Absolutely! And of course, there are those of us in the US who would like to know more than the blurb that we hear in the US news, if it even makes it that far. Even our best news sources often don't have time to cover politics abroad unless they have major international implications.
(For example, I'm a regular listerner to public radio, follow the AP wire etc. but nowhere did I see any mention of Blair sending Berlosconi to the hospital with a busted up knee save on a public radio quiz show. [Wait! Wait!
I just wanted to add that the Slashdot in-depth discussions for non-tech topics will (hopefully) be great, possibly becoming for political discussion what slashdot has already done for Tech discussions (both the good and the bad).
Please note, I am not a 'furriner', but I think it would be cool to have coverage of other elections.
I have no issue with the flag being the logo, I just felt that is sort of provided an answer to my question before asking.
I just wanted confirmation of my suspicions.
I think if we included even a few other nations into a prospective mix here we could see the politics section eclipse the rest of slashdot. We see 'free speech' and 'intellectual property' items from the globe, but I do wonder what kind
I come here for politics. I for one think this section kicks ass-I've been waiting for something like this for some time. Tried Plastic, couldn't get into it, tried Kuro5hin, couldn't get into it, hopefully this will be better:)
I come here for politics. I for one think this section kicks ass-I've been waiting for something like this for some time. Tried Plastic, couldn't get into it, tried Kuro5hin, couldn't get into it, hopefully this will be better:)
You might want to visit CostCo first and stock up on Tin Foil.
Non-US countries have elections?
Well, yeah, but not exactly like the ones you USAmericans have. In most other countries, those who get more votes, actually win the election...
Bush did get the most electoral college votes so he won. You don't understand our election system, I suggest you research it.
Don't forget their are 50 states in the Union and the EC system ensures that the smaller states get a voice in presidental elections just like the 2 senators from each state, regardless of population, is suspose to insure that each state gets it's uniqure issues heard.
Don't forget their are 50 states in the Union and the EC system ensures that the smaller states get a voice in presidental elections just like the 2 senators from each state, regardless of population, is suspose to insure that each state gets it's uniqure issues heard.
The electoral college was originally designed to make sure that the President was selected by the land owners, and not by the mob.
Today's electoral college (which resembles the original electoral college in name only) is used in conjuncti
No, the original restrictions on the voting franchise were intended to make sure that the President was select by property owners. This was, at the time, a reasonable means for determining competence with respect to voting. Today, the electoral college helps balance the interests of larger states' cities and urban centers (such as New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and others) against the interests of rural areas, which are more sparsely populated (cf. Wyoming, Montana, outlying reg
Why? Like many other things in life, just because it affects the US, doesn't automatically mean anyone on earth else gives a great flying shit about it. I could not care less how you elect your C+ average, barely literate, alcoholic, cocaine abusing, drunk driving, deserting, leaders into office. Seeing his resume, it is obvious that almost half of America doesn't either.
Since you seem to understand it, doesn't this mean that "one man, one vote" is a sham? I mean, if the EC ensur
Hi "rest of the world", I hope you get modded up, you are quite funny, but your humor shelters some insightful truths.
First, like it or not, the US is the most powerful nation on the earth, so whoever our president is, it matters to you. Who knows what little country for whatever reason will next get his attention? So you have as much stake in the US Elections as those of us who have the opportunity to vote. In fact, you have as much influence as I do since I don't happen to be one of those 10 people in
He wasn't talking to you. He was talking to the original poster.
But what he said goes for you too, if you're going to make incorrect statements about how the US system works. After all, even if/.ers think differently,/. is news for *nerds*, and I would presume that a nerd would like to know about a topic he posts about.
If you wish to be willfully ignorant and demean a fairly brilliant system by acting as though you have all the answers with no downsides, go ahead.
The only thing the electoral college system does is give a disproportionate number of votes to white southerners. I guess this would be considered a troll according to someone else's post and I don't have time to go into semantics (late for physics lab) but step back and you'll see that it's true.
