Max Divergent

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Posts by Max Divergent

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  12

  Gene simmons comments and Australian "vilification laws"

  by avishai in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does australia have freedom of speech?

  what are vilification laws?.

  my question is, what is wrong with his comments?

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  Max Divergent

  Mmm... lets have a look...

  The site might be potentially liable as the Act has an extraterritorial provision at s8(2)(b). That means Victoria may prosecute for acts committed outside Victoria if the effect of the act is felt in Victoria and they can get a hold of the culprit. So, probably, a complaint is possible if a breach of the Act can be demonstrated - but the Act is for really serious hate stuff (think Nazi), not people blowing off steam amongst peers and like minded people as happens here.

  Also, the site is well moderated so the owners probably have protection under s27(4) as they've taken steps to prevent that stuff, and also there are exceptions at s11 to provde for democratic free speech including legitimate discussion. Also, enforcment would be hard as I doubt the UK would extridite Simon becuase Farkel or someone posted some cutting remark on JWD!!!!

  So, no... Simon and posters are probably safe but there is potential for problems if they read the plans here for bombing the Assemb... nah, they might take that the wrong way :-)... so long as it dosn't become a real hate site and noone's hatching plans for really bad stuff, then there shouldn't be any issue at all.

  Cheers, Max - who's just exercising his mind and is probably wrong about everything above!!!!
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  8

  Australia to decide over junk food for its kids

  by ozziepost in

  1. social
  2. current

  at a time when much of the world is starving, the next australian federal election will be fought over......................junk food ads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

  here's today's news item out of the land downunder:.

  labor targets junk food ads.

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  Max Divergent

  Yeah... fair point point that there being other issues that deserve attention... but....

  Putting it in other language, I think Govt has a responsibility for a well regulated market place that brings benifits to the community.

  Latham is, in a way, saying that the market place has become perverted by companies using crafty tricks to capture a much bigger market share that they would have without the tricks for a food that reduces peoples health and increases sickness and is generally all-around bad in just about way. Capitalism is fine and so is fast food, but there are extremes that we don't or shouldn't allow in a free but regulated market.

  You've no doubt read about the chemical make up of Maccas (et al) food and how the product develops a biological craving for it amongst habitual eaters which is reinforced by a sophisticated marketing campaign that reinfrces the phisiological stuff with well thought out psychology.

  You and I might be strong enough to resist that and do fine. But others aren't and they're getting sick and fat and stupid on this food because of the way it's designed. That means the economy relies on an increasingly fat and sluggsh and sick work force, and that's bad for us all.

  To limit the advertising on this food and to put it under scrutiny and encorage moderate use of it is, I think, somthing a Govt should put it's mind to and Govt is big enough to deal with many, many issues all at once...

  I don't think we have a choice between developing the third world and dealing with food that makes us sick at home - we can do both.

  Max - who loves fast food, but knows it's BAD!! :-)
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  125

  It's Time to Find New Vistas

  by Farkel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i cannot compete with threads anymore.

  they beat me!

  threads about pit bulls and other dogs and virginity get all the attention.

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  Max Divergent

  I might be GenX, but IMHO your posts here (and previoulsy on H2O) are the best. You use humour, insight, knowledge and wit to the best effect. I remember your post on how to write a killer thread, that's the reference manual.

  I think someone else said 'Old age, cunning and treachery will triumph over youth and enthusiasm every time' - please hang about.

  Max

  Edited just to say I agree wholehartedly with Sunspot...
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  12

  Gene simmons comments and Australian "vilification laws"

  by avishai in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does australia have freedom of speech?

  what are vilification laws?.

  my question is, what is wrong with his comments?

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  Max Divergent

  Probably refering to the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 which provides for 6 months in the slammer for encouraging hatred or victimisation or contempt or ridicule of people on the basis of their nationality, religion etc. It's only a short Act, so have a read...

  The basic idea is that the racial and religious problems of the old world have no place in Australia and people can leave their ancient rivalries and predjudces, racisism and religious bigotries wherever they came from. It's worked OK for the most part but vilification is starting to be a problem in some areas, hence these Acts popping up around the place to make explicit what's required to allow all to live peacfully in a democracy.

