Being English? Being French? Being Russian? Being Irish?

timmyntc · 24-08-2022 03:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119515586#Comment_119515586

If you believe that any nuclear states concentrate all the power and decision making in the hands of 1 person like that, you are very naive.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 24-08-2022 03:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119515648#Comment_119515648

It's the one person who can put friendly people in the places that matter. There is nothing more dangerous than an brilliant psychopath, as they say. In any case, as far as I know, no-one can veto a US president's order, although obviously, he won't be the one pushing the button.

timmyntc · 24-08-2022 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119515787#Comment_119515787

Well as you said we had two madmen like Trump and Putin in power for decades and yet no nuclear launches, so either your characterisation of them as madmen is exaggerated, or they do not have the sole power to decide on nuclear launches.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 24-08-2022 04:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119515844#Comment_119515844

I was using them as examples, do saying , "well, Trump never did it, so we're safe" is a moot point.

Putin, in the other hand, refuses to take the option off the table. Not sure I'd class him as sane.

The fact that no one hasn't doesn't mean no one can.

trashcan · 24-08-2022 07:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119511171#Comment_119511171

Careful now !

timmyntc · 25-08-2022 09:36AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119516070#Comment_119516070

The fact that no one has started a war between EU members either, doesnt mean no one can. Unlikely, just as 1 "madman" going rogue and trying to launch a nuke is incredibly unlikely. There are huge power structures beneath them all of whom are interested in self-preservation. Allowing a nuclear launch is not self-preservation. It will not happen, and that is what keep the peace between nuclear armed states.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 25-08-2022 10:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119518996#Comment_119518996

This is my point - self-preservation has gone if they've lost everything. Even Hitler overrode the self-preservation gene in the end. If he'd had nukes, would he have fired them in an act of revenge before he bit the bullet? Or had a nice luxurious underground shelter to retreat to for a several years?

I agree with what you're fundamentally saying - the world is safer because it really is an endgame option and more every effort is made to resolve conflicts before they get to the war phase - but what if they personally have nothing else to lose?

25-08-2022 10:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119514799#Comment_119514799

Ok. It’s very different to what I knew. Essentially where you live is irrelevant and only the things personally connected and chosen by you matter.

25-08-2022 11:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119511158#Comment_119511158

Finally got around to looking at this. While I remembered the series name (I never watched it very much) I had to Google it to see what years it ran.

At one level the clip is a collection of cliches and at another it’s just an attempted piss take. Behind it there seems to be an assertion that this is all there is. Overall there is just a sense of nothing, more tragedy than comedy. In the 5/6 years since it ended it has dated a lot.

An interesting time capsule.

NiceFella · 25-08-2022 11:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119511288#Comment_119511288

I don't think thinking about your nationality automatically means nationalism. You can be proud of the culture without being a bigot.

NiceFella · 25-08-2022 11:44AM

We are living in a world were a Tech revolution has occured over the past 15 years or so. We are more connected than ever and external influence has never been more apparrent.

People are so annamored by their "smart" devices that we are behaving like robots sucking in mounds of useless information. Im willing to think that many have a bigger relationship to their phone than themselves. So of course its corrosive to culture.

We had a minister not long ago urging students to study something "practical" i.e not humanities arts etc. Thats a fusgraceful statement.

If you want to have meaning in being irish, its up to you to preserve it, weather it be playing music, telling the history/stories, playing our sports etc.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 25-08-2022 11:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519357#Comment_119519357

I see nationality like religion: if you're born into one that is agreeable to you, great. If you're not then why should you let it define who you are? I had the same amount of choice and control over being baptised a catholic as I did being born Irish - why would I live my life according to either when I don't connect with them? Why do they get to define the individuals living within a society or community?

25-08-2022 12:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519592#Comment_119519592

As I said I’m just trying to get a sense of where in 2022 things are at. You may as well be Russian or French or from Paraguay in terms of your identity as far as your concerned. It’s really illuminating to see that expressed as clearly as that.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 25-08-2022 12:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519627#Comment_119519627

We're a lot more global - people are aware now that they don't have to settle for the environment they happen to be born in. Since the dawn of the internet and cheap travel people can reseach and go. We have more influences open to us and more resources to follow them.

And thus, nationality is diuted.

Being English? Being French? Being Russian? Being Irish?

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