The Wandering Skeptic
Thursday, June 21, 2001
On Protests:
[In progress]
Protests, picketing, and rallies are the most frequent and visible forms of mob mentality in America. It is though the participants are admitting that the only strength they have is the strength in numbers and physical presence.
Of course, protests can definately be effective; often, the red tape must be cut directly. Certainly, history has shown us many instances that necessitate protests. Yet it should remain the last resort: the easiest way is not always the best. Short-term gains can result in long-term troubles. ¶ 8:43 PM
[In progress]
Protests, picketing, and rallies are the most frequent and visible forms of mob mentality in America. It is though the participants are admitting that the only strength they have is the strength in numbers and physical presence.
Of course, protests can definately be effective; often, the red tape must be cut directly. Certainly, history has shown us many instances that necessitate protests. Yet it should remain the last resort: the easiest way is not always the best. Short-term gains can result in long-term troubles. ¶ 8:43 PM
Saturday, June 16, 2001
I don't have much time to write for a while. In the meantime, go to your local Barnes & Nobles or Borders to pick up the latest edition of Skeptic magazine. It only comes out three or four times a year, and this issue is filled with some excellent and generally learned compositions on intelligent design (creationism). Also look for Junior Skeptic addressing Atlantis. Beware some highly opinionated viewpoints, but there is certainly an overall atmosphere of critical debate.
¶ 11:43 PM
Tuesday, June 05, 2001
On Political Corectness, Sensitivity Training, etc.:
Why is it that we must excuse ourselves for being human? So many members of our society believe that mankind has evolved well enough that we can become creatures of love and understanding. But a simple glance at the short timespan of human existence reveals that our evolution is woefully inadequate for the bizarre measures of political correctness and hypersensitivty.
We cannot yet distance ourselves from our instincts, or as some would say, our animalism. Let us take sex, for example. Sexuality is, perforce, a driving factor of all life; man is no exception. Why should we so condemn expressions of sexuality? Surely, involuntary hormonal surges are the hardwiring of survival. We cannot, of course, condone such extremes as rape, but we must not overcompensate with unbalanced sexual harassment laws or by setting extreme standards of behavior tolerance.
Simply stated, we cannot afford to be arrogant. There is no reason to assume man even has the capacity to fully understand one other, or to worry indefinately about such subjective concepts as feelings and emotions. Perhaps long into the future -- for I am an optimist, after all -- that will become an attainable goal, but for now we must settle for curbing only extreme and violent behaviors. When we legislate or teach against that which we cannot control, we are dooming ourselves to failure and a perpetuation of self-destructive ideologies. ¶ 4:40 AM
Why is it that we must excuse ourselves for being human? So many members of our society believe that mankind has evolved well enough that we can become creatures of love and understanding. But a simple glance at the short timespan of human existence reveals that our evolution is woefully inadequate for the bizarre measures of political correctness and hypersensitivty.
We cannot yet distance ourselves from our instincts, or as some would say, our animalism. Let us take sex, for example. Sexuality is, perforce, a driving factor of all life; man is no exception. Why should we so condemn expressions of sexuality? Surely, involuntary hormonal surges are the hardwiring of survival. We cannot, of course, condone such extremes as rape, but we must not overcompensate with unbalanced sexual harassment laws or by setting extreme standards of behavior tolerance.
Simply stated, we cannot afford to be arrogant. There is no reason to assume man even has the capacity to fully understand one other, or to worry indefinately about such subjective concepts as feelings and emotions. Perhaps long into the future -- for I am an optimist, after all -- that will become an attainable goal, but for now we must settle for curbing only extreme and violent behaviors. When we legislate or teach against that which we cannot control, we are dooming ourselves to failure and a perpetuation of self-destructive ideologies. ¶ 4:40 AM
