Current world events, can we have an open discussion?

MSM...Doom and gloom...bible says...key words that hint this is not for me.

But before I go, I'll counter the doom and gloom with a bit of reality: https://www.gapminder.org/

The world as a whole is getting better, cleaner, stabler, healthier and wealthier.

About 6 years ago I weaned myself off News and Current Affairs...just keep it to the minimum. Did wonders to my outlook and happiness. All the doom and gloom on the TV actually makes no discernible difference to my day to day life, so why fill my head with it?

Enjoy your thread. :)

I don’t know about conspiracy theories Kiwi75, I think the best way to understand what is going on in the Mid East is to read European history from pre WW1 till present. And not the type of stuff you’ll see on the history Chanel.
TT

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Originally Posted by q9

MSM...Doom and gloom...bible says...key words that hint this is not for me.

But before I go, I'll counter the doom and gloom with a bit of reality: https://www.gapminder.org/

The world as a whole is getting better, cleaner, stabler, healthier and wealthier.

About 6 years ago I weaned myself off News and Current Affairs...just keep it to the minimum. Did wonders to my outlook and happiness. All the doom and gloom on the TV actually makes no discernible difference to my day to day life, so why fill my head with it?

Enjoy your thread. :)

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Benji just went in for his second try and Manly is losing. Best Sunday arvo in ages !!! :D

TT

TT, it seems like we barrack for the same team - whoever's playing Manly!

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Originally Posted by AlexS

TT, it seems like we barrack for the same team - whoever's playing Manly!

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Its a blood sport :clap2:
TT

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Originally Posted by cava

Unfashionable though it may sound, and it will invariably upset some, if you want to find out what is going to happen, it is all written in the Bible.

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Ah, but which one? :wink:

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Ah, but which one? :wink:

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Originally Posted by cava

...any involvement or reference to the Bible is verbotten on this forum.
This rule may have to be relaxed on this thread if a balanced discussion is to proceed.

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Well I think there is a pretty simple and fundamental reason for that George. Not all members who have a faith are Christians, and not all members have a faith. There is the Muslim community, followers of the Old Testament, New Testament (which is what I presume Elan is referring to - old/new), and all the other Eastern religions which will have members on here. At least some of those religions claim to be the only "proper" or true religion and that is when all the angst starts. Just for a start amongst the Christian community there are any amount of different interpretations, depending on what the point of view is being pushed or which way the interpreter would like to shape things to suit their own agenda (and I'm thinking of religious cults here). There are those who interpret texts to be literal, and those who say it's metaphoric.

It is for the same reason that political discussions are not tolerated on here. The Left claim to be right, and The Right claim to be the only ones left, and there will never be a resolution on that, so why discuss it at all? I am yet to see any political discussion finish up with one proponent saying "You're Left and you're right, and from now on my point of view will also be Left, right?".

Never going to happen either with politics or religion.

Who is correct? All and none.

(for me an exception to this would be discussions about Trump - it's beyond politics - it's about being a decent, balanced human being or not)

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

...discussions about Trump - it's beyond politics - it's about being a decent, balanced human being or not

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I think we can easily achieve consensus on this point :p

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Originally Posted by woodPixel

I think we can easily achieve consensus on this point :p

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Not even on that as I think that Trump is doing what he promised the voters what he would do if elected. The world needs someone like that instead of his wishy washy predecessor.

Peter.

For those of you familiar with Dr. Strangelove : For the first time in my life I feel genuinely frightened by world events and
that must be the reason why I have frequent flashes of Slim Pickens riding the bomb to oblivion.

Leadership
Leaders always almost have to be if not psychopaths, at least sociopaths as the have to make BIG decisions without emotions affecting their decisions and they also have to have the salesman's capacity to sell their message.

On the push for more female participation in leadership, one of the reasons I dislike women writers is that I find them wandering into emotional side paths and I conclude that propensity is perhaps why women in leadership roles also have problems. Margret Thatcher perhaps the exception.

One of Trumps difficulties is perhaps that he is too emotional, hopefully he surrounds himself with a lot of calm sociopaths.
He may turn out to be more memorable (OK already there) and even successful than half a dozen of his predecessors.

Regarding belief.....Some may be cynical of religion and perhaps I am one, but I can be touched by the sincerity and the love and kindness those of faith can exhibit.
But I struggle to have any such feelings about the stupid believers in conspiracy theories, no matter their sincerity.

Greg

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Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Ah, but which one? :wink:

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Very true, there are many. :D

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Well I think there is a pretty simple and fundamental reason for that George. Not all members who have a faith are Christians, and not all members have a faith. There is the Muslim community, followers of the Old Testament, New Testament (which is what I presume Elan is referring to - old/new), and all the other Eastern religions which will have members on here. At least some of those religions claim to be the only "proper" or true religion and that is when all the angst starts. Just for a start amongst the Christian community there are any amount of different interpretations, depending on what the point of view is being pushed or which way the interpreter would like to shape things to suit their own agenda (and I'm thinking of religious cults here). There are those who interpret texts to be literal, and those who say it's metaphoric.

It is for the same reason that political discussions are not tolerated on here. The Left claim to be right, and The Right claim to be the only ones left, and there will never be a resolution on that, so why discuss it at all? I am yet to see any political discussion finish up with one proponent saying "You're Left and you're right, and from now on my point of view will also be Left, right?".

Never going to happen either with politics or religion.

Who is correct? All and none.

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All true Brett, but and it is a big but, I would like to think that the depth of intellectual acumen on this forum is capable of rationale considered debate on these topics.

That stated, in my life experience I have observed that most religious disagreements tend to be with atheists and not Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews etc - this I find very interesting.

On a political level, I also find the same with the Left being overly passionate against anyone who questions their viewpoint but not so much the reverse.

All that stated and getting back to the main thrust of the thread I can see in the not too distant future a coming depression bigger than the 1930's with soup kitchens in most towns - this I believe will happen in my lifetime.

The financial economies of most countries will collapse.

Based on historical precedent the order of events is typically Currency wars, Trade wars and then real wars. You work out where we are in the cycle...

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Originally Posted by Greg Ward

On the push for more female participation in leadership, one of the reasons I dislike women writers is that I find them wandering into emotional side paths and I conclude that propensity is perhaps why women in leadership roles also have problems. Margret Thatcher perhaps the exception.

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Angela Merkel should get a guernsey. So should Golda Meir and maybe Indira Gandhi.

TT

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Originally Posted by Twisted Tenon

Angela Merkel should get a guernsey. So should Golda Meir and maybe Indira Gandhi.

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Don't forget my ex-mother-in-law