Power = Oppression

piercehawkeye45 · 08-06-2008, 04:28 AM

Very simple question. Very simple analogy.

You are either the wolf or the sheep. To be the wolf, you have to eat the sheep. To be the sheep, you have to be eaten by the wolf. The Shepard is only the most clever wolf in disguise.

Agreements? Disagreements? Anyone wishing to expand?

DanaC · 08-06-2008, 06:25 AM

I would say Power = the potential for oppression.

[eta] the only character in this scenario who exercises power is the shepherd. Wolves do not oppress sheep, they kill them. Both animals are acting on instinct and without the capacity for empathy, as we might understand it. For the sheep, the wolf is simply a situation to be responded to, a danger to survive, or not. To the wolf, the sheep is simply a recognised prey, to which he responds according to his nature. Power presupposes that the one exercising has the capacity for agency.

skysidhe · 08-06-2008, 08:11 AM

I feel like the sheep dog.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-06-2008, 10:02 AM

No, although it creates the possibility, it's not equal.

Troubleshooter · 08-06-2008, 10:09 AM

Power is potential, opportunity.

Clodfobble · 08-06-2008, 11:28 AM

The question is what do you consider "oppression?" If your definition of oppression is simply that someone else has any amount of power over you... well then yes, power = oppression would be a tautology for you. To me oppression means a certain amount of suffering. I have power over my children, but I do not oppress them. My boss has power over me, but he does not oppress me.

lookout123 · 08-06-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

My boss has power over me, but he does not oppress me.

of course not, those sexual harrassment suits are painful.

HungLikeJesus · 08-06-2008, 01:46 PM

Dennis: Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
King Arthur: Bloody peasant!
Dennis: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn't you?

Aliantha · 08-06-2008, 06:48 PM

Just because an entity has power doesn't mean it oppresses anyone or anything.

Apparently God has power, but does he oppress?

Troubleshooter · 08-06-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Just because an entity has power doesn't mean it oppresses anyone or anything.

Apparently God has power, but does he oppress?

I don't know about God, but some of his alleged adherents did a mighty fine job of it.

Elspode · 08-11-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Just because an entity has power doesn't mean it oppresses anyone or anything.

Apparently God has power, but does he oppress?

I dunno. Let's ask Job.

Cicero · 08-06-2008, 07:33 PM

We would have to go into the definition of power and I'm too lazy. So I will just say no, not always.

smoothmoniker · 08-06-2008, 09:05 PM

Power is the ability to make real an intended result.

It is only oppressive if the actions undertaken to make that result real infringe on the rights of others against their will.

ZenGum · 08-07-2008, 12:31 AM

I cite 'lil Lookout as a counter-example.

But I also remember that the main ingredient in shepherd's pie is NOT tofu.

lookout123 · 08-07-2008, 02:13 PM

I don't speak all fancy like smoothmoniker but i think we have the same idea. I liked the part in Schindler's List where Schindler tells the camp commander that real power comes from having the ability to do something but choosing not to do so. That seems like the opposite of oppression to me.

View Poll Results: Does Power = Oppression
Yes (please explain)	2	18.18%
No (please explain)	9	81.82%
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll

08-06-2008, 04:28 AM	#1
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	Power = Oppression Very simple question. Very simple analogy. You are either the wolf or the sheep. To be the wolf, you have to eat the sheep. To be the sheep, you have to be eaten by the wolf. The Shepard is only the most clever wolf in disguise. Agreements? Disagreements? Anyone wishing to expand? __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

08-06-2008, 06:25 AM	#2
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I would say Power = the potential for oppression. [eta] the only character in this scenario who exercises power is the shepherd. Wolves do not oppress sheep, they kill them. Both animals are acting on instinct and without the capacity for empathy, as we might understand it. For the sheep, the wolf is simply a situation to be responded to, a danger to survive, or not. To the wolf, the sheep is simply a recognised prey, to which he responds according to his nature. Power presupposes that the one exercising has the capacity for agency. Last edited by DanaC; 08-06-2008 at 06:37 AM.

08-06-2008, 10:02 AM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	No, although it creates the possibility, it's not equal. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-06-2008, 10:09 AM	#5
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Power is potential, opportunity. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

08-06-2008, 08:11 AM	#3
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	I feel like the sheep dog.

08-06-2008, 11:28 AM	#6
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	The question is what do you consider "oppression?" If your definition of oppression is simply that someone else has any amount of power over you... well then yes, power = oppression would be a tautology for you. To me oppression means a certain amount of suffering. I have power over my children, but I do not oppress them. My boss has power over me, but he does not oppress me. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

08-06-2008, 01:46 PM	#8
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Dennis: Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I'm being repressed! King Arthur: Bloody peasant! Dennis: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn't you? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

08-06-2008, 06:48 PM	#9
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Just because an entity has power doesn't mean it oppresses anyone or anything. Apparently God has power, but does he oppress? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

08-06-2008, 07:33 PM	#12
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	We would have to go into the definition of power and I'm too lazy. So I will just say no, not always. __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

08-06-2008, 09:05 PM	#13
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	Power is the ability to make real an intended result. It is only oppressive if the actions undertaken to make that result real infringe on the rights of others against their will. __________________ to live and die in LA

08-07-2008, 12:31 AM	#14
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I cite 'lil Lookout as a counter-example. But I also remember that the main ingredient in shepherd's pie is NOT tofu. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

08-07-2008, 02:13 PM	#15
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I don't speak all fancy like smoothmoniker but i think we have the same idea. I liked the part in Schindler's List where Schindler tells the camp commander that real power comes from having the ability to do something but choosing not to do so. That seems like the opposite of oppression to me. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

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