Jump to content
Zeusthecat

I Had A Random Thought...

Recommended Posts

Oh weird, I thought the difference was just that they were two rates that interacted somehow, not that they stacked. It definitely makes more sense now. In Ireland there's only the standard tax rate across the country and that's it as far as I know. (as in, I am taxed in other ways but none of them are specific to my location)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh weird, I thought the difference was just that they were two rates that interacted somehow, not that they stacked. It definitely makes more sense now. In Ireland there's only the standard tax rate across the country and that's it as far as I know. (as in, I am taxed in other ways but none of them are specific to my location)

 

Sorry, I forget that we have a much more multi-national group of folks around here than I've had in other forums. I guess in your case it would be like Ireland charging you one tax, the European union charging another, and then your local municipality charging a third. Each level of government wants their own pound of flesh. In the end, none of the numbers in SimCity/Cities Skylines make sense anyway, so the percentages are somewhat meaningless as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry, I forget that we have a much more multi-national group of folks around here than I've had in other forums. I guess in your case it would be like Ireland charging you one tax, the European union charging another, and then your local municipality charging a third. Each level of government wants their own pound of flesh. In the end, none of the numbers in SimCity/Cities Skylines make sense anyway, so the percentages are somewhat meaningless as well.

 

Yeah it's mostly an advanced setting slider to see how much blood you can squeeze out of the rock before it gets mad at you and demands to be squeezed less or made happy in other ways.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah it's mostly an advanced setting slider to see how much blood you can squeeze out of the rock before it gets mad at you and demands to be squeezed less or made happy in other ways.

Which I think ultimately matches up pretty closely with how urban development, people, taxes and local gov't interact in the real world. Or at least the way the people in local gov't think about it. Without a number of simulationally impossible systems thrown in. Also they're always white, male and business and family focused. Close enough. America.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry, I forget that we have a much more multi-national group of folks around here than I've had in other forums. I guess in your case it would be like Ireland charging you one tax, the European union charging another, and then your local municipality charging a third. Each level of government wants their own pound of flesh. In the end, none of the numbers in SimCity/Cities Skylines make sense anyway, so the percentages are somewhat meaningless as well.

 

It seems weird that voters haven't risen up as one and gone 'we don't give a shit, fix it'. Australia has way too many levels of government given the population, but councils, state and federal government have each got different areas they charge tax on without double-dipping, and occasionally the federal government pressures the state governments to abolish some taxes in exchange for funding from the federal government.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I wish i liked bread, it would make lunchtimes so much easier:/

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just found out from Bogost's article that (original I think) Sim City has a max tax rate of 20%. That's mad, I'm paying more than that on my basic entry level salary and if I earned twice as much I'd be paying double.

There was actually a huge conversation about this and about related issues between me and Chris and some other people in the Sim City thread a while ago, if you're interested in it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There was actually a huge conversation about this and about related issues between me and Chris and some other people in the Sim City thread a while ago, if you're interested in it.

 

That was a super interesting discussion. I don't have a lot to contribute besides what was said. I think there's value in what you said about Sim City assuming a dominant default, it's something I think happens often in American media because it's so prominent and large scale it inadvertently assumes it is the media. (similar to the idea that male is default so if a character is female that's often either an intentional choice for a specific reason or the author themself is probably female) I also feel like the argument that everyone knows Sim City isn't how all cities are probably isn't actually true. I'm sure there are people who wouldn't know that you could go live in a place where a base level 20% tax is perfectly normal. I'm not sure how much responsibility I would ascribe to a developer to represent diversity well in a system (since it's way more complicated than introducing diversity in characters) but I agree that it would be very worthwhile to push it and provide players with a range of experiences instead of reinforcing a narrow model.

 

Also, no-one (that I saw) pointed this out and it was super gross to me

[sims] should normally be getting most of their happiness from spending money at commercial sites as shoppers;

...did I misread that or is that legitimately how the game plays? Forget cars, if that's what it sounds like. That is the worst part of buying into simulating general American culture as how life is.

 

This is weirdly folding backing in on Bogost's article and my thoughts about it pretty well. I'm even less enthusiastic about his initial sentiment now. Systems are large and unwieldy things to design. I couldn't possibly have faith in anyone producing them as an attempt to emulate the diversity of real life.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I wish i liked bread, it would make lunchtimes so much easier:/

 

I wish I did not like bread as much as I do. I can buy a loaf of French or Italian bread at the store to have with a meal and have to forcibly restrain myself from just consuming the bread over a shocking short amount of time during the day. It's just so much relatively empty carbohydrates, and lots of calories. But so, so delicious.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i really like sour dough...but fortunately it seems like a massive pain to make at home

 

my kitchen doesnt seem to get/stay warm enough for breads to rise, so we dont end up making any at home. The oven is also uneven & i suspect a little uncalibrated temperature.

 

I'd love to have a big loaf of french or sour dough on the counter for soups & nibbles

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

oh god what

 

Elevation and Final Fantasy IX do not go together

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No, Patrick

 

I believe in you

 

You're better than this

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

But it says "Eye in the sky" and then it cuts to an eye in the sky! The synergy is perfect!

 

Do we have a corny AMV/VGMV thread, Patrick? Because you and I could ruin this forum.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

please no I'm still young

 

 

e: I don't know a damn thing about final fantasy and I was really scared, but the first 90 seconds of that video was a perfect sync

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

But it says "Eye in the sky" and then it cuts to an eye in the sky! The synergy is perfect!

All of these moments in that video where the words and the visuals provide a sense of awareness and intention is a cheap thrill for me. I surprised that there isn't a single eclipse animation in that game, but I know there isn't because whoever made that video would have used it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What relationship do you Thumbs have with driving?

 

I have no form of licence whatsoever (I'm 254) and frankly I'd rather not ever have to get one. Public transport can be irritating but it works for me and it's cheaper than car expenses. I have no problem walking a lot too, Also I feel uncomfortable with the idea of controlling a large metal contraption external to my body that's filled with a combustible fuel. I have trouble catching my earphone wires on things, I don't trust my ability to drive properly.


This is obviously pretty influenced by being in Ireland where it's less driving focused and... relatively socialist? Or at least relatively unsocialist. But I'm guessing at least one person thinks it's odd that I'm in my mid twenties and have never had a licence, lesson or even attempt at driving.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What relationship do you Thumbs have with driving?

 

I have no form of licence whatsoever (I'm 254) and frankly I'd rather not ever have to get one. Public transport can be irritating but it works for me and it's cheaper than car expenses. I have no problem walking a lot too, Also I feel uncomfortable with the idea of controlling a large metal contraption external to my body that's filled with a combustible fuel. I have trouble catching my earphone wires on things, I don't trust my ability to drive properly.

This is obviously pretty influenced by being in Ireland where it's less driving focused and... relatively socialist? Or at least relatively unsocialist. But I'm guessing at least one person thinks it's odd that I'm in my mid twenties and have never had a licence, lesson or even attempt at driving.

 

I'm in the exact same position. Living in the country where I grew up was tough without a car, but being in the city now I can walk almost anywhere, and being in Scotland I'm a megabus away from any other city. It's not a huge deal not being able to drive and most people I know don't have a license (or at least don't have a car).

 

The one hassle is not being able to transport my own stuff when I move to a new flat.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×