<p>
[quote]
No one is immune to greed on any level.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Exactly.</p>
<p>The big problem is reaching a balance, without going to extremes. Negru, you are really giving the impression that you do not care. Perhaps is not true, but that's the way is coming across.</p>
<p>Clay, I think you are trying to make too many points and some of them are getting confused. You are clearly speaking from your perspective and expressing what you believe in. I share with you the nobility of the ideal of equality but you have to realize that reaching that ideal would require its "forceful impossition" on those who do not share that view. That action, on itself, truncates the "equality" of others. Someone always ends up assuming a position of superiority of thinking, decision making, etc. It does not work.</p>
<p>One interesting thing that i would like to mention, is how people evolve through the years. Most young people are idealistic and always questioning the status quo. I guess that's part of growing up. The irony, is that as time goes by, so does that way of thinking. I thought it was hilarious (or what else?) to learn that many of the most outrageous and vocal protesters of the 60s that advocated a lot of the things that Clay talks about, eventually became major capitalistic entrepeneurs. During a recent documentary I saw, the protagonists could not believe it themselves.</p>
<p>I believe earlier pages in this thread reveal that it depends on what classes you are taking and how much work you are accustomed to (not to mention your own level of difficulty)</p>
<p>renix, our sincere apologies to you. However, the discussion evolved from the original subject... </p>
<p>BTW, this has been a lot more interesting than all the other lame discussions that are up now. There was no need to start a new thread. It happened spontaneously......</p>
<p>renix, were you looking for an answer to the question? no?</p>
<p>someone new to the thread should start from the beginning, where they'd see several responses to the OP's question. as an added bonus, they can see how this discussion developed, and can contribute if they so choose to.</p>
<p>Considering I go to school here, not so much.</p>
<p>moviebuff - it is considered standard etiquette on internet forums to maintain the original discussion so that each thread, when clicked upon, will contain pertinent information and not ramblings of 18 year old's views on communism and capitalism. then this place is just a mess of opinions with some actual information thrown around in the midst of silly arguments.</p>
<p>"standard etiquette on internet forums?" get a grip. we're having a conversation, why do you need to kill it? </p>
<p>Like I noted, the answer to the initial question lies in the first few pages of the thread. I'd bet "standard etiquette on internet forums" would tell you to start from the beginning of the thread before jumping into the middle or to the end, so you don't miss information and then bring up something that has already been mentioned... as the person asking how hard brown was in the midst of the discussion did.</p>
<p>I think we need to look at who suffers more. An socioeconomically oppressed person, or a rich person who has to pay a little more in taxes. I could flip it and say you're imposing your view of inequality for all on the socioeconomically opressed. </p>
<p>And I think you're right, I am confusing lines of thought here. I think there is a lot to be said on this subject, but too many posts to respond to and too little time to form a coherent enough argument that outlines each aspect...but that's just me, hell, i'm a lazy art major. Either way, it doesn't negate what I'm saying.</p>
<p>renix- just chill. You are a Brown student. Let's try to keep our reputation of tolerance and for being laid back. Some of us have enjoyed our "18 year old ramblings"...</p>
<p>After all, the fact that we can have all sort of discussions is one of the things that makes Brown the great place that it is.</p>
<p>"get a grip. we're having a conversation, why do you need to kill it?"</p>
<p>don't get fiesty with me boy. I never said you needed to kill it. Just start another thread - that IS what they are for...to separate topics for navigation purposes. Yes, the question has been answered but suppose someone else who has no interest in reading this thread titled "how hard is brown" would to like chime in about communism and whatnot. Will they know where to find the thread? No. Go to a more general forum and start a thread so you have more input from the rest of the forum. just a suggestion.</p>
<p>i'm not unchill...im listening to reggae at the moment. i still maintain my position despite the comments. "dude..just chiiilll." LOL</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think we need to look at who suffers more. An socioeconomically oppressed person, or a rich person who has to pay a little more in taxes.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Following the reasoning behind the argument, this is just your view, based on your morals. You can not decide IF a rich person suffers "more" or "less". Suffering is very subjective. A rich person may suffer so much for paying more taxes that may decide to kill himself and that life is not worth living... (Again, I am just saying this for the sake of the argument)</p>
