The RIP thread

Larry King died at age 87 from COVID.  A lot of ex-wives just lost their source of income I think.

That is sad.  We lost Mr. Tiger, Al Kaline, at about this time last year.  With Koufax, Lasorda, Sutton and Aaron amongst others dying in recent times, we are losing many sports legends.  I never say Aaron play, but definitely appreciate baseball history.  

Tapfret wrote: R.I.P Hank Aaron, 86- Major League Baseball(non-steroid) Home Run King. One of my favorite all-time athletes.

Oh no, say it ain't so! RIP Hank. One of the GOAT.

My apologies if I strayed off topic a bit, it was perhaps wrong of me, although it does seem to have contributed to his tragic death.  I do remember him as being knowledgeable and a fine contributor, it is sad to have someone so obviously intelligent gone so young.  May he indeed rest in peace.

lazland wrote: Raff wrote: Trying very hard not to make any comments about US society, because I don't want to offend anyone. I'll just say that following Brian's ordeal on FB was often very hard. Though many regard addiction as a moral failing, there is increasing evidence that it is no less a form of mental illness than depression or bipolar disorder. From what I understood, Brian also suffered from epilepsy, and his overall health was not the best, even without taking his alcohol problem into account. The merciless way he was treated in the places where he tried to find shelter, or even just a place where he could sit with his laptop, was totally heartbreaking. And then there were the times when he posted photos of him and his wife in happier times. As I said, even though he may have been some responsibility in what befell him (and there is a lot I don't know), I firmly believe no one deserves what happened to him. Nobody at all deserves what happened to him. Nobody at all. It is a symptom of a society which desperately requires uplift and compassion.

The Dark Elf wrote: You can tell how many people have no idea what is in the Constitution based on cultists saying Trump's 1st Amendment rights are being violated because the twit can't tweet. That's not first amendment, that's a corporation with a T.O.S.

Raff wrote: I firmly believe no one deserves what happened to him.

American culture is good at giving inspiration to the rest of the world, in a good way or a bad way. They do something, and the youth in my country are inspired by it or mimic it (the latter is the bad choice).

This man (see the image below) has recently frozen to death in İstanbul. He was homeless. 

So sad... But the worse is, most of such people literally don't want to be helped.

The solution is therefore very difficult. And the only possible solution I can think of is an all-encompassing service that would provide the essentials to survive for everyone. Actually, this should encompass stray animals too. Otherwise, if it is like a "help" more than a "right"; some people would never accept the "hand" (metaphorically) that try to reach out to them. It shouldn't be a matter of dignity. NEVER. It just should be a right, and a normal situation to be provided with the essentials to survive. You know? We see a bald person, and see it as normal. We should see the "fallen" likewisely... Only then, they can have the motivation to stand up again.

I think Scandinavian culture is a good model, but their population is one of their advantages.

Sorry to sound ominous, but if the overpopulation problem cannot be solved, things will seemingly go worse, and worse, and worse...

Reformations? Sure, why not?.. The USA seems to need them. And the rest will likely follow them.

But, after/if we reach a population above 10 billions or so; I don't see a bright future for the ensuing generations.

I hope a prospective armageddon will not be our end. As, population growth could lead nowhere else, if not stopped or turned backwards... or if we can't find/create other planets for some of us (our descendants, most presumably) to go and live in.

Raff wrote: Trying very hard not to make any comments about US society, because I don't want to offend anyone. I'll just say that following Brian's ordeal on FB was often very hard. Though many regard addiction as a moral failing, there is increasing evidence that it is no less a form of mental illness than depression or bipolar disorder. From what I understood, Brian also suffered from epilepsy, and his overall health was not the best, even without taking his alcohol problem into account. The merciless way he was treated in the places where he tried to find shelter, or even just a place where he could sit with his laptop, was totally heartbreaking. And then there were the times when he posted photos of him and his wife in happier times. As I said, even though he may have been some responsibility in what befell him (and there is a lot I don't know), I firmly believe no one deserves what happened to him.

  I absolutely agree, Raff.  The reasons for addiction are many and complex and we used to have a better support system in place for those who fell on hard times.  Imagine how much better it could be by now, with the continued and more in-depth knowledge that we have. 

Snicolette wrote: Sadly, the US does not have a lot of help for people in Brian's situation, we can thank the "saintly" (can you hear my sarcasm) Ronald Reagan in large part for that trend.  We really need some serious reform in my country.

Edited by dr wu23 - January 18 2021 at 12:08