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Ah, but what is freedom if I can't watch American Gladiators because I want to? Or, in my case, what if I want a grilled cheese sandwich with tater tots instea
by mpyne 13y ago
Ah, but what is freedom if I can't watch American Gladiators because I want to?
Or, in my case, what if I want a grilled cheese sandwich with tater tots instead of filet mignon and caviar? I hated Sundays on the boat because that was always "Steak & Lobster" day, and I was the one asshole who didn't like steak and didn't like lobster.
I agree that people should probably take an interest in civics. I agree that people should have the information needed to care deeply about civics, if they wish. I don't agree that people should feel compelled to care civics or anything else that Bill Hicks or any other self-righteous prententious jerk tells us to care about, any more than we should be compelled to care about what the government tells us to care about.
If the freedom to do as we please leads to people actually doing as they please, and that offends you, then perhaps freedom isn't what you were looking for in the first place.
- crpatino 13y ago>Ah, but what is freedom if I can't watch American Gladiators because I want to? Nobody would want to watch American Gladiators if they were not made to do so. Not directly told to, but somehow... maneuvered into it. Not quite the same as the grilled cheese sandwich!!!
- mpyne 13y agoIs that really what you tell yourself? "The people aren't really that stupid, they're being influenced to watch this filth?". And what makes you think that the same hidden influence by others isn't why I like grilled cheese?
- crpatino 13y agoYou put words in my mouth, I never said stupid. If you believe that you have to be stupid so you may be influenced by other people, you have a flawed view of human mind based on XVIII century philosophy. And it is not an opinion, it is a neurological fact. And of course you (and me) like grilled cheese sandwiches because of influence, but it might be a different kind of influence. I remember the sandwiches from my childhood and they had nothing to do with the gross multi-pound monsters presented in (sorry) Man vs Food and other glutony glorifying TV shows. No matter how high your IQ, if you think yourself immune to any sort of influence, you have proven yourself a mark. But if you recognize the possibility of influence and learn at least a bit of the compliance techniques, you make yourself at least partially resistant.
- merlincorey 13y ago> I hated Sundays on the boat because that was always "Steak & Lobster" day, and I was the one asshole who didn't like steak and didn't like lobster. You aren't an asshole; you're a vegetarian. I hear that's quite respectable these days. Myself, I'll have your steak and lobster - thanks!
- mpyne 13y agoI am 100% not a vegatarian. But I don't like steak, and the only seafood I like comes in pre-frozen sandwich-sized squares. Do enjoy the steak and lobster though, and let me know if you want to trade it for some pizza rolls!
- merlincorey 13y agoPizza rolls in exchange for steak and lobster? My good sir, I will give you a fine deal, and trade you twice the weight in pizza rolls for weight of steak and lobster!
- contacternst 13y agoThis is the worst discussion on HN I have ever seen.
- merlincorey 13y agoWell, Mr. 95 days of being here, you haven't been here very long, so let me be the first to tell you that your comment added nothing to this conversation. I'd downvote you if I could... but I think that's why you replied.
- contacternst 13y agoI commented to tell you my observance about your conversation in hopes that you wouldn't post more similar ones. That is what my commented contributed towards. Everyone here created an account at some point. This one was created by me about 95 days ago. I see you have observed that. Very nice I guess.
- krichman 13y agoBut isn't that the whole point? That we're so easily distracted by objectively useless entertainment? I spent hours this week looking at pictures of cats and viewing videos of cats jumping. It was a poor use of my time.
- mpyne 13y agoI would argue with "objectively useless". We are not just labor for the entrepreneurs.
- eli_gottlieb 13y agoYou think there are objectively useful uses for your time? I mean, ok, profitable sure, but objectively useful? That one's a religious argument.