Eccentric Flower talk:201002/Tiring Battles

Ysabel:

The world is a mess and I just need to rule it.

-- 18:36, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Columbina:

See, this has always been where you and I disagree.

-- 19:32, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ysabel:

About which part?  :)

-- 19:57, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ysabel:

(Also, please tell me you recognize what I'm quoting.)

-- 19:58, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Nonelvis:

He may not, but I certainly do ... and you're not the only person who thought of that quote after reading this entry ;)

-- 20:05, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Columbina:

I have no idea where that's from and I'm sure I would dislike whatever character said it just as much as I dislike hearing it quoted, sincerely or insincerely.

Anyone who feels dead certain that they need to rule the world should be automatically disqualified from the job.

Yes, I am very testy and looking for heads to bite off today.

-- 20:47, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ysabel:

The character saying it is, in fact, a nascent supervillain. And you're not supposed to like him, just understand him.

-- 20:53, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ysabel:

(And I totally want to say, "You're welcome to bite my head off anytime, mrowr..." but I fear the reception it would get. So instead I will share the idea in this more meta fashion.)

-- 20:55, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ysabel:

Related due to "the world is a mess"ness: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxh1kzFmY11qak0qdo1_500.jpg

-- 20:56, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ysabel:

Also, this is way less convenient than IM. I have no idea when you've responded.

-- 20:56, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ysabel:

This comment intentionally left blank.

(I should go upstairs and have some lunch and stop posting, shouldn't I?)

-- 20:57, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Columbina:

And I totally want to say, "You're welcome to bite my head off anytime, mrowr..." but I fear the reception it would get.

OK, you do get big points for making me laugh despite myself!

-- 21:03, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Mrissa:

I think one of the biggest dangers of the internet is feeling like we need to take an explicit stand on everything that is at all important. We don't. We really, really don't. I think we feel like we do because in many cases we aren't doing a great deal else about it--very few of us dropped everything to start packing supplies for Haiti, for example. But part of it is probably fearing the description you've given, where you feel you're seeing it sort out who has a deep and personal interest and who could not possibly care less, not even with surgical intervention. People get scared of being seen as not caring less about floods or riots or injustice or disease. I care a great deal about e-books. I just haven't felt that taking a stand would be interesting or worth my time at this juncture.

-- 21:15, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

ProfRobert:

"The thing is, this business of needing to see the reasoning on both sides ... I think it's important and vital, and yes, part of being an adult . . . in practice, is that it's never easy."

See, this is exactly why I think you'd enjoy law school -- not practicing law, just the intellectual experience of law school. Ambiguity 101 and Seeing the Other Side -- that's exactly what I teach. There are no answers, only arguments, and trying to pick which is the better one, even if there are countervailing considerations, is what good lawyers do.

What I've taken away from 20+ years of studying, practicing and teaching law is that it's important to try to identify the best course of action and to follow it, but also to recognize that information, analysis and belief are all imperfect, and I might be wrong, and to try to consider what the fall-out would be from being wrong and how to minimize the risks. Do what you think is right, but do it humbly.

-- 21:51, 8 February 2010 (GMT)

Ursula:

I believe the world is a horrible place, too. But I also believe that most people are basically good, or want to be. These two ideas can both be true. We have it in us to live rationally and be kind to each other, but most of us are too lazy and selfish for it. (I do not exempt myself.) We have a utopia in our heads, but we kind of feel like we're too busy just getting through the day to make that utopia happen. So we're left with this world where all of our individual bad or lazy decisions add up to a whole lot of misery for everybody. (I know cars are killing the planet. But I need a car. So I drive, even if I feel guilty about it. Multiply me by millions, and you have melting ice caps.)

Thanks for the shout-out. Much appreciated. I will slay the dragon of unemployment! His blood will stain my boots, and I shall feast on his dragon heart! (Viking roar!)

-- 11:21, 9 February 2010 (GMT)