<p>The point is that "ideally" these philosophies make some sense, but they can not be applied as a model. Societies may borrow a principle or two..The whole package is difficult for everyone to swallow. Remember that the first step is the "dictatorship of the proletariat". Someone needs to force down their views for several generations hoping that eventually that greater level of conscience is reached. Then is not a dictatorship anymore.</p>
<p>Up to a few years ago, with the socialists in charge, taxes for monthly income of over 800$ were about 40% in Romania, so that the poorer would have to pay less. How would you like to have HALF of your earnings go to taxes?</p>
<p>Getting back to phys 153 again (i don't know if anyone is interested anymore, and it's a mess anyway, so)
Today some kid brought his daddy along to talk to the teacher, because he got a low grade on the test. It sucks that I got to class too late, and missed the actual conversation. I would have had no restraint in, lets just say, being not nice verbally. I won't even comment on the situation, it makes me sick. I'm going to the dean of something's office in a few days and see what the **** is up with that, and I'm not going to be nice nor PC about this.</p>
<p>If that parent even complained, I'm sure as hell going to make a **** out of his kid, whether just in class, or in the dean's office.</p>
<p>I mean, that's just ridiculous, but that's not an issue of aiding the sinking while still swimming. That's a maturity problem on this boy's part; he needs to learn to deal with his problems and fight his own battles.</p>
<p>Also, this has been bugging me for a while, since you first said it a while back in the thread. Out of principle, don't call people "retarded." It's horrible that you would use the term in such a nonchalant manner (especially for someone like myself, with a mentally handicapped relative, to see it used in such a flagrant way), and you should stop flinging it around as if it meant nothing. If you want to call someone stupid, be my guest. But if you can't be smart enough to come up with a better way of insulting someone in that respect, you should probably look at yourself before you throw stones.</p>
<p>And renix, don't be so patronizing by calling me "boy." Get off of your high horse for a second and stop being so haughty. If you want respect in a discussion, you have to give it, especially if you want people to listen to what you have to say. You, my friend, make far too many statements that are devoid of respect for whomever it is you are addressing. I therefore will say thanks for the suggestion, but the conversation will continue if its participants want it to. Apparently there is still more to discuss. And you can celebrate a little, because negru is bringing us back to his initial story, which dealt with the level of difficulty of one of his courses.</p>
<p>Negru, honestly, the big chip on your shoulder will only get in your own way. I haven't read this thread in more than a passing way but, do take this upperclassman's advice: worry about yourself and don't walk around thinking you're smarter than everyone else.</p>
<p>So anyone you don't know, you refuse the courtesy of granting them some respect, even in a public forum? I don't think I need to ask fred how much of a jackass you are; that basically sums it up. You're a grumpy "old man," aren't you?</p>
<p>"i don't know the rest of you too well, but you're all okay as far as im concerned "</p>
<p>i dont respect you because you havent really earned it in my opinion. however....you were okay/neutral before. now...:)</p>
<p>BUT that's only in the context of this forum. if i met you in person i would have no preconceived opinions of what you'll be like. im sure you're an alright dude.</p>
<p>either way, why does it matter what i think of you?? you dont even know me, nor i you. we just read each others text.</p>
<p>Stupid and retarded are synonyms as far as I and the dictionary are concerned. This is not the point anyway. If you're telling me not use the word just because it looks like by using it in a negative way I'm implying something bad about the whole things it describes (like mentally handicapped people), I don't care. I will stop using it because you ask me too and I don't plan on being more nasty than I am already, but it's stupid nevertheless. I'm using the word in this context. If you infer more from it than I'm saying, it's not my problem.
Sometimes I feel like people here carry a portable lack-of-PC detector with them, and at the slightest bip, no matter the context, they start flashing it in your face. You should stop doing that, it's exactly what propagates racism and sexism and whatever. People are what the are, words have been invented to describe them. A gay is a gay, a black is a black, a retard is a retard. If i use the word black in a negative way, it doesn't mean I'm saying all blacks are bad. You are the racist if you start flashing me when I do that.</p>
<p>Well I mentioned the kid's daddy because it perfectly shows where this mentality eventually leads. As soon as the prof stops congratulating you for the sheer dumbness you radiate, and starts tongue lashing you, and for a perfectly good reason, you call daddy because you're not used to it. Well you should get used to it. Or what, when you're eventually 30, and your boss starts bashing you for something what do you do? Call mommy?</p>