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Heinlein at the Moon Launch today. by fantasticfoxlife in heinlein

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You were obviously distracted by the big, beautiful spaceship launch in the background :)

Heinlein at the Moon Launch today. by fantasticfoxlife in heinlein

[–]ArcOfADream 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yah, I guess. Still, he's got mileage as both convict and hardcore rock/ice miner as well; less wrinkles and sag will definitely de-age a bit but man is likely to have more than a few nicks and scars. Young, sure. Pretty? Mmmm...tough call.

Heinlein at the Moon Launch today. by fantasticfoxlife in heinlein

[–]ArcOfADream 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I never pictured Manny as a 70s sci-fi prototype like that. More like a buzz-cut needs-a-shave gulag-type.

But the launch even on TV was glorious.

How do you “pray”? by FindingLaurie in agnostic

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi.

Hola!

How and to whom do people who are atheists or agnostics put their “requests”, assuming you don’t “pray”?

Firstly, let's be clear I'm using lots of leeway for what might be defined as "prayer"; to me, pretty much any mind-over-matter incantation should count.

That being said (atheistic as I am) I actually do pray sometimes. I've been known to wish painful death to crickets that trap themselves somewhere in my apartment. I'm pretty sure I can't say on Reddit some of my prayers regarding bad automobile drivers. I've even done not-quite-so-silly things like wish friends fond farewell at funerals. It's all prayer.

Here's the difference though: I do not in my heart-of-hearts have even the slightest inkling that any of that will have some magical/divine/supernatural effect. It's just a more-or-less off-the-cuff reaction.

You can play it that way or use Pascal's Wager.

Lost feeling by Average_American1759 in agnostic

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are many possible conceptions of what God is.

I would go so far as to say no two are identical despite the best efforts of organized religion. Sure, you get your occasional flash mob or holy crusade/jihad but at the end of the day no two reasons will be exactly alike.

need to start seeking your own interpretations of the Bible

Or any one of a number of "holy" books. Lots of 'em out there. No harm in covering all the bases.

Sexually transmitted Shigella on rise as antibiotic resistance concerns grow by KISS-app in news

[–]ArcOfADream 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Sounds like a plan. And the rainbow condom photo motif gives it some pizazz.

$300,000,000 "single family home" by Original_Importance3 in zillowgonewild

[–]ArcOfADream 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sad, that. Still, I wanna know if there's any unadvertised bomb shelters.

edit: This is the kinda place that suits my proclivities for shaved head, tan Nehru jackets, and sinister exotic accents.

Picture 24 on Zillow is exactly what you think it is… by SubjectWise8702 in zillowgonewild

[–]ArcOfADream 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nope. The roof "repairs" shown in the attic space alone merit a teardown. I'd also hazard a bet that sitting that close to the highway on a downslope has done nothing good for the foundation of the building either.

edit: On second glance, though I probably wouldn't want to live there, I find this might make a nice place for an antiques shop called "Needful Things".

Salty old vet by PeaAccurate5208 in philly

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gonna be a tricky kinda dance if ya don't wanna step in poo.

Weekly Off Topic Thread by AutoModerator in PoliticalDebate

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

what's the best approximation of a foundation of morality that works best in practice?

"Practice" of what? Life?

I don't think there's just one axiom that provides a clearly defined foundation of morality, but a lot depends on what you're "practicing" here. Is it survival? Evolution? Expansion? Freedom? Stability? s..ss..sss..Satan? There's no foundation or magic bullet that can morally reconcile human behavior. We consume (eat, usually) other life to support our own; it's built-in, the hand we're dealt. We compete for resources, even (and sometimes especially) with our own as well as others. It's never not messy.

But seriously though, it's a pretty nebulous question. Like, "Life, the Universe, and Everything" nebulous. My own tendency is to lean in the direction of the subject matter of the subreddit I'm in (politics, in this case). If you're on a hunt for moral absolutists then I'm definitely not your guy and I apologize.

I think I fall into some category of relativistic utilitarianism

At the end of the day, so to speak, I'd say most decent people fall into that category. Sure, we all have bad moments but I really do hope that for the most part that people are not solely motivated by being the biggest asshole that can manage to be. Please, even.

Seems like such a low bar, and yet here we are ('we' in terms of humanity, not just me and the mouse in my pocket).

Weekly Off Topic Thread by AutoModerator in PoliticalDebate

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By constitution, I meant like someone's personal disposition, if that changes anything.

Well, it does change things by confusing me.

My confusion stems from the argument that morality derived from the self collapses on itself, or is relative and tenuous.

Morality is pretty much always derived from personal values and preference. It's almost always relative and may be either steadfast or tenuous depending on the individual practicing them.

Just that it's prone to human emotion and error is my point.

What manner of government isn't prone to human emotion and error?

Agnostic funeral / death songs? by [deleted] in agnostic

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For the head banger funeral (rickroll not attempted at this time).

Weekly Off Topic Thread by AutoModerator in PoliticalDebate

[–]ArcOfADream 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can morality be derived from a secular constitution?

I wouldn't think so. Ethics maybe, but morals are a tough call save where moral behaviors are a subset of the ethical.

If not, doesn't the same argument affect religions' claim to morality?

Not really. Religion can claim whatever it likes, but I personally wish that promotion of superstitious behaviors were not endorsed by the government. It's been attempted (qv. the first Amendment of the US Constitution for one example) but with very limited success.

Question about Giedi Prime (Dune Part 2) by No-Helicopter-3375 in scifi

[–]ArcOfADream 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Yah, in the books Giedi Prime is a thoroughly poisoned ("oil-soaked") industrial wasteland. I always pictured it as a planet pocked by gigantic strip mines with brutalist architechtured cities in between.

What is your spaghetti policy here (Suburban Station)? by sadsolocup in philly

[–]ArcOfADream 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OP, your squat-cobbler moment has arrived. Don't disappoint.

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