The Black Knight
Cheng's Errand Boy
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2000
- Posts
- 120
Ah, the United States...a country founded on the ideals of brotherhood among men (and eventually, when foolish men came upon some sense, women as well).
A country founded on freedom...but not just any freedom. The freedom to do good, through intellectual debate, and creativity...to make a product people want, and sell it for a fair price...
...and somewhere along the line, it got twisted up...
The U.S. decided that "freedom" had no boundaries of decency or respect, and that "we, the people" could take what "we" wanted, from anyone, in the name of "our" freedoms.
And "we" really liked land...had to have it. Perhaps it was a hobby...much like Neo-Geo collecting. "We" had to collect it all.
So "we" stole it from the Native Americans, who just wanted to share...played arbitor in biased judgements that suited our selfish ends...
...and it's caused the U.S. a lot of trouble. The U.S. hasn't deserved the violence...no one does...but, at some point, someone should have had the common sense to apologize for the mistakes. "We" still don't, to this day.
I put we and our in quotes, because I am not a part of that group. I will not be a part of the self-righteous "we" that makes excuses for atrocities.
NO one has a right to make excuses for crimes against humanity...for hurting their fellow man (or woman). Not the U.S. OR Bin Laden. NO one has a right to make excuses for RIPPING OFF their fellow man...
Which brings me to my real point...
Some things happen on a large scale, like the current "war"...but here, on a smaller scale, the crime is still a crime.
I get in this argument a lot, with many people. It's about our chosen economy, capitalism.
You see, it was a good idea, to start. Free trade, goods at a reasonable price, friendly competition...
...and then companies like Microsoft came along and broke the rules. Repeatedly. And until recently, there was nothing our government could do...and we hadn't even thought anything was wrong until the implications hit us like a ton of bricks.
You ever hear people from other countries call us "greedy capitalist pigs"? Ever resent that?
Well, you need to wonder who is giving us the bad reputation...
Did you catch what I repeated up there? Fair prices. Friendly competition. Then a few people found a little phrase called "whatever the market will bear", and started using it. And the more people used it, the more confident they became.
Strength in numbers is a very powerful thing.
Now, it's become the battle cry of an ignorant public, convinced that if our greedy, disgusting current standards of capitalism fail, our country goes with it.
How naïve.
Or perhaps it's not...perhaps it's a choice people make, to provide a staunch defense against the real motivation behind their loud opinions...
...greed.
See what I'm getting at, yet?
It's phrases like "whatever the market will bear" that have ruined too many a hobby for good people. It's phrases like "it's his right to charge whatever people will pay" that have made two chumps moonlighting in Vegas wealthy on the money, and backs, of over-funded fools.
It's the twisted bastardization of capitalism that has fueled the dark side of the Neo-Geo gaming community--a club of blue-blooded, arrogant has-beens, hiding behind silly capitalist catch phrases that would make the founding fathers of the United States of America ANGRY and VENGEFUL. I'm sure if they could smite them, they would.
There will be no names. The companies, the people...they know who they are.
But I will say one, very pertinent thing.
Japanese Neo-Geo Silver Systems are 19,000 Japanese Yen. At the current, and usual exchange, that's less than $190. And whoever is selling those is obviously in it to make some profit. PROFIT. The systems cost even LESS than that to stock.
This is a much broader attack than what you think. Don't take a narrow view of this. When the prices get too high, others may make the prices lower, and claim to be so-called "Knights of Justice, bringing the Neo-Geo community back to its original reasonable pricing". Beware of lies, simply put in place to aid competition.
The worst has come to pass...something we never expected. The greed that, in the past, had only infected a small group of outcasts, has infected nearly everyone.
Fight greed. Find honor, dignity, and respect for your fellow man. And keep a handful of selfish individuals from gutting a noble hobby like so many other hobbies have been in the past.
The market will now bear our wrath.
- The Black Knight
A country founded on freedom...but not just any freedom. The freedom to do good, through intellectual debate, and creativity...to make a product people want, and sell it for a fair price...
...and somewhere along the line, it got twisted up...
The U.S. decided that "freedom" had no boundaries of decency or respect, and that "we, the people" could take what "we" wanted, from anyone, in the name of "our" freedoms.
And "we" really liked land...had to have it. Perhaps it was a hobby...much like Neo-Geo collecting. "We" had to collect it all.
So "we" stole it from the Native Americans, who just wanted to share...played arbitor in biased judgements that suited our selfish ends...
...and it's caused the U.S. a lot of trouble. The U.S. hasn't deserved the violence...no one does...but, at some point, someone should have had the common sense to apologize for the mistakes. "We" still don't, to this day.
I put we and our in quotes, because I am not a part of that group. I will not be a part of the self-righteous "we" that makes excuses for atrocities.
NO one has a right to make excuses for crimes against humanity...for hurting their fellow man (or woman). Not the U.S. OR Bin Laden. NO one has a right to make excuses for RIPPING OFF their fellow man...
Which brings me to my real point...
Some things happen on a large scale, like the current "war"...but here, on a smaller scale, the crime is still a crime.
I get in this argument a lot, with many people. It's about our chosen economy, capitalism.
You see, it was a good idea, to start. Free trade, goods at a reasonable price, friendly competition...
...and then companies like Microsoft came along and broke the rules. Repeatedly. And until recently, there was nothing our government could do...and we hadn't even thought anything was wrong until the implications hit us like a ton of bricks.
You ever hear people from other countries call us "greedy capitalist pigs"? Ever resent that?
Well, you need to wonder who is giving us the bad reputation...
Did you catch what I repeated up there? Fair prices. Friendly competition. Then a few people found a little phrase called "whatever the market will bear", and started using it. And the more people used it, the more confident they became.
Strength in numbers is a very powerful thing.
Now, it's become the battle cry of an ignorant public, convinced that if our greedy, disgusting current standards of capitalism fail, our country goes with it.
How naïve.
Or perhaps it's not...perhaps it's a choice people make, to provide a staunch defense against the real motivation behind their loud opinions...
...greed.
See what I'm getting at, yet?
It's phrases like "whatever the market will bear" that have ruined too many a hobby for good people. It's phrases like "it's his right to charge whatever people will pay" that have made two chumps moonlighting in Vegas wealthy on the money, and backs, of over-funded fools.
It's the twisted bastardization of capitalism that has fueled the dark side of the Neo-Geo gaming community--a club of blue-blooded, arrogant has-beens, hiding behind silly capitalist catch phrases that would make the founding fathers of the United States of America ANGRY and VENGEFUL. I'm sure if they could smite them, they would.
There will be no names. The companies, the people...they know who they are.
But I will say one, very pertinent thing.
Japanese Neo-Geo Silver Systems are 19,000 Japanese Yen. At the current, and usual exchange, that's less than $190. And whoever is selling those is obviously in it to make some profit. PROFIT. The systems cost even LESS than that to stock.
This is a much broader attack than what you think. Don't take a narrow view of this. When the prices get too high, others may make the prices lower, and claim to be so-called "Knights of Justice, bringing the Neo-Geo community back to its original reasonable pricing". Beware of lies, simply put in place to aid competition.
The worst has come to pass...something we never expected. The greed that, in the past, had only infected a small group of outcasts, has infected nearly everyone.
Fight greed. Find honor, dignity, and respect for your fellow man. And keep a handful of selfish individuals from gutting a noble hobby like so many other hobbies have been in the past.
The market will now bear our wrath.
- The Black Knight
