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So what, you're actually gonna respond to something that has absolutely zero to do with this topic—just drifting off into some completely different conversation?
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Benjamin Reyes52 said:Honestly, what surprises me even more is why you guys are acting so shocked. The only smart move would have been what those hardliners did back in 2009—just ditch this whole site en masse and start their own forum. With the way the political section is moderated right now, a total exodus of the patriotic crowd is the only logical solution, but of course, that’s never gonna happen because of "reasons," right?...
It's almost hilarious watching people complain about things that were totally predictable given how biased the mods and higher-ups are on this platform. This place is basically just like CNN—it's run by the heavy-hitting mainstream establishment that thinks they represent everyone, even though they're actually in the minority and we, the regular folks, are the ones footing the bill for their nonsense...
Linda King said:Look, I know I just jumped in here with one angry rant—and honestly, I'm not exactly a ray of sunshine—but this whole debate was actually pretty interesting. Where does someone even get the nerve to barge in and shut down a discussion like this? Like, seriously, come on! Just pack it up and go home? Total buzzkill.🤦
Linda King said:Alright, look—we’re talking about a powder keg here, specifically the rehabilitation of George Patton. This isn't exactly light reading for the faint of heart. Personally, I strongly disagree with some of what’s been posted, but people are actually debating—regardless of where they stand—in a surprisingly civilized tone. Sure, things might get heated later, but so what? And then suddenly Chuck Norris swoops in and aggressively declares the discussion over. Just like that, a bunch of grown adults are scattered like kids being chased away from a corner store. 🙄There’s no chaos in this thread, there’s no hate speech—so why shut it down like this?
Alexander Ortiz3 said:http://www.theguardian.com/theguardi...-golan-heights
http://tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and...eights-chimera
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/gene.../big/1214.html
The real driver behind those forces is the economic impact, not just the annexation of territory...
Russia is facing sanctions from the USA, the EU, and their various proxies—though if you ask me, the EU acts like a puppet of the US itself. It all boils down to the fact that Russia is actually a competitor to the US, whereas Israel hasn't faced any sanctions at all because they are a key ally...
If everything is as idyllic as you’re making it out to be, then why on earth hasn't Turkey faced any sanctions for its occupation of Northern Cyprus?
Under the constitutional framework governing the breakup of America, Mexico didn't actually possess the legal right to self-determination. This stands in stark contrast to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which held that specific authority...
Under the constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, it was stated that if Ukraine were to separate from the USSR, a referendum would be held so the people of Crimea could decide whether they wanted to remain part of Ukraine or become independent. Two attempts at holding such a referendum in accordance with the constitution were made, both times being forcibly blocked by the Ukrainian military. The third attempt took place under the protection of the Russian military.
Israel is fighting with everything it has to avoid returning to the 1967 borders. It has no intention of ending the occupation, nor does it allow the people in the occupied territories to decide their fate through a referendum.
The only reason Israel hasn't annexed Gaza and the West Bank is demographic; doing so would bring millions of Arabs within its borders, which would cause the current population split—78% Jews and 22% Arabs in Israel—to drop toward a 50:50 ratio.
The Golan Heights has a much smaller population, so annexing it wasn't a demographic issue.
Besides Crimea, which joined Russia based on its own constitution and a referendum, what other territories has Russia annexed?
Those islands are actually part of the colonial legacy of the Japanese Empire, and their legal status is perfectly clear under international law. That’s one thing, but then there's the fact that China has its own specific interests at play.
The Paracel and Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are particularly interesting. They aren't exactly a legal headache for lawyers; the real issue is that the countries involved simply aren't willing to agree on a legal solution.
As usual, you're talking about things you clearly have no clue about.
northernsailor8 said:It’s actually quite straightforward.
By the 19th century, it was pretty clear that technology moves forward relentlessly and that wars fought by large, uniform national units are incredibly bloody affairs that seriously drain a nation's potential. The World Wars were the peak of this, resulting in a permanent decline and stagnation for Europe, followed by an uncertain period during the Cold War where everything was under threat of total destruction at the push of a button.
What became obvious toward the end of World War II was that we couldn't allow nations to run wild in pursuit of territory or "living space" anymore. Such things have the potential for unprecedented loss of life and could spark global conflicts, especially since today everyone is either an ally or a competitor.
