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Danilo_G

There exist no boundaries, as in the desert, as in the sky, and memories calmly pass settling wherever they find it coziest.

Mugger Stats

  • Member Type: Mugger
  • Profile Views: 2,143 views
  • Friends: 16 friends
  • Last Update: February 16
  • Joined: December 16, 2015

Mugger Details

  • Screen Name* Danilo_G
  • Gender* Male
  • Where do you live? Belgium and Bosnia
  • About Me: 1994; Engl­ish and Sp­anish lite­rature and­ linguisti­cs; many i­nterests.
  • Activity
    • About
    • Discussions (13)
    • Replies (356)
    • Friends (16)
    • Joined Groups (5)
    • Comment Wall
    • Gifts (2)
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  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Have you had a recent music discovery?:
    Yes, but only in that Janis Joplin bought Bessie Smith a tombstone. That such a singer (who also died relatively young, yet not as young as Janis) had been buried in an unmarked grave... I guess that's why they call it the blues.Hiya, Welby!
    • February 16
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Why do so many people believe you need to be a psychopath or have a mental disorder to harm or kill others for pleasure? :
    Very generally speaking, I don't see hedonism as ever being sustainable. (This may seem like I'm going off-topic, but it's a related problem.) There's something downright self-destructive in a human's spending their capacities on something of which they w...  moreVery generally speaking, I don't see hedonism as ever being sustainable. (This may seem like I'm going off-topic, but it's a related problem.) There's something downright self-destructive in a human's spending their capacities on something of which they will always need more, need different; then look back and see all they've experienced was but for a moment, and those moments must always pass--very quickly so. (Now I re-read that sentence and figure one might say it could just as well apply to cooking; but then we're talking about the fundamental biological necessity to eat.)It wouldn't be very different, in my opinion, from an(y other) addiction: the temporary high followed by the dragging deeper down.  less
    • February 5
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Why do so many people believe you need to be a psychopath or have a mental disorder to harm or kill others for pleasure? :
    I can't make much of a distinction between "curiosity" and "pleasure" as long as the most likely scenario is for someone to assume they will gain pleasure from such an act, presumably for having been excited by something similar and/or indirect before. An...  moreI can't make much of a distinction between "curiosity" and "pleasure" as long as the most likely scenario is for someone to assume they will gain pleasure from such an act, presumably for having been excited by something similar and/or indirect before. And I agree with you on all people having some sort of capacity for that. But to seek it out, actively, and repeatedly, I can't consider the functioning of a "non-disordered" mind. All the more so when people who have murdered for like reasons are either demonstrably unwell, or expressing disappointment.It reminds me of the way some people approach sex: those who keep pursuing more intense thrills even when these don't live up to their expectations, or cause a type of anguish afterward. It can't be anything but irrational. But indeed we are all capable of irrationality.  less
    • February 5
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Why do so many people believe you need to be a psychopath or have a mental disorder to harm or kill others for pleasure? :
    We have to treat it as a disorder. In the sense that it could hardly be maintained within any 'orderly' human society.There have been all too many people of a very high IQ (literally geniuses) who felt like they could get away with something of ...  moreWe have to treat it as a disorder. In the sense that it could hardly be maintained within any 'orderly' human society.There have been all too many people of a very high IQ (literally geniuses) who felt like they could get away with something of the sort -- and therefore almost should. At times they give their reason as having been sheer curiosity: wanting to know what it would feel like, both in the moment and afterwards. And then they add it didn't change a thing. If that's not (very) irrational behaviour, I can't say what is.  less
    • February 4
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What is your favorite Greek Word?:
    Hard to say... And I don't just mean 'hard to pronounce.' Phos and synthesis are quaint, so you may as well put them together. Anagnorisis (ἀναγνώρισις) is another one. Or ono...  moreHard to say... And I don't just mean 'hard to pronounce.' Phos and synthesis are quaint, so you may as well put them together. Anagnorisis (ἀναγνώρισις) is another one. Or onomatopoeia (ὀνοματοποιία).  
    • February 2
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to dental work :
    I really don't know much about anesthesiology, let alone about how they do it in your area. But what I wanted to say is that those people are professionals, I'm sure they come across people uncomfortable with IV on a daily basis, and they know what to do.
    • January 30
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to dental work :
    I wouldn't know: they gave me both the IV and a mask, but it may be an option to have the latter only. IV is really not bad, though.
    • January 30
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to dental work :
    I remember getting weirdly cocky about the whole thing, resolving that I wouldn't be knocked out as easily as all those others plebeians. They asked me to count backward from 10. I got no further (or lower) than 8. Next I know, I'm in a room with a few ot...  moreI remember getting weirdly cocky about the whole thing, resolving that I wouldn't be knocked out as easily as all those others plebeians. They asked me to count backward from 10. I got no further (or lower) than 8. Next I know, I'm in a room with a few other wisdom-toothless guys with spinning heads; a little bit later, good to go.All in all, a simple procedure. No need to worry.  
    • January 30
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Those of you who will be watching the super bowl, will you watch the stupid half-time festivities or find something else to do?:
    It's the only game of American football that I watch, each year, but since I'm on Central European Time I record the BBC's airing of it. So far, there hasn't been a half-time show I didn't fast-forward.
    • January 25
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to I'm so confused. If the earth is flat, then why do the other planets look spherical when gazed upon? I know balls when I see them.:
    Obvious. Because your eyes are round, and they make them look like that. I know flat when I feel it.
    • January 21
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to If forced to choose, would you rather know the date of your death or the cause of your death? :
    Ha, I figured only one person could have asked this -- Welcome back, Ondine!I'd much prefer to know the time. It's said that people who ask about it end up regretting it; but knowing only the cause, in case it's an unnatural one, would make me more nervou...  moreHa, I figured only one person could have asked this -- Welcome back, Ondine!I'd much prefer to know the time. It's said that people who ask about it end up regretting it; but knowing only the cause, in case it's an unnatural one, would make me more nervous whenever a similar situation were to arise.... You won't abuse that information, will you?  
    • January 18
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Billie Elish, Billy Idol, Billie Hoilday, Billy Joel or Billy Bush? :
    Holiday, every day!
    • January 18
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to An Aussie friend informs me that his city is known locally as The City of Churches! Is your city known for anything in particular?:
