User talk:KarmaPolice

What is going on? World Blogs Clogs Elections The Bar (talk) (talk) (talk) (talk) (hic) Welcome to RationalWiki, KarmaPolice! Check out our guide for newcomers and our community standards! Tell us how you found RationalWiki here! If you are interested in contributing: Read what our articles are intended to be Check out the to-do list See our help page and Wikipedia's formatting cheatsheet If writing a new article, consider writing up a draft And most importantly: Pull up a goat and have some fun!

Bongolian (talk) 21:28, 12 December 2021 (UTC)

Fellow Radiohead nerd?

Rockford the Roe ^{boop my snoot}_{praise Oscar Wilde} 19:52, 23 December 2021 (UTC)

Arrest this man. CorruptUser 17:58, 7 January 2022 (UTC)

I confess, I prefer the video for 'Paranoid Android' much more. Even now, I still don't know what it means. KarmaPolice (talk) 17:47, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

Autopatrolled

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Do you support Pride Month?

You said in your bio: "Or being proud of things about me I have no control over. Might as well be 'proud' of being left-handed." Does being proud of being gay fall into definition? Epic Games (talk) 09:33, 30 December 2021 (UTC)

I am admittedly ambivalent towards it.

- Firstly, I stand by my UserPage quote. But for the exact same reasons I'm not ashamed either, and nor should anyone else.

- I'm unapologetically a bit of a 'stiff-assed Brit' but kinda realise just because it's not my cup of tea some other folks might enjoy having a shindig.

- I question the existence of an 'LGBT community'. It's now too large a grouping, which means it's 'community' is minimal. Things like this are often dominated by an unelected, unrepresentative 'leadership'.

- It's become corrupted by capitalism. It's become a way for corporate interests to polish their social justice halos, to flog more product to a 'special market'. Yeah, like I'll overlook all the other crud you do simply 'cos you put a rainbow on a product or donated 1% of sales profit for one day to Stonewall.

- It promotes division than inclusion. Us, the LGBT folks and you, the normies and all that.

However, when all the above is said, I suspect it's more misnamed than anything else. Pride - if done right - does help raise visibility for issues which normally are kinda ignored for the rest of the year. For the early pioneers, I think 'Pride' made more sense as a name because they *were* proud - for the actions they took and the difficulties they faced to be themselves, in the face of heavy legal problems and much stronger active hostility from much of the population. Similar, it's hard to dump on current binary-trans person's pride (for example) for that because they've gone through a lot of effort/pain to get to where they are now, and you can't diss that.

It could be said, my view is similar to 'Conjoined Fetus Lady' in South Park when she bitched about her parade/awareness week, but unlike her appreciate the motivations for Kyle's mother in wanting to hold it. KarmaPolice (talk) 12:39, 30 December 2021 (UTC)

I do think lefties need a bit of rallying around sometimes. There's even sites about it, see here. The world is not catered to their preferences. Right-handers usually aren't aware (and btw the whole ordeal of left-handed people is a good starter kit into learning about critical race theory and the ideas that you can not really be aware of systemic issues affecting so many things and you might even take part in them, unless they're laid bare). They have to pay extra for golf clubs, guitars, baseball gloves, comfortable scissors; writing in English was awkward and asymmetrical student desks were intrusive; computer mice isn't for them, button mashing on game controllers is real awkward. On top of it, southpaws were legally persecuted around the world, with people still remembering that they were punished as kids for using the "devil's" hand and were forced to use their other hands. In Japan, there were documents that husbands could legally divorce their wives if their wives are lefties. Our own languages even reflect the attitudes against "left". IDK it's pretty extensive. Hell left-handedness is the basis of my username to begin with, a sort of identity I thought was important when I was 14 and making the first internet identity. We made so much progress for rights for left-handed people, to be treated equally, to the point people think it's just a mundane identity. --It's-a me, LeftyGreenMario! 02:11, 31 December 2021 (UTC)

Luckily, we never had those desks in the UK - in my case, the problem was if you were put on the right of a two-person table/desk, or worse on the left *but* right next to a wall. And being forced to learn how to write in ink with a sodding calligraphy pen of all things, being flogged through handwriting practice books which I could only 'do properly' if I slowed right down and gave myself huge hand-cramp... yeah, thanks for reminding me of that.

