American expats

[monkeybutler]

That your entire cogitation is mechanically linked to the first 2 results of a crappy search engine?

That and you can't spell 'interesting'.

The key oard on this ipad is fer shiz. Half the time letters on the ottom row get the spa e bar instead.

 

[monkeybutler]

I suddenly understand why you are so insistent on "show your sources and math." You have no idea how those statistics are compiled. Extrapolating a new number from an old one and a percentage is beyond you, so if the government didn't provide you the final answer already calculated then you have no idea how to find it yourself. Put up or shut up, my numbers are already up there.

I probably have a much better idea than you how those stats are compiled.

You just failed Research 101.

 

[lucusloc]

I probably have a much better idea than you how those stats are compiled.

You just failed Research 101.

You have contributed nothing to this conversation except a handful of no-evidence rebuttals. Put up or shut up.

 

[monkeybutler]

You have contributed nothing to this conversation except a handful of no-evidence rebuttals. Put up or shut up.

Okay, I'll shut up. But first, a song…

 

[3MTA3]

What about the Philippines? I heard it used to be cheap to live there, not sure about these days.

I've explored the PI as a potential retirement option. There are lots of positives and a few negatives.With the exceptions of firearm restrictions it quite appealing

Positives:

• Inexpensive. You can live very well on less that 2K /month (nice Manilla condo with attached shopping mall and American food)
• US Passport does not need a visa and extensions to stay are easy to get
• English spoken by almost everyone.
• Foreigners, especially Americans welcomed
• Elderly respected
• Friendly people
• Beautiful tropics
• Women are not westernized (yet)
• Safe. If you pay attention and don't make trouble it unlikely trouble will happen. If you partake of the Angeles City red light district do some digging on how to avoid trouble.

Negatives:

• Non citizens may not have firearms
• Traffic is modeled after "Death Race 2000", but, hey, Asia
• Few advanced medical care options
• Medical (and other) appointments are not scheduled. They are first com, first served.
• Food outside specialty restaurants is typically bland, but adobo is always good.
• Outside the large cities it gets pretty primitive pretty quickly
  • Bland foods
  • Water can be iffy
  • Running water unlikely so toilets operate by using a water bucket
  • Toilet paper is replaced by your hand that you later wash

Here is a decent YT channel, but keep in mind that she likely gets paid a bit from their tourism department:

The Filipina Pea

Hi folks, and thanks so much for checking out my channel! For years, I've been observing people and their relationships in cultures around the world. I've traveled quite a bit, gathering perspectives on many topics, and now it's time to share what I've learned! This channel is geared towards...

www.youtube.com

The other SE Asia destination that is pretty good is Thailand with better food and medical resources. Only broken English is spoken, so invest in the Thai Pimsleuer module and learn the language. The locals are very welcoming and like the only way you get will get in trouble is if you start it or hang out in seedy areas.

 

[lucusloc]

Okay, I'll shut up. But first, a song…

I thought so. And your jab at "feelings" again carries zero weight since I was the only one putting up numbers and references in this entire conversation. Whatever little credibility you had left with me has declined.

 

[Member 24198]

I thought so. And your jab at "feelings" again carries zero weight since I was the only one putting up numbers and references in this entire conversation. Whatever little credibility you had left with me has declined.

You're on your way to be blocked by the monkeybutt too.

 

[3MTA3]

I thought so. And your jab at "feelings" again carries zero weight since I was the only one putting up numbers and references in this entire conversation. Whatever little credibility you had left with me has declined.

Apparently I've been blessed with yet another Monkey Meltdown and only get to see your side of this convo. Thank's for taking one for the team

 

[lucusloc]

You're on your way to be blocked by the monkeybutt too.

He has already done it once, no idea why I was unblocked though. But of course now that there is an established pattern for me to follow of making him back up one of his rebuttals I suspect you may be correct on block number two.

 

[lucusloc]

Apparently I've been blessed with yet another Monkey Meltdown and only get to see your side of this convo. Thank's for taking one for the team

Right click on thread titles -> open in new private tab.

But you did not miss much, he put no content into his posts that supported anything he said. That is a standard he only holds other people too.

 

[Member 24198]

He has already done it once, no idea why I was unblocked though.

It's because it gets pretty quiet when you're the only one talking in a thread.

I suspect you may be correct on block number two.

Amateur....

 

[lucusloc]

It's because it gets pretty quiet when you're the only one talking in a thread.

It's true, and we would probably still be on page 1 because @1911Fanatic's #2 comment would not have been attacked with zero evidence other than vague references to the official statistics (mind you not even a link, like he demands of other people). Statistics, that I might add, even google's search AI has learned to find dubious.

But I guess we did get to explore that topic with quite a bit more depth, and even look at some off the cuff math on why different under reporting rates might mean one country you though was significantly safer than another, might not actually be as saferish as you thought, so hopefully someone found that info useful.

 

[Provincial]

Right click on thread titles -> open in new private tab.

But you did not miss much, he put no content into his posts that supported anything he said. That is a standard he only holds other people too.

