Profiles

[Agnapostate]

I have to agree with that...and because of my inherent self-interest, I demand that the conversation revert back to my awesome suggestion.

Yeah...that's what I thought you'd be feeling.

 

[Agnapostate]

exactly- that self-interest places the self above society. Most people will not actively work to stop or prevent evil if it 'does not directly effect them', even those who would not commit such acts themselves. Every great society has realized that man cannot be trusted. This is why we have law and punitive systems to control people and keep peoples' urges in line. It is also why we use representational systems, in the hope that mob rule and waves of passion can be stemmed, before emotion overrides reason and the surging will of the masses- no matter how short lived- drive society to commit heinous acts or destroy itself with a brilliant display of gross stupidity. It has been long recognized that the group is less inhibited and less intelligent than the individuals comprising it. If Man were a perfect creature, the Natural State would be just fine. However, human history has shown us that there are evil men- and that good nmen tend to do nothing to stop them. Thus, socuial contracts arise out of self-interest and mutual defense of common interests. Democracy failed because it cannot regulate or control the mob. This is why representative systems, which offer some protection against mob rule and both the tyranny of the masses (the 51% oppressing the 49%) and the stupidity of humanity as a whole, are superior to directly democtratic systems, which are little more than a mass rally of persons with no real leadership- for once such leader arise, it is natural for them to each speak for those around and amongst them, forming the basis for a representational system, regardless of whther it is codified or remains informal

post this elsewhere

 

[JBeukema]

Nope. People's inherent qualities span a widely ranging spectrum of morality. People are inherently self-interested; this promotes behaviors that will maximize self-interest and possess varying degrees of moral or immoral elements.

I have to agree with that...and because of my inherent self-interest, I demand that the conversation revert back to my awesome suggestion.

Which was?

Free coffee in the lunch room? I second that... Everyone will give .5% percent of their paychecks to organize an oversight committee to out this into action, purchase and maintain the coffee supply and oversee the distribution of this new free coffee. Fret not about the surplus- I'm sure we'll find a way to spend it...

 

[iagainsti]

I have to agree with that...and because of my inherent self-interest, I demand that the conversation revert back to my awesome suggestion.

Yeah...that's what I thought you'd be feeling.

Man...sometimes I wish I wasn't so self-interested and predictable.

 

[eots]

he has read much...but lived little

 

[Agnapostate]

he has read much...but lived little

A reference to me, I take it? That doesn't seem to do much in the way of argument advancement, I'm afraid, any more than the longer lives of Chomsky and Zinn would be grounds for claiming that they were thereby correct in some manner.

 

[alan1]

I'm a hot female college student but I act like a middle-aged man on the internet.

 

[DamnYankee]

I think it would be kinda cool if we had more categories to fill out in our profiles. Not sure if that's even something that can be done, I don't know how the message board software works or anything, but thought it wouldn't hurt to make the suggestion!

For example, gender could be a good one...I've been called "dude" and "bro" a few times now, which is all well and good, but since nobody has their gender displayed anywhere I think a lot of people might have just assumed I'm a dude...and, SURPRISE, I'm a girl.

Anyway, yeah...just throwin' it out there, feel free to throw it right back!

Or you could put an "F" in BIOGRAPHY.....

 

[DamnYankee]

By the way I am 51 and fat. And a guy.

I've got an exercise program for ya....

 

[DamnYankee]

I'm a hot female college student but I act like a middle-aged man on the internet.

Now that explains all the big talking!

 

[editec]

he still thinks anarchy can work on the large scale... most people forget such idealism before they hit 30... or 25...

Nope. Those who have conducted in-depth analyses into anarchist political theory rather than embraced the popular misconception of anarchism involving "chaos" or "disorder" typically retain these sound ideological views until the end of their lives. For example, consider Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, who are 80 and 86 respectively, and still committed to anarchist principles.

I studied with Howard Zinn, AG.

The word anarchist was never mentioned.

He might believe in that theory of yours, but he never mentioned it.

Mostly he spent his time trying to give us another lense to look at American history through.

Chomsky, OTOH, did talk about socialist kabutzes in the one seminar I had with him, but the word anarchist was also never mentioned.

You sure these guys advocated this communal anarchist solution, or have they merely noted that these systems once existed in Spain?

 

[strollingbones]

did i mention i wanted skulls instead of medals?

 

[Gunny]

he has read much...but lived little

A reference to me, I take it? That doesn't seem to do much in the way of argument advancement, I'm afraid, any more than the longer lives of Chomsky and Zinn would be grounds for claiming that they were thereby correct in some manner.

It actually says a lot about you. Wisdom is not just book knowledge, no matter who you quote nor how you try and pretend it is so.

I suppose in your case, every dark cloud has its silver lining. It's your lack of experience and emotional immaturity that weighed in on your side where your age is concerned.

