← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Conservative
Thread ID: 8781 | Posts: 23 | Started: 2003-08-05
2003-08-05 07:31 | User Profile
So, what are your thoughts here?
And while we are on the subject, has anyone here ever had a paranormal experience? This could include abductions, psychic abilities, contact with a deity/angel/ghost, the viewing of a UFOs, etc.
If perceived paranormal events are real, can these events contain resources that us White Nationalists can use for our advancement?
Here is an interesting thread on paranormal experiences: [url=http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread.php?t=80132&page=1&pp=15]http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread...32&page=1&pp=15[/url]
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-05 07:50 | User Profile
Here is an interesting article on UFOs: [url=http://www.rense.com/general/believe.htm]http://www.rense.com/general/believe.htm[/url]
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-09 04:22 | User Profile
Check out the Jeff Rense internet radio show at [url=http://www.soundwaves2000.com/rense/]http://www.soundwaves2000.com/rense/[/url] which deals with paranormal experiences.
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-09 07:30 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Ares@Aug 5 2003, 02:31 * ** And while we are on the subject, has anyone here ever had a paranormal experience? This could include abductions, psychic abilities, contact with a deity/angel/ghost, the viewing of a UFOs, etc. **
As a child I used to enjoy watching Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Seriously, one such case I've always found interesting was Whitley Streiber and his book [u]Communion[/u]. Of course the New-Age movement is chock full of alien encounters, channeling and such. Reading Dave Hunt and others on the subject, the only explanation I've come up with that seems to make any sense of these encounters is demonic entities disguising themselves as alien ETs.
2003-08-09 07:58 | User Profile
I really don't know what is out there: ETs, other universes, other dimensions, deities, ghosts, angels, the "Matrix," etc. But, to those that do believe in these things, I ask, "How do I myself experience these things first hand?" No one has ever been able to give me an answer. Could that be because none of it is real? Perhaps.
I've gone to ET discussion forums and put out adds asking to be abducted or what have you - no results as yet.
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-09 08:07 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Ares@Aug 9 2003, 02:58 * ** But, to those that do believe in these things, I ask, "How do I myself experience these things first hand?" **
That's easy, Ares. You can quickly tap into the Universal Mind with a couple of hits of lysergic acid diethylamide.
See if you come across Morrisson riding the snake. If you do tell him I said Hi and ask him what he meant by 'five to one, one in five.'
2003-08-09 08:11 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Texas Dissident@Aug 9 2003, 01:30 * ** Reading Dave Hunt and others on the subject, the only explanation I've come up with that seems to make any sense of these encounters is demonic entities disguising themselves as alien ETs. **
Interesting.
Here's Rev. Pat (real name "Marion") Robertson on "Demonic possessions".
...
Can A Christian Be Demon Possessed?
People disagree over whether or not a Christian can be demon possessed.
I recall an incident from my own life when I was staying in a motel near Seattle, Washington. One morning, when I was in that stage between sleep and waking, an awful depression seized me. I felt that everyone was against me, that people around me were failing, and that everything I was doing was falling to pieces. Discouragement overwhelmed me like a dark cloud.
As I struggled to wake up, I realized I was under demonic attack. I immediately took control over it and said, "Satan, in the name of Jesus, I cast you forth." The minute I said that, my mind was free and my despair was gone. I realized later that the Seattle-Tacoma area led the nation in suicides. The spirit that was coming upon me was a suicidal spirit, the sort of influence that would lead to such depression that a person would wish to kill himself. I was in an area where many had been gripped by this kind of demon. :shock:
[url=http://www.cbnindia.org/200Questions/article.php?topic=19]http://www.cbnindia.org/200Questions/artic...le.php?topic=19[/url]
Paging H.L. Mencken...
2003-08-10 04:14 | User Profile
Originally posted by wintermute@Aug 9 2003, 02:49 * ** > *You can quickly tap into the Universal Mind with a couple of hits of lysergic acid diethylamide. **
Goodness, Tex.
That must be a powerfully progressive church you attend. Lutheran, right?
I was just about to give the same advice to our transhuman tending friend, but I would definitely recommend 'shrooms for his first time out. Much gentler, with very little chance of a bad trip. Earthy, too, which would be a nice balance for our erstwhile psychonaut.
