Stupid

[Roman Twiddle]

Antoine. In all fairness, you did say "I said I was from Martinique..."

Then, when someone comes up with perfectly valid points, you say you never claimed to be from Martnique and in fact is was a "well laid trap". Really f*&^%$ clever trap that one . Had me fooled. I mean if someone says they are from Martinique, my inclination is to believe them -- particularly when the level and quality of your debate backs up the aforementioned statistics on education and literacy described above.

When the fact that you are a liar is pointed out to you you respond "I could have been born in Martinique, I could have lived in Martinique, I may now only live in Martinique, I may wish to live in Martinique...I may have no affiliation with Martinique...."

Well, what is it? Are you from there or not. Say so and prove you are not a liar, or are, actually, a liar.

Try answer the question directly rather than rambling. Use small words -- ones that make sense and that you know the meaning of -- not the usual sh1te you employ. Go on, give it a try. Show us how clever you really are in a short, pithy and witty response. (By the way, I have never seen you display one bit of wit on this board despite your ther claim "I can be polite and courteous in your language, and make my responses board-worthy and I will darn-say witty". Thats another lie. Witty, no. Laughable, yes!"

If you can't, perhaps you should just shut up.

Yours in peace.

(And by the way, please keep invoking the BM in this "I told you so, etc). For all the BM's idiosyncrasies, I will bet you that $1,000 (who did you win it off by the way, another lie?) that he is smart enough to recognise that no-one else on this board resorts to the threats that you do. Wishing people sleepless, fitful nights, hoping they suffer the consequences of their opinion, that sort of thing).

[This message has been edited by Roman Twiddle (edited 17-08-2003).]

[Dr Opinion]

First off, Antoine, good article. The American educational system is in a shambles, and whether or not it is part of some grand conspiracy, the simple lack of knowledge and critical thought is shocking.

For example, I remember debating with some members of this board as to whether or not the CIA were even involved in the removal of the democratic Iranian Government and the installation of the Shah, despite the official declassified documents clearly indiciate CIA involvement.

Another example: I discussed Gulf War 2 with some American buddies in the States recently, and they were not even aware that WMD had not been found??? Apparently, that news item didn't make it to CNN.

Second, MM, fantastic put down. You obviously scored hard, becuase Antoine totally freaked out... Antoine, I can only hope you were drunk when you wrote that response, because that type of tirade is generally considered indicative of mental instability. At least, among polite company.

This board sure is fun.  

[Mini Me]

Wow Antoine, that was a surprise. What a mastermind to have planned that all along... and to think we all fell for it... heavens above what will you think of next eh?

Now, what next? Surprise us - how old are you? Did you wet your panties giggling about how you tricked us all? Does your Mommy know you're using her computer to write on this forum?

[Panama Hat]

Sorry to lower the intellectual heights this debate has reached, but Antoine mentioned:

"It is Saturday evening in Sg., go to your bars and cheap liquor ..."  

Cheap liquor in Singapore?  Well, we know he doesn't live here.  

Apologies for interrupting, please continue the discourse.  

Cheers, *hic*

[Manc Man]

HA HA!

Dr O, by refering to me as MM you have fallen into my well laid trap!!

I could have been born Manc Man, I could have lived as Manc Man, I may now only live as Manc Man, I may wish to live as Manc Man...I may have no affiliation with Manc Man....

You will never know...I toy with you at will, and you are helpless and can do nothing about it.

And for tricking you like this I have won 1000 vouchers for free Happy Meals which I shall enjoy as you lie vanquished and covered in burger wrappers before my feet!!

mm

(Sorry, just thought I'd keep this thread ticking over, it's just too good to let it fade away so quickly)

[Joseph27]

Just to chime in - albeit a bit late - MM is right this is too fun to let die.  Though the original post is something I may have thought about posting about a few glass of red I must say that the follow up post are classics.  If BM decides on message hall of fame - this post could certainly be nominated

[Mini Me]

Now the use of MM is quite interesting... It does lead me to think that Antoine and Manc Man may well be the one and same person...

