Do You Feel You are Fully Capable of Making Decisions for Yourself?

[Gawain 0]

I was reading this article about comments Jackie Chan made, and this quote stood out:

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"I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled..."

So, how about you? Do you need to be controlled when it comes to daily life decisions? Maybe anything beyond your daily cup of coffee (or whatever the sell at Starbucks nowadays)? Are you a prime marketing target for a new government program to run your life for you, or, might this be written up as culturally different perceptions?

I for one, believe some of this is cultural. Asian cultures are a lot more collaborative. I see this in how my wife (she's Japanese) approaches things every day. This can be construed as more "socialistic", but they don't have the same challenges that we in the US face daily, which is a culture based on individual liberty.

edit to add link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090421/ap_en_ot/as_hong_kong_people_jackie_chan

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[lawrocket 3]

I would reckon. That Jackie Chan doesn't picture picture himself as one of those who would need some control over his life. It's others who need it.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[warpedskydiver 0]

Being a Chinese national might make one have a different mindset due to a different culture.

Billions of people running a muck might not be a good thing, have you seen their traffic?

[dannydan 5]

where is the choice for my GVT is here to HELP me?

[billvon 2,991]

I voted "no" because there are times that I am _not_ capable of making decisions for myself, and rely on others to make those decisions.

A few examples -

I was flying at night a few years back in class B and I got a call from ATC - "4 6 quebec descend immediately to 3500 feet" - and I did so. I never saw the traffic that was a threat; I just trusted air traffic control to make the decision for me.

There are traffic lights here where I can't see very far into the crossing streets. When the light is red at those intersections, I wait until it turns green. I am not able to make the decision to go on the red (even if no cops/traffic cameras are visible) because I don't know what's coming - so I let the traffic light make that decision for me.

I know, I know, not very macho to admit that you don't always have enough information to make a good decision. But sometimes that's the case.

[Shotgun 1]

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Do you need to be controlled when it comes to daily life decisions?

Yes; that is why I got married.

[millertime24 8]

I agree with the first example, however, a traffic light is simply an object not capable of rational thought. The light may indeed be red, but ultimately you made the decision to obey it.

Muff #5048

[Butters 0]

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... so I let the traffic light make that decision for me.

You wouldn't go through the intersection if the light was green but there were cars going through the intersection on the crossing street ... would you?

"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch

[timmyfitz 0]

Yes I can............well on second thought no I can't. I'm not sure. Could some one help?

Oh wait, I've got it now........Maybe.

[Coreece 190]

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Do You Feel You are Fully Capable of Making Decisions for Yourself?

???

No speaka ingles....

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[billvon 2,991]

> a traffic light is simply an object not capable of rational thought.

Right, and the air traffic controller is likely just reading a conflict warning coming off his tube. In both cases the "object" has better command of the situation.

>The light may indeed be red, but ultimately you made the decision to obey it.

Of course; that's true with any decision. You may decide to obey a government edict instead of fighting it, for example.

[millertime24 8]

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Right, and the air traffic controller is likely just reading a conflict warning coming off his tube. In both cases the "object" has better command of the situation.

Ill have to dissagree here. Objects such as lights or screens displaying information have no command over anything. They are simply a method of transfering information to a human being who then, ultimately, makes the decision based on that information (or misinformation in some cases).

Muff #5048

[billvon 2,991]

>Objects such as lights or screens displaying information have no command
>over anything. They are simply a method of transfering information to a human
>being who then, ultimately, makes the decision based on that information.

Right. And like I said, you can claim that anything you do, even if you are being forced to do it at gunpoint, is a decision you make, and thus are really the one making the decision.

[TomAiello 26]

I was going to answer the poll, but decided I needed to check in with the government first to see what I'm supposed to say.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[downwardspiral 0]

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There are traffic lights here where I can't see very far into the crossing streets. When the light is red at those intersections, I wait until it turns green. I am not able to make the decision to go on the red (even if no cops/traffic cameras are visible) because I don't know what's coming - so I let the traffic light make that decision for me.