However, no posting during your trip. Our board is already weird enough. Your mission is contact transdimensional intelligences and see if "these events contain resources that us White Nationalists can use for our advancement?"
Do be polite if you meet Mescalito, I think he's native to Mesoamerica, though that doesn't necessarily mean he's Mexican. Just observe standard protocol: you're a guest, and should behave as such.
If you have any questions, you might want to brush up on the two Alice books first. I believe they are available, for a very reasonable price, from Amazon.com.
Wintermute **
Hello Wintermute,
You like to make jokes towards those that don't think like you at the moment. But, this is the same thing mainstream Whites do when we talk about the Jewish undermining of Gentiles. For example, there are numerous jokes about "Jewish conspiracies," you know, things like "My toilet floods every now and then, there must be a Jewish conspiracy to cause toilets to flood so as to piss off White people." In other words, you are being hypocritical by not portraying the same open mindedness that you ask of those Whites who support Jews. So, how can you improve your personality? Well, consider what I have said regarding the paranormality, give me a chance to make my case, then use your own intelligence, education, and experiences to see whether their is any credibility to what I have said. In fact, this is what you would expect of the pro-Jewish Whites. If after you have done this, you find that my comments are invalid, simply state so. Say "I have considered your argument, but I find it unfounded," and then state your rebuttal. This is how ALL Whites should be, but the truth is that most White Nationalists are just as hypocritical/mentally lacking as non-White Nationalists are. Once we can "think outside of the box," progress will have been made. An East Asian/White hybrid race will create a more rational and objective race.
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-10 06:10 | User Profile
Is the empiricist known as "Ares" for real?
2003-08-10 07:55 | User Profile
This is a damn silly thread Ares started. Although from someone that thinks building a new race of "inorganic Europeans" just like Data fro his favorate TV show is sensible I guess we shouldn't have too high hopes. Given that he prefers to wrongly use the term empirical in almost every post and often combines his burblings on race mixing with with odd little flights of fancy as found in this thread I wonder if Ares is one of those UFO cultists that some how missed the Heaven's Gate blow out party and regrets it? Is this penchant for unreality a result of too much narcotics or is something stranger going on? Certainly looking into how to be kidnapped by aliens is pretty twisted. Anyone here that has studied up on mental illnesses want to take a crack at this and tell us what going on with Ares?
2003-08-11 04:42 | User Profile
*Originally posted by triskelion@Aug 10 2003, 01:55 *
Hello Triskelion,
This is a damn silly thread Ares started.
And that is exactly what MOST Whites think about "anti-Semites" such as you. If you yourself can't keep an open mind, why do you think mainstream Whites can regarding the "Jewish Question?"
I don't like Star Trek, it's too Jewish: feminism, cultural determinism, anti-"positive" evolution, Sentimentalism, etc. But, I do like a few concepts in the series: artificial intelligence, technology, space exploration, Secularism, etc.
odd little flights of fancy
Yes, I am very eccentric. But then, so are you, being anti-Jewish. You should actually be pleased about my futuristic ideas, this is what you are proud of, the Creativity found in the White gene pool. While I am thinking about extreme futurism, Blacks are thinking about stealing, beer, drugs, rape, murder, low-riders, and the like.
Ares is one of those UFO cultists that some how missed the Heaven's Gate blow out party and regrets it?
If your question is sincere, then no, I don't belong to Heaven's Gate. But if your question was simply an attempt to mock me, then you have made the logical fallacy of ad hominem.
Is this penchant for unreality a result of too much narcotics or is something stranger going on?
I am not saying space aliens exist for sure; I am just saying that we should be interested in finding out. Second, if your comment was sincere, then no, I don't use narcotics. But if your comment was simply an attempt to mock me, then you have made the logical fallacy of ad hominem.
Certainly looking into how to be kidnapped by aliens is pretty twisted.
Being kidnapped by space aliens would prove to me that ETs truely exist. Second, "twisted" is a subjective term, please re-write your thoughts in objective terms.
Anyone here that has studied up on mental illnesses want to take a crack at this and tell us what going on with Ares?
