Debates
14 Jul 15
Originally posted by no1marauderCongrats on the move!
It is sometimes easy to get depressed about our species; looking around on this mud ball there is plenty of killing, oppression and other ills.
But then there is something like this: http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/14/us/nasa-new-horizons-pluto-flyby/index.html
It is astonishing to consider that a man made device is flying to the further reaches of the ...[text shortened]... Street so they could turn the power on in my new house .........................................
I'm still waiting for someone to land on Europa to see if there really are enormous bio-luminescent octopi under the ice.
Originally posted by finneganSince you generally claim to have little but contempt for the United States and the American political system, what's with the inferiority complex? Since we have to live under the oppressive corrupt totalitarian Amerikan regime, why begrudge us a little flag waiving fun?
As I said, the question is always about the context in which national flags are waved. I do not question there is a place for them and games played by national teams are typically regarded as a good natured context where flags play their part.
I also did not say I hugely objected to the pride Americans take in their technological achievements. What I ...[text shortened]... ly be shared by all.
Even then, the only real problem I have is that you can't see the point.
Originally posted by sh76The same mentality that allows people to wave flags with patriotic fervour has led billions of people to their deaths.
Since you generally claim to have little but contempt for the United States and the American political system, what's with the inferiority complex? Since we have to live under the oppressive corrupt totalitarian Amerikan regime, why begrudge us a little flag waiving fun?
Originally posted by KazetNagorraThat's like saying the same mentality that allows businesses to hike up their prices by an extra quarter to increase profits led to the Wall Street meltdown.
The same mentality that allows people to wave flags with patriotic fervour has led billions of people to their deaths.
Most adults are perfectly capable of understanding the distinction between waiving a flag and waging a world war. Slipper slope arguments that are so extremely attenuated are meaningless.
Originally posted by sh76That's like saying the same mentality that allows businesses to hike up their prices by an extra quarter to increase profits led to the Wall Street meltdown.
That's like saying the same mentality that allows businesses to hike up their prices by an extra quarter to increase profits led to the Wall Street meltdown.
Most adults are perfectly capable of understanding the distinction between waiving a flag and waging a world war. Slipper slope arguments that are so extremely attenuated are meaningless.
How's that?
Most adults are perfectly capable of understanding the distinction between waiving a flag and waging a world war.
The occurrence of world wars suggests that they do not.
Originally posted by KazetNagorra- Both are based on desire for excess profits
[b]That's like saying the same mentality that allows businesses to hike up their prices by an extra quarter to increase profits led to the Wall Street meltdown.
How's that?
Most adults are perfectly capable of understanding the distinction between waiving a flag and waging a world war.
The occurrence of world wars suggests that they do not.[/b]
- That people do bad things does not suggest that people are incapable of knowing that they're bad.
Originally posted by sh76- Both are based on desire for excess profits
- Both are based on desire for excess profits
- That people do bad things does not suggest that people are incapable of knowing that they're bad.
Not necessarily.
- That people do bad things does not suggest that people are incapable of knowing that they're bad.
They are capable, they are just not very good at it when their judgement is clouded by tribal sentiments.