Not a Drill: SETI Is Investigating a Possible Extraterrestrial Signal From Deep Space

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I suppose it depends on whether control is exercised implicitly or explicitly. I don't think early religions came into being because the rulers needed a way to coerce people to do things for them. It seems doubtful that they would have that level of metaknowledge of human psychology. The leaders probably believed that the rituals were necessary to make the harvest bountiful, to weaken the enemy, and to ensure a pleasant afterlife. The fact that the faith of the followers ensured their co-operation was more of a side effect that was then noticed as beneficial to the ruling class. If the harvest failed or the enemy was successful, subsequent loss of faith and consequent loss of control might lead to the overthrow of the rulers and the collapse of the civilisation. Time for a sacrifice...

 

[locutus101]

I suppose it depends on whether control is exercised implicitly or explicitly. I don't think early religions came into being because the rulers needed a way to coerce people to do things for them. It seems doubtful that they would have that level of metaknowledge of human psychology. The leaders probably believed that the rituals were necessary to make the harvest bountiful, to weaken the enemy, and to ensure a pleasant afterlife. The fact that the faith of the followers ensured their co-operation was more of a side effect that was then noticed as beneficial to the ruling class. If the harvest failed or the enemy was successful, subsequent loss of faith and consequent loss of control might lead to the overthrow of the rulers and the collapse of the civilisation. Time for a sacrifice...

I don't think so. I believe it was a way for some people to live well on the backs of other people without having to take the same risks or give the same effort.. They probably got the best cuts of meat without running the risk of being gored or eaten or maimed.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Maybe so, although was the human race always as cynical as L Ron H?

 

[locutus101]

Maybe so, although was the human race always as cynical as L Ron H?

The human race wasn't cynical, they were gullible, otherwise it would have been harder for those scams to take place.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Some were cynical, most were gullible -- sic transit gloria mundi.

 

[locutus101]

Some were cynical, most were gullible -- sic transit gloria mundi.

The cynical ones were vindicated and the gullible ones were taken advantage of.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Boy, are we ever off topic.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

there is a difference in believing some supernatural idea like some kind of vague god concept and tying ought behavior rules to that believe turning it into a religion.
It is a controll mechanism. Convince someone to believe the same thing you do so that someone behaves in a preferred way.
Doesn't need to be manevolent, but it is a controll mechanism.
Believing it yourself does not change the fact, that you go to someone and say better believe this, or else, is correcting the others behavior in some way.

Well based on my own experiences I can tell you when you get welcomed into a large church group they welcome you in alright but later on comes the stuff you mentioned and you have to behave in a way that they approve of, although no one says it consciously it's there, as in some kind of expectation that you conform to the way everyone else does. Or else you are a loose canon, a variable that can't be controlled and dumped..

Guess which outcome happened for me? It didn't happen right away as I really did believe that stuff I was being taught / told, but eventually I began seeing most of that as a means of control and conditioning. It wasn't what I desired, wanted, or felt I needed in my life.

I still feel this way now and shun organized religion because of that.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Have you seen how Russians drive? It's like that.

The Italians are worse.

Road fatalities per 100,000 vehicles (2013):
Russia: 53.4
Italy: 7.3

(United States: 12.9, Canada: 9.5, Belgium: 10.7, Germany: 6.8)

So statistically Italians are actually pretty good drivers it seems, huh?
Gotta love stereotypes. For what it's worth I find driving in Northern Italy more relaxing than driving in Germany where everybody seems to be aggressive. South Italy can be a little rough because people follow the rules less but they do actually pay attention.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Road fatalities per 100,000 vehicles (2013):
Russia: 53.4
Italy: 7.3

(United States: 12.9, Canada: 9.5, Belgium: 10.7, Germany: 6.8)

So statistically Italians are actually pretty good drivers it seems, huh?
Gotta love stereotypes. For what it's worth I find driving in Northern Italy more relaxing than driving in Germany where everybody seems to be aggressive. South Italy can be a little rough because people follow the rules less but they do actually pay attention.

