English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

Robusto

16:00

@RegDwightѬſ道 From what to what?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Hah.

Next question.

Anyway, if you ask me, one answer should be enough for everyone.

I mean, ideally, every question should have exactly one answer anyway.

They are trying to catch up, but it's too little to late. I have started an active war and have to run in a minute.

I'll try to find the Joel makes a 180 thingy later tonight.

Au wiedervederci!

Robusto

Later.

Vitaly

CU.

KitFox

What led to you doing this thing?

Robusto

@Vitaly What qualifications or restrictions does Daedalus have on Jam?

Vitaly

16:12

@Robusto Huh?

KitFox

Must be raspberry.

Robusto

Jam all, jam 1, jam Imperial ...

Vitaly

Just Jam.

Robusto

So it can jam any single card?

Vitaly

Yeah. A 50% chance of jamming a random enemy assault that is active or is about to activate.

KitFox

16:13

@aedia Where have you been? I missed you! Are you all moved?

aedia λ

Hiya!

@KitFox I'm set up in my new (temporary) digs at my parents' house, yep.

KitFox

Nice!

Does it have rainbows and soft, fluffy clouds?

aedia λ

Sky is blue and the birds are chirping, so that's all I can ask for :)

Also, giant new monitor when my work laptop is in its docking station, so that's exciting.

Robusto

@Vitaly I guess "Jam All" would be imba.

aedia λ

@KitFox How's things up even more northeasterer? Y'all got beautiful weather there too?

KitFox

16:20

Birds are chirping. Naked people rode past my window at lunchtime. Can't complain, really.

aedia λ

giggles

KitFox

Are you celebrating today?

The enemy of my enemy is mine frenemy.

aedia λ

Today is actually the birthday of two people close to me, so that's what we'll be celebrating.

KitFox

Hooray!

aedia λ

Going out to dinner like responsible grownups and all.

Heh.

KitFox

16:28

Oh! My brain just had a thought.

Come back here, you slippery thing.

Robusto

Lunch. Laterz.

aedia λ

Catch ya later! Mmm, food. That sounds like a good idea.

KitFox

16:56

Yay! Building indexes.

Jez

17:17

frenemy

great word, it should exist

Logically, one could have two enemies who were also frenemies

Matt Эллен

0

Q: Loaf of French bread

What is the English word describing a long thin loaf of French bread, which crust is appetisingly golden and crunchy, and the bread inside is light and fluffy?

word-usage

aedia λ

Eeek!

Matt Эллен

Pain de penis

hi @aedia :D

i do not recommend Googling pain de penis without quotes

not a good set of images

KitFox

Shouldn't it be pan? Wow. My brain is hurting.

Matt Эллен

no

KitFox

17:27

It's shouting no!yes!no!yes! right now.

Matt Эллен

sooth your brain with some nice

something

aedia λ

@KitFox That's Spanish.

KitFox

Shut UP, brain! It's yes!

Matt Эллен

music?

KitFox

I mean no.

Matt Эллен

17:28

lol

KitFox

@aediaλ Oh thank god.

I had a hell of a time when I was a junior in high school. Spanish and French back-to-back.

aedia λ

That's why Panera's name makes sense... it's a place to stick your bread

KitFox

It wasn't too bad, but I distinctly remember what must have been four minutes of half my brain saying tiendatiendatiendatienda and the other half saying notspanishnotspanishnotspanish

aedia λ

I mean, um.

Matt Эллен

aye, me too

KitFox

17:30

I also like "tienda" better than "magasin" so that didn't help.

aedia λ

Nunca he hablado bien el francés

KitFox

It came out as "Je vais aller au uuuuuuuhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuummmmmmuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhttttttttttuuuuuuummmmmttttummmmma‌gasin."

Matt Эллен

but it paid off in the end, since you can now speak fluent Russian

KitFox

Or something. It would have been fourth-level French, so I was probably cheeky enough to ask "Como se dice tienda en frances?"

Matt Эллен

:D

KitFox

17:35

When I was in college we had to go to language table once a week. This was at lunchtime where we would eat and learn table manners and such for our respective languages.

We were not allowed to speak English, so my friend and I would often cheat by speaking French at Chinese table.

aedia λ

Ooh language table sounds fun.

KitFox

It's funny because people would notice right away if you started speaking English, but any other foreign language didn't set off alarms.

@aediaλ It was interesting.

Especially in first-year Chinese class.

They taught us how to order food and whatnot, but then the rest of the time, we'd make up the weirdest conversations based on our limited vocabulary.

