Einstein and the Cosmic Man

[Greta]

The MacTaggart lecture is about journalism and how to address the disconnect so that ordinary voices can be given an effective pathway from their concerns to the main media outlet. It is much more than this and I just haven't the words to explain. He contrasts and compares the reasons behind Brexit and Trump. It is interspersed with video clips - and told with compassion and the strength of a lifetime's experience. He talks about political flatulence and how he and media colleagues are to blame for too much focus on international windbags at the expense of local, urgent matters such as the Grenfell tower disaster which he is still haunted by. He offers solutions to the problems he identifies and is balanced, fair and enthusiastic. Oh, please watch. It does get a bit repetitive in parts but some things bear repeating. His examination of a particular section of Americans at a Trump rally is illuminating and understanding. The clip where he and journalists are pointed at by Trump and jeered at by the crowd...is close to the end.

The personal stories are the best - and quite harrowing to consider.

I can't - too busy responding

[marjoram_blues]

The MacTaggart lecture is about journalism and how to address the disconnect so that ordinary voices can be given an effective pathway from their concerns to the main media outlet. It is much more than this and I just haven't the words to explain. He contrasts and compares the reasons behind Brexit and Trump. It is interspersed with video clips - and told with compassion and the strength of a lifetime's experience. He talks about political flatulence and how he and media colleagues are to blame for too much focus on international windbags at the expense of local, urgent matters such as the Grenfell tower disaster which he is still haunted by. He offers solutions to the problems he identifies and is balanced, fair and enthusiastic. Oh, please watch. It does get a bit repetitive in parts but some things bear repeating. His examination of a particular section of Americans at a Trump rally is illuminating and understanding. The clip where he and journalists are pointed at by Trump and jeered at by the crowd...is close to the end.

The personal stories are the best - and quite harrowing to consider.

I can't - too busy responding

[Greta]

The MacTaggart lecture is about journalism and how to address the disconnect so that ordinary voices can be given an effective pathway from their concerns to the main media outlet. It is much more than this and I just haven't the words to explain. He contrasts and compares the reasons behind Brexit and Trump. It is interspersed with video clips - and told with compassion and the strength of a lifetime's experience. He talks about political flatulence and how he and media colleagues are to blame for too much focus on international windbags at the expense of local, urgent matters such as the Grenfell tower disaster which he is still haunted by. He offers solutions to the problems he identifies and is balanced, fair and enthusiastic. Oh, please watch. It does get a bit repetitive in parts but some things bear repeating. His examination of a particular section of Americans at a Trump rally is illuminating and understanding. The clip where he and journalists are pointed at by Trump and jeered at by the crowd...is close to the end.

The personal stories are the best - and quite harrowing to consider.

I can't - too busy responding

It seems he's pointing to the revival of class systems. It calls to mind Huxley and how the Alphas and Betas cared nothing for the Savages on the Reservation. Likewise, Orwell's Party members cared nothing for the Proles. Even today politicians of western nations proudly claim that there is no class divide but the fact is that it crept back.

It's odd that a sexually corrupt arch capitalist like Trump, who was responsible for wiping out many small investors with his bankruptcies, and who seems to think that philanthropy is stamp collecting, somehow was presented as the saviour of the working man and the pious. I'm thinking of Orwell's Ministry of Truth.

[AMod]

Dontaskme.

And that is why I am calling you out once again to be a disingenuous back stabbing phoney - who like to kiss ass with the Mod, and the Mod in turn kiss your ass, it's like you scratch my ass and I'll scratch yours...all to make yourself look clever, and important.

Bingo replies the Mod... clickity clique...that's it, frigging clique mentality every time.

Not another paranoid delusional nutjob.
In Harbal's defense(not something I thought I'd ever be saying) he PM'd me in good faith about your request and I gave him short-shrift for such a request. The 'Bingo' comment was because he managed to work out exactly why I won't be honouring such requests, something you patently failed to do.

AMod.

[Nick_A]

“Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie” ~ Russian Proverb

An impartial person will read what Greta or Marj have written here and wonder what provokes such intense negativity and egoism. When you remember that they are socialists it becomes obvious. Think Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. Intense negativity giving the impression of justified righteous indignation is a basic Alinsky tactic. It is salesmanship based on an attempt at psychological intimidation.

Einstein’s ideas must be opposed since accepting the distinction between cave man and cosmic man assumes a goal greater than that which the state can provide. This is intolerable for socialism which assumes the state to be the author of the greatest good.

One technique is too create a violent slap followed by a lovely lie. Marj wrote: “I intend to focus attention on the positive and inspiring.” This is the technique. After offering all sorts of violent meaningless negativity a person is “kissed with a lie.” Imagine some kid in trapped in a university of child abuse receiving all this negativity and then kissed with a lie. Why wouldn’t they prefer to be kissed with the lie of socialism?

