jb44 Posted February 23, 2008 Report Share Posted February 23, 2008 On the contrary, this is the first rational, and therefore believable, explanation I've read. Speaking only for myself, the present environmental hysteria is clouding the issue, the solution should be based on morals, not scaremongering. Of course, corporate greed is not helping either. I am in your debt. Johan Buchner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGonzalezS Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Morals? Mmmmm no. I think that technical solutions are far better than moral ones. When morals get in the way, things go awry (remember the Inquisition?). Let me use another analogy: the supermaket trolley. When they arrive at the supermarket, shoppers need to find trolleys at a convenient spot. Arriving at a supermaket parking lot that is littered with abandoned trolleys is dangerous, inconvenient and a bit sad. So what do you do to force previous shoppers to bring their trolleys back to the same spot so that new shoppers can find them easily? Well you can post "bring-the-trolley-back" sings. But that would transform this into a moral issue (good people bring their trolleys back, bad people don't). This, in turn, will make you feel angry everytime you see a selfish bastard leaving his trolley in the middle of the parking lot. It is even likely that you will write down his numberplate so that you can slash his tyres the next time... or propose his name as a candidate for mass extermination. Alternatively, you can design a coin system which forces every shopper to bring the trolley to where they got it from if they want to have their money back. Simple, effective, and no moral judgements are passed. Harmony would be restored, and everyone would have theis tyres intact. The problem with environmentalism is that it has become a form of moral code, the violation of which amounts to a deadly sin. Nowadays, environmental sins are punished with stern looks, verbal abuse and, in some cases, damage to the sinner's property (usually his/her SUV or fur coat). This environmental sin/virtue logic gives rise to a sort of fundamentalism that preaches sacrifice and a change of economic model or lifestyle as the only way to salvation. If we adopted a technical approach to environmentalism, we wouldn't have to change our lifestyles significantly, and moral judgements wouldn't be passed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb44 Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Hi Gonzales I do not know what amazes me more : that you can explain enviromental responsibility using shopping carts as a metaphor, or that I can understand exactly what you mean! You do realise, making fun of you is becoming nearly impossible. Please appoint the victim you would like to replace you. Perhaps a Frenchman? Ooh wait, no. Pick a South African - we can be insulted mercilessly; most of us are illiterate. Oh, so you've noticed. Yours Johan Buchner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGonzalezS Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Careful, Johan, it would be a shame if our relationship were to be tarnished by some form of mutual respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb44 Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Do not concern yourself : F1 2008 is upon us! May the best homo, I mean man, win. Bottoms up, and all that Johan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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