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Small-Scale Question Sunday for May 5, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Still on Errol Flynn's autobiography. So far he has told stories (by no means in confessional form, more of just like "And this is what I did next") about how he:

  1. bought women while he lived in New Guinea at different times to be essentially sex slaves (but he really liked them). One lesson he takes away from these experiences: "A man and a woman should never speak the same language." (The women--probably just post-pubescent girls actually--were Melanesian.) Did I mention he liked them? He did. He never says anything bad about them. But he must have left them to their own devices at one point as they are each brought up, described, and then never mentioned much again. Except one girl to whom he apparently gave a lot of stuff so that she returned wealthy to her village. (?). Edit: He was in his early 20s at this point.

  2. was a slave trader in New Guinea (capturing and literally selling off men into servitude.)

  3. was shot by a poison arrow and gunned down the New Guinea man who did it

  4. had sex with a woman then, while she was sleeping, stole her jewels and ran off (he was pursued, but successfully hid the jewels and was not arrested). Edit: This woman was Australian.

I'm not even a 5th of the way through the book. Will update next week.

"A man and a woman should never speak the same language."

Sorry to hijack this a little -

Does anyone have any zero-language overlap romance stories of personal experience? I've read about these online (some of the old and new PUA blogs) and, controlling for the sometimes obvious embellishment, it does seem like one can sense attraction from/to another even without any real language ability. What's more, it seems like these are often some of the more especially rewarding trysts.

This is mostly for idle curiosity sake. Becoming a passport bro is not on my list as leaving even my Red state is a thought I abhor.

What exactly are your fears regarding leaving your "red state" for a trip?

I FEAR NOTHING.

I believe the odds of the State artificially and outlandishly prosecuting me for something like self-defense or free expression go up when in blue states. Especially if the news cycle is just right.

This is wildly out of touch with the actual odds of something like this occurring if you leave you home state. This is fox news 80 year old grandpa levels of living in a fear bubble. I'm really not trying to be rude here. It is just a bit boggling to me, the world is a big beautiful place and just because people have a different opinion on some issues doesn't make it dangerous to visit other states or countries. Do some traveling, step out of your comfort zone and you'll find that your fears are unwarranted.

the world is a big beautiful place and just because people have a different opinion on some issues doesn't make it dangerous to visit other states or countries.

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.

Do some traveling, step out of your comfort zone and you'll find that your fears are unwarranted.

Nice try, NSA.

This is fox news 80 year old grandpa levels of living in a fear bubble.

Get. Off. My. Lawn.


Look, the above section is playful and obvious trolling because you and I just aren't going to agree. Do I have ideological consternation when I'm in liberal cities / states - sure. Is it a real, palpable "fear"? - of course not. Then again, ideas and values are truly important to me and I would trade extra income in California for a little more demonstrated freedom in Idaho.

"But, but, but, you can travel! Don't artificially limit yourself, especially not with this Fox News fear mongering." Well, it's kind of my decision to do what I want for me, right? (so long as I'm not breaking any laws etc.) And trying to "convince" me otherwise by kind of insulting me or boomer-hectoring me to "get out of my comfort zone" is not a winning strategy.

It is just a bit boggling to me

Be boggled, then. I'll stay over here.

Not everyone likes to travel, if that ain't your game I can respect that. But yes your overwrought "I can't even leave my red state or I'll be persecuted" schtick is silly, false and just wrong at an objective level.

If you do decide to travel I have some great recommendations for you, most of Europe is actually more conservative than the US regarding a lot of things, you might be more comfortable than you think.

But yes your overwrought "I can't even leave my red state or I'll be persecuted" schtick is silly, false and just wrong at an objective level.

Why do you need to say this?

Up to this comment, I think you could summarize the exchange thusly:

TollBooth: Something something, I'm a red stater, get off my lawn

French: "That's goofy. You're goofy. Stop being goofy"

TollBooth: "Fine. You got me. Here's me being tongue-in-cheek and a reasonable cessation to our mostly pointless disagreement"

And then you have to go "you are just wrong at an objective level."

Y tho?

Because you actually won't be attacked by squid people if you leave your red state enclave. What are you even on about dude?

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Ok that sounds amazing. I need to find this book.

My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Autobiography of Errol Flynn