Anyway, it's never really been a big thing for me - usually only getting pissed when due to stupidity they've made it worse than it should be. Or when I come across a clear 'screw you' decision, like when a work bought a consignment of right-handed 'ergonomic' mice.

But it is a decent way to introduce the concept of 'diversity of needs' to smallish children, using a example only the most reactionary and cranky would object to. However... would the 7/8 year-old Karma have appreciated all the extra attention as being (if I remember right) the only sinister one in class? Thoughts of 'Conjoined Fetus Lady' in her parade of one comes to mind. In this case, having me conveniently 'absent' for that bit would be in order.

But the important thing is; why doesn't RationalWiki have a 'handiness' page? KarmaPolice (talk) 04:19, 31 December 2021 (UTC)

Yeah, it's not a super big deal, these are mostly inconveniences. Those ergonomic mice do sound like nightmares, but my worst enemies are those "ergonomic" scissors. I can wing regular scissors with my preferred hand, sometimes, but those scissors force you to use the other hand. Also, some wacom tablets are very difficult to use due to their designs, BUT you get to use the mouse and draw with the tablet at the same time, maybe right-handers ought to use their other hand every now and then, huh? I also hate those asymmetrical spoons in hot pot joints where they funnel and pour only from one side, but made for right-handed people, so I'm holding a bowl and I pick up these stupid spoons and realize the sauce/soup goes out the other way.

I can somewhat relate, yeah. You notice all those right hands being used in restaurants and you just feel special you're using the other hand, even though in reality, people really don't pay attention.

I was wanting to create an article on handedness actually, since there's a bit of folklore associated and oppression stuff as well as well as superstitious stuff used to justify mistreatment to people, but yknow, I'm bogged down with moderation and arguing with people. --It's-a me, LeftyGreenMario! 04:36, 31 December 2021 (UTC)

Yeah, but them 'inconveniences' can add up to get to be hugely grating, just like years of vague bullying, general ostracism and a 'don't give a crap' mentality from the staff at school can lead up to said kid desiring firearms and a pipe-bomb manual.

Anyway, with the handiness page, well, what needs to be said (at least at RW)? The main one I can really think of is to highlight the simple fact that the 'accommodations' required in the grand scheme of things are not that much and a refusal generally makes you look like a lazy dolt (there are a couple of now-obsolete reasons for discouraging left-use, such as the days with metal nib pens and inkwells). The historical etc stuff could be mainly be cut/pasted off Wikipedia, unless there's a standing rule we can't at least use it as a base for an article. KarmaPolice (talk) 12:06, 31 December 2021 (UTC)

Interesting take. Thanks KP. BTW, favorite album is OK Computer. Epic Games (talk) 04:22, 31 December 2021 (UTC)

Well, I'm a European socialist, not a N American progressive. My 'angle of attack' is completely different. KarmaPolice (talk) 12:06, 31 December 2021 (UTC)

Russia and Ukraine

So which of Putin's inner circle do you think is behind this? ☭Comrade GC☭^{Ministry of Praise} 19:48, 23 January 2022 (UTC)

why not putin himself? hes convincedukraine is rightfully part of russia and hes not going to get a better time to make it happen now with much of europe dependant on gas and the us arent going to go in, and before the weather turns against him. word is he wants to install a pro russian government in kyiv AMassiveGay (talk) 23:04, 23 January 2022 (UTC)

@AMassiveGay I mean it's possible, but last I heard Putin was delegating management of Russia's efforts in Ukraine to Surkov. Except that Surkov left the Kremlin in 2020, meaning I'm unsure who, exactly, is managing this current bout of aggression. ☭Comrade GC☭^{Ministry of Praise} 01:37, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

What is this, amateur Kremlinology night?..

My gut says the person behind this in 'the inner circle' is named Vladimir Putin.

