Flax_vert
@Flax_vert@feddit.uk
Fediverse Advocate
- Comment on If Marx was alive during the Cold War and beyond, how would he react to the communist states that rose to power? Would he approve or disapprove of them? 23 hours ago:
I remember they have a telephone thing. Fun fact, if you have two receivers, you can like use the other one to listen in and spy on phone calls.
Is that a landline? We have that in the UK, I used to do that on my mum. Got in trouble quickly when she heard me laughing over the line 🤣
The distance between a dilapidated city slum and a modern-looking shopping mall is like 20 minutes away. Like. You walk 20 minutes, and its like you time travelled. So bizzare when I recall the memories.
20 minutes? I saw some that were right next to each other. I came out of a metro station and was in a pomegranate farm, across the road were newly built apartments.
What I found odd is that their TV provider was their ISP. The TV must have been IPTV and they were allowed to use the internet, by plugging a router into the TV box which had a modem. In the UK it’s generally the other way around, your ISP is your TV provider also.
Where I stayed had a crapper toilet. I don’t think that was the norm, though.
- Comment on If Marx was alive during the Cold War and beyond, how would he react to the communist states that rose to power? Would he approve or disapprove of them? 1 day ago:
ROC built nukes, maintains sovereignty, becomes a bastion of freedom.
The ROC didn’t become a democracy until the 1990s.
Modern China is definitely better, but CCP’s China wasn’t the only possibility we have, there are much better alt-timelines.
Yeah, that’s basically what I’m saying. However, you can say this about any country. I think the UK would have had a better future if we got “chaos with Ed Milliband”
Disclaimer: I have nothing against the Japanese people, I’m only mad at the Imperialists specifically
You’re allowed to, it’s fine. You shouldn’t need to disclaimer this.
I don’t know if there are breadlines, but definitely a lot of poverty… very underdeveloped. My parents have extremely frugal behaviors… especially my mom.
The Chinese still do that, the ones that came into wealth are still alive. I think that’s the same with any recently developed country. The house I stayed in China was very cluttered but also very clean. Furniture was kind of haphazard and the bathroom was basic. But their tvs and fridges were pretty modern. I think it’s just they don’t know the potential, but this family certainly could have afforded it.
In the villages, the only bathrooms are the communal ones…
I have a memory of it being late at night and walking to the bathroom with my dad…
Like, you literally have to leave your own house to go to the bathroom lol.
What year was this? Genuinely curious. I saw some underdeveloped villages there from the windows of trains and manual farm labourers. My dad also used to have a communal neighbourhood bathroom in the UK when he was younger in the 1970s. Someone else I was talking to was recalling collecting water from the well.
But I don’t think ROC would be wasting crutial time on some “cultural revolution” stuff and actually starting on building the country. But then again, if Japanese Imperialists didn’t invade, it would’ve been a much better timeline anyways. War ruins shit.
Yeah fair, I think if you put China how it is now, ten years ago (accounting for the cultural revolution) it wouldn’t have set it back. Also the one child policy will have extremely concerning implications in a few years
China is such a strange country. The streets are extremely clean minus the dust, the place I was staying had an advanced metro system nearby and endless huge apartments in the area, something I had never seen or experienced ever before. But the water wasn’t running like 30% of the time and even when it was, it was best not to drink it and get it from a machine outside. You’re Chinese so I cannot speak in a position over you, but I do find a lot of westerners seem to underestimate it. And they think we’re behind because there is one bus every thirty minutes to the somewhat big city which is half the side of the centre of their district.
- Comment on If Marx was alive during the Cold War and beyond, how would he react to the communist states that rose to power? Would he approve or disapprove of them? 1 day ago:
In China they aren’t in bread lines and a lot of people there seem to have a stable life. A few Chinese people I know do genuinely say that life did get better than what it was under the communist party. Keep in mind, this country was still getting peasant girls into harems for the emperor who couldn’t leave his palacd ever during victorian times
- Comment on Not to get all religous but was not Jesus pissed for people making money in churches? Didn't he flip tables and everything? Then how do churches nowadays explain the collection plate? 1 day ago:
Okay, so, if all the quiet religious folk were just more quieter, that would stop the megachurch swindlers? How? Wouldn’t it just give them more leeway as we won’t be “forcing our religion on them”, eg, calling out their heresy?
