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Philosophy 101
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"Civilized"
| Philosophy 101 |
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"Civilized" |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Is there anything that is usually considered "civilized" that you don't accept as very civilized at all? |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
Self-mutilation. Civilized folk, of course, call them piercings and tattoos.  |
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oceanvu2 Senior Member
since 2007-02-24
Posts 1066Santa Monica, California, USA |
Female circumscision, stoning and other honorable modes of killing women, drowning excess female children, empressing children into revolutionary armies, permitting starvation in a world of abundance... Odds and ends like that. I can live with a ring in my kid's nose. Best, Jim [This message has been edited by oceanvu2 (06-16-2007 09:25 PM).] |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
Civilization. It's a jungle out there. |
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Drauntz Member Elite
since 2007-03-16
Posts 2905Los Angeles California |
Beat around the bush. |
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Edward Grim Senior Member
since 2005-12-18
Posts 1154Greenville, South Carolina |
quote: OUCH! hahaha. Me? Holy wars, abortion and euthanasia; children on cell phones, homeowners association and Miami. “Well all the apostles, they’re sittin’ on the swings, sayin’ I’d sell off my savior for a set of new rings.” |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
debt |
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UseTheIllusion Member
since 2006-02-06
Posts 223In a state of limbo |
Capitalism. |
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hush Senior Member
since 2001-05-27
Posts 1653Ohio, USA |
'OUCH! hahaha.' Raising eyebrow- didn;t know it was funny. To add my two cents- routine male circumcision. |
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rwood Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793Tennessee |
marriage. |
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Edward Grim Senior Member
since 2005-12-18
Posts 1154Greenville, South Carolina |
quote: Well, first off Hush, I didn't even realize that was an actual practice (I'm not as worldly as you). It sounded like an oxymoron seeing as circumcision is usually associated with males. I'm still a little confused as to what exactly it is or what purpose the procedure is done for and quite frankly I don't care to know. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
What about something that almost all homeowners do: mow their lawn. Why do people have a thing against long grass? It doesn't harm anyone. But they try to force it to look like a manmade carpet out of somewhat mechanical attachment to the idea that it ought to be done, and if it is not done then they are being neglectful. Yet the deed itself disallows a natural, living and unharmful part of nature to grow naturally, and harms living beings that live, throfare, and find shelter in that part of nature when chance to get caught in the machine's path as well. I don't think mowing a lawn is civilized because it involves technology. To me it seems a mechanical act based on little virtue beyond a superficial aesthetic. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
You do realize that you're using a computer to post on the Internet, right Ess? FWIW - Mowing the lawn is a bit more than just developing a cultivated "machined" look to one's front yard. There are legitimate reasons for keeping one's lawn trimmed. The first thing that comes to mind is that an unkempt lawn becomes home to a number of myriad creatures that could be harmful to humans - rats, for one. Mosquitoes (possibly carrying West Nile), could breed in depressions a home owner couldn't see with long grass. Rocks, toys, etc., could be hidden in the grass, becoming a trip hazard - worse yet, if they had metal pieces on them, could become rusty and cause tetanus. Add to that the fact that most grasses will die if left untrimmed. Nature has it's own way of maintaining healthy grasslands in the form of grazers... and I'm not really ready to have cows on my lawn, yanno. My response to the original question: people who fashion themselves civilized (in line with Reb's answer). It's an overrated segregation that, much like religious fanatics, tends to limit more than enhance; any type of group that focuses more on governance than being proactive is nothing more than a false aid. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
I don't agree. If you keep your whole yard clean, then long grass may be kept just as clean. My grass in my backyard has been fulltall for ages, and I never had any unwanted animals in my yard, nor any problem keeping litter out of my yard. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Let me guess - you've never had a 2 year old son either. (talk about uncivilized... you should see this boy when he gets together and plays with his dogs!) |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
I just did some spot research on Regina, Ess - it looks like you live in a fair sized city with a pretty high density. That could make a considerable difference over where I live, where I can throw a rock and hit an orchard or corn field. We have a considerable wildlife population in this area and some fairly dangerous bugs (brown recluse, no end of black widows)... and, sadly, the occassional rattlesnake as well. You are more than welcome to consider it uncivilized, but I'll keep cutting the grass and pruning the shrubs and clipping the flowers... and not just because of potential dangers, but because I'm fond of order. If I wanted to be a naturalist (as it sounds like you're suggesting civilized people to be), I'd move up into the mountains and don my hemp loincloth.  |
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rwood Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793Tennessee |
well Ess~ it's like this. Snakes can't live with me, and they would if I didn't mow, and trust me I hate to mow. and then there's the dreaded home owner's association that Ed mentioned. It's a pact you make with them devils just to be able to live in a quiet neighborhood with low light, less noise, protection of trees, and domestic animals, etc. though I do understand your view of nature in its truest form. Grass plains are beautiful and my sis and I used to play hide and seek in them. |
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rwood Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793Tennessee |
Laugh. I thought Christopher was talkin' bout me at first glance. What did he find about me? My grass needs mowin'??? Hahaha. anywho, You have Regina's vote on long grass in Regina. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Christopher And yet I imagine you probably drive a car at least everyday, or go where others drive cars. You won't let grass grow long because it puts life at some risk, yet you will drive a car that puts life at an even bigger risk, among mechanical traffic, and the kind of statistics of injuries and death, and pollution that come from man's fancy for the automobile every year? I would rather let the grass grow every day, and be a little closer to meeting my wilder relatives than risk life everyday in the haste and violence of machines. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Reg, "Snakes can't live with me, and they would if I didn't mow, and trust me I hate to mow." I think it is likelier that you kill a hundred innocent insects every mowing than that you would ever be injured by a snake for not mowing your lawn. |
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rwood Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793Tennessee |
you're probably right and I love dragonflies |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
I'm more than happy to kill as many insects as I can, Ess. I have a flyswatter that gets used consistently during the summer here. I spray the entire perimeter of my house and property with bug killer once a month or so. I place "snail bait" around my garden. I set rat traps if/when there is a problem. I shoot "critters" that try to get into my garbage and run along the roof. While I don't condone "gratuitous" slaying of animals (and I don't count insects in there with animals, they're fair game any time), I am at the top of the food chain and will freely develop my immediate surroundings to fit my needs and desires. I have a swimming pool and a spa, both filled with chlorine that prevents algae from growing. I have cleansers that prevent bacteria from growing on the surfaces in my house. I have a vacuum with a HEPA filter that eliminates some of the germs in my house. I have toothpaste that kills bacteria there. I eat beef, chicken, fish, pork (bacon, yum yum), wear leather tennis shoes and live in a house built out of wood. The best part of all this? I am ok with it. If the "innocent" (hahah) insects want to secure their future, they can develop opposable thumbs and climb a bit higher on the food chain. Otherwise… they’re toast. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
quote:I do drive a car everyday. It has safety features built in, such as struts to minimize damage in an impact, safety belts, and shatter-proof glass to name a few. Mowing my lawn could be considered relative to the safety measures they put in cars. But, really - I was just providing some potential reasons that mowing your lawn might be good. My lawns are relatively healthy, considering the heat and I like them. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
one final thing for now - if it's any consolation, Ess, all my power tools at home are electric... I don't pollute the atmosphere while cutting the grass. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
I guess many a man wouldn't feel like much of a man anymore if he didn't pick on creatures much smaller than himself. |
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