I say this with precious little evidence or even much knowledge of the wider political scene at the moment; I am merely basing it on the fact Putin appears to be psychologically closest to Stalin in a line-up of previous Russian/Soviet autocrats. And Stalin would never have let an underling to have the freedom to do something as serious as courting a major war - it would be run past him, *at every step*. Putin, it appears [unless it's all propaganda] to also have the classic autocrat hubris/paranoia mix which leads to such micromanagement. Lastly, this whole affair reeks of opportunism and Stalin was nothing but an opportunist. KarmaPolice (talk) 10:42, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

speaking of stalin, i like the part in putins essay where he hand waves away holodomor and accuses radicals of 'mythologising' it. AMassiveGay (talk) 10:50, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

@KarmaPolice It's strongly believed by intel agencies and other observers that Putin's power is not as absolute as he'd like the West to think. Instead of power being centered only on him, it's spread amongst him, some direct underlings (Surkov and Dugin come to mind immediately), the Oligarchs and business elite, and then to the "normal" politicians, if the lattermost get any power at all. ☭Comrade GC☭^{Ministry of Praise} 13:53, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

while his power may well not be as absolute as is often suggested, it may be not so much a case of 'powers behind the throne' but more officials and the like acting without and/or against putin's own wishes. the fact that putin is so vocal on ukraine i think indicates that he is most definitely the prime mover here. i think one putins strengths, such as they are, is keeping the oligarchs in line to some degree. that certainly played a part in him coming to power in the first place. lets not forget several oligarchs have been imprisoned or fled russia on corruption charges of varying merit. its not absolute power, but putin has means to keep them in line - not least assassination AMassiveGay (talk) 14:15, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

a linkAMassiveGay (talk) 14:19, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

Who's suggested Putin's got absolute power? Yes, he's an autocrat but not only does he have to balance the needs/wants of the other 'powers' in the country but also the fact any of his policies shall have a % of 'pushback' from the chain 'o command, that % depending on how much inertia-resistance is being deployed [standard Russian technique for disobeying The Boss; never outright resist/contradict, instead 'lose' documents, 'misunderstand' orders, 'forget' stuff/people etc, running stuff into the sand and hoping The Boss simply forgets to follow-on - they did this even to Stalin.]

But Putin has deployed a lot of his personal authority / political capital to this crisis of his own making. It's a powerful game of chicken he's playing, and the problem is not only can he *not* turn out of massive loss of face at home but the fact he's in a bulky 4x4 with metal bull-bars and we're in a crummy hatchback made of plastic and Biden's scared of going over 30. So my conclusion is this; Putin risks more climbing down than going through with it. Thus, we need to give him an off-ramp.

Therefore, I'd offer Putin the same as the UK got with it's Brexit deal; something which has literally just enough for a fig-leaf saving of face for domestic consumption, but everyone in the know knows it was at best, a draw. Or 'rain stopped play'. The only thing I can think of is the assurance that NATO has 'no desire' to admit members which 'currently have active border disputes' [or words to this effect]. It's an ambigious line which *could* be taken to mean a promise not to allow Ukraine into NATO, but does not say a word about a form of de facto 'association'. Putin gets a piece of paper to wave, and the West hasn't thrown Kiev under the Russian bus. KarmaPolice (talk) 20:57, 24 January 2022 (UTC)

The American right

Re: They aren't conservatives. Hell, they aren't even proper reactionaries. They stand for nothing except empty words. Nothing more. ☭Comrade GC☭^{Ministry of Praise} 20:24, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

I know that. My point was a studied insult; saying they suck to my lights means nothing, but saying they don't even measure up to old-school conservatives is another entirely. I couldn't see Ike doing that. Or Nixon. Even Reagan. Hell, not even Stan Smith. Plus, I think it's a possible wedge issue to peel off the neocons from the MAGA ass-hats.

But did you *have* to remove my 'reasons you suck' bit? I enjoyed doing that. KarmaPolice (talk) 21:06, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

When they try to dodge, the best approach is to hold them down until they stop squirming and actually address the matter. And the answer is, as it almost always is, the belief that America is special in some way shape or form. That's why they say this stuff. By "they" I mean advocates of imperialism in general, including campists and tankies. ☭Comrade GC☭^{Ministry of Praise} 21:23, 2 May 2022 (UTC)

Yeah, you know that's not going to work. Though I'd argue it's more Trumpian 'neo-isolationism' rather than imperialism; a view borne from living in a land rich in natural resources, ringed by two wide oceans and patrolled by the world's largest navy. At least in this case. Still has the parochialism and American exceptionalism, just turned inward than out. KarmaPolice (talk) 07:22, 4 May 2022 (UTC)

Have a 'John Major'

	'John Major Award'
	This is for you, sexypants! Bananana (talk) 15:03, 31 July 2022 (UTC)

If this is supposed to be an insult, it's a failure because I don't get it. KarmaPolice (talk) 15:28, 4 August 2022 (UTC)

A polite request

I provided some additional evidence as far as our discussion. For example research on the causes of great civil unrests (revolutions, etc.). And I provided additional argumentation.