Also, I believe that anyone outside of my religion goes to hell. So it will be neglectful and not loving to refuse to give someone the reason/cause of my belief, or to warn them of impending disaster.
I consider Jesus of Nazareth’s resurrection from the dead a historical fact. Therefore the logical implications from there are that He is God and what He says must be true. I don’t see why I shouldn’t be able to speak about said fact like anyone can speak about other facts and give them my reasons for believing that.
Lastly, if I weren’t practicing my religion in public, that would involve not forgiving other people. It would involve seeking revenge. It would involve being impatient. Things I might do if I weren’t a Christian.
- Comment on Not to get all religous but was not Jesus pissed for people making money in churches? Didn't he flip tables and everything? Then how do churches nowadays explain the collection plate? 2 days ago:
genuinely want to know your thoughts: what do you think we can do?
- Comment on Not to get all religous but was not Jesus pissed for people making money in churches? Didn't he flip tables and everything? Then how do churches nowadays explain the collection plate? 2 days ago:
I hope the Roman Catholic church is better now. That scandal was horrific.
- Comment on Not to get all religous but was not Jesus pissed for people making money in churches? Didn't he flip tables and everything? Then how do churches nowadays explain the collection plate? 2 days ago:
Not every Christian group is like that. You only notice the loud lunatics.
- Comment on Not to get all religous but was not Jesus pissed for people making money in churches? Didn't he flip tables and everything? Then how do churches nowadays explain the collection plate? 2 days ago:
Gonna eliminate some strawmen here. For a start, in the vast majority of Christian churches, the collection plate is a modest charitable giving. It is not typically used to fund the mill/billionaire “pastors” that you see on the media all of the time. Most pastors aren’t like that. Most Churches seem to take finances seriously. The ones I have been a part of are very transparent with their finances- some publish their finances to everyone, some publish it to members. My mum is a Baptist and she says she knows how much her pastor is paid, and the congregation sets that wage in a democratic manner. In fact, voting on finances is usually what they do in members meetings. In Episcopal churches, from what I’m aware, finances are authorised for dispensation by the select vestry - who are essentially voting members in church affairs. Some churches I regularly attend do struggle for finances, as when Christianity was more culturally participated in, members would have generated enough money to maintain large beautiful buildings. Now they are aging, and churches don’t have that money to throw around.
The collection plate being passed around is actually supposed to be a method of anonymous donation. It is very much frowned upon to even look at how people handle it, most people don’t even look to take it.
Onto scripture:
Jesus said:
Matthew 6:1-4
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
So giving is encouraged, but to be done secretly.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I’d argue this is abolishing the 10% rule.
There is a case in the Acts of the Apostles where two people lie to the Church, and pretend to donate all of the proceeds from selling their land to the Church and drop dead. This wasn’t because they didn’t give it all, it’s because they publicly gave in front of many others as a show of holiness. After they dropped dead, the church wised up (Christians generally accept that they still went to heaven, but the act of them dying physically was to “purify” the church and to scare them out of deceit)
Acts 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Now, let’s address the table flipping incident:
People were essentially overcharging and commercialising sacrifices. Some speculate that they weren’t letting people bring their own sacrifice, instead they had to buy it in the temple court. Essentially it was a “pay to enter” fee. Not like modern day tithing.
And finally - those megachurch millionaire/billionaires? Those “ministers” who only care about money?
Matthew 7:22-23
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
- Comment on NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’ 5 days ago:
I agree with every word you say. The reason I am anti illegal-immigrant is a matter of national security. While resources are a part of it, I don’t blame them purely for the country’s problems
- Comment on Shabana Mahmood puts the signs up: Britain is full. No blacks, no dogs, no Irish 5 days ago:
I didn’t see much issue with what she said. I think Labour is coming up with a sensible strategy
- Comment on NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’ 5 days ago:
This means illegal migrants account for 4.5% of all people entering the country and yet account for 100% of the anti-migrant sentiment.
…yes, in fact, I strongly disagree with anti-migrant sentiment. I am talking about illegal immigration here. I don’t get how this is related. I think we need to stop blurring the lines between legal migrants and channel-hoppers.
- Comment on Shabana Mahmood puts the signs up: Britain is full. No blacks, no dogs, no Irish 5 days ago:
It’s some weird nonsense about the Home Secretary deporting herself written by a decaying white guy
- Comment on NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’ 5 days ago:
What’s the 39 thousand statistic?
