Of course no one, and no age is special. All times have their own problems
- the caveman had to worry about what he would do if the tip fell off his
spear while hunting a Siberian tiger, and we worry about what will happen
if the electricity goes off for too long. In both cases, it's good to
have a back-up plan. Most people I know don't have one. We're lucky if we
have a flashlight or a candle and lighter.
Humanity HAS gotten soft due to our pervasive technology, but we also have
a better chance of surviving as long as that technology remains
functional.
Personal survival has always been a person's most pressing concern, which
is why our own time's problems always seem much bigger than any previous
one's. When in fact it is only the same problem with a different twist.
In the caveman era, the issue was being defenseless against the elements
and nature. Today, the issue is what if our elaborate defenses fail?
On the subject of the traffic jam full of monsters - yes, I have
experienced that, too. I have also seen crowds of beautiful people - it
all depends on the eye you decide to open. Everyone is a monster and
everyone is beautiful, and the observer is probably being seen as one or
the other by someone, too. We are all capable of disgusting atrocities and
inconsistencies that can be seen with horror. We are all capable of
amazing feats of love, grace, and sheer breath-taking beauty as well. You
see what you are looking for. A wise man sees both, and realizes that no
person, or crowd of people, is either an angel or a demon. A wise man
identifies himself as a member of the crowd he is viewing, and the features
he sees in others can be found in himself. I guess it is the same as
realizing that all ages have the same struggles in a slightly different
form - all humans are the same as well. It is as foolish to rant against
oneself or against the rest of humanity as it is to rant against this age
or against past ages.
If we are not to become paranoid of the technological apocalypse, then why
are we to fear and loathe modern humanity? People have been greedy and
ignorant since the beginning of history. Get used to it because it's not
going to change any time soon. It's not any special problem of today.
Anyway, I've got to get back to what really matters. Gotta go out and club
that wild boar and bring it home to my family at the cave and deal with the
ugly masses of cave-humanity all day - I mean drive to work and bring home
a paycheck and deal with gluttoneous American society. Hell, whatever - I
just want to survive.
Mono... after reviewing threads and comments... you are right... I don't
take correction well... but I realised also... that I take your posts
personally because...1) I respected your opinion a great deal and 2) when
you post an opposing view point... it is never couched as an opinion, but
always presented as fact... and lastly 3) the tone of your posts, by me at
least, has seemed decidedly condescending...
on the point of correction... I don't take it ungracefully either... I
don't make a comment unless I have a well formed opinion... and even those
(read back) have changed on the basis of what other's say... I believe you
may have misinterpretted the willingness to fight for my thoughts as
something different...
you have an apology for possible misinterpretation of your style of
information presentation... it was not the information presented but the
presentation itself...
take it for what it's worth...
____________________ The earth turns on a tilted axis - just doing the best it can.
Hohenheim of Light~Full Metal Alchemist
Meranda_Jade
Fanatic
Posts: 511 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 11/9/2006 at 12:49 PM
Holy fuck, we've gotten nasty with each other, haven't we? The first real
interesting discussion being debated here in a while, and it devolves into
hurt feelings on all sides and attacks ensuing from everyone trying
desperately to defend themselves. Haven't we learned from lessons in the
past not to get personal with each other when debating? Right now, for some
reason, everyone is extremely touchy and takes plain old disagreement or
even civilized debate as a personal jab in their direction. This has to
stop, people. We're all friends here, and friends can talk about things
going on in the world without getting hurt feelings because they're
disagreeing with each other on minor points. Mono was trying to elaborate
on points that are of concern to him, Feral was doing the same. Somehow in
there, some wires in communication got crossed and feelings got bruised on
both sides. I have no idea what Domkitten was trying to point out with her
posting... it didn't seem to be so much adding to the ongoing debate as
just adding unneccessary fuel to the fire of hurt feelings. Debate is one
thing... personal attacks are an entirely different animal. If you have
nothing to add to the intellectual debate and are only trying to stir shit,
please don't. It's a bad reflection on you and this entire site.
Schizo, thank you for continuing with the debate and ignoring the resulting
unpleasantness. This is more of what we need from our members here.
And remember folks, "If you can't say nothin' nice... don't say nothin' at
all."
(Yes, I know that is a double negative. I'm quoting verbatim from Bambi.)
