Feetman, care to point out some instances where that rule hasn't been enforced?  Honestly, I've found the mods very responsive whenever I report forum issues.

*smashes head against a wall*

I give up.  It's like arguing with a wall.

Purchasing a VIP gives you additional features within the map system that allow you to more easily find planets controlled by other empires, making buying a VIP a cheap alternative to using Find Target Planets.

1: There's always a reluctance for change.  It's part of human nature.  We, being animals with only a limited control over our surroundings, have no choice but to live in a society by adapting to aspects of that society which we are unable to change.  When change, therefore, comes from sources outside ourselves, beyond our control, it is a threat to us as it forces individuals to change their very way of life to adapt to new technologies, cultures, customs, or laws.

2: Thus, when a society embarks on change, it has to be extremely careful in these efforts.  A good example is Iran:

The Shah attempted massive amounts of modernization in the 1950's through the 70's, attempting to create a massive industrial base, and one of the largest economies in the world.  He promoted westernization, restored womens' rights, and established good relations with the West.  Obviously, there were some initial rifts in this movement, as many of these modernizations were direct affronts to Islamic culture.  Now later, the issues in the revolution expanded to include the Shah's outright abuse of totalitarian power to silence protesters, but the initial root source here was a backlash against modernization because it conflicted with old Islamic culture.

Major reforms can bring a nation to ruin or to untold greatness.  The trick is attempting to figure out the way this greatness will come.

3: Now as for the brain drain issue... your very question is flawed.  The cause of brain drain, remember, is the relative incentives for educated people to move to one nation or another, whether it be financial, political, research resource access, or other incentives.

You probably need to differentiate between "developing" and "undeveloped" nations, in that "developing" are actively taking steps to move toward "developed" status.  Some countries here would include Brazil, India, China, and Mexico.  In contrast, "undeveloped" nations would include many regions that are so embroiled with larger problems, such as basic access to food and water, disease, or political instability, that they have no ability to focus on such issues as research and development.

Among the "undeveloped" category, there is little, if any, external rewards for individuals to move to these nations.  These nations tend to lack capital resources necessary for research.  In addition, most of these countries couldn't even dream of paying anything near what developed nations are paying.

However, then look at the "developing" nations.  China has been conducting an amazing program at recruiting foreign scientists to their ranks and training their own scientists.  India, while its economic development couldn't be considered "brain drain," has increasingly gained a niche in a scientific field that makes it indispensable to the global economy.  In these cases, yes, I think there are real threats, based on financial incentives.

And this is the part where I concede that nothing informative will ever come out of this dung heap, and proceed to do intelligent things like saying stuff about others.

Because "aww, fiddlesticks" just sounds stupid.

> The_Yell wrote:

> Dammit another "conservative by which of course I mean ....."   If you're something different from a Reagan Republican MAKE UP A NEW NAME DAMMIT

screw it

I'm a Falangist!

Sorry, The_Yell, but actually, his definition of "conservative" was the original definition (by "original," meaning "200 years ago").  If anything, you're the one screwing with proper English. 

I think this is about the fourth time I've seen Justinian make a thread with the sole purpose of saying, "This is my belief system.  Okay, now back to your regular programming."

Newsflash, Justinian: You're not a senator.  It's not national headlines when you individually change your belief structure. 

So as of now, the answer to this question is "no?"

Happened to have a giant laser on you, esa?

Xeno, I must ask you something:

You advocate a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons.  How would having absolutely 0 nuclear weapons in the world allow the Earth to protect itself from near earth object (asteroid, comet) threats?

Sorry, Morbo.  Hate to break it to you, but you missed out.

A few hours ago, I had an intelligent, hour and a half long debate in #mod about the relationship between corporate environments and the idea of charity/compassion.

That's all IC can handle in terms of educated political debate.  The community will need time to recharge its brain cells after the intense amount of thought.