    Hi, Rosie! It must be the minerals in the water, as it naturally tastes alike sparkling water, only less bubbly.I was fairly eager to leave Antwerp behind in 2012, when I was 18. Even though I have family and old friends there I can't say I very much miss...  moreHi, Rosie! It must be the minerals in the water, as it naturally tastes alike sparkling water, only less bubbly.I was fairly eager to leave Antwerp behind in 2012, when I was 18. Even though I have family and old friends there I can't say I very much miss the place itself. But I do carry it everywhere I go--as my parents say of their native Bosnia. Yes, I'd say I'm quite content :) The one thing I'd wish for is to start making a living through writing. For that too, though, this environment has been positive.People are crazy for Djokovic here! You can hear the most introverted people jumping and shouting to support their 'Nole' (a nickname for Novak). Happy Saturday to thee!  less
    • January 18
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to An Aussie friend informs me that his city is known locally as The City of Churches! Is your city known for anything in particular?:
    If the Serbian city of Aranđelovac is known, it is for its water. Many come here trusting the healing properties of the spring, staying at a nice resort within a larger public park. The water is free to drink too, and quite refreshing; one only pays when ...  moreIf the Serbian city of Aranđelovac is known, it is for its water. Many come here trusting the healing properties of the spring, staying at a nice resort within a larger public park. The water is free to drink too, and quite refreshing; one only pays when filling bottles.Half a year ago I was still in Ghent: people know it for its university. My birth city of Antwerp has Europe's second-largest seaport. Yet all in all I prefer it here in the countryside.  
    • January 18
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to For you, how many positive comments can be negated by one negative comment? For me it is about 100. :
    Oh, it's limitless; provided I wasn't already thinking of it myself. Then it becomes a matter of time. I tend to dig into the cause of the comment, but ultimately don't mind being that way.
    • January 13
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Presidential candidate Joe Biden has spoken in favor of eliminating plastic shopping bags. Do you favor eliminating plastic shopping bags?:
    Yes, very much so.
    • January 9
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Why is oil the only thing that turns on world leaders and coveting it is the prime directive? Why not invade Africa for its diamonds?:
    In a world where nobody wants to tilt more stable areas towards instability... What would the CIA possibly do with itself?
    • January 2
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Why is oil the only thing that turns on world leaders and coveting it is the prime directive? Why not invade Africa for its diamonds?:
    The West doesn't view Africa as a threat. A unified Africa, or unified Africans (as Bob Marley sang of)--that would be a very different story; and that obviously isn't allowed. I wouldn't say the West has no hand in that, though.
    • January 2
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Funny or offensive? I’m dying lol. :
    Let's just say I hope I could laugh at it if I were in any such situation.
    • December 29, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to If coffee didn’t exist, would all of the world’s coffee lovers just stay in bed, all grouchy, groggy and grumpy? ~:
    My apologies for changing the subject in the thread so. Glad you made it through all that. I find most surprising the time it took to convince a neurosurgeon--or indeed the need to convince.
    • December 18, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to If coffee didn’t exist, would all of the world’s coffee lovers just stay in bed, all grouchy, groggy and grumpy? ~:
    Must have been tough, the opioids. How did you manage that?
    • December 17, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G commented on franc533's blog entry: No idea If it takes strength to persevere through stagnation, then, logically, things will improve--as you will improve.
    • December 15, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Do you think politics has become dangerously polarized with the right now far right, and the left, far left? :
    I suppose it takes as many to tango as to polarize, so I couldn't say which one I find more dangerous. But it's clear that--as usual--people are having difficulty listening to each other while shouting. And I'd say that benefits those who wish to keep thi...  moreI suppose it takes as many to tango as to polarize, so I couldn't say which one I find more dangerous. But it's clear that--as usual--people are having difficulty listening to each other while shouting. And I'd say that benefits those who wish to keep things under their control.  
    • December 12, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What’s the worst that could happen if you answer an ad for sandwich-making classes at my place? ~:
    Is that why whenever walking past your place I hear something to the effect of "that's not a baguette"?
    • December 10, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Weak stomach. Green thumb. Heavy hand. Itchy foot. Sweet tooth. Glass chin. Thin skin. :
    The Dutch dikke nek, or 'fat neck,' refers to someone with an overinflated ego, prone to boasting.
    • December 10, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What’s the worst that could happen if you answer an ad for sandwich-making classes at my place? ~:
    Realizing it's not about telling you how to make me sandwiches.
    • December 10, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to How often have you said "If I only knew then what I know now"?:
    Sounds familiar. Or: "If only I'd worked as hard then as I would now."
    • December 9, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Where is JA these days? Has she gone out to get a second job?:
    That's baffling--almost too much for me to read, never mind do! I bet you read that question and went: "Gotten only a second job? Pssh, I wish."    
    • December 9, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Is using negativity as a weapon ensure a bloody drawn-out conflict?:
    Any sort of widespread ignorance ensures it, of which negativity may be but one symptom.
    • December 8, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What happens when Just Asking graduates? No more Mug?:
    Well; thanks for asking! Settling into a new home in Serbia, chopped enough firewood to be spending more time inside and on AM again. How's my Sharon?
    • December 6, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What happens when Just Asking graduates? No more Mug?:
    The ascension shall be complete. All mugs shall form one.
    • December 5, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Guess What? For once a statistic makes sense. Which one(s)?:
    I doubt it's something I'll ever really understand, but thank you for the reply; and a Happy Wednesday to thee too!
    • December 4, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Do you touch a person when you are talking with them; do you mind if a person touches you while speaking to you? :
    I tend to be relatively reserved in that regard, especially when I assume it might make a woman uncomfortable, but a pat on the shoulder or a hearty handshake even in the middle of conversation can have a positive effect. (I suppose that latter example mi...  moreI tend to be relatively reserved in that regard, especially when I assume it might make a woman uncomfortable, but a pat on the shoulder or a hearty handshake even in the middle of conversation can have a positive effect. (I suppose that latter example might sound odd, but it's very common in former Yugoslavia when emphatically agreeing with someone.)Aside from pecks on the cheek from people I don't really know, I usually don't mind being touched--in fact, I then often find it easier to connect to that person. Incidentally, when a TV guy came over the other week to install a satellite dish, the first thing he did after getting out of his van was to give me this sort of side-hug. But that's the kind of thing I expect to come across in Serbia now and then; certainly not when I was still living in Belgium!  less
    • December 3, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Guess What? For once a statistic makes sense. Which one(s)?:
    Hey there Rosie, been a while. I have to ask: is going to Starbucks a statement of status in any way, at least in the US? Or perhaps simply having one around is. I can't say I've ever entered one myself, but I reckoned it serviced daily multitudes just as...  moreHey there Rosie, been a while. I have to ask: is going to Starbucks a statement of status in any way, at least in the US? Or perhaps simply having one around is. I can't say I've ever entered one myself, but I reckoned it serviced daily multitudes just as McDonald's does.  
