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Giant Bomb X | Built-In Automatic Death Thing For Secret People
- Thread starter Hot Coldman
- Start date
I don't think Dan is much of a character as you guys suggest.
I think he is just honest.
I know lots of people who think like Dan. A lot. He is just one of the few to say it out loud in public.
The problem with Dan's logic is it assumes people have his best interests at heart. When many politicians don't. By not voting he isn't "letting the smart people decide". Is is letting the ones who are pushing their agendas do so with no opposition.
I think he is just honest.
I know lots of people who think like Dan. A lot. He is just one of the few to say it out loud in public.
The problem with Dan's logic is it assumes people have his best interests at heart. When many politicians don't. By not voting he isn't "letting the smart people decide". Is is letting the ones who are pushing their agendas do so with no opposition.
He's just so proud of his ignorance is what bothers me.
DarkChronic
Member
Eh. I agree with Dan's tweets. The "vote or die" mentality really is kind of silly. Why would I vote if I'm uninformed?
The alternative isn't "Dan Ryckert is politically active and stays informed on pertinent issues"
It's "Dan Ryckert voted Republican/Democrat because he thought the Elephant/Donkey looked funny today"
Eh, saying you don't vote in midterms isn't being proud of your own ignorance, just saying how it is. It's not like he's shouting at the people who do vote. I know a lot of people who don't bother to vote in any election back here in Norway, and it's because they don't care about politics or don't think it will matter much if they do vote. I don't think any of them are proud of their own ignorance or whatever, it's just how it is.
If you don't care about politics enough to know what's at stake I prefer that you don't vote instead of voting at random or voting whatever you have always voted before. I generally do not vote in local elections because I don't care much about local issues or think local politicians can get much of anything done here, but I always vote in national elections and generally keep myself informed.
Not to derail the thread, and not my complete thoughts on the subject, but Dan is slightly onto something here. No one voter can have fully symmetric information of the academic economic and sociological arguments, and therefore weakens the argument for direct or indirect democracy. Since large amounts of votes are irrationally postulated on either false perceptions from surface debates and the media or votes made by voters are made opposite to the voter's objective due to these misinterpretations, is a democratic system even effective? Again just some thoughts on the matter, from a purely economic perspective.
SteveWinwood
Member
dan plz
It's also what we've got.
Instead of sitting not using it to prove some point about it, I do my best with what I have.
Voting, and the democratic process as a whole, is terribly ineffective.
It's also what we've got.
Instead of sitting not using it to prove some point about it, I do my best with what I have.
I've taken entire courses on the subject of whether democracy is effective or not. It's a very complex subject and one that maybe would even make for a good thread here in OT. It would be interesting to hear gaf's thoughts on it.
DarkChronic
Member
Yep. I've heard the hyperbolic, "If you don't vote, you're an idiot", but I really don't feel that way. Isn't it the smarter choice to NOT vote if you don't know what you're voting for?
No that just makes the even dumber people vote for the parties that are most polemic without any counter votes. That's how right wing parties get into power positions here in Europe.
I don't follow politics on a daily basis but come voting time I always just look up the issues and stances and then vote for what I think is best. The internet these days has lots of tools to help you out with easy information.
SteveWinwood
Member
Well the even smarter choice would be to look into the issues and candidates for all of ten minutes and use your vote to reflect your views.
Saw Dan's tweets and just knew they'd be picked up here. Was not disappointed.
I'd say about half the people I know have the exact same stance on voting - they don't vote because they feel like they don't understand enough about government. They just don't broadcast it to the world.
I'd say about half the people I know have the exact same stance on voting - they don't vote because they feel like they don't understand enough about government. They just don't broadcast it to the world.
I was able to do all my research in under 5 minutes last night. Would have been done in 90 seconds except I decided to do a bit more research on one topic.
This isn't hard.
Every image I've seen on that server is completely broken today, it's such an unreliable site in general in my experience. All they need is a nice frog icon to replace the broken images.
