Armenian Eyes Wide Shut

[xBaron Dants]

I never said they should get rid of strip clubs. You are taking one tiny part of my argument and making that the basis for your response. I said they are taking all the MONEY MAKING IDEAS, which happen to be less than honorable businesses and making money off of that. I'm sorry but the idea of having some poor, starving Armenian teenager, shaking her ass in front of a bunch of fat, sweaty, MARRIED Armenian men...just gives me knots in my stomach. I realize that some things are just the "side effects" of modernization in Armenia, but I have yet to see major positive changes in the way Armenia is run. I was comparing Armenia today, to that of 30 years ago. It was much nicer, even then.

BARON: MY grandfather was a pimp.

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the strippers are mostly Russian or Ukrainian.

And as I said, the non-honourable money making businesses are just the ones that are most talked about. I could tell you about my uncle who opened three stores that sells nuts and other middle eastern products, and who is also a distributor of Mobil car oil, but who cares about nuts and Mobil car oil?

There is positive change, I can tell you that. There are negatives too. But I an convinced that the trend will only get better and better.

[violette829]

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the strippers are mostly Russian or Ukrainian.

And as I said, the non-honourable money making businesses are just the ones that are most talked about. I could tell you about my uncle who opened three stores that sells nuts and other middle eastern products, and who is also a distributor of Mobil car oil, but who cares about nuts and Mobil car oil?

There is positive change, I can tell you that. There are negatives too. But I an convinced that the trend will only get better and better.

Ehh I hope so my optimistic friend.

[xBaron Dants]

Ehh I hope so my optimistic friend.

You know, if it's really a cause that you care about, maybe you should think about more direct intervention.

A couple from Montreal, who were both my Scout leaders, moved to Armenia lately, and the wife is working with NGOs and I think has already created a shelter/rehab program for battered women, yevayln. Just some food for thought...

[violette829]

You know, if it's really a cause that you care about, maybe you should think about more direct intervention.

A couple from Montreal, who were both my Scout leaders, moved to Armenia lately, and the wife is working with NGOs and I think has already created a shelter/rehab program for battered women, yevayln. Just some food for thought...

That's beautiful. She must be an angel of a woman. Unfortunately, I don't think I can stand to go back there yet. Perhaps, when I'm older and wealthier, I shall go there and create a couple of Violette miracles. Every country needs a little hint of Violette.

[Sip]

... introduce her to nice guys ...

_

[violette829]

_

Why are we laughing?

[Sip]

It's because of a previous discussion we have had about the word "nice".

Here's why:

Nice
...
Obsolete. a. Wanton; profligate: “For when mine hours/Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives/Of me for jests” (Shakespeare). b. Affectedly modest; coy: “Ere . . . /The nice Morn on th' Indian steep,/From her cabin'd loop-hole peep” (John Milton).


[Middle English, foolish, from Old French, from Latin nescius, ignorant, from nescire, to be ignorant. See nescience.]

Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.

[violette829]

It's because of a previous discussion we have had about the word "nice".

Here's why:

Nice
...
Obsolete. a. Wanton; profligate: “For when mine hours/Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives/Of me for jests” (Shakespeare). b. Affectedly modest; coy: “Ere . . . /The nice Morn on th' Indian steep,/From her cabin'd loop-hole peep” (John Milton).


[Middle English, foolish, from Old French, from Latin nescius, ignorant, from nescire, to be ignorant. See nescience.]


So why am I laughing again?

Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.

Ahh yess..yes now I see.....::::no i don't::

[Anonymouse]

All of these critiques I've read thus far seem to hold the assumption that holistic entities such as "society" are the ones that determine individual choices and consciousness, not the other way around. So when individuals do make choices, they are somehow not making the choices you think they should be making. That is a gross warping of what we term praxaeology, the study of human action. As Rothbard put it, "since all action is determined by the choice of the actor, any particular act demonstrates a person's preference for this action." Thus, this criticism that people are acting that way and shouldn't be, is unfounded, aside from personal opinion. That the individuals in Armenia are choosing to act in favor of marriage, is a choice they make. You might not like it, but it is their choice.

[dusken]

All of these critiques I've read thus far seem to hold the assumption that holistic entities such as "society" are the ones that determine individual choices and consciousness, not the other way around. So when individuals do make choices, they are somehow not making the choices you think they should be making. That is a gross warping of what we term praxaeology, the study of human action. As Rothbard put it, "since all action is determined by the choice of the actor, any particular act demonstrates a person's preference for this action." Thus, this criticism that people are acting that way and shouldn't be, is unfounded, aside from personal opinion. That the individuals in Armenia are choosing to act in favor of marriage, is a choice they make. You might not like it, but it is their choice.

I agree with you in that they may not be worse off and that they are living how they want to live. I have expressed my opinion on that already.

I do not agree with the presentation of this Rothbard's words. If you take those words just as they are, it suggests that, if someone is impressed with an ultimatum, they desire to chose which ever they chose. There is a difference between something being in someone's interest and it being in someone's best interest. There is also a difference between doing what you want and doing what you feel is right. It is not so black and white. It does not account for not wanting to have to make the choice.