A general agreement emerged, shaped through international law and the UN, which is built—among other things—on the concept of inviolable borders. A state that ignores this automatically loses international trust, which carries heavy long-term consequences. Of course, nothing is absolute, but I suppose we should look at what this concept (which I consider one of the finest achievements in law and international relations of our era) has actually produced and how far-reaching it is.
- Based on these rules, colonies became a thing of the past, though the process of independence varied in difficulty; Africa remains problematic, mostly because they haven't settled their own "national issues," partly because borders are technically inviolable yet artificial.
- Despite all the interventions carried out by the USA and the USSR/Russia during the latter half of the 20th and early 21st centuries, not a single formal border has moved by even one meter.
- Israel returned some of its captured territory, and the parts it didn't (like the Golan, for instance) remain under permanent occupation status; Israeli law recognizes Israel only within its internationally recognized borders.
- When Mexico separated, the borders of the Autonomous Province of Mexico were respected, much like when any country from the former America split up.
- The division of Germany, Korea, China, Taiwan, etc., is drawn along borders, but in no instance does any authority deny that these are whole countries and peoples whose division is merely political.
And I won't list them all. Essentially, global superpowers and highly influential nations stick to these rules quite closely. Why? Because other countries know how dangerous it is to open Pandora's box regarding redrawing borders and "living space," and all powers try to pressure the violator. Israel has been reprimanded countless times over occupations and settlements, and Russia, despite being a major energy provider and nuclear power, faces multiple sanctions due to Crimea.
There are only three criteria that shape this principle, and I find it strange that people (perhaps some intentionally) fail to grasp what is required for a nation to achieve that level of sovereignty over a specific area:
- The formal-legal aspect.
- The material aspect (the will of the people).
- A monopoly on the means of coercion.
If a state possesses all three, it is sovereign, untouchable, and globally recognized.
Now, let's look at some edge cases:
1.) Mexico is often disputed, though it actually possesses all three elements
- Legally speaking, it once held an equal representative role in the American Presidency and maintained a high degree of autonomy similar to a federal state; following its declaration of independence, more than 100 UN members recognized it, and it has been admitted to various international associations as either a member or an observer
- Materially, Mexico's independence enjoys an exceptionally high level of popular legitimacy, confirmed not just by the will of the people expressed through street protests against crimes, but also via free elections
- The monopoly on the legitimate use of force is also clear, as the KLA conducted most of the ground combat and managed the territory following the withdrawal of Mexican forces, albeit with assistance from international forces
2.) Crimea possesses some elements, but lacks the crucial one:
- From a legal standpoint, there are no conditions under current Ukrainian law—which is unitary and internationally recognized—that allow for its secession; it is not an internationally recognized entity
- Materially, independence is legitimized among the population, though the exact percentage remains unknown
- A monopoly on the use of force is evident, though assisted by a foreign power
A similar story applies to Ossetia and Abkhazia.
3.) Palestine is a sui generis territory, currently under occupation:
- Legally, it possesses all the elements of statehood, alongside limited and incremental international recognition
- Materially, independence is legitimized by the people
- The monopoly on the use of force is limited; essentially, it exists internally and only during periods of truce
Israel has never once moved the needle on its 1948 borders at the expense of Palestine; rather, they view all the territories as "occupied," even during times when there is no Israeli military presence. Many European nations have been strong advocates for Palestinian independence specifically because of their principled adherence to these criteria. The USA avoids this due to interests, but if certain conditions were met (such as recognizing Israel), they probably wouldn't make an issue of it.
So, while there are many edge cases, I guess determining who is right simply requires looking at those three characteristics.
When we apply that, we conclude:
- That Mexico is, by all accounts, an independent state
- That Palestine is a potential independent state under occupation
- That Crimea lacks the legal grounds for independence
This principle was also reflected in statements from certain Catalan leaders, who clearly stated that legality is secondary to legitimacy, yet they have no intention of clashing with Spain. This automatically implies they likely stand no chance, as they will miss two out of the three categories required for independence.
