tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post6885882385944452679..comments2023-12-23T05:14:34.273-05:00Comments on Wit's End: Something Where God Used To BeGail Zawackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-17218153728465896922017-03-19T19:16:51.183-04:002017-03-19T19:16:51.183-04:00An erudite salve for our time, many thanks. I am ...An erudite salve for our time, many thanks. I am with you in heart.Gossamer Jedihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084364754371690130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-53358697388659296752015-02-16T13:01:54.195-05:002015-02-16T13:01:54.195-05:00Wow, this is brilliant. Universal consciousness c...Wow, this is brilliant. Universal consciousness comes to mind, but that's probably just wishful thinking. I will re read to digest this treasure chest of ideas! I can't believe how relevant this is to everything that is going on in my life right now.Marlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09639130266340058681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-10299799286715092612014-10-23T12:35:34.171-04:002014-10-23T12:35:34.171-04:00Whether beliefs or systems of belief are "cre...Whether <i>beliefs</i> or <i>systems of belief</i> are "<i>created</i>" or merely "<i>exploited</i>" is, for all intents and purposes, irrelevant as the <i>effects</i> are the same. Please note, I am not criticizing or picking nits as I concur that there is both a "<i>propensity to believe in something</i>" as well as "<i>institutionalized canons</i>." Furthermore, your observation that "<i>It's a penchant advertisers thoroughly understand</i>" is spot-on with the implication that 'they' exploit those <i>beliefs</i>, regardless of origin (sometimes even originating 'new' beliefs), for their own profit, the nature of which is either increased finances or influence (power), regardless of any <i>harm</i> or <i>detriment</i> to others (their <i>prey</i>). Therefore, I would ask, "Exactly WHY should I, or anyone, <i>believe</i> that these 'predators' are my <i>fellow Americans/humans</i> and deserving of the same consideration as those who are more <i>helpful</i>?"<br /><br />Perhaps the Texas article could be described as <i>terrifyingly funny</i> or <i>hilariously terrifying</i>. Regardless, I think it is illustrative that <i>the best and brightest</i> are not always the ones who <i>rise to the top</i>, either financially or authoritatively. The axiom that if one "<i>studies hard and gets good grades and works hard</i>" will result in <i>succeeding</i> to rise to the top echelons of society is an abject <i>myth</i>, or if you prefer, an abjectly exploited <i>belief</i>. colinchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16925142870563262957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-26458197815052022342014-10-23T11:22:00.220-04:002014-10-23T11:22:00.220-04:00That article about Texas is either hilariously fun...That article about Texas is either hilariously funny, or terrifying. I'm not sure which.Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-88300821079251423332014-10-23T11:13:49.063-04:002014-10-23T11:13:49.063-04:00Cursed Blogger comments! I don't know if beli...Cursed Blogger comments! I don't know if belief systems are so much created by the self-proclaimed elite as exploited by them, or maybe I'm talking about the propensity to believe in something and you are referring to the institutionalized canons. It's a penchant advertisers thoroughly understand.Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-2117369129433956172014-10-23T09:45:01.153-04:002014-10-23T09:45:01.153-04:00Beautifully illustrated, Gail, in both verbiage an...Beautifully illustrated, Gail, in both verbiage and art! The "still" images are amazingly detailed and the aria from "Figaro" was absolutely delightful! Thank you. I am astounded that the Vimeo videos have NO comments, especially given their "age," and I'm chagrined at not having seen either of them sooner! The "Extinction" video is sublimely beautiful and poignant though I found the narration somewhat <i>understated</i>. Tomorrow I'll make it a point to watch the entire <i><a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/sixth-extinction/" rel="nofollow">The Sixth Extinction</a></i>. Otherwise, you really do "<i>need to learn there is no point in debating people who simply choose to not believe the evidence</i>" because, once you do, you will find your stress-levels greatly diminished. I know it is a <i>hard lesson</i> to learn but the needless stress incurred by not learning it may preclude you from the coming, ahem, <i>excitement</i>! :D<br /><br />I posted the following two comments at another site in the ether but I think they may be equally applicable here, I hope you don't mind.<br /><br />An interesting piece from Huff-Po...<br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/keith-m-parsons/texassized-stupidity_b_6021536.html" rel="nofollow">Texas-Sized Stupidity</a></i><br /><br />Excerpt…<br /><br />“<i>Epistemic duties require us to subject our beliefs to critical examination and willingly revise or release them when they are contrary to evidence and logic. On the other hand, we violate our epistemic duties when we believe irresponsibly, for instance, when we accept preposterous scenarios rather than plain facts, leap to conclusions in defiance of the most elementary canons of inference, or permit wishful thinking to substitute for sober judgment. To neglect your epistemic duties is to act irrationally, to be voluntarily stupid.<br /><br />There is also a narrower and even more pernicious sense of irrationality that I wish to distinguish from the sort of dereliction of epistemic duty mentioned by Clifford. I make the distinction at the end of this essay, after developing a detailed example. I draw upon Texas politics, the wellspring for every type of stupidity and irrationality.</i>“<br /><br />And...<br /><br />Every <i>belief system</i>, throughout the history of human existence, whether deemed a <i>religion</i> or not, was created and/or still exists for the <i>sole purpose</i> of <i>programming</i> the minds and motives of the masses to be subservient to, and for the exclusive benefit of, a self-proclaimed elite! Regardless, far too few will be willing or able to believe that and fewer still will endeavor to find out for themselves. <i>The Box</i> = womb = the warm and fuzzy world that exists solely between their own ears.<br /><br />I attempted to post the above last night but it <i>disappeared before my eyes</i>! Therefore, my sincerest apologies if this appears twice in this space and I fully support the removal of any duplication.colinchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16925142870563262957noreply@blogger.com