Quote: Dolly Dagger @ March 3 2009, 10:42 AM GMTI don't think it's any coincidence that Adolf Hitler was brought up in a very strict way.
Yes, let's blame the holocaust on too strict parenting. 
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Quote: chipolata @ March 3 2009, 10:43 AM GMTYes, let's blame the holocaust on too strict parenting.
Exactly. It's what shapes people.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ March 3 2009, 10:53 AM GMTExactly. It's what shapes people.
And what about the millions of scumbag chav kids that are completely out of control in this country? It's not because of too strict parenting, it's because of weak none-existant parenting. Usually from stupid lower class people.
Quote: chipolata @ March 3 2009, 10:56 AM GMTAnd what about the millions of scumbag chav kids that are completely out of control in this country? It's not because of too strict parenting, it's because of weak none-existant parenting. Usually from stupid lower class people.
You've just proved my point. The two extremes are not good - for the indivdual or society as a whole.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ March 3 2009, 10:58 AM GMTYou've just proved my point.
How dare you!
Quote: chipolata @ March 3 2009, 10:58 AM GMTHow dare you!
She who dares wins. 
Quote: Ben @ March 3 2009, 10:39 AM GMTWell what's your solution? How are you going to change human nature?
I don't think there is one, really. But the day we stop complaining about it and accepting it as the norm is the day we're all f**ked.
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 3 2009, 11:13 AM GMTI don't think there is one, really.
Of course there is. Lots. Behaviour Modification chips implanted into the brain. Sterlisation of certain "types" of people. And mass executions for "wrong uns"...
Quote: chipolata @ March 3 2009, 11:21 AM GMTAnd mass executions for "wrong uns"...
A direct nuclear strike on Middlesbrough?
Actually, changing the subject EVER so slightly, we very nearly had a fairly-large explosion. Did you know that an asteroid skimmed past us yesterday at 46 thousand MPH, missing Earth by the width of a gnat's pubic hair? It was 200 feet wide and would have caused an explosion comparable in size to a large nuclear bomb. It was only discovered 3 days ago, and so if it was on a collision course we'd have been able to do sweet Fanny Adams about it.
Why don't we ever hear about this stuff in the news? In cosmic terms, it's the equivalent of a bullet coming so close to your head that it parted your hair.
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 3 2009, 11:31 AM GMTIt was only discovered 3 days ago, and so if it was on a collision course we'd have been able to do sweet Fanny Adams about it.
Bollocks, Bruce Willis would have been sent up to stop it and save humanity.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ March 3 2009, 10:42 AM GMTI don't think it's coincidence that Adolf Hitler was brought up in a very strict way.
Hitler's father was very strict but no stricter than many patriarchs of his generation. Hitler's mother actually thoroughly spoiled him and often put herself between the children and Alois. Hitler, the man, is utterly responsible for his actions, independent of Hitler the child. Whatever our past, we all have choice and bear the full responsibility for that choice, much as I'd like to wriggle off that particular hook.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ March 3 2009, 10:58 AM GMTYou've just proved my point. The two extremes are not good - for the indivdual or society as a whole.
Agreed, moderation in all things. But strict is not necessarily harsh or abuse.
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 3 2009, 11:13 AM GMTI don't think there is one, really. But the day we stop complaining about it and accepting it as the norm is the day we're all f**ked.
Yep. But the weakness and, paradoxically, the potential strength of human institutions is that they are run by humans: weakness in that people can exploit or misuse the rules; strength in that a machine would apply the laws rigidly and to the letter, without allowing for compassion, discretion, or mitigation. The machines would rule the planet because we'd all be doing time or executed.
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 3 2009, 11:31 AM GMTAn asteroid skimmed past yesterday at 46 thousand MPH. It was discovered 3 days ago, and if on a collision course we'd have been able to do sweet Fanny Adams about it.
3 days? If we'd have been given 3 decades warning, we'd most likely still have been just as impotent, except we'd have 3 decades of anxiety and not "ooh, what's tha--?". We're talking about NASA. The institute that thought the best place for a new satellite was at the bottom of the Antarctic ocean. And if our defence system weighs anything over 10kg then they're going to be throwing out the operator's manuals and 'uneeded safety features' just to get it up there.
Quote: SlagA @ March 4 2009, 11:16 AM GMTWe're talking about NASA. The institute that thought the best place for a new satellite was at the bottom of the Antarctic ocean.
Any defense against an asteroid will almost certainly be mounted by the military, not NASA. NASA doesn't own all that many nuclear weapons. 
As for the OCO satellite which splashed, it was not NASA's problem. The rocket was built by Orbital Dynamics. My company was heavily involved in the mission, but we had nothing to do with the actual hardware, so don't blame me.
Hopefully this mission is much more successful:
Quote: DaButt @ March 4 2009, 11:43 AM GMTAny defense against an asteroid will be mounted by the military, not NASA. NASA doesn't own all that many nuclear weapons.
And how, exactly, would the military get the necessary gear into space?
NASA don't own nukes? Not according to my Jane's World Conspiracy 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. 
Quote: SlagA @ March 4 2009, 11:50 AM GMTAnd how, exactly, would the military get the necessary gear into space?
They have a lot of ballistic missiles gathering dust ...
America's old news. We'll soon be looking to China to save us if an asteroid heads this way.