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Kerrigan · May 11, 2009, 07:45 PM

I have assembled a list of countries that scholars generally consider to be the worst countries that have ever existed. Please vote based on what you think is the worst country ever.

Rumor · May 11, 2009, 08:09 PM

Should have made it public.

Andy8 · May 11, 2009, 08:22 PM

Worst country based on what criteria?

Weyland-Yutani · May 11, 2009, 08:23 PM

Italy.

ShortcutToMoncton · May 11, 2009, 08:31 PM

Turkey, Greece, Ireland? Really?

greg

turtle777 · May 11, 2009, 08:36 PM

Post-Obama run-down socialist USA ?

-t

Doofy · May 11, 2009, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

Turkey

I can see that. Turkey's a craphole as soon as you get away from the tourist areas.

ShortcutToMoncton · May 11, 2009, 09:21 PM

Just had a thought: no Afghanistan? How is that possible?

design219 · May 11, 2009, 09:26 PM

A rather bizarre thread. I'll just pick a criteria to vote on... oh, how about air quality.

I'll vote China.

Doofy · May 11, 2009, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

Just had a thought: no Afghanistan? How is that possible?

What's so bad about Afghanistan? You can spend all day riding around in the back of a Toyota munching poppies and beat your four wives for sport during an evening. Sounds like win/win!

Andy8 · May 11, 2009, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by design219

A rather bizarre thread. I'll just pick a criteria to vote on... oh, how about air quality.

I'll vote China.

Blue skies here today

design219 · May 11, 2009, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Andy8

Blue skies here today

In the country?

sek929 · May 11, 2009, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Post-Obama run-down socialist USA ?

-t

This never gets old.

Andy8 · May 11, 2009, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by design219

In the country?

Two systems, One country

mattyb · May 12, 2009, 05:31 AM

Zimbabwe ?

And wtf with Ireland ?

ctt1wbw · May 12, 2009, 06:04 AM

I wish St. Thomas were a country so I could vote for that shithole. Talk about an armpit.

Oisín · May 12, 2009, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by design219

In the country?

Air quality in the country in China is usually pretty good. It’s in the cities it’s screwed up.

And I’ll third (fourth?) the “Ireland? WTF?!” notion.

moonmonkey · May 12, 2009, 07:44 AM

I always thought China was a great place to live, what is the criteria for selection?

ghporter · May 12, 2009, 09:01 AM

Democratic People's Republic of Korea, better known everywhere as "North Korea." Why ain't this on your list?

People in Ireland actually have industry and significant amounts of self control over their lives. People in India are not being systematically starved by their "beloved leader." The South Africa of today is nothing like the country of 20 years ago.

I'd REALLY like to know where the list you've presented came from.

badidea · 08:35 AM

Well...

mattyb · May 12, 2009, 09:25 AM

I'd like to know what definition of 'scholar' Kerrigan used.

osiris · 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

I always thought China was a great place to live, what is the criteria for selection?

Mainland China is a cesspool of pollution and filth. At least from Beijing to Zhangjiakou.

Andy8 · May 12, 2009, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by osiris

Mainland China is a cesspool of pollution and filth.

How many of the mainland provinces have you visited in person?

osiris · May 12, 2009, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Andy8

How many of the mainland provinces have you visited in person?

I can't recall the names, but I drove for 4 hours from Beijing heading west. I was dismayed, but sorry if I offended you.

shifuimam · May 12, 2009, 10:34 AM

North Korea?

Kim-Il Jong II (or whatever the hell his name is) is responsible for more human rights violations than just about any other dictator in the 20th century, except maybe Hitler.

Oisín · May 12, 2009, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by osiris

Mainland China is a cesspool of pollution and filth. At least from Beijing to Zhangjiakou.

That’s a very small, and not at all representative, slice of Mainland China. It’s sort of like driving through Newark slum and concluding that the US is a poverty-stricken ramshackle of a country.

There are many places in China that are cesspools of pollution and filth, but there are also many places that are most definitely not.

(The trip from Beijing to Zhangjiakou takes you through Beijing Municipality and Hebei Province only)

besson3c · May 12, 2009, 10:48 AM

I think probably Greenland.

Wouldn't it suck if everything was actually green? It would be so boring... Oh look, there's some green jello.. big deal, everything is green. Oh look, there's Oscar the Grouch, big deal he's green too. Oh look, there's a bunch of boogers.

