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General Chat / Re: It returns! Random questions with Super in 2019.
« on: March 27, 2019, 02:55:47 AM »
Law questions. Would you support:
1. A law that raised the smoking and vaping age to 21.
Yes. Absolutely from a health standpoint. Damn kids don't understand vaping and how bad that shit is. Smoking is on the drop in the US, but vaping has gotten stupidly popular. Brain development is still occurring into the mid-late 20's. And kids will still find a way to get them before 21, just like alcohol. There is some evidence if I remember correctly that age increases help public health metrics, so this is a good idea.
2. A law that banned home schooling and restricted private schooling.
Probably not? Although some of the horror stories I've heard and seen about these schoolings...the point being, home schooling places the kids at such a disadvantage that they don't really become part of society, effectively (hey, the world is connected, deal with it). I generally think home schooling is such a damn disadvantage that it shouldn't be allowed (no parent will ever be capable of teaching everything kids need). Private schooling I am ok with, but fucking burn all the charter schools to the ground (and if they're online only, banish them to fucking 4chan). And standardize/regulate the damn private schools that remain.
3. A law that jailed parents who avoided/refused vaccinating their children without medical need (IE children with autoimmune disorders)
Absolutely not! I wouldn't support jailing in this case...
...
....
.....
Death penalty for not vaccinating children without a true medical reason. These reasons are Goo King Sword rare, and that makes herd immunity actually effective. Having seen 4 fucking measles cases in the last 4 years (with pretty gruesome outcomes) is 4 cases too many for a lifetime when it should be eradicated with ease. Seeing the push from the idiots in states all over to have more conscientious objections is moronic and a fucking public health crisis.
4. Term limits on congress? Something along the lines of two terms for the senate, six terms for the house.
Yes and no. Don't know how much, but I think 2/6 is pretty decent (12 years is a solidly long time...then you can run for the other one and make it 24, then do whatever, so it's a solid career). New blood is important (although experience and leadership are good too!). On the other hand, I think there are a lot of other issues to work on first (corruption, lobbying, etc.), and if you fix those, this probably doesn't matter. Supreme court is another one to consider, and that to me is more important (but again, if you fix other things...I think it doesn't matter)
5. A law that restricts the ability of non US citizens from buying real estate?
Eh, no? I can see the arguments for this one, but it doesn't feel right at all. SO many other things to consider and work on here before even thinking about this option.
Wheel of morality:
6. Would you have any objection to working for a company that did things you found to be morally abhorrent? IE tobacco company, a weapons maker, oil company, a payday lender etc.
Well, I don't do this now, so I guess the answer is yes?
7. Have political or moral disagreements damaged relationships with your family and friends in the past few years? If so, how much?
My one brother in law has some...interesting political viewpoints that I could see causing an issue down the line (his views on homosexuality in particular are pretty abhorrent; wonder how he felt when most of my wedding party was gay?), but we generally don't bring this up. So in practice, no, but hypothetically, yes.
Travel:
8. What's the last vacation you had? Did you enjoy it?
Business trip down to Roanoke, VA. I did, especially since I didn't pay for it
.
9. When you travel, do you prefer to fly, drive, or go by some other means?
Depends - I do like driving, and I drove the 6 hours to Roanoke. I'll be in...NY probably in October (have to see what my schedule looks like), Las Vegas in December, and those are just a little too far to drive. Anything around the 8 hour drive mark I like to drive, after that it's a little annoying and I fly (I'd prefer fast train travel, but there aren't enough of them).
Home
10. Does where you live have a homeless problem? Do you ever give money to the homeless?
It has a problem, but not as much as other cities (just on the basis of being smaller and more decentralized). I don't give money directly, no.
11. Do you have a strong opinion on gentrification?
No? I'm a strong believe in some strong central government work to help make affordable housing, but some upscaling I think is good. Just not pricing people out of their homes.
12. Could you live without a car/rides from family? Would you want to move to an area where you could give up your car if so?
I wish I could live without a car! Again, would kill for a train or something else public so my work commute wasn't 1.5 hours one way.
13. Do you live close to where you grew up? If not, do you want to move back home?
Hell no to both. Central PA is not a place I belong in anymore. Trying to get my parents out of there too.
14. Are you currently a homeowner? If not, do you plan on buying a home in the forseeable future?
3 year house anniversary at the end of April!
Entertainment:
15. What book/game/TV show/movie are you excited for next?
A lot, but right now, the hype is for Avengers: Endgame.
16. Do you watch TV? Do you watch any video streamers?
Yes. A lot of it is recorded on DVR or Netflix, etc.
17. Do you play any board or card games? If so, what is your favorite?
Tons of board games, but just not able to play any recently (need people for those!)
Long term:
18. Look at back at your life 10 years and 5 years ago. Are you where you expected to be?
To avoid a long diatribe here - about so, yes. The work-life balance could be better, but that's partially because of where I live in relation to where I work. Hopefully full professor promotion in 5 more years. Have a house, married, etc.
19. Do you worry about retirement/career stuff long term much? Are you happy with where you are in this regard?
To an extent, but I've been working to take care of that with retirement, savings, etc. I'm happy so far, especially after 30 more years of savings.
20. What is one thing currently about you that would surprise the 18 year old version of yourself?
A lot that could be said here. I suppose what surprises me most is that I'm not really surprised. I still see who I was to an extent, and while I have a lot more hard-earned wisdom about things, the 18-year old me would probably still be surprised at the stupid mistakes 35-year old me is making.
