OT: This Forum is a Historical Account

[CNCRaymond]

Think about it, over the Last two years, everything that has happened in the world has been actively discussed here. This forum has become a living breathing historical archive of how people view the events around them as they have occured.

My god what we type here can theoretically be read by historians two hundred years from now if the data on this forum is preserved.

That is something to think about no isn't it? What we say, think, and do now, can be revisited in years to come as a source of "In Current Events of The Time." Wooooooooow!

[Slynky]

Proves that people play games AND find time to keep up with a few things. One of the nice things is you get a world's opinion...not just one sector of the globe. Of course, that only happens when people can speak freely without being "flamed".

[oleg]

Actually it may not be true. What i mean is that we discuss the events presented and popularised by western media. It is entirely possible that there are some interesting developments in China politics that escapes our attentation but that would become the major turning point of humans history. Iraq war may indeed be just a footnote in the future history books. The backup of this forum will only serve as an example of an arrogance and lack of touch of western eggheads with the mighty current of the river of history http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

[Slynky]

Originally posted by oleg:
Actually it may not be true. What i mean is that we discuss the events presented and popularised by western media. It is entirely possible that there are some interesting developments in China politics that escapes our attentation but that would become the major turning point of humans history. Iraq war may indeed be just a footnote in the future history books. The backup of this forum will only serve as an example of an arrogance and lack of touch of western eggheads with the mighty current of the river of history http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Some truth in that. Though, without trying to sound arrogant, the US is the (IMO) one of the most important country in the world if not the most important. That's not to say other countries are not important and will never have an effect on the entire world. Like countries in the middle east, for example.

For the same reason lots of people learn to speak English, a lot of important events surround the US. Just a fact. Not bragging or really even proud of some things.

Therefore, it is natural there is a lot of Western focus.

[Cipher7071]

It probably won't matter to an historian or anthropologist of the future whether our opinions are well formed, egotistical, or otherwise. They will be of interest simply because they exist, much as the decorations on shards of pottery that we dig to this day. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[oleg]

Oh yes, USA is the MOST important country right now. But so was Roman empire and if you go through Roman newspapers circa 300 ad did you read any news about some odd events between Don and Volga rivers ?

[CNCRaymond]

You know Oleg, I have to agree with you about the Roman likeness here. I do think that the US is destroying itself from the inside out thus weakening its outer defense. This weakening of our outer defense will ultimately spell out doom. I think the Chines will have a major role in that doom.

[Cipher7071]

I've heard the Rome analogy before, and I think there's something to it. It's the decay from within that's most worrysome.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by oleg:
Oh yes, USA is the MOST important country right now. But so was Roman empire and if you go through Roman newspapers circa 300 ad did you read any news about some odd events between Don and Volga rivers ? <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Newspapers did not exist back then. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif If they did, you would read about odd events in the northern areas of Europe, or in the east near Byzantine. Or any number of places within the Roman Empire. Or... even better... some really nasty stuff they did down in Carthage... don't compare the US "empire" to that of the Romans. There is simply no comparison. The Romans commited atrocities daily, and then brought "civilization" to the survivors (unless they were Carthaginians). The US has certainly done some disreputable stuff over the Last few decades, but nothing to the scale that the Romans did.

[Fyron]

A big reason that the Roman Empire decayed from within is that they did not have the means to effectively govern such a massive empire from a central location; various provinces (especially far off ones) had too much autonomy, and the emperor/senate had little knowledge of the happenings in such far off provinces. The US has the advantage of instant communications.

Another problem with Rome was that the Senate was not a representative body; it was simply composed of members of the major houses of Rome. This is not the case with the US.

Additionally, the US has frequent changes in leadership with forced elections. This allows for changes in policy every few years. This will at the very least delay any stagnation or fall.

[Nocturnal]

Fyron, you don't seem to see how funny your two Posts were! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[CNCRaymond]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
A big reason that the Roman Empire decayed from within is that they did not have the means to effectively govern such a massive empire from a central location; various provinces (especially far off ones) had too much autonomy, and the emperor/senate had little knowledge of the happenings in such far off provinces. The US has the advantage of instant communications.

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">So what your saying is.... bigger government means more control? The advantage of instant commincations did little to prevent some of our nations worst disasters.

Another problem with Rome was that the Senate was not a representative body; it was simply composed of members of the major houses of Rome. This is not the case with the US.<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif this really depends upon your point of view. I think most of the people in the House and Senate are from Major houses of the America. They are mostly from very privlaged families that is.


Additionally, the US has frequent changes in leadership with forced elections. This allows for changes in policy every few years. This will at the very least delay any stagnation or fall. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I think in Roman times they called this public executions or something along the lines of "Feed them to the lions!"

LOL

[ December 14, 2003, 21:01: Message edited by: CNCRaymond ]

[Renegade 13]

Personally, I compare the America of today to the Russia of a couple of decades ago. Russia backrupted itself trying to keep up with, and surpass America in the arms race/cold war. The same scenario is being played out again, only this time in the US. This time, the only difference is the method of backruptcy. America is spending way too much money fighting "terrorism". Their deficit is multiple TRILLIONS. Their economy is (or at least was) sliding a lot. Maybe its just me, but this bears a striking resemblance to the USSR of the not-so-distant past. Maybe American politicians should take a few history courses and learn what they can do to avert the impending crisis.

Just my opinion on the matter.

Renegade 13

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Renegade 13:
Personally, I compare the America of today to the Russia of a couple of decades ago. Russia backrupted itself trying to keep up with, and surpass America in the arms race/cold war. The same scenario is being played out again, only this time in the US. This time, the only difference is the method of backruptcy. America is spending way too much money fighting "terrorism". Their deficit is multiple TRILLIONS. Their economy is (or at least was) sliding a lot. Maybe its just me, but this bears a striking resemblance to the USSR of the not-so-distant past. Maybe American politicians should take a few history courses and learn what they can do to avert the impending crisis.

Just my opinion on the matter.

Renegade 13 <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I dissagree, basically because think the "Pax Americana" will be here for a long time.
It's a fact that any empire fall sooner or later , but don't believe it will happen to USA soon.

[President_Elect_Shang]

CNC. I think what Imperator Fyron meant was that 20th and 21st century communication allows for more control. I am not sure about the bigger government comment but I did not read that in his statement, other than him saying it was part of the downfall. As far as disasters go you are right, but once again other than instant disasters (if you will allow me) such as tornados etc most problems are limited to loss of property not life thanks to better communication.

The House and Senate? Sure you have a point but to some degree, sometimes lesser others more so, both houses are limited by the threat of not getting reelected. On the other hand most incumbents are reelected. I think this point can go both ways.

Feed them to the lions, we don’t have that, but I would watch them on the sports channel. Especially when it involves leaders that did not get the popular vote.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Did I say that.