-Zack
I'm sorry, in my rush to post before class, I forgot to mention the "heartland" too. Generally the old south and a strip up from Texas to Montana. Ditto for all the other posts pointing this out to me. Same demographic with disproportionate votes though.
Seems to me that Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware, DC, North Dakota, Maine (as examples) get way more out of the Electoral College than the Old South does. In general, the Old South has few, if any, low population states (Arkansas and West Virginia are the smallest, I think, and neither is in the bottom 10).
In fact, the Electoral College was part of the compromise introduced to convince small states to retify the Constitution, to avoid being dominated by Virginia.
actually, under a popular vote, the smaller states get a voice still. and in the case of a popular vote, every voice counts, not just the ones from the swing states. you see, in places like florida, ohio, pennsylvania and maybe Michigan (the swing states) are where each and every vote counts. every vote makes the difference between those ec points. you're not going to see rigorous "get out the vote" campaigns in wyoming or vermont where each electoral vote represenets 200,000 people. in places like o
In fact, any former British Commonwealth country that lack a President (in other words not a republic) doesn't have a basic majority rules system either. You have constituencies, and each constituency votes a representative, and the leader of the party who's got the most seats is Prime Minister. Usually that means there's a dispairity between the votes and the seats, although it's usually close. Canada, Australia, and England are all under this system.
How has the European Community solved this problem? I know from news reports that proper representation of different sized countries has been an issue.
Sure, the US is one country now, but when its Constitution was written, it was simply a confederation of independent states who were sold on the benefits of being one big country without giving up the benefits of being individual political units.
It's been a long time since the US has made major changes to its election law. Since those in power wouldn't ben
well aside from the old reason that the magority of americans were too ignorant to make such important decisions back in post-colonial America, the Electoral College system has helped stabilize elections, such that the only place where contesting vote counts would be even considered would be the most tightly contested states, and even then only if the difference in electoral votes was worth it, without it you would end up with Miami-Dade county in every county in the nation every time an election is close.
If you count all countries that ban candidates for their political views, Germany, Israel, and France get added to the list too (Germany and France have anti-Neo-Nazi-candidate laws, and Israel has anti-Zionist-extremist-candidate laws).
Non-US? Non-US? What do you mean, non-US? Are you suggesting that there are other countries in this world as well?.... Have we bombed them yet? No? Are we going to? What? Stop looking funny at me and go back to CANADA, you meaple-syrup eating bastard.
Just as nigger is derogatory, whereas nigga or negro isn't (sometimes), USian is derogatory. You are NOT encompassing continents by saying American. I am a citizen of the United States of America. I am an American. Not a 'USian.'
You are NOT encompassing continents by saying American
Yes, you are. There are, not one, but two whole continents called 'America', had you paid attention in Geography, you would know this. When you are saying 'I am American' you are saying, 'I am from somewhere in the American continents.' as opposed to 'I am from the United States' which correctly identifies your origin as somwhere between Canada, Mexico, and the two oceans.
Even if they didn't, imagine a schoolchild in Malaysia, who just learned about the major continents, overhearing someone saying they were from "America." Wouldn't any reasonable person conclude that the person was saying they were from one of the two American continents?
No. A reasonable person would not expect anybody to identify themselves as a citizen of a continent. No Canadian or Mexian would introduce themselves to your hypothetical kid as a "North American" any more than an American would.
Our country is called America, therefore we are called Americans, and there is no room for debate on the point.
No, our Country is called the United States of America. Why do you think people study in School US history?
f you insist on arguing the point, walk into a bar in Quebec sometime, and with your best French, ask the meanest-looking patron there how it feels to be an "American."
Thank you for proving my point. Using the term Canadian makes as much sense as using the term USian, as we are both from Am
No. A Canadian using the term Canadian makes sense because he's a Canadian, not an American.
There is no such thing as a USian, because there is not such place as USia.
