ddickinson: Anyway, how are you doing today? Are you looking forward to the weekend and Valentines Day with your partner?

toxicTom: In Germany it's the other way around. German history? Nazis! Holocaust! Those are by far the things that are most present. Germany has no heroes like Arthur or James Cook or Francis Drake or Horatio Nelson. We only have Hitler, Himmler and Goebbels...

Now I'm not much of a person that sees much sense in patriotism. For me it's quite silly to be proud of things (or ashamed of, for that matter) that I had no part in.

When it comes to history (I studied it for some years at an university, and then for many more years by myself) the bleak truth is that it's by no means an exact science. Like journalism it's polluted by opinion and hearsay. Archeological artifacts are interpreted by people who of course are influenced by doctrine or personal theories. Contemporary writings are of course expression of the respective author's point of view - and the winners write history on their terms anyway.

Still I think that history is one of the most important disciplines - if you keep open-minded and wary of the pitfalls of bias of your sources. There is so much to learn about what makes people tick - and to close the circle and return to Godwin's law - the Third Reich is a prime example of what people are capable of if indoctrinated and dulled and - yes, in a way "hopeful" enough - because this is what Hitler IMO did - he gave people in a broke, depressive country hope - hope to have a job, hope to "be somebody" again (see: patriotism above), hope for "vengeance" for the shame of WW1 and Versailles and against the "rich, greedy Jews" while everybody else was poor.
AFAIK if you have a post that was heavily downrepped the effects only accumulate over the next few days. Now I don't know what your could have posted to earn that much wrath.

Hmm. Now that I see it, I think I also has 348 only an hour ago, right now it's 346. But then I posted in the Muhammad sex game thread - maybe somebody didn't like that.

l0rdtr3k: Problably because I posted a joke post on the gifting thread and defended Elmofongo because he was getting downrepped hard because he asked for Grim Fandango

ddickinson: [...]

Sorry, I did not mean to imply she was not smiling through it all before. But just remember that people often hide behind false smiles, so you be sure to be there for her just in case. I used to put on a brave face after my attack, so did my grandmother when she was ill. It's easier to show a smile than a frown when you are low or ill. It's not nice to worry people and it saves a lot of questions when you smile compared to when you frown. I'm not trying to imply this is what your friend is doing, just what I have done and others I have know have done. But like I said, be sure to be there for her, just in case that smile is covering something more painful. A nice hug can mean so much when someone is having a bad day.

[...]

HypersomniacLive: I hug every time I see her, for comfort when she's having a bad day, for celebration when she's having a good one.

toxicTom: That's probably the best thing you can do. I really hope everything works out.

HypersomniacLive: ...

EndreWhiteMane: Since you guys are being so serious in here today I thought I'd do a little studying this afternoon.

ddickinson: Hello Endre!

How are you doing today?

So you are an ornithologist as well? You sure do love looking at pretty birds. :-)

EndreWhiteMane: Actually hasn't been one of my better days but that's life. Feeling a bit better now and figured I'd joke around a little. ;)

gunsynd: dd knows how to yak:-)

gunsynd: That's me,for sure....

ddickinson: I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you will continue to feel better. Tell you what, tomorrow I will leave the curtains open when I get a shower and a bath, that way you can use your big telescope. Would that cheer you up? :-)