I'd argue that that's not a very informed vote. Too many people look at a few bullet points and vote based on that, without really knowing what they're voting for. You can argue that that's better than staying at home, but not by much.
Anyways, as I said I know a lot of people who don't vote and I have never really felt very strongly about it.
I was thinking of creating a thread on Off Topic with these thoughts, but I feared that the discussion wouldn't be productive or academic enough, and responses would turn into pro democracy whatever the downfalls.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
I didn't vote last time cause my choices were:
A. A corrupt party
B. Another corrupt party
C. A corrupt and extremly racist party
D. Frank Stronach (no joke)
E. A non corrupt party run by idiots
Edit: Oh and a Spin off of choice C
A. A corrupt party
B. Another corrupt party
C. A corrupt and extremly racist party
D. Frank Stronach (no joke)
E. A non corrupt party run by idiots
Edit: Oh and a Spin off of choice C
You will never know without trying!
Anyways, off to watch Olive Kitteridge. Heard good things about that show.
Dear god yes. More people need to be upfront about their ignorance on the subject so they can be properly taught.
DarkChronic
Member
I'm with you. I don't think 5 minutes of research counts for much, but to each their own.
It's easy to go down a list of bullet points and say, "Ah, yes, I agree with this," but how accurate are these points? What's the representative's past look like? Has he/she delivered on promises before? There's so much more than just glazing over quick facts for five minutes the night before the vote.
SteveWinwood
Member
Edit: I'm not gonna bother.
SteveWinwood
Member
He doesn't truly love America.
He is clearly very patriotic, yet he doesn't vote for the future of his country because "everything will work out". George Bush is a direct contradiction to that.
If you were going to make a thread, now is the time to do it, while everyone is thinking about voting and what it means to have a vote!
Infinite Justice
Member
This is the first time I've been made legitimately angry by something Dan has said
Really?
Doesn't sound unreasonable tbh (especially if you are of the view that both parties are fucking shitshows that drains the country and cause suffering regardless)
Read bottom to top.
Brad is absolutely right about Dan. lol
See that's just a dumb thing to say because it really is a straight white male point of view
Of course it's a dumb thing to say, but Dan has been saying things from the straight white male point of view ever since he started at giantbomb so it doesn't really come off as surprising when he tweets stuff like this, imo.
I still can't get over his view of cops and the legal system on that one bombcast. Whoo boy.
GOD DAMN HIPPIES
santeesioux
Member
I voted for marijuana legalization in my state, i did my civic duty.
SteveWinwood
Member
Broder Salsa
Banned
new mgs?! YEEEEES
I agree with Dan, even if his "i dont know shit and it's awesome" attitude is silly at times.
This is the first time I've been made legitimately angry by something Dan has said
I agree with Dan, even if his "i dont know shit and it's awesome" attitude is silly at times.
tryagainlater
Member
Meh, I agree with Dan's view. Stupid people shouldn't vote. That's why I don't vote except for the odd referendum.
Incandenza
Banned
Perhaps the correct response to being uninformed on issues is not to say "fuck it let smart people handle it" (which, by the way, is exactly the mentality that allows dumb people to be put in charge of handling it) but instead to take a bit of time to inform yourself enough to vote. It's not that hard. It's like the one civic duty you have besides taxes so you might as well do it.
Dan's extraordinarily lucky and priveleged life has allowed him, like many others, the opportunity to ignore politics because thinking about it will harsh his mellow too much or whatever and boy that's great for him but damn, guys, y'all are really selling yourselves short by acting like you couldn't possibly be smart enough to take part in government.
Anyway, Metal Gear Scanlon is good.
Dan's extraordinarily lucky and priveleged life has allowed him, like many others, the opportunity to ignore politics because thinking about it will harsh his mellow too much or whatever and boy that's great for him but damn, guys, y'all are really selling yourselves short by acting like you couldn't possibly be smart enough to take part in government.
Anyway, Metal Gear Scanlon is good.