1. A law that raised the smoking and vaping age to 21.
Yes. Absolutely from a health standpoint. Damn kids don't understand vaping and how bad that shit is. Smoking is on the drop in the US, but vaping has gotten stupidly popular. Brain development is still occurring into the mid-late 20's. And kids will still find a way to get them before 21, just like alcohol. There is some evidence if I remember correctly that age increases help public health metrics, so this is a good idea.
2. A law that banned home schooling and restricted private schooling.
Probably not? Although some of the horror stories I've heard and seen about these schoolings...the point being, home schooling places the kids at such a disadvantage that they don't really become part of society, effectively (hey, the world is connected, deal with it). I generally think home schooling is such a damn disadvantage that it shouldn't be allowed (no parent will ever be capable of teaching everything kids need). Private schooling I am ok with, but fucking burn all the charter schools to the ground (and if they're online only, banish them to fucking 4chan). And standardize/regulate the damn private schools that remain.
3. A law that jailed parents who avoided/refused vaccinating their children without medical need (IE children with autoimmune disorders)
Absolutely not! I wouldn't support jailing in this case...
...
....
.....
Death penalty for not vaccinating children without a true medical reason. These reasons are Goo King Sword rare, and that makes herd immunity actually effective. Having seen 4 fucking measles cases in the last 4 years (with pretty gruesome outcomes) is 4 cases too many for a lifetime when it should be eradicated with ease. Seeing the push from the idiots in states all over to have more conscientious objections is moronic and a fucking public health crisis.
4. Term limits on congress? Something along the lines of two terms for the senate, six terms for the house.
Yes and no. Don't know how much, but I think 2/6 is pretty decent (12 years is a solidly long time...then you can run for the other one and make it 24, then do whatever, so it's a solid career). New blood is important (although experience and leadership are good too!). On the other hand, I think there are a lot of other issues to work on first (corruption, lobbying, etc.), and if you fix those, this probably doesn't matter. Supreme court is another one to consider, and that to me is more important (but again, if you fix other things...I think it doesn't matter)
5. A law that restricts the ability of non US citizens from buying real estate?
Eh, no? I can see the arguments for this one, but it doesn't feel right at all. SO many other things to consider and work on here before even thinking about this option.
Wheel of morality:
6. Would you have any objection to working for a company that did things you found to be morally abhorrent? IE tobacco company, a weapons maker, oil company, a payday lender etc.
Well, I don't do this now, so I guess the answer is yes?
7. Have political or moral disagreements damaged relationships with your family and friends in the past few years? If so, how much?
My one brother in law has some...interesting political viewpoints that I could see causing an issue down the line (his views on homosexuality in particular are pretty abhorrent; wonder how he felt when most of my wedding party was gay?), but we generally don't bring this up. So in practice, no, but hypothetically, yes.
Travel:
8. What's the last vacation you had? Did you enjoy it?
Business trip down to Roanoke, VA. I did, especially since I didn't pay for it
. 9. When you travel, do you prefer to fly, drive, or go by some other means?
Depends - I do like driving, and I drove the 6 hours to Roanoke. I'll be in...NY probably in October (have to see what my schedule looks like), Las Vegas in December, and those are just a little too far to drive. Anything around the 8 hour drive mark I like to drive, after that it's a little annoying and I fly (I'd prefer fast train travel, but there aren't enough of them).
Home
10. Does where you live have a homeless problem? Do you ever give money to the homeless?
It has a problem, but not as much as other cities (just on the basis of being smaller and more decentralized). I don't give money directly, no.
11. Do you have a strong opinion on gentrification?
No? I'm a strong believe in some strong central government work to help make affordable housing, but some upscaling I think is good. Just not pricing people out of their homes.
12. Could you live without a car/rides from family? Would you want to move to an area where you could give up your car if so?
I wish I could live without a car! Again, would kill for a train or something else public so my work commute wasn't 1.5 hours one way.
13. Do you live close to where you grew up? If not, do you want to move back home?
Hell no to both. Central PA is not a place I belong in anymore. Trying to get my parents out of there too.
14. Are you currently a homeowner? If not, do you plan on buying a home in the forseeable future?
3 year house anniversary at the end of April!
Entertainment:
15. What book/game/TV show/movie are you excited for next?
A lot, but right now, the hype is for Avengers: Endgame.
16. Do you watch TV? Do you watch any video streamers?
Yes. A lot of it is recorded on DVR or Netflix, etc.
17. Do you play any board or card games? If so, what is your favorite?
Tons of board games, but just not able to play any recently (need people for those!)
Long term:
18. Look at back at your life 10 years and 5 years ago. Are you where you expected to be?
To avoid a long diatribe here - about so, yes. The work-life balance could be better, but that's partially because of where I live in relation to where I work. Hopefully full professor promotion in 5 more years. Have a house, married, etc.
19. Do you worry about retirement/career stuff long term much? Are you happy with where you are in this regard?
To an extent, but I've been working to take care of that with retirement, savings, etc. I'm happy so far, especially after 30 more years of savings.
20. What is one thing currently about you that would surprise the 18 year old version of yourself?
A lot that could be said here. I suppose what surprises me most is that I'm not really surprised. I still see who I was to an extent, and while I have a lot more hard-earned wisdom about things, the 18-year old me would probably still be surprised at the stupid mistakes 35-year old me is making.