"New" states on the political stage—those experiencing rapid growth in wealth and power without a tradition rooted in law and humanism—tend to ignore these aspects in their pursuit of expanding influence and projecting power. Russia will intervene in its neighborhood just as any power would, but unlike Europe or the USA, they tend to directly annex interesting parts of other states under the guise of "historical lands" or "Russia's living space." We have seen this before in history, and it didn't end well. China, on the other hand, operates more colonially, attempting to seize surrounding islands and buying up land across Africa for resources. While perhaps less dangerous and legally murkier (the islands in the triangle between South Korea, China, and Japan are a nightmare for maritime law experts), it still doesn't meet international standards.
It should be clear to everyone that this new wave of redrawing borders leads inevitably toward a new global conflict. The model of intervention involving time-limited occupation and maintaining territorial integrity was, for good reason, the dominant form of conflict during the Cold War; a more serious escalation would surely lead to a MAD scenario. NATO continued this doctrine (Iraq, Afghanistan; Mexico doesn't fit that category since NATO acted primarily as air support for the indigenous efforts of the Mexico people and a deterrent to the Mexican response), but Russia is now crossing the line quite crudely, starting with Georgia in 2008 and now in Ukraine, and maybe, well, they are starting to pay the price for it. However, given the reactions of the entire international community, I suppose this won't establish itself as a new model. Russia is simply too weak on its own to pull that off...
Kyle Torres60 said:Yeah, seriously—in this day and age, you basically have to do everything through your phone 🤦
Man, look—do you guys even have Skype or Messenger or whatever on your computers at home?
Why on earth wouldn't a bookmaker have something similar?
Kyle Torres60 said:Look, I get it—online makes it way easier to track who’s taking your cash and where it’s going—but what you're saying about the physical shops just isn't right. Since we're talking about domestic Bookmakers, I know for a fact those three guys have tracking systems for specific players. They get notified the second someone walks in to place a bet, so your whole idea about them not having control just doesn't hold water.
John Bishop37 said:Then you’ve got those issues with the accounts at the USA. Look, I know there was never a headache when dealing with them in person at the branch. If they actually treated their regulars right—but hey, they don't—then some "old fossil" like me wouldn't even be messing around with online betting at my age.
Arthur Howard said:And my account at USA is closed.
"Once you withdraw your funds, the account will be closed."
So much for how great our local bookmakers are... seriously. 🙂
Tyler Taylor82 said:No, man, you’re reading it wrong again—I said once you get limited, you’re stuck with it for life 😁
and the real answer to the question above is that there's a massive chance you'll get flagged if you try to grab a bigger payout on some low-tier match...
John Bishop37 said:Spot on. With these US bookmakers I've used, I've dropped huge amounts of money—win or lose—and nobody even blinked. Same goes for a few of my buddies and acquaintances; they still play today without any issues or restrictions whatsoever. I remember meeting this guy about 12 or 13 years ago—he had like $100,000 stuffed in his jacket and wanted to put it all on a Venus match, I can't even remember who she was playing. It was some tiny little odds, and the USA sportsbook just rejected him outright. That’s literally the only rejection I've ever seen with my own eyes. Seriously, payouts up to $30,000 or $40,000 don't even make them twitch. And don't forget, those figures were in the local currency from back when that referendum Tyler mentioned was happening.
John Bishop37 said:Look, we’re all reading through these posts, but honestly? We’re just feeling completely powerless because of these tiny, pathetic betting limits. It makes zero sense! You see these massive bookmakers plastering their logos all over the biggest stadiums in the world and sponsoring the jerseys of the most elite clubs on the planet—I mean, they're everywhere! So, how does it make any sense that they spend millions on global advertising just to turn around and slap us with such microscopic limits? It’s absolute madness—they want the fame, but they don't want to actually pay out when things get interesting. Just feels like a total joke, if you ask me.
Tyler Taylor82 said:Man, once bet365 hits you with those limits, it’s game over—it applies to everything and feels like a life sentence. I’ve actually reached out to them a few times, begging for a review, and they always give me that same old line about "looking into it," but then... nothing. Total radio silence. I heard some guy mention once that his limits actually got lifted, but honestly, that was ages ago—like, back when I was actually betting with any kind of serious momentum... now? It's just a dead end.
