Apophis The Great wrote:Then it would mean there's a GREAT bunch of satanists in this world, Pookie.
It could possibly mean that, depending on how you understand your above conclusion, although it does not necessarily mean that. You fail at logic yet again and I'll show you why.
Apophis The Great wrote:Heck, me included, as I did this sign few times in my life, but I have never been part of any satanist cult, nor believed in satan at all,
I never stated that all people who make that sign are necessarily satanists. To the contrary, I stated that I could easily see people doing things like this "for the lols". That apparently didn't register, did it?
That, however, is in contrast to politicians and celebrities from various countries showing the SAME symbol in a consistent manner. What, are they all part of the same club and have conspired to have an inside joke? Are they independent from each other, but have a horrendous lack of imagination when it comes to making jokes?
Apophis The Great wrote:unlike some people from this forum (well, not any of the main debaters here, but there are definitely people "worshipping" satan here, mainly hardcore followers of the dark/black/nu metal stuff).
Good for them, I guess.
Apophis The Great wrote:When you see Paris Hilton or some celeb doing a gang sign while laughing, does it mean they are from a gang?
Nope, but then again, I never said that it might. Now imagine that all celebrities and politicians started doing the same gang sign. Would your perspective of the situation change? Would the celebrities and politicans risk being affiliated to a questionable organisation for unoriginal humour? Wouldn't that be irresponsible? Or might you suspect that they are in some way affiliated to the questionable organisation?
Apophis The Great wrote:When you see Bush doing middle finger with angry face, does it mean he's a rebel to society?
In and of itself, it could mean many things as an isolated event. What you consistently fail to grasp is the contrast between isolated events and apparent purposeful group efforts to some effect, whether they be humorous or otherwise. At least, you ignore them when they don't fit your purposes, but you feel free to use isolated events as if they were consistent patterns to prove a point. I don't particularily feel encouraged to reply to you, knowing that you'll automatically gainsay everything that's said without an ounce of critical thinking. I'm not even saying that my "interpretation" is necessarily true. I'm only saying that it's a reasonable possibility.
Apophis The Great wrote:Who said people in power can't have humour?
Seriously, this is too serious!

Apparently, you're the one that came closest to saying that. I'm only giving one possible interpretation and arguing that it's likelier and more reasonable than assuming that all leaders are irresponsible enough to play a joke on us by consistently using the same questionable symbols.
We haven't disagreed on the fact that the symbols have many questionable interpretations, some of which are strangely satanic. Those symbols fall under the term "questionable symbols". To many who understand the satanic meaning of these symbols, using those symbols for humorous purposes is the humorous equivalent of making a joke about "how fun it must be to smash planes into buildings full of people and how delightful a music it must be to hear their innocent and pathetic, but fading cries". Would a politician make such a joke?
If you don't understand the lien between these two would-be "jokes", then I'm afraid that you simply don't understand the symbols you claim are used as jokes. If a civilian makes a joke like that, it will be accepted among ignorant people. Someone in power, however, should be more responsible and more thorough - if it's a joke. Heck, if it's a joke, it's an incredibly unoriginal one, seeing as it's so common. If it's not a joke, its widespread use and the context within which it is used becomes clearer.
As for your "rotten apples" argument, it fails miserably, too. You didn't study Latin, did you? If you had, you MIGHT have read the Roman story about how rotten apples infect the rest of the basket. If greed is evil, as its consequences surely cause people to act in a way that is commonly termed evil, and humans are fundamentally greedy, you have the answer staring at you in the face. Furthermore, power DOES corrupt. If you can't accept that, it must be fun to bask in your ignorance, assuming that ignorance is a bliss. Power corrupts. We're talking about people in power being corrupt. Does this seem like a long stretch to you or what?
Maybe you need to know why power corrupts. I wouldn't want to ruin your virgin mind by putting you in any position of actual power, so I'll tell you, instead. When you have power, you can do more things. Are we clear on that? When you can do more things than other people, because, well, you have more power than them, you may find it to be a profitable venture to do things FOR them for... something in return. Uh-oh... greed.
But it continues. With more power, one acts differently. One may refuse to associate with mere underlings and have a motivation to seek people of similar standing to them. So, people with power hang around others who have power. They can benefit from those others in power, but sshhh, because sometimes the way in which people in power benefit each other might break laws, but who cares about those? Just be quiet and nobody will know, right? Heck, women might be attracted to you, now that you can do whatever you want. That's hot. That's sexy. And of course, you can't say no to an endless stream of supermodels begging to share your bed, now, can you? Just as long as people continue thinking you still have such a thing as integrity, it's ok to have somthing going on on the side.

Oh, but it continues, as this was just the beginning. The people with power, however, having formed their own groups of like people, will see it as advantageous to transfer the power to friends or family so that their own corruption cannot be uncovered when they leave office! So, they get control of the appropriate venues to achieve just that and... they do. It goes on, but I'm sure that you have trouble accepting what I've already mentioned. This may be good for your virgin mind, which knows nothing of power in any of its luscious, attractive and sparkling forms.
Some people claim they don't want power, but very few can say the same when they actually have power.
Agapooka