Greeting from Vienna...

[mayor of simpleton]

HI AND WELCOME.
I've never met an Austrian, how do you find them?

Generally you find them in the Republic of Austria, but often they travel outside of the country. (sorry... stupid joke on my part)

They are more or less OK. It's difficult to lump them into a single group, though there are less than 9 million of them. They have a decent education and are generally informed about what is going on in the world. If they understand it, well... awareness is not always understanding.

They tend to travel a lot. Especially in Europe, but if there is a long hiking trail anywhere in the world, it's difficult not to meet an Austrian somewhere along the path.

They ski a lot and are damned good. The average skiier here could work as an instructor in the USA... no offence intended. Then again... they cannot throw a ball to save their lives. Then again, they are a sport crazy nation. Very few people do not participate in sports.

Humour is a bit odd too me. Rather political, but more 'insider' stuff. I find the central themes in the humour to be on of an insulting nature. "Schadenfreude"... happy when others fail. Not my cup of tea.

In terms of business and politics... Austria is world champion. NO other country can compare to them in the amount of senseless paperwork you have to deal with just to get simple things into action.

Austrian like to complain. One of their favourite things to do is complain about others who complain about others complaining. This is much more humourous than their normal brand of humour, atleast I see it that way.

It is one of the last safe havens for cigarette smokers. Many people here think that the dangers of second hand smoke is a lie. We finally have some loose rules against smoking in public places, but there are little or no consequences for violation.

They have the most aggressive drives anywhere to be found on the planet. Their driving skills are quite good, but they have no regard for other drivers. Whoever has the biggest car and the most nerve simply pushes their way forward. Might and size makes right.

Austria is to blame for Red Bull.

In terms of religion, there is a massive migration away from religion. It is (supposed to be) a Secular Democratic Republic, but there are still leftovers from the tyranny of religious dictation. It could really be a lot worse.

Compared with many other countries in the world, the social systems are very many and more or less efficient. It all depends on how well you can sort through the red tape. A good place to have to go to the hospital.

The people... well, they're people.

It's a good place to lay low and have freetime.

A good place for me to be lazy and get away with it.

Meow!

GREG

---

I'd be curious to know myself. Long ago a branch of my family lived in England, but refused to send their children to anything except an Austrian school...ostensibly because the English ones sucked.

Edit: not an opinion I share, btw. Especially considering how my country is filled with people nuttier than fruitcake.

For the life of me, I could not understand why? The education system here has suffered a lot the past 20 years. The quality is just not what it used too be... then again, quality is not really what matters these days. Quantity and the "illusion" of status is what is soup de jour...

More than likey, the education systems in every country has its bugs.

Perhaps a case of thinking "the grass is always greener"... well, it is perhaps so becuase it is located over a septic tank. Who knows?

Meow!

GREG

---

'Another one who likes to believe the newpapers'

Or that I have a sense of humour.

I kind of figured as much... just remember, pay back can be a bitch.

Meow!

GREG

---

More often than not, philosophy is a MASSIVE waste of my time. It offers no answers to anything and often only raises new questions that some other dipshit will only answer with more pseudo-intellectual existential bull shit. On rare occasions it has some merit, but for the most part it's meant for people who like to sound deep and contemplative, but in the end have absolutely nothing to offer anyone and usually just annoy the shit out of everyone with masturbatory fodder and tired greasy cliches.

/rant


WELCOME SIR!!

My personal definition of philosophy is the art of making the obvious as obscure as possible, as too disenfranchise the masses into conceeding defeat, via the frustration of beating their heads against word walls; thus ensuring the philosopher the continual illusion of being somehow elite in terms of intellectual ability.

Philosopher = Bullshit Artist

... thus my B.S. in Philosophy and Religion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl4VD8uvgec

Meow!

GREG

[mayor of simpleton]

And here I thought that sports and being physically active was supposed be good for you..

Welcome fellow European to AF! ^_^

A typical point of confusion. Just make sure not to confuse sport with fitness. There's a big difference between the two.

Meow!

GREG

[thesummerqueen]

He referenced Mel Brooks - he's good with me.

[Cinjin]

More often than not, philosophy is a MASSIVE waste of my time. It offers no answers to anything and often only raises new questions that some other dipshit will only answer with more pseudo-intellectual existential bull shit. On rare occasions it has some merit, but for the most part it's meant for people who like to sound deep and contemplative, but in the end have absolutely nothing to offer anyone and usually just annoy the shit out of everyone with masturbatory fodder and tired greasy cliches.

/rant

WELCOME SIR!!

Funny thing is, man loves to think and to talk about what he thinks. Who'd-a-thunk that in an online forum, eh?

I'm guessing everyone here would'a thought that. Yes, we all enjoy conversing with each other. However conversation is not Philosophy and the two are not remotely exclusive to each other ... or am I missing your point?

Even most Philosophy professors (blowhards in my opinion) will tell you that even Nietzsche could rarely offer up a solution to his lamentations, but rather identifies the problems and then proceeds to philosophize his way around them regarding their origin, meaning, or impact.

Yes conversations and debate are fantastic. I personally have no use for philosophy. Give me science, math and the inquisitive mind that searches for an answer rather than silly pointless questions that cannot and never will be answered with one universal decision.

Just my 2cents of course. Those who enjoy such fruitless endeavors -- do partake and have fun. My motto as always - to each his own.

[KichigaiNeko]

Mayor Sim to the forums.

[Epimethean]

"I'm guessing everyone here would'a thought that. Yes, we all enjoy conversing with each other. However conversation is not Philosophy and the two are not remotely exclusive to each other ... or am I missing your point?

Even most Philosophy professors (blowhards in my opinion) will tell you that even Nietzsche could rarely offer up a solution to his lamentations, but rather identifies the problems and then proceeds to philosophize his way around them regarding their origin, meaning, or impact.

Yes conversations and debate are fantastic. I personally have no use for philosophy. Give me science, math and the inquisitive mind that searches for an answer rather than silly pointless questions that cannot and never will be answered with one universal decision.

Just my 2cents of course. Those who enjoy such fruitless endeavors -- do partake and have fun. My motto as always - to each his own."

You got-and proved-my point very well. A bit of Russell in the morning:


HAVING now come to the end of our brief and very incomplete review of the problems of philosophy, it will be well to consider, in conclusion, what is the value of philosophy and why it ought to be studied. It is the more necessary to consider this question, in view of the fact that many men, under the influence of science or of practical affairs, are inclined to doubt whether philosophy is anything better than innocent but useless trifling, hair-splitting distinctions, and controversies on matters concerning which knowledge is impossible.

And it is, I think, worth reading on there:

http://www.skepdic.com/russell.html