It's "the United States of America," like "the People's Republic of China." "America" is the name of the country, the words "United States" are there to describe our nation as a federation of separate states, bound together as Americans, just as "People's Republic" establishes China as a socialist nation which is (at least in principle, if
Heh, you picked the worst example, as there are two Chinas, PRC and RoC, and I refer to them accordingly as ChiComms and RoCians. Very Simple.
The whole name of the country distinguishes it, as to keep you from being confused, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, United States of America, American Somoa. The only country that can safely label itself under a continent is Australia, and even that is pushing it, as New Zealand, et. al. is sometimes classified under them.
Once again, showing you are out of step with the world. People from the PRC are called "Chinese", not "ChiComms." People from the Republic of China (Taiwan) are "Taiwanese" not "RoCians."
"American" is not in the least bit ambiguous. In the context of people, "American" means somebody from the nation of America, not "somebody either the North American or South American continents."
Notice that we do not have a word for "somebody who is from either Europe or Africa" either. There is no need for such a wo
Once again, showing you are out of step with the world. People from the PRC are called "Chinese", not "ChiComms." People from the Republic of China (Taiwan) are "Taiwanese" not "RoCians."
Talk to the military. You're wrong. Although I may be wrong about the RoCian thing, its "roc-somthing".
Makes a lot more sense this way.
We can continue to go round and round as we have been going. But, this is pointless. USian makes far more sense, and hence I am invoking the right of UID, my UID is lower then yours, ther
The military uses a lot of non-standard terms which not used outside of the military. Most American troops call Greenwich Mean Time "Zulu." That doesn't mean it makes more sense for you to do so in a non-military forum.
"ChiComm" is an amusing, if derogatory, shorthand for "Chinese Communist," not the correct national identity for people from China.
I don't care what made-up non-word "makes sense" to you. The correct word is "American," and using something else makes you sound like a complete tool.
The military uses a lot of non-standard terms which not used outside of the military. Most American troops call Greenwich Mean Time "Zulu."
You mean I'm the only guy who uses these terms too? >_Lots of down-time spent compiling and installing this week in which to argue over nerdy minutiae, that's why. Thanks for the diversion. I have a dartboard. Great way to pass the time. I highly recommend it to anyone who does compiling a lot for their job (if you can get away with it).
Obviously if you're being very technical, then "American" would mean someone from the "new world". But the meaning in common use is "American" means from the United States of America. It's the only country in the world with "America" in its name. What did you call people from the USSR? USSRians? What about Germans? Bundesrepublik Deutschlandians? What about when we refer to a country as an English version of the country's real name? Most names of countries that English-speakers use are not the real
What I wonder, is: Do Kiwi's want to be called Australlian?
That's like asking if Canadians want to be called erm, American (as in American from the USA, not American from the Americas).
Australia the continent is the same as Australia the country. New Zealand isn't physically part of a continent but it is generally classed as part of Oceania or Australasia.
If you look at politics.slashdot.org and scroll down, you'll see a link to this article [slashdot.org] which is about the Australian Prime Minister. Hopefully this is a sign that all political content will be included, not merely US-based content.
While there may be some non-US content available, the original announcement states quite clearly that/. will be "running special political coverage between now and the election in our new Politics subsection...." That, combined with the ubiquitous presence of the US flag, leaves me with the distinct impression that US politics will be its primary focus. I can't say that makes me terribly inclined to spend more time here than I already do... although I might post a little more:P
I'm guessing from the logo of the section that this will be a 'No', but will there be coverage of Non-US elections as well?