Matt Эллен

about monkeys in trees?

KitFox

Eddie Izzard!

And no.

"Whose milk glass is fuller, mine or yours?"

"Compared to yours, mine is fuller."

Matt Эллен

lol

KitFox

17:38

"Oh, I respectfully disagree. My fish is quite big compared to our esteemed teacher's."

"Do you walk often in the rain?"

"I walk in the rain when the sun only shines."

"Where is Mao Zedong?"

"Old Mao is next to the river, north of the lake, on top of the tree, near my house."

OK, I suppose I've made my point. It was really fun.

Matt Эллен

:D

sounds it

KitFox

We also had some of the funniest year-end sketches ever.

My good friend played one of our teachers, and another male student actually crossed-dressed to play the part of the other teacher.

aedia λ

I, uh, didn't take language classes in college. Nor a single traditional English class (usability and software focused classes filled the requirement). And now my job title has "writer" in it... go figure.

KitFox

They played that they had a party and my friend brought his friend—his best friend—the fish to it. Then he got drunk and jumped up on the desk and started telling people about how his fish was bigger than anybody's.

aedia λ

giggles

KitFox

17:43

Still makes me chuckle, to this day.

@aediaλ Wow. I feel like making rude comments, but just to be silly.

aedia λ

@KitFox Hehe, I know what you mean. I can still think of lines from practicing those kind of class skits with friends, now that I think about it. "Yes, of course, I'm going to Spain to buy ham!"

KitFox

Hahaha. Right. Because where else would you go to buy ham?

Damn it, Linq! Behave!

contemplates changing stuff again

Matt Эллен

Sooooorrrreeee princess!

aedia λ

I really would have continued Spanish classes if I'd had a crystal ball... god knows I've forgotten my entire chem minor (which at the time was maybe going to be a dual major, so it ate like all my elective slots).

Mahnax

Tocino langosta.

KitFox

17:48

@aediaλ I know what you mean. If I knew then what I know now, I would have worked harder to keep my Chinese double major, and added more programming classes.

aedia λ

Bacon... shrimp?

Mahnax

Lobster.

KitFox

NOT LOBSTER!!!!

Mahnax

Why?

KitFox

> In March 2006, Long John Silver's garnered controversy by offering buttered lobster bites advertising that they include "langostino lobster". A Los Angeles Superior Court judge made no decisions in April 2006 on the matter when a class-action lawsuit was brought against Rubio's Restaurants, Inc., for selling "lobster burrito" and "lobster taco" that were in fact made with squat lobster.

aedia λ

17:51

What, nobody likes the lobsters who couldn't afford their own homesteads?

KitFox

It's not a lobster.

But sorry, I'm overly-sensitive. You said "langosta" not "langostino." My apologies.

It's a huge controversy in my home state, where lobster is one of our major exports.

Mahnax

Oh, according to Google Translate, langosta also means locust.

aedia λ

Eww nobody wants locust bacon!

Mahnax

Then again, they think "ajellut" means shaving, not driving.

KitFox

Cheap knockoffs have really hurt our fishing economy.

aedia λ

17:53

Hmm I can imagine.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

4

KitFox

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

From a paper in Malaysia

aedia λ

NICE

Matt Эллен

lol

Mahnax

17:54

That is great.

Gigili

Silly people.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

So pro tip: anyone doing Android development should consider getting the x86 Android images from Intel. Those, combined with a special hypervisor you can download, let you run the emulator at near native speeds. Instead of the crappy arm emulation which is sllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww

KitFox

sketches diagram You mean you can use eye movements for your interface?

Matt Эллен

hypervisor -> over seer -> officer -> cop! watchout, it's the feds

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@KitFox Um, it'd be awesome of a hypervisor had to do with eyes, but instead it has to do with virtualization, which is still cool, but not as sexy.

KitFox

18:00

@MattЭллен ducks

aedia λ

That reminds me of something I can't quite remember that I wanted to ask you. It was maybe about phones, but probably not, more like... webby things, or Java. Hmm. tries to scratch brain

KitFox

@MrShinyandNew安宇 The virtualization I worked on had a visor. sniffs haughtily

LMGTFY. pokes @aedia's hippocampus

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@KitFox you misspelled unicorncampus

Gigili

Have you ever seen a flagged message of mine? Go star that nonsense. Silly people.

aedia λ

There's a thing with icons and stuff. Icons that are loaded once on the page like CSS sprites? Does that sound like something we talked about here?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

18:02

@aediaλ we talked about css sprites

are you asking about jquery-ui?

