I'm told that one of the flaws with Turing tests is our tendency to ascribe humanity to objects; anthropomorphisms. We project our minds onto nothing. Shapes in the clouds have meaning for some as well. Astrology.
How many stories have we read where the protagonist is any one of several species of small furry animals?  Seems legit at the time.
Think Bambi.
Consciousness, it's everywhere!

And then I talk to people and the hatred they feel for their fellow man just scares me. Caging children. Describing immigrants as an infestation. Forcing raped 13 year olds to get married to and have the children of their rapists. Turning blind eyes towards the continuous abuse of POC. Forcing the ill into bankruptcy. Incarcerating substance abuse sufferers.

And then finally blaming others for making them do it.
I am starting to think these people would fail a Turing Test. The misanthropy is too pronounced to be real. It's like something from a Bond villain.

It's probably useless to dwell too deeply on the internal experience of others but dear God, there is something broken in there.

And then there's treason.

We are under attack from a foreign country. They want us hobbled or destroyed. They can't match us in conventional war. They can't match us in economic war. So they choose subversion and disorder, the battleground of their expertise.

This shouldn't be effective. A sensible people would see the attack for what it is and respond in a way that makes it clear to our enemies that the cost, chosen by us to inflict maximum pain, isn't worth it. The message should be clear; you won't declare war on us and prosper.

But now? No.

A sizable minority of our population has thrown their lot in with our enemies. The reasons for this are usually ascribed to the lowest form of tribalism. One political tribe has decided that cleaving to our enemies is better than admitting a mistake. That normally wouldn't be enough. Calmer heads would prevail. Patriotism is inculcated in us from childhood. Tribalism has it's limits.

But then you add in the misanthropy.

Their hatred for their fellow man blinds them to their disloyalty. They simply cannot see what they are doing. It's almost involuntary. News which calls into question their perspective gets flushed down the memory hole. The very existence of such news is hidden away. They shelter their minds in bubbles of self reinforcing noise. Is the hate so very comfortable? I don't know. It's probably more like heroin. After a while, you don't enjoy it, you just need it.

The 'why' doesn't matter.  It's the treason that matters.

Our spies, cops and soldiers tell us we are under attack. An attack on our system of governance. And that part of the attack was focused on installing our current chief executive. And that chief executive is terminally compromised.

Instead of taking action proportionate and appropriate, we argue amongst ourselves. While our enemies laugh at us. This is how empires fall; rotting from within.

Well said, Lycan...  

@NHLycan

Thank you for taking the time to post an accurate and heartfelt overview of the current political climate in America.

Indeed after today's disgraceful abasement of the Presidency and consequently the entire United States at Helsinki we must indeed wonder at what is going on.

I suppose that we will just have to see this current presidency as if we are looking back in history, for surely there will be worse to come before the truth at what Russia must have over Trump comes out, or maybe it really is all about money for Trump, maybe he really couldn't give a f.uck about America or the damage he's doing as long as he can use the office of the President for personal gain.

We'll find out eventually.

eau de sauvage wrote on 07/16/18 at 14:36:50:


ripe......

And then I talk to people and the hatred they feel for their fellow man just scares me

I don't hate my fellow man and I resent you saying I do just because I have a different political ideology than you. I'm sure when the last President was killing with drones, you wouldn't have accepted the charge that you hated your fellow man.

What's your solution to illegal immigration?

NHLycan could just as easily be any number of those hyper partisans with selective memory who convinced themselves they're special. I'm sure Nhl locks his doors at night, probably has a fence around his yard, if he's got kids he's selective with who they play with, avoids dangerous neighborhoods etc...  But when the nation tries to take the same logical steps to protect itself and citizens, it's a sign of evil.

You're talking out of both sides of your mouth. Pick one and live it.

 I don't think anyone has said Obama didn't make bad choices.  Where is this coming from?

Eegore wrote on 07/16/18 at 16:54:51:


it's from the Soviet playbook. it's called whataboutism.  

there's really no comparison, Do you want to be a Russian property?

yes, we do it too, so what, don't you want more nations on our side? On the side of AMERICA?  don't you want to spread American ideals? or are you fine with them self-determining themselves into the next Saudi Arabia or Chad or etc .....