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Thread: Is it wrong that this makes me laugh?

  1. #1

    Default Is it wrong that this makes me laugh?

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...arket-supplies

    ***
    Harried Venezuelans who devote hours scouring supermarkets for increasingly scarce food basics and toilet paper have received some digital help, thanks to a young software developer.

    A free application for mobile devices, written by Jose Augusto Montiel, lets people notify one another where flour, sugar, milk, cooking oil and toilet paper are for sale. It has been downloaded more than 12,000 times.

    Abasteceme, or "Supply Me", is Android-based and relies on Google Maps for geolocation. It leverages what is known in the tech world as crowdsourcing, with users notifying one another where a certain product is for sale.

    Basic items such as wheat flour and butter have been in short supply throughout Venezuela. Economists blame government-imposed price control, while President Nicolas Maduro says greedy merchants are hoarding goods.

    "From what I've seen so far it's mostly toilet paper, followed by flour," Montiel said about what gets posted most.

    The 21-year-old chemical engineering student in the western city of Maracaibo said most of Abasteceme's users were in Caracas when he first made the app available on the Google Play website on 29 May, but the downloads have now spread all over the country.

    He said it's been an overwhelming task to keep the server that hosts the application from crashing and attending to users, who he says are clamouring for him to include more products.

    "People are asking for chicken, butter and soap above all," he said.

    Montiel said he also deletes a lot of entries when people notify him that supplies of a certain product have sold out

    and the program is designed to automatically erase notifications in two hours.

    Montiel said he has no help beyond a sister who assists with the program's aesthetics.

    "I'm also working to develop it for the Blackberry as a lot of people have them in Venezuela," he said.

    He said he wants to work on an iPhone version but can't afford a Mac to do that. He said he's earning just enough to cover costs.
    ***

    But hey lets give communism/socialism a chance!

  2. #2
    Funny because they are using tools of capitalism to mitigate the failures of socialism or just the plain depressing failure of socialism?

  3. #3
    Did that actually make you laugh....or is this just another one of your baited thread titles?

  4. #4
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  5. #5
    Its entertaining how you don't see how different these two examples are. There isn't a shortage of medical care due to prince controls. Just like there isn't a shortage of luxury cars due to prince controls. People are looking for toilet paper, have money to pay for toilet paper and CANT. This is fail. Not being to pay for the world class care you already received... is not apples and oranges its apples and soor plooms.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Lewkowski View Post
    Its entertaining how you don't see how different these two examples are. There isn't a shortage of medical care due to prince controls. Just like there isn't a shortage of luxury cars due to prince controls. People are looking for toilet paper, have money to pay for toilet paper and CANT. This is fail. Not being to pay for the world class care you already received... is not apples and oranges its apples and soor plooms.
    Yes go on explain to me why one thing is funny and another isn't mr. "i like explosions and farts"

    "People are looking for toilet paper, have money to pay for toilet paper and CANT"

    It could be worse! You've been looking for an apostrophe for like 12 years and those are FREE
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  7. #7
    Its funny because the Soviet Union is a classic case of waiting in line for toilet paper and people still come along and think socialism and communism should be "given a chance." Its a pathetic joke. Its funny from where I sit but hopefully the people in that sad country remember that in the future and never turn to such crazies again.

  8. #8
    I learnt in high school 15 years ago about queuing for toilet paper in the Soviet Union before it fell nearly a quarter of a century ago.

    Yet now history is repeating itself. And yet even still people want to repeat those mistakes here.

    Its not Lewk that's crazy.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  9. #9
    The UK is becoming a Communist country?

  10. #10
    Never said that. But many idiots still want socialism/communism despite its repeated failures (and history repeating here). Communism has wreaked more havoc and human misery than fascism yet fascists are regarded as evil pariahs and communists as at worst misguided normally
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  11. #11
    Let sleeping tigers lie Khendraja'aro's Avatar
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    By that yardstick, we should also treat several kinds of religions to the same routine. Including Christianity.
    When the stars threw down their spears
    And watered heaven with their tears:
    Did he smile his work to see?
    Did he who made the lamb make thee?

  12. #12
    Most fascist governments did not create severe suffering for either their own people or the people of other countries. I can't think of a single communist government I could say the same about.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  13. #13
    Let sleeping tigers lie Khendraja'aro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    Most fascist governments did not create severe suffering for either their own people or the people of other countries. I can't think of a single communist government I could say the same about.
    Apples != Oranges.
    When the stars threw down their spears
    And watered heaven with their tears:
    Did he smile his work to see?
    Did he who made the lamb make thee?

  14. #14
    Only because you sympathize with one form of government and not the other.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro View Post
    By that yardstick, we should also treat several kinds of religions to the same routine. Including Christianity.
    You have to consider causal mechanisms rather than simple association.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  16. #16
    Let sleeping tigers lie Khendraja'aro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    Only because you sympathize with one form of government and not the other.
    Naw, how many actual fascist countries (which were not puppet regimes of Nazi germany) did we have?

    Italy, Germany, Spain. Rest were puppet states during WW2. Those three were also not nice countries to live in.

