heh
Here's an interesting quote which I thought was counter-torrey ed. :
Hateful, blasphemous, prejudiced, vulgar, rude, or ignorant remarks are the music of a free society, and the relentless patter of idiots is how we know we're in one. When all the words in our public conversation are fair, good, and true, it's time to make a run for the fence. - Daniel Gilbert
what do you think? true? I find it at least humorous.
posted by Luke @ 30.5.06
7 comments
7 Comments:
I challenge you!
How is that counter-torrey ed? I can't think of many artistic works we read that were not vulgar, etc. in some way...
hohoho! that's great! I think you win. I really don't know the landscape of torrey, so I can't make (m)any valid comments.
btw, I got that book which the Strauss article was written about. I got if for a friend of mine who'd probably be interested, but I'll try and read a bit before I hand it over.
Which book is that?
I think it's a great argument for why the existence of myspace or xanga is inevitable in a free network. It was only when there was some barrier to setting up a web presence that you could expect most web content to be created by people reasonably competent and intelligent.
(No offense to Timothy--I am referring to the average Xanga user.)
notice blogger is free as well, yet somehow yields less filth and idiocy than xanga or myspace.
It's probably shooting for shock value, and so I think he dramatically overstates his case (either emotionally or reasonably).
It's completely conceivable that a free society would exclude those vices and remain a free society. Does free mean exempt from all social pressures? Or does free just mean governmentally free?
It's too ambiguous. Anyway, I think social pressure against evils like filthy language, pornography, immorality and the like are healthy when correctly utilized (sermons are acceptable on moral issues).
Anyway, the quote's too ambiguous.
I think he has a valid point, since what a society considers acceptable or reasonable is not always identical with good. I think the recent Islamic cartoon fiasco demonstrates this well. So, if people are free to challenge the status quo, then a society remains free. Once the dissension of minorities can be squashed by society, then those who control society can control everyone.
Of course, words and ideas need to be properly distinguished from actions.
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