Praise the forefathers

[lifegazer]

I'd just like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all of us, to praise our forefathers for indoctrinating us in all manner of ******** concepts. Otherwise, we'd have nothing to go on when formulating human identity.
... And that would be worse than killing a ******; a jew; a moslem; a christian; a german; a yank; a limey; a chink; a religious person; an atheist; a communist; a fascist; a democrat; a royalist; a materialist; an idealist... the list is endless.

[My apologies - some of the 'concepts' above are offensive to many because of the memories of hatred and inequality that they invoke. But I didn't invent those concepts and I merely mention them for philosophical effect/discussion - not because I myself abhor any of them. And please remember that billions of individuals have been killed just for identifying themselves via a particular concept].

For example, no [human] being is 'a German'. He/she has to become a German by learning the German-way and learning why Germany and Germans are a great race (in the opinion of their forebears).
Yet all Germans are individual! The word 'German' actually defines nobody, except to attribute the location of their birth to a specific location, OR to attribute their existence to at least one parent born in that specific location. [Yes, a German can be born anywhere in the universe!]
Essentially, 'a German' is a human who is taught to take pride in German history and general-culture and CONTEMPORARY philosophy/politics/religion.

So, you might be born in Brazil of a Chinese mother, but if your father has German links and loves his country and bombards you with a love for 'Germany', you're most-likely going to be proud to be 'a German'.
And then you will kill people who are not German.

... That's the way ~it~ works. Not just for the self-identifying concept of being 'German', but for any self-identifying concept.

This is a serious thread. It challenges the ridiculous notions of self-identity imposed upon you by your forefathers and asks why we should perpetuate the ridiculous situation of killing one another in the name of those ridiculous notions.

Of course, there is a deeper level to grasp at. But let's discuss the shallow-end first.

[Marquis de Carabas]

:popcorn1

[lifegazer]

:popcorn1
Don't observe. Think.

[Meffy]

Milk Duds... much?

[TragicMonkey]

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My cat's breath smells like cat food.

[Foster Zygote]

I bent my wookie!

Steven

[Elizabeth I]

[My apologies - some of the 'concepts' above are offensive to many because of the memories of hatred and inequality that they invoke. But I didn't invent those concepts and I merely mention them for philosophical effect/discussion - not because I myself abhor any of them. And please remember that billions of individuals have been killed just for identifying themselves via a particular concept].


Abhor means "to hate." So you're saying you DON'T hate these concepts? Just checking.

[lifegazer]

It seems that the problem is not just one of indoctrination, but of inertia.
A pawn moves whence it must.

I already know that. But now I also know that those partaking here don't have the capacity to exceed the limits imposed upon them by their forebears.

... The problem for that majority, is that a GREATER minority always has had that capacity.
That's why the world has progressed.

[lifegazer]

Abhor means "to hate." So you're saying you DON'T hate these concepts? Just checking.

I hate no One. I just hate notions embraced by an individual which induce existential inequality.

[Meffy]

That's exactly what Elizabeth is asking, lg. Do you or don't you abhor the notions? Posts #1 and #9 appear to contradict one another.

[Foster Zygote]

I already know that. But now I also know that those partaking here don't have the capacity to exceed the limits imposed upon them by their forebears.

So you really think the ideas from your original post regarding the divisiveness of nationalism, racism, ethnocentrism etc. are new to us? You think that we can't see the injustice of this sort of discrimination? I think you assume we can't because you prefer straw men to real people. That way you can accuse us of being part of the problem and insinuate your moral and intellectual superiority over us more easily. Why bother learning what we think when you can tell us what you believe we think?

Steven

[Marquis de Carabas]

Don't observe. Think.
I think I'll observe. Do keep babbling, but wipe the spittle off your chin.

:popcorn1

[Cosmo]

I think poor old lifegazer has finally lost it.

[RandFan]

I'd just like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all of us, to praise our forefathers for indoctrinating us in all manner of ******** concepts. Otherwise, we'd have nothing to go on when formulating human identity.
... And that would be worse than killing a ******; a jew; a moslem; a christian; a german; a yank; a limey; a chink; a religious person; an atheist; a communist; a fascist; a democrat; a royalist; a materialist; an idealist... the list is endless.

[My apologies - some of the 'concepts' above are offensive to many because of the memories of hatred and inequality that they invoke. But I didn't invent those concepts and I merely mention them for philosophical effect/discussion...Seems awfully close to an appeal to emotion but so long as you just want to mention them for "philosophical efect"... (what is that by the way) and discussion.

"Now watch what you say or theyll be calling you a radical, Liberal, fanatical, criminal." --Super Tramp?