    • December 3, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What would be a really bad name for a sports team? I'll start: The Weenies.:
    Application form #97721.
    • December 1, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation?:
    I agree, Savvy, and it's precisely whence the skepticism. With celebrities too, be they talk show hosts or Hollywood greats, I at times can't shake the thought that every charming act is simply pulled off so well as not to seem an act at all. Any suspicio...  moreI agree, Savvy, and it's precisely whence the skepticism. With celebrities too, be they talk show hosts or Hollywood greats, I at times can't shake the thought that every charming act is simply pulled off so well as not to seem an act at all. Any suspicion of insincerity, on the other hand, indeed shuts that down. But then there may be the kind of behavior that is sincere enough in general intent yet not entirely so in exact expression. (For instance, genuinely appreciating someone's company while looking to affect them in different ways than if there were no ultimate purpose in mind.) To what extent is that undesirable?Thank you, friend! While the move to a different country hasn't been overly simple, it's good to be here. Hope you are well too!  less
    • September 6, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation?:
    Can a person seen as charismatic actively be doing little things to make us think so, though? As if it's spontaneous and natural, even when it's all learned behavior?
    • September 6, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation?:
    Yet how do we know that what we perceive as charismatic isn't only very effectively manipulative?
    • September 6, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G started a discussion:
    How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation?
    That is, if we can.
    • September 4, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to How Do I Get Hand and Stone to change the SAME music tape that has been playing for six years? PLEASE I'm DEAD SERIOUS. HELP ME.:
    Teehee, so are you. Except when we're pushed too far, Shar; lay down the barbed wire, dig the trenches: we'll familiarize them with Hands and Stones all too well at dawn!
    • June 5, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to How Do I Get Hand and Stone to change the SAME music tape that has been playing for six years? PLEASE I'm DEAD SERIOUS. HELP ME.:
    I reckon they should have the very responsibility to change the music once it--understandably--becomes that cumbersome. See if any colleagues are also bothered by it, and perhaps suggest or bring tapes/CDs yourself.
    • June 4, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to When the prez was a DEM folks would rush out and buy MORE GUNS after another gun-related massacre. 12 dead in Virginia Beach. So what?:
    Don't know, Rosie. I wouldn't go so far as to say they don't value life, but rather that the constant animosity is keeping everything in the pointless status quo. At this point I would even accept the typically conservative idea of more guns, ju...  moreDon't know, Rosie. I wouldn't go so far as to say they don't value life, but rather that the constant animosity is keeping everything in the pointless status quo. At this point I would even accept the typically conservative idea of more guns, just for something to change. (But the recent stabbings in Tokyo, which perplexed me too, might also suggest it is no feasible solution: would we put armed guards at every single bus stop?)Thanks, and happy Saturday to thee!  
    • June 1, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to When the prez was a DEM folks would rush out and buy MORE GUNS after another gun-related massacre. 12 dead in Virginia Beach. So what?:
    I couldn't believe that there have been 150 mass shootings (defined as a gun attack either injuring or killing four people) in the U.S. since the start of the year. That's about one per day. Can't say things don't have to change.Edit: source https://...  moreI couldn't believe that there have been 150 mass shootings (defined as a gun attack either injuring or killing four people) in the U.S. since the start of the year. That's about one per day. Can't say things don't have to change.Edit: source https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/  
    • June 1, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to I heard a sound-bite wherein Nancy Pelosi claims that FaceBook’s original refusal to delete the doctored video that made fun of her is :
    It's been the 21st for a little while, though!
    • May 31, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Does anyone honestly like tofu?:
    Absolutely. Very much depends on how it's prepared, however. Some supermarkets here sell it in the form of schnitzels or nuggets, or some "Greek carrés" with molten cheese and tomatoes, and it's really quite good.
    • May 28, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What interesting thing will you do today ? :
    For a small piece I plan to write, it may be beneficial to reacquaint myself with the general lay-out and atmosphere of a typical night club (before students' finals start again), having steered clear for some seven years. Thinking I'll check out the plac...  moreFor a small piece I plan to write, it may be beneficial to reacquaint myself with the general lay-out and atmosphere of a typical night club (before students' finals start again), having steered clear for some seven years. Thinking I'll check out the place, watch the people, and perhaps spend neither a dime nor a word.  
    • May 23, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What do dragons Eat anyway? :
    It may be a fallacy, but I feel like the reading habits of a nation/populace/community speak volumes. In Bosnia, one can come across kiosks selling classic literature in rather unexpected, remote places. Not that many locals don't shiver at the thought of...  moreIt may be a fallacy, but I feel like the reading habits of a nation/populace/community speak volumes. In Bosnia, one can come across kiosks selling classic literature in rather unexpected, remote places. Not that many locals don't shiver at the thought of opening a book.  
    • May 22, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to What do dragons Eat anyway? :
    That's amazing, Walt. I have heard stories of such readers, but would sooner have believed dragons to be real!May I ask, not exactly where you live, but how you've ended up so far from any bookstore, and how that distance suits you? I'm about to move to t...  moreThat's amazing, Walt. I have heard stories of such readers, but would sooner have believed dragons to be real!May I ask, not exactly where you live, but how you've ended up so far from any bookstore, and how that distance suits you? I'm about to move to the Serbian countryside myself, you see, never having spent more than 6 weeks at a time in such places.  
    • May 22, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to OMG! Do you remember when you were in grade 6 and you broke up with that Brian guy and listened to this song over and over??:
    One big party huh, Baba?
    • May 14, 2019
  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G replied to Stephen Moore says "CAPITALISM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DEMOCRACY". Another "BEST PEOPLE" Dondonjohn Fed Reserve Board nominee. Agree?:
    Under the assumption that trends will continue unchanged for eight decades, that immigrants won't eventually be having fewer children too, or that people like leaving their homes behind and won't at all want to return after foreign powers stop wreaking ha...  moreUnder the assumption that trends will continue unchanged for eight decades, that immigrants won't eventually be having fewer children too, or that people like leaving their homes behind and won't at all want to return after foreign powers stop wreaking havoc there (for the time being); that's some projection.I doubt I'll be around by then myself, so I can't really call it "before long" anyhow.  
    • May 14, 2019
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  • Screen Name* Danilo_G
  • Gender* Male
  • Where do you live? Belgium and Bosnia
  • About Me: 1994; Engl­ish and Sp­anish lite­rature and­ linguisti­cs; many i­nterests.

