Mega Thread The Random Thoughts Thread Part 1

[Dylan8]

No but pretty sure I saw her interviewed about it in a long interview on BBC program.

I think just over half the adult population were informats to the Stassi. It was insidious but sometime the rewards were the only way to access basic goods and services to stay alive.

Double Olympic Gold medalist Katarina Witt has talked about how she got access to her Stassi file and found out how much of her life was put down on file and listening devices put in her house and recordings of her sexual activity kept. And here was a person who was a world star and put a pleasant face on the East German regime because of her beauty as well as her talent.

I think you'll find it very insightful, she also quite a charming author. The statistic was one informer (part time or otherwise) for every 6 citizens. That is absolutely incomprehensible to me. Surprisingly enough the people who refused to inform on their neighbours were those who were left alone, but people didn't know better, thinking that if they informed they would be left alone. They used a lot of underhanded tactics like deceiving spouses while their target was indefinitely imprisoned, lying to one spouse by saying that 'they have committed x crime, sign this divorce form or we could take away your child and you will also be a suspect' while taking said signed divorce form to the imprisoned spouse and saying 'your wife/husband wants nothing to do with you, fess up' etc. Just genuinely inhumane shit.

 

[Portology]

I think you'll find it very insightful, she also quite a charming author. The statistic was one informer (part time or otherwise) for every 6 citizens. That is absolutely incomprehensible to me. Surprisingly enough the people who refused to inform on their neighbours were those who were left alone, but people didn't know better, thinking that if they informed they would be left alone. They used a lot of underhanded tactics like deceiving spouses while their target was indefinitely imprisoned, lying to one spouse by saying that 'they have committed x crime, sign this divorce form or we could take away your child and you will also be a suspect' while taking said signed divorce form to the imprisoned spouse and saying 'your wife/husband wants nothing to do with you, fess up' etc. Just genuinely inhumane shit.

If you're ever in Berlin the Stasi museum is well worth a visit.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I think you'll find it very insightful, she also quite a charming author. The statistic was one informer (part time or otherwise) for every 6 citizens. That is absolutely incomprehensible to me. Surprisingly enough the people who refused to inform on their neighbours were those who were left alone, but people didn't know better, thinking that if they informed they would be left alone. They used a lot of underhanded tactics like deceiving spouses while their target was indefinitely imprisoned, lying to one spouse by saying that 'they have committed x crime, sign this divorce form or we could take away your child and you will also be a suspect' while taking said signed divorce form to the imprisoned spouse and saying 'your wife/husband wants nothing to do with you, fess up' etc. Just genuinely inhumane shit.

Sounds like its worth reading. I have seen several German docos on the Stassi - thanks to SBS and their sub titles.

 

[Portology]

"All That I Am" also by Anna Funder is a good read too. Set in London in the mid 30s among a group of emigre Jews. Story told in a few layers of flashback.

 

[Dylan8]

If you're ever in Berlin the Stasi museum is well worth a visit.

I've very keen to visit Germany, what a strange place, a lot of history to it. Very powerful nation and seemingly very ambitious despite its size, still plays a massive part in the EU, AFAIK.

 

[Dylan8]

"All That I Am" also by Anna Funder is a good read too. Set in London in the mid 30s among a group of emigre Jews. Story told in a few layers of flashback.

I've been meaning to check out her other works since I found her charm very refreshing. I did Stasiland as one of my main text studies for English in this year (just finished my last year of high school) and I'm very thankful the school chose it, it was actually a very enjoyable read.

 

[I Dont Care]

http://www.news.com.au/entertainmen...reunion-contract/story-e6frfn29-1227118272140



http://www.news.com.au/entertainmen...reunion-contract/story-e6frfn29-1227118272140

 

[StuMan]

http://www.news.com.au/entertainmen...reunion-contract/story-e6frfn29-1227118272140



http://www.news.com.au/entertainmen...reunion-contract/story-e6frfn29-1227118272140

That...is a lot of money.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Have you read Anna Funder's Stasiland, REH? Very good novel for personal stories out of the GDR. Very horrifying to think of living in a world where your every move was watched and recorded in detailed accounts. Any sign of dissidence made you a suspect of the Stasi. Terrible stuff.