[lifegazer]

So you really think the ideas from your original post regarding the divisiveness of nationalism, racism, ethnocentrism etc. are new to us? You think that we can't see the injustice of this sort of discrimination? I think you assume we can't because you prefer straw men to real people. That way you can accuse us of being part of the problem and insinuate your moral and intellectual superiority over us more easily. Why bother learning what we think when you can tell us what you believe we think?

Steven
You might be one of the 'greatest guys' on Earth. I don't know because I don't know you. But I'm not complaining about you - I'm complaining about the world in-general.
You insinuate that the world's okay and that there are no problems.

... Pleassssssse, grow up and read some books (history) - and then watch/hear the news.

[Foster Zygote]

You insinuate that the world's okay and that there are no problems.

Where??? Point to the place where I insinuate that the world is OK.

I asked "You think we can't see the injustice of this sort of discrimination?"

How is that insinuating that the world is OK? Isn't that acknowledging that there is unjust discrimination in the world? You're only proving my point.

Steven

[Ceritus]

Wooohooo Lifegazer has come to the conclusion that we are all people! regardless of origin!!!!

Seriously, engage your brain Lifegazer.

[Ceritus]

The world is exactly the way it is! it will never be that much better nor will it be that much worse because generations die and new ones are born. Good and bad are all relative to the experience of the observer.

[Ceritus]

I'm complaining about the world in-general.


Well what are you doing about it? I certainly hope you aren't just here whining about how much the world sucks to a bunch of people on these here forums while you could be standing on a soapbox at the street corner!

[ynot]

I'd . . . . . . . first.
Ask not what your world can do for you, ask . . . y'know the rest. :)

[EnanMyHero]

I like Cheddar Mashed Potatos. They taste really good. Go great with Fritos Scoops corn chips.

[RandFan]

I like Cheddar Mashed Potatos. They taste really good. Go great with Fritos Scoops corn chips.Oh, Fritos Scoops with bean dip and that prossesed nacho cheese dip. mmmm......

S**t, now I've got to go to the store.

[slingblade]

I'd just like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all of us, to praise our forefathers....


I just had the one, and of him, I once said that I planned to wear sneakers to his funeral, because it's damned difficult to dance on freshly-turned dirt in high-heels. I can't imagine having fourfathers.:jaw-dropp

[Meffy]

lifegazer, if you aren't talking about us but the world in general, please be so good as not to talk to us -- instead, address the world in general.

Bring a soap box so you'll stand above the crowd. It's so distasteful being down among hoi polloi.

P.S.: Whatever you do, don't answer the question I asked you above. And remember -- keep milking those duds for all they're worth!

[Katana]

Oh, Fritos Scoops with bean dip and that prossesed nacho cheese dip. mmmm......

S**t, now I've got to go to the store.

Scoops with melted Velveeta mixed with hot salsa...

Crap. Me, too!http://techhelpers.net/e4u/drink/trink07.gif

[Cleon]

Well what are you doing about it? I certainly hope you aren't just here whining about how much the world sucks to a bunch of people on these here forums while you could be standing on a soapbox at the street corner!

Seriously! This kind of entertainment should be shared.

[fuelair]

I think poor old lifegazer has finally lost it.


I've only been here since May - but I had assumed from the posts that he never had it. Along with another long time and at least five new posters.

[fuelair]

I agree on those CMP- especially with bacon pieces and a little chopped scallion or onion. And has anybody noticed how bad Fritos smell. Taste is fine,though.

[Tricky]

I've only been here since May - but I had assumed from the posts that he never had it.
That would be a correct assumption. Do a search on Lifegazer and reverse the chronological order of the posts if you want to see his early offerings. He's always been full of ...erm... himself.

[RandFan]

That would be a correct assumption. Do a search on Lifegazer and reverse the chronological order of the posts if you want to see his early offerings. He's always been full of ...erm... himself.Yeah, I gotta agree with that. I'm honestly amazed at how very little if any lifegazer has progressed. The guy has been exposed to a good bit of philosophy and history and yet you don't see any evidence that it has had any effect. You will find very little difference between posting today and posting years ago. And he just doesn't care. His little corner of of the philosophical world is all that matters to him. The rest be damned. And we are supposed to embrace his revolutionary concepts even though it has been demonstrated on many occasions that there is little if anything revolutionary about his ideas.

[Tricky]

The guy has been exposed to a good bit of philosophy and history and yet you don't see any evidence that it has had any effect. You will find very little difference between posting today and posting years ago.
Yep. Not long ago he was ranting about how science had to reform because it didn't work in the new age. Oblivious to irony, he entered these protestations on an internet discussion board.

Don't expect anything deep from Lifegazer. I call him "Eyeglazer" because once you've read one of his posts, you can be pretty sure that nothing of substance will follow. No-doze is your only recourse.