  • How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation?

    That is, if we can.
    Last post by SavvyAnsley - September 10, 2019
    200 views 0 likes
    7

  • What might be an appropriate simile for Janis Joplin's singing voice?

    She was just so extraordinary. I've heard her described, unsurpr...  moreShe was just so extraordinary. I've heard her described, unsurprisingly, as "electrifying," which on the one hand is fitting and on the other nowhere near close enough.  
    Last post by officegirl - March 25, 2019
    674 views 4 likes
    31

  • How might Earth's chief religions interpret or incorporate the existence of sentient (and spiritually conscious) life on other planets?

    Would such a discovery support the core beliefs of, among others...  moreWould such a discovery support the core beliefs of, among others, Muslims, Jews and Christians; even if, for instance, those extra-terrestrials tend to be monotheistic but know of nothing alike the Bible?  
    Last post by Durdle - January 7, 2019
    419 views 3 likes
    8

  • Do you find it more constructive to oversee a series of problems in their specifics or to try finding a core underneath them?

    'Tab for a Cause' (not that I believe too strongly in their comm...  more'Tab for a Cause' (not that I believe too strongly in their commitment, yet trust it does no harm) is a simple project that allows one to donate 'hearts' to several charities. I was looking at the eight options given, each concerning one of these issues: famine, health, education, human rights, access to clean water, and conservation of nature. Speaking for myself, I view these matters as intimately connected, without exception existing--persisting--due to lack of respect and of equality (both of which I would again argue to come down to the same: lack of culture).I am convinced that such an outlook is more helpful: by delineating the issue it does so for the solution as well, it restricts to a bare minimum the chaos of trying to control many factors, and hopefully resists tracking symptom rather than cause. But it is about this that I wish to ask: why might one not agree?  less
    Last post by WelbyQuentin - April 24, 2018
    371 views 1 like
    3

  • Are you the kind of person to lather their hair, let the shampoo sit for a while, and then forget to rinse?

    If so, I think we (will) get along fine. My stepgrandmother used...  moreIf so, I think we (will) get along fine. My stepgrandmother used to say that professors tend to be distracted people, but not every distracted person is a professor.  
    Last post by Randy D - January 24, 2019
    272 views 4 likes
    4

  • If I live in a vehicle, can I avoid paying for both home and car/boat insurance?

    That sounds like the life.
    Last post by Thriftymaid - January 25, 2018
    483 views 4 likes
    12

  • Do you esteem any of your psychological scars?

    Many, perhaps particularly men, seem glad to show off their phys...  moreMany, perhaps particularly men, seem glad to show off their physical cicatrices, including those gathered through evidently dumb decisions (such as when I tried to help a stranger with their cat, disregarding that it had snowed and hence impaling my hand on a tall fence). But is anyone bolstered by their mental scars, which might prove the passing of a trial that bade them improve in the greater sense?  
    Last post by Benedict Arnold - January 3, 2019
    589 views 3 likes
    21

  • Do you ever confuse your dreams and 'reality?' What would be a notable example?

