Re: Eliminating competition: The Zeitgeist of the late 90's

["Norm" <normanmo@clark.net>]

On Tue, 28 Jul 1998 08:46:55 -0500 (EST), Doug Masson wrote:

>Indeed, not having children is an option...after all it's not as if the
>world is lacking people. And you are quite correct I have not chosen to
>shackle myself with a mortgage as yet. However, I'm not sure why I or
>anyone else should subsidize your decision to reproduce by giving up my or
>their liberties. Perhaps you are not the one craving censorship on the Net
>in the name of children, but by and large the battle cry has been one of
>"Won't anyone PLEEEAAASE think about the children." Well, no, they're not
>my
>kids...don't muzzle me to keep them sheltered. 


     You misunderstood me, my comment about having children was in
reference to people wanting some kind of security (or "being safe"). 
When most people have children they want the best for them, and part of
that is a secure environment (that includes financial security...you're
less worried about feeding yourself than you would your children).  

     I would agree that you (actually *WE*) shouldn't have to give up
freedom because that would make it easier for some to allow the TV or
the net to babysit *THEIR* kids.  Parents have to take more
responsibility in this area, you can't expect everyone to 'childproof'
the world.  That said we can't take that sentiment to the extreme. 
Like it or not we *ALL* have some stake in how *ALL* children fare. 
Lets face it, our children are our future, and if we don't care enough
about them our future will be really grim.


 
>>      Now that I got *that* off my chest I will concede that age doesn't
>> give you all the answers (as a matter of fact it's more likely to leave
>> you with a greater number and more difficult questions than you had
>> before)...only that it does give you more experience to pull from in
>> your effort to come up with the best answers.  I don't mean to bust
>> your chops here but your blanket statement about 'boomers' is incorrect
>> and way out of line.  There are plenty of 'boomers' out there who work
>> hard and live their lives by a high moral code that don't deserve to be
>> painted in such a tainted light.  Believe me, although your opinions
>> may not change with age (although most of ours have) I guarantee your
>> perspective will.
>> 
>
>Oh, I have no doubt that my perspective will change with age. However,
>I've found that if one does not lube up their scruples with a healthy dose
>of self-righteousness from time to time then the folks who have NO
>perspective will simply run rough-shod while the more rational individual
>stands idle wringing their hands over competing, valid worldviews.
>(Meaning, that understanding all sides of an argument is all well and good
>for figuring out what's going on around you, but it is quite ineffective
>when it comes to provocative (and, let's face it, fun) rhetoric.)


     Oh I understand that well, I've sent out a few trolls myself ;-). 
There's nothing like a good rant to get the blood flowing (you'd
probably love the 'religion in politics' discussions I've been having
with some people on another list...btw, I'm against it).

>
>And, my apologies for laying down a blanket reference to boomers. I'm sure
>you all are as different as Gen-X ers are despite what the mass media
>would have you believe. However, I was responding to a blanket statement
>about boomers and I am a slave to parallelism.


     No offense taken (I like to "lube up my scruples" every now and
again myself).  Don't worry, most of us don't pay attention to the
'mass media' for its' credibility...it's just entertainment.  But the
next time you think of all 'boomers' as a bunch of ultra conservative
right-winged religious zealots watch an old copy of the 'Woodstock'
movie (I realize it's scary, but if you think that's scary consider the
fact that 'Gen-X' is much more conservative than we were at that age
:-)).

>
>Now hurry up and get on social security so I can double my work week while
>halving my purchasing power. (How could I have kids...I have to support my
>elders.) ;)


     Yep, then you enter into an entirely new hell.  If you think you
hated being treated like a helpless child by your parents I can assure
you you're going to enjoy playing the parent to them when they get too
old even worse.  Like most kids I thought it would be great to reverse
roles on my parents...what did I know...


--
 ...Cheers,

 ...Norm

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