Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 2 2009, 12:02 PM GMTI strongly believe in Karma and actions coming back to bite you on the arse.
On the other hand, life is not fair. It's not often their bad karma that leads to people being persecuted.
Let's All Mock The Hippy Page 15
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 2 2009, 12:08 PM GMTThat is a very healthy philosophy to have Dolly.
Until you get burgled or someone breaks into your car or you get an unfair parking ticket or the train you need is cancelled at the last minute or...
No wait, I now disagree with your philosophy of 'just rolling over and taking it like a biatch', damn my sense of social injustice.
I'd rather be the victim than live with myself as a perpertrator. I've had to pay for private health treatment running into thousands and it's annoying but at the end of the day I'm lucky I can (barely) afford it and it even exists.
I have been burgled, had unfair parking and speeding tickets (getting a morphine perscription for a dying relative), been attacked walking home, racially abused, sexually harassed, etc. Still I'd rather live in this society than the one you suggest, where everyone is judged by some set standards.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 2 2009, 12:19 PM GMTFor one, it makes a good TV show about a white trash guy with a moustache trying to right his previous wrongs.
Um, that's it.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 2 2009, 12:21 PM GMTStill I'd rather live in this society than the one you suggest, where everyone is judged by some set standards.
Do you mean a society where you're judged by where you were born, the colour of you skin, where you went to school, how much money you have, who your parents were, which God you believe in, your credit rating and how physically attractive you are?
Yes, that's much better then a society where people are judged and rewarded for making life better for everyone.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 2 2009, 12:26 PM GMTYes, that's much better then a society where people are judged and rewarded for making life better for everyone.
But what is regarded as making life better? What about someone who lives life quietly but isn't serving soup to the homeless? What about unable to do much due to illness or having a bad start in life?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 2 2009, 12:34 PM GMTBut what is regarded as making life better? What about someone who lives life quietly but isn't serving soup to the homeless? What about unable to do much due to illness or having a bad start in life?
They'd all be fine, as in their own small way, they are contributing to the good of society.
It's only those that purposely seek to make life bad for others that would suffer.
For some reason, we have been taught to be toleratent of the lazy, the unlawful and the ignorant. Why? What do they bring to the party? How do they make life better for anyone?
People seem to be confusing being honest, decent and law abiding with doing extra curricular volunteer work. Perhaps as a society, we've become so greedy, selfish and lazy that the thought of returning to a system of fairness is beyond comprehension. Perhaps as a society we are doomed.
But life isn't fair is it? There's no rhyme or reason to things. How can you make things up to a child with leaukemia? People need to lead good lives because they want to for their own piece of mind than for rewards from a society. I don't believe most people are bad or evil. Many people are selfish, but they tend to end up living very lonely, unhappy lives.
I think people are becoming more and more self-centered, true and this is a concern. There is a growing culture of outward openess and warmth which actually contrasts with a lack of empathy - as can be seen amongst BB contestants for example.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 2 2009, 12:43 PM GMTFor some reason, we have been taught to be toleratent of the lazy, the unlawful and the ignorant.
Have we? You mean in the form of benefits and such?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 2 2009, 12:51 PM GMTThere is a growing culture of outward openess and warmth which actually contrasts with a lack of empathy - as can be seen amongst BB contestants for example.
These idiots are the extreme exceptions, rather than the rule, surely.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 2 2009, 12:53 PM GMTThese idiots are the extreme exceptions, rather than the rule, surely.
No I think it's happening more and more - like the idea of social networking and 'friends'. People are very huggy and lovey-dovey on the surface, yet friendships are becoming more superficial.
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 2 2009, 12:53 PM GMTHave we? You mean in the form of benefits and such?
Not just benefits but overall, we've become apathetic and resigned to the machinations of scum, as if we as a society are powerless to do anything about it.
I'm in total agreement with Dolly that the vast majority of people want to live their lives without harming others and that it's a small minority that cause the majority of societies ills.
Unlike other more radical solutions which involve incareration, sterilisation or a police state - I'm just positing the notion of creating a system which more fairly reflects the values we collectively hold.
To Wayne Chav, there is no incentive for change and there are very few consequences for continuing his anti-social behaviour.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 2 2009, 12:51 PM GMTMany people are selfish, but they tend to end up living very lonely, unhappy lives.
example.
Where's Batman when you need him?
Quote: Kevin Murphy @ November 2 2009, 1:07 PM GMTWhere's Batman when you need him?
Probably fighting crime in Gotham, what with the time difference.
I neither believe in karma, because imo the universe doesn't care, nor that we should try to create a fascist system which more unfairly fairly reflects the values we (the privileged) collectively hold.
You can be a good and kind and caring person without allowing everyone to walk over you. People do misunderstand the idea of Karma a lot. The point of Karma has never been about giving constantly to others despite ourselves in the hope that something good will come out of it eventually. It's about understanding what is right and wrong and accepting responsibility for your actions ether way. You can make a stand for yourself without taking it to a dark place and hurting people and at the same time you can do great things for others without turning into a doormat.
It's about BALANCE.