    A few days ago--it's typical that I can't tell when exactly--I (...  moreA few days ago--it's typical that I can't tell when exactly--I (must have) dreamed hearing about one of my uncles dying. I only recalled this imagination when the uncle came up in conversation, and part of me was momentarily surprised to find him still alive.Anything relatable to you in this?  
    Last post by WelbyQuentin - December 3, 2017
    467 views 5 likes
    10

  • What do you expect of art in general?

    To introduce a fresh perspective, address social issues, prompt ...  moreTo introduce a fresh perspective, address social issues, prompt philosophical questions; perhaps simply to be beautiful, appealing, memorable (but then what makes it that?); or to leave you alone?What is artistic to you and what gives art value?  
    Last post by WelbyQuentin - August 31, 2018
    727 views 4 likes
    28

  • How about a friendly game of communal chess?

    It will be fun even while we all yell at the person who screws u...  moreIt will be fun even while we all yell at the person who screws up. Then maybe we can join a tournament, as the AnswerMug clan.1. Nf3  
    Last post by Pearl - October 27, 2017
    378 views 2 likes
    5

  • Would you share a favored koan?

    Came across this one via Fallout 3, apparently known as&nbs...  moreCame across this one via Fallout 3, apparently known as The Moon Cannot Be Stolen:Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing to steal. Ryokan returned and caught him. “You have come a long way to visit me,” he told the prowler, “and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift.” The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away. Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. “Poor fellow,” he mused, “I wish I could have given him this beautiful moon."  less
    Last post by Danilo_G - October 18, 2017
    396 views 0 likes
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  • What are your favorite or most intriguing personal paradoxes?

    For me, it's perhaps being a vegetarian pacifist who naturally a...  moreFor me, it's perhaps being a vegetarian pacifist who naturally adores hunting and fighting.  
    Last post by Danilo_G - October 1, 2017
    455 views 2 likes
    12

  • Do you think video games can achieve artistic quality the likes of more traditional media, such as visual arts, literature or film?