____________________
Domkitten
Fanatic
Posts: 470 Registered: 23/9/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 11/9/2006 at 08:46 PM
I was mostly on about the link and the reason for posting it. It seemed to
me that it being the “way I feel at the moment” and only to be appreciated
by people with “an attention span longer then a goldfish” were rather harsh
criticism in a thread where the discussion had gone from one of silly
people posting things online, to technology and it benefits/detractions, to
you don’t listen to anything I say and I’m superior in every way.
I thought it was unnecessary. If we are going to get into an argument about
the state of the universe, people in it, etc, then there is no way that we
can remove ourselves from that selfsame analysis. I felt this was being
done. Ergo the “have your cake and eat it to” comment that I made.
I’m all for self observation. I think it is important for people to take a
good look at themselves and make changes. It something that makes us better
people. Being able to see the monsters and recognize the monster in
ourselves, as a paraphrase of Schizo.
I did it in a very bitchy fashion, I freely admit it, but that is basically
what I was on about. I hope this less bitchy explanation helps.
____________________ It's like kegel exercises for your throat.~Monolycus
gothicmorman
Fanatic
Posts: 233 Registered: 11/7/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 11/9/2006 at 09:22 PM
quote:GM: *grins* you basically
stated... in a nutshell... mono and I both have good points... which is
what I was saying...
But what i meant was that mono has a better one.
Meranda_Jade
Fanatic
Posts: 511 Registered: 31/12/1969 Status: Offline
posted on 11/9/2006 at 09:28 PM
" I was mostly on about the link and the reason for posting it. It seemed
to me that it being the “way I feel at the moment” and only to be
appreciated by people with “an attention span longer then a goldfish” were
rather harsh criticism in a thread where the discussion had gone from one
of silly people posting things online, to technology and it
benefits/detractions, to you don’t listen to anything I say and I’m
superior in every way."
Okay, let's break this down. "The way I feel at the moment." Why is there
a problem with this? Aren't people allowed to feel certain ways anymore? I
didn't know that having personal feelings about something was a reason for
a person to be picked on. This is a point that I've tried to make many a
time.
"only to be appreciated by people with “an attention span longer then a
goldfish”"
First, that's not what he said. This is:
I'll link to it, in case anyone gives a shit and has a longer attention
span than a retarded goldfish.
that means: I'll link to it, in case anyone gives a shit and has a longer
attention span than a retarded goldfish.
In other words: I'm putting a link here, if you're interested and want to
read it, here it is.
Or that's what I'm guessing. I didn't see personal criticism... but then,
I rarely do. I give people the benefit of the doubt and tend to think that
what they're saying is what they actually mean, not some weird personal
thing that was meant as a jibe for only me. It's all about perspective,
which quite a few people these days lack. Everyone seems to think that
everyone else is out to get them and it's just not true.
Except for when it is.
____________________
Domkitten
Fanatic
Posts: 470 Registered: 23/9/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 11/9/2006 at 09:45 PM
Even a paranoid can have enemies. ~Kissinger.
There is no problem with having personal feelings. I jumped in, and
probably shouldn't have, because it was becoming a bash fest. I thought
that should stop. I thought the comments and the way they were being
directed all around, by feral, by mono, by kgm, by etc etc etc.....were
just getting ugly. I was attempting to point it out without getting ugly.
Fuck it. I am ugly.
I'm pissed at the way people get treated for stating and opinion and
supporting it. I'm tried of people calling each other stupid when no one is
listening. Is that stupid of me, I'll grant it probably is. But it is how I
feel. I'm being honest about it.
I wasn't going for direct quotes, I was paraphrasing my feelings, my
sentiments into it. Making it mine, interpreting it as my own, and drawing
my own conclusions to make my own point. I was reading into it, I'm
entitled to that occasionally too.
I know, I know, mine, mine, mine, me, me, me. But at least I'm only angry
with myself for posting in this damnedable catch-22 of a thread anyway. I
retract my statements. I'm not going off in a huff or having hurt feelings.
Consider this my way of saying I'll stay out of it, reprimanded fully.
Anyone up for a new thread?
____________________ It's like kegel exercises for your throat.~Monolycus
Starlight
Extreme Fanatic
Posts: 618 Registered: 27/9/2002 Status: Offline
posted on 12/9/2006 at 08:34 AM
Yes, please, a new thread would probably be a good idea. I'm sorry but I
seem to have misplaced my creativity so if someone would start it that'd be
great.
____________________ "When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never
tried before." ~Mae West
pale-face
Fanatic
Posts: 478 Registered: 22/9/2004 Status: Offline
posted on 12/9/2006 at 03:29 PM
a new thread would be good, and hopefully we dont start stabing our own
again as we seemed to have done in here.