All of these attempts at indoctrination by those like Greta and Marj are are imitating the slap of truth followed by the positive and inspiring kiss of a lie. There is nothing sincere in it. It is just an agenda driven technique anyone can read of in Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals to crush any attempt to question the imagined supremacy of the state.

Why do you think those like Jesus and Socrates had to be killed? They offered the slap of truth as opposed to the kiss of the lie. This of course is intolerable for the indoctrinated so must be eliminated for the good of the community.

Einstein’s distinction between cave man and cosmic man must be replaced by the lovely lie that there is no distinction. Follow the Beast and all will become inspiring and positive. Birds will once again tweet instead of people. But then there are those like Simone Weil who assert we must be willing to annoy the Great Beast not only for our sake but for the future of humanity. They will receive the wrath of the Beast but it is their human obligation as awakening influences

. A small plaque attached to Simone Weil’s tombstone by an anonymous donor read: La mia ... all morte: "My solitude held in its grasp the grief of others till my death" Einstein would have understood. The progressive agenda must replace it with the kiss of a lie.

[marjoram_blues]

I can't - too busy responding

It seems he's pointing to the revival of class systems. It calls to mind Huxley and how the Alphas and Betas cared nothing for the Savages on the Reservation. Likewise, Orwell's Party members cared nothing for the Proles. Even today politicians of western nations proudly claim that there is no class divide but the fact is that it crept back.

It's odd that a sexually corrupt arch capitalist like Trump, who was responsible for wiping out many small investors with his bankruptcies, and who seems to think that philanthropy is stamp collecting, somehow was presented as the saviour of the working man and the pious. I'm thinking of Orwell's Ministry of Truth.

Greta, yes he starts out by positioning himself, a journalist and the media audience as 'elite' with a job to do.
Also, that he knows nothing.
It is full of philosophical, social and political substance but not in a dry way. He sings the Beatles for crying out loud.

I don't have the energy right now but would love for a civilised natter in a thread which doesn't disintegrate into name-calling.
And for people not to pedantically nit-pick against posters with which they have 'history'.
A bit of flexibility in previously static political positions...some imagination. A simple look at what is being said. And a balance of agreement/disagreement of interpretation, giving well considered reasons without too much clever sarcasm or easy put-downs.
In other words...Careful Consideration.
Is that too much to ask...
Thanks for your take, I hadn't thought of it in these terms - time to pause...

[marjoram_blues]

Greta re last post by Nick, I am not responding directly.

However, he is guilty of abuse of character at the very least. The post has been reported, as per normal procedure.

[Dontaskme]

Dontaskme.

And that is why I am calling you out once again to be a disingenuous back stabbing phoney - who like to kiss ass with the Mod, and the Mod in turn kiss your ass, it's like you scratch my ass and I'll scratch yours...all to make yourself look clever, and important.

Bingo replies the Mod... clickity clique...that's it, frigging clique mentality every time.

Not another paranoid delusional nutjob.
In Harbal's defense(not something I thought I'd ever be saying) he PM'd me in good faith about your request and I gave him short-shrift for such a request. The 'Bingo' comment was because he managed to work out exactly why I won't be honouring such requests, something you patently failed to do.

AMod.

It was an innocent situation, why the hell would you give him stick for this, It's you that has the problem here for elevating what was for me just an innocent situation into some unnecessary big problem for you...how pathetic. Jesus Christ if I'd known the situation was going to resort to this kind of mess, I would not have dreamed of asking Harbal in the first place for fucks sake what is wrong with you.

You're the delusional nutjob you idiot, I have no idea why you are making this into a big problem. I simply requested a thread deletion, and Harbal kindly agreed to ask you...when I didn't get that request honored I then PM'd you myself thinking Harbal hadn't PM'd. All you had to do was reply to my PM and tell me yourself what you thought about the situation instead of leaving me wondering what the heck was going on. This is partly your fault as well, don't act like I'm the only bad guy here.

You are making such a big meal out this making me look like I'm the idiot. I had no idea we are not allowed to ask other people to ask for thread deletions...perhaps this was a failing on my part for not realising, but I certainly didn't ask him to do it because I was in fear of not facing up to the consequences of my actions by posting the thread in the first place like you both seem to imply. Those thoughts never even entered my thoughts, no it's just like you and Harbal have only wanted to make me look foolish. ...it's all your own foolish projections. Typical caveman mentality.

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And I'm really glad there are people like Nick on this forum who are brave enough to stand up to the bullies and expose all the lies and deceit that goes on in this world. It takes guts to stick your neck on the line and be bold enough to say out loud what you are all only ever thinking anyway.

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Also what I'd like to bring to your attention is how you appear to pat Harbal on the back as being the golden boy, and yet you seem to have a problem with Nick's attitude.
Have you not noticed the negative and sometimes derogatory way Harbal speaks to some people on this forum, and especially me, it's a wonder you have any vistitors at all to this website.. so is it one rule for one and another rule for someone else is it?

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[Nick_A]

Greta re last post by Nick, I am not responding directly.

However, he is guilty of abuse of character at the very least. The post has been reported, as per normal procedure.

I have never denied you are a character. All posts directed at me are abuse of character but as i've said it has to be. Secular intolerants must act in this way. You cannot deny Einstein's distinction between cave man and cosmic man by reason so must resort to violent expressions of secular intolerance to preserve your imagined intellectual superiority. It's the name of the game.

[Belinda]

Dontaskme wrote:

And I'm really glad there are people like Nick on this forum who are brave enough to stand up to the bullies and expose all the lies and deceit that goes on in this world. It takes guts to stick your neck on the line and be bold enough to say out loud what you are all only ever thinking anyway.

Is it a virtue to be intransigent?

[Dontaskme]

Greta re last post by Nick, I am not responding directly.

However, he is guilty of abuse of character at the very least. The post has been reported, as per normal procedure.

I have never denied you are a character. All posts directed at me are abuse of character but as i've said it has to be. Secular intolerants must act in this way. You cannot deny Einstein's distinction between cave man and cosmic man by reason so must resort to violent expressions of secular intolerance to preserve your imagined intellectual superiority. It's the name of the game.

[Dontaskme]

Dontaskme wrote:

And I'm really glad there are people like Nick on this forum who are brave enough to stand up to the bullies and expose all the lies and deceit that goes on in this world. It takes guts to stick your neck on the line and be bold enough to say out loud what you are all only ever thinking anyway.

Is it a virtue to be intransigent?

It works both ways.

Lets not be half-baked about our ideas.

[Walker]

And I'm really glad there are people like Nick on this forum who are brave enough to stand up to the bullies and expose all the lies and deceit that goes on in this world. It takes guts to stick your neck on the line and be bold enough to say out loud what you are all only ever thinking anyway.

Carbon is common but pressure and heat make the diamond.

[Nick_A]

DaM

And I'm really glad there are people like Nick on this forum who are brave enough to stand up to the bullies and expose all the lies and deceit that goes on in this world. It takes guts to stick your neck on the line and be bold enough to say out loud what you are all only ever thinking anyway.

.

Also what I'd like to bring to your attention is how you appear to pat Harbal on the back as being the golden boy, and yet you seem to have a problem with Nick's attitude.
Have you not noticed the negative and sometimes derogatory way Harbal speaks to some people on this forum, and especially me, it's a wonder you have any vistitors at all to this website.. so is it one rule for one and another rule for someone else is it?

If David joins me in my Simone Weil discussion meetup, he'll see how it doesn't have to be this way. Eye to eye, people prefer substance. That was Socrates intent for the dialectic. There is something about the anonymity of web sites that brings out the worst in people by enhancing imaginary egoism making meaningful discussion impossible. For example I just received this from the American Weil Society:

Monday, September 25, 2017

Dear Friends and Members of the American Weil Society,
It is with great joy that I write you to bring some exciting news about our upcoming
colloquy. As I am sure you know, our 38th Annual Colloquy of the American Weil
Society, will be held at the University of Ottawa on April 20-21, 2018, and hosted
by Sophie Bourgault (Associate Professor, School of Political studies, University of
Ottawa) and Julie Daigle (PhD candidate, School of Political Studies, University of
Ottawa). The topic of this colloquy is: “Simone Weil: Beyond Ideology?”.
Particularly welcome are papers that seek to explore Weil’s relationship with one or
a few political ideologies (Marxism, socialism, republicanism, anarchism,
conservatism, liberalism) or with a specific author in the history of ideas (Plato, La
Boétie, Machiavelli, Rousseau, Marx, Nietzsche, Trotsky, etc). The theme is
deliberately broad so that Weil’s religious, political and ethical philosophy can all be
addressed under the general heading. As always, proposals dealing with other topics
will also be considered. However, please be advised that the organizers of the
Colloquy are planning to put together a book following the conference. We
recommend people interested in being considered for that book stay as close as
possible to the theme.

I will submit an abstract because it is good practice. The AWS has many accomplished scholars so wouldn't expect to be in a book but it is still good practice. How do Simone's ideas compare to those like Einstein and Basarab Nicolescu? Real food for thought. Of course it would be nice to discuss it on a web site but the egoism and agendas make it impossible. But students in Ottawa will hear some good stuff. We all go out to dinner and have a good time after. But the point is that there are opportunities out there for ideas to come alive. The world is the world and it won't change. We have to support those with the need to leave Plato's cave or become the Cosmic Man in Einstein's words

[Belinda]

Dontaskme wrote:

Lets not be half-baked about our ideas.

No. It's better to be tentative and sceptical