Well isn't that ironic?

Funny you mention that because that is actually ableism

I have been diagnosed with depression and ADHD. I have never been told that that makes my opinions less valid than others even though depression and ADHD are two of an array of issues basically every serial killer in history is said to suffer from. I wonder if WD is willing to tell me to my face that my opinions are less valid than others because of my mental health.

That's too easy.

What

I'm a self-diagnosed synesthete. If anything, you all should recognize my opinions as more valid. :P

Thucy, i don't know about the others here, but you're giving off this vibe of how virtuous and caring you are, and how selfish and evil fiscal conservatives are. And if you think that then you couldn't be more wrong.

A lot of things you said above in this thread I agree with, where we disagree on is the means.

You think that to help out the needy we need a government to engage in theft (taxation) and then dole out its loot to the needy, and it knows best who needs the money most because governments are never flawed or wrong.

I think that the means don't justify the ends. If we want to help the needy we do so VOLUNTARILY, giving money from our own pockets.

Also, funny you bring up Jesus, and say "go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor." How about "You shall not steal", or "You shall not covet". If you're going to bring in Christianity into this, just know that it doesn't support your views.

Lucky! Are you freaky good with math or crosswords or anything?

I assume that was directed at me fiedler? I am well above average in both. I'm not sure what other positive side effects are attributed towards synesthesia. But I'd say that I'm a pretty bright guy.

Other than the, you know, sixth sense and all... Be jealous! :P

Little bit! You must save a fortune on mushies.

Has it ever got you in trouble?

KC, which senses have you got cross-wired? I recently discovered i have an 80% chance of being taste-blind, to at least one bitter flavour... At least the genetics give me 80%, i think i am fairly sure of it... But i wonder what other flavours i might be able to taste instead.

@ILN

As I said before though, voluntary giving is not cutting it. Show me a time in history when voluntary giving alone kept all the citizens out of poverty and hunger....

Not to make this a personal attack (it's directed everyone here including myself), but if you want to rely on voluntary giving, which we do now largely, let me say this: if you have more than you need, and other people have less than they need, you are morally obliged to give everything except what you truly need away. How many of us can say we do that?

Few to none obviously. And hence voluntary giving will never be enough.

If you're so worried about cheats and so on, how about a Universal Basic Income that all citizens receive?

If a hungry who looks at a rich man's table and asks for a meal is covetousness to you, then you have lost touch with reality

It isn't greed to want enough food to eat

Ora, I have lexical gustatory synesthesia. That means I can taste sound.

It also means you need to get off the drugs, man.

@Thucy ... do you trust the government to help the poor given the opportunity?

ILN, now who is being ableist? :P

Eh, I think that's more along the lines of excessively skeptical or cynical.

@bo

No, but that is because the government is not run by poor people

To clarify: it should be

We have a cyclical problem here basically: the government is not trustworthy because it doesn't care about the people (ie the poor), and the government doesn't care about the people because it is untrustworthy

Either way, ILN, I suggest you put some research into synesthesia before disparaging it.

KC what happens when you hear a fart?

You're hilarious.

WHat? I NEED TO KNOW.

If you are actually being serious, every sound has a different taste.