avevale_intelligencer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
avevale_intelligencer) wrote2011-06-29 09:40 am
avevale_intelligencer) wrote2011-06-29 09:40 am
I really need to be doing things...
...but I can't let this go. Someone (whom I won't name because I don't know if they want their LJ and FB identities linked) just quoted on Facebook:
"Morality is doing what is right no matter what you are told. Religon is doing whatever you are told no matter what is right."
As an example of the statement that sounds good without at any point touching on truth, I don't think that can be bettered, and it shows up how insidiously persuasive a nice jingly Wildean paradox can be--I almost found myself nodding sagely at it for a second. But good grief, morality is *all about* what we're told--morality is tribal. And as for the stupid, facile old canard about religion being mindless obedience, I don't even need to bother refuting that, do I? I'm sure I've done it before, anyway, and I haven't got the spare computer time right now.
So, let's compose some nice jingly Wildean paradoxes.
"Bacon and eggs are tasty without being healthy. Muesli is healthy without being tasty."
See how it works? You have a try. See how convincing you can make any old rubbish just by balancing two phrases one against the other.
I'll check back tonight. I may award points.
"Morality is doing what is right no matter what you are told. Religon is doing whatever you are told no matter what is right."
As an example of the statement that sounds good without at any point touching on truth, I don't think that can be bettered, and it shows up how insidiously persuasive a nice jingly Wildean paradox can be--I almost found myself nodding sagely at it for a second. But good grief, morality is *all about* what we're told--morality is tribal. And as for the stupid, facile old canard about religion being mindless obedience, I don't even need to bother refuting that, do I? I'm sure I've done it before, anyway, and I haven't got the spare computer time right now.
So, let's compose some nice jingly Wildean paradoxes.
"Bacon and eggs are tasty without being healthy. Muesli is healthy without being tasty."
See how it works? You have a try. See how convincing you can make any old rubbish just by balancing two phrases one against the other.
I'll check back tonight. I may award points.
no subject
Alas, this is precisely what I was thinking about your post in the first place.
Assuming bad faith on other people's part tends to lead to bad feeling. Even when it occurs to me you may be acting in bad faith yourself, I try hard to keep that out of my writing, because I may be wrong, and if I am, accusing you of something you didn't do in no way helps the situation.
If you want a harmless word game, you can certainly have one. Just come up with a starting example that is not also a hot button issue for you and the people around you.
You can even still have a harmless word game; it's not like you can't post again (though you might give it a week or two for the sediment to settle, and think of an example involving, oh, say, ladybugs (birds?) or ash trees or something else that doesn't make people mad.)