    The question is intended for those who regularly play video game...  moreThe question is intended for those who regularly play video games and those who never do alike, but please do specify where you see yourself on that spectrum.  
    Last post by Adaydreambeliever - May 4, 2017
    967 views 3 likes
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  • Yes, but only in that Janis Joplin bought Bessie Smith a tombsto...  moreYes, but only in that Janis Joplin bought Bessie Smith a tombstone. That such a singer (who also died relatively young, yet not as young as Janis) had been buried in an unmarked grave... I guess that's why they call it the blues.Hiya, Welby!  
    in Have you had a recent music discovery? February 16, 2020 12:18 PM MST 1
  • Very generally speaking, I don't see hedonism as ever being sust...  moreVery generally speaking, I don't see hedonism as ever being sustainable. (This may seem like I'm going off-topic, but it's a related problem.) There's something downright self-destructive in a human's spending their capacities on something of which they will always need more, need different; then look back and see all they've experienced was but for a moment, and those moments must always pass--very quickly so. (Now I re-read that sentence and figure one might say it could just as well apply to cooking; but then we're talking about the fundamental biological necessity to eat.)It wouldn't be very different, in my opinion, from an(y other) addiction: the temporary high followed by the dragging deeper down.  less
    in Why do so many people believe you need to be a psychopath or have a mental disorder to harm or kill others for pleasure? February 5, 2020 3:52 PM MST 0
  • I can't make much of a distinction between "curiosity" and "plea...  moreI can't make much of a distinction between "curiosity" and "pleasure" as long as the most likely scenario is for someone to assume they will gain pleasure from such an act, presumably for having been excited by something similar and/or indirect before. And I agree with you on all people having some sort of capacity for that. But to seek it out, actively, and repeatedly, I can't consider the functioning of a "non-disordered" mind. All the more so when people who have murdered for like reasons are either demonstrably unwell, or expressing disappointment.It reminds me of the way some people approach sex: those who keep pursuing more intense thrills even when these don't live up to their expectations, or cause a type of anguish afterward. It can't be anything but irrational. But indeed we are all capable of irrationality.  less
    in Why do so many people believe you need to be a psychopath or have a mental disorder to harm or kill others for pleasure? February 5, 2020 3:49 AM MST 0
  • We have to treat it as a disorder. In the sense that i...  moreWe have to treat it as a disorder. In the sense that it could hardly be maintained within any 'orderly' human society.There have been all too many people of a very high IQ (literally geniuses) who felt like they could get away with something of the sort -- and therefore almost should. At times they give their reason as having been sheer curiosity: wanting to know what it would feel like, both in the moment and afterwards. And then they add it didn't change a thing. If that's not (very) irrational behaviour, I can't say what is.  less
    in Why do so many people believe you need to be a psychopath or have a mental disorder to harm or kill others for pleasure? February 4, 2020 4:57 PM MST 2
  • Hard to say... And I don't just mean 'hard to pronounce.' P...  moreHard to say... And I don't just mean 'hard to pronounce.' Phos and synthesis are quaint, so you may as well put them together. Anagnorisis (ἀναγνώρισις) is another one. Or onomatopoeia (ὀνοματοποιία).  
    in What is your favorite Greek Word? February 2, 2020 7:29 AM MST 2
  • I really don't know much about anesthesiology, let alone about h...  moreI really don't know much about anesthesiology, let alone about how they do it in your area. But what I wanted to say is that those people are professionals, I'm sure they come across people uncomfortable with IV on a daily basis, and they know what to do.  
    in dental work January 30, 2020 1:50 PM MST 1
  • I wouldn't know: they gave me both the IV and a mask, but it may...  moreI wouldn't know: they gave me both the IV and a mask, but it may be an option to have the latter only. IV is really not bad, though.  
    in dental work January 30, 2020 12:41 PM MST 1
  • I remember getting weirdly cocky about the whole thing, resolvin...  moreI remember getting weirdly cocky about the whole thing, resolving that I wouldn't be knocked out as easily as all those others plebeians. They asked me to count backward from 10. I got no further (or lower) than 8. Next I know, I'm in a room with a few other wisdom-toothless guys with spinning heads; a little bit later, good to go.All in all, a simple procedure. No need to worry.  
    in dental work January 30, 2020 12:12 PM MST 0
  • It's the only game of American football that I watch, each year,...  moreIt's the only game of American football that I watch, each year, but since I'm on Central European Time I record the BBC's airing of it. So far, there hasn't been a half-time show I didn't fast-forward.  
    in Those of you who will be watching the super bowl, will you watch the stupid half-time festivities or find something else to do? January 25, 2020 9:59 AM MST 2
  • Obvious. Because your eyes are round, and they make them look li...  moreObvious. Because your eyes are round, and they make them look like that. I know flat when I feel it.  
    in I'm so confused. If the earth is flat, then why do the other planets look spherical when gazed upon? I know balls when I see them. January 21, 2020 12:23 PM MST 2
  • Ha, I figured only one person could have asked this -- Welcome b...  moreHa, I figured only one person could have asked this -- Welcome back, Ondine!I'd much prefer to know the time. It's said that people who ask about it end up regretting it; but knowing only the cause, in case it's an unnatural one, would make me more nervous whenever a similar situation were to arise.... You won't abuse that information, will you?  
    in If forced to choose, would you rather know the date of your death or the cause of your death? January 18, 2020 11:38 AM MST 4
  • Holiday, every day!
    in Billie Elish, Billy Idol, Billie Hoilday, Billy Joel or Billy Bush? January 18, 2020 11:31 AM MST 4
  • Hi, Rosie! It must be the minerals in the water, as it naturally...  moreHi, Rosie! It must be the minerals in the water, as it naturally tastes alike sparkling water, only less bubbly.I was fairly eager to leave Antwerp behind in 2012, when I was 18. Even though I have family and old friends there I can't say I very much miss the place itself. But I do carry it everywhere I go--as my parents say of their native Bosnia. Yes, I'd say I'm quite content :) The one thing I'd wish for is to start making a living through writing. For that too, though, this environment has been positive.People are crazy for Djokovic here! You can hear the most introverted people jumping and shouting to support their 'Nole' (a nickname for Novak). Happy Saturday to thee!  less
    in An Aussie friend informs me that his city is known locally as The City of Churches! Is your city known for anything in particular? January 18, 2020 11:07 AM MST 0
