The century of the self

[Mansa musa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AakzpvbMYec

it's 24 parts long but it gives you alot of information. it details how america was transformed into a consumerist materialist society where wealth and posessions became the purpose of life. i always knew capitalism was evil. now i have proof

[Wild Bill Kelso]

stop posting crap.

[Mansa musa]

stop trolling. you didn't even click on the video. i know you didn't

[Wild Bill Kelso]

I don't need nor want to. How many pointless threads have you created today?

[Dayman]

Stop spamming the ethos mansa.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22156
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[Wild Bill Kelso]

Well one could reason 2 out of 5 is a start...

1) Debate in good faith by addressing rebuttals through the introduction of additional evidence or by enlarging upon the argument. Do not merely keep repeating the same points without further elaboration.

2) Respect for others is the rule here. Argue the position, not the person. The Britannica says, "Usually, in a well-conducted debate, speakers are either emotionally uncommitted or can preserve sufficient detachment to maintain a coolly academic approach." Insults or attacks against individuals or groups will lead to disciplinary warnings being issued and eventually to suspension of posting privileges if those warning go unheeded.

3) Make your points by providing supporting evidence and/or argument. Avoid bare assertions. Because it is often not possible to tell which points will prove controversial, it is acceptable to wait until a point is challenged before supporting it.

4) Do not post images or graphics without some clear supporting text discussion and a minimum description of the image content and size. Image content must be specifically on topic with the original subject of the discussion. Posts with image trolls and other image spam and deliberate distractions will be removed in their entirety at the discretion of the moderators.

5) Avoid any form of misrepresentation. Do not state that something is fact or a well known fact just because you read it in a message board or on a web site.

6) Every discussion must begin with some question or framework for the topic of the discussion you wish to initiate. You may not start a new discussion topic solely by posting a copy of an existing news story, image, quote from a web site, or other source information.

[Irishman]

Mansa, it is poor thread conduct to post a long video with no summary. If you would summarize the arguments for those without the time, that would be wonderful.

[Mansa musa]

i'm tired. maybe i'll do it tomorrow. gotta wake up in 4 hours for fajr. see you all later

[bushbush]

i'm tired. maybe i'll do it tomorrow. gotta wake up in 4 hours for fajr. see you all later

wow..he is one hardcore muslim...i mean in 4 hours? in 4 hours it's like 6am something...

[Dayman]

Read the rules before you post another topic here.

[Sidmen]

it details how america was transformed into a consumerist materialist society where wealth and posessions became the purpose of life. i always knew capitalism was evil. now i have proof

Muhahaha, you've gotta be joking right? People in America hardly have wealth or possessions as the purpose of life. Sure some do, but they're rare and freaks.

Most of America is just like every other place/people in the world throughout history. People just want to live and be happy, religion in the past was a requirement to live (since pagans and sinners and witches and non-believers were executed wholesale). Now that it isn't a requirement to live, fewer and fewer people practice it (or switch to a different version without reprisal) Only the only people that (ideally) will practice religion in the near future, are the people that are made happy by the religion.

In America today, without religion being our all consuming concern, we have developed things that make us happy, money is a way to get these things, and working is the way to get money. People routinely give up money and decide not to work(taking a 40 hour week instead of a 100 hour week) because not working is more enjoyable than the 'things' they could buy.

[Mansa musa]

Muhahaha, you've gotta be joking right? People in America hardly have wealth or possessions as the purpose of life. Sure some do, but they're rare and freaks.

Most of America is just like every other place/people in the world throughout history. People just want to live and be happy, religion in the past was a requirement to live (since pagans and sinners and witches and non-believers were executed wholesale). Now that it isn't a requirement to live, fewer and fewer people practice it (or switch to a different version without reprisal) Only the only people that (ideally) will practice religion in the near future, are the people that are made happy by the religion.

In America today, without religion being our all consuming concern, we have developed things that make us happy, money is a way to get these things, and working is the way to get money. People routinely give up money and decide not to work(taking a 40 hour week instead of a 100 hour week) because not working is more enjoyable than the 'things' they could buy.

maybe where you come from. a small town suburb or probably a rural area. where i come from. money is life and everything. people selling drugs killing cutting each other for money. something that they know there going to be in jail or dead for btw. that's all people talk about is money. money money money. i gotta rob for some money. i'm going to hell so i can get some money. even the people who aren't selling drugs or doing other illegal things they're still overfacinated with wanting wealth and wanting to acheive wealth. there's nothing wrong with wanting to be rich. but noone wants to be happy. noone wants to become a better person. just gimme gimme gimme

[Sher Khan]

Actually, aside from posting etiquette issues, the Century of the Self documentary is top quality stuff.

[Sidmen]

Sadly, streaming media is blocked - so I can't comment on much other than the vaguest hints I got here, mainly from the title.

[kev-o]

For one Mansa, capitalism works. It has side effects but it works. People go to school, get educated, come out and get a job where they make money which they use to but things in which to live a modest life. If there is cash left over there are three things people do with it: spend it, save it, or invest it. Thats a big generalization, but again capitalism works.

[Sidmen]

For one Mansa, capitalism works. It has side effects but it works. People go to school, get educated, come out and get a job where they make money which they use to but things in which to live a modest life. If there is cash left over there are three things people do with it: spend it, save it, or invest it. Thats a big generalization, but again capitalism works.

Fair enough, but so has every other system of economic management. Even A feudal system would work and produce similar results.

[kev-o]

Fair enough, but so has every other system of economic management.

To an extent.

Marx's version of Communism failed.

Mercantilism failed.

Even A feudal system would work and produce similar results.

Partly true. A serf can't rise up the ladder and a Lord can't drop down in the way Feudalism is suppossed to work. In Capitalism, one is allowed and give the ability to move up and down the ladder all the time.

[Sidmen]

Marx's version of Communism failed.

As far as I'm aware, Marx's version hasn't been implemented, and as such is still an untested theory. The Forms of Communism that have been tried are a far shot away from Marx's version.

Mercantilism failed.

Truth

Partly true. A serf can't rise up the ladder and a Lord can't drop down in the way Feudalism is suppossed to work. In Capitalism, one is allowed and give the ability to move up and down the ladder all the time.

So you are in favor of feudalism, after all it it gets rid of all that tedious latter climbing
That aside, it still works, and quite well. The same basic goals can be accomplished with Feudalism that Capitalism is good with. That is, if the 'Lord' correctly performs his function and provides for his serfs. In most ways(barring the class changes), the difference between systems would be minor.

[kev-o]

So you are in favor of feudalism, after all it it gets rid of all that tedious latter climbing
That aside, it still works, and quite well. The same basic goals can be accomplished with Feudalism that Capitalism is good with. That is, if the 'Lord' correctly performs his function and provides for his serfs. In most ways(barring the class changes), the difference between systems would be minor.

Oh no, I'm not in favour of it. Capitalism allows anyone to work there way up, but when you get up to the top you have to manage everything carefully otherwise you can screw up big time and land right back at the bottom.

[Roman Knight]

Oh no, I'm not in favour of it. Capitalism allows anyone to work there way up, but when you get up to the top you have to manage everything carefully otherwise you can screw up big time and land right back at the bottom.

He has a point, otherwise the moment someone gets to the top they quickly begin to abuse their power because they know nothing will happen to them for it.