[General Battuta]

I contend that there is absolutely no reason to watch the theatrical cut and that Harrison Ford's voiceover is a crime which drags the whole movie down.

[Mustang19]

Hey, it's a tribute. He's going for the deadpan Joe Friday thing.

[Unknown Target]

Sales tax/values added tax. Every other country has it.

It's good because it taxes consumption not work. The complaints are typically about how it's flat and the complexity of the rebate system required. I don't really know how that works in Europe. But it does encourage saving which is good for growth and economic stability.

I think this person actually is a bot. 

Why would you think that person is a bot?

[Mustang19]

Because he repeated arguments made earlier in the thread.

[Unknown Target]

Because he repeated arguments made earlier in the thread.

I've seen a lot of people do that.

[Mustang19]

The passive aggressiveness level in this thread is OVER 9000.

[General Battuta]

The passive aggressiveness level in this thread is OVER 9000.

Everything is fine. Why do you feel that way?

pft haaaa

I"m really not sure about that maybe-bot-maybe-guy, I wish he'd say something definitive - nothing in his post history is exactly a giveaway except maybe his last. There's clearly some human posts in there, but it could just be a human-assisted launch.

I'm suffering Turing anxiety!

[Mustang19]

I'm suffering Turing anxiety!

If so this could be a major milestone in the development of artificial intelligence.

[Unknown Target]

The passive aggressiveness level in this thread is OVER 9000.

I wasn't talking about General Battuta. I didn't say "I've seen a lot of people do that in this thread".

Our discussions earlier weren't as hot as everyone seems to think they were. I was calm the entire time - I looked at it as a discussion, not some sort of "flame war".

The lack of tone on the internet can work against conversations sometimes. People read each other's posts in their own head and so tend to assign whatever feelings they may have to a writing's tone.


As for the Turing test; how does it account for someone refusing to take the test because they disagree with it? Person or other entity - what if one or both refuse to take or "pass" the test?

[Grizzly]

The fact that people on Hard Light think you're a nut doesn't mean you'll always be considered a nut. Learn how to present your ideas and you'll find an audience and respect. You just want to avoid people tuning you out before you even begin.

Wait a minute...

 

You know this might just apply to you as well, General Batutta?

[Scotty]

Except Battuta is VERY VERY GOOD at presenting his ideas.

[Grizzly]

Fair point. He is not always that good with those of others, though.

(I shall rest now).

[BengalTiger]

It's like a RTS game - build what's cheap, build what works, build lots of it, and fight on a budget. All gamers know this, and all entrepreneurs could make this work.

Well the cheap units die all the time, something acceptable in games, but not in reality.
Also- private contractors seem to cost a bit more than regular soldiers.

Other than that- I think there were a few cases when lowering taxes raised the amount of tax money a government collected, but I'm too lazy to check who, when and where, and spending must be cut big time.

[Mustang19]

Russia gained revenue from cutting taxes in the late 90s due to increased compliance. Is that what you mean?

[Unknown Target]

Also- private contractors seem to cost a bit more than regular soldiers.

Only if you count in dollar values. I.e. a regular soldier is meant to be a symbol of a country, so when they are somewhere, the country is in some way there too.

Mercenaries only cost what they charge. There's at least a strange honor in that, in a mercenary who chooses to have honor.

[Grizzly]

Also- private contractors seem to cost a bit more than regular soldiers.

Only if you count in dollar values. I.e. a regular soldier is meant to be a symbol of a country, so when they are somewhere, the country is in some way there too.

Mercenaries only cost what they charge. There's at least a strange honor in that, in a mercenary who chooses to have honor.

Mercenaries are looking to make a profit. Regular soldiers do not.

[Nuclear1]

Most of the mercs I've known operate under the same "honor" they had in the service, but as soon as I carefully remind them that they kill for money, they get a little irritated.