Ack, I hadn't even noticed the logo there, nothing against Americans but as a Canadian I have to say that I already see quite enough of your flag:) I have nothing against patriotism or anything but after a point the sheer quantity of stars and stripes I see around tends to get a little annoying. Now I can see the reasoning behind US-centric stories for the next few months, what with the election and all, but there is certainly a lot else going on in the world, even a story already in the new section on The Australian Prime Minister [slashdot.org]. Also note all the stuff currently going on in the EU relating to patents and IP, China with it's massive population and strict media control, not to mention countless other events going on all over this planet. While the majority of the IP's that hit the front page might be from the US I'm sure anyone who reads the comments can attest to a strongly international presence that shows up. I feel that using a clearly pro-American logo not only incites the "I'm not an American" trolls (seriously do they want to make this a trollfest?) but also causes the perception that the politics being discussed are isolated from the rest of the world and people outside the US can neither affect nor are being affected by it, a perception which is extremely dangerous. Politics is a truly international affair, as a Canadian I can say that I'm much more scared by who might win the US election then by any of the candidates in my own, as well American's should be greatly interested by events all over the Middle East as well as what happens in the EU and China for a variety of reasons. I'm not sure what a good logo would be but clearly an American flag is highly improper for a wide variety of reasons.
I have nothing against patriotism or anything but after a point the sheer quantity of stars and stripes I see around tends to get a little annoying.
You know, I am an American living in Canada and *I* was going to say the same thing about *your* Maple leaf. I'm not knocking it or anything, but you Canadians put that leaf on EVERYTHING. It's in the middle of the McDonald's "Golden arches" up here, and finds it's way onto every single logo, it seems.
I guess what it really boils down to is BOTH our countries
You know, I am an American living in Canada and *I* was going to say the same thing about *your* Maple leaf. I'm not knocking it or anything, but you Canadians put that leaf on EVERYTHING. It's in the middle of the McDonald's "Golden arches" up here, and finds it's way onto every single logo, it seems.
I guess what it really boils down to is BOTH our countries utilize the flag as a symbol of patriotism, and as citizens of our respective countries who are "desensitized" to some degree to our own insignia, w
The idea that a simple picture of the American flag somehow will encourage a perception of being isolated from the rest of the world is preposterous. Slashdot is a US-based and US-focused site (see the FAQ that I'm too lazy to link to). This politics section has been started with the explicit purpose of giving better coverage of the issues surrounding the upcoming US presidential election (which will obviously include a lot of international coverage). It is perfectly appropriate for there to be an Americ
The bloddy computers may be in the US, but I have seen here many histories from places all around the world, from Malaysia, Mexico to Namibia and Vietnam. Heck, even the UK features for goodness sake.
It is good time that/. recognizes that it no longer serves an US only audience. If we are going to talk about politics I am pretty sure we are going to do it about politics all around the place, because politics is not a parochial affair but a global matter.
If the Slashdot editors wanted to change the FAQ, they would have already. Slashdot IS US-focused. They are, always have been, and will be for the forseeable future. The editors live in the US and care more about what goes on in the US than in other countries.
Now, a lot of people from other countries come here, there's no doubt of that. People from all over the world read Slashdot and make comments. And that's great. But that doesn't make Slashdot not US-focused. Nor should it. If people from othe
from the logo? mmh, let me see...
there is indeed some hint of a white star on the far left, sort of fading away, but the rest is positively a french flag [discoverfrance.net].
Ooops... I think I just spoiled a subliminal message:)
Due to desperate financial straits I've been reduced to hitting slashdot once a week in a terse frenzy of HTTP GETs, grabbing everything I see that looks interesting in one frenzy. I then get to sit reading for the next week/fortnight without running up bandwidth charges.
I just broke my rule and went back online to reply to this as soon as I saw it.
I beg the Slashdot editorial staff with as much emphasis as I can - PLEASE, change the Stars and Stripes logo!!!
...will there be coverage of Non-US elections as well?
I hope so. For example, Putin's political outlook may have changed markedly as a result of the last weeks' terrorism in Russia. I'd bet quite a few/.ers would have interesting things to say about that.
Doesn't need to go up on the main page, as it would probably only interest a minority of/.ers, but that's kind of the point of having a separate section, isn't it?
Very good point./. is not entirely US-centric. Perhaps the admins should take a look at the 25 countries most visitors come from, and then have the flag rotate between them. That, or try something global, like UN or Olympics... but, that'd be hard for many people who disagree with those organizations... Maybe the logo should be a bunch of little flags. Blue for the color-scheme seems fine with me--not because it's in my flag, but because it's the color of 75% of the earth, during the day, and for somethi
Non-US Elections (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:3, Interesting)
The slashdot community is not only us-based...
