Profile for Rupert
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Rupert |
| Member number | 618 |
| Title | Agent |
| Postcount | 1487 |
| Homepage | http://www.villanousity.com |
| Registered | Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
Recent posts
Pages
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 18:51
Profile
Homepage
No it doesn't. By very definition, it means that an opinion is being voiced, thus it is open to criticism. I welcome criticism. The fact that I don't listen to most of it because it is not constructive, doesn't mean anything. Besides, all I draw is a shady outline. It's up to the person that encounters me to decide what they think goes in the middle. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Why does Jeff have a bad rep? in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 18:15
Profile
Homepage
Double posting bad, m'kay? EDIT: Okay, make me look bad then. [ Saturday, September 25, 2004 18:19: Message edited by: FatBatMonkey ] -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 18:12
Profile
Homepage
*Because, in fact, I had only just noticed the major edit of Alec's post* I am certainly not going to claim that bureaucracy is a bad thing. By definition, it it usually required. However, as with aspirin, you can have too much. Equally, I would never consider bureaucracy to be synonomous with inefficienty and waste. Too much of it can be a factor in it, though. Nor have I ever said that I was against the EU. The EU is a good idea. Common trade, common values. Therefore, attempting to lecture me thusly, is... pointless. I live in the now, taking the actual facts. Not pointless history. Colonialism is dead and gone. Money and words spin the world nowadays. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Why does Jeff have a bad rep? in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 18:02
Profile
Homepage
Sorry, as I say, I apologise for those words and in no way are they representative of these boards. I will, however, not edit my post. I have said something that I actually mean and I will not go back on my statement. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Why does Jeff have a bad rep? in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 17:45
Profile
Homepage
You sir, are a [b]flaming muppeteer[/b]. You seem to be biggoted against other ideologies. You seem to have hero worship in the form of Jeff. You do not seem to understand the very fundamentals of government. You seem to have an extremely closed mind that is uninterested in anyone esle's viewpoint. You believe that capitalism is the only "real" form of society and that there is no sucessful government in the world that does not use a totally free market. I am no damn socialist. I'm not even on your so precious swing chart. But if I were to voice my opinion of you on here, the swear filters wouldn't catch any of it, but as sure as I am born, I'd get banned permanentely. Capitalism does not foster any lovey dovey notions. It's about as practical as true anarchy. There is no live and let live culture to it. It is a cut a thrust arena. Kill or be killed. There is no liberty to it either, because there is no form of governance, which leads to the rise of oppression. In the end, everyone loses. Not only this, but you are no old school Tory. Your views are far too distant from the principles. Bottom line. You assume far, far too much. Two memebers give negative views to a piece of ideological **** and you are the first to cry. I am normally very, very pleasant to our new members. With an exception. You are in that category. And once again, I will have to leave the name to your imagination. But trust me, it's worse. EDIT: Upon my own reading, I apologise to the majority of these boards for being the first post that could definately be called a flame. Also, Alec, that was a lame cop-out for not debating the point further. I am not referring to this topic. [ Saturday, September 25, 2004 17:51: Message edited by: FatBatMonkey ] -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 10:16
Profile
Homepage
What? Didn't fancy actually using your brain? My personal views have nothing into the matter. I have very few opinions and those that I do, I do not force others to listen to them. I am by no means a nationalist. Yes, I want the people of Britain to be able to make their own choices about what is in their best interests. But I am by no means a nationalist when it is at the expense of our healthy relationships with other countries. And if I like something to be efficient and work, rather than an orchestrated shambles, well sue my socks off for all I care, damn it. And to not discuss anything, based solely upon who you are talking to doesn't agree with you or you do not like them, well that, sir, is hypocracy. Morgan; if another country within the EU requires aid and subsidising by fellow members, then fine, direct assistance, whether it be in monetary form or otherwise, is an excellent idea. To assist them by paying currency into the EU, when there is no guarantee, with the present economic system, that even half of it will reach those who actually need it. That is what I dislike. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Non-SW game recommendations in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 09:30
Profile
Homepage
Actually, to my recollection, there are no bikes whatsoever in 3. And while they enable some cool tricks and stunts, in high traffic and for the purposes of most missions, it is far too easy to knock yourself off. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Why does Jeff have a bad rep? in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 08:32
Profile
Homepage
I would like to be the first to say w00t! Go Alorael with the biggie 8000! -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Non-SW game recommendations in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 08:28
Profile
Homepage
That was the only thing I really liked about Vice City. The music was pretty damn cool. The rest seemed either too cliched or a hang-over from 3 -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 08:25
Profile
Homepage
