Lord of the Flies

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=Arraya]
My favorite story about human stupidity and how it was fought is about a doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis. He discovered that childbed fever mortality rates could be reduced ten-fold if doctors would wash their hands (we would now say disinfect). This idea was fought, called unscientific by the medical community and was not adopted until decades after his death. He eventually, ended up dying in a mental institute.

The “Semmelweis effect” is a metaphor for the reflex-like rejection of new knowledge because it contradicts entrenched norms, beliefs or paradigms.

[/quote]

Arraya: Check out GSF (Gadarene Swine Fallacy) as well: http://www.philosophicalsociety.com/Archives/The%20Gadarene%20Swine%20Fallacy.htm

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=faterikcartman]Another great Steyn article and another reference to Lord of the Flies.

http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-08-12/news/29885198_1_london-big-government-human-rights%5B/quote%5D

Peggy Noonan had an excellent article in the WSJ on this as well: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vRyJ9rRDnsUJ:online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html+Apr%C3%A8s+le+D%C3%A9luge,+What%3F&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=faterikcartman]Another great Steyn article and another reference to Lord of the Flies.

http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-08-12/news/29885198_1_london-big-government-human-rights%5B/quote%5D

Peggy Noonan had an excellent article in the WSJ on this as well: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vRyJ9rRDnsUJ:online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html+Apr%C3%A8s+le+D%C3%A9luge,+What%3F&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=faterikcartman]Another great Steyn article and another reference to Lord of the Flies.

http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-08-12/news/29885198_1_london-big-government-human-rights%5B/quote%5D

Peggy Noonan had an excellent article in the WSJ on this as well: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vRyJ9rRDnsUJ:online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html+Apr%C3%A8s+le+D%C3%A9luge,+What%3F&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=faterikcartman]Another great Steyn article and another reference to Lord of the Flies.

http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-08-12/news/29885198_1_london-big-government-human-rights%5B/quote%5D

Peggy Noonan had an excellent article in the WSJ on this as well: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vRyJ9rRDnsUJ:online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html+Apr%C3%A8s+le+D%C3%A9luge,+What%3F&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=faterikcartman]Another great Steyn article and another reference to Lord of the Flies.

http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-08-12/news/29885198_1_london-big-government-human-rights%5B/quote%5D

Peggy Noonan had an excellent article in the WSJ on this as well: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vRyJ9rRDnsUJ:online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html+Apr%C3%A8s+le+D%C3%A9luge,+What%3F&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

[Jazzman]

Just returned from the UK yesterday. You either adopt all points of view or play it safe and have no opinion. The latter having the advantage of being able to react emotionally, but you may stand accused of intellectual laziness, or worse indifference. The irony in this detached observation culture we live in, is when watching wild life documentaries we marvel at how similar animal behavior mimics our own. Yet when dissecting ourselves in these ‘natural’ acts, we prefer to denigrate them as belonging exclusively to primitive sub-species. You can’t have your cake and it. Violence, robbery, riots, social discontent, all share a similar stage but linking actors to one cause ignores the complexity of the human condition. The only constants worthy of consideration are violence is abhorrent and not pretending this is something new.

[Jazzman]

Just returned from the UK yesterday. You either adopt all points of view or play it safe and have no opinion. The latter having the advantage of being able to react emotionally, but you may stand accused of intellectual laziness, or worse indifference. The irony in this detached observation culture we live in, is when watching wild life documentaries we marvel at how similar animal behavior mimics our own. Yet when dissecting ourselves in these ‘natural’ acts, we prefer to denigrate them as belonging exclusively to primitive sub-species. You can’t have your cake and it. Violence, robbery, riots, social discontent, all share a similar stage but linking actors to one cause ignores the complexity of the human condition. The only constants worthy of consideration are violence is abhorrent and not pretending this is something new.

[Jazzman]

Just returned from the UK yesterday. You either adopt all points of view or play it safe and have no opinion. The latter having the advantage of being able to react emotionally, but you may stand accused of intellectual laziness, or worse indifference. The irony in this detached observation culture we live in, is when watching wild life documentaries we marvel at how similar animal behavior mimics our own. Yet when dissecting ourselves in these ‘natural’ acts, we prefer to denigrate them as belonging exclusively to primitive sub-species. You can’t have your cake and it. Violence, robbery, riots, social discontent, all share a similar stage but linking actors to one cause ignores the complexity of the human condition. The only constants worthy of consideration are violence is abhorrent and not pretending this is something new.

[Jazzman]

Just returned from the UK yesterday. You either adopt all points of view or play it safe and have no opinion. The latter having the advantage of being able to react emotionally, but you may stand accused of intellectual laziness, or worse indifference. The irony in this detached observation culture we live in, is when watching wild life documentaries we marvel at how similar animal behavior mimics our own. Yet when dissecting ourselves in these ‘natural’ acts, we prefer to denigrate them as belonging exclusively to primitive sub-species. You can’t have your cake and it. Violence, robbery, riots, social discontent, all share a similar stage but linking actors to one cause ignores the complexity of the human condition. The only constants worthy of consideration are violence is abhorrent and not pretending this is something new.