KitFox

@aediaλ Oh! I remember that!

aedia λ

Yeah!

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

all the cool kids are using jquery-mobile now.

KitFox

When I was asking about my up-down arrows, I think.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

jquery-ui is so Feb 2012

Mitch

18:03

0

A: Origin of the phrase, "There's more than one way to skin a cat."

Yes, it has always been a bit rough, but not in the way you expect. Even though it sounds somewhat derogatory towards cats, the phrase originated -within- the cat subculture. Even more interesting, it is not a metaphor for questionable behavior but is literally about skinning. It is not very we...

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Mitch srsly?

@aediaλ jqueryui.com/themeroller

aedia λ

Thank you!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

0

Q: Loaf of French bread

What is the English word describing a long thin loaf of French bread, which crust is appetisingly golden and crunchy, and the bread inside is light and fluffy?

word-usage

You people are killing me.

Matt Эллен

I tried to think of a reason to close it, but I couldn't

same with the paprika question

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Q: What is the English word for "loaf of French bread"? A: "Loaf of French bread!" Bam! Accepted within an hour, reps all around.

@MattЭллен I suppose if the OP gets three answers (stick, baguette, baton) but ignores them all, that's reason enough to call it a NARQ.

KitFox

18:08

Funny, since the answer is baguette.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@KitFox yes, and that's the highest voted, but not the accepted answer.

so 'stick' is upper or lower class? — Mitch 2 mins ago

Hahahaha you're so mean.

Robusto

Ficelle

A ficelle is type of bread that is similar to a baguette but much thinner. The word ficelle literally means "string" in French. Like the baguette, this type of bread has a hard, brown crust and many air pockets. A typical ficelle weighs 140 g (4.9 oz), but this varies from shop to shop. External links *[http://www.recipetips.com/glossary-term/t--38436/ficelle-bread.asp Recipe Tips] *[http://www.baking911.com/bread/french.htm Baking 911] *[http://www.bagatelle.co.uk/wholesale/bakery/bread-baguette-sandwich.php Bagatelle]

Could also be this. ^

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@Robusto go post it just to mess with him.

Robusto

A'ight.

KitFox

@Robusto Could be, but I think most people would still call that baguette.

Robusto

18:22

@KitFox Obviously you don't have a French bakery near you.

KitFox

Obviously.

We don't even have a Panera near us.

Much less a boulangerie.

Robusto

You give up a lot for the chance to run into a moose on the highway.

Gigili

@RegDwight: Why is it "die Geschichte meines Todes "?

KitFox

I have a friend who survived a moose collision.

Robusto

@Gigili The stories of my death.

Gigili

18:24

@Robusto Right, but why meinES todES?

Robusto

@Gigili How else you gonna show genitive case? Case markers: they can save your life.

@KitFox But I bet you don't know anybody who survived a collision with a ficelle.

KitFox

Tru dat.

Gigili

@Robusto Um, so that's the genitive case? I always had problem recognizing them.

Robusto

@Gigili Well, then, the answer is simple. Whenever it's a case you don't recognize, consider that it might be genitive.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!

Robusto

18:27

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Das ist Unsinn.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Wes Geistes Kind hat dies verbrochen?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

sigh

I guess it doesn't work

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Oh it does.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

The Funniest Joke in the World

"The Funniest Joke in the World" is the title most frequently used for written references to a Monty Python's Flying Circus comedy sketch, which is also known by two other phrases that appear within it, "Joke Warfare" and "Killer Joke", the latter being the most commonly spoken title used to refer to it. The premise of the sketch is that the joke is so funny that anyone who reads or hears it promptly dies from laughter. Broadcast The sketch appeared in the first episode of the television show Monty Python's Flying Circus ("Whither Canada"), first shown on October 5, 1969. The sketch was ...

Robusto

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Wait ... did you generate that heuristically?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

18:28

That meme is old as all eternity.

@MrShinyandNew安宇 who is Monty Python?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@RegDwightѬſ道 Now you're just trolling me

Robusto

@RegDwightѬſ道 A.k.a. The Fool Monty.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@MrShinyandNew安宇 oh, now?

Apr 1 '11 at 12:23, by RegDwight

Sie müssen nur den Nippel durch die Lasche ziehn, und mit der kleinen Kurbel ganz nach oben drehn. Da erscheint sofort ein Pfeil, und da drücken Sie dann drauf.