  • If the Serbian city of Aranđelovac is known, it is for its water...  moreIf the Serbian city of Aranđelovac is known, it is for its water. Many come here trusting the healing properties of the spring, staying at a nice resort within a larger public park. The water is free to drink too, and quite refreshing; one only pays when filling bottles.Half a year ago I was still in Ghent: people know it for its university. My birth city of Antwerp has Europe's second-largest seaport. Yet all in all I prefer it here in the countryside.  
    in An Aussie friend informs me that his city is known locally as The City of Churches! Is your city known for anything in particular? January 18, 2020 2:43 AM MST 1
  • Oh, it's limitless; provided I wasn't already thinking of it mys...  moreOh, it's limitless; provided I wasn't already thinking of it myself. Then it becomes a matter of time. I tend to dig into the cause of the comment, but ultimately don't mind being that way.  
    in For you, how many positive comments can be negated by one negative comment? For me it is about 100. January 13, 2020 12:15 PM MST 2
  • Yes, very much so.
    in Presidential candidate Joe Biden has spoken in favor of eliminating plastic shopping bags. Do you favor eliminating plastic shopping bags? January 9, 2020 1:07 PM MST 3
  • In a world where nobody wants to tilt more stable areas towards ...  moreIn a world where nobody wants to tilt more stable areas towards instability... What would the CIA possibly do with itself?  
    in Why is oil the only thing that turns on world leaders and coveting it is the prime directive? Why not invade Africa for its diamonds? January 2, 2020 1:24 PM MST 1
  • The West doesn't view Africa as a threat. A unified Af...  moreThe West doesn't view Africa as a threat. A unified Africa, or unified Africans (as Bob Marley sang of)--that would be a very different story; and that obviously isn't allowed. I wouldn't say the West has no hand in that, though.  
    in Why is oil the only thing that turns on world leaders and coveting it is the prime directive? Why not invade Africa for its diamonds? January 2, 2020 1:23 PM MST 2
  • Let's just say I hope I could laugh at it if I were in any such situation.
    in Funny or offensive? I’m dying lol. December 29, 2019 10:40 AM MST 4
  • My apologies for changing the subject in the thread so. Glad you...  moreMy apologies for changing the subject in the thread so. Glad you made it through all that. I find most surprising the time it took to convince a neurosurgeon--or indeed the need to convince.  
    in If coffee didn’t exist, would all of the world’s coffee lovers just stay in bed, all grouchy, groggy and grumpy? ~ December 18, 2019 3:31 AM MST 1
  • Must have been tough, the opioids. How did you manage that?
    in If coffee didn’t exist, would all of the world’s coffee lovers just stay in bed, all grouchy, groggy and grumpy? ~ December 17, 2019 2:58 AM MST 2
  • I suppose it takes as many to tango as to polarize, so I couldn'...  moreI suppose it takes as many to tango as to polarize, so I couldn't say which one I find more dangerous. But it's clear that--as usual--people are having difficulty listening to each other while shouting. And I'd say that benefits those who wish to keep things under their control.  
    in Do you think politics has become dangerously polarized with the right now far right, and the left, far left? December 12, 2019 11:39 AM MST 2
  • Is that why whenever walking past your place I hear something to...  moreIs that why whenever walking past your place I hear something to the effect of "that's not a baguette"?  
    in What’s the worst that could happen if you answer an ad for sandwich-making classes at my place? ~ December 10, 2019 9:06 AM MST 1
  • The Dutch dikke nek, or 'fat neck,' refers to someone with an ov...  moreThe Dutch dikke nek, or 'fat neck,' refers to someone with an overinflated ego, prone to boasting.  
    in Weak stomach. Green thumb. Heavy hand. Itchy foot. Sweet tooth. Glass chin. Thin skin. December 10, 2019 3:55 AM MST 1
  • Realizing it's not about telling you how to make me sandwiches.
    in What’s the worst that could happen if you answer an ad for sandwich-making classes at my place? ~ December 10, 2019 3:52 AM MST 1
  • Sounds familiar. Or: "If only I'd worked as hard then as I would now."
    in How often have you said "If I only knew then what I know now"? December 9, 2019 5:23 PM MST 3
  • That's baffling--almost too much for me to read, never mind do! ...  moreThat's baffling--almost too much for me to read, never mind do! I bet you read that question and went: "Gotten only a second job? Pssh, I wish."      
    in Where is JA these days? Has she gone out to get a second job? December 9, 2019 3:18 PM MST 3
    This post was edited by Danilo_G at December 9, 2019 3:18 PM MST
  • Any sort of widespread ignorance ensures it, of which negativity...  moreAny sort of widespread ignorance ensures it, of which negativity may be but one symptom.  
    in Is using negativity as a weapon ensure a bloody drawn-out conflict? December 8, 2019 3:49 PM MST 1
  • Well; thanks for asking! Settling into a new home in Serbia, cho...  moreWell; thanks for asking! Settling into a new home in Serbia, chopped enough firewood to be spending more time inside and on AM again. How's my Sharon?  
    in What happens when Just Asking graduates? No more Mug? December 6, 2019 3:47 AM MST 0
  • The ascension shall be complete. All mugs shall form one.
    in What happens when Just Asking graduates? No more Mug? December 5, 2019 4:19 PM MST 5
  • I doubt it's something I'll ever really understand, but thank yo...  moreI doubt it's something I'll ever really understand, but thank you for the reply; and a Happy Wednesday to thee too!  
    in Guess What? For once a statistic makes sense. Which one(s)? December 4, 2019 4:16 AM MST 1
  • I tend to be relatively reserved in that regard, especially when...  moreI tend to be relatively reserved in that regard, especially when I assume it might make a woman uncomfortable, but a pat on the shoulder or a hearty handshake even in the middle of conversation can have a positive effect. (I suppose that latter example might sound odd, but it's very common in former Yugoslavia when emphatically agreeing with someone.)Aside from pecks on the cheek from people I don't really know, I usually don't mind being touched--in fact, I then often find it easier to connect to that person. Incidentally, when a TV guy came over the other week to install a satellite dish, the first thing he did after getting out of his van was to give me this sort of side-hug. But that's the kind of thing I expect to come across in Serbia now and then; certainly not when I was still living in Belgium!  less
    in Do you touch a person when you are talking with them; do you mind if a person touches you while speaking to you? December 3, 2019 2:18 PM MST 3
  • Hey there Rosie, been a while. I have to ask: is going to Starbu...  moreHey there Rosie, been a while. I have to ask: is going to Starbucks a statement of status in any way, at least in the US? Or perhaps simply having one around is. I can't say I've ever entered one myself, but I reckoned it serviced daily multitudes just as McDonald's does.  
    in Guess What? For once a statistic makes sense. Which one(s)? December 3, 2019 2:08 PM MST 2
  • Application form #97721.
    in What would be a really bad name for a sports team? I'll start: The Weenies. December 1, 2019 11:52 AM MST 3
