371–378 of 378 posts
Did anyone else notice that one of them shot an arrow at the plane? lol. In all seriousness I wonder how they would treat someone like him if he just showed up one day. Probably depends on the day of the week.
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Or they could go, "Oh, wasn't that weird!" and then forget about it.
Sure, just like I'm sure you'd forget seeing a literal flying saucer, glowy lights and everything. Just like all the alien-visitation advocates forget it, and don't try to tell others.
Second, a helicopter high in the sky in broad daylight would be far less freaky.
Third, it's not inevitable that just anyone goes and form entire religions and mythological worlds based on seeing something fly by in the sky. You're average person just simply isn't that creative.
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Sure, just like I'm sure you'd forget seeing a literal flying saucer, glowy lights and everything. Just like all the alien-visitation advocates forget it, and don't try to tell others.
First, you're making the assumption people have actually seen such things, rather than making up stories to draw attention to themselves. Second, a helicopter high in the sky in broad daylight would be far less freaky. Third, it's not inevitable that just anyone goes and form entire religions and mythological worlds based on seeing something fly by in the sky. You're average person just simply isn't that creative.
2) a noisy, black, flying thing that's bigger than any bird won't draw attention, clearly. Why would it be less freaky?
3) totally agree. But your average person does tell other people. Do you think Spielberg made Close Encounters because he was visited by aliens? Or a significant number of the many many many other alien books / movies?
You know that Golden Rule?" Not the one that VCs quote, but the one that goes "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you?" We should think about that when we choose how to deal with uncontacted tribes. It may be that one day another intelligence will need to decide how to deal with us, and on that day I hope we can say, "Yes, we used to have a habit of massacring technologically inferior peoples we encounte…
We should give them access to technology and to our way of life. Our way of life is better. Preserving their backwards culture so they can continue lives of misery and suffering is just as disgusting as the Prime Directive. Help is exactly what I would want from advanced alien visitors. I don't want them to respect my culture just because it is mine; I want something better for myself, not cultural relativism. There…
Your attitude is the same as China's regarding Tibet. "Save Tibet!" "Why?" "The Chinese are destroying their culture and way of life by modernizing them! Forcing them to go to school, learn Chinese and math and business and stuff, to get jobs..."
Oh wait...
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I am not programmed with these views. I grew up in an environment heavily leaning the other way. Then I rethought things on my own initiative. I am open to discussion including lengthy discussion. HN is not a suitable place for that. Why don't we talk here: http://groups.google.com/group/rational-politics-list/ You can also read some of my philosophy if you like (if you think I am programmed by someone, please let me…
I'm not trying to say that you've been programmed by someone, or that you're being mindless. It's just that sometimes views are so strongly held that discussion is very drawn out - I was being a bit flippant. Thanks for the invite to the group. I will take you up on your offer, I'll also have a read through your site - it looks very interesting. EDIT: I should point out, if I had to choose a school of philosophy, it…
*reminder*
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First, you're making the assumption people have actually seen such things, rather than making up stories to draw attention to themselves. Second, a helicopter high in the sky in broad daylight would be far less freaky. Third, it's not inevitable that just anyone goes and form entire religions and mythological worlds based on seeing something fly by in the sky. You're average person just simply isn't that creative.
1) you're making the assumption that people haven't . 2) a noisy, black, flying thing that's bigger than any bird won't draw attention, clearly. Why would it be less freaky? 3) totally agree. But your average person does tell other people. Do you think Spielberg made Close Encounters because he was visited by aliens? Or a significant number of the many many many other alien books / movies?
2) nobody said it wouldn't draw attention. Watch the video. It did. But where's the evidence that having seen something freaky has now just irreparably altered their way of life?
3) Not sure where you're going with that. People tell stories, some of those stories have budgets, but...how has that changed our way of life? If (if!) these people go on to tell their children about the Big Noisy Freaky Thing In The Sky for generations to come...so what? Does this in any way prevent them from living the lives they have always lived? Does the fact that they've seen such a thing now mean that we have to invade their culture and "civilize" them, because otherwise...well, otherwise what? At most, they've got a new god to add to their stories. If that.
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The selection of chattel is your own arbitrary distinction. Being held against one's will, forced to labor, and not paid, is slavery. Is your concern that slaves are not being bought and sold as property? Well they are bought and sold in many of these cases. Not all of them are, but not all slaves in plantation days were bought and sold either. You're trying to claim that slavery doesn't exist because you want to mak…
It is arbitrary but so far as it is my own, it is also most people's, tying into my point about clarity of definition. Chattel slavery means the public acceptance of slavery--slave markets, the fugitive slave act. Chattel is a legal term connoting legal approval of slavery. It is also what people think of first when someone starts talking about slavery. Alongside chattel slavery was indentured servitude, which might…
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It is arbitrary but so far as it is my own, it is also most people's, tying into my point about clarity of definition. Chattel slavery means the public acceptance of slavery--slave markets, the fugitive slave act. Chattel is a legal term connoting legal approval of slavery. It is also what people think of first when someone starts talking about slavery. Alongside chattel slavery was indentured servitude, which might…
Perhaps in your imagination. Speaking of clarity, I hope you will come to some clarity in your mind that you are the only person here trying to insert these qualifiers into this discussion.