Are we relativists all religious fanatics?

[Mystic]

Maybe one day I will be happy. But not now. Right now it's a time for me to feel guilty and follow a path of redemption.

[Violet]

Maybe one day I will be happy. But not now. Right now it's a time for me to feel guilty and follow a path of redemption.

What's with this guy?

[littleendian]

I remember as a child when I first saw something on TV about kids starving and dying in Africa, I was shocked. I was filled with sadness. I talked to teachers about in school. In fact, I thought not much people knew, because otherwise they would've done something or not be all happy.

Funny, when I heard of their plight: I was not moved an iota. I'm still not moved.

All-mighty spaghettimonster in the majestic golden saucepan! Now that is a statement.

Honest question: Do you feel no empathy by default or do you not allow yourself empathy?

[Violet]

All-mighty spaghettimonster in the majestic golden saucepan! Now that is a statement.

Honest question: Do you feel no empathy by default or do you not allow yourself empathy?

No, that is a fracture. Consider revising.

Considering that how empathic I feel depends on the situation, I am inclined to say that you've generated a false dichotomy. Which is to say... you could have just asked

[Raven]

I remember as a child when I first saw something on TV about kids starving and dying in Africa, I was shocked. I was filled with sadness. I talked to teachers about in school. In fact, I thought not much people knew, because otherwise they would've done something or not be all happy.

Now after much time, when I see that, what do I do. Nothing. I am not shocked. It's normal. Everyone knows.

Suffering is brushed aside. And some of us go on about joining organizations (I was part of one) that work for the poor and oppressed. And it alleviates that guilt of doing nothing to a degree.

Truth is even when we haven't done practically nothing: we haven't done nearly enough.


Society can praise you all it wants. We vote and we think we are empowered. Truth is we have no idea what's going on.

We prefer to remain ignorant and blindly trust others.

At the same time, knowledge of oppression here and there....does what?

Some of us cared a lot but then convinced ourselves we are powerless. We embrace the culture that constantly turns it's eyes away from the problems of the world and concentrates on having good time.

You can do what you want with your life.

Some of us maybe powerless, but others, we have a lot of potential.

You can live for whatever purpose you want.

You choose to be happy or sad. I can chose to be happy. I just rather not.

I can live to be happy. I just rather not.

As a former shiite Muslim, I remember crying for Imam Hussain and his companions that died for rising up for justice.

As for what it will do for oppressed and suffering. Even if it does nothing, I rather trying to remember their pain and that it motivates me to try harder.

Happiness makes you try little. And when you do little, you want to feel good about it.

Sadness reminds you, you been lazy. You haven't done much. You've ignored them.

Sadness makes you realize there is a long road ahead of you and you may never be satisfied with your efforts.

Happiness makes you clap for yourself for every half baked effort.

Dude, you seriously need a lot of help. Your seem to be suffering from major depression and need to do something about it. This stuff you are writing is quite morbid. You need to address that, and once you get your head on straight then you can try your bit to make this world a little bit better. If we all did that then the world would be a better place.

[KichigaiNeko]

Clearly Islam is not a religion for you Mystic. Or any other religion for that matter.

There is a great deal you will NEVER be able to do (like become Miss/ Mr Universe) this is no reason for you to be so hard on yourself. Redemption? For what? Being alive?

Seriously, get help honey. Your depression is starting to get to dangerous proportions.

[Cato]

So what's your opinion about this and Plato's allegory of the cave? Do you think that it's true that relativists don't differ much from religious men?

I am of the opinion that you don't understand Plato's cave. You invoke Platos's cave as some reletivistic mantra.

Plato's cave is a thought experiment. How do I know this? Because, Plato had to invoke the fact that the observer was shackled; thereby, limiting the view to the shadows on the wall. Let me put this another way...

Put a stick into water, the stick appears to bend. Pull the stick out of the water and it's straight again. Why??? Does water have the power to bend sticks, but relinqhishes the ability when the stick is extacted? Or, does a God create the illusion because he has nothing better to do? Or, is it caused by the differenece in the refraction of light through different media?

[littleendian]

Now that is a statement.

No, that is a fracture. Consider revising.

Consider not being such a smart ass

[Violet]

Consider not being such a smart ass

Would you prefer that I be a stupid ass? I mean... that's probably the only way you'll ever 'win' any argument with me, so I could see why you'd want for my intelligence to suddenly disappear (saving face, and all that). Or... could you be telling me that my being a donkey is itself frowned upon by you...?

Because that'd be mighty speciesist. Perhaps you might consider the strength of the hyphen?

The hyphen looks like this: -

[littleendian]

Because that'd be mighty speciesist. Perhaps you might consider the strength of the hyphen?

That's a bit cerebral, as they say in Aikido, not everything gets improved by thinking it all the way through.

The hyphen looks like this: -

Gee, thanks, I'll forever be in your debt!

Maybe consider that for some people English is not their first language. We have no use for the mighty hyphen in my native language, German, we just combine the words without inefficient extra lines in between:

Donaudampfschifffahrtskapitaensmuetzenaufhaengung!

Oh yeah! And that's already sparing you the äöüß!