This is a really, REALLY, great example and explains why Americans are so bad at navigating round-abouts.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[riddler 0]

There are plenty of times when we make bad decisions - that doesn't mean that we need all of our decisions made by other people. We enjoy our freedom, and we all do the best we can, and sometimes we fuck up. Personally, I think compared to the majority of people in the world, I make better decisions, on average, and it's paid off for me.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[marks2065 0]

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> a traffic light is simply an object not capable of rational thought.

Right, and the air traffic controller is likely just reading a conflict warning coming off his tube. In both cases the "object" has better command of the situation.

>The light may indeed be red, but ultimately you made the decision to obey it.

Of course; that's true with any decision. You may decide to obey a government edict instead of fighting it, for example.

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the decision wasn't made by atc or the red light, it was made by you. ATC and the red light gave you the options but you made the choice.

[billvon 2,991]

>ATC and the red light gave you the options but you made the choice.

Right. You can reduce everything to that level - but it doesn't mean much. I mean, if we had 100% government health care, then you could still make your own decisions on health care by your definition.

[millertime24 8]

This thread reminds me of the song "Freewill" by Rush.

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If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

Muff #5048

[Amazon 7]

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>ATC and the red light gave you the options but you made the choice.

Right. You can reduce everything to that level - but it doesn't mean much. I mean, if we had 100% government health care, then you could still make your own decisions on health care by your definition.

OH SHIT....

There are now at least a dozenright wing posters spinning so fast in their chairs.. there will be adverse effects in local micro climates all over the country.

[marks2065 0]

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>ATC and the red light gave you the options but you made the choice.

Right. You can reduce everything to that level - but it doesn't mean much. I mean, if we had 100% government health care, then you could still make your own decisions on health care by your definition.

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no you can't, the government will choose wether or not the health care you want / need is needed and what coverage you are elligible for.

[billvon 2,991]

>no you can't, the government will choose wether or not the health care
>you want / need is needed and what coverage you are elligible for.

?? Dude, you just explained this to everyone. Sure, they will give you your options - but you will make the choice as to whether to take them. Remember when you said this?

"ATC and the red light gave you the options but you made the choice."

Or do you want to change your statement now?

[marks2065 0]

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>no you can't, the government will choose wether or not the health care
>you want / need is needed and what coverage you are elligible for.

?? Dude, you just explained this to everyone. Sure, they will give you your options - but you will make the choice as to whether to take them. Remember when you said this?

"ATC and the red light gave you the options but you made the choice."

Or do you want to change your statement now?

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have you been hanging out with Kallend?

if the government gets involved in health care, you will not be able to make many of the choices you have now. Yes you may still have some choices with gov health care, but your options will be greatly reduced or even eliminated.

[Amazon 7]

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>no you can't, the government will choose wether or not the health care
>you want / need is needed and what coverage you are elligible for.

?? Dude, you just explained this to everyone. Sure, they will give you your options - but you will make the choice as to whether to take them. Remember when you said this?

"ATC and the red light gave you the options but you made the choice."

Or do you want to change your statement now?

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have you been hanging out with Kallend?

if the government gets involved in health care, you will not be able to make many of the choices you have now. Yes you may still have some choices with gov health care, but your options will be greatly reduced or even eliminated.

Tried to use your healthcare recently???

Trust me.. your "insurance" company can and does make paymment decisions.. and a hell of a lot of them have eliminated paying the claims that your doctor sends them

[CanuckInUSA 0]

There is not much difference between an insurance company that does not want to authorize medical treatments because it might effect their bottom line versus the socialized healthcare system that does not want to authorize treatments because it might effect their bottom line or because they don't have the resources to treat everyone the way everyone expects themselves to be treated.

Face it folks ... the question at hand is not a Republican versus Democrat ... Conservative versus Liberal thing. Modern society is slowing losing it's freedom and soon science fiction movies such as THX1138 will not be so far fetched anymore.

We might as well enjoy our freedoms while we can folks because sooner or later the state will be in your bathroom there to wipe your ass whether or not you wanted them there to begin with.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over