Jez

@RegDwight hey

@RegDwight time to do any translation?

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Actually, time to cook!

OMFG don't click on that link to Apr 1st. Three messages down Robusto wins.

Robusto

18:32

Apr 1 '11 at 12:24, by Robusto

@RegDwightѬſ道 Too late.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Robusto

See? Behind every Hello Kitty drawing there's a genuine asshole.

Apr 1 '11 at 12:33, by Robusto

You are trying too hard. Look, you got sweat all over your last attempt.

Cerberus

Hi.

KitFox

Ohai!

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Cerb! Have you heard? Microsoft has announced the end of the end of Windows XP support

Cerberus

18:42

Oh, really?

Well, I have never needed support...

aedia λ

Hiya!

Cerberus

Hi girlz!

I hope you don't mind my greeting you in pairs.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

no, that means "no more fixes of any kind, no more third-party software supported"

Cerberus

But you're both cute animals.

Gigili

@Robusto Thank you for the tip!

Cerberus

18:43

@MrShinyandNew安宇 And do I need any of that?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cerberus well, you should install security fixes

And it also means that other software you might want to use won't necessarily be available for XP because it will get harder and harder to develop software for XP

Robusto

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Link?

Cerberus

@MrShinyandNew安宇 You know I disagree with you there...

Mitch

@MrShinyandNew安宇 gotcha! I was feeling loopy this morning. about to delete....

Cerberus

@MrShinyandNew安宇 We'll see. When the time comes that I need anything that won't work on XP, then's the time to switch. Any time sooner I know not why.

Mitch

18:46

and done.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Robusto zdnet.com/blog/bott/…

Cerberus

@Gigili Hey what's with your avatar?

KitFox

18:59

coughs

Cerberus

Heimlich manoeuvre

Gigili

Hello Kitty.

@Cerberus Hum? Isn't it clear enough?

Cerberus

Not exactly?

Gigili

Umm, "sorry, we're closed".

Cerberus

Is it supposed to be a funny picture, or are you contemplating leaving the site again?

KitFox

19:03

She is disappointed in love.

Cerberus

> It is wrong to use some constitutional provisions as springboards for major social change while treating others like senile relatives to be cooped up in a nursing home until they quit annoying us. (re the right to bear arms) — judge Alex Kozinski

KitFox

Therefore, closed for business.

Cerberus

Oh, I see.

I wish all government officials could write as well as this judge!

KitFox

Too bad I disagree.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cerberus why is it wrong?

Cerberus

19:05

@KitFox With what exactly?

He seems to be arguing for the right to bear arms, you mean?

KitFox

@Cerberus I don't think it is wrong.

Cerberus

Ah OK.

KitFox

Too many people treat the Constitution like the Bible.

It should be a living document.

Therefore, it is right to use some constitutional provisions as springboards for major social change while treating others like senile relatives to be cooped up in a nursing home until they quit annoying us.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Well, it is living. Just that changing it is hard.

And not everyone agrees about the senility of the various clauses.

Gigili

@Cerberus All of the above.

Cerberus

19:07

Well, I have only read this little quotation, so I have no idea what it is about; but his point is probably that there should be due democratic process involved in changing long-standing practice, rather than a new or alternative interpretation of an old document.

KitFox

It's like caring for Gramma D. "Here's your breakfast." "What?" "Here's your breakfast." "What?" point "What's that?" "Your breakfast." "What?" "YOUR BREAKFAST!" indignant look

Cerberus

@KitFox But wouldn't it be better to have a major social discussion and voting and whatnot instead? Because otherwise who is to decide which clause to discard and which to revive?

KitFox

@Cerberus You say that like I'm disagreeing with you.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cerberus opinions tend to be so thoroughly divided about the relevant clauses that there is nothing to be gained from voting at this point.

Cerberus

@KitFox You appeared to be, but perhaps you interpret the judge differently?

@MrShinyandNew安宇 So then any random judge should cherry pick the clauses from the Constitution that he personally likes?

Why not just have a referendum?

Do your respective countries use referenda much? We don't, not really.

But sometimes we do.

Then again, those invite populism and ignorance.

KitFox

19:11

Changing the Constitution doesn't happen lightly.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

0

A: Use of "completely rubbish"

This website is complete rubbish.

Funneh.

Cerberus

@KitFox The people could be asked to vote on an interpretation of the Constitution?

KitFox

@Cerberus What?

Cerberus

In case opinions are divided, or in case standing practice deviates from the C.

@KitFox As with the right to bear arms.

