[Keeker]

If so, that makes me terribly sad. I guess I always hold Europe to a higher standard because they're generally morally superior to what I'm used to, out here.

I think every country has it. There's also the English Defence League, which seems to be the BNP's more militantly active wing, officially or otherwise, violently protesting and counterprotesting.

It's a pretty tiny minority in the grand scheme of things though isn't it?

If so, that makes me terribly sad. I guess I always hold Europe to a higher standard because they're generally morally superior to what I'm used to, out here.

I think every country has it. There's also the English Defence League, which seems to be the BNP's more militantly active wing, officially or otherwise, violently protesting and counterprotesting.

It's a pretty tiny minority in the grand scheme of things though isn't it?

Even one nazi is one nazi too many.

Extreme right-wing-ism tends to ebb and flow in Europe mainly in response to economic hardship. There was a big surge in fascism in Germany just after reunification, particularly in the East. All of a sudden there was massive unemployment and fairly bleak times, coupled with a lot of economic migrant and asylum seekers - the combination of these factors is easy for rightwing agitators to exploit - "You have no job and no money and it's all the fault of THOSE people! Let's kick their heads in and burn some shit!" - that sort of thing will always find fertile ground among angry and frustrated people.
A similar situation, albeit to a somewhat lesser extent, exists in the UK at the moment, with Eastern European immigrants being the target. It's easy for people to blame all their woes on someone else. In the runup to the recent election there seemed to be a disturbingly large groundswell of support for the BNP and UKIP - (the UK Independence Party, which is essentially the BNP for middle class people who are afraid of skinheads), but in the event they all got completely trounced at the polls and the great 'Nazi threat' turned out to be more of a media construct than reality.
Not that that means there aren't fascists out there. Eternal vigilance is still the order of the day.

[Keeker]

If so, that makes me terribly sad. I guess I always hold Europe to a higher standard because they're generally morally superior to what I'm used to, out here.

I think every country has it. There's also the English Defence League, which seems to be the BNP's more militantly active wing, officially or otherwise, violently protesting and counterprotesting.

It's a pretty tiny minority in the grand scheme of things though isn't it?

Even one nazi is one nazi too many.

Extreme right-wing-ism tends to ebb and flow in Europe mainly in response to economic hardship. There was a big surge in fascism in Germany just after reunification, particularly in the East. All of a sudden there was massive unemployment and fairly bleak times, coupled with a lot of economic migrant and asylum seekers - the combination of these factors is easy for rightwing agitators to exploit - "You have no job and no money and it's all the fault of THOSE people! Let's kick their heads in and burn some shit!" - that sort of thing will always find fertile ground among angry and frustrated people.
A similar situation, albeit to a somewhat lesser extent, exists in the UK at the moment, with Eastern European immigrants being the target. It's easy for people to blame all their woes on someone else. In the runup to the recent election there seemed to be a disturbingly large groundswell of support for the BNP and UKIP - (the UK Independence Party, which is essentially the BNP for middle class people who are afraid of skinheads), but in the event they all got completely trounced at the polls and the great 'Nazi threat' turned out to be more of a media construct than reality.
Not that that means there aren't fascists out there. Eternal vigilance is still the order of the day.

Yep, I'm familiar with the historical socio-political information. I'm just not very familiar with it happening up here. Historically I think the city Scots tended to lean more in the other direction - communism. Although, to be fair, that usually ends up being just the flip-side of the same coin when you throw in basic human behaviour. It's unfortunate that politicians and economists never factor in basic human behaviour to their nice theories! Probably because they don't want to acknowledge that it will ruin every theory they've got.

So yeah, I've never met any real nazis. Fortunately.

Change the language on Facebook to English (Pirate). I am lolling all over the place.

[Keeker]

^Aww did it eat it?

[Keeker]

^Aww did it eat it?

Yep. It was pretty pleased with some catfood. I'm going to have to get some mealworms or something tomorrow if he doesn't fly off tonight though.

^Aww did it eat it?

Yep. It was pretty pleased with some catfood. I'm going to have to get some mealworms or something tomorrow if he doesn't fly off tonight though.

I've never seen a bat in my life
except sometimes flying in the night sky but I mean from up close.

[djskrimp]

^Aww did it eat it?

Yep. It was pretty pleased with some catfood. I'm going to have to get some mealworms or something tomorrow if he doesn't fly off tonight though.