Also, it occurred to me that you are the one who made the claim that no money could be cut from the UK budget. As a contributor to a website which affirms that evidence must be provided for claims or they should be greeted with skepticism, you do have some obligation to show that nothing can be cut from the UK budget because it is allegedly down to bare bones. I would very much welcome such evidence if you can provide it. Otherwise, at least acknowledge that you cannot support this claim. DePieper (talk) 02:22, 9 August 2022 (UTC)

RE; There is no 'discussion'. You have a complete inability to actually stay on-topic, which is partly due to the fact your actual knowledge of the topic is almost nil. One of your very few points (cut education by 50%) has already been answered by both myself and Annanoon why it is a political impossibility (if nothing else) - even from a solid neo-Thatcherite govt.

You bitch that it's up to me to prove the cuts cannot be done. No, it isn't - the burden of proof here is on you, as the proposer of slashing budgets to find tax cuts to the wealthy. Complain all you desire about me re-asking the same question, but the point is simple - you never answered. Your cherry-picking of stats doesn't even work, for example the UK doesn't have the same costs and demographics of Singapore. Has the UK made historical errors economically? Sure. But guess what; that's not the topic either.

As a 'lawyer', you would surely notice when a person was deflecting, distracting and avoiding answering in general. You think I'm too stupid to notice this, and to ignore your tears when I call you out on it? Claiming that I was going on about 'revolution' was also incorrect, as you - and any other remotely impartial reader - fully well know. I spoke of 'societal breakdown'; and if you look at a few articles on BBC News, you'd see why.

Don't worry, this didn't take long to write. And I'll scrub any reply you do to this; for this isn't an invitation to discuss, it's a sign that I can answer you, but after this point chose not do (due to it being a complete waste of my time). KarmaPolice (talk) 20:18, 9 August 2022 (UTC)

Sysop

Because of your edits to and time on the wiki, wizard Sysop has been added to your user rights. Feel free to let your newfound POWER course through your veins. Once the high wears off, see RationalWiki:Sysop guide for more information. If you have questions, bleat ask away. Vee (talk) 18:04, 12 October 2022 (UTC)

You've been here for ages, I don't know why you weren't given this lol. Vee (talk) 18:05, 12 October 2022 (UTC)

Probably because people already thought they were a sysop. The only reason why I haven't is because I thought they were one. GeeJayK (talk) 18:12, 12 October 2022 (UTC)

Yeah, me too until I decided to look at their user groups out of curiosity (I'm nosy, I know, sue me). Suffice to say it I was surprised. Vee (talk) 18:14, 12 October 2022 (UTC)

Finally got round to using said powers... blocking a KenSock. Did one do right? KarmaPolice (talk) 12:20, 1 November 2022 (UTC)

Yo motherfucker

Some dickhead nominated you for mod or some shit. Chef Moosolini’s Ristorante Italiano^{Make a Reservation} 06:35, 31 October 2022 (UTC)

Oh no... what did I do to deserve that? KarmaPolice (talk) 12:22, 1 November 2022 (UTC)

Hey

Just wanted to say hi :) Wheelsontheancom (talk) 16:13, 5 December 2022 (UTC)

A very belated hi in return! [Sorry, didn't notice, sorry!]. KarmaPolice (talk) 19:45, 7 January 2023 (UTC)

Hi! :)

Hi KarmaPolice! My name is TheFrench! I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, whereever you are! TheFrench (talk) 10:36, 23 August 2023 (UTC)

My most favourite album is Kid A

Smiley face Ψ (talk) 03:14, 30 August 2023 (UTC)

You keep saying 'minimizing'

I don't think I know what minimizing means. Would you please explain it for me? Torrent (talk) 06:49, 4 November 2023 (UTC)

No, I don't - I say 'minimising'. And is your Google broken or something? All the dictionaries been pulped where you are? KarmaPolice (talk) 10:23, 4 November 2023 (UTC)

Cool thing to knock down, language works on dictionary rules, I guess. Please define it without... Wait, without... Not outside... Minimising, did I spell that right? The question. My dictionary has... hold on, has... well, kinda.. A definition. There we go, Of minimising (you like that). That defines.... Nouns and verbs, I don't get it, you're using it in language. I'm asking you to do the opposite and I'm the dumb one? Torrent (talk) 04:58, 8 November 2023 (UTC)

