dimreepr

Add to this, my thoughts in post #10 and you can see why reading first is necessary to contribute. Btw +1 “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self” -Earnest Hemmingway.

If you want to contribute to this thread maybe you should read it first.

Absolute power doesn’t corrupt but the corrupt do seek power; in a perfect world anyone who wants to be a policeman should be denied automatically, just saying. Edit/ that’s not too exclude the possibility of an honourable man seeking to better his world (of which I'm sure they are numerous); but as a generalisation it’s not so far off the mark. I’m sorry my initial post was a little flippant and my subsequent edits haven’t clarified anything very well. So let me try again: Absolute power doesn’t corrupt but the corrupt and corruptible do seek power; in a perfect world anyone who wants to be a policeman/woman should be rigorously vetted with that in mind.

“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it”

To add to this: Every year the western world spends billions on trying to eradicate one pest or another; suppose we were successful, in at least one pest? Let’s say, for instance, the cockroach; there is no way to know that wouldn’t lead to the end of humanity. Emergent qualities are present in every complex system.

Indeed they do but given the history and the investment I doubt they would give it up without a fight.

It not only charges the batteries during sunlight hours but also gains height to take advantage of potential energy during the sunless hours.

The problem is does China feel challenged?

If any nation could, legitimately, challenge China, then ‘d’ would clearly be the answer otherwise take your pick.

WOW, even after a concession you feel the need to reply:

OK you win.

Tar given that you’re saying my post was an ad hom I have to assume that you’ve missed my point. I may be wrong about your abilities tar, the point is I have no idea how accurate my opinion of you is; since our only connection is the written word, how could I possibly understand you properly? PeterJ has asked you to read his material on the subject, a reasonable request, which you are, of course, entitled to refuse. That refusal does mean that you don’t understand what he means; your arguments are therefore from ignorance. BTW no one here is offering an argument that reincarnation doesn’t happen.

Tar and PeterJ please consider the following: You’re issues in this thread, and no doubt many others, are that neither side understands the other. Tar you fail to see beyond your cultural thinking; anything beyond seems unintelligible. PeterJ whilst I have no doubt that you can transcend the cultural barrier you seem to struggle when confronted with someone who can’t. Understanding ones fellows is by no means automatic and has almost nothing to do with what most consider ‘intelligence’ but if one wants to be fully understood it is necessary. The above is in no way meant to insult or imply superior intelligence too either side.

Whether considered or not it doesn’t move the argument forward; you’re either preaching to the converted or talking to a brick wall.

The problem with western society (possibly the world) can be summed up in one word ‘aspiration’; it makes money the route to happiness. The rich suffer, often more than the poorest, through fear (of losing their wealth) and a misdirected faith that money equals safety but when food is more important than art, in this world of ours, money has no meaning. Some people choose misery as a sort of virtual happiness; the martyr, to them, is admired.

OK (sigh), if you insist, presuming my statement was confrontational? How was it wrong?

IOW If you can’t be content without money you’ll never be content with it.

No, it’s you that misunderstands. This is just nonsense.

Besides, world peace, by definition couldn’t be achieved through force or enforcement. +1 BTW

Does it hurt enough to give up the comfort? To be optimistic that your contribution will someday help towards a better world; is to be admired. To be optimistic that hope will provide the answer; is to throw your penny into the well and wish. Which would you want to be remembered for? Often the greatest/strongest hurricanes starts little more than a dust devil.

Imatfaal, if you close this thread I’m afraid I’ll be forced to declare the bet void (as it’s obviously the same thread). If this was in the lounge I’d agree with studiot but as it’s here I agree with DrP.

I don’t wish to be trite but you are using a by-product of that greed and power to post this topic. Edit/ IOW “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” No one can ever know what’s in the future, even when what the future holds seems so obvious . We can but hope.

You’re not trying to discus; you’re just trying to find a way to be correct without reasonable rigor. Present this “wider theory” without the logical fallacies, please.

I’m opening a book, if anyone’s interested? Evens on 500 replies, (in this thread) 3/1 for 600 replies 10/1 for 700 and 5/1 it gets closed at 550 +/- 3, 50/1 bar. Swansont, and others, I admire you’re endless/saintly patience in trying to educate; please keep it up, I have money on this now.

The physics have been explained, ad nauseam, everything else is, by definition, extraordinary.