I've never seen a bat in my life
except sometimes flying in the night sky but I mean from up close.

Heh. We have bats here, too.

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/djskrimp/2010%20Deployment/?action=view&current=MVI_0014.flv

Edited for web browser crash avoidance. Sorry!

^Aww did it eat it?

Yep. It was pretty pleased with some catfood. I'm going to have to get some mealworms or something tomorrow if he doesn't fly off tonight though.

I've never seen a bat in my life
except sometimes flying in the night sky but I mean from up close.

Heh. We have bats here, too.

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/djskrimp/2010%20Deployment/?action=view&current=MVI_0014.flv

For some reason that video crashes my browser

Yup, mine too.

[djskrimp]

Sorry, I fixed the link.

I'm sorry to double post, but I suppose this shows my ignorance, as I've never been outside of the US (though I've been all over this country which is many subcultures in and of itself).


Is there really such a nazi problem out there, and Europe in general?

If so, that makes me terribly sad. I guess I always hold Europe to a higher standard because they're generally morally superior to what I'm used to, out here.

Full-on nazis aren't that visible - usually they're taking the form of football hooligans, every once in a while there's some mildly loud scandal about a banner with celtic cross, 14/88 or pointing how Jewish is the opposing football team on some match.

Then there are "I'm not racist, but" people, which is IMO bit scarier - old fashioned nazis are already fucked thanks to their appaling PR so their chances of influencing things are thin, but political parties that pretend to be middle-of-the-road while subtly suggesting everything wrong in the country's caused by conspiracies of THEM are worse. Polish rightwing mindset loves this shit, country's like fortress under siege, there are sabotages, hidden signs and conspiracies everywhere. This sort of tactics seem to work well and thanks to that we had plenty of way too interesting people in the government four years ago, including petty con men, dudes originating from skinhead organisations or creationist minister of education. Though this government sucked so much it was kicked out in premature elections, so things aren't that bad I think.

Not to say current government is perfect. They're bunch of catholic conservatists too, but somewhat more civilised, bearable and efficient, which is welcome change.

tl,dr: Billy wrote it better, congrats to Atari, bats are awesome.

[Octillus]

I'm sorry to double post, but I suppose this shows my ignorance, as I've never been outside of the US (though I've been all over this country which is many subcultures in and of itself).


Is there really such a nazi problem out there, and Europe in general?

If so, that makes me terribly sad. I guess I always hold Europe to a higher standard because they're generally morally superior to what I'm used to, out here.

Full-on nazis aren't that visible - usually they're taking the form of football hooligans, every once in a while there's some mildly loud scandal about a banner with celtic cross, 14/88 or pointing how Jewish is the opposing football team on some match.

Then there are "I'm not racist, but" people, which is IMO bit scarier - old fashioned nazis are already fucked thanks to their appaling PR so their chances of influencing things are thin, but political parties that pretend to be middle-of-the-road while subtly suggesting everything wrong in the country's caused by conspiracies of THEM are worse. Polish rightwing mindset loves this shit, country's like fortress under siege, there are sabotages, hidden signs and conspiracies everywhere. This sort of tactics seem to work well and thanks to that we had plenty of way too interesting people in the government four years ago, including petty con men, dudes originating from skinhead organisations or creationist minister of education. Though this government sucked so much it was kicked out in premature elections, so things aren't that bad I think.

Not to say current government is perfect. They're bunch of catholic conservatists too, but somewhat more civilised, bearable and efficient, which is welcome change.

tl,dr: Billy wrote it better, congrats to Atari, bats are awesome.

Just coming from a jewish family with some ties to the holocaust, it freaks me out a little. I know, I know, thicker skin and all that, but I can't help but be a little unnerved.

Anyway, good on you Atari, Billy you continue to amaze me, and I LOVE BATS, THEY ARE SO CUTE.

[EphelDuath666]

well, things have gotten way better here in Germany, obviously. Just looking back over the past 20 years for example. But I don't think Germany will ever be 100% free of Nazis or racists in general. That would just not be realistic. Racisim has always been there and unfortunately will always be there. Anywhere. There ain't no exceptions. They're in the US too. Actual Nazis...with swastikas and all that.
All one can do is vote, protest when some Nazi fucks or any racist groups have a rally and of course discuss the subject and educate people.