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
(For example, I'm a regular listerner to public radio, follow the AP wire etc. but nowhere did I see any mention of Blair sending Berlosconi to the hospital with a busted up knee save on a public radio quiz show. [Wait! Wait!
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
Let's be brutally honest here:
the american flag is clodishly insensitive to furriners
furriners taking issue with the choice of colors are clodishly insensitive to american needs to vent (free speech)
Can we pick red/blue headings?
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
I have no issue with the flag being the logo, I just felt that is sort of provided an answer to my question before asking.
I just wanted confirmation of my suspicions.
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
I have no issue with the flag being the logo, I just felt that is sort of provided an answer to my question before asking.
I just wanted confirmation of my suspicions.
I think if we included even a few other nations into a prospective mix here we could see the politics section eclipse the rest of slashdot. We see 'free speech' and 'intellectual property' items from the globe, but I do wonder what kind
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
You might want to visit CostCo first and stock up on Tin Foil.
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:5, Funny)
Well, yeah, but not exactly like the ones you USAmericans have. In most other countries, those who get more votes, actually win the election...
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1, Informative)
Don't forget their are 50 states in the Union and the EC system ensures that the smaller states get a voice in presidental elections just like the 2 senators from each state, regardless of population, is suspose to insure that each state gets it's uniqure issues heard.
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1, Insightful)
Don't forget their are 50 states in the Union and the EC system ensures that the smaller states get a voice in presidental elections just like the 2 senators from each state, regardless of population, is suspose to insure that each state gets it's uniqure issues heard.
The electoral college was originally designed to make sure that the President was selected by the land owners, and not by the mob.
Today's electoral college (which resembles the original electoral college in name only) is used in conjuncti
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2, Interesting)
Why? Like many other things in life, just because it affects the US, doesn't automatically mean anyone on earth else gives a great flying shit about it. I could not care less how you elect your C+ average, barely literate, alcoholic, cocaine abusing, drunk driving, deserting, leaders into office. Seeing his resume, it is obvious that almost half of America doesn't either.
Since you seem to understand it, doesn't this mean that "one man, one vote" is a sham? I mean, if the EC ensur
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
First, like it or not, the US is the most powerful nation on the earth, so whoever our president is, it matters to you. Who knows what little country for whatever reason will next get his attention? So you have as much stake in the US Elections as those of us who have the opportunity to vote. In fact, you have as much influence as I do since I don't happen to be one of those 10 people in
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
But what he said goes for you too, if you're going to make incorrect statements about how the US system works. After all, even if
If you wish to be willfully ignorant and demean a fairly brilliant system by acting as though you have all the answers with no downsides, go ahead.
But don't expect those of us that
1) u
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
No, you're completely wrong. It also gives a disproportionate number of votes to white midwesterners.
jf
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
In fact, the Electoral College was part of the compromise introduced to convince small states to retify the Constitution, to avoid being dominated by Virginia.
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
In fact, any former British Commonwealth country that lack a President (in other words not a republic) doesn't have a basic majority rules system either. You have constituencies, and each constituency votes a representative, and the leader of the party who's got the most seats is Prime Minister. Usually that means there's a dispairity between the votes and the seats, although it's usually close. Canada, Australia, and England are all under this system.
New Zealand tries to sol
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
A true testament that US foreign intervention works!
Fa la!
Infidels! (Score:2)
You should really let us Americans show you how to do it right.
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:3, Interesting)
Sure, the US is one country now, but when its Constitution was written, it was simply a confederation of independent states who were sold on the benefits of being one big country without giving up the benefits of being individual political units.
It's been a long time since the US has made major changes to its election law. Since those in power wouldn't ben
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
there's plenty of others (Score:2)
If you count all countries that ban candidates for their political views, Germany, Israel, and France get added to the list too (Germany and France have anti-Neo-Nazi-candidate laws, and Israel has anti-Zionist-extremist-candidate laws).
