn't get around to this thread earlier.

I guess there is little to add now. I'm glad you're all right. I can relate to the attitude you describe  and I know what it's like. I think the failed attempt can often serve as a good wake-up call (it seems to have with you, based on what you say) so I hope it can be a turning point.

Because, really, you're a pretty great person and I'm sure you can find more convincing IRL people to show you that and prevent you from getting into these thought patterns again.

I join a mob just to get popular and then they turn on me? Alas! The revolution eats its own children every time.

I think Martin Luther King said that it's the lack of dickishness in the good people that is the problem (or something similar) so that's what I try to live by.

Thanks Torie. More evidence against the "No one takes you seriously" claim too.

See, this is an excellent example of what I mean. The first sentence of your post makes no sense. I've never made that claim. Only an extremely naive and immature person could ever think that sentence makes any sense at all.

That's because it's SARCASM. The point is simply inconsistency, especially if you think engaging that behavior alone is enough for a diagnosis of mental illness.

And speaking of which, I'd say Bacon King's recent post is probably a good example of why people shouldn't be talking about mental illness lightly or just using it or claiming one should be institutionalized as a generic insult. Aside from it also being against the ToS (if you remember Inks explaining why it was allowed to heap scorn amongst a certain fellow from Bakersfield and call him a troll but not OK to call him a sociopath.)

Any right-wing poster as dumb as you get enough vitriol to stop posting. While the people you mention can carry on as normal members of the community. I find that wrong.

But fundamentally, I don't think you can get this, to be honest. Like most of the world it seems to go above your head.

OK let's take a look at some of the most unpopular and mocked right-wing posters:

krazen1211: Almost universally scorned and mocked, was called a "thoroughly disgusting person" by a well respected member, is frequently attacked by two mods (three if we count Joe), and holds a 87% Horrible Person rating as of last polling. Continues to post unabated and doesn't seem to mind at all.

Oldiesfreak: Basically a stock punchline amongst most forum liberals at this point, but continues on stubbornly, and doesn't seem to be bothered or mind at all. (He doesn't even seem to hold any ire against the people bashing him, which actually has improved my opinion of him.)

DWTL: Forum staple for several years, quit during real life obligations but then returned, was just as mocked and laughed at and never flinched or seemed to care.

Politico: Probably the most laughed at person on the least popular sub-forum for several months, never seemed to mind, never showed any reaction or being upset about it, quit being of real life shortly before the election, returned a couple months afterwards even though no one expected him to.

Mike Naso: Another constantly mocked frequent punchline for liberals, still a forum institution and around.

Our friend from Bakersfield: Uh, do I even need to explain?

Really the only poster I can think of who was driven off by negativity addressed toward him and mocking was that anti-gay troll who kept raving about "Kirk and Madsen" from a couple years ago.

As I said, if everything you say is sarcasm and you're making fun of the BRTD persona, well played. It's a good joke.

But I can't help but assume that your normal behaviour is a genuine reflection of you.

And, please. Don't give me that stupid low-blow about Bacon King. Again, it doesn't even make any sense. Because some people are depressed I can't say that others are mentally deficient? Or are you seriously claiming that you might kill yourself because I was mean to you on the internet?

If you think being mean on the internet is such an evil behaviour then maybe you should reconsider your own vendettas against a lot of people, no?

Anyway, I kind of feel like I stole candy from a kid here, so I'll drop it. You're super smart and loved and everyone adores your pretty maps. Please don't kill yourself.

And carry on being obsessively hateful of other posters/public figures/people with the wrong jeans/etc. It's probably what being a hip Christian is all about, after all.

I think I have reached a point where I find Gustaf, Gully and to a lesser extent Al descending from the heights to deign to speak to the forum humorous. Spade fit that bill too. This is not meant as an insult or even left handed compliment, mind. Just a general behavior of you are all idiots and I will tell you why you are so. Some are more cryptic on the second portion though.

I'm not descending from any heights. But sometimes forum discourse is seriously at such a low level that I don't think anyone I know would even bother engaging with it.

For example, Memphis has made such silly claims that the standard response from people who aren't 14, male and American would have just been to ignore him the same you would the mentally ill alcoholic on the street corner.

Thinking myself above that level of analysis or perception of reality is not labeling myself a genius. It's just about possessing common sense and above average IQ.

Why do you think I am defending Memphis? I am certainly not doing that. I am just pointing out your hypocrisy. You can try and dodge it all you want but you are a hypocrite. Your excuse that you only do it when 90% of the forum doesn't agree on something is extremely weak.

And if you really don't like us and think we are all a bunch of raving misogynists, then why don't you just leave and not post here? I think that would be best for everyone involved. You wont have to lower yourself to speak with us and we won't have to deal with your pretentious bullsh**t. Thanks a lot.

I think you need to chill out a little.

I don't see what is hypocritical here. I have lowered myself to your level in an attempt to explain this, not particularly difficult, concept several times now.

You seem to think that I have stated as a principle that one is only allowed to criticize another poster as long as no one else does it. Then it would indeed be hypocritical of me to criticize Memphis. But I never stated that as a principle.

I find the mob mentality of going after someone who is isolated at every turn to be a bit repulsive, even when I dislike the person in question. I explained to you why this is not such a case.

I think you're defending Memphis because you apparently think what you say is relevant in the "Opinion of Memphis" thread. And because you've been defending him from the outset in all of those threads.

I don't think everyone here is a bunch of raving misogynist. I think Memphis is a misogynist. And I think several other posters are on here too. More importantly there is a general culture of tolerating misogyny to a level that I find alarming. People go to great lengths to defend misogynists on here.

