Game: Ask the Person Below You

[aeroport]

That's funny that you mention Hawthorne in that connection, as he essentially was that ideal reader for Herman Melville.

I don't think this is possible...

I mean if you mean it literally. Do you not think any Greek philosopher or any Roman soldier never said it before him? Or any Chinese soldier or thinker or teacher? Or anyone else?

Well, my understanding is that he coined the phrase - which I believe a prof confirmed one day by asking the class and, when I put this forward, answering in the affirmative.

I really doubt anyone said it before, simply because I think it's not true. I hold that a person is dying nonstop, and that there is nothing that doesn't in some sense contribute to killing a person. Don't you?

[crazefest456]

ah! that's really beautiful...

Have you read much of Plato?

not alot...I read at most 5 books in the Republic for my poli sci class

Do you enjoy the absence of sounds or light?
Tangled in the webosphere...skip

[NikolaiI]

Well, my understanding is that he coined the phrase - which I believe a prof confirmed one day by asking the class and, when I put this forward, answering in the affirmative.

I really doubt anyone said it before, simply because I think it's not true. I hold that a person is dying nonstop, and that there is nothing that doesn't in some sense contribute to killing a person. Don't you?

Oh yes, yes, then, of course, it's entirely true; he did coin the phrase, and many others. I don't think he created it though. Don't forget that Nietzsche read a lot, a ton. So he could have pulled the idea from some obscure militarist philosohpy-- of course, it is possible he created it, he was a genius.

In a small way, everything does contribute, yes. But not in a traceable way. For instance if I eat a banana that will give me fuel, which is not more than I need, etc., etc., this will extend my life, and I can only really say it contributes to my downfall in the same way I say that all things are connected.

Suffering can make us stronger, but I think at some point the suffering needs to be eased. I mean so suffering would make us stronger, but it also could kill us. And at some point we don't need suffering to be stronger; and it would only hinder us, and we would make infinite progress without it.

ah! that's really beautiful...

What I wrote? Thx, if so.

not alot...I read at most 5 books in the Republic for my poli sci class

Ah, well that's more of The Republic than I've read. I want to read it all eventually. I've read the Symposium, which I enjoyed at the time and I think I'll enjoy a second reading, and I enjoyed reading an excerpt of Phaedrus very, very much.

Do you enjoy the absence of sounds or light?
Tangled in the webosphere...skip

Yes, I do very much!

Do you think that when we view lights, we are the lights?

[aeroport]

*switches out of pessimist mode*
Yeah, on ten minutes' consideration, I'm actually not sure I completely feel that way about everything being remotely murderous. I do, however think that most of the things that we look at as "not killing" us - i.e. really disagreeable things - do have a negative effect, though early in life we seem better-equipped to stave it off a little...
(I'm not quoting because everytime I do it shows more text than I can actually see in your post (I can't see the stuff you wrote about the Republic); most strange...)

[NikolaiI]

Then I'll erase. Thanks for the chat, J.

[aeroport]

Agreed. (I can finally see your whole message now as well!)
Next question:
How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie-roll center of a tootsie-pop?

[Bakiryu]

about 600

(we did a science experiment!)

what would banapples taste like if there were such things as banapples.

[crazefest456]

like nothing..such hybrids initiallly taste like nothing until they inject flavorings...

Why am I angry about the world's food supply?

[Chava]

Well gee, isn't that obvious? (distribution...)

Why am i feeling so elated, when really i ought to be burdened?

[NikolaiI]

Because you found someone who understands you truly and lets you express yourself in a way no other would understand?

Same question-- why is Chava...

[Bakiryu]

for joy comes when we least expect it.

What song is on your mind right now?

[Laughablefellow]

Fruit Tree by Nick Drake

Fame is but a fruit tree
So very unsound.
It can never flourish
Till its stalk is in the ground.
So men of fame
Can never find a way
Till time has flown
Far from their dying day.
Forgotten while you're here
Remembered for a while
A much updated ruin
From a much outdated style.

Mainly because it's playing on my MP3 player right now, but also because it's a beautiful song.

Who shot Nice Guy Eddie?

[Shurtugal]

uh.... who?

did ya'll know that Final Fantisy VI: Advent Children was a bloody movie?! saweet!

[zanna]

Didn't know that, but thanks for the heads up. I can't take too much gore.

Who likes rock climbing? (I am going to learn, but am kinda afraid of hights. Anyone with me there? Heh. )

[Chava]

It completely rocks! (ehm, no corny pun intended...)

What would you like to say?