  • I agree, Savvy, and it's precisely whence the skepticism. With c...  moreI agree, Savvy, and it's precisely whence the skepticism. With celebrities too, be they talk show hosts or Hollywood greats, I at times can't shake the thought that every charming act is simply pulled off so well as not to seem an act at all. Any suspicion of insincerity, on the other hand, indeed shuts that down. But then there may be the kind of behavior that is sincere enough in general intent yet not entirely so in exact expression. (For instance, genuinely appreciating someone's company while looking to affect them in different ways than if there were no ultimate purpose in mind.) To what extent is that undesirable?Thank you, friend! While the move to a different country hasn't been overly simple, it's good to be here. Hope you are well too!  less
    in How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation? September 6, 2019 4:11 PM MDT 1
  • Can a person seen as charismatic actively be doing little things...  moreCan a person seen as charismatic actively be doing little things to make us think so, though? As if it's spontaneous and natural, even when it's all learned behavior?  
    in How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation? September 6, 2019 3:58 PM MDT 0
  • Yet how do we know that what we perceive as charismatic isn't on...  moreYet how do we know that what we perceive as charismatic isn't only very effectively manipulative?  
    in How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation? September 6, 2019 3:56 PM MDT 0
  • That is, if we can.
    in How do we distinguish charisma from manipulation? September 4, 2019 5:10 PM MDT 0
  • Teehee, so are you. Except when we're pushed too far, Shar; lay ...  moreTeehee, so are you. Except when we're pushed too far, Shar; lay down the barbed wire, dig the trenches: we'll familiarize them with Hands and Stones all too well at dawn!  
    in How Do I Get Hand and Stone to change the SAME music tape that has been playing for six years? PLEASE I'm DEAD SERIOUS. HELP ME. June 5, 2019 5:14 AM MDT 1
  • I reckon they should have the very responsibility to change the ...  moreI reckon they should have the very responsibility to change the music once it--understandably--becomes that cumbersome. See if any colleagues are also bothered by it, and perhaps suggest or bring tapes/CDs yourself.  
    in How Do I Get Hand and Stone to change the SAME music tape that has been playing for six years? PLEASE I'm DEAD SERIOUS. HELP ME. June 4, 2019 1:42 PM MDT 4
  • Don't know, Rosie. I wouldn't go so far as to say they don't val...  moreDon't know, Rosie. I wouldn't go so far as to say they don't value life, but rather that the constant animosity is keeping everything in the pointless status quo. At this point I would even accept the typically conservative idea of more guns, just for something to change. (But the recent stabbings in Tokyo, which perplexed me too, might also suggest it is no feasible solution: would we put armed guards at every single bus stop?)Thanks, and happy Saturday to thee!  
    in When the prez was a DEM folks would rush out and buy MORE GUNS after another gun-related massacre. 12 dead in Virginia Beach. So what? June 1, 2019 11:27 AM MDT 1
  • I couldn't believe that there have been 150 mass shootings (defi...  moreI couldn't believe that there have been 150 mass shootings (defined as a gun attack either injuring or killing four people) in the U.S. since the start of the year. That's about one per day. Can't say things don't have to change.Edit: source https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/  
    in When the prez was a DEM folks would rush out and buy MORE GUNS after another gun-related massacre. 12 dead in Virginia Beach. So what? June 1, 2019 5:24 AM MDT 1
    This post was edited by Danilo_G at June 1, 2019 5:24 AM MDT
  • It's been the 21st for a little while, though!
    in I heard a sound-bite wherein Nancy Pelosi claims that FaceBook’s original refusal to delete the doctored video that made fun of her is May 31, 2019 2:09 PM MDT 2
  • Absolutely. Very much depends on how it's prepared, however. Som...  moreAbsolutely. Very much depends on how it's prepared, however. Some supermarkets here sell it in the form of schnitzels or nuggets, or some "Greek carrés" with molten cheese and tomatoes, and it's really quite good.  
    in Does anyone honestly like tofu? May 28, 2019 1:10 PM MDT 3
  • For a small piece I plan to write, it may be beneficial to reacq...  moreFor a small piece I plan to write, it may be beneficial to reacquaint myself with the general lay-out and atmosphere of a typical night club (before students' finals start again), having steered clear for some seven years. Thinking I'll check out the place, watch the people, and perhaps spend neither a dime nor a word.  
    in What interesting thing will you do today ? May 23, 2019 1:49 PM MDT 5
  • It may be a fallacy, but I feel like the reading habits of a nat...  moreIt may be a fallacy, but I feel like the reading habits of a nation/populace/community speak volumes. In Bosnia, one can come across kiosks selling classic literature in rather unexpected, remote places. Not that many locals don't shiver at the thought of opening a book.  
    in What do dragons Eat anyway? May 22, 2019 3:26 PM MDT 0
  • That's amazing, Walt. I have heard stories of such readers, but ...  moreThat's amazing, Walt. I have heard stories of such readers, but would sooner have believed dragons to be real!May I ask, not exactly where you live, but how you've ended up so far from any bookstore, and how that distance suits you? I'm about to move to the Serbian countryside myself, you see, never having spent more than 6 weeks at a time in such places.  
    in What do dragons Eat anyway? May 22, 2019 1:05 PM MDT 1
  • One big party huh, Baba?
    in OMG! Do you remember when you were in grade 6 and you broke up with that Brian guy and listened to this song over and over?? May 14, 2019 3:55 AM MDT 3
  • Under the assumption that trends will continue unchanged for eig...  moreUnder the assumption that trends will continue unchanged for eight decades, that immigrants won't eventually be having fewer children too, or that people like leaving their homes behind and won't at all want to return after foreign powers stop wreaking havoc there (for the time being); that's some projection.I doubt I'll be around by then myself, so I can't really call it "before long" anyhow.  
    in Stephen Moore says "CAPITALISM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DEMOCRACY". Another "BEST PEOPLE" Dondonjohn Fed Reserve Board nominee. Agree? May 14, 2019 3:52 AM MDT 1
  • Of about 10 million people in Sweden, approximately 8 million ar...  moreOf about 10 million people in Sweden, approximately 8 million are Swedes. Don't know what your definition of "before long" is, however.I hear your concern, and I know it's a different topic, but it seems like the media generally exaggerate the idea of native European populations becoming replaced.  
    in Stephen Moore says "CAPITALISM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DEMOCRACY". Another "BEST PEOPLE" Dondonjohn Fed Reserve Board nominee. Agree? May 13, 2019 11:43 AM MDT 1
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3 comments
  • elizabethvitale likes this

  • Dabendan
    Dabendan
    Hey there, happy birthday!
    February 23, 2016 - 1 likes this

  • Durdle
    Durdle
    Happy Birthday Danilo!

    (Sorry if it's late but I have only just read the notice from AnswerMug.)

    Cheers,
    Durdle 
    May 13, 2019 - 1 likes this

  • Danilo_G
    Danilo_G Durdle
    Thank you, Durdle! Cheers!
    May 14, 2019

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