Is this a sincere question, or yet another attempt at ad hominem? If it is indeed an attempt at ad hominem, then you would be showing a very salient pattern of ad hominem in many of your posts; you would be significantly bringing down the intellectual integrity of this forum, which would mean that you would have to reconsider posting at Stormfront instead.
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-11 05:29 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Ares@Aug 10 2003, 22:42 * ** If your question is sincere, then no, I don't belong to Heaven's Gate. But if your question was simply an attempt to mock me, then you have made the logical fallacy of ad hominem.
...you have made the logical fallacy of ad hominem.
Is this a sincere question, or yet another attempt at ad hominem? **
Ares,
You shouldn't dismiss T's ad hominem arguments so cavalierly, and the fact that you do, shows me that you don't know anything about Classical rhetoric.
Pull up a chair, I'll be as succinct as I can.
Classical rhetoric--Aristotle, to be precise--differentiates three modes of persuasion:
logos, ethos, and pathos. What T refers to is ethos, the persuasive power that flows from the character of a person (i.e., you in this instance).
In order to convince, you may use pathos (public's passions), logos, and ethos (your good reputation and virtue; or, ad hominem, the bad reputation of your opponent). However, between rhetoric and analytic (scientific) reasoning, there is a middle: dialectic reasoning, about subject matters that are probable. The goal here is not mainly convincing, but probable truth (opinion). It is alright then to argue ad populum, ad verecundiam (from authority, experts), ad rem (logos) or ad hominem. True, to argue ad hominem in analytic reasoning is a fallacy ("his mathematical theorem is wrong because he's a wife beater"), but not necessarily so in contingent empirical and factual matters involving perception. Otherwise the courts would always make fallacies when they call experts to testifies or when they commit the "fallacy": this witness has lied to us 5 times, so we wont take his word the sixth, hes no more credible.
Plus, arguing ad hominem need not to be concerned with the character: it can focus on consistency, or grounds, of what is said by the homine: instead of saying that X is not guilty in fact, I can limit myself to refute the ground of the criticism and just say that there is no proof until now that X is guilty; that way, I do not argue ad rem (about X) but only ad hominem (about what is said about X by the critics-hominibus).
Ergo, ad hominem arguments (for e.g., "...Ares is a pretentious twit...") can be within the bounds of logic.
2003-08-11 07:24 | User Profile
*Originally posted by friedrich braun@Aug 10 2003, 23:29 * ** Ergo, ad hominem arguments (for e.g., "...Ares is a pretentious twit...") can be within the bounds of logic. **
Actually, it depends on the situation. For example, if the research of a certain scientist is consistantly faulty, then as part of the body of arguments as to why not to believe him any more, it can be said that he has a history of being wrong. On the other hand, my arguments are based on the research of OTHER actual scientists doing research in the very areas I am dealing with. Thus, Treskelion would have to assess the character/intellect of the scientists I use as references.
Second, Triskelion in not engaging in rational ad hominem, but subjective: "Ares is a twit, Ares is a moron, Ares is stupid, Ares is evil, Ares is the anti-Christ, Ares is a poo poo head, Ares is dickwad, Ares is an abomination, Ares is a f*cktard, Ares is a smelly-face, Ares is a dork, Ares is a nerd, Ares is a geek, etc.
In a previous post, I mentioned that Triskelion needs to make his criticisms of me more objective. In other words, he needs to go over my posts, and then make estimates of psychometric and/or theoretical traits in my brain. He can comment on my IQ, my education level, my Big-5 personality traits, the basic medulla instincts, etc. But calling me a dickwad does not qualify as rational criticism.
