Questions you want answered (P&C Edition)

krev82 wrote:

Is there a workable response to those who are "tired of this PC sh*t"? Anecdotally those feeling that way enough to express it are themselves privileged in some way.

I just had this conversation with my kids' grandparents on Christmas! I told them that people need to understand that they have the right to be offended, and I have the right to offend them. If I choose not to exercise that right, I'm just trying to be nice. If I fail at being nice and say something offensive, I will apologize and try to do better in the future. That said, other people's expectation of PC politeness isn't censorship, so I don't feel a need to worry about making a mistake. By putting it on myself, I didn't have to call my ex-wife's father a racist, mean-spirited bigot, and was able to let him know that I consider an attempt at "political correctness" to be the mark of a polite, nice person. I hope it worked, at least.

I think it's an identity issue. I wonder if people are really that opposed to what they call "political correctness" or if they feel it's an "us vs. them" question that goes way beyond just the specific controversy. To me it seems closer to like, how heated the arguments around Participation Trophies get. (edit)

Tell us how you really feel about SJWs.

I just did.

To my mind, the adoption of changes in language requires that speakers *want* to change. If they don't, they'll simply point to the media and people around them to justify their particular bias (and the right wing media has used that language deliberately to reinforce the basic biases of their core). The more you poke at them for it, the more it reminds them that the world has gone out of step with their beliefs, and that makes them dig in to resist the discomfort that thought creates.

They won't change their language because they don't want to acknowledge the world has changed around them. They'll go to their graves making jokes about "handicripples" and "Don't worry, Father, I hit him with the door". And that's the way the world is. Calling them on it is basically useless. Changing their language means changing their biases.

Seems kind of dismissive...

It's maybe a bit incendiary. Edited out.

I tend to respond with, "Really? Are you from the past?"

Are victims of violent crime expected to pay their own medical bills in the US?

krev82 wrote:

Are victims of violent crime expected to pay their own medical bills in the US?

Yes, although there are various funds setup to help with paying those costs, and you can sue the perpetrator for medical expenses.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
krev82 wrote:

Are victims of violent crime expected to pay their own medical bills in the US?

Yes, although there are various funds setup to help with paying those costs, and you can sue the perpetrator for medical expenses.

Fun fact: Creditors will still be their awful selves while you're in court trying to get the perpetrator to pay.

So..one survives something like the attack on Pulse only to find a massive pile of medical bills awaiting them/their families? I hope those funds Clock mentioned are well at work here.

I would have to dig it up but I believe medical debt in the US has grown at twice the rate of income over the past decade. Like income growth (including inflation) has cumulatively been at 20% growth while medical debt has grown by 40% over that time. I made those numbers up, but it's something like that.

Edit: A quick search leads me to headlines like "Medical Bills Are the Biggest Cause of US Bankruptcies".

garion333 wrote:

I would have to dig it up but I believe medical debt in the US has grown at twice the rate of income over the past decade. Like income growth (including inflation) has cumulatively been at 20% growth while medical debt has grown by 40% over that time. I made those numbers up, but it's something like that.

Edit: A quick search leads me to headlines like "Medical Bills Are the Biggest Cause of US Bankruptcies".

Quick note: That was before Obamacare, when it was even worse.

Would this encourage more folks to vote?

IMAGE(http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/08/09/1226694/364343-12dd369a-00b9-11e3-9cff-2014e57d9885.jpg)

The Sausage Sizzle is an honoured part of the Australian electoral process. Usually used as a fundraiser for the school or community centre that is being used as a polling place for the day and taking advantage of a captive market for those us called out compulsorily to vote.

Ugh our voting is on Saturday. What is a voter to do when you dislike both major parties?

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61OHAk7orqL._SX522_.jpg)

If it wasn't for medical bankruptcy, GoFundMe would not have a reason to exist.

Bfgp wrote:

Ugh our voting is on Saturday. What is a voter to do when you dislike both major parties?

Find a third party.

garion333 wrote:
Bfgp wrote:

Ugh our voting is on Saturday. What is a voter to do when you dislike both major parties?

Find a third party.

Does Australia have a first past the post system like the US?

He did years ago. Scott Adams is like Orson Scott Card. I used to think he was a pretty cool guy, but then he turned out to be anti what I'm all about and that sucks.

Obviously your v-neck sweaters are letting too much circulation through to your brains.

Yonder wrote:

Obviously your v-neck sweaters are letting too much circulation through to your brains.

Which means less blood in your penis, which means MASCULINITY CRISIS!!!

"Comments temporarily disabled"

You don't say, Scott.

Scott Adams wrote:

I’m blinded by confirmation bias – which is entirely possible

Indeed.

What a whiner he is.

To be fair, it must be pretty humiliating being Scott Adams.

Jonman wrote:

"Comments temporarily disabled"

You don't say, Scott.

If you think he's lost it, don't go back and read prior blog posts.

It's too bad, I have been a huge Dilbert fan for years. The sad thing is I think he thinks he is funny.

I regret reading that. What an asshat.

(Also, he lost his f*cking marbles forever ago.)