Most of what you will learn it life doesn't come from books. You just have to be there.

 

[MaggieMae]

I think it would be kinda cool if we had more categories to fill out in our profiles. Not sure if that's even something that can be done, I don't know how the message board software works or anything, but thought it wouldn't hurt to make the suggestion!

For example, gender could be a good one...I've been called "dude" and "bro" a few times now, which is all well and good, but since nobody has their gender displayed anywhere I think a lot of people might have just assumed I'm a dude...and, SURPRISE, I'm a girl.

Anyway, yeah...just throwin' it out there, feel free to throw it right back!

Post a hot picture. Then you can have the board idiots claim you are really a 60 year old fat nerd living in his mother's basement.

Why else would anyone post a hot picture? They can pretend they have good looks, period. If someone really is hot looking, I presume s/he would be smart enough to know no one would believe the photo was real.

 

[MaggieMae]

Not to belittle your suggestion, it's not a bad one, but you can use your "tag line" for that if it helps for the time being.

Yeah, I noticed a few girls on this board have used their taglines for that purpose...not a bad idea, but I'm not really THAT concerned with whether or not people know my gender! just thought more profile information might come in handy for some. Good suggestion though, thanks!

Most folks figure it out eventually anyway.

 

[MaggieMae]

You mean like how the board figured out you are not a young man at all? Worked real well for you now didn't it? And here you are supporting mob opinion.

Actually, "the board" didn't "figure out" anything of the sort. Several idiots on this board chose to claim that I wasn't (not that there would really be any interest in me claiming that I was if I wasn't), so I responded by posting a scanned and uploaded image of my Certificate of Proficiency (my equivalency degree), that could only be earned while taking a test that one is only eligible for between the ages of 15 to 18. That should have ended matters not there, but some chose to keep running their mouths, even though I'd revealed more about my identity than anyone else ever had.

Most of the time, it's better just to ignore the mouths. They're more interested in themselves than in you anyway by getting their jollies giggling over how much their comments bother you.

 

[MaggieMae]

I responded by posting a scanned and uploaded image of my Certificate of Proficiency (my equivalency degree), that could only be earned while taking a test that one is only eligible for between the ages of 15 to 18. That should have ended matters not there, but some chose to keep running their mouths, even though I'd revealed more about my identity than anyone else ever had.

Wow, that's intense. I hope I don't end up having to scan a copy of my birth certificate or anything to prove I'm not a 60-year-old fat man.

I hope not too, especially if you were born in Hawaii.

 

[MaggieMae]

Nope. People's inherent qualities span a widely ranging spectrum of morality. People are inherently self-interested; this promotes behaviors that will maximize self-interest and possess varying degrees of moral or immoral elements.

I have to agree with that...and because of my inherent self-interest, I demand that the conversation revert back to my awesome suggestion.

Welcome to USMB!! You'll find, if you stick around long enough, that often when a thread gets voluminous, there will always be someone who will demand that you stick to the thread topic. Problem is, by that time, nobody can even remember what it was! It's just the nature of the beast.

 

[MaggieMae]

Nope. People's inherent qualities span a widely ranging spectrum of morality. People are inherently self-interested; this promotes behaviors that will maximize self-interest and possess varying degrees of moral or immoral elements.

I have to agree with that...and because of my inherent self-interest, I demand that the conversation revert back to my awesome suggestion.

Which was?

Free coffee in the lunch room? I second that... Everyone will give .5% percent of their paychecks to organize an oversight committee to out this into action, purchase and maintain the coffee supply and oversee the distribution of this new free coffee. Fret not about the surplus- I'm sure we'll find a way to spend it...

Huh...somebody stole our coffee tin collecting "donations" for the free coffee. Imagine that.

 

[JBeukema]

I have to agree with that...and because of my inherent self-interest, I demand that the conversation revert back to my awesome suggestion.

Which was?

Free coffee in the lunch room? I second that... Everyone will give .5% percent of their paychecks to organize an oversight committee to out this into action, purchase and maintain the coffee supply and oversee the distribution of this new free coffee. Fret not about the surplus- I'm sure we'll find a way to spend it...

Huh...somebody stole our coffee tin collecting "donations" for the free coffee. Imagine that.

I assure you that no such thing has occurred. We were over-budget for new decorum and my personal wet bar, so we allocated some funds from the coffee committee and scaled back you 401Ks and health benefit6s. I am now proud to announce that we have finished the renovations with a surplus, which we will invest in improving local infrastructure by replacing the lamp in my office with a new halogen-based one, which should allow an 12-percent increase in the time I scan spend in that office without getting a headache. I predict that this will help boost our overall efficiency and pave the way to a shining new year for the Corporation. To celebrate this success, we will be throwing an Eegees party! Donations will be accepted in this tin *places tin on desk* and any remaining funds that need be raised will be deducted from your holiday bonuses.