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1, Funny)
Non-US? Non-US? What do you mean, non-US? Are you suggesting that there are other countries in this world as well? .... Have we bombed them yet? No? Are we going to? What? Stop looking funny at me and go back to CANADA, you meaple-syrup eating bastard.
Stupid non-USians. How dare they?
Simpsons reference (Score:1)
You Shatner-stealing Mexico toucher.
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
Why would there be? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:You're a racist fucktard. (Score:2)
When you say American, you are encompassing the whole of two continents, but when you say USian, you are at least narrowing it down. I like it.
Wrong. (Score:2)
No. Right (Score:2)
Yes, you are. There are, not one, but two whole continents called 'America', had you paid attention in Geography, you would know this. When you are saying 'I am American' you are saying, 'I am from somewhere in the American continents.' as opposed to 'I am from the United States' which correctly identifies your origin as somwhere between Canada, Mexico, and the two oceans.
It's like your ashamed to say y
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
There are zero continents called "America."
There is one called "North America", and another called "South America."
The word "American" can only be somebody who comes from the United States of America.
A "USian" would be somebody from someplace called "USia." It is never the correct term.
Re:No. Right (Score:1)
No. A reasonable person would not expect anybody to identify themselves as a citizen of a continent. No Canadian or Mexian would introduce themselves to your hypothetical kid as a "North American" any more than an American would.
Columbu
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
No, our Country is called the United States of America. Why do you think people study in School US history?
Thank you for proving my point. Using the term Canadian makes as much sense as using the term USian, as we are both from Am
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
There is no such thing as a USian, because there is not such place as USia.
It's "the United States of America," like "the People's Republic of China." "America" is the name of the country, the words "United States" are there to describe our nation as a federation of separate states, bound together as Americans, just as "People's Republic" establishes China as a socialist nation which is (at least in principle, if
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
The whole name of the country distinguishes it, as to keep you from being confused, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, United States of America, American Somoa. The only country that can safely label itself under a continent is Australia, and even that is pushing it, as New Zealand, et. al. is sometimes classified under them.
You are probably an Engineer
Re:No. Right (Score:1)
"American" is not in the least bit ambiguous. In the context of people, "American" means somebody from the nation of America, not "somebody either the North American or South American continents."
Notice that we do not have a word for "somebody who is from either Europe or Africa" either. There is no need for such a wo
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
Talk to the military. You're wrong. Although I may be wrong about the RoCian thing, its "roc-somthing".
Makes a lot more sense this way.
We can continue to go round and round as we have been going. But, this is pointless. USian makes far more sense, and hence I am invoking the right of UID, my UID is lower then yours, ther
Re:No. Right (Score:1)
"ChiComm" is an amusing, if derogatory, shorthand for "Chinese Communist," not the correct national identity for people from China.
I don't care what made-up non-word "makes sense" to you. The correct word is "American," and using something else makes you sound like a complete tool.
*shru
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
You mean I'm the only guy who uses these terms too? >_Lots of down-time spent compiling and installing this week in which to argue over nerdy minutiae, that's why. Thanks for the diversion.
I have a dartboard. Great way to pass the time. I highly recommend it to anyone who does compiling a lot for their job (if you can get away with it).
Thanks for the diversion as w
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
Re:No. Right (Score:2)
I'm sorry you are unable to have pride in your countries accomplishments.
Move to the United States of America. Become an American. Have some pride.
Re:Wrong. (Score:2)
I am european but would not object if someone wanted to be more specific and refer to me as British.
Re:Wrong. (Score:2)
Re:You're a racist fucktard. (Score:1)
If you don't realize that USian is derogatory, I don't suppose you'd understand why nigger, chink or spic are derogatory either.
How about (Score:2)
Re:How about Ameri-stanis? (Score:1)
Anyway, how does one pronounce USian? Like Use-ian (think Asian), or You-Ess-Ian?
