Wall Street Protests

[henry quirk]

"What I have a problem with is redistricting the jungle so all of the banana trees end up on plots belonging to 1% of the monkeys. Then they try to sell their bananas to the monkeys without any for exhorbitant fees and then claim the hungry monkeys are hungry because they're lazy and stupid."


HA!

All: irrelevant.

I get that's what irks you (and many others): so what?

The banana-holders HAVE the bananas...if the non-holders were too stupid, too slow, or too trusting to stop them, then that's on THEM.

What's embedded in your post, Storm: the banana-holding monkeys are liars, greedy, manipulative, and zealous.

A good assessment, but: so what?

Righteous indignation is well and good but foundationless as morality is a fiction with no more 'umph' to it than the one or ones promulgating it can muster up (mustering up 'force', 'power', 'might', the fist, the stick, the knife, the gun, the bomb, etc.).

If Joe the monkey lies, cheats, steals, manipulates to get his bananas AND he has the craftiness to see his lies and theft are not only sanctioned by *'law' but largely applauded by the majority, then that IS the way it IS.

Arguing with Joe (or sitting on his doorstep, crying) will net the occupying monkey exactly what he or she already has: nada.

The lesson: if you want the banana-holder's goods then you will have to take them by way of a superior 'might', or though a more cleverly implemented lesser 'might'.

Now: the moral argument CAN work if understood AS an expression of might...in this case: the moral argument is meant to persuade (as in: cajole, confuse, manipulate, lie, cheat, etc.). The non-holder works to direct other non-holders to form an 'army' so that this 'army' can storm the tree and take the bananas...the manipulator will wax poetic and be oh-so charismatic and lay out a case for fairness and justice and whatever, but the argument is just the method, not the actual drive, which -- again -- is envy.

My point: your distaste is driven by envy...envy for bananas...envy for the quickness, and slyness of the banana-holder.

Your mistake is assuming your 'morality' is 'real' and shared ultimately by everyone...it's not.


As for "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing!” no, not by a longshot.









*codified morality...equally absurd...another fiction...only as 'good' as the enforcement.

This is an amoral world and utopia is a (crack)pipe dream.

[henry quirk]

In its widest sense: you just described 'living' for any individual of any species, past or present, you care to name.

Those who own and run corporations just do 'it' better (in a very narrow context) than you...*shrug*.

The rest of your post: unfounded assessments (of me)...a tactic used by one who can't dredge up a cogent, opposing, argument.

You, therefore, are dismissed...


To everyone else: From where does 'morality' come? What is the source of morality? What makes this behavior 'right' or 'good' and another 'wrong' or 'evil'?

[henry quirk]

If you're an occupant: of course not!

Looking to justify actions founded in *envy (to him- or her-self, and others) is at least half the work of an occupying monkey. So: the 'reasons' the occupant foists are very relevant (to him or her, as justification).

On the wider scale (beyond the subjective and personal), however: everything is irrelevant.









*Envy, of course, needs no justification...wanting something is not 'good' or 'bad'...it just 'is'.

[henry quirk]

I'm not cynical: just realistic.

Reality is amoral...implement 'fairness' as you can and like...I see the practicality of it (and the trap!)...I'm not, however, believing 'fairness' is anything other than another model that only works to the extent it's enforced.

As of today: 'fairness' has a less than stellar track record as model (useful fiction, but still fiction).

*shrug*

#

"dismiss this."

Done, and done.

[Stormieweather]

What I get from your posts, HQ, are the following three things:

* That someone (not you and not me), has the power and the money. We can't do anything about it, nor should we want or try to, so we might as well bend over and spread 'em.

* As well as...justice and fairness have no place in business (society?). Lying, cheating, stealing, and any other means of obtaining what you want are perfectly fine. Again, he who has the money has the power and those without need to STFU and get over it.

And lastly,

* Who cares? Everything is irrelevant and pointless anyway.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by henry quirk

I'm not cynical: just realistic.

Reality is amoral...implement 'fairness' as you can and like...I see the practicality of it (and the trap!)...I'm not, however, believing 'fairness' is anything other than another model that only works to the extent it's enforced.

As of today: 'fairness' has a less than stellar track record as model (useful fiction, but still fiction).

*shrug*

Haha, you really do not know how to read do you? I never said anything about fairness.

[henry quirk]

"That someone (not you and not me), has the power and the money. We can't do anything about it, nor should we want or try to, so we might as well bend over and spread 'em."


There will always be hurricanes...certainly no one with a clear head believes sitting on the coast and whining will deter a hurricane, yes?

The 'rich' aren't a hurricane, but they always 'are'...navigate them as you can, depend on them as little as you can, destroy them as you can (and if you like), but don't pretend the 'rich' will move and give and sympathize because occupants sit on the stoop and whine.

Like every one: the rich are self-interested...again: within a very narrow context they are simply more successful at satisfying self-interest (in whatever fashion that self-interest expresses itself in any given individual).

#

"As well as...justice and fairness have no place in business (society?). Lying, cheating, stealing, and any other means of obtaining what you want are perfectly fine. Again, he who has the money has the power and those without need to STFU and get over it."


Fictions can be useful and have whatever place you make for them...just keep in mind the other guy may not share your sentiment.

As for STFU: perhaps instead of 'talking', the occupants should 'do'.

#

"Who cares? Everything is irrelevant and pointless anyway."


What's important to you 'is' important to you...again: be aware the other guy may not share your sentiments.

Each and every one will order and discharge his or her life as he or she chooses (according to personal preference and inherent inclination).

This includes the each of the 'rich' and the 'poor'.

##

"I never said anything about fairness."


Not directly, no, but you did speak about the dangers of exceeding "a limit to where it hurts the country as a whole", the limit being a part of "socioeconomic systems favoring the rich"

Unless I'm mistaken, Like Dana, you point out the increasing disparity between 'rich' and 'poor', yes? A disparity that is "bad for the country” because "the actions of a few" hurt many...from this I infer inequity or 'unfairness' with the obvious solution (though you never pin one down) being a restoration of some kind of 'fairness'.

Did I read too much into your post?

If so: I apologize.

##

"If you wish an actual paper depiction of your Award..."


No thanks. Considering it's 'your' award, it probably wouldn't even make very good toilet paper, which is about the only use such a thing has.

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by henry quirk

HA!

All: irrelevant.

I get that's what irks you (and many others): so what?

You are not the first person to discover cynicism. It's a great cloak for the "You're stupid, and I'm right" crowd.

So what?

I'll tell you what. You are the winner of Sam's

Poster Not Worth Seriously Replying To Award.

This prestigious award has been won by only two other posters in Internet history - Urbane Guerrilla and a poster on another board who shall remain anonymous. Congratulations! If you wish an actual paper depiction of your Award, embossed and with gilt edges, please e-mail a SASE complete with small barking dog to AynRandAnonymous.com. A link to your Face Book page is optional.

And don't worry. Everyone else around here will probably continue to humor you. And Merc is gonna cream his pants when he reads your shit er stuff.