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Niklas Schulze

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Instead of enjoying "bread and circuses" people should take to the streets to protest.

Instead of enjoying "bread and circuses", meaning playing video games, partying, watching other people fight, sitting in cafés and chatting about useless stuff, people should take to the streets to protest against injustice in this world.

Neither do I agree nor disagree with this here I want you to find arguments against and in favor of this topic.

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    David Hamilton 50+

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    Aug 31 2012: People should start buying, and making more bread, and buying and participating in, less circuses.

  • Rhona Pavis 50+

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    Aug 18 2012: Thanks, Niklas. Let's take back our lives from the living and dead power and control freaks.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Aug 18 2012: There is always a believe that injustice is some evil done by a few people in government; and that changing the few will bring in a different almost perfect order.
    Humanity is always looking for the magical system of governance that would change the world.

    But systems dont fall down from heaven and operate itself. Systems need humans to work well; and because humanity is usually prone to being power drunk, greedy and selfish, there will always be some injustice to fight.

    It doesn't mean followers or the general public should become permanent protesters.

    • Niklas Schulze

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      Aug 19 2012: So do you or do you not agree?
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        James Zhang 30+

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        Aug 19 2012: "It doesn't mean followers or the general public should become permanent protesters."

        That would be a disagree.

        • Niklas Schulze

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          Aug 20 2012: Get a life. Nobody wants to talk to you.
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        James Zhang 30+

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        Aug 20 2012: Then I guess nobody wants to talk to you either, is that what you really want?
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        James Zhang 30+

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        Aug 20 2012: Alright look, I'm just trying to help a brother out, man. Make love, not war, we're all friends.

        If I'm seriously annoying the crap out of you as I've done to many, then sorry about that, please understand that this is just my way of trying to help. I could have just as easily said that you should get a life, no one wants to listen to a childish guy who is insecure about talking to strangers who lives in his mom's basement, and that your idea is the most idiotic thing beyond hope of repair. But I did not say that because I do not believe any of that. I think you have "Ideas worth spreading" just like I think have "ideas worth spreading."

        I'm willing to listen to you, but are you willing to listen to me?
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    edward long 100+

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    Aug 17 2012: Mmmmm bread! Hurrah, the circus is here! Awesome, video games! Party Time! Fight, Fight! Waiter, another latte please!
    Those things all sell themselves. You, on the other hand, are trying to sell a product that not only does not sell itsef, it carries with it a promise of little, if any fulfillment. In a debate you are at a distinct disadvantage. Mr. Schulze, what are your opening remarks for opposing viewpoints to challenge? Rise and speak, sir.
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      James Zhang 30+

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      Aug 17 2012: Edward, I've never seen you really write large blocks of text. Your way of communicating your points have been for the most part, concise and to-the-point, and highly efficient. I just thought it was interesting to remark.
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        edward long 100+

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        Aug 17 2012: Gratefully agree. 5 lines is verbose. Will improve.

    • Niklas Schulze

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      Aug 18 2012: I am not selling anything, son. I am offering a topic for discussion.
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        James Zhang 30+

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        Aug 18 2012: Here's what Edward meant:

        You're presenting an idea to us, and you're trying (or you should try) to convince us that this is a good idea. He only asks you to elaborate why you think this is a good idea, and thus spark a better discussion.

        In this sense, when you're offering a topic for discussion, you're "selling" your idea to us. It's simply a different way of saying the same thing.

        • Niklas Schulze

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          Aug 18 2012: It's not. I heard this topic over and over and I want to read your views on it. It's like my girlfriend saying, kissing was cheating and me finding that an interesting topic. Also I've already shared my views in the video.
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        edward long 100+

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        Aug 18 2012: No offense intended or implied Mr. Schulze. I now know from your reply you are offering (selling) "a topic for discussion." OK. Great! I wish to know what that topic is and if you are simply compiling opinions, or are you wanting a debate format (which is the category you chose). By the way, your profile does not tell me your age. If you are in your 70's, or older, you can rightly call me "son". Chillax dude!

        • Niklas Schulze

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          Aug 18 2012: My profile does not tell you my age because I won't let others decide what I am entitled to and what not, son.
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        James Zhang 30+

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        Aug 18 2012: "Also I've already shared my views in the video."

        Do you honestly expect us to watch a 10-minute German video? Do you want me to provide a 10-minute video in Chinese or Japanese and expect you to respond to that?

        If you want a good discussion, why do you think people should protest more instead of doing "useless" things? Or at least provide an English translation to summarize your arguments for us English-only people out there. Sorry, man, we're pretty hard to please ;)

        • Niklas Schulze

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          Aug 18 2012: "Do you honestly expect us to watch a 10-minute German video?" You don't seem to speak german, why don't you learn it?
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          Debra Smith 200+

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          Aug 18 2012: Niklas, you joined an English speaking site. Be realistic.
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        edward long 100+

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        Aug 18 2012: Here on TED the primary determinant of how a person is perceived is not their profile but the relevance of their comments.
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        edward long 100+

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        Aug 18 2012: Please indulge my slowness to grasp your topic. Is it your intention that this be a debate about whether or not people should cease typical recreational activities and, instead, take to the streets in active protest of global injustices? Thank you!
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        James Zhang 30+

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        Aug 18 2012: "You don't seem to speak german, why don't you learn it?"

        You don't seem to know Chinese, Japanese, Swahili, or Arabic. Maybe you should learn some of those while I learn this language called German.

        Or an even easier solution, we wait for Google Translate to be good enough for mainstream use rather than spend more years learning new languages.

        • Niklas Schulze

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          Aug 19 2012: I speak Chinese, Japanese, Swahili and even a few words of Arabic. You still don't speak german.

  • Niklas Schulze

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    Aug 17 2012: To me Steve Jobs was a bad businessman as he did not listen to his users. Had he listened he would have made more money.
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      James Zhang 30+

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      Aug 17 2012: Steve Jobs did "listen" to others, he just never followed the rule of "the customer is always right". He believed that the customer doesn't know what they want, so it was his job to show them what they really wanted. In this sense, he understood most customers very well and was able to manipulate a lot of people and get what he wanted.

      Your second statement is arguable. Apple products are branded as the cool hip, technology for the cool people, anyone can use it. Apple was also branded as the leaders in innovation (iPod, iPad, iPhone). That's their identity that people see them as, and that's the reason for their popularity. If Apple simply gave into the masses and just sheepishly listened to what their customers want, they would go against their identity and lose the foundation and core followers that they established with.
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    James Zhang 30+

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    Aug 17 2012: It depends how strongly they believe in what you say, and not everyone has the same values/beliefs.

    • Niklas Schulze

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      Aug 17 2012: Right
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        James Zhang 30+

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        Aug 17 2012: However, if you want to get people to follow/listen to you, you need to find ways to get them to come to you and pull them in, rather than being in someone's face and pushing topics on them.

        What separates good businessmen/showmen from bad ones is that good ones understand their targeted audience much deeper and they know how to really pull people in. Take Steve Jobs for example.
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