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Post by Roquefort Raider on May 15, 2020 9:49:59 GMT -5
If social distancing is efficient enough to prevent a resurgence in coronavirus cases now that there are millions of carriers, why did we need to stay confined at home when there were only a few thousands? The way it’s presented by several governments, it’s as if it’s all right to deconfine because enough time has elapsed, as if we already benefitted from heard immunity -which we probably do not. If reopening our countries is seen as justified because we now have a better grasp of what we need in terms of medical resources to handle the epidemic, that’s cool. If it is justified because we realize that confinement may not have turned out to limit the number of deaths all that much, that’s cool as well. And finally, if we just have to deconfine because we have no choice economically, that’s unfortunate but cool as well. I’d just like to be told what the real deal is. Truth from government? What alternate universe are you living in?  Heh! Heh! That's quite true, it's a bit naive on my part... I'm just a little disappointed by my own provincial government, which from the start has been quite open about what it knew and what it didn't, and has readily admitted being wrong on several occasions. Heck, when old folks' homes started seeing an increase in casualties, the prime minister immediately took the blame (even before anyone started pointing fingers), admitting he had dropped the ball big time on that one. |
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2020 10:11:20 GMT -5
I was waiting for someone to point that out. Well done. Murca. Love it or go for your weapon. Though I adore America and Americans, I'd be lying if I said that, when driving on your roads, I didn't have it in the back of my mind that I shouldn't get into a confruntation with any other drivers, in case I get shot! Even the prospect of getting pulled over by an armed police officer seems fraught with danger. For a start, there's the whole "don't get out of the car" thing, which is the polar opposite to what you're supposed to do in the UK, but there's also the spectre of getting shot due to some "divided by a common language" style misunderstanding. Full disclaimer: I have been, how shall we say, rather cheeky and disrespectful to police officers here in the UK on occasion, but then there's no danger of getting "accidentally" shot in the UK. In the U.S. I think I'd be much politer to the police (although, to be fair, I'd likely be much more fascinated by them -- "Wow! A real life American police officer! Coooool! ). Don't get me wrong, the prospect of getting shot is not something that worries me overly when I'm in the U.S., but it is definitely there in the back of my mind. As an aside, I was planning to come back to the U.S. early next year, but that now looks as if it won't be happeneing thanks to coronavirus.  It's like anything. The bad news gets headlines never mind that 99% of the time stuff like this does not happen. The way the media makes it sound it happens to everyone all the time. It's also stereotyping Americans. Again most of us are reasonable friendly law abiding citizens. It's the knuckleheads that get the attention. Unfortunately that's human nature. In my work I rarely remember that the majority of patients I deal with are nice. I just remember the one or two everyday that were jerks. Oh well. End of my little rant. |
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Post by impulse on May 15, 2020 10:56:45 GMT -5
Florida in summation:
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Post by beccabear67 on May 15, 2020 13:34:22 GMT -5
I've never felt aware of any gun danger while in various parts of the U.S., though in a big city like San Francisco or Seattle I do want a decent knife with me. I am a little more aware that the police have guns sometimes, or that people around me probably have something too (especially in rural parts). I guess I haven't experienced open carry that I've noticed; haven't been in those states perhaps? I have fired various guns and done well but if i never have a need to own one I am fine with that. I think the access mostly increases suicide and accident rates more than anything.
I'm having some bad arthritis at times lately so if I'm not on for stretches it will be that. Sometimes I read without logging in too, plus might not remember to like something I liked later when I do.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,222 
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Post by Confessor on May 15, 2020 13:43:07 GMT -5
That's a shame about your trip here getting cancelled, but if you do decide to brave it, I would expect the airfare to be cheap. I'd heard that they're offering great rates right now. Well, it's not like we had anything booked. I was actually supposed to be on holiday in Yorkshire right now, but that's obviously been scuppered by coronovirus. Then at the beginning of June my wife and I had booked flights to Portugal for our Wedding Anniversary, but again, that won't be happening. To be honest, even if things are back to normal by next year, what with me having been out of work since March and likely to be out of work for some months to come, it's unlikely that we'll be able to afford a holiday in America in 2021 anyway. It's like anything. The bad news gets headlines never mind that 99% of the time stuff like this does not happen. The way the media makes it sound it happens to everyone all the time. Oh, absolutely. I'm very well aware that. I'm always saying that the media attention given to crime means that the fear of crime is waaaay out of proportion to the actual risk of crime. It's exactly the same here in the UK. Like I say, being the victim of gun crime or getting shot is really not something that occupies my mind much when I'm over in the States or makes me feel uneasy, but I'd lying if I said that the thought wasn't lurking somewhere back there in my mind. It's also stereotyping Americans. Again most of us are reasonable friendly law abiding citizens. It's the knuckleheads that get the attention. Unfortunately that's human nature. In my work I rarely remember that the majority of patients I deal with are nice. I just remember the one or two everyday that were jerks. Oh well. End of my little rant. Well, it's not really stereotyping: the fact is that 43% of Americans live in a house with a gun. Over here in the UK, basically nobody owns a gun. It's just not something you ever even have to think about in the UK. The only time 99% of the UK public ever see a gun is when they go to an airport and see armed police. The other 1% (it might be less) who do live with guns are mostly farmers, who might own a shotgun. Criminals with guns are incredibly rare over here, though unfortunately not unheard of. Now, that's not to say that just because an American owns a gun that they'll use it, but the fact remains that in the UK, the percentage of firearm-related deaths per 100,000 population per year is 0.23. In the U.S., it's 12.21 (my source for those figures is Gunpolicy.org by the University of Sydney School of Public Health). So yeah, it's really not something that you should worry about in everyday life if you're living in or visiting America (and some States have way lower gun-related fatalities than others, of course). But still, the bottom line is that you're statistical more likely to get shot in America than you are in the UK. EDIT: I hope the above doesn't come across like I'm dissing America. I'm really not. I love the place and I love Americans. You're a fantastic people. If I had my way, I'd live in the United States half of the time and have duel-citizenship.  |
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Post by Prince Hal on May 15, 2020 14:02:38 GMT -5
And we do seem to have a very high tolerance for the presence of military-grade weapons on our streets.
