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Today is...
National Homeless Animals Day (Third Saturday of August)
Christopher Robin's Birthday
Oldsmobile's Birthday 1897
Yay for Christopher Robin's birthday. Obviously anything related to Pooh Bear gets my vote as a good thing.
I'm not going to comment on the whole "homeless animals" thing. In any philosophy discussion, I'm always the one who states that people are more important than animals (and I also said it was much more important to save the old lady than any piece of artwork), so I'd be more concerned about homeless people, myself. Of course, that always rates the "Well, obviously you just don't care enough about animals". To which, occasionally, I reply "I care a lot -- especially when they are my supper." It never helps the discussion, but it gets a rise out of some.
I saw a great bumper sticker while at the trapping convention: PETA -- Mad Activist Disease.
And now that I've managed to offend all those who think in stereotypically prejudiced ways, I'll go let my poor, blind dog (that I rescued from a shelter and nursed back to health and happiness at great expense and with much love and care) back inside to his real meat soup bone and carpeted dog kennel.
It's interesting, isn't it? Everyone says that the Internet is the "great leveler" it eliminates all prejudice based on looks, age and sex. I agree that as long as none of those traits are ever openly mentioned by the people involved, that may be true. But I also think that it allows people to be very narrow minded and actually encourages segregation of people. How, you ask? Because on-line (many) people are (often) openly prejudiced against different ideas and often limit all discussions to either complete agreement or derisive dismissal.
Take friends lists as an example. Sure it's nice to friend people who like the same things you do, but how often do people look at interests and decide against friending someone because they like (or believe) something they don't?
"OMG, he's a conservative! All conservatives are evil. I know this because I am so open minded I don't have to consider anyone else's opinion."
"EW! She likes Harry Potter. Only children and idiots like Harry Potter. I know this because I'm not a child and I am smart and I hate Harry Potter."
Okay... those are extreme and fairly stupid examples, but I don't believe they are that far from the truth. The Net allows people to have very narrow focus and frees people to never speak with someone who holds an opposing view. Too often I've read the equivalent of "I'm so open minded and perfect in my views that anyone who doesn't agree with me is either stupid or intentionally evil."
I'm not the best one to talk here, I understand. While I love a debate and will read any point of view that is well thought out and intelligently presented, I friend very few people. Most of them are people I know personally or friends of people I know personally. I have several bookmarks of journals that I read very occasionally but don't have friended... why? Well... I don't have time to read the people I do have friended. Why friend more people just to not read them?
And on that note: I will be out of town until late Monday... take care!
National Homeless Animals Day (Third Saturday of August)
Christopher Robin's Birthday
Oldsmobile's Birthday 1897
Yay for Christopher Robin's birthday. Obviously anything related to Pooh Bear gets my vote as a good thing.
I'm not going to comment on the whole "homeless animals" thing. In any philosophy discussion, I'm always the one who states that people are more important than animals (and I also said it was much more important to save the old lady than any piece of artwork), so I'd be more concerned about homeless people, myself. Of course, that always rates the "Well, obviously you just don't care enough about animals". To which, occasionally, I reply "I care a lot -- especially when they are my supper." It never helps the discussion, but it gets a rise out of some.
I saw a great bumper sticker while at the trapping convention: PETA -- Mad Activist Disease.
And now that I've managed to offend all those who think in stereotypically prejudiced ways, I'll go let my poor, blind dog (that I rescued from a shelter and nursed back to health and happiness at great expense and with much love and care) back inside to his real meat soup bone and carpeted dog kennel.
It's interesting, isn't it? Everyone says that the Internet is the "great leveler" it eliminates all prejudice based on looks, age and sex. I agree that as long as none of those traits are ever openly mentioned by the people involved, that may be true. But I also think that it allows people to be very narrow minded and actually encourages segregation of people. How, you ask? Because on-line (many) people are (often) openly prejudiced against different ideas and often limit all discussions to either complete agreement or derisive dismissal.
Take friends lists as an example. Sure it's nice to friend people who like the same things you do, but how often do people look at interests and decide against friending someone because they like (or believe) something they don't?
"OMG, he's a conservative! All conservatives are evil. I know this because I am so open minded I don't have to consider anyone else's opinion."
"EW! She likes Harry Potter. Only children and idiots like Harry Potter. I know this because I'm not a child and I am smart and I hate Harry Potter."
Okay... those are extreme and fairly stupid examples, but I don't believe they are that far from the truth. The Net allows people to have very narrow focus and frees people to never speak with someone who holds an opposing view. Too often I've read the equivalent of "I'm so open minded and perfect in my views that anyone who doesn't agree with me is either stupid or intentionally evil."
I'm not the best one to talk here, I understand. While I love a debate and will read any point of view that is well thought out and intelligently presented, I friend very few people. Most of them are people I know personally or friends of people I know personally. I have several bookmarks of journals that I read very occasionally but don't have friended... why? Well... I don't have time to read the people I do have friended. Why friend more people just to not read them?
And on that note: I will be out of town until late Monday... take care!
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-21 09:08 pm (UTC)From:I was going to ask, "Aren't you permanently...?" but then I realized that was "out to LUNCH", not "out of town". So have fun!
While I love a debate
Understatement of the century. If you're in the right mood you will take a totally ridiculous stance JUST so you can get the debate you want. Tho you've mellowed somewhat since college, or else I just don't see as much of you in that mood. It's one of the things I love about you.
I miss you! Can you tell?