81% Say US on Wrong Track, 48% to Stay Anyway

[alexamenos]

Originally Posted by Underdog

The path to "we are the government" doesn't always lead down the road of Democracy...

I think every human who doesn't take responsibility for their own actions (which pretty much includes all of us) empowers the need for government - we prop up our own masters without lifting a finger because we're too lazy to lift our fingers in the first place... The question is: "why?"

a very fair statement, and it beats the hell outta me why we do this.

[ribosoma]

Originally Posted by Usually Lurkin

I wasn't just talking about the quotes when I said mish-mash of other peoples' ideas. Murder? the British invention of the toilet? Your advanced learnedness in history??? You started that post saying you didn't say the appreciation of the flush toilet is consumerism. Then you rant about the evils of consumerism and the evils of appreciating the flush toilet without distinguishing between the two. Pick a point and argue it for just one post. Just one paragraph, even. It might help you stitch together something coherent out of all those ideas you've been reading.


the Pythagoreans worshipped beans, dude. beans.

Dear Yahweh/Aton/Jehovah/Bel/Gad/God. Actually I did distinguish between the two. Flush toilets are great. The U.S. dollar and those who wield it didn't invent the toilet. When your concept of the state of affairs in a country is based upon material progress, that is a sign of consumerism. My comments in regards to the toilet were that to base your view as to the state of affairs in a country on the flush toilet and the internet, you are showing signs of consumerism. I have actually stated all of these things repeatedly, but I can see that you are confused, so I'll refrain from stating them anymore.

For you, with love:

The Pythagorean Bean Myth, which you don't seem to grasp, either...

and here, for a truly scientific explanation of why they abstained from beans:

http://users.ucom.net/~vegan/beans.htm

[alexamenos]

a) a discussion has reached the limits of its usefulness when we must consider the relationship between pythagoreans and beans;

b) thank god tomorrow we'll have a game to discuss.

[ribosoma]

Originally Posted by alexamenos

a) a discussion has reached the limits of its usefulness when we must consider the relationship between pythagoreans and beans;

b) thank god tomorrow we'll have a game to discuss.

Well said. I agree.

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by alexamenos

a) a discussion has reached the limits of its usefulness when we must consider the relationship between pythagoreans and beans;

b) thank god tomorrow we'll have a game to discuss.

I think we've just about reached the point where 80% of the posts are complaining about the state of affairs, and no one is saying they'd rather be anywhere else.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Usually Lurkin

I think we've just about reached the point where 80% of the posts are complaining about the state of affairs, and no one is saying they'd rather be anywhere else.

I'd rather be on the moon (but only if you'll come with me...)

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by ribosoma

The Pythagorean Bean Myth, which you don't seem to grasp, either...

and here, for a truly scientific explanation of why they abstained from beans:

http://users.ucom.net/~vegan/beans.htm

did you read either of these things you linked? the second one is an argument as to why we shouldn't think the Pythagoreans had scientific reasons for not eating beans.

The most interesting of Aristotle’s four other reasons are “because they are like genitals”7 and “because they are like the gates of Hades, [the stems] alone [of all plants] being without joints,”

They linked beans to reincarnation. I have a pretty strong feeling that if you lived at the same time Pythagoras did, you'd be quoting all sorts of stuff your teachers were handing you about how the Pythagoreans are frauds and don't really believe in empiricism at all, and that if we don't do away with the pythagorean theorem and harmonics, then we are sheeple being led down an ugly path of bean worship.

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by Underdog

I'd rather be on the moon

well, really, me, too. But not if I have to pay for a ride with those danged commies. Let me ride with good ol' NASA, paid for by good ol' Americans

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Usually Lurkin

well, really, me, too. But not if I have to pay for a ride with those danged commies. Let me ride with good ol' NASA, paid for by good ol' Americans

I can only afford "free"... Do you take hitchhikers, or should I "get a job, hippie!" that can afford me space travel?

[ribosoma]

Originally Posted by Usually Lurkin

did you read either of these things you linked? the second one is an argument as to why we shouldn't think the Pythagoreans had scientific reasons for not eating beans.


They linked beans to reincarnation. I have a pretty strong feeling that if you lived at the same time Pythagoras did, you'd be quoting all sorts of stuff your teachers were handing you about how the Pythagoreans are frauds and don't really believe in empiricism at all, and that if we don't do away with the pythagorean theorem and harmonics, then we are sheeple being led down an ugly path of bean worship.

I am self taught, my friend. The second link actually stated both sides, which I thought was objective, but apparently you didn't. Being that Pythagoras didn't teach about usury, or the need for warfare, but instead brought ideas that are at the root of both practical and sacred geometry to mankind, I would probably be enrolled in his mystery school, if I was fortunate enough to be admitted. You had to be pious and not rooted in materialism, as well as having a great knowledge of mathematics and science. You also had to be self aware about how your thoughts affected the world around you, so you couldn't be apathetic. The reason I posted a refutation to your statement about one of the great thinkers of mankind is because you butchered what he and his school were about. I see that you won't admit that. Again, I get it. Perhaps my refutations of your flawed logic would appear to make more sense if they weren't tied to your logic. That tie is now broken.

And for the record, I would love to live in Costa Rica, Belize, or Oaxaca, Mexico.

[rabbitproof]

So, what keeps you away from there?

I ask this because I would like to go some place like that (at least for a while - before finding the next interesting spot) but have not for fairly pathetic reasons ($$, conditioning).

[Usually Lurkin]

Originally Posted by ribosoma

I am self taught, my friend. The second link actually stated both sides, which I thought was objective,

Self taught doesn't mean you're not mashing together other people's ideas. That site did state both sides, as in "here's side A, which is bad, so here's side B."

And for the record, I would love to live in Costa Rica, Belize, or Oaxaca, Mexico.

If you wanted to, you would.

[ribosoma]

Originally Posted by rabbitproof

So, what keeps you away from there?

I ask this because I would like to go some place like that (at least for a while - before finding the next interesting spot) but have not for fairly pathetic reasons ($$, conditioning).

Ah, we are in the same boat, my friend. I am already booked for a few trips through the summer, so I'll have to wait until early fall to go. Here's to you going out and experiencing the beauty of the world. Cheers.