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-11 08:05 | User Profile
Well to start of with, I am not an "anti-Semite" in that I don't hate or wish to oppress or kill Semites so right at the start Ares comparison of my ideology with his futurism fails. As for Star Trek I note that his interests in that program are frequently voiced so it's perfectly reasonable to call him on it. Baseless speculation by Ares about the (non)existence of aliens and what sort of technology they may or may not have is totally useless to anyone's political agenda in way has zero bearing on any form of Eurocentrism. As to being eccentric it seems to me that someone that posts messages about wanting to be abducted by aliens is simply not in anyway related to those that are concerned with the reality of life here on earth. The only people that think I'm eccentric are lemmings that find it discomforting to confront the issues I raise because they have been conditioned to do so in a Pavlovian manner by the current order's socializing institutions. With respect to the matter of Heaven's Gate your tone and fixations are very similar so I feel it reasonable to dismiss you as a cultish freak. Obviously, other posters have commented upon your disconnection from reality and alluded to drugs in connection with your inane ramblings. I have yet to note a single poster that was not an open enemy of Eurocentrism express any favourable opinion towards your posts here which is another indication that you're the one viewed as eccentric. As to the matter of being twisted I would say that those that wish to be abducted have something wrong with them mentally and that if you were to be abduced by aliens your reports on the matter would be meet with the same in credulous response that others with similar stories have be faced with. The reason for such reports to be rejected out of hand is simple in that those that claim such experiences lack any physical evidence to back up their claims which is exactly the situation with all of your pablum about futurism and inorganic Europeans. Also, it's damn funny to hear a fellow that thinks manufacturing a race of Datas is intellectually worth while my posts are not. I feel it is a pretty safe bet that most here find my contributions to this forum more intellectually worth while to those interested in Eurocentric racialism and conservatism then your ruminations about how nice it would be if science fiction were reality. As to ad hominem attacks I would like to see out where exactly I said "Ares is dickwad/twit/moron/stupid" What I have said is that he is dishonest in his labeling himself a WN and that he mis uses words he is partial to frequently. I have also said that he's very poor at debating and that when others here have trounced his notions he simply proclaims that he won past debates ignoring the illogical, factual errors and gross dishonesty that have defined his argumentation style. I don't see any reason to take him seriously and neither do many other members here. I see no reason to pretend that what he says is anything other then the pseudo scientific blather of a troll that is in no way a Eurocentric racialist.
2003-08-11 09:56 | User Profile
Hello Triskelion,
I am not an "anti-Semite" in that I don't hate or wish to oppress or kill Semites so right at the start Ares comparison of my ideology with his futurism fails.
Who is being dishonest now? You are indeed anti-Jewish, your posts clearly show this. You don't like Jews, which was my point, not that you wish the government to adminster the death penalty to all the Jews.
Baseless speculation by Ares about the (non)existence of aliens
Not baseless, but based on scientific estimations. One scientist came up with the Drake's Equation, which takes in all the factors required for organic life to have developed on other planets. Based on the results, there must be thousands of intelligent civilizations in our galaxy alone. Of course, I can use an ad hominem attack and say, "Triskelion is a stupid moron loser who has not heard of Drake's Equation." But, I am not an irrational person, so I will not engage in your style of name-calling.
and what sort of technology they may or may not have is totally useless to anyone's political agenda in way has zero bearing on any form of Eurocentrism.
If space aliens have advanced technology, they can share it with White Nationalists to help advance our people.
**As to being eccentric it seems to me that someone that posts messages about wanting to be abducted by aliens is simply not in anyway related to those that are concerned with the reality of life here on earth. **
You see Earth as the boundry of reality, while I see the Universe as the boundry of reality. But, actually, I think the difference between you and me has to do with the Big 5 Personality trait of "Open to Experience versus Conventionality." You are more conventional, I am more open to experience. I wonder if Creativity is positively correlated to the degree of "Open to Experience."
**The only people that think I'm eccentric are lemmings that find it discomforting to confront the issues I raise because they have been conditioned to do so in a Pavlovian manner by the current order's socializing institutions. **
I could of course use this same argument also: The only people that think Ares is eccentric are lemmings that find it discomforting to confront the issues I raise because they have been conditioned to do so in a Pavlovian manner by the current order's socializing institutions.
** cultish freak.**
abusive argumentum ad hominem
Obviously, other posters have commented upon your disconnection from reality and alluded to drugs in connection with your inane ramblings. I have yet to note a single poster that was not an open enemy of Eurocentrism express any favourable opinion towards your posts here which is another indication that you're the one viewed as eccentric.
eccentricity is purely relative: yes, when I am compared to a few of the posters at OD, I am by comparison an eccentric. But then, among paranormality buffs, I am considered normal. Same with you: at OD, your anti-Jewish sentiments are considered normal, but among Neocons and Liberals, you would be eccentric.
As to the matter of being twisted I would say that those that wish to be abducted have something wrong with them mentally
What empirically characterized mental problems do you think I have? Or was this just another attempt at abusive argumentum ad hominem?
The reason for such reports to be rejected out of hand is simple in that those that claim such experiences lack any physical evidence to back up their claims which is exactly the situation with all of your pablum about futurism and inorganic Europeans.
Yes, much of futurism and paranormality is speculation.
I feel it is a pretty safe bet that most here find my contributions to this forum more intellectually worth while to those interested in Eurocentric racialism and conservatism then your ruminations about how nice it would be if science fiction were reality.
Argumentum ad numerum
Regards,
Ares
2003-08-11 17:46 | User Profile
Originally posted by Ares@Aug 11 2003, 09:56 * ** > and what sort of technology they may or may not have is totally useless to anyone's political agenda in way has zero bearing on any form of Eurocentrism.*
If space aliens have advanced technology, they can share it with White Nationalists to help advance our people.
**
Hi Ares,
The whole issue falls down at this point for most people. There just is no proof of "aliens" at all.
Colonel Corso's book, The Day AFter Roswell, is the only one known to me where a government functionary (Army in his case) had access to the "package" from Roswell. As he says himself, all this stuff could have been made on earth by an advanced technological race in the past. It was re-discovered, according to Corso, by both Hitler's Germany and the US. So it's earthbound technology and it's being kept secret by "unknown parties".
Alternately, William Lyne writes in Pentagon Aliens that the technology is not ancient at all, but is the result of work done about a century ago by Nikola Tesla. Again it was first exploited by Germany then picked up by the OSS/CIA, which keeps it a secret and dispenses disinformation about it.
In absense of a real investigation by concerned citizens and objective authorities we can only speculate who is right. But we cannot prove life anywhere in the universe besides what is right here on earth. So in absence of proof the bias must state that UFOs, aliens and the like are of earthly origin. We just aren't sure of the details yet.
2003-08-11 18:12 | User Profile
Originally posted by Ares@Aug 11 2003, 03:24 * ** Second, Triskelion in not engaging in rational ad hominem, but subjective: "Ares is a twit, Ares is a moron, Ares is stupid, Ares is evil, Ares is the anti-Christ, Ares is a poo poo head, Ares is dickwad, Ares is an abomination, Ares is a fcktard, Ares is a smelly-face, Ares is a dork, Ares is a nerd, Ares is a geek, etc.
**
This is far too harsh.
There's no way I'll believe Ares is a poopoo head.
[img]http://www.gargaro.com/webpages/marvincard.jpg[/img]
2003-08-11 19:21 | User Profile
Ares starts of saying I am dishonest for stating that I am not anti-Semitic. He overlooks the reality that Jews are a very small portion of the Semitic population which shows once again that he simply apes the terminology of the propasphere by using terms he doesn't understand. As for "not liking jews" the reality is that don't like the effects of jews running socializing institutions in Occidental nations which is why I am a racial separatist. I correctly pointed out that I don't wish to oppress or kills Semites and I never advocated doing so to Jews so Ares is simply engaging in ADL style debates giving yet another indication why he is not to be taken seriously and why I hold him in contempt.
Drake's equation is nothing more then an unproven mathematical theory which Ares has not even mentioned till now. In other words Ares has been engaged in baseless speculation about aliens because he has zero evidence to support any position regarding the (non)existence of aliens. Ares goes from the nebulous foundation that aliens might exist (while giving no evidence of such) to vacuous ruminations about what sort of technologies they have (ex. "Transhuman") from which he makes an unwarranted deduction that the aliens may be willing to provide those technologies to WN's who may be helped by said technologies. Such a chain of baseless speculation has zero empirical content and no relevance t physical reality known to those that are attuned to what is happening on terra firma. As a result, Ares' thread has no relevance at all to this board and pointing out this obvious reality is perfectly sensible to anyone that doesn't confuse science fiction with verifiable reality.
Ares then follows up with more pseudo scientific drivel about personality types and concludes
that my fixation upon verifiable reality rather then his propensity for placing his imagination and love of science fiction in a position of prominence makes me a conventional thinker and him a experienced centered one. What this pathetic posturing indicates is that Ares elevates his pet theories above that which is verifiable. I certainly see the Universe as the boundary of reality but unlike Ares I don't pretend that unproven mathematical theories or sci-fi derived speculation somehow negates the fact human knowledge about the Universe is exceedingly sparse and that the means don't currently exist for rectifying that situation. As a result, what I write on a board dealing with politics and culture is directly related to those topics while Ares does not as he clearly prefers flights of fancy disguised as scientific enquiry. He simply says that my statement on eccentricity is equally applicable to him while overlooking the fact that my perceptions are at least focused upon things known to exist while his lack that most basic of qualifications. In short, Ares has nothing in common with those that are interested in trying to stop the destruction of what remains of the Occident as he as clearly demonstrated in the past preferring to misuse the language of science to conceal the poverty of his intellect and character. Naturally, my indications of the outlandish and cultish nature of his postings were not challenged by pointing out why his futurist pretensions are grounded in reality (I suspect because he knows he can't) but instead he chooses to follow his long established practice of misusing words he learned from PS.
He then attempts to claim the equality of all socially unacceptable dispositions by claiming that his fixation upon that which no evidence exists of it's existence is comparable with those of us focusing upon tangible things like governments, economics and our demographic decline. Such a notion is patently absurd so the matter doesn't need further elaboration.
As to the matter of mental problems I obviously have no keen insights into the workings of Ares brain other then what he has posted here. Obviously, he is divorced from earth based reality confusing his flights of fancy with empiricism and his desire to kidnaped by aliens is a clear indication that something is wrong with his ability to separate the tangible from fantasy. I not that he overlooked my observation that were he to believe that he had such an experience he would have no means of demonstrating what may have happened to him leaving him sounding like other cranks that have made similar claims in the past. One should note Ares very subtle capitulation that his feigned objectivity is just so much pretentious miasma when he says "yes, much of futurism and paranormality is speculation" which is nothing more then a nice way of saying delusion, hallucination and fantasy.
My simple observation that few here, with the possible exception of the departed godlesscapitalist, is likely to find his pseudo scientific pablum more relevant to conservatism or racialism then what I have written was met with just another misuse of a term he picked up from PS.
2003-08-11 22:12 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Ares@Aug 11 2003, 03:56 * ** If space aliens have advanced technology, they can share it with White Nationalists to help advance our people.
**
I'm glad to see that you are thinking so practically. :rolleyes:
I feel like something of a fool for even contributing to this thread...but I felt compelled to say my piece.
There are no "aliens", Ares. This is the stuff of Hollywood films and video games that kids play.
Even if there were alien beings who visited Earth (which there aren't) they would not be interested in White Nationalist politics.
2003-08-11 23:09 | User Profile
*Originally posted by Walter E Kurtz@Aug 11 2003, 16:12 * ** 2. Even if there were alien beings who visited Earth (which there aren't) they would not be interested in White Nationalist politics. **
Neo-Ares: How do you know?
Can you empirically prove it? :)
2003-08-11 23:16 | User Profile
I don't have to prove a negative. Ares is making the claim, the burden is on him. All evidence indicates that there is no such thing as alien creatures visiting Earth. If Ares is claiming otherwise, he is charged with the burden of producing evidence to that effect.
2003-08-11 23:55 | User Profile
*Originally posted by friedrich braun@Aug 11 2003, 16:09 * ** Can you empirically prove it? :) **
Ares' definition of what's real: whatever exists in Ares' mind.
Ares' definition of a valid definition: whatever Ares defines.
etc. etc. etc.
2003-08-11 23:58 | User Profile
Ares,
One more quick point on arguing ad hominem to which you seemed to object so strenuously without comprehending that such a style of argumentation can be perfectly reasonable in Classical rhetoric.
I think the valid argument ad hominem is parallel to the valid argument from authority (ad verecundiam): we presume an expert is right if he is speaking in his area of expertise, as we presume an untrustworthy man to be untrustworthy in his area of untrustworthiness. Fallacies occur when the areas are shifted or not relevant.
So, ad hominem, is linked to the issue of probable truth, or error.
Whatââ¬â¢s your expertise concerning extraterrestrials?
Have you had any contacts with such beings? If so, what was the nature of those contacts?
What do you think of Rael?
[url=http://www.rael.org/]http://www.rael.org/[/url]
You seem to have a few things in common, no?