It is likely no coincidence that in addition to standing for Manc Man, MM also stands for Martinique Moron... From the style of Manc Man's last posting the moronic rambling was too similar for them to be different.

MM... Take it further... maybe a reference to Mossad Moshe, Antoine's/Manc Man's evil alter ego or maybe they are actually Double Agents...

MM ... maybe a reference that they were actually Marylin Monroe in a previous life and acting out their life as punishment for collusion with JFK....

MM...Of course, given the inane rambling of Antoine's postings he could be likened to Mickey Mouse... and then with his dual personality with Manc Man - maybe he's Minnie Mouse aswell...

MM... don't forget Maid Marion, a bit dumb and romantically linked to the evil sherriff of Nottingham.

All these are too much to be coincidence... a sinister new face of the ***' alter egos...

Mini Me
Ah....! MM again!  

[Manc Man]

Not a peep out of Asswipe for over a week now.

Back on the medication?

Head finally exploded in mid-post?

Head finally disappeared so far up own ass no longer able to see to type? (and then exploded?)

Mum took his computer away?

Parole officer finally caught up with him?

Finally got laid and has relaxed a little?

Eloped with Pacifist?

Finally raised the money for the sex change?

The acid wore off?

Anyone care to speculate?

mm

[Fresh Mint]

1) A bad smell never goes away.

2) A bad smell never goes away.

3) A bad smell never goes away.

[keynes]

Perhaps the stupidest post I have seen. Juxtaposing the thoughtful perspective of the professir with the childish barbs of the post is instructive. Perhaps the fellow from Martinique was in that very class?

[Dr Opinion]

I wonder if any of you clowns actually knew what the Guernica reference was?  

[keynes]

given the topic, most know the reference.
However, if we went ahead and listed
another 20 global tragedies without the
elitist cache attached to Guernica solely on
Picasso's reference, I wonder how people
would know them?

Oradour sur Glane?
Lidice?
My Lai?
Bataan?
Massacre of ethnic Chinese in Indonesia in 1965.
Genocide of Armenians in Turkey in 1915

Sad thing is that if there is an artist or movie attached, everyone has some reference point. However, without that common reference, few people outside of those truly educated have a clue--regardless of national origin.

Difference between "stupid" Americans and others? Americans are not taught and have no idea. But when they learn of it, there is collective action. Europeans are more likely taught. Then they choose to ignore. In my opinion, far more ethnocentric.

[Jean Jeudi]

Is this Antoine dude for real ?

[Heart of Darkness]

That rather depends on your definition of 'real'

[Royston Vasey]

“Americans are not taught and have no idea. But when they learn of it, there is collective action.”  In other words, Americans may be ignorant of some aspects of this world, but it is not a moral flaw – once they know the reality they act collectively, and presumably Keynes means they try to act in the right way, not the wrong way.  

Interesting for the assumptions this reveals. The reason Americans always collectively act in the “right” way when they learn the “truth” must be because they share the “right” view of the world, as opposed to those morally bankrupt cynical Europeans who choose to do nothing despite knowing the truth and what should be done.

This is not an American flaw, but a human condition.  We all filter what we learn through our world-view.  Mostly, we reject as false what is inconsistent with that world-view, very rarely we come across something that makes us examine our deeply held beliefs, and even more rarely we decide as a result to accept the new input and change our beliefs instead.  But mostly we just keep on believing what we have always believed.

So it is not surprising to me that when I have observed Americans come up against a concept that clashes with their usually very patriotic world view the most common reaction is incomprehension, not re-evaluation, and certainly not collective action – unless that action is reactionary.

No, the real difference between Americans and other nationalities is that America has the power to directly and significantly affect the lives of non-Americans, friend or foe.  So all non-Americans come into close and continued contact with the American world-view.

And so, like Lucianne Bohne, (but perhaps for different reasons) I also worry about the state of ignorance in America.  I’m not nearly as worried about ignorance in Martinique, or Australia, or anywhere else because frankly, they don’t have the power to do much damage.