Article

2003-08-30 -Short Attention Span Theater-

Virtual Nations Meet in Helsinki for First Summit Ever

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Posted by Baba Yaga 2003-08-30 3:05:56 AM|| || Front Page|| [11131 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 And, in its own way, what is Rantburg, if not an internet community cum virtual nation? We have our firebrands and curmudgeons and ideologues and ~~cross-dressers~~ trolls and lightening rods and prevaricators as well as experienced hands and non-elitist intelligentsia and honest brokers and debunkers and fiskers. It strikes me as a working model of the objectivist philosophy
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivist_philosophy
and, thus, feels like home.

Fred's editorial piece today is a perfect example - I would give $50 to have written it myself (That's the deal, right Fred? $100? Wha? Inflation? There's no inflation anymore, whaddya mean doubling the price, geez...) because I wouldn't change a word. Home. And if we can get him a big fucking EU grant, well why the hell not? It's not like they're going to do anything constructive with it anyway. Fucking bunch of Zeropeans. Fools and their money! Ha!

The Absolutely Free Virtual Republic of Rantburg. Melike.

Posted by .com 2003-8-30 8:18:59 AM|| 2003-8-30 8:18:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Think North Korea will send them all flower baskets and Kim Il Sung books on the Juche idea?

Posted by tu3031 2003-8-30 10:10:04 AM|| 2003-8-30 10:10:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Oops, I left out the irreverent and creative Rantburgers! Sorry, tu3031, didn't mean to slight! ;->

Posted by .com 2003-8-30 10:37:34 AM|| 2003-8-30 10:37:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 While a lot of this is pure fantasy, there IS something growing on the Internet, and it's not a fungus. It's the same kind of revolutionary spirit that sparked the Declaration of Independence and our current Constitution. It's called the free and equal exchange of ideas. It's the discussions taking place between people from any country in the world with people from any other country in the world - at least, those that allow unrestricted Internet connections. The prissy French can be slapped down by the Montana cowboy, while the irreverent Greek can be bludgeoned with facts by the former East German commieslave. This is the true promise of the Internet - the free exchange of ideas, opinion, rant and psychosis between people without intervening government-imposed walls or filters. THIS, more than anything else, will eventually lead to first, Internet "communities", later Internet "political/social/economic" groups, followed by Internet "nations", and eventually to a world community - not one based on economics, politics, or culture, but one consisting of free indidivuals working together for the common good. It will probably never include everyone - there are still going to be bas$$$$$ out there - but there will be enough of us to shape what the rest do, and to restrain the excesses of those who wouldn't recognize a clue delivered by a fleet of B-52's. I'm happy to be a part of it, and especially proud of Rantburg for its leadership role in helping develop that new world.

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-8-30 11:23:00 AM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2003-8-30 11:23:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Patriot is right. While I'm not so sure Rantburg had a big impact, the exchanging of ideas has become a regular occurence. Half a century ago, it would take weeks, if not months, to reach the other side of the world. And Telephones went only as far as the wires.

Now ~~obese~~ intellectuals can discuss peace and harmony with the idealogical ~~cowards~~ French. Or ~~molesters~~ appreciative men can talk with the young ~~victims~~ children, without parents interferring.

Does anyone see what I'm getting at?

Posted by Charles 2003-8-30 1:43:28 PM|| 2003-8-30 1:43:28 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Hail Freedonia!
-- Groucho Marx

Sounds like a job for the Surrealist Party...

Posted by mojo 2003-8-30 3:47:21 PM|| 2003-8-30 3:47:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Can't wait to see the coups, putches, overthrows, and recalls for the Kingdom of Steve....question is, which of you guys gets the crown first

Posted by Frank G 2003-8-30 4:12:04 PM|| 2003-8-30 4:12:04 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Frank G - Oh they'll all want their own kingdoms of course. Then they'll ally themselves to fulfill the Conspiracy of Steveâ¢. Sooner or later, we've got to start taking this threat seriously. It's pretty obvious that the Al Steve cells are replicating, even now, while you innocently prepare yourself for idle activities such as watching the Chargers get plastered. ;-)

Posted by .com 2003-8-30 7:17:24 PM|| 2003-8-30 7:17:24 PM|| Front Page Top

06:10 Anon1
01:55 Zhang Fei
23:10 Bomb-a-rama
23:09 Dishman
23:07 michael
23:05 Bomb-a-rama
22:55 Aris Katsaris
22:52 Zhang Fei
22:38 michael
22:12 Frank G
22:05 Lucky
22:05 Frank G
21:10 Shipman
21:07 Shipman
21:07 TPF
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20:56 JDB
20:52 Shipman
20:47 Shipman
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20:38 Fred
20:36 Shipman
20:27 Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire
20:05 Steve White