IrateCitizen's "Thought for the Day"

[IrateCitizen]

There are two types of people in this world. The first consists of those who change themselves to adapt to the world around them. The second is those who try to change the world to adapt it to themselves. If it weren't for the second group, we never would have advanced as a society.

Discuss.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I don;t care what you say, Ugg.

That fire stuff is too dangerous to be messing with.

[paula777]

2. Two types of people: Hedonists and non-hedonists

The hedonist do whatever they want and the rest of us have to try to clean up after them

[Warpy]

3. You need to talk to some Native Americans

and find out how incredibly progressive they are socially and psychologically and how far behind we are in so many ways.

When all you see is technology, then I suppose you'd have to say that Europeans have progressed. However, as you watch the inexorable progress towards fascism, oppression, and a permanent inherited aristocracy, your thesis falls apart. When you look at the misery we've institutionalized in our culture, then you need to distract yourself with the gadgetry so that you won't die of shame.

There are all sorts of ways to measure "progress." Although the gadgetry can be very seductive, don't assume that it's the total measure of us as human beings.

[IrateCitizen]

4. You're reading a lot into my post there...

I never once said that I was referring to technological advances. In fact, what I am referring to here is the more metaphysical / spiritual side of things.

I'm well aware of the distraction of gadgetry in our society. In fact, I just finished writing a 26 page paper on it for a class I'm taking. I was taking the side that the Enlightenment was largely betrayed in America because we lost sight of the ideal of the "perfectibility of man" that drove it.

Next time, why don't you ask for a clarification before you jump to such misguided conclusions.

[Zorra]

5. George Bernard Shaw. n/t