    And just because I'm pointing out that Apples are not Oranges doesn't mean that I like Apples or Oranges. Nice try, though. May the strawman be with you.
    Quote Originally Posted by Aimless View Post
    You have to consider causal mechanisms rather than simple association.
    That's nice. So, point out to me where Communism cries for the blood of the unbeliever. The Bible alone is a pretty blood thirsty book.
    When the stars threw down their spears
    And watered heaven with their tears:
    Did he smile his work to see?
    Did he who made the lamb make thee?

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro View Post
    Naw, how many actual fascist countries (which were not puppet regimes of Nazi germany) did we have?
    Arias (Panama), Salazar (Portugal), Dolfuss (Austria), Vargas (Brazil), arguably Horthy (Hungary) and Peron (Argentina), and Antonescu (Romania). Even Franco and Mussolini were better than just about every communist dictatorship.

    That's nice. So, point out to me where Communism cries for the blood of the unbeliever. The Bible alone is a pretty blood thirsty book.
    It calls for the dictatorship of the proletariat, the elimination of the bourgeoisie, and the elimination of any and all political opposition. It is simply impossible to have a communist country without killing off or imprisoning political opponents and the wealthy. Are you going to respond with the ridiculous argument that no communist government ever existed?
    Hope is the denial of reality

  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro View Post
    By that yardstick, we should also treat several kinds of religions to the same routine. Including Christianity.
    Are you mistaking me for some sort of theist? I'm quite clearly an atheist and have publicly said on this forum and its predecessors for more than 13 years now that the sooner the world is rid of the scourge of religion the better.

    However the exception is the "misguided fools" argument is far more legitimate for religion than for Communism. Every single Communist regime without fail has led ultimately to utter collapse and disaster at some stage. The same can not be said for religion.

    Religion is bad, communism is worse.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro View Post
    That's nice. So, point out to me where Communism cries for the blood of the unbeliever. The Bible alone is a pretty blood thirsty book.
    I don't know if communism cries for the blood of the unbeliever, nor was I referring to what the communist guidebook says. I was referring to the fact that communism on a national scale cannot in practice be implemented without totalitarianism and the violent subjugation of innocent people. Moreover, the economic--and, in extension, the social--consequences of communism have in almost every instance been dire.

    Though the Bible may be a blood-thirsty book, the average Christian community today is fairly non-bloody and tame, even if you take into account things like homophobia and misogyny. If you want to talk about causal mechanisms there you might want to examine eg. most of the teachings of Jesus and the strong support for such notions as loving the sinner while hating the sin and spreading the gospel though not necessarily by the sword. I don't think the comparison to communism holds.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  20. #20
    Stingy DM Veldan Rath's Avatar
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    What was all said above, and with that you can exchange Non-believer with Counter Revolutionary.
    Brevior saltare cum deformibus viris est vita

  21. #21
    1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
    2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
    3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.
    4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
    5. Centralisation of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.
    6. Centralisation of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
    7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
    8. Equal liability of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
    9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.
    10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.
    How anyone can think even half of that program can be implemented without an intolerable level of violence and oppression is beyond me. By contrast, fascism generally calls for a moderate socialist economy policy and discrimination against a small portion of the population. In fact, it would be better to be a member of a discriminated-against group in most fascist societies than it would be to be a member of the majority in just about every communist society.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  22. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    Never said that. But many idiots still want socialism/communism despite its repeated failures (and history repeating here). Communism has wreaked more havoc and human misery than fascism yet fascists are regarded as evil pariahs and communists as at worst misguided normally
    I was being cheeky But the same criticism for Lewk goes to you, or anyone else hyphenating Socialism and Communism as if they're the same. Other false equivalents might be Marijuana/Drugs or Sex/Prostitution.

    It's not just a semantic beef. It muddies the waters, and before ya know it there are pages of posts condemning Communism....which afaik isn't advocated by any member here.



    PS to Lewk: Why didn't you just post the OP article in your older "AMUSING STORY" thread?

  23. #23
    Quote Originally Posted by GGT View Post
    I was being cheeky But the same criticism for Lewk goes to you, or anyone else hyphenating Socialism and Communism as if they're the same. Other false equivalents might be Marijuana/Drugs or Sex/Prostitution.

    It's not just a semantic beef. It muddies the waters, and before ya know it there are pages of posts condemning Communism....which afaik isn't advocated by any member here.
    Yeah, but Ssssocialism is teh evul gateway drug to communism. It's how they want you to get hooked on big guvmint. One minute you're considering the benefits of subsidised healthcare for the poor, the next you spend your mornings queueing for a loaf of bread.

  24. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by Timbuk2 View Post
    Yeah, but Ssssocialism is teh evul gateway drug to communism. It's how they want you to get hooked on big guvmint. One minute you're considering the benefits of subsidised healthcare for the poor, the next you spend your mornings queueing for a loaf of bread.
    Doesn't always happen like that but it certainly can. Once you get the idea that the government should provide all basic necessities it doesn't become that much of a stretch.

  25. #25
    Quote Originally Posted by GGT View Post
    I was being cheeky But the same criticism for Lewk goes to you, or anyone else hyphenating Socialism and Communism as if they're the same. Other false equivalents might be Marijuana/Drugs or Sex/Prostitution.

    It's not just a semantic beef. It muddies the waters, and before ya know it there are pages of posts condemning Communism....which afaik isn't advocated by any member here.



    PS to Lewk: Why didn't you just post the OP article in your older "AMUSING STORY" thread?
    Socialism fails too, it just takes longer.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

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