Comments for Reality Skimming http://okalrel.org/blog The Okal Rel Universe in evolution and in the world. Wed, 16 May 2012 19:55:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Why SF? #1: A Chat with Angela by Eric http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1549#comment-404 Eric Wed, 16 May 2012 19:55:58 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1549#comment-404 Awesome interview. Scifichick.com is a great site. Awesome interview. Scifichick.com is a great site.

]]> Comment on Ethics in SF #15: Justine Graykin by Lynda Williams http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-403 Lynda Williams Sat, 12 May 2012 18:09:11 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-403 As Justine pointed out, some people aren't rewarded emotionally by altruism or community. But I agree we shouldn't worry about sociopaths too much. the lust to own, for the rest of us, is fueled by the most effective applied psychology industry of all time -- advertizing. And our sense of community (the social safety net of the past) is replaced by the false sense that someone cares because the barista at StarBucks knows our preferences in coffee. We get (false) reassurance from spending money on luxuries and things. Leading to overspending that does nothing to strengthen any REAL social network. As Justine pointed out, some people aren’t rewarded emotionally by altruism or community. But I agree we shouldn’t worry about sociopaths too much. the lust to own, for the rest of us, is fueled by the most effective applied psychology industry of all time — advertizing. And our sense of community (the social safety net of the past) is replaced by the false sense that someone cares because the barista at StarBucks knows our preferences in coffee. We get (false) reassurance from spending money on luxuries and things. Leading to overspending that does nothing to strengthen any REAL social network.

]]> Comment on Ethics in SF #15: Justine Graykin by Lynda Williams http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-402 Lynda Williams Sat, 12 May 2012 18:05:03 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-402 Reading this invoked a parellel from parenting lore. "Tough love". Compassion without demanding something in return leads to abuse. But celebrating people who give good, meaningful help to people who at least get a chance to improve their lives thereby should be way bigger than celebrating people who turn others into servants who pander to their selfish, ostentatious needs. Agreed. Reading this invoked a parellel from parenting lore. “Tough love”. Compassion without demanding something in return leads to abuse. But celebrating people who give good, meaningful help to people who at least get a chance to improve their lives thereby should be way bigger than celebrating people who turn others into servants who pander to their selfish, ostentatious needs. Agreed.

]]> Comment on Ethics in SF #15: Justine Graykin by Justine Graykin http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-401 Justine Graykin Fri, 11 May 2012 19:30:42 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-401 These are the nuts and bolts issues that any system of ethics must grapple with. Religion-based morality has long urged believers to put aside material concerns, focus on the spirit, to have compassion for their fellows and to help the poor. We see how far they got. Regardless of what one bases one's morals on, the problem is convincing people to live a moral life. Unfortunately, the current vogue is for Capitalism, a system notorious for rewarding greed and selfish behavior. Instead of encouraging people to seek status in society by showing off how much they can afford to give away to help others (something that has worked well in some smaller societies) individuals are rewarded with status for ostentatiously acquiring wealth and spending it on themselves, or using it to acquire even greater wealth. The problem lies in society's approval of this behavior. Being wealthy is considered to be at least morally neutral, even something to be emulated. These are the nuts and bolts issues that any system of ethics must grapple with. Religion-based morality has long urged believers to put aside material concerns, focus on the spirit, to have compassion for their fellows and to help the poor. We see how far they got. Regardless of what one bases one’s morals on, the problem is convincing people to live a moral life. Unfortunately, the current vogue is for Capitalism, a system notorious for rewarding greed and selfish behavior. Instead of encouraging people to seek status in society by showing off how much they can afford to give away to help others (something that has worked well in some smaller societies) individuals are rewarded with status for ostentatiously acquiring wealth and spending it on themselves, or using it to acquire even greater wealth. The problem lies in society’s approval of this behavior. Being wealthy is considered to be at least morally neutral, even something to be emulated.

]]> Comment on Ethics in SF #15: Justine Graykin by David Juniper http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-400 David Juniper Fri, 11 May 2012 16:48:54 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-400 I'd like to step beyond "mine" and "not-mine" into "I want" territory. The urge to possess is very strong, and much of human joy and suffering and achievement and suffering can be traced to that longing, that lust to possess. The object of that lust can be many things, including money, people, large screen TVs and fancy cars. And when a thing is possessed, the eye often goes to the next object of desire. So, are humans good or evil? Will they run to help when they see someone in need? I think it depends on whether such altruism will interfere with one's material gratification. If the urge to help is greater than the lust, than we can all feel good about ourselves. But otherwise... I’d like to step beyond “mine” and “not-mine” into “I want” territory. The urge to possess is very strong, and much of human joy and suffering and achievement and suffering can be traced to that longing, that lust to possess. The object of that lust can be many things, including money, people, large screen TVs and fancy cars. And when a thing is possessed, the eye often goes to the next object of desire.

So, are humans good or evil? Will they run to help when they see someone in need? I think it depends on whether such altruism will interfere with one’s material gratification. If the urge to help is greater than the lust, than we can all feel good about ourselves.

But otherwise…

]]> Comment on Ethics in SF #15: Justine Graykin by Lynda Williams http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-399 Lynda Williams Fri, 11 May 2012 14:07:57 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1518#comment-399 "Human thriving" of which humans? That's the problem. I have been egalitarian in spirit most of my life. I still believe there should be ceilings and floors to the lot of humans - no multi-billionaires in cities with starving poor. But I've been forced to grasp every human has to confront "mine" vs. "not-mine" in the challenge of determining how to allocate limited resources to infinite needs. Not everyone can have everything, which creates conflcit which opens the door to unethical behavior. “Human thriving” of which humans? That’s the problem. I have been egalitarian in spirit most of my life. I still believe there should be ceilings and floors to the lot of humans – no multi-billionaires in cities with starving poor. But I’ve been forced to grasp every human has to confront “mine” vs. “not-mine” in the challenge of determining how to allocate limited resources to infinite needs. Not everyone can have everything, which creates conflcit which opens the door to unethical behavior.

]]> Comment on Dialogue #4: Krista D. Ball (1 of 2) by The Liz http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1408#comment-396 The Liz Wed, 02 May 2012 19:27:57 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1408#comment-396 I think one of the first really compelling YA books that stressed the NEED for people to experience the negative aspects of life in order to truly experience it was "The Giver" by Louis Lowry. He did the opposite of presenting a graphic struggle, and instead presented a world where all struggles were gone, forgotten by all but one man. It impressed me deeply, because I strongly believe that a life without the ups and downs of a passionate existence isn't lived as fully. Then again, I suffer from depression. So deep lows are a part of that. Some kids need to see other kids experience a dark existence, because for them that is REAL LIFE. A cotton candy suburban experience doesn't ring true to a teen who's had real hardship. So I don't believe in softening the world. I don't believe in stripping out the darkness. But I don't believe in glorifying it either. Even Harry Potter faced a world filled with death and loss... but ultimately, good won out. Even if a book doesn't have a happy ending, I believe in there being some hope. I think one of the first really compelling YA books that stressed the NEED for people to experience the negative aspects of life in order to truly experience it was “The Giver” by Louis Lowry. He did the opposite of presenting a graphic struggle, and instead presented a world where all struggles were gone, forgotten by all but one man.
It impressed me deeply, because I strongly believe that a life without the ups and downs of a passionate existence isn’t lived as fully.
Then again, I suffer from depression. So deep lows are a part of that. Some kids need to see other kids experience a dark existence, because for them that is REAL LIFE. A cotton candy suburban experience doesn’t ring true to a teen who’s had real hardship.
So I don’t believe in softening the world. I don’t believe in stripping out the darkness. But I don’t believe in glorifying it either. Even Harry Potter faced a world filled with death and loss… but ultimately, good won out.
Even if a book doesn’t have a happy ending, I believe in there being some hope.

]]> Comment on Dialogue #3: Lillian Cohen-Moore by » On Firsts Lillian Cohen-Moore http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=890#comment-394 » On Firsts Lillian Cohen-Moore Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:17:08 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=890#comment-394 [...] less emotional but still very keen firsts, I believe my first blog interview with me in the hot seat is up today, over at the site of the wonderful Lynda Williams. She’s the mastermind over at [...] [...] less emotional but still very keen firsts, I believe my first blog interview with me in the hot seat is up today, over at the site of the wonderful Lynda Williams. She’s the mastermind over at [...]

]]> Comment on Ethics in SF #14: Vivian Davidson by James http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1190#comment-392 James Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:47:35 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1190#comment-392 I've gotten into many arguments with people who say science fiction is just escapism. I like the term you used: "ultimate issues." I might borrow that. I don't think any other kind of story (except fantasy) can explore those ultimate issues of life, the universe, and everything the way science fiction does. I’ve gotten into many arguments with people who say science fiction is just escapism. I like the term you used: “ultimate issues.” I might borrow that. I don’t think any other kind of story (except fantasy) can explore those ultimate issues of life, the universe, and everything the way science fiction does.

]]> Comment on Ethics in SF #14: Vivian Davidson by Lynda Williams http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1190#comment-391 Lynda Williams Sun, 15 Apr 2012 02:35:31 +0000 http://okalrel.org/blog/?p=1190#comment-391 Thank you Vivian. People who are fed up with bullying, greed and self-indulgence as values must have the courage to say so. I particularly appreciate your points about the mutual respect and willingness to take responsibility among Star Trek characters. Sort of the opposite of "reality TV" horrors where it's all about how to lie and cheat to dodge responsibility and treating other people rudely. Thank you Vivian. People who are fed up with bullying, greed and self-indulgence as values must have the courage to say so. I particularly appreciate your points about the mutual respect and willingness to take responsibility among Star Trek characters. Sort of the opposite of “reality TV” horrors where it’s all about how to lie and cheat to dodge responsibility and treating other people rudely.

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