the question of alleged human "superiority"

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takethewarhome said:
I see alot of people going back and forth on these minute details and differences of animals and people....

I thought it was understood in this that the question was: are humans [in general] the superior lifeform of Earth?
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Superior in general ? I don't know what that means..
There have to be ground rules and no biases.
 
Enmos said:
Superior in general ? I don't know what that means..
There have to be ground rules and no biases.
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the shark may be superior.
most earth covered by water
predominant predator superior to all others etc et cetterrar

sharks have been around a lot longer than humans.
 
What a piece of worke is a man! how Noble in
Reason? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing
how expresse and admirable? in Action, how like an Angel?
in apprehension, how like a God? the beauty of the
world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is
this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me; no,
nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme
to say so
 
Wake your reason's hollow vote
Wear your blizzard season coat
Burn a bridge and burn a boat
Stake a Lizard by the throat. ...?
 
Enmos said:
Are you quite sure ? :p
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I was talking about this guy (albeit a more ancient and elegant one):
pimp-c-715217.jpg
 
Alright.

In post #83, Varda cites a quote from Hamlet in which Hamlet expresses skepticism over the alleged divine superiority of Man.

In post #84, I respond with Montaigne's "What do I know?" Shakespeare was informed by Montaigne's skepticism, as reflected particularly in Hamlet.

In post #85, Varda maliciously attacks me by calling me a fishmonger! But seriously, Hamlet calls Polonius a fishmonger 'cuz he pimped out one of his bitches and hoes.

In post #86, I respond with a line from King Crimson's "Lizard." The next line sung masterfully by special guest Jon Anderson is "Go Polonius or kneel."

Finally, a fishmonger is a pimp. I hope I don't need to explain that one.
 
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parmalee said:
Alright.

In post #83, Varda cites a quote from Hamlet in which Hamlet expresses skepticism over the alleged divine superiority of Man.

In post #84, I respond with Montaigne's "What do I know?" Shakespeare was informed by Montaigne's skepticism, as reflected particularly in Hamlet.

In post #85, Varda maliciously attacks me by calling me a fishmonger! But seriously, Hamlet calls Polonius a fishmonger 'cuz he pimped out one of his bitches and hoes.

In post #86, I respond with a line from King Crimson's "Lizard." The next line sung masterfully by special guest Jon Anderson is "Go Polonius or kneel."

Finally, a fishmonger is a pimp. I hope I don't need to explain that one.
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Ah, thanks lol
And yep, it's a good thing you explained that fishmonger means pimp. Didn't know that :D
 
Enmos said:
Ah, thanks lol
And yep, it's a good thing you explained that fishmonger means pimp. Didn't know that :D
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I was actually referring to not wanting to explain why fishmonger means pimp! I try to avoid that sort of, ummm, biological discussion.

Anyways, returning to the topic:

The sort of "survival" which Norsefire alludes to reminds me too much of the rationales some people make for pre-emptive war (wage war in order to prevent war?!) or the argument that many people make that owning a car (I'm a lifelong bicyclist--the only car I've ever owned, I lived in) somehow "saves time"--in the U.S., a car owner who makes minimum wage must work somewhere between 15 and 30 hours a week just in order to pay for that car (and all of the costs it entails); whereas I work considerably less simply because I don't need to. See this page for analysis: http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/advocacy/autocost.htm Of course most people I know make considerably more than minimum wages, and a lot of them drive old, cheap cars; but still, they must work a good deal more than I do to pay for that car.

The sort of "survival" which Norsefire discusses often entail methods which ultimately work against us:

Originally Posted by Norsefire
Yes, there is; the fact that we are able to survive through droughts, heat waves, storms, volcanic eruptions, and many other natural disasters. Why? We are able to plan and respond. Being able to plan and respond, and being able to foresee future danger, is a very important element in survival. Combine this with our dexterity, and you get the best species suited to survival.
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You're forgetting one particular danger: the human enemy. People must work ridiculously long hours in order to pay for--and manufacture or effect--useless crap, like the Defense Department. And why do we need the Defense Department? Because other people get pissed off when we take their stuff (too many countries to name) or when we exploit them (again, too many countries). We "need" obscene amounts of oil in order to live, ummm, luxuriously (?) and we "need" cheap and readily available electronics, toys, clothing, etc. to add to our stockpiles and landfills. And then the people from whom we get them get pissed off, so we must pacify them in some manner or exterminate them if things get too out of hand--and all this comes at tremendous cost.

Originally Posted by Norsefire
Or so I know. We have the most influence over Earth's ecology; except....maybe plants have a tad bit more influence. However if we wanted to, we could literally destroy the entire surface and potentially, in the future, the entire planet
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And of course, we are already doing this; consequently, we must effect measures to counter this--again, at tremendous cost.

People work long and hard so that they can "live well," make it to the age of 100, and one-up everyone else--but then what do they do? Bitch and complain about being tired and not having any time; live in fear of sickness, violence, war, etc.; and despair over the fact that all of their "advances" and "progress" inevitably entail the creation of a whole new set of complications and obstacles. "Survival" in the sense of having all planned out and being overly-prepared ain't all it's cracked up to be.

I think I could turn and live with the animals, they are so placid and self contained;
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition;
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins;
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God;
Not one is dissatisfied-not one is demented with the mania of owning things;
Not one kneels to another, nor his kind that lived thousands of years ago;
Not one is responsible or industrious over the whole earth.
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— Walt Whitman
 
parmalee said:
I was actually referring to not wanting to explain why fishmonger means pimp! I try to avoid that sort of, ummm, biological discussion.
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Oh umm.. I don't know what the word 'monger' means. I guess I'll look it up then :p

Edit: Ok, I get it.. lol
 
Enmos said:
Oh umm.. I don't know what the word 'monger' means. I guess I'll look it up then :p
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The fish part is key to understanding the meaning. Perhaps that expression isn't used in the Netherlands (you're from the Netherlands, right? Or am I way off on that one?)? Think: olfactory.
 
parmalee said:
The fish part is key to understanding the meaning. Perhaps that expression isn't used in the Netherlands (you're from the Netherlands, right? Or am I way off on that one?)? Think: olfactory.
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I get it already.. lol :D
 
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