Who lives in a house like this?

[Phox]

The chick thing was only a joke. I am the most happily married man alive, and intend to stay that way.

I hope your wife never reads anything I have ever written then.

She knows my warped sense of humor. All too well! 

That's a plus, then. 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Ah... You know what, I'm going to just have to drop this. I can't cite any sources aside from wikipedia atm... But I can't.

UNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!

[Phox]

Ah... You know what, I'm going to just have to drop this. I can't cite any sources aside from wikipedia atm... But I can't.

UNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!

Hey, you were right, Rog! it just wasn't me that caused it. 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Ah... You know what, I'm going to just have to drop this. I can't cite any sources aside from wikipedia atm... But I can't.

UNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!

Hey, you were right, Rog! it just wasn't me that caused it. 

My circuit breakers are all welded shut today.

I think it was having Babylon Horuv around, making my screen all greasy.

[Suu]

But considering who it was addressed to, and the state of Italy at the time, not to mention Machiavelli's background, it being written as a back-handed job application makes even more sense.

He hated the Medicis. It was known and noted.

[Suu]

I only have up to 10th grade, got my GED and got out before the fuckers strung me up for behavior problems.

And I'm sure you're proud of that.

I mean, at least my brother made it to 11th grade.

I only have a 9th grade education and I only hang out here to pick up chicks.

Considering the state of education in Kansas, you probably did yourself a favor.

[Fujikoma]

This is true, but he also recognized that Florence would be in deep shit if it had a weak government (what was it? I love the republic, but I love Florence more, or something?). There were many external threats. It is possible he wrote the prince as a genuine bit of advice to help the Medici keep things under control, considering the possibilities for Florence were he to try and undermine them... Or at least, that's what I remember reading somewhere.

Yeah, I know I read somewhere that he wasn't a big fan of the Medici. But I must admit, ya'll have a good point there.

And no, Suu, I'm not too proud of that. It hurts that it was necessary, but I think I did the right thing.

[Phox]

But considering who it was addressed to, and the state of Italy at the time, not to mention Machiavelli's background, it being written as a back-handed job application makes even more sense.

He hated the Medicis. It was known and noted.

He did not want to be dead or exiled however.

[Suu]

This is true, but he also recognized that Florence would be in deep shit if it had a weak government (what was it? I love the republic, but I love Florence more, or something?). There were many external threats. It is possible he wrote the prince as a genuine bit of advice to help the Medici keep things under control, considering the possibilities for Florence were he to try and undermine them... Or at least, that's what I remember reading somewhere.

If Tuscany got too weak, then you had the Papal States to the South and the Republic of Venice to the East that would have snatched it up, that and Spain and France. Florence needed to stay neutral. Unfortunately, there was no royalty or hierarchy, so to speak...the merchant aristocracy were becoming more powerful than the landed gentry, and it was getting unstable. There weren't politicians, they were common people who came into a lot of money and used it to their advantage. That doesn't mean they were good at what they did. It was extremely corrupt and dangerous.

[Triple Zero]

At the risk of sounding like a really real Discordian: I'm starting to wonder if there are only 23 people and 1 cabbage on the internet.

The rest are robots. This is a widely-known fact.

[Phox]

At the risk of sounding like a really real Discordian: I'm starting to wonder if there are only 23 people and 1 cabbage on the internet.

The rest are robots. This is a widely-known fact.

Makes perfect sense to me. 

[Fujikoma]

Not saying they were good, Suu... Just that more political upheaval would not have served Machiavelli or anyone else very well. Still, I think it's safe to say you have a better understanding than I do. I will admit that your take on the matter is possible, and that I have been somewhat swayed, but I'm going to assume Machiavelli was telling the truth, as foolish as that may be, considering the questionable behavior he seems to advocate in his writing.

[Suu]

He was totally telling the truth, but he was being tongue-in-cheek as well.

[Telarus]

He was totally telling the truth, but he was being tongue-in-cheek as well.

Interesting to note that "HAHA, Only Serious" goes that far back (even if without the name).

[Fujikoma]

I see. Thanks for teaching me something, Suu. Not sure why I was so hung up on the whole "this, or that" thing, considering how often I criticize such thinking in my own mind (obviously, not often enough).