How nice. Such words are... an inspiration to us all. No, really. Such common sense is a rarity. However, I am far from idealistic. I am closest to being a realist, except realism is quite deceased. I try to understand the factors, then base an assumption on the possible future. Equally, I am not an optimist. I generally go with the percentages of chance. These points, are, well, beside the main point. Direct democracy? Hmm... the only time I referred to direct democracy was at half three in the morning, as a mistaken adjective to Swizterland. Mis-phrasing m'afraid. I personally think that in the present voting system, direct democracy is impossible. As you say, a nice idea, but physically unworkable, at the moment. Cleisthenes... the name wasn't immediately familiar. The deeds I recognise though and a quick search told me enough. Revolutions. I actually meant the second dictionary definition. Effecting a major change. Sure, I meant it in a political way, but I was not suggesting overthrowing the government. But you got it anyway. Reforms, domestic policy-wise, would be cutting out middle-government. There are hundreds of thousands of workers in the administration that are simply not required. Now this is not to say that they would just be fired. Instead I'd like to see them take up key skills work. Also, for budgets for schools, hospitals etc. to be granted directly to them. This cuts out alot of "skimming", gives them what they need and makes them able to access it. The police service is a good example of this. The budget goes up year on year, above inflation, yet in terms of actual visible effect, there are less visible patrols, more "specials" and even more paperwork and statistics. I'd like to see a foreign policy where we didn't hand out twenty six billion to the EU every year, who squander it worse than our own government departments. Where we didn't follow the every whim of our closest allies, that lead us into morally corrupt wars. There are so many common sense things. Things that you don't even need a brain to figure out. I will confess confusion over "removal of corporate interest" and terming Britain a "state". As for removing a representative at any time, I think it would be most sensible to have a system where if a certain percentage of his/her electorate wanted him/her gone, a by-election should occur, with the representative made to fight for their position. As for anger and ideology, I have plenty of the first, but keep it in a little box, to bring out on special occaisions. And I have spent so long contemplating ideology, that I really don't remember what started it. Anything not clear, just ask. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| editor help in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 05:38
Profile
Homepage
Grackle, practice your BB code. The link is: http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=000909 Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Non-SW game recommendations in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 05:16
Profile
Homepage
Ah, I can only really recommend GTA and GTA 3, in the series. Vice City always seemed pants to me and 2 was just too convoluted. As for the C&C series, the original is not for him unless he likes his games really old skool, Red Alert was always abit cumbersome, but can be picked up for practically nothing. Tiberian Sun had versatility, but the forces were underpowered and generally specialist, again it can be picked up for practically nothing. I can definately recommend Red Alert 2 to people, though I found it too easy. A good starter for anyone unfamiliar with the series. Generals is probably over-specced for a laptop. Though if you can, pick up the expansion packs for them at the same time. I suppose I can recommend Seven Kingdoms. A little basic, but it is addictive and has great replay value. Or if he likes that sort of thing, I recommend Transport Tycoon. No-one can complete a game of that in less than a couple of hundred hours. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 04:23
Profile
Homepage
I was about to be scared. People actually being half nice to me here. And then even applause. Fortunately, having read the entiriety of your post, I am reassured that this must be a temporary fad. Well, hopefully. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Saturday, September 25 2004 03:40
Profile
Homepage
Fine. No-one wants to be led by a "prancing boner". How about someone who can use their head? Someone who can adapt to the situation? Someone who may have their bad points, but you follow them because they seem to know what they're doing? It's not particularly easy finding someone who fits the bill exactly. Christ, I couldn't do it at this moment in time. It's not a matter of anyone taking you seriously, it's a matter of them actually believing you. And, Alec, the reason we propose a revolution is the lack of democracy. It is "power for the few and the rest can go fish". Strangely enough, there are people in this world who would actually like to live in a true democracy. Not only that, but they believe that it can happen. And sure, it may look to you like an argument for isolationism. But personally I believe that isolationism is a damn stupid idea. Especially in Britain, which relies on immigration and good foreign policies for trading. As for the prevention of dictatorships commiting mass murder and genocide, I am all for intervention, should the majority wish it. An overwhelming majority here were against the Iraq war without the UN resolution. Therefore, I think it was the wrong thing to do. A majority, however, were FOR it, if the resolution was passed. THEN, that would have been democracy. There was no imminent threat to our people or other nations' people. And, yes, should we wait for it to achieve a democratic state, we will be waiting too long. That is why change should be effected. Decisions do not take that long to make. Should we live in a truly democratic nation and another problem, like Iraq, occur, where there was no previous majority opinion, today, I would have no compunction about calling a referrendum for tomorrow. Which would be a lot quicker than Bush's decision to act. An actual clear, present and extreme danger to any nation or its' people should be acted upon according to the wishes of the people. Just because true democracy is an alien thing to most of us, it doesn't mean it can't work. Just because the Soviet Union failed, it didn't mean that communism couldn't work. Too many people have the attitude that they are one person, who can't make a difference. Well, I ask them, if you aren't going to try, who the heck is? I'm trying. Specifically speaking, I'm going to do it from the inside. If you lead a country where people are unable to question your laws, well, they can't do anything until it's too late. And it might just work. People used to say "give peace a chance". I say give actual democracy a chance. What? Scared you might like it? [ Saturday, September 25, 2004 03:43: Message edited by: FatBatMonkey ] -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Friday, September 24 2004 17:31
Profile
Homepage
Hmm... sounds like an interesting place to live. Actual direct democracy. Now that is what I call a pile of koolbeans. The problem in this case, Alec, is that you tried to apply your own national values onto something in which they didn't apply. Both nations have their pride (and a heck of alot of it last time I checked), but for very different reasons. Not everything is how you expect or how it is portrayed by others. I think we all need to learn that. A majority of us, on these boards, live in countries which "fly the flag of democracy", yet are closer to autocracies and plutocracies. We are used to coming up against brick walls and having to look for a way round. What we should be doing, instead, is to try to knock those walls down. To bring our nations into actual democracy. Elected by the people. For the people. That listens to the people. Our politicians shouldn't be spending all their time looking for publicity and trying to get re-elected. They should be spending their time attempting to "better their fellow man" and actually acting according to what the electorate want. If that should be a cleaner environment, then that should happen. If that should be better working conditions, then that should happen. If it should be a truckload of cuddly toys, well damn it, then that should happen. *sigh* The first reaction to this would most likely be, "yeah right, like that's ever going to happen. Stop dreaming." Christ! That's my first reaction. But I know that it can be done. That it's not some idealistic crap. Ach. 03:29 again. Oh well. One day. One day... -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Why does Jeff have a bad rep? in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Friday, September 24 2004 10:22
Profile
Homepage
This, http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=001519 is a good example. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Friday, September 24 2004 10:10
Profile
Homepage
I was waiting for someone to pull me up on that. Not only did they have to be over 30, they had to be a landowner or married to a landowner. Also, while his girlfriend did leave him, it didn't cause any major publicity about that. To most people, it never happened. It's all about what they actually see in the media. The pro-hunt supporters were given an extremely bad rap in the press. Many considering them to be too radical. And what they don't see they don't know. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| dood in Richard White Games | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Friday, September 24 2004 10:08
Profile
Homepage
Ah don't fret about it. It really is a two-tier justice system here. Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| dood in Richard White Games | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Thursday, September 23 2004 22:52
Profile
Homepage
How... creative. Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Thursday, September 23 2004 22:49
Profile
Homepage
Hey, I never said that the demonstration outside was peaceful. THAT, was verging on a riot. Go Finland! No real reason. Just wanted to say that. I am also one of those who regularly has to take public transport, walk or bike. However, should you feel the urge, Riibu, feel free to enlighten us all on Finnish politics. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Undead Topics Need Loving Too (aka "Give Me Your First-Born") in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Thursday, September 23 2004 18:16
Profile
Homepage
How nice. That name really suits your writing style. Or don't you know your Latin? Four today. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Thursday, September 23 2004 18:08
Profile
Homepage
America's women gained voting capabilities in 1920. The first female vote in Britain was at the general election in December, 1918. Many women, in fact, stood for political office then. Only one was elected, a Constance Markiewicz, standing for Sinn Fein. If you want to be all technical though, in actual fact, the queen has overall say on the passing of all laws. Every year there is a ceremony where she must ratify the laws passed in the previous year. She also has the right to seize any area of land in Britain. Along with various other powers. Just because she doesn't use them, it doesn't mean they don't exist. And SURE, walking down the street in a pink chicken suit might disturb some people, but it doesn't actually do anything. Due to the recent security breaches (actually, a reporter for one of the tabloids managed to gain access to the house of commons, the very day after the hunt supporters broke in, with fake bomb equipment) there is a massive shake-up of security guarding various institutions. In addition, it has raised awareness and has swung public opinion slightly towards these groups. Not to mention embarrassing the government. Social change can be effected in a number of ways. While a coup and non-disruptive methods are two ends of the scale, there's plenty of leeway inbetween. And I debate, not because it's something to do or because I can, I debate because I must. Claiming something to be logically absurd is absurd. Simply because there are so many things in this world that are logically absurd, yet work. Just because it's logically absurd, doesn't make it any less valid. Even the invincible die. In 565, in this case. I do consider death to be a form of defeat. Ooo fun, 04:07! -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Undead Topics Need Loving Too (aka "Give Me Your First-Born") in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Thursday, September 23 2004 17:26
Profile
Homepage
TM changed his moniker alot. TM tells us he changes his moniker alot. Concise enough for you? -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Thursday, September 23 2004 17:20
Profile
Homepage
Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister in 1868. The first official Prime Minister in England was Sir Robert Walpole, in 1721. He was also a Whig. Though he was only really, in power terms, first lord of the treasury, in a government dominated by James Stanhope and Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland. It was indeed under Pitt the Elder's first time as Prime Minister, that the Monarchal power started to wane with Pitt having nearly complete control over the Fleet and the British army at one point in his service. It is generally considered that true ministerial independence was gained around the time of the later terms of Gladstone, Disraeli and Salisbury. It was definitively confirmed by the time that Asquith's term had ended. If you think it occurred between the two world wars, then which minister was it under? Because it sure as hell wasn't under Baldwin, Law or MacDonald. And actually, if you had taken a look at your own constitution recently, you would have seen that by all reasonable rights, the earliest you could argue that America had a true democracy was after the fifteenth amendment. Post-1870. Thank you very much. As for the publicity stunts, they disrupted the status quo. They interrupted the norm. And if you want to be picky, they damn well inconveninced the MPs. ALEC READ WHAT I SAID. IN ALL BUT THE MOST EXTREME OF CASES. A coup is damn extreme. And d'you know what? I'm good. I'm damn good. Kneel before me Byzantium, for I am holding a rail-gun. Five times dead before you hit the ground. Kthnx. -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |
| Europe car-free day in General | |
|
Agent
Member # 618
|
written Thursday, September 23 2004 16:26
Profile
Homepage
Okay. Who are you and what have you done with the real Alec? Multiple, simple grammatical errors. A blunted edge to the aggression. And to top it all off, a "cheers!" at the end. Sure. If someone wishes to affect change, they should melt in and do it from the inside. However, if someone wishes to effect change, the position they stand from can often not matter. The latter is my preferred method. It has more instigation. Not that I never use the first. To say that would simply be untrue. I do agree that if aggresive action is to be taken, it must be done in a way that is actually useful. To aggresively hand out leaflets is not the most useful of actions. However, to take aggresive action, in the way that you suggest, over such an issue, is, well, stupid. There is a good line between aggresive and violent action. The former, if executed in the right way, can be a brilliant source of publicity and can be very productive. The latter, in all but the most extreme of cases, will earn you no sympathy. Take the recent security scares here. The Fathers 4 Justice organisation and pro-hunt supporters both, recently performed a agressive, high-profile publicity stunts. The Fathers 4 Justice one was where one of their members, dressed as Batman, managed to climb part-way up Buckingham Palace. And two days later, five or six pro-hunt supporters managed to gain access to the Houses of Parlament, storming the inner chamber, where the Fox Hunting with Dogs Bill was being discussed in the Commons. Both were non-violent. If, in the first case, there had been an intention to harm anyone, not only would he have been shot on sight, public opinion would have swung against the F4J organisation. More importantly, membership, mainly due to stunts like these, wouldn't have gone up by more than 20%. An effective use of aggresive campaigning. And for the second, well, if the pro-hunt supporters had burst in there with guns, or merely the intention to injure or kill the MPs there at the time, their related organisations would most likely have their members detained or arrested under a form of conspiracy. And of course, it would win them no friends. In both cases, aggresive action was well used. However, violent action would have been counter-productive. *sigh* Alec, when did Britain first have Parlament? Or for that matter, when was the Magna Carta signed? And then, when was the American constitution signed? And when exactly did it actually become a true (mostly) democracy? Check your damn history. To get someone to agree with something is often very hard. There are generally two ways. Style and substance. Style is easy, just make something look good and right, then stick it infront of someone's nose and they might just take it. Substance is alot harder. It generallly involves alot of work. But when it's done, very few people will be able to argue with actual results. Style is a fair bit riskier. And has a lower chance of success (unless you're very good at it). But it is definately the way to go in cases such as these. Substance is very hard to achieve in this sort of case. Bottom line, if you want to effect political change you've generally got to have the following; A figurehead, someone that people know and respect, someone who's name everyone recognises. A plan, a foolproof one, not one that you think is foolproof, one that is. Publicity grabbing stunts, anything which catches the media eye. And I mean anything. PLENTY of PR and semantics, whatever you do, there's going to be a downside, so make sure when you have a manifesto or suchlike it at least plays them down. There's some more stuff, but it's mostly minor. Ah frag it, I'm too dang tired. /blather in the extreme -------------------- Aut Tace Aut Loquere Meliora Silencio Posts: 1487 | Registered: Sunday, February 10 2002 08:00 |