what dictatorship would u rather be living in !

[[R-MOD]Wasteland]

Rather indicates preference, not the belief that a choice will provide personal good (certainly not in the narrow sense of "personal good") or happiness. I'm surprised you're this interested in the nitpicking semantics of the argument when there are genuine issues to consider.

rath·er (răTH'ər, rä'THər) pronunciation
adv.

1. More readily; preferably: I'd rather go to the movies.

[puglous]

Okay, touche, but there's no way in hell you haven't heard someone say "I'd rather do X, but I'm still going to do Y."

If you dig deeper into the definition, it CAN come down to a matter of happiness. Observe:

More readily; preferably: I'd rather go to the movies.

read·i·ly /ˈrɛdli/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[red-l-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adverb 1. promptly; quickly; easily: The information is readily available.

ease /iz/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[eez] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, eased, eas·ing.
–noun 1. freedom from labor, pain, or physical annoyance; tranquil rest; comfort: to enjoy one's ease.

I don't see how you talking like all the posters who voted Hitler are scum is nid-picky of me to bring up, yet its not nid-picky of you to worry when people vote for a dead man in an ambiguously worded and seemingly light-hearted poll.

[[R-MOD]Wasteland]

Originally Posted by puglous

I don't see how you talking like all the posters who voted Hitler are scum is nid-picky of me to bring up, yet its not nid-picky of you to worry when people vote for a dead man in an ambiguously worded and seemingly light-hearted poll.

It's nitpicking to suggest that I'm selfish because you feel I confused the words choose and rather.

It's certainly not nitpicking to engage with me on the issue, which is that I feel that it shows a lack of moral fiber to choose to live under Hitler (and thus support him, due to taxes and universal conscription) over other options presented simply because the poster is not Jewish.

[Ironcomatose]

OMG these are all bad men!! To support any of them willingly is stupid and evil!! But we are on a website....and we only have these choices so we have to pick based on whatever we want(granted we dont HAVE to choose). Its like you protesting outside a church because you dont believe that them having to cut them selfs(just an example not picking on any religion obviously)because their religion says so. No one who is voting or like in my example going to this church, is gonna care what you have to say JP*wasteland. They believe what they believe. Im not trying to be mean man but just give it up

[DOAW]

Well, I think you misinterpreted (Or I misrepresented) my response. By voting for Hitler, I was not giving tacit approval to his regime, or any of the horrible things that they did. I'd rather not be living in any of those dictatorships, but that wasn't provided as an answer.

And you really are nitpicking semantics over the wording of the question. Why would someone choose a regime that was worse for them over one that would be better to live in(more easily survivable, etc)? For example, I could ask you, "Do you still beat your wife?" and provide the choices of Yes or No. Given those constraints, any reply makes you look like an evil bastard. But thats really not the truth, is it? The more likely answer would be "I don't (never had) have a wife," or "I've never beaten my wife." In the same vein, the lack of "None of the above" answer in the poll just leaves you with poor choices. Do you see how an ambiguously or manipulatively worded question can twist the truth (no offense Deadfish, I don't think it was intentional)?

Given the open ended nature of the question, I chose to interpret it as which one would give me the best chance to thrive. Not which is the least evil. Or which one would make me a Lieutenant so I go murder and torture people. You probably have a different idea of what the question means, but you can't judge my response based on your personal criteria.

Besides, sometimes I just like playing the devil's advocate. The linguistic judo is good for me every now and then.

[[R-MOD]Wasteland]

Originally Posted by ironcomatose

OMG these are all bad men!! To support any of them willingly is stupid and evil!! But we are on a website....and we only have these choices so we have to pick based on whatever we want(granted we dont HAVE to choose).

Yes, you're correct. Well, I'm not sure I'd agree entirely. I disagree with much of what Castro does (especially considering dissidents), but he's certainly on the more benevolent side amongst the world's leaders. Also, there's a case to be made that in a very Real Politik way, Stalin's actions were necassary to rapidly industrialize Russia, hold on to power as he did it, and help immensely in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

But you're point is that any choice a respondent makes can be judged as amoral, as support of any of the dictators offered would be amoral. However, my point is that some choices are vastly more amoral than others, and that the Hitler option epitomizes this.

No one who is voting ... is gonna care what you have to say JP*wasteland. They believe what they believe.

Oh come on, this is an internet forum. When I go to bed tonight, the last thing on my mind is going to be what anybody said on here. Everything in Off-Topic is ultimately of no consequence. Nobody *really* cares about any of it. So why would this be any different?

Im not trying to be mean man but just give it up

I made my statement about the Hitler option and that's been it. Everything since then has just been defending my statement from new posts.

Originally Posted by DOAW

[Y]ou really are nitpicking semantics over the wording of the question. Why would someone choose a regime that was worse for them over one that would be better to live in(more easily survivable, etc)?

I'm not sure I get how the first and second sentence here are related. How is your point here (expressed in the second sentence) an example of nitpicking semantics?

To answer the question though, the alternative means of choosing would be based on what the person felt was "right".

For example, I could ask you, "Do you still beat your wife?" and provide the choices of Yes or No. Given those constraints, any reply makes you look like an evil bastard. But thats really not the truth, is it? The more likely answer would be "I don't (never had) have a wife," or "I've never beaten my wife." In the same vein, the lack of "None of the above" answer in the poll just leaves you with poor choices. Do you see how an ambiguously or manipulatively worded question can twist the truth (no offense Deadfish, I don't think it was intentional)?

This is similar to the argument of iron's that I discussed at the beginning of this post.

Given the open ended nature of the question, I chose to interpret it as which one would give me the best chance to thrive. Not which is the least evil.

I'm glad for this. I've always liked you, and was quite surprised to see you vote for the Hitler option. I've encountered neo-Nazis before on this forum, and I'm glad you're not among them.

Besides, sometimes I just like playing the devil's advocate. The linguistic judo is good for me every now and then.

I'm happy for that. I find that people often take my debates much too seriously.

[DOAW]

Originally Posted by JP*wasteland.soldier

I'm glad for this. I've always liked you, and was quite surprised to see you vote for the Hitler option. I've encountered neo-Nazis before on this forum, and I'm glad you're not among them.

Way OT, but I'm glad that at least one person recognizes me. I always kind of have the impression that I'm a relative unknown, but I guess that's kind of hard to gauge objectively. I don't post that often, but when I do I try to make it meaningful.

[ArmedDrunk&Angry]

It's a Hallmark moment.
I'm touched.

[Ironcomatose]

Just for the record im not a Neo-Nazi nor have i ever been affiliated with any.

Although there was this one time in band camp....(lets see if someone gets that)

[JohnnyPissoff]

Deep down, maybe for some subconsciously for other overtly, the decision to choose between Hitler and Castro is ultimately; right wing verses left wing ideology.

Welcome kids to the real world of real life choices. Later on in life you'll be asked to draw a line. Better make the proper choice, if history is the guide.

Oh and for the love of liberty please don't trade freedom for protection, because you may lose both and place your families in harms way from both sides.