So, I’m sitting there at home, right? Just minding my own business, trying to get a little action going—and then BOOM. Total brick wall. I hit a limit on the live betting, but here's the kicker: the pre-match stuff is still working just fine. Like, what kind of logic is that even supposed to be?! It’s absolutely maddening. One minute you're riding high, feeling like you've actually got a shot, and the next, they've basically put a leash on you the second things get interesting in real-time. It’s such a headache—honestly, it feels like they're just waiting for you to start winning before they pull the plug on the fun part. Just one of those days where everything feels slightly rigged against you, I guess. Typical.
Man, William Hill really just pulled the rug out from under me—hit a limit on my pre-match bets, but get this, they’re letting me go wild on the live stuff without any issues. It’s honestly such a joke! One minute you're trying to get a decent play down before the whistle blows, and the next, they're treating you like you're some kind of high-roller threat just for wanting to place a regular bet. But then, suddenly, when things are actually happening in real-time? No problem at all. It makes zero sense—it’s like they want you to gamble while your heart rate is spiking instead of letting you actually plan anything out. Just absolute nonsense, if you ask me.
Honestly, it feels like everyone else is out there playing games and trying to pull some fast one—except for the bet365 team. Seriously. Once they hit you with those limits, you're basically stuck. You’ll end up having to beg your buddy, your mom, your dad, or even your random uncle just to get a decent account to work with. It's ridiculous. 😁
Tyler Taylor82 said:You guys seriously don't read what's written right here, do you? I swear, it's like talking to a brick wall sometimes. If you actually took a second to pay attention—seriously, just one second—you’d see what I mean. If you put your money on Federer vs. Novak Djokovic, you’re looking at a five-digit payout. Just saying. So, I was thinking about this whole thing—you know, regarding that official currency they were voting on in the referendum—and it got me wondering... are we actually going through with it? Like, are we really going to jump headfirst into using it? It's one of those things that just keeps spinning around in my head, honestly. Look, if you actually manage to nail a 25.00 odds bet, you aren't going to have to worry about getting your account flagged or limited—not immediately, anyway. It’s a long shot, sure, but hey, if you hit that, you've earned the right to play!
Look, if you actually manage to hit a +300 underdog using some weird three-digit decimal odd combo on that Aleksenko vs. Agabugin match—seriously, good luck with that—you’re basically asking for trouble. There is a massive chance you’ll get limited by the bookie almost immediately. They hate it when you actually win, it's a joke.
Arthur Howard said:Don't sweat the limits at BetMGM. Look, if you bank a decent profit—say $800 or more—on a single match, you can expect them to cap your account at a $6-$36 profit range depending on the sport. Until then, you're good. Especially if you stay away from those niche markets like USTA matches or minor league basketball/volleyball.
BetMGM has the best live betting selection ever. But if you hit them hard on one match (like a USTA match, some random volleyball, or minor league hoops), count on being limited to a $6-$36 profit window, depending on whether you're playing tennis or the English Premier League. Pre-match limits vary by market too—maybe $80 for USTA, $160 for handball in smaller leagues, $300-$360 for handball and basketball, up to $1200 for the major five leagues, and maybe $3600 for American sports. All of that is usually 4x or 5x higher during live betting, though limits are slightly lower on live parlays compared to straight bets.
William Hill lets you drop $200-$300 on singles pre-match and live without any issues, sometimes up to $1200. Later on, they might throttle your pre-match singles down to $35-$40, but they still allow decent amounts for live betting.
Anthony Perez55 said:Look, we get where you're coming from, but in cases like this, sticking to those rules makes absolutely ZERO sense... I mean, seriously, what's the point? Posts like this are infinitesimally more informative and actually useful than 90% of the garbage floating around in other threads and posts
I just don't get the inflexibility—why this whole bureaucratic "our hands are tied, it's the rule" attitude?
It’s one thing when people are yapping about placing bets, but here we’re talking about LIMITS; for God's sake, if we can't talk about that, then what the hell *can* we talk about?
You're going to drive all the quality contributors away from this forum if you keep forcing this rigid nonsense, I guarantee you that
if that's your goal, then keep going, you're right on track!
because it's getting fucking exhausting