- Comment on ‘No safe place to go’: people sent back to France under ‘one in, one out’ deal tell of desperation 5 days ago:
Don’t get what’s happening - so he’s being chased by people smugglers in France? Or was he just attacked on the streets in paris unrelated?
Sounds like it’s France’s problem, I don’t see how it’s ours.
- Comment on Shabana Mahmood puts the signs up: Britain is full. No blacks, no dogs, no Irish 5 days ago:
I don’t think she’s done any of the sort? Didn’t she just make it harder to get Indefinite Leave to Remain as a refugee?
- Comment on Cloudflare Global Network experiencing issues 5 days ago:
I should really move my domains away from CloudFlare…
- Comment on UK hospitals bracing for once-in-a-decade flu surge this winter 6 days ago:
Weird how they haven’t called me up to be vaccinated if this is the case. I have been called up before but apparently I am not eligible for one this time ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Comment on ‘Catholic Church Is Wrong’ on Illegal Immigration, Homan Says 6 days ago:
Unless they’re preaching heresy, no it isn’t.
- Comment on ‘Catholic Church Is Wrong’ on Illegal Immigration, Homan Says 6 days ago:
The Epoch Times is a tabloid run by the crazy Falun Gong cult.
Also, if you’re a Roman Catholic layperson, you are in no position to oppose the Church.
- Comment on Today is the birthday of His Majesty the King 1 week ago:
Ah yes, British democracy. The bringer of Brexit, Boris Johnson. The mess we are in now cannot at all be blamed on His Majesty the King or her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but on the democratically ruling public. Sure, democracy in it’s current form is definitely good for keeping the government to account, (a ranked choice system would be nice but that was democratically rejected in a refurrendum) but I do not trust the British public with selecting a head of state at all. America already made a pigs ear of it, the only country that seems to do it decently off the top of my head is Ireland, which has been rather untouched by populism and has a population of 5.4 million. And even then, I wouldn’t be surprised if they elect a knobhead at some point.
- Comment on Today is the birthday of His Majesty the King 1 week ago:
The King can appoint anyone he likes as prime minister and anyone he likes as lords. The Royal Family only follow a predictable tradition. The King carries command over the armed forces, police, etc. I do not trust an elected official with that role. The fact is, the Windsor family (as they are now called but have gone through different name changes) have been custodians of this land for almost 1000 years and in the last 300 have done an excellent job at keeping it. The biggest threat was Edward VIII who was swiftly removed from power anyway.
- Comment on Today is the birthday of His Majesty the King 1 week ago:
It’s significantly worse. President Farage could remove elections, suppress democracy, etc. The Prime Minister doesn’t have command of the Military either, all commands have to go through His Majesty The King.
- Comment on In the spirit of the King's Birthday 1 week ago:
It’s kind of like a necessary evil. Personally, a system of inheritance doesn’t sit right with me. But the fact of the matter is, it works and is stable. And larping as a kingdom is also pretty fun.
- Comment on In the spirit of the King's Birthday 1 week ago:
Tbh I think we have a lot to be thankful for in the BBC. I don’t think it’s possible to have a perfect system or broadcaster. The monarchy has worked for the UK for centuries. We haven’t slipped into fascism - the type of coup people describe Trump as doing would most likely be impossible in our lifetimes in the UK under the monarchy (depending how George Wales turns out, but he has good parents)
- Comment on Today is the birthday of His Majesty the King 1 week ago:
Hopefully one day the British state will get rid of the embarrassment of being headed by a family of nepo babies.
President Farage, anyone?
- Comment on Today is the birthday of His Majesty the King 1 week ago:
But the law is passed in the King’s name
- Comment on In the spirit of the King's Birthday 1 week ago:
George V was also pretty based. Essentially, the House of Lords kept rejecting the Common’s bills to limit the Lords so he threatened to fill the Lords with people who won’t reject it.
We’ve been pretty good with monarchs in recent history anyway, barring Edward VIII
Sure, you can complain about the system, but now we have a funny old man who likes nature and pedestrian based affordable towns who’s worst flaw is that he cheated on his wife compared to his clownterpart across the pond who’s done it several times.
- Comment on In the spirit of the King's Birthday 1 week ago:
I don’t think that happened in September 2022 unfortunately. It would have been a great time to.
- Comment on Today is the birthday of His Majesty the King 1 week ago:
What memoirs
- Comment on Today is the birthday of His Majesty the King 1 week ago:
You’re onto something