2012 Off topic thread(basketball,movies,etc whatever)

[SPX]

In what sense?

[SPX]

I just watched some shit on NetGeo about people who are prepping for catastrophe--economic collapse, over-population reaching critical mass, armageddon, etc. What do y'all think of such people?

[Ludo]

Preppers, depending on how far along into the looney abyss they are, are typically people who mean well enough. Mostly just taking precautions in the event of some catastrophe to ensure that their families won't be left wandering a post apocalyptic like world without a plan. Though the ones who go full retard are kind of scary. Like those motherfuckers stockpiling vast amounts of firearms and ammunition and 3,000 square foot underground reinforced steel bunkers complete with everything from advanced water and air filtration systems to massive generators and shit. I honestly believe there is something wrong with anyone who spends $200,000+ on "just in case" measures. A bomb shelter and some canned food stores is one thing, but when you go above and beyond even the Mormon definition of "prepared" some shit ain't right up top.

[SPX]

Indeed. I find that I agree with you on that and I'm kind of surprised at your reasonable reply, rather than dismissing the entire practice as lunacy.

I think for some of these people it has become a cause and something to focus their lives on, and they find meaning in that. Like you say, some go way too far. There was one guy on this show who has basically devoted his entire life to it and has his kids training with tomahawks in a wilderness compound and shit. That's way overboard to me.

But with that said, I do think there are signs in the world that we might be heading toward some kind of social upheaval, though it may still be a few hundred years down the road. If I was well off financially I could see myself putting some very small percentage of that into some kind of "just in case" preparations.

[Ludo]

Well I can see the positive in the base concept and the value of it. But like I said some of these people take the shit to such an extreme that you have to wonder if they aren't mentally unsound in a very dangerous way. Having a few rifles and pistols and shit for hunting game is one thing, but some of these dudes have big lockers stocked to the brim with AR's and enough ammo to re-enact every scene in Red Dawn, and that's fucking scary. As if the world wouldn't be dangerous enough in a dystopian style setting without these militants with arsenals that would make John Rambo jizz in his fatigues.

[MMA_scientist]

I think they are all nuts and i look forward to beating them and stealing their reservoirs in the post apocalyptic wasteland

[SPX]

Well I can see the positive in the base concept and the value of it. But like I said some of these people take the shit to such an extreme that you have to wonder if they aren't mentally unsound in a very dangerous way. Having a few rifles and pistols and shit for hunting game is one thing, but some of these dudes have big lockers stocked to the brim with AR's and enough ammo to re-enact every scene in Red Dawn, and that's fucking scary. As if the world wouldn't be dangerous enough in a dystopian style setting without these militants with arsenals that would make John Rambo jizz in his fatigues.

Well I'd say that some of them are mentally unsound and there are probably a lot of others who have just gone down the rabbit's hole and have surrounded themselves with things that reinforce their thought processes to the point that they are singularly focused. For the latter group, it's kind of like religion. Or a cult. If you wander into a belief and then do nothing but read literature, watch programs, listen to music, keep company, etc that reinforces that belief, it's hard to see other perspectives. It's kind of like being in a cult.

Having grown up in a religious household, I've seen first-hand how this can work.

[SPX]

I think they are all nuts. . .

Is that to say that you think it's unreasonable to think that there's a possibility that we're heading toward an upheaval point?

I've often wondered what's going to happen when humans in need of water outpaces the amount of water that's available. Furthermore, with the rate of population growth, I've wondered if that reality is inevitable.

[MMA_scientist]

Is that to say that you think it's unreasonable to think that there's a possibility that we're heading toward an upheaval point?

I've often wondered what's going to happen when humans in need of water outpaces the amount of water that's available. Furthermore, with the rate of population growth, I've wondered if that reality is inevitable.

I think it is unreasonable to believe that, yes. I think we will have plenty of time to prepare if the signs start to point that way. Also, i dont think those dumbasses would be able fend off marauders in the extremely unlikely event of a total meltdown.

The water and or food supply is not going to run out in our lifetimes, and i trust man to figure it out in the future

[SPX]

We will agree to disagree. I don't EXPECT it to be a problem. But I don't think it's unreasonable to consider that it might be.

[SPX]

Is it just me or does Chuck Norris look good regardless of how old he is? I mean, this motherfucker's like 70-something.

[SPX]

Jon Voight says fuck Obama!

[poopoo333]

Interesting thread from Sherdog...and I think it ties into MMA betting:

Before everybody goes on saying I'm bashing these guys, or calling these guys bad, I only made this thread 'cause I'm just fascinated as how good these guys are and I can't believe they were beat, on top of the fact that they had a lot of people in the forums bolstering about a majority of these guys being potential champions. They could very well be still, or not. That is all.

It's crazy how this year has been for the state of MMA, especially the UFC in particular, Lombard finally signing w/ the UFC, the acquisition of the Strikeforce Heavyweights, potential signing of Eddie Alvarez w/ the UFC but if there's anything that's been more astonishing than all these signees it'd have to be the Hype Train Derailment of all the fighters.

Here's a list of fighters that had a whole lotta hype behind them.

Travis Browne (MMA Record: 13-1-1)
- The hype off Travis was ridiculous this year, people claiming the dude would be the Heavyweight Champion. Don't get me wrong, he's a pretty athletic guy for a Heavyweight, but that 1 loss to Antonio Silva has shut up everybody in regards to this, he suffered his 1st official loss this year and I hope he makes a good recovery and comes back strong.

Stipe Miocic (MMA Record: 9-1)
- Touted as another fighter with potential to hit the top 10 within the next year and possibly even winning the belt, derailed. He gassed hard fighting against Struve and now he has to take a step back in terms of getting where he wants to be, the Cro Cop look alike fighter suffered his 1st loss this year, and I'm hoping he makes a comeback.

