ACG Meetups, Federal Election
Aug. 14th, 2013 09:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Over the past few weeks I've had the good fortune of meeting up with a number of old friends from usenet's aus.culture.gothic; two weeks ago it was where I lunched (thank you, good sir)
mr_e_cat, and also met his delightful partner in kittens,
mrs_e_cat. Also in attendance was the ever futuristic
damien_wise. Last week lunched with
a_carnal_mink and aided in some civil duties. Today finally visited
frou_frou at her store, Circa Vintage and purchased her book, "Love Vintage". All three gatherings were thoroughly enjoyable, and made me recall the greater level of intimacy and depth that the old acg 'things' used to have, and even communication via usenet and livejournal, in a manner that Facebook doesn't seem to generate.
The crazy Australian election continues with a former refugee gaining skill cognitive dissonance. The LOTO has a trilogy of idiocy, firstly by referring to the suppository of wisdom, then by suggesting the quality if one the his candidates is her sex appeal, and today marriage equality as the fashion of the moment. In the Coalition's favour, the latest Essential Poll has them leading 51-49; however the stunner for me is the issues survey; forty three percent of those polled claimed that the Australian national debt was equal to, or greater, than other developed countries, when in reality we have one of the lowest in the world. I despair when I read statistics like this. It is a grim reminder that democracy only functions when a population is informed, and in an uninformed electorate, it is belief, not truth, that dominates.
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The crazy Australian election continues with a former refugee gaining skill cognitive dissonance. The LOTO has a trilogy of idiocy, firstly by referring to the suppository of wisdom, then by suggesting the quality if one the his candidates is her sex appeal, and today marriage equality as the fashion of the moment. In the Coalition's favour, the latest Essential Poll has them leading 51-49; however the stunner for me is the issues survey; forty three percent of those polled claimed that the Australian national debt was equal to, or greater, than other developed countries, when in reality we have one of the lowest in the world. I despair when I read statistics like this. It is a grim reminder that democracy only functions when a population is informed, and in an uninformed electorate, it is belief, not truth, that dominates.
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Date: 2013-08-14 12:23 pm (UTC)I suspect there is an errant word in the last paragraph. Perhaps "electorate" should be replaced by "debt" or something similar? As per our conversation today.
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Date: 2013-08-14 09:34 pm (UTC)You're right about the typo, my brain was moving faster than my fingers were hitting the keyboard. I've fixed that now.
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Date: 2013-08-14 01:00 pm (UTC)Even if we can't have interstate folks from the ACG days visiting often, it'd be nice to see more of the locals. :)
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Date: 2013-08-14 10:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-14 02:07 pm (UTC)I think you mean the Australian National Deficit or Debt.
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Date: 2013-08-14 09:35 pm (UTC)But good lord, what is one supposed to do when the majority has simple facts plainly wrong? Institute a basic knowledge test before voting?
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Date: 2013-08-14 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-14 11:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-14 11:46 pm (UTC)Indeed.
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Date: 2013-08-14 09:40 pm (UTC)Here's an interesting game for a pub crawl with friends: With these criteria in mind, name one functioning democracy that presently exists. Everyone gets to name one. Then debate the results for the rest of the evening.
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Date: 2013-08-14 10:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-15 12:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-15 02:11 am (UTC)Yes, there are some wacky exceptions. The Swedish laws on prostitution is possibly as weird, ineffectual, and as dangerous as imaginable. The rise of right-wing populism worries me significantly.
Yet, overall, the Scandinavian countries remain the best examples of a union between liberal and social democracy today...
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Date: 2013-08-17 04:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-15 12:55 am (UTC)This. So. Very. Much.
Was literally lamenting this development a few minutes before opening LJ.
I think some of my current discontent (to use an acceptable word) stem from this. I very much miss the loss of our community & yet struggle with how to rekindle it, if that is even possible.
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Date: 2013-08-15 01:56 am (UTC)Oh, hai! :)
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Date: 2013-08-18 05:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-18 10:42 am (UTC)That's really interesting. I wonder if such a influx of new, younger people, could give LJ the shot in the arm that it needs.
It's really hard to generate a sense of community on Facebook (or Twitter for that matter, or Google+), I suspect because the conversations are so transient, and the content expressed in such short bursts. You can't go back - well not easily, due to their shitty streaming interface - and review past discussions.
I guess I'm arguing for a combination of longer posts, less often, more conversation, and more deeply considered that what is being expressed at least in part due to the more popular mediums.
I recall being quite impressed by The Slow Blogging Manifesto. I was very influenced by the opening words of point #2. "Slow Blogging is speaking like it matters...".