Zompist Bboard Again

Raphael wrote: ↑Sat Jul 31, 2021 10:00 am I just started The Norman Conquest, by Marc Morris. Pretty well written, IMO. About an Anglo-Danish war about half a century before the conquest, Morris writes

The English remained paralyzed by their own rivalries until the following April, at which point [English king] Æthelred made an invaluable contribution to the war effort by dropping dead [...]

Jonlang wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 4:45 am Has anyone read the recently published The Anglo-Saxons by Marc Morris?

You may feel that this is making too much of something that affects only a small part (one hopes) of the total population. It is true that in the past crankiness and eccentricity did little harm, and even added a certain spice to society. A generation ago, flat-Earthers, end-of-the-World cultists, and disciples of weird religions caused no embarrassment outside their immediate circle. But we are moving now into a complex and perilous age, where credulity and superstition are luxuries that can no longer be afforded. For consider this example:

In 1843, fifty thousand followers of the prophet William Miller gathered on New England hilltops to await the expected hour of judgment. The advent of a great comet, its tail streaming like a fiery banner across the sky, seemed to them a sign that the end of the world was at hand.

Men are still watching the sky for signs of doom; but now they look into radar screens. And here is the important difference; the beliefs of fifty thousand Millerites could have no influence, one way or the other, upon the end of the world, but today, when we can carry the power of Vesuvius in a single warhead, the fears or delusions of only fifty men could bring it about.

This is an extreme case; but all forms of irrationality are dangerous, because in the right circumstances they can spread like a plague, infecting not only a community but an entire nation. Those concerned may be very ashamed of themselves afterwards, but by then the damage may be done.

You cannot build an informed democracy out of people who’ll believe in little green men from Venus. Credulity-willingness to accept unsupported statements without demanding proof—is the greatest ally of the dictator and the demagogue.

Unfortunately, common sense has always been rather rare. As a reminder of this, let me quote two final examples of mass stupidity, which may also help to dispel the idea that it is an United States monopoly.

During the darkest days of the First World War, the rumor swept the length and breadth of Britain that troops were arriving from Russia in huge numbers (this was before the Revolution) to reinforce the crumbling western front. Thousands of honest Britons “saw” them at ports and railway stations, and millions believed the rumor, because they wanted to. And how did the observers know that these soldiers were actually Russians? Not because they said so—but because they had snow on their boots.

That little detail was the clincher, as far as most people were concerned. They never stopped to ask if even Russian snow would survive the long sea voyage from Murmansk to Scotland.

xxx wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 9:34 am Igorrr: ieuD (doG)
I do not know the (con)language of this French singer...

Ares Land wrote: ↑Fri Sep 24, 2021 2:13 am I went to see the new Dune last night. I really liked it.

I didn't know Peterson was to do some conlanging. Each faction getting its own language was a nice touch, but what I really like was the gorgeous script and the sign language.

Foolster41 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:17 pm I'm currently reading "A desolation called peace" by Arakady Maritine, a follow-up to her Hugo award winning novel "A memory called empire" which I thoroughly enjoyed. Both are sorts of diplomatic space operas with political conspiracy. What I enjoyed most I think of both is the characters.

The first book is about a Mahit from a space station living humans who's a diplomat to the Talaxian empire.

MacAnDàil wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:10 am I've been reading Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism. Indeed, I'll be leaving non-essential internet for the next thirty days.

Raholeun wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 4:45 am I went to the movie theater yesterday with my sister to see it. We did not really have time to discuss the film, but it seems we both enjoyed the movie. The cinematography was quite unique and fitting to the story, and the languages and script were enjoyable too. However, I am not too big on fight scenes and this movie was packed with them. Only when the sequel comes out, do I dare compare with Lynch's version (which I actually rank quite highly).

Ares Land wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 2:56 amSometimes you get entire paragraphs that sound deep, but make no sense whatsoever. (Sometimes it's entire chapters.)

Ares Land wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 2:56 am

MacAnDàil wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:10 am I've been reading Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism. Indeed, I'll be leaving non-essential internet for the next thirty days.

Ah, I understand the impulse. Hope we count as essential