Comments on: Red High Heels, Slaughtered Pigs & Why Being Unsure Is A Good Thing

By: Leaping, Diving & Plunging Head First Into Humanity | the middle finger project

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:11:41 +0000

[...] that we can–as Katie put it–leap, dive and plunge into? (I beg you–anything but the pig!) What about you folks currently abroad? Are there any unique ideas/ways of [...]

By: Catherine Caine

Catherine Caine — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:51:02 +0000

Catherine, Kitty, Cat... these are all good.

Yeah, I really dig on the distinction between "Believing in Invisible Sky Dude", which is, well, not my thing but not in itself problematic, and "Disowning Your Gay Son", which is right into Category Three.
I used to just disapprove of religion in general, but there are religions/philosophies (like Buddhism) that don't seem to produce Category Three behaviour, and believers in religions like Christianity who don't do anything Cat 3. So now I just disapprove of religion as a regular producer of Cat 3 behaviour, while being okay with it in principle.

We do need a theme song. We do. I will accept all suggestions!

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:44:41 +0000

I'm digging these categories, Catherine! (P.S. Is Catherine how you like to be called?)

I'm mostly intrigued by your last point–the difference between having a religion, and doing things in the name of religion. Interesting distinction here, that should probably be addressed in a future blog post. I have many friends who are very religious, but this doesn't mean I necessarily agree with the ways their religion manifests itself in their lives. Nor does it mean that I have to agree, nor should they with my perspectives. Truth is such a tricky concept, and I don't believe that universal truth exists–therefore, it's impossible to impose my beliefs on others, and I only hope that they maintain the same respect toward me.

Know what I mean?

Why do I suddenly feel like there should be some incredibly cool hip-hop beat that we are both kind of bobbing our heads to in agreement? Do we need to have a theme song?

By: Catherine Caine

Catherine Caine — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:18:46 +0000

I have recently-ish decided that all actions performed by human beings fall into three categories:

- Stuff I like
- Stuff I don't want to do myself, but have fun
- Stuff no-one should do, ever

Once I realised that, and sketched out the third category (which has all the stuff you think would be on there: murder, rape, intolerance, yadda yadda), I found it much easier to be relaxed about things in the second category (which would include red high heels and pig-chasing).

Also, I can better differentiate between “having a religion” (category 2) and the horrifying Category Three things a lot of people do BECAUSE of their religion. I can be cool with my co-worker – a genuinely caring and cool Christian – while still being very uncool with religious nutjobs.

Also, fair warning: this is my first comment, but expect to see me around a lot. I like it here.

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:53:15 +0000

Haha, oh no – did I just start an unintentional campaign against morality of my own? Nietzsche & I would likely be good friends – I've been intending to read his argument against the morality of Christianity. Perhaps now would be an appropriate time, while I'm on my philosophical streak. :p Thanks so much for contributing to the convo – some good food for thought here!

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:40:37 +0000

Cheers to that! You point to a heavy influence on one's thought patterns that I wasn't even considering–parents. In contemplating that, it's almost scary to realize the control that's afforded to some parents, because not everyone would be open-minded enough to encourage their children to think critically, as your parents have done for you. Imagine. This must be where serial killers come from. :p

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:53:15 +0000

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:40:37 +0000

By: George Angus

George Angus — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:26:53 +0000

Ash, I would travel all the way to Arkansas just to get a sniff of a postcard that you held in your lovely hands. Hehe.

When Clinton was prez, the little town of Hope, AK kept getting mail directed to the Clinton's home town of Hope, AR. Too funny!

Cheers, world traveler!

George

By: shawnacevraini

shawnacevraini — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:15:23 +0000

I think they will always be intertwined a little. However, for example, my parents did raise me to be a “certain way” but at the same time, they were successful in raising me to think for myself. They may not always agree with what I say/do, but in the end, they support me. That has always given me the freedom (i.e. I am not afraid) to think for myself. They have taught me to be open to other ideas/beliefs even though some of my “new” beliefs, they disagree with or even think “that isn't right” – which my mom doesn't hesitate to tell me!

I guess it depends on how constraining the society is. Some are more rigid than others. But, more and more, we are becoming more tolerant, more open, more accepting. That is what we can strive for in teaching our children and sharing with others in our lives. That is my hope, anyway!

By: Brian W.

Brian W. — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:46:01 +0000

Yes, I suppose I cannot place complete confidence in the objective (at least in some constrained cases) nature of the universe. I understand that I can't know the answers for sure, but lacking some other than my mind to work with, I'm going to roll with what I've got - and this mind of mine has concluded that some things just don't come down to how you see it. Similarly, I'm philosophically permitting other people to decide based on some consistent set of criteria what is Right and Wrong, at the very least to the extent of determining, "I don't like what those people do, even if it's part of a shared identity for lots of them. I'm staying the f@#^ away from them."

In any case, you're dooming yourself to reading a whole bunch of Nietzsche real soon. Hope you've got some time to kill, brain power to spare, and the mental fortitude to stare into the abyss and make something useful out of it.

P.S. OMG ASHLEY KILLS BABBY!!!!111

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:58:16 +0000

I'd also like to hear Andrew MacPherson's response to this.

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:57:11 +0000

This was a fantastic comment – thank you. And while I certainly follow the argument presented, and, in some cases, can agree with it, I think the entire thing is still based upon the underlying cultural assumption that killing is bad, which asserts the converse, sister cultural assumption that life is valuable. And if the entire argument for objectivity (i.e. “I don't think everything is subjective”) is dependent upon the acceptance of a subjective assumption, then what ground are we standing on? Isn't it flawed from conception?

P.S. I'm not a murderer.

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:49:52 +0000

You know, it raises the question as to whether or not we are even *able* to truly think for ourselves, or if our thoughts are so intertwined with our cultural group thought, that they will always still be reflective of that to some degree. Thoughts?

By: TMFproject

TMFproject — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:47:57 +0000

I suppose that anytime your thought process conflicts with that of another, you're automatically judging them in some shape, way or form. I imagine we'd have to be unconscious NOT to judge . . . but that still doesn't make it cool, if we're using those judgments to the detriment of others. That said, perhaps forming them is just a byproduct of thinking?