This week we crossed another line in that regard in Michigan, where the Red Dawn Cosplay Society and the Tattoo Parlor Patriotic Brigade, after several displays of their long guns, camo and cool-ass pouches in the Michigan Statehouse, effectively shut down the state government, which voted to close Wednesday rather than have to deal with yet another siege on Thursday.
From Bloomberg:
"For the past week, lawmakers have been debating how to safely enable lawmakers to work and vote in session while the state’s laws allow people to bring firearms into the capitol building. The debate grew more tense in recent days as some lawmakers read about threats to the governor’s life on social media, which were published in the Detroit Metro Times...
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an opinion on May 11 saying that the State Capitol Commission -- a body of six lawmakers who oversee the building and its grounds -- could ban firearms. The commission voted to study a ban this week, but took no action. Thursday’s protest, billed as “Judgment Day,” was organized by the right-wing group Michigan United for Liberty, which is protesting the state’s extended stay-at-home order. Whitmer pushed the order to the end of May while giving automakers, their suppliers and other manufacturers the green light to go back to work. On its Facebook page, the group posted a memo asking that protesters remain peaceful."
How is a group of armed Americans forcing the closure of the state government of Michigan not terrorism?
This is the kind of thing we'd be mocking if we saw it happening in another country. An invasion of the privileged @$$holes.
Remember when teachers packed the Wisconsin statehouse to protest the end of collective bargaining among other things and police dragged dozens of them away, those intimidating teachers and their clever signs. Not a gun among them, but they were a threat.
And can you imagine if these punks weren't all white guys? Holy Spit.
Maybe you've seen those cutesy bumper stickers like one we have around here: "Chatham's a drinking village with a fishing problem."
Here's one for the USA: "America's a gun-worshipping country with a democracy problem."
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Post by impulse on May 15, 2020 14:04:10 GMT -5
Just because someone has a gun absolutely does NOT mean they are going to shoot someone, but boy, is it hard to shoot somebody without one.
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Post by EdoBosnar on May 15, 2020 15:34:33 GMT -5
Just because someone has a gun absolutely does NOT mean they are going to shoot someone, but boy, is it hard to shoot somebody without one. Not if you use rubber bands, like I do. |
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Post by brutalis on May 15, 2020 15:59:17 GMT -5
Just because someone has a gun absolutely does NOT mean they are going to shoot someone, but boy, is it hard to shoot somebody without one. Not if you use rubber bands, like I do. I prefer a potato gun, that way I can shoot everyone with mashed potatoes and they bleed gravy!  2nd choice is a squirt gun with grape jelly so everyone can make PB&J sammy's afterward! |
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Post by Batflunkie on May 15, 2020 16:13:08 GMT -5
Not if you use rubber bands, like I do. I prefer a potato gun, that way I can shoot everyone with mashed potatoes and they bleed gravy! 2nd choice is a squirt gun with grape jelly so everyone can make PB&J sammy's afterward! There's also those Marshmallow guns. We get tons of those in all the time at work. I fail to see how much of an impact a marshmallow can make |
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Post by brutalis on May 15, 2020 16:34:20 GMT -5
I prefer a potato gun, that way I can shoot everyone with mashed potatoes and they bleed gravy! 2nd choice is a squirt gun with grape jelly so everyone can make PB&J sammy's afterward! There's also those Marshmallow guns. We get tons of those in all the time at work. I fail to see how much of an impact a marshmallow can make Think that's the general idea. But a good aim and shoot for the eyes, nose, ear or mouth might cause some issues. Add a flame torch at the end of the gun so the marshmallows shoot as burning/roasted crunchy outside and gooey inside. THAT would certainly cause some serious damage! Or freeze the marshmallows first before firing?  |
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Post by BigPapaJoe on May 16, 2020 9:48:37 GMT -5
Oh okay. Well that's convenient then! "Sir, did you just cut me in line?" "Yup. Gonna do something about it? Yeah I didn't think so. You don't have the bal-*BLAM!!! BLAM!!!* Ever since you moved out of the US you sure take a lot of shots at it. No pun intended. Don't worry, I've been dunking on my country before I left it. |
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Post by Icctrombone on May 16, 2020 10:50:32 GMT -5
Well at least you follow your convictions and left a country you don’t like.
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Post by BigPapaJoe on May 18, 2020 2:43:39 GMT -5
Well at least you follow your convictions and left a country you don’t like. There are aspects of America I still love of course. Great place to visit for the amenities and entertainment. I just don't think I could live there long term anymore if I had the opportunity not to. Nothing wrong with wanting to get in where you feel you fit in. |
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Post by beccabear67 on May 18, 2020 19:33:07 GMT -5
40 years ago this morning Mount St. Helens erupted. I heard it, aged 12, all the way up in Victoria, B.C., Canada. It was loud enough that I wondered if a gas station a number of blocks away had blown up. A friend's father was in Yakima at the time and brought back a bag of ash from a hotel parking lot. A lot of kids got a little sample of it and I still have mine. Harry R. Truman and his cats are still buried under this stuff in what used to be the Spirit Lake Lodge.  |
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