[Jazzman]

Just returned from the UK yesterday. You either adopt all points of view or play it safe and have no opinion. The latter having the advantage of being able to react emotionally, but you may stand accused of intellectual laziness, or worse indifference. The irony in this detached observation culture we live in, is when watching wild life documentaries we marvel at how similar animal behavior mimics our own. Yet when dissecting ourselves in these ‘natural’ acts, we prefer to denigrate them as belonging exclusively to primitive sub-species. You can’t have your cake and it. Violence, robbery, riots, social discontent, all share a similar stage but linking actors to one cause ignores the complexity of the human condition. The only constants worthy of consideration are violence is abhorrent and not pretending this is something new.

[Arraya]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/aug/14/larry-elliott-global-financial-system?CMP=twt_fd
[quote]For the past two centuries and more, life in Britain has been governed by a simple concept: tomorrow will be better than today. Black August has given us a glimpse of a dystopia, one in which the financial markets buckle and the cities burn. Like Scrooge, we have been shown what might be to come unless we change our ways.

There were glimmers of hope amid last week’s despair. Neighbourhoods rallied round in the face of the looting. The Muslim community in Birmingham showed incredible dignity after three young men were mown down by a car and killed during the riots. It was chastening to see consumerism laid bare. We have seen the future and we know it sucks. All of which is cause for cautious optimism – provided the right lessons are drawn.

Lesson number one is that the financial and social causes are linked. Lesson number two is that what links the City banker and the looter is the lack of restraint, the absence of boundaries to bad behaviour. Lesson number three is that we ignore this at our peril.

snip

But this is a fork in the road. History suggests there is no iron law of progress and there have been periods when things have got worse not better. Together, the global imbalances, the manic-depressive behaviour of stock markets, the venality of the financial sector, the growing gulf between rich and poor, the high levels of unemployment, the naked consumerism and the riots are telling us something.

This is a system in deep trouble and it is waiting to blow.[/quote]

[Arraya]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/aug/14/larry-elliott-global-financial-system?CMP=twt_fd
[quote]For the past two centuries and more, life in Britain has been governed by a simple concept: tomorrow will be better than today. Black August has given us a glimpse of a dystopia, one in which the financial markets buckle and the cities burn. Like Scrooge, we have been shown what might be to come unless we change our ways.

There were glimmers of hope amid last week’s despair. Neighbourhoods rallied round in the face of the looting. The Muslim community in Birmingham showed incredible dignity after three young men were mown down by a car and killed during the riots. It was chastening to see consumerism laid bare. We have seen the future and we know it sucks. All of which is cause for cautious optimism – provided the right lessons are drawn.

Lesson number one is that the financial and social causes are linked. Lesson number two is that what links the City banker and the looter is the lack of restraint, the absence of boundaries to bad behaviour. Lesson number three is that we ignore this at our peril.

snip

But this is a fork in the road. History suggests there is no iron law of progress and there have been periods when things have got worse not better. Together, the global imbalances, the manic-depressive behaviour of stock markets, the venality of the financial sector, the growing gulf between rich and poor, the high levels of unemployment, the naked consumerism and the riots are telling us something.

This is a system in deep trouble and it is waiting to blow.[/quote]

[Arraya]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/aug/14/larry-elliott-global-financial-system?CMP=twt_fd
[quote]For the past two centuries and more, life in Britain has been governed by a simple concept: tomorrow will be better than today. Black August has given us a glimpse of a dystopia, one in which the financial markets buckle and the cities burn. Like Scrooge, we have been shown what might be to come unless we change our ways.

There were glimmers of hope amid last week’s despair. Neighbourhoods rallied round in the face of the looting. The Muslim community in Birmingham showed incredible dignity after three young men were mown down by a car and killed during the riots. It was chastening to see consumerism laid bare. We have seen the future and we know it sucks. All of which is cause for cautious optimism – provided the right lessons are drawn.

Lesson number one is that the financial and social causes are linked. Lesson number two is that what links the City banker and the looter is the lack of restraint, the absence of boundaries to bad behaviour. Lesson number three is that we ignore this at our peril.

snip

But this is a fork in the road. History suggests there is no iron law of progress and there have been periods when things have got worse not better. Together, the global imbalances, the manic-depressive behaviour of stock markets, the venality of the financial sector, the growing gulf between rich and poor, the high levels of unemployment, the naked consumerism and the riots are telling us something.

This is a system in deep trouble and it is waiting to blow.[/quote]

[Arraya]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/aug/14/larry-elliott-global-financial-system?CMP=twt_fd
[quote]For the past two centuries and more, life in Britain has been governed by a simple concept: tomorrow will be better than today. Black August has given us a glimpse of a dystopia, one in which the financial markets buckle and the cities burn. Like Scrooge, we have been shown what might be to come unless we change our ways.

There were glimmers of hope amid last week’s despair. Neighbourhoods rallied round in the face of the looting. The Muslim community in Birmingham showed incredible dignity after three young men were mown down by a car and killed during the riots. It was chastening to see consumerism laid bare. We have seen the future and we know it sucks. All of which is cause for cautious optimism – provided the right lessons are drawn.

Lesson number one is that the financial and social causes are linked. Lesson number two is that what links the City banker and the looter is the lack of restraint, the absence of boundaries to bad behaviour. Lesson number three is that we ignore this at our peril.

snip

But this is a fork in the road. History suggests there is no iron law of progress and there have been periods when things have got worse not better. Together, the global imbalances, the manic-depressive behaviour of stock markets, the venality of the financial sector, the growing gulf between rich and poor, the high levels of unemployment, the naked consumerism and the riots are telling us something.

This is a system in deep trouble and it is waiting to blow.[/quote]

[Author]

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