Finally, I don't see where criticizing someone for their views is 'pretentious'. I'm just not a misogynist and I try to speak up against it when it pops up. That's all I'm claiming, I don't think that makes me superior to most educated Westerners.

I think you would be advised to come up with more substantial criticisms of someone than finding them pretentious. It is usually just the last resort of the non-intellectual.

Gustaf, you seem to have a very high opinion of yourself, which many of us do not share. You jump into a mob and attack Memphis, and now you pretend like that didnt happen. I didn't see anyone coming to memphis's side. You should actually read what I said about Memphis before you say I defended him.

I disagree with you guys on your ridiculous theory that all gender differences in occupations are due to societial causes. I do not agree with Memphis and his opinion on gender relations when it comes to romantic relationships. And I don't see anyone here defending him for those comments. I was just pointing out your hypocrisy of not going after right wingers when they say stupid things. And then patting yourself on the back for it like a pretentious ass.

I do say what I think of people too much sometimes. I said Memphis acts like a douche at times and I think you can come off as pretentious at times. This is not an argument I am making, just my assessment of you. Perhaps I shoul just keep it to myself. I apologize for not doing so.

Where do I say I have a high opinion of myself? I do think I'm a better person than Memphis, true, but that's a low bar to set.

I didn't jump into a mob. I've been criticizing him on gender for quite a while and I've been hounding others like Harry or Opebo on this for years. There is no mob aspect to my behaviour.

I never claimed that all gender differences are due to social causes. I even explicitly agreed with you on this, but you ignored that to insult me, for some reason.

Ok, I can list people who came to his defense.

Joe Republic and Afleitch both have. Bacon King did to some extent. I think you did, but if you deny it, so be it. As noted he is at a 40% FF rating and plenty of people posted this opinion in this very thread. So, overall lots of support and defense.

I'm not patting myself on the back! I'm defending my actions because they're under attack. I sometimes have gone after right-wingers. Regardless, it's very peripheral to everything else. It's a classic fallback when one has no proper arguments to attack the priorities or tone of the other side.

Gustaf had no problem jumping on the mob bandwagon against pbrower, who was nothing more than a harmless and easily ignored hack, certainly not a misogynist. And he didn't say anything about the comments in the Sandra Fluke threads, which contained a lot even worse than what memphis has said, and also involved a lot of the controversial right wingers he's accusing people of starting a lynch mob against. Nor do I recall him saying anything about this right wing troll (note the post quoted in the OP.)

Ok, so...I don't actually obsessively read every thread on the forum. That I don't go "^^^" or "I hate X too!" doesn't mean I approve. It just means that doing a PhD takes some of my time as well.

I don't recall commenting much on Pbrower. Again, I don't think you really understand the concept here. Which is not surprising. Abstract thinking doesn't seem to be your forte.

I comment where I think the marginal utility of doing so is reasonable. Sometimes I leave it to others to make points I agree with. Precisely because I don't need to validate my views on gender by posting about it every single time someone is sexist. This was just a case where I felt I wanted to.

This is an entire pseudo-debate of extremely low relevance though.

You make so little sense that you give the impression of someone who belongs in a mental institution.

And you think right-wing posters never bring up anecdotes or single examples as evidence? Hell during 2008 we had someone arguing the polls in Pennsylvania had to be wrong and it was obviously the Bradley Effect or something because he talked to SO MANY "life long Democrats" who were voting for McCain. Yet these types never get anywhere near the vitriol and hate from you that people like me, Lief and bgwah get.

See, this is an excellent example of what I mean. The first sentence of your post makes no sense. I've never made that claim. Only an extremely naive and immature person could ever think that sentence makes any sense at all.

Any right-wing poster as dumb as you get enough vitriol to stop posting. While the people you mention can carry on as normal members of the community. I find that wrong.

But fundamentally, I don't think you can get this, to be honest. Like most of the world it seems to go above your head.

Why do you think I am defending Memphis? I am certainly not doing that. I am just pointing out your hypocrisy. You can try and dodge it all you want but you are a hypocrite. Your excuse that you only do it when 90% of the forum doesn't agree on something is extremely weak.

And if you really don't like us and think we are all a bunch of raving misogynists, then why don't you just leave and not post here? I think that would be best for everyone involved. You wont have to lower yourself to speak with us and we won't have to deal with your pretentious bullsh**t. Thanks a lot.

I think you need to chill out a little.

I don't see what is hypocritical here. I have lowered myself to your level in an attempt to explain this, not particularly difficult, concept several times now.

You seem to think that I have stated as a principle that one is only allowed to criticize another poster as long as no one else does it. Then it would indeed be hypocritical of me to criticize Memphis. But I never stated that as a principle.

I find the mob mentality of going after someone who is isolated at every turn to be a bit repulsive, even when I dislike the person in question. I explained to you why this is not such a case.

I think you're defending Memphis because you apparently think what you say is relevant in the "Opinion of Memphis" thread. And because you've been defending him from the outset in all of those threads.

I don't think everyone here is a bunch of raving misogynist. I think Memphis is a misogynist. And I think several other posters are on here too. More importantly there is a general culture of tolerating misogyny to a level that I find alarming. People go to great lengths to defend misogynists on here.

Finally, I don't see where criticizing someone for their views is 'pretentious'. I'm just not a misogynist and I try to speak up against it when it pops up. That's all I'm claiming, I don't think that makes me superior to most educated Westerners.

I think you would be advised to come up with more substantial criticisms of someone than finding them pretentious. It is usually just the last resort of the non-intellectual.