'Noun. The reduction of something, especially something undesirable, to the smallest possible amount or degree.' Thus; 'Republicans are busy minimising the Jan 6th putsch attempt as being nothing more than a peaceful protest that just had a few "exuberant spirits" within it who technically broke a very minor law or two.' It is a classic tactic for those who defend the status quo to try to play down as much as possible the Shit Thing so to justify not doing anything about it. KarmaPolice (talk) 16:31, 8 November 2023 (UTC)

Okay, but... I mean I actually saw a guy who supported it shove another guy in real time, as it happened on the day. I stepped in. it wasn't because I agreed with the the guy shoving, It was because I knew the guy wasn't gonna shove me. He knows our beliefs are different, and he knows I'd never push or punch him. He could kick my ass up and down. What I won't respect was his response to a disagreement. Torrent (talk) 04:50, 9 November 2023 (UTC)

I genuinely have no idea the context of the above is. KarmaPolice (talk) 14:37, 9 November 2023 (UTC)

Mod notice

You've been nominated in the upcoming moderator elections. See the nomination at RationalWiki:Moderator elections/Nominations. Carthage (talk) 12:47, 5 November 2023 (UTC)

Header quotes

How do you feel about me using quotes from fictional material on a page if it's appropriate for/relevant to the page's content in question? BJA2112 (talk) 19:38, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

Difficult to judge without seeing the context. My rule of thumb would be to generally avoid it, mainly on the basis there's not many fictional works which you can reliably expect the majority of readers to at least know of - but I am not going to run in and rip it out if 'it works'. Can't say how any others would act/view it, though. KarmaPolice (talk) 20:26, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

I opened up a discussion on this on the Mod noticeboard. Bongolian (talk) 20:55, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for the heads-up; gave my tuppence. KarmaPolice (talk) 21:53, 29 February 2024 (UTC)

I first read these words when I was 19/20. I was on my lunch break, sitting outside the shitty factory where I toiled for the minimum wage. I can almost quote the whole thing off by-heart. I always felt like my mind was being read, as if this whole paragraph was written just for me.

He meditated resentfully on the physical texture of life. Had it always been like this? Had food always tasted like this? He looked round the canteen. A low-ceilinged, crowded room, its walls grimy from the contact of innumerable bodies; battered metal tables and chairs, placed so close together that you sat with elbows touching; bent spoons, dented trays, coarse white mugs; all surfaces greasy, grime in every crack; and a sourish, composite smell of bad gin and bad coffee and metallic stew and dirty clothes. Always in your stomach and in your skin there was a sort of protest, a feeling that you had been cheated of something that you had a right to. It was true that he had no memories of anything greatly different. In any time that he could accurately remember, there had never been quite enough to eat, one had never had socks or underclothes that were not full of holes, furniture had always been battered and rickety, rooms underheated, tube trains crowded, houses falling to pieces, bread dark-coloured, tea a rarity, coffee filthy-tasting, cigarettes insufficient - nothing cheap and plentiful except synthetic gin. And though, of course, it grew worse as one's body aged, was it not a sign that this was NOT the natural order of things, if one's heart sickened at the discomfort and dirt and scarcity, the interminable winters, the stickiness of one's socks, the lifts that never worked, the cold water, the gritty soap, the cigarettes that came to pieces, the food with its strange evil tastes? Why should one feel it to be intolerable unless one had some kind of ancestral memory that things had once been different? — George Orwell, 1984

Not... really sure why I felt the need to drop that here, but I am feeling sleep deprived right now so I suppose that will suffice as an explanation.

Have a good one. - Rairyu75 (Talk) 01:04, 11 April 2024 (UTC)

Heh. I first read 'confessions of a book reviewer' while sitting at around 2AM in a room which very resembled the one described, knowing I needed to slap together about 7.5k of notes/fragments into a fully complete essay on Orwell into a 20k Meisterwerk A-Level essay in about 28 hours. And just like the reviewer, I hit the target with about three mins to go, partly by ditching all pretenses of being interesting and just bolting together cliche after dead metaphor after stale phrase and throwing in the occasional quote which vaguely fit what I was trying to say. KarmaPolice (talk) 14:45, 11 April 2024 (UTC)