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Aswad -> RE: Spirituality and BDSM (9/18/2007 4:15:57 AM)
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ORIGINAL: blmtrsne
I only wanted to let others feel the catolic dogmas are not mine.
Nor are they mine. I have what some might call a "radical interpretation of the text."
Of course, I believe mine to be the correct one, but I'm not going to go ballistic over it.
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So when I meet people, I assume them to be friendly.
Which derives from social conditioning, which derives from culture, which derives from cultural heritage, which derives from religious doctrine, which (depending on who you ask) derives either from divine inspiration or from one or more people's opinions that have been wrapped for the masses. In any case, your assumption only holds insofar as you are dealing with people who have internalized the same conditioning you have.
I have found a lot of people not to be friendly, so I try not to assume anything.
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We have a lot of discussions here in Belgium stating "We have to send those strangers back from where they came from". The same people say that the stranger living in their street is a good one and needs to be accepted in the society.
Human nature, and an expression of Othering, the root of much "evil."
Rational formation of tribes based on merit and congruence of ideals counteracts this problem, and takes it to a natural level, wherein conflicts arise over disputed claims and resource starvation, rather than over dogma, skin color, gender, religion, and so forth. That is, however, contrary to the present doctrine of the modern nation state, so it will be unlikely to be realized any time soon, unless embraced at a local level.
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I'm not naive, some of us are not friendly. But I prefer to put flowers in my garden instead of arming myself.
I prefer to do both. I study hard the violent means at my disposal, hoping I won't have to use them. Again. I also respect, admire and cultivate the beauty of nature, life and the nobility of human spirit, much as some Objectivists do, but with a naturalistic angle that is informed by an understanding of evolutionary psychology and a fundamental respect for the order of nature. Shit happens, we deal, we go back to beauty.
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And I agree once again: I do have friends who own a gun and most of them are responsable with it. But I also went on holliday where a hunter left his weapons hanging on the wall for all kids to reach.
A lot of people are irresponsible, but most who own a gun have profound respect for it. The purpose of the constitutional right to bear arms in the US (where I do not live) is, in my opinion, simply that a person who would decide how others would be governed, is a person who should understand the value of life. Anyone who would reach for a gun with no comprehension of the damage it can do, or the value of life, is a moron.
I'd probably just have made off with the guns, and dumped them in a river somewhere. Let him explain to the cops how his guns were stolen because he didn't store them as the law indicates he should (if it doesn't, it's time for you to campaign for it to do so). Most likely, he would quietly neglect to report them stolen. If he did report it, he'd most likely lose his licence, at least around these parts. YMMV.
Either that, or called the police, depending on whether they'd deal adequately with it.
Making off with the firing pin would work if it's removable.
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Let's use our tools to make a better world for everyone.
Certainly.
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I prefer to reason with someone than to use a gun to increase my arguments.
A gun doesn't bolster the argument. It merely quells timid opposition. [;)]
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Because with reason you can make someone understand your position.
Sometimes, but not always. Remember that it comes down to arbitrary axioms.
It is the preferred approach, though, I agree.
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Nice to have some protection when someone does not want to reason of course.
Of course.
Health,
al-Aswad.
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