You say that people are born worthless. However, you then say that all people have is potential.
Worth is not the same as potential unless you want to argue semantics. Worth is a quantifiable variable based upon character and accomplishment. Potential is a domain range that outlines what we might conceivably achieve in our lifetimes. If you want to define those words differently, then fine, but by my definition the two are not interchangeable.
By your reasoning the death of a child is less important than the death of someone who would be a successful adult...
Right. The death of a truly excellent human being, whose accomplishments are manifold and likely to expand even further--such as Mozart--far outranks the death of a kid who hasn't yet made a mark on the world. Look, nobody is going to point out more fervently than I am just how important it is to raise children well. Children are our successors! We need them. But
need is not worth any more than potential is worth.
Also don't assume that every person who is new here is preteen.
Good grief, I'm not assuming anything of the sort. What, did
you assume that by "they" I meant "your elementary school teachers"? Perish the thought! I was personifying the conventional wisdom of our society. Haven't you ever heard of
They before? They are always conveniently behind every scheme!
I don't just believe what people tell me, but I tend to give at least the slightest benefit of the doubt.
I'm not seeing it.
I'd say that you are dismissing all those pilgrims as worthless.
Separate the person from the deed! Just because it's stupid to interject yourself into a religious mob doesn't mean that you are an inherently stupid person. It's perfectly legitimate to criticize people for their specific choices without making general statements about their character.
I get the feeling you're just cross with me for saying something politically incorrect! Your arguments seem designed not to persuade but to attack--alas, I recognize it all too well, because sometimes I make the same mistake myself.
Remove the bias you have against religions and your statement otherwise makes sense. When people are in a huge line and someone screams it's hard to not get scared and freak out. However, your disdain for the fact that religion is involved is apparent and damages your stance.
No, that's the whole point of my stance. I was very deliberate about my wording. I qualified my condemnation on participating in herd activity with the condition of it being related to religion, because I was thinking before I wrote my post of the very thing you now mention. The problem is that you're looking at it upside-down. Sometimes we have to put ourselves into a crowd. I ride the bus; those things get damn full. I drive on the freeway; that's two steps away from a herd on wheels! Sometimes we have no reasonable alternative but to interject ourselves into a situation that might result in a stampede of terrified human flesh. But because of the risk that entails, let's make sure that we never put ourselves into those kinds of positions unless we have a very good reason to do so.
Throwing stones at an effigy of the devil is not a smart reason to risk your life!It is a testament to the absurdity to which religion will drive human beings. That is the "painfully obvious" moral of the story I was speaking about.
As for you listening to stories about how he was affected, from all your past indications you'll be listening so you can feel that your stance is in fact correct. That you can strengthen your resolve that people who are faithful are morons. I see no other reason you'd have interest except for plain morbid curiosity.
Yes, that must be it! Why else would I be interested in hearing what he has to say other than to make fun of him? Truly, you have figured out this Lord J Esquire fellow pretty well.
Fool! You are only seeing what you want to see.
I take an interest in something like Zeppy's pilgrimage to the Hajj because it's
an interesting story. I've never been there! I've never done anything remotely close to it. I think it's fascinating. That doesn't mean I don't also think it's stupid, but the two are not mutually exclusive. Life is full of good stories, and the best place to look for them is in the realm of the pseudo-familiar. I know just enough about Islam and the Hajj that I could benefit from Z's knowledgeable retelling of his experiences there. I love to learn about people!
But of course that thought hadn't crossed your mind. Well, now you have something new to think about! Carry on.
