tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post5147098890279733123..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Ideology of left and right - how do we break free?Jim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-4768826627902056112017-09-14T07:36:46.954+10:002017-09-14T07:36:46.954+10:00Thanks, kvd. I will bring the link up in the post....Thanks, kvd. I will bring the link up in the post.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-75142642648908282732017-09-14T06:10:04.752+10:002017-09-14T06:10:04.752+10:00Jim, just for reference, your fellow blogger, LE, ...Jim, just for reference, your fellow blogger, LE, has put up a post on this 'marriage equality' subject which may interest your other readers: <br /><br />http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2017/09/13/why-i-am-voting-yes-in-the-ssm-postal-survey-but-wont-be-telling-anyone-else-how-to-vote/<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-26788336666706586472017-09-12T09:59:27.954+10:002017-09-12T09:59:27.954+10:00Morning, all. Welcome back, LE. I knew that you ha...Morning, all. Welcome back, LE. I knew that you had come down again from FB. I rather thought that you might agree. Do write that post! <br /><br />You made a fair point, Randy, when you wrote "social engineering, I've long thought, is what people call social change they do not like." Social engineering can be a slippery pejorative term. When I use the term I'm not talking about change per se, but action normally by Government to mandate or force social, cultural or behavioural change upon society in ways considered desirable. Defined in this way, it is of course very broad to the point that it encompasses a wide sphere of activity. It then comes back to the question of degree and the degree of coercion involved.<br /><br />I don't think of gay marriage as social engineering. Not only does it reflect what I see to be the majority view, but it recognises a need, removes a wrong to pick up kvd's point, without necessarily infringing other peoples' rights.<br /><br />Laughed at the Ikea example, kvd. While I take the force of your hive-mind comment, I still think the concerns I expressed are valid. The hive-mind extends well beyond social media. Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-80414109587690215912017-09-12T06:53:52.678+10:002017-09-12T06:53:52.678+10:00"I don’t really know Sweden, but I have been ...<i>"I don’t really know Sweden, but I have been to Ikea enough to know what is promised is so often not delivered."</i><br /><br />From a discussion of your favourite word, Jim: "hygge". Funniest, most astute comment I've read this week :) And I think it can be applied far more widely than that.<br /><br />For instance, we seem consumed lately with the granting of 'rights' which immediately brings out the strident defenders of the status quo, but mightn't so much, if what we discussed was the rectification/reduction of 'wrongs'? Eric Blair must be smiling as he sees yet another word-meaning turned on its head.<br /><br />I think your main problem Jim is that you've entered into the hive-mind of social media, and are mistaking the low-level, static buzzing, of all your fellow participants for deeply thought-through principled positions. And I get your frustration when the swarm moves, as one, in a direction which you might not choose, or at least consider is ill-judged - when/if judged at all.<br /><br />Be not alarmed; tomorrow it will be something else of equal unimportance with which you may agree :)<br /><br />kvd<br /><br />ps Hi LE - great to see you around! Hope the eaglets are flourishing, and I'm very much looking forward to your book.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-78848222836902312402017-09-12T02:57:18.119+10:002017-09-12T02:57:18.119+10:00Social engineering, I've long thought, is what...Social engineering, I've long thought, is what people call social change they do not like.Randy McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04707497864911987241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-38988244297400132522017-09-11T13:56:36.445+10:002017-09-11T13:56:36.445+10:00P.S. Hello KVD. Keep meaning to write to you...wil...P.S. Hello KVD. Keep meaning to write to you...will try to keep my promise...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-78928231687283752402017-09-11T13:54:31.724+10:002017-09-11T13:54:31.724+10:00Hey there, haven't visited for a while (back t...Hey there, haven't visited for a while (back to full time teaching, then as per usual came down with pneumonia)...but yes, I agree with you. It's all very unedifying. In fact, it's so unedifying that I might have to write a blog post myself.<br /><br />Cheers, LEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com