(September 21, 2023 at 5:25 am)Ahriman Wrote:

(September 21, 2023 at 5:18 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Then why hasn't it happened? Large-scale violence seems to be so ingrained in us that it appears to be an intrinsic part of human nature. If we ever move past our fondness for war, we'll have become some other than human. Homo novus, perhaps.

Boru

It hasn't happened because the world was never ready for it, but it's coming.

It hasn't happened, and a 100% no-violence-at-all kind of world seems impossible.

But these days there are many many people working actively to get wars going that don't need to take place at all. The difference between what these people are working toward, and what we could have if they would just wise up, is pretty undeniable. 

Let's just say that immense steps toward world peace are humanly possible. There's no need to think that "human nature" is always geared toward war. There are political and economic solutions, and we know the names and addresses of the people who do the most to prevent these solutions.

(September 21, 2023 at 7:49 am)Belacqua Wrote:

(September 21, 2023 at 5:25 am)Ahriman Wrote: It hasn't happened because the world was never ready for it, but it's coming.

It hasn't happened, and a 100% no-violence-at-all kind of world seems impossible.

But these days there are many many people working actively to get wars going that don't need to take place at all. The difference between what these people are working toward, and what we could have if they would just wise up, is pretty undeniable. 

Let's just say that immense steps toward world peace are humanly possible. There's no need to think that "human nature" is always geared toward war. There are political and economic solutions, and we know the names and addresses of the people who do the most to prevent these solutions.

We can all do something. Most people are lazy and simply don't want to do anything. That's too bad, but that shouldn't stop those of us who care, from making a difference.

(September 21, 2023 at 8:06 am)Ahriman Wrote: We can all do something. Most people are lazy and simply don't want to do anything. That's too bad, but that shouldn't stop those of us who care, from making a difference.

Yep, I suspect you're right. 

I'm pretty lazy and even more selfish, so I haven't done much. 

Let's see... I've never owned a car, and I barely heat or cool the house, so my petroleum consumption is pretty low. (A lot of war is over petroleum supply.) I've never been in the military, so I've never participated in America's wars to maintain economic hegemony -- that is, all of the wars in our lifetimes. The only politician I've ever actively supported is Taro Yamamoto, who is by far the most peace-loving of Japanese politicians. (Any vote for a high-level US politician, whether Dem or Rep, is a vote for war.)

I used to do translation work for a peace-oriented think tank run by Hiroshima University. Though I don't suppose they've accomplished much.

So that's about it. 

Maybe the fact that I am usually at home cultivating my garden (quite literally) means I have done less harm than most.

(September 21, 2023 at 8:38 am)Belacqua Wrote:

(September 21, 2023 at 8:06 am)Ahriman Wrote: We can all do something. Most people are lazy and simply don't want to do anything. That's too bad, but that shouldn't stop those of us who care, from making a difference.

Yep, I suspect you're right. 

I'm pretty lazy and even more selfish, so I haven't done much. 

Let's see... I've never owned a car, and I barely heat or cool the house, so my petroleum consumption is pretty low. (A lot of war is over petroleum supply.) I've never been in the military, so I've never participated in America's wars to maintain economic hegemony -- that is, all of the wars in our lifetimes. The only politician I've ever actively supported is Taro Yamamoto, who is by far the most peace-loving of Japanese politicians. (Any vote for a high-level US politician, whether Dem or Rep, is a vote for war.)

I used to do translation work for a peace-oriented think tank run by Hiroshima University. Though I don't suppose they've accomplished much.

So that's about it. 

Maybe the fact that I am usually at home cultivating my garden (quite literally) means I have done less harm than most.

All that's good. I have donated hundreds of dollars to charity and planted some flowers. My life is very sad. I do what I can to make a world a peaceful place. It's probably not enough, but at least I make an attempt.

(September 21, 2023 at 3:23 pm)Ahriman Wrote:

(September 21, 2023 at 8:38 am)Belacqua Wrote: Yep, I suspect you're right. 

I'm pretty lazy and even more selfish, so I haven't done much. 

Let's see... I've never owned a car, and I barely heat or cool the house, so my petroleum consumption is pretty low. (A lot of war is over petroleum supply.) I've never been in the military, so I've never participated in America's wars to maintain economic hegemony -- that is, all of the wars in our lifetimes. The only politician I've ever actively supported is Taro Yamamoto, who is by far the most peace-loving of Japanese politicians. (Any vote for a high-level US politician, whether Dem or Rep, is a vote for war.)

I used to do translation work for a peace-oriented think tank run by Hiroshima University. Though I don't suppose they've accomplished much.

So that's about it. 

Maybe the fact that I am usually at home cultivating my garden (quite literally) means I have done less harm than most.

All that's good. I have donated hundreds of dollars to charity and planted some flowers. My life is very sad. I do what I can to make a world a peaceful place. It's probably not enough, but at least I make an attempt.

I recently made baked ziti alfredo with broccoli florets and button mushrooms. That’ll do about as much as planting flowers to bring about world peace.

Boru

(September 21, 2023 at 5:25 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(September 21, 2023 at 3:23 pm)Ahriman Wrote: All that's good. I have donated hundreds of dollars to charity and planted some flowers. My life is very sad. I do what I can to make a world a peaceful place. It's probably not enough, but at least I make an attempt.

I recently made baked ziti alfredo with broccoli florets and button mushrooms. That’ll do about as much as planting flowers to bring about world peace.

Boru

I'm working on a plan for world peace.

If it works, 100% guarantee there will no longer be human conflict.

(September 21, 2023 at 5:29 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote:

(September 21, 2023 at 5:25 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: I recently made baked ziti alfredo with broccoli florets and button mushrooms. That’ll do about as much as planting flowers to bring about world peace.

Boru

I'm working on a plan for world peace.

If it works, 100% guarantee there will no longer be human conflict.

I hope you're not kidding. What's your plan?

(September 21, 2023 at 5:32 pm)Ahriman Wrote:

(September 21, 2023 at 5:29 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: I'm working on a plan for world peace.

If it works, 100% guarantee there will no longer be human conflict.

I hope you're not kidding. What's your plan?

Human extinction.

Foolproof.