It's sad but true, the downside is you miss out on so much by not caring. Just the other day I was asked if I would care for a timtam, and I said "no why should I?" would a timtam care for me when things go bad? I don't think so.
Speak for yourself. I'm not patriotic, and I don't think aussies are special, but people in general do care. You'd be surprised. Who's saying Bangladeshis don't care? Sounds like you know very little about caste systems.
. ummmm footy just forget what I said in the other thread about tin foil hat maniacs.Some of them are my best friends
You are probably right, a lot of people may care, so what? they don't care enough to do anything about it. Knowing some stranger cares about you is little comfort when you're starving.
There's a difference between caring and having the means to resolve the issues of others. I agree there. There are a lot of disincentives like corruption and BS socialist policies that discourage people from action, myself included. But this doesn't mean when the SHTF that we'll care any less. There's nothing quite like a mutual struggle to bond/unite people.
I don't know you, so I wouldn't help you, even if we were experiencing a mutual struggle, it wouldn't make any difference. However if you were hanging off a cliff or drowning in a river and I could render assistance if that didn't hinder my needs, yes, I would help, but you'd be on your own after that unless I needed