KitFox

No, that's a terrible idea.

Really just awful.

Cerberus

19:13

Perhaps so.

KitFox

That's like asking retarded people, grocery clerks, your mechanic, and the clergy to decide what type of medical treatment you should receive.

Cerberus

But to give a judge so much power? Isn't that a violation of the separation of powers, and anti-democratic?

KitFox

bangs head on desk

I think I'll make some coffee.

Cerberus

I mean, one judge may say guns are OK, and the next will say the opposite.

KitFox

Judges set precedent, but they can't just make stuff up.

It's not a violation of the separation of powers, it is the basis of the separation of powers.

Cerberus

19:15

Well, if they choose some controversial interpretation of the Constitution and ignore other clauses...

RegDwight Ѭſ道

And normal people won't do that?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cerberus Well, not "cherry pick clauses". But it's naive to think that interpretation of clauses can't be revised.

Cerberus

@RegDwightѬſ道 Sure, but then at least there will be debate and voting and accountability.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@Cerberus Accountability?? How??

Cerberus

@MrShinyandNew安宇 That's how I interpret the quotation.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

19:17

If it's one judge, you know who is accountable. If it's three hundred million people, nobody is responsible.

Cerberus

You pick one clause and disregard another at will—that's what Alex was arguing against.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Well, no. Judges are not allowed to completely disregard clauses in any laws, unless there are higher laws that invalidate them.

Cerberus

@RegDwightѬſ道 Lawmakers can be voted into oblivion, and there will be major debates and candidates taking positions and such.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Anyway, amending the constitution requires congress passing a bill, and then 3/4ths of all states ratifying it by passing a bill.

Cerberus

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Alex suggests that that is more or less what some judges are doing.

You don't need to change the Constitution, just reinterpret it.

In any case, it was his style that I praised: in order to judge the content I would have to fully understand what he meant.

Most officials write badly.

KitFox

19:22

Ahh, coffee.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

coffee sounds like a really good idea

Cerberus

By the way, I am not in favour of guns, so I think the Constitution should be changed.

KitFox

I am in favor of guns.

So I guess we are at a standoff.

looks archly @Cerb

It's hard to look arch with this cat face on.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

FINALLY Kit fulfills an American Stereotype!

I've been waiting so long

Cerberus

@KitFox Are you really? Hmm.

KitFox

19:26

I thought slutty and boob-showing were both American stereotypes.

Cerberus

Are many of your friends in favour of guns?

KitFox

We are unanimously in favor of guns.

Also sometimes roses.

Cerberus

Oh, interpreting. I thought most liberals were against guns.

I think the real effect of guns on killings should be more thoroughly investigated.

Because I think there was some Scandinavian country with very lax gun laws where relatively few murders took place.

KitFox

I'm a liberal gun-lover. I think guns should require a license, and handguns and automatic weapons should require special endorsement.

Cerberus

So it's not a 1:1 effect for certain.

KitFox

19:29

Like driving.

Cerberus

Hmm.

I guess hand guns are important.

The kind you need for hunting usually aren't much of a problem, I think.

KitFox

Also, like New Hampshire, I think the state should provide a rifle free of charge to every citizen who reaches the age of majority.

Cerberus

Why?

Now you're trying to fool me.

I can smell it.

KitFox

Because the point of the second amendment was to ensure an adequately armed standing militia.

Therefore, we should do that.

Cerberus

Well, I think the point behind that was that people have to be able to defend themselves in the wilderness where the law can't reach.

In the pioneering age.

KitFox

19:31

@Cerberus You should understand that I live in a rural state. The majority of gun deaths here occur because of inadequately secured firearms being handled by people who have not taken gun safety courses.

Cerberus

Like children?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cerberus No. The point of the amendment was to allow the people to effectively rebel and overthrow the government, should it grow despotic.

Cameron

@Cerberus I'm pretty sure the intent was that the people, being sufficiently well-armed, could always keep the government in fear of an uprising

KitFox

Many children shooting themselves in the head because their parents didn't store ammunition separately from the weapon.

Cameron

@MrShinyandNew beat me to it..

Cerberus

19:32

Hmm is that so? What do you two base that on?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cerberus the text

Cameron

American history class?

KitFox

Every US civics class ever?

Jinx!

Cerberus

@KitFox Ugh that is ugly. But how can people be made to store their guns more securely?

No, I mean, what historical text is that based on?

I am admittedly not very knowledgeable in US civics.

KitFox

@Cerberus If you have to have a license to own a firearm, then you can be required to fulfill certain obligations as a condition of licensure, such as taking safety classes and demonstrating an awareness of the dangers of owning firearms, etc.

@Cerberus A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Cerberus

19:35

@KitFox OK, and are such instructions nowhere compulsory now?

KitFox

@Cerberus Nope.

Cameron

"The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -- (Thomas Jefferson)

Cerberus

@KitFox Yeah but I mean, what texts are used to interpret the reason behind that clause in the way you mentioned?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Cerb, remember: the US had just formed itself by a rebellion consisting of regular people arming themselves and fighting the government

Cerberus

@KitFox Hmm it would be interesting to find out how well that would work.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

19:36

There is tons of historical documentation for this

KitFox

@Cerberus What part of "well-regulated militia" needs interpretation?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

The Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights. In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second Amendment decisions. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within t...

Cerberus

@MrShinyandNew安宇 All right, if you say so.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cerberus don't take my word for it. Wikipedia is full of details

Cerberus

@KitFox Not the clause itself, but the reason why it would be needed.

@MrShinyandNew安宇 OK I'll read that later.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

19:38

Anyway, in principle I agree that people sometimes need to rebel against the government. However, it also seems that A) this is never needed in countries that have things like bills of rights, and B) gun proliferation in the US has caused a lot of problems.

and C) An armed uprising in the US now would be put down so fast by the vastly superior forces of the US army or the national guard.

KitFox

I'm sure Canada would help us out though, eh?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

with what guns?

KitFox

You've got four submarines. You could use those.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

We could help by stopping shipments of oil, thus paralyzing ... someone.

Cameron

@MrShinyandNew your point C is a good one, but it presupposes that the US military and national guard would not fragment in the event of an actual uprising

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

19:40

hahaha

@Cameron true. But the military fragmenting in the case of an uprising can't be used as an argument in favour of a right to bear arms.

Cameron

I wasn't intending it to be, I was just pointing out that if an uprising took place, you couldn't count on unilateral military support for ending it

Cerberus

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Hmm I think I have to agree on all those points, dammit.

@Cameron ...but the civilians who were swaying their little guns probably wouldn't make much of a difference anyway.

KitFox

I think regulating firearms would be a good thing.

Cerberus

Or would they?

Cameron

@Cerberus ever met someone in the Michigan Militia?

Cerberus

19:43

Daily.

I mean, no.

Cameron

@Cerberus just for context, where are you from?

Nevermind, I see Amsterdam in your profile

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cameron The problem would be if the uprising started small enough that the military could stop it before it got out of hand, and soldiers started defecting (and taking weapons with them).

Anyway, Cerb, the constitution grants broad freedoms so as to avoid a slippery slope of regulation-creep.

Cameron

@MrShinyandNew Before the internet, I would have agreed with you, it would have been logistically impossible. But, keep in mind that most of the crazies who are the closest to starting an armed revolution are A) ex military (i.e. trained and organized), B) well-connected, and C) well-armed. That's enough to make me board up my windows if something started even in the same state

let alone in my neighborhood

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Cameron But are "armed crazies" likely to gain enough support to become a national revolution, with the military fragmenting?

Currently, most people's lives are so good (in absolute terms) that armed rebellion against the government would be a huge waste of effort. Changes in the government can be achieved in non-violent means. It's not perfect, but it's way better than it was in the 18th century.

Instead people who want change do things like Occupy Wall Street.

Or go into politics.

or lobbying.

Or opining on Internet chat forums.

KitFox

Hey! I do that!

Anyway, I'm off. Have a lovely evening. Maybe I will chat with you later, if not, enjoy your weekend.

Actually, either way, I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

20:01

same to you! bye

I'm off too.

Cameron

@MrShinyandNew sorry for the delay, work calls. Anyway, I think it's unlikely, but possible. I'm talking about a hypothetical future in which something has happened to instigate the people who espouse the use of violence to bring social and gov't change, I should have made that clear, sorry

@MrShinyandNew bye

RegDwight Ѭſ道

0

A: What would be a formal reply to "I need your help"?

My question...I need help - what is the appropriate reply to these words? "Age is an issue of Mind over Matter, if you don't mind it doesn't matter." I know that it does matter though and especially 30 years. How can I explain that to her? Anxiously awaiting your reply to my inbox...thank you....

That's an answer.

One of those cases where commenting that he should use the Ask Question link instead would do no good...

Oh well I've done it anyway.

Cerberus

Sorry, I had to run for groceries.

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