Engaging with WiredMonkey is a waste of time. Just post facts to rebut him and move on. Truth wins out! You posted the truth, and we got to see it! Kudos!

 

[Koda]

You have no idea how those statistics are compiled.

So I looked at the only source he provided and this is how the source concluded which countries are safest, by a global survey. I clicked on their methodology and they ranked countries (safety) by the following categories:
movers, quality of life, entrepreneurship, agility, social purpose, open for business, cultural influence, adventure, power, heritage.
Survey participants where chosen by 3 categories: "informed elites", business decision-makers, and general public.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/methodology

 

[CLT65]

Holy crap! I'ma thinking WTH hell bug is up your BUTT! Then, it comes to me, the monkey butt has me on ignore again. I don't know why people keep feeding the mutt. (shakes head)

carry on.

He has already done it once, no idea why I was unblocked though. But of course now that there is an established pattern for me to follow of making him back up one of his rebuttals I suspect you may be correct on block number two.

I was wondering what was going on. The Monkey guy must be at it again. You guys know why he puts you on "ignore", then "unignore" in a week or so? You're being put in "time out" like a little kid; he's punishing you.

He did that to me once. I thought it was pretty funny that I got to him enough that he "ignored" me, then surprised when I started seeing his posts again later. I suddenly realized what he was doing, and I put him on ignore, permanently. I'm not playing that game. If everyone who was tired of these shenanigans did the same, maybe he'd give up and go away.

 

[lucusloc]

So I looked at the only source he provided and this is how the source concluded which countries are safest, by a global survey. I clicked on their methodology and they ranked countries (safety) by the following categories:
movers, quality of life, entrepreneurship, agility, social purpose, open for business, cultural influence, adventure, power, heritage.
Survey participants where chosen by 3 categories: "informed elites", business decision-makers, and general public.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/methodology

View attachment 1991119

So my reference was to statistics in general, as in he does not seem to understand the math that leads them to be statistics. It was a direct reference to him asking me to "show the math" on a grade school percentage calculation I made in an earlier post. But it is hilarious that his source is based on poll/survey data, not even any kind of empirical and controlled methodology against comparable stats. Seriously, didn't a lot of that same kind of data predict a Harris landslide about a month ago? Polls and surveys are not exactly know for being horribly reliable, you have to take all of them with a grain of salt.

But this is a solid reinforcement to my point that he does not understand how statistics are created, so if anyone takes any kind of raw data (or even just precursor statistics) and turns it into a new statistic in front of him it is like magic.

 

[lucusloc]

I was wondering what was going on. The Monkey guy must be at it again. You guys know why he puts you on "ignore", then "unignore" in a week or so? You're being put in "time out" like a little kid; he's punishing you.

He did that to me once. I thought it was pretty funny that I got to him enough that he "ignored" me, then surprised when I started seeing his posts again later. I suddenly realized what he was doing, and I put him on ignore, permanently. I'm not playing that game. If everyone who was tired of these shenanigans did the same, maybe he'd give up and go away.

I don't mute people out of principle, but maybe I could be talked into it if it became a movement/common goal type of thing. But really I prefer to leave that kind of stuff up to the moderation team. We are trying to foster a diverse set of viewpoints here after all, not become an echo chamber. Which is why even the annoying characters get to stay, provided to do not actually break any rules.

I just wish site policy would extend that principle to people who like to abuse the ignore button like that, but we already had an epic suggestion thread about the topic, so I doubt anything about that will ever change.

 

[1911Fanatic]

It's true, and we would probably still be on page 1 because @1911Fanatic's #2 comment would not have been attacked with zero evidence other than vague references to the official statistics (mind you not even a link, like he demands of other people). Statistics, that I might add, even google's search AI has learned to find dubious.

But I guess we did get to explore that topic with quite a bit more depth, and even look at some off the cuff math on why different under reporting rates might mean one country you though was significantly safer than another, might not actually be as saferish as you thought, so hopefully someone found that info useful.

My friend, Ryan, was in hospice care. His mother had been checking on his place. He was a toy and guitar collector. I had sent him a couple of toys I had when Imwas a kid. 2 days after he died, his mother went to his place and it was cleaned out by thieves.

There was one Lego set that he had completed, a car, and she sent it to me with his obituary and funeral program. The things he told me about living where he did, being fearful of being mugged all the time, the people who tried to break in when he was home, just really made me sad.

I had sent him one of my favorite Mego action figures from the 70's, when I was a kid. I never really played wit toys as a kid. I would more or less just look at them. Ryan was the same way. He was big into video games. He had over 100 arcade style games, some full size. They took everything, except for a couple of Lego sets.

 

[Member 24198]

I just wish site policy would extend that principle to people who like to abuse the ignore button like that, but we already had an epic suggestion thread about the topic, so I doubt anything about that will ever change.

I'm pretty sure the OP dropped it.

 

[lucusloc]

I'm pretty sure the OP dropped it.

I'm pretty sure the OP is just keeping tabs on thing he can see and when a particularly egregious example of abuse rears it's ugly head it may be brought back up.