WTF?

Oisín · May 12, 2009, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I think probably Greenland.

Wouldn't it suck if everything was actually green? It would be so boring... Oh look, there's some green jello.. big deal, everything is green. Oh look, there's Oscar the Grouch, big deal he's green too. Oh look, there's a bunch of boogers.

WTF?

Yeah, even the enormous social problems they have (highest level of alcoholics in the world, wheee!) are green.

And anyone that needs eight syllables to count to three is completely green.

besson3c · May 12, 2009, 10:59 AM

The social problems or the alcohol is green?

Oisín · May 12, 2009, 11:00 AM

Both.

Andy8 · May 12, 2009, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Oisín

There are many places in China that are cesspools of pollution and filth, but there are also many places that are most definitely not. Zhangjiakou takes you through Beijing Municipality and Hebei Province only)

Exactly.

Originally Posted by osiris

I was dismayed, but sorry if I offended you.

No offense taken.

osiris · May 12, 2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Oisín

That’s a very small, and not at all representative, slice of Mainland China. It’s sort of like driving through Newark slum and concluding that the US is a poverty-stricken ramshackle of a country.

There are many places in China that are cesspools of pollution and filth, but there are also many places that are most definitely not.

(The trip from Beijing to Zhangjiakou takes you through Beijing Municipality and Hebei Province only)

Perhaps I threw a blanket statement out there, and the next time I'm there I'll wonder why I'm being detained.

ghporter · May 12, 2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

North Korea?

Kim-Il Jong II (or whatever the hell his name is) is responsible for more human rights violations than just about any other dictator in the 20th century, except maybe Hitler.

It's a toss up whether Adolph or old Joe Stalin gets the top prize there, but ~~Whack-Job and Whack-Job Junior~~ the Kims really put both of them to shame in terms of depth, if not scope of abuse of their own citizens. I don't see anything else like that having happened in any of the countries offered in the poll, including China's Cultural Revolution or Apartheid.

ctt1wbw · May 12, 2009, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

North Korea?

Kim-Il Jong II (or whatever the hell his name is) is responsible for more human rights violations than just about any other dictator in the 20th century, except maybe Hitler.

That's Long Duc Dong.

Hawkeye_a · May 12, 2009, 04:55 PM

Ireland ? .... really ? India is debatable as well..... the major cities are really bad, but once you get into the country it's alright..... Goa was great imo.

I cant vote cause there are so many other countries that come to mind.....
-the 'stans' (Afghan, Uzbek, Kazak, Turkmen, etc)
-Albania/Serbia
-Sierra-Leon
-North Korea
-Somalia
-Yemen
-Burma/Myanmar

Oisín · May 12, 2009, 05:09 PM

Why Albania and Serbia? And why lumping them into one?

Kerrigan · May 12, 2009, 08:55 PM

I should have clarified: "Famine-era Ireland"

ghporter · May 12, 2009, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

I should have clarified: "Famine-era Ireland"

HUGE difference there! Yeah, specifying "Famine-era Ireland" and "Apartheid South Africa" would change the dynamic of the whole poll. Still should have included North Korea...

Spheric Harlot · May 13, 2009, 04:17 AM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

North Korea?

Kim-Il Jong II (or whatever the hell his name is) is responsible for more human rights violations than just about any other dictator in the 20th century, except maybe Hitler.

chiffremom, or whatever the hell your name is, you forgot Stalin, and I'd think Pol Pot has Kim Jong-Il handily beat down to choirboy spec.

mattyb · May 13, 2009, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

HUGE difference there! Yeah, specifying "Famine-era Ireland" and "Apartheid South Africa" would change the dynamic of the whole poll. Still should have included North Korea...

Saying that, WW1 era northern France or Southern Belgium would probably get some votes. Pre-oxygen in the atmosphere Bora-Bora wouldn't be too nice either.

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

chiffremom, or whatever the hell your name is, you forgot Stalin, and I'd think Pol Pot has Kim Jong-Il handily beat down to choirboy spec.

Doesn't Mao come out on top?

moonmonkey · May 16, 2009, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Ireland ? .... really ?

Ireland only recently became a developed country, its still shown as a third world country in old 70's and 80's text books.

Sealobo · May 18, 2009, 11:19 AM

this poll is retarded.