  Australia has no Bill of Rights and no codified freedom of speech. Individual rights are recognised by convention (generally presumed). It works OK in practice and people have at least as much freedom in Australia as in the United States and other developed nations - it's just administered differently.

  Regards, Max - who is currently procrastinating from studying for a Law exam he has tomorrow morning...
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  3

  Manchester Assembly

  by Gadget in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anybody on here know the date of the da in manchester, uk?

  is it this weekend or next?

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  Max Divergent

  Don't know and don't want to know. All I remember of going there once was being pushed and shoved by suited thugs as the madding crowds in the concrete belly of the soccer stadium moved from one important place to another... maybe from contribution box to food stall to seat to voleteer couter to contribution box... it was horrible. The toilets were overused and overflowing - silly litte brick boxes they were. At least it was less damp and less cold than it might have been, but it was grey and dreary.

  At least the apostates camped outside provided some colour and some life. Have your shots before you go... if you're going... are you going to provide this year's colour and entertainment on the street outside? Big signs? Little lambs? Megaphone? Silent protest? But maybe you're actually going to go and worship??? Oh well... good luck whatever your do...

  Good luck, Max
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  49

  When is it ok to have sex?

  by Obviously Secret in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i always get different answers when i ask this question, or i get answers that contradict with the people givin the answer.

  i ask this to various forums online and they all end up saying, when your ready and you know the conciquences.

  however, that obviously doesn't work much or isn't the truth when so many little kids are getting pregnant and aids are everywhere and everything else.. so seriously.

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  Max Divergent

  Probably just after you no longer feel a need to ask....
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  42

  Just randomly underline study WT or book?

  by Max Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  did you ever get into just doing random underlines and notes and all that on your study wt or books just to look like you?d studied it without ever having even looked at it before?

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  Max Divergent

  Oh, yes... we have some shared memories all right!!! I'm just so glad to be out of that world and it's pettiness and bullying and carry on. But it seemed real at the time, and we must have gotten somthing out of it I guess...

  It wasn't till near the end I started getting brazen with little tricks to cover-up, but I wonder if I'd started doing that earlier if I'd have lasted longer? I doubt it.

  Warm fuzzies, Max
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  42

  Just randomly underline study WT or book?

  by Max Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  did you ever get into just doing random underlines and notes and all that on your study wt or books just to look like you?d studied it without ever having even looked at it before?

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  Max Divergent

  Wow! Bit of angst there Agent!! You missed nothing not being an MS except more heartache... and, yes, it's an extra complication on the way out.

  You're right boa, it's silly, but it just came to me as a way of diverting attention from myself when I'd realised I wasn't a JW anymore, but was still serving as an 'an experienced MS'... I was getting grief for my FS hours being down (despite many fake hours being added) and didn't need my non-studied WT being noticed too... it never worried me too much before that...

  ...a very conciencious older sister full of loving concern for her brothers and sisters you had their Blondie!!

  Max
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  36

  Canucks: Cut The Ties To Britain

  by RAYZORBLADE in

  1. social
  2. current

  for we canucks, the old ties to britain still linger, with no benefit whatsoever to us.

  time to dump the monarchs/monarchy.

  for pomp and ceremony we parade the royals when they come here, and i don't think...they...are paying their way.

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  Max Divergent

  What ties remain in Canada? In Australia all formal ties were cut in 1986 with the Australia Acts which introduced the neat trick of creating the post of Queen of Australia... so, it's the Queen of Australia whom the Governer-General represents, not the Queen of England... It's the QofA on coins, not QofE...

  But I still don't get why she's called Queen Elizabeth II of Australia, when she's the only one to have ever held that post... Mmmm....

  Appeals to the Privy Council went at the same time, and there's no other formal link left. I wonder if the British will start charging royalties for the design in the top left of our flag???

  Max
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  42

  Just randomly underline study WT or book?

  by Max Divergent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  did you ever get into just doing random underlines and notes and all that on your study wt or books just to look like you?d studied it without ever having even looked at it before?

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  Max Divergent

  Did you ever get into just doing random underlines and notes and all that on your study WT or books just to look like you?d studied it without ever having even looked at it before?