You-Ess-Ian (Score:2)
Re:Why would there be? (Score:1)
Re:Why would there be? (Score:1)
Re:Why would there be? (Score:2)
American: 8 chars
Re:Why would there be? (Score:1)
Oh, sod off (Score:2)
Re:Why would there be? (Score:1)
As for USia, or USistan, I see no problem with it.
What I wonder, is: Do Kiwi's want to be called Australlian?
Re:Why would there be? (Score:2)
That's like asking if Canadians want to be called erm, American (as in American from the USA, not American from the Americas).
Australia the continent is the same as Australia the country. New Zealand isn't physically part of a continent but it is generally classed as part of Oceania or Australasia.
Yes, looks like there'll be non-US content (Score:2)
Re:Yes, looks like there'll be non-US content (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Yes, looks like there'll be non-US content (Score:1)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:4, Insightful)
Ack, I hadn't even noticed the logo there, nothing against Americans but as a Canadian I have to say that I already see quite enough of your flag
Now I can see the reasoning behind US-centric stories for the next few months, what with the election and all, but there is certainly a lot else going on in the world, even a story already in the new section on The Australian Prime Minister [slashdot.org]. Also note all the stuff currently going on in the EU relating to patents and IP, China with it's massive population and strict media control, not to mention countless other events going on all over this planet. While the majority of the IP's that hit the front page might be from the US I'm sure anyone who reads the comments can attest to a strongly international presence that shows up. I feel that using a clearly pro-American logo not only incites the "I'm not an American" trolls (seriously do they want to make this a trollfest?) but also causes the perception that the politics being discussed are isolated from the rest of the world and people outside the US can neither affect nor are being affected by it, a perception which is extremely dangerous. Politics is a truly international affair, as a Canadian I can say that I'm much more scared by who might win the US election then by any of the candidates in my own, as well American's should be greatly interested by events all over the Middle East as well as what happens in the EU and China for a variety of reasons. I'm not sure what a good logo would be but clearly an American flag is highly improper for a wide variety of reasons.
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
You know, I am an American living in Canada and *I* was going to say the same thing about *your* Maple leaf. I'm not knocking it or anything, but you Canadians put that leaf on EVERYTHING. It's in the middle of the McDonald's "Golden arches" up here, and finds it's way onto every single logo, it seems.
I guess what it really boils down to is BOTH our countries
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
You know, I am an American living in Canada and *I* was going to say the same thing about *your* Maple leaf. I'm not knocking it or anything, but you Canadians put that leaf on EVERYTHING. It's in the middle of the McDonald's "Golden arches" up here, and finds it's way onto every single logo, it seems.
I guess what it really boils down to is BOTH our countries utilize the flag as a symbol of patriotism, and as citizens of our respective countries who are "desensitized" to some degree to our own insignia, w
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
US based, US focused? (Score:3, Interesting)
The bloddy computers may be in the US, but I have seen here many histories from places all around the world, from Malaysia, Mexico to Namibia and Vietnam. Heck, even the UK features for goodness sake.
It is good time that
As such, the logo slected by
Re:US based, US focused? (Score:2)
Now, a lot of people from other countries come here, there's no doubt of that. People from all over the world read Slashdot and make comments. And that's great. But that doesn't make Slashdot not US-focused. Nor should it. If people from othe
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)
from the logo? mmh, let me see... there is indeed some hint of a white star on the far left, sort of fading away, but the rest is positively a french flag [discoverfrance.net].
Ooops... I think I just spoiled a subliminal message :)
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
I just broke my rule and went back online to reply to this as soon as I saw it.
I beg the Slashdot editorial staff with as much emphasis as I can - PLEASE, change the Stars and Stripes logo!!!
I know in the US everything gets draped in
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:2)
I hope so. For example, Putin's political outlook may have changed markedly as a result of the last weeks' terrorism in Russia. I'd bet quite a few /.ers would have interesting things to say about that.
Doesn't need to go up on the main page, as it would probably only interest a minority of /.ers, but that's kind of the point of having a separate section, isn't it?
Re:Non-US Elections (Score:1)