The last story on Lateline tonight was about the wall coming down concentrating on the Stasi and the Stasi files - how some stuff was destroyed, 3 million files looked at and many others not and 60,000 unopened bags of files. They interviewed Anna Funder. She looks familar. If you missed the story go www.abc.net.au/lateline and the story should be up soon or on Tuesday on their front page.

 

[Dylan8]

The last story on Lateline tonight was about the wall coming down concentrating on the Stasi and the Stasi files - how some stuff was destroyed, 3 million files looked at and many others not and 60,000 unopened bags of files. They interviewed Anna Funder. She looks familar. If you missed the story go www.abc.net.au/lateline and the story should be up soon or on Tuesday on their front page.

I've just watched it - thanks. Again, I couldn't recommend Funder's book enough for this stuff. She interviews Stasi men in it, from some low level guys who believed a communist regime would be just around the corner post-Wall to guys who were very high up who burned files. Re: the torned up files, Funder visits a group of people who were putting files back together like puzzle pieces near Nuremberg IIRC.

I think too much emphasis is put on the deaths of the people attempting to cross the wall, when the fate of those stuck inside was almost worse than death IMO.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

If I ever get involved in a fashion store or fashion business from the start up phase, Iam going to push that it be called A Touch of the Apec's - after tthe loud clothes the leaders wear at these annual meetings. I d make sure there is an Apec leaders clothes section.

Tonight the leaders wore more suit type tops that colourful shirts but they had striking colours. Tony in a bluey green jacket and Obama in purple. Watch the late news tonight or tomorrow.

 

[HaroldOliver]

On the main board, whenever I see a "opposition supporters will be carded" statement I'm drawn like a moth to a flame and then shake my head. I think I've finally learnt my lesson.
I trust our board will never sink to these levels.

 

[El_Scorcho]

***NO OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS*** Threads are probably the most pathetic garbage on bigfooty and mods/boards who feel they need that sort of "protection" should probably quit bigfooty forever to save themselves the embarrassment.

 

[Portia]

opposition supporters should be carded

 

[Ford Fairlane]

If I ever get involved in a fashion store or fashion business from the start up phase, Iam going to push that it be called A Touch of the Apec's - after tthe loud clothes the leaders wear at these annual meetings. I d make sure there is an Apec leaders clothes section.

Tonight the leaders wore more suit type tops that colourful shirts but they had striking colours. Tony in a bluey green jacket and Obama in purple. Watch the late news tonight or tomorrow.

Star Trek's Gene Roddenberry has copyright on this year's outfits.

Live long and prosper, except you Putin
**** you Abbott. Where's the shirtfront big man in his own lounge room?

 

[Powerstufff]

Titus O'Reily ‏@TitusOReily 15 mins15 minutes ago
"So, if you kick it through the middle you get six points but if you miss it you're only going to get one"

 

[Forzaport]

***NO OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS*** Threads are probably the most pathetic garbage on bigfooty and mods/boards who feel they need that sort of "protection" should probably quit bigfooty forever to save themselves the embarrassment.

I think it allows for some very lazy moderation in general and is overused something shocking but there are some extraordinary circumstances (i.e. Essendon doping saga) where it's probably warranted.

 

[I Dont Care]

It seems to entice a draconian view. Our way or the highway

 

[Portia]

It seems to entice a draconian view. Our way or the highway

Back in good old Draconia, those were the days

 

[Powerstufff]

It seems to entice a draconian view. Our way or the highway

Of course if you already lived on the highway there'd be even less choice.

 

[I Dont Care]

Of course if you already lived on the highway there'd be even less choice.

Only if it were a Limited Access highway

 

[I Dont Care]

Back in good old Draconia, those were the days

West of Westeros

 

[Powerstufff]

The following was in my email feed of stuff from Crikey.

"Has anyone received an update on their refund for the Julien Blanc seminar? (self.brisbane)

submitted 21 hours ago by Tommy_TSW

I keep trying to call Real Social Dynamics but their operator is a girl and I don't know how to talk to her."

If you don't get the joke see US 'pick-up artist' Julien Blanc forced to leave Australia after visa cancelled.

 

[Andre]

opposition supporters should be carded

Do they have to get at least an 8 or 9 out of 10 card from you to stay?

 

[Portia]

Do they have to get at least an 8 or 9 out of 10 card from you to stay?

And they must be over 18 years of age