Raúl Juliá made it sound so cool, though.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[locutus101]

Road fatalities per 100,000 vehicles (2013):
Russia: 53.4
Italy: 7.3

(United States: 12.9, Canada: 9.5, Belgium: 10.7, Germany: 6.8)

So statistically Italians are actually pretty good drivers it seems, huh?
Gotta love stereotypes. For what it's worth I find driving in Northern Italy more relaxing than driving in Germany where everybody seems to be aggressive. South Italy can be a little rough because people follow the rules less but they do actually pay attention.

I was speaking from experience, I actually spent some time in southern Italy and some of these guys are potential murderers. It's like they don't give a crap about anyone but themselves. My car has been hit twice by two of these "stereotypes". Once, it wasn't even moving before the crash.

 

[Gov Kodos]

I was speaking from experience, I actually spent some time in southern Italy and some of these guys are potential murderers. It's like they don't give a crap about anyone but themselves. My car has been hit twice by two of these "stereotypes". Once, it wasn't even moving before the crash.

You experienced some bad drivers, therefore Italians are bad drivers. That is a staggering amount of assumption, stereotyping, and just plain old poor thinking.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Another non sequitur:

Having worked near the SETI Institute in Mountain View and parked in the same car park, I can attest that those guys are nothing but exemplary drivers and I would trust them with my donations if I were a software billionaire with money to burn on private projects.

 

[locutus101]

Another non sequitur:

Having worked near the SETI Institute in Mountain View and parked in the same car park, I can attest that those guys are nothing but exemplary drivers and I would trust them with my donations if I were a software billionaire with money to burn on private projects.

No, it's positive stereotyping. Apparently, you're allowed to do that. For instance, if I had said that southern Italians are among the most courteous and safety minded drivers I have ever known, I'd be lying through my teeth but I am pretty sure that no one would object. You're only forbidden to talk about your personal experience when it's negative.

 

[Gov Kodos]

No, it's positive stereotyping. Apparently, you're allowed to do that.

No, that's not what it is. An experience of some individuals by you is not proof of anything other than you may be the poor driver those folks happened across.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I was speaking from experience, I actually spent some time in southern Italy and some of these guys are potential murderers. It's like they don't give a crap about anyone but themselves. My car has been hit twice by two of these "stereotypes". Once, it wasn't even moving before the crash.

Statistically driving in Italy is just as safe as driving in just about every other Western country.
When it comes to Southern Italy I have noticed that stuff just works differently there. Instead of blindly following all traffic rules, people there tend to actually look and be aware of their surroundings and the traffic. So when a Northern European (or even a Northern Italian like myself) comes to Southern Italy they find it stressful since we're more used to just following the rules and switching our brains off.
A friend of mine keeps joking that a German will just crash into another car that steals their right of way instead of braking, and then they'll yell: YOU WERE WRONG! Because rules are all that matters.
A Southern Italian looks and brakes.

Having said that: I prefer driving in Northern Italy. It's just that statistically claiming Italians are bad drivers is pretty ignorant and anecdotal evidence is just that. There is absolutely no evidence that supports the idea and it just shows how willing you are to embrace stereotypes based on some anecdotal experience.

Leave it to Northern Italians to make fun of the South.

 

[locutus101]

No, that's not what it is. An experience of some individuals by you is not proof of anything other than you may be the poor driver those folks happened across.

I am an excellent driver. In six months I have experienced more near misses in southern Italy than for more than twenty years in the rest of the world. I just feel lucky I survived the experience.

 

[Gov Kodos]

I am an excellent driver. In six months I have experienced more near misses in southern Italy than for more than twenty years in the rest of the world. I just feel lucky I survived the experience.

Sure, it's the fault of everyone else.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I am an excellent driver.

Of course. Most everybody is if you ask them.

I'm a fantastic driver.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

And mere anecdotal (and possibly, subjectively biased) evidence.

When It Comes To Driving, Most People Think Their Skills are Above Average:
http://www.psychologicalscience.org...ple-think-their-skills-are-above-average.html