Shane Del Rosario (MMA Record: 11-1)
- Another Heavyweight touted as a top 10 took a hit when he ran into undefeated prospect at the time Stipe Miocic, he suffered his 1st loss via TKO and I'm hoping he comes back strong as well.

Jimy Hettes (MMA Record: 10-1)
- After his straight domination of Nam Phan destroying him with a relentless pace that everybody was amazed by everybody was touting him as the next threat to Jose Aldo's Featherweight Title, he suffered his 1st loss this year as well, kid still has potential in my eyes.

Paul Sass (MMA Record: 13-1)
- Sass looked well along his way to breaching the Top 10 w/ him consistently submitting everybody with his infamous "Sassangle." sadly he lost at his own game by veteran Matt Wiman. I hope he rounds out his skills and learns a couple more tricks rather than just trying to stay on the ground the whole time.

Hector Lombard - (MMA Record: 31-3)
- Threat to Anderson Silva? His performance against Tim Boetsch was super lackluster, and he fought like he was playing it safe, not the regular Lombard everybody's accustom to, he needs to re-adjust himself if he ever wants to be a threat to the MW title. So far everybody's hopped off his bandwagon and riding Chris Weidman's one pretty well.

Dustin Poirier (MMA Record: 13-2)
- People claimed he was gonna handle The Korean Zombie w/ ease because he was that young hungry fighter that was gonna destroy everybody on his path on his way to taking the title from Jose Aldo, sadly he was put to a halt thanks to the KZ and now he's finding himself in a loop to see if he can climb back to the top.

Rousimar Palhares (MMA Record: 14-4)
- "This dude is gonna leg lock everybody all the way to Anderson Silva and take that title from him." his train was derailed badly as he found himself on the wrong side of a beating thanks to Alan Belcher, he needs to get mentally stronger, dude has potential and so much strength for his own good, yet when he can't lock in a submission he just shuts off. He needs to up his MMA IQ if he ever wants to go far someday.

Stephen Thompson (MMA Record: 6-1)
- People were saying how dope this kid was gonna be after his highlight reel KO over a fighter who's no longer employed by the UFC, sadly he was derailed. By the veteran in Matt Brown, who is known by everybody as a game fighter, but not somebody known for his Wrestling, in which he did to gas out the young Stephen Thompson which turned the fight into a decent fight from beginning to a lackluster ending. Hopefully he comes back strong.

Erick Silva (MMA Record: 14-3)
- His stock didn't really lower in my book, I mean who has looked good against Fitch besides Johny Hendricks?! He's always a game opponent and he showed why he'll forever be floating around the Top 10 of the division. Erick Silva needs to up his gas tank and continue with learning to defend a takedown & stop being so flashy, as fun as it is to watch, he needs a little more discipline if he wants to become a champion one day.

Jake Ellenberger (MMA Record: 28-6)
- "Omg he KO'd Jake Shields while GSP could only take him to a decision, he's a future champion." now he's the butt of everybodys joke when it comes down to Cardio. His last fight was very lackluster and it didn't represent any of the classic Jake we've grown to love. Sadly his train was derailed by Martin Kampmann a little while ago, everybody was saying that he was gonna be that dude to knock GSP into Oblivion, now he has a little road ahead of him that he has to walk through before being in talks of fighting w/ the Divisions best in GSP.

Phil Davis (MMA Record: 10-1)
- "He's so strong, explosive, athletic, his wrestling is on point and his physique is extraordinary." Can't lie, I feel like everybody was on Davis because he was undefeated and he has a physique that not your average fighter has. He's a good wrestler, but sadly Rashad Evans put a statement as to why Davis can't enter the top 5 yet and showed that he can't pose a threat to Jon Bones Jones unless he rounds out his game a little bit. His win over Wagner Prado was dominant, but sadly that won't do him any good with getting into Title Contention anytime soon, hopefully he rounds out his game real soon. (Suffered his 1st MMA loss this year.)

Hatsu Hioki (MMA Record: 26-5-2)
- Touted as another threat to the title against Jose Aldo, he was knocked off his high horse against Ricardo Lamas, sucks that he was greatly known as the #2 Featherweight of the world but put on some lackluster performances in the UFC, except his dominant performance against Bart Palaszewski earlier this year.

Edson Barboza (MMA Record: 10-1)
- After watching his TKO via Leg kicks against an opponent no longer employed by the UFC, he was touted as the Jose Aldo of the 155 Division, but ended up in fights in which all ended in questionable decisions vs. Ross Pearson & Anthony Njokuani. He finally suffered the 1st loss of his MMA career, it was pretty much a ticking time bomb to see when he would lose regardless of his great KO of Terry Etim and his striking clinics. Jamie Varner put an end to that at UFC 146 which resulted in him not only losing but also suffering his 1st loss in devastating fashion!

Did you guys see through the hype and bet against them? Did you fall for it and bet on them?

[Ludo]

Of that list I faded Davis, Erick Silva, Thompson, Lombard, and Hettes. But to be fair I only bet against Lombard because the value was on Boetsch.

[SPX]

Bet Bigfoot.
Bet Struve.
Stayed away.
Almost bet Hettes but stayed away. I think I did have him in a 7 fight parlay but that got fucked up by a few guys.
Bet Wiman.
Bet Boetsch.
Stayed away. (Should've bet Zombie.)
Bet Belcher.
Had Thompson in a parlay. He will rise!
Bet Fitch.
Was gonna bet Hitman but didn't realize this event was on Friday.
I stay away from Davis completely.
Think I bet Bartimus.
5u on Barboza. God.