| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Patrick Bateman
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Location: Lost in Translation
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:00 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
| Patrick Bateman wrote: |
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
And to say that countries don't have friends is absurd. When 9/11 happened, a lot of people in Canada mourned, and many firemen and policemen from Canada took time off work to travel to New York and offer whatever assistance they could.
Sounds kinda like something a good friend would do... |
Countries have no emotions, people do. You mention individuals acting (beautifully) all on their own.
If a Korean/Canadian/etc. does something to me I don't think it's representative of the country. |
Ok, fair enough.
But if time and time after time, a Nadorian (fictional nationality) from the country of Nador (fictional nation) points at you and shouts loudly "Apples are blue!" and the government has instructed all teachers to teach all Nadorian children from a young age to point at strangers and shout "Apples are blue!" even though most people generally know this to be false, would you concede that this is a reflection not only on the people but also on the nation and a whole, including the government and culture?
(Sorry for run-on sentence) |
Many Koreans tell me �Nice to meet you� though �most people generally know this to be false�, and I don�t think anything of it.
In all seriousness, I�d love to respond but I�m honestly not sure what your argument is.
I will say, I�m perfectly content living my life not making broad sweeping generalizations.
Do you believe a country�s actions are irrevocably tied to the citizens of that country? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Patrick Bateman
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Location: Lost in Translation
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:04 am Post subject: Re: America will charge it's most closest allies an entry fe |
|
|
| Hotwire wrote: |
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| Patrick Bateman wrote: |
Countries act out of self interest. Countries aren't friends. |
i wish more people would use this line of thinking. |
Except for that fact that it's not completely true.
For example.
Two countries act out of mutual self interest. Said mutual actions lead to a reccurance of said countries acting out of mutual interest in the future. Thus a relationship has been established. This relationship continues for X ammount of time and often leads to the two countries being more closer tied than before and generally acting in the international community for mutual interest / benefit. Said countries also share possibly; a language, culture, perspective and viewpoint. They grow perhaps to have a long history of their mutual interests being very closely linked.
We can see this in blocs such as NATO / Warsaw etc. Or in the Us / UK or China / NK relationship in some aspects.
Very simmilar to friendships in my opinion.
Shared interest, shared sense of history, common bonds of language, culture and a shared history over decades or centuries.
Thoughts? |
Mutual self interest is still self interest.
I think the only time people make a plea of friendship between countries is when it's in their own self interest. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:41 am Post subject: Re: America will charge it's most closest allies an entry fe |
|
|
| Hotwire wrote: |
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| Patrick Bateman wrote: |
Countries act out of self interest. Countries aren't friends. |
i wish more people would use this line of thinking. |
Except for that fact that it's not completely true.
For example.
Two countries act out of mutual self interest. Said mutual actions lead to a reccurance of said countries acting out of mutual interest in the future. Thus a relationship has been established. This relationship continues for X ammount of time and often leads to the two countries being more closer tied than before and generally acting in the international community for mutual interest / benefit. Said countries also share possibly; a language, culture, perspective and viewpoint. They grow perhaps to have a long history of their mutual interests being very closely linked.
We can see this in blocs such as NATO / Warsaw etc. Or in the Us / UK or China / NK relationship in some aspects.
Very simmilar to friendships in my opinion.
Shared interest, shared sense of history, common bonds of language, culture and a shared history over decades or centuries.
Thoughts? |
When people use the term 'friend', they are often talking about an emotional bond. Country A and B are deemed 'friends' because of many of the points you've listed above.
But as soon as one of them pushes in a different direction due to other factors, the emotion of betrayal is brought into the mix.
I'm fine with calling nations 'allies', or 'partners in _____' - but 'friends' seems like too much Anthropomorphism. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Leon
Joined: 31 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 3:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Some people on the board are more upset about this than the people who are actually going to pay the $14. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Leon wrote: |
| Some people on the board are more upset about this than the people who are actually going to pay the $14. |
When I think about the actual countries that I had to pay at the border entry points to enter... Indonesia and Laos, I have to ask the question. Are those the sort of countries that I want to compare my country to? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Leon
Joined: 31 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Leon wrote: |
| Some people on the board are more upset about this than the people who are actually going to pay the $14. |
When I think about the actual countries that I had to pay at the border entry points to enter... Indonesia and Laos, I have to ask the question. Are those the sort of countries that I want to compare my country to? |
Oh, I see what you mean. Indonesia does have much nicer beaches, it might be more worth the $10 you have to pay to get in. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Leon wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Leon wrote: |
| Some people on the board are more upset about this than the people who are actually going to pay the $14. |
When I think about the actual countries that I had to pay at the border entry points to enter... Indonesia and Laos, I have to ask the question. Are those the sort of countries that I want to compare my country to? |
Oh, I see what you mean. Indonesia does have much nicer beaches, it might be more worth the $10 you have to pay to get in. |
True, but if Indonesia opened itself up more by putting less restrictions on tourism, there would probably be more tourists who would stay longer and put more money into the economy.
Anyways, that really is besides the point. My point was that this kind of policy seems to be a common characteristic of countries which are either very poor or have very serious problems with corruption. So, from my perspective, this $14 dollar fee makes the US lose face. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Leon wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Leon wrote: |
| Some people on the board are more upset about this than the people who are actually going to pay the $14. |
When I think about the actual countries that I had to pay at the border entry points to enter... Indonesia and Laos, I have to ask the question. Are those the sort of countries that I want to compare my country to? |
Oh, I see what you mean. Indonesia does have much nicer beaches, it might be more worth the $10 you have to pay to get in. |
Florida Keys?
14bucks isn't a big deal. I assume they're charging upon physical entrance? I dislike that system. Just include it in the air ticket. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Leon
Joined: 31 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| mises wrote: |
| Leon wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Leon wrote: |
| Some people on the board are more upset about this than the people who are actually going to pay the $14. |
When I think about the actual countries that I had to pay at the border entry points to enter... Indonesia and Laos, I have to ask the question. Are those the sort of countries that I want to compare my country to? |
Oh, I see what you mean. Indonesia does have much nicer beaches, it might be more worth the $10 you have to pay to get in. |
Florida Keys?
14bucks isn't a big deal. I assume they're charging upon physical entrance? I dislike that system. Just include it in the air ticket. |
I'd take Bali and Bintan over the Keys. There are hundreds of things to be upset about in America, but this one is too trivial to care about, especially since I'll never have to pay it. Oh and I'm sure that America isn't too worried about losing face about this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
Bali, maybe. Bintan? No way. Bintan is a big brothel.
| Quote: |
| There are hundreds of things to be upset about in America, but this one is too trivial to care about, especially since I'll never have to pay it. Oh and I'm sure that America isn't too worried about losing face about this. |
Yeah, I agree. However the US should attempt to make travel into and around it more friendly. The blue-gloved GED Homeland Security people are not your best foot forward.
Last edited by mises on Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:44 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wishmaster
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The US does not have any real allies anyway. I would charge a big ass entrance fee for those wanting to come in. "Well, then we won't come," you say. Cool. Don't need ya anyway and, even if you don't come, there are droves of people just lining up to visit the US. Anyone remember the long ass lines at the US embassy in Korea? "I hate you, yankee, but I wait in line to visit USA." And you know it's true. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Happy Warrior
Joined: 10 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Wishmaster wrote: |
| The US does not have any real allies anyway. I would charge a big ass entrance fee for those wanting to come in. "Well, then we won't come," you say. Cool. Don't need ya anyway and, even if you don't come, there are droves of people just lining up to visit the US. |
You know the fee is to promote tourism, right? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
joeleitz
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| stilicho25 wrote: |
| We are broke. We will be selling someone the grand canyon next. |
Awesome! Where do I sign? Will I need an income verification form 4506 or 4506-B? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Leon
Joined: 31 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| mises wrote: |
Bali, maybe. Bintan? No way. Bintan is a big brothel.
| Quote: |
| There are hundreds of things to be upset about in America, but this one is too trivial to care about, especially since I'll never have to pay it. Oh and I'm sure that America isn't too worried about losing face about this. |
Yeah, I agree. However the US should attempt to make travel into and around it more friendly. The blue-gloved GED Homeland Security people are not your best foot forward. |
You must have stayed in the wrong area of Bintan. I always stayed in the resort area of the island and the beaches were top notch. Yeah the actual security at U.S. airports is a different matter. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Man on Street
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Location: In the Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Fox wrote: |
Of the $14 fee, $4 will go towards application costs, and $10 will go towards the promotion of the United States as a tourist destination.
The $4 fee for processing costs seems completely reasonable; if someone wishes to come here, they should be liable for the costs of any application process that exists. The $10 dollars to be used for promoting the United States as a tourist destination, on the other hand, seems undignified. Not evil, or even particularly worth making a fuss over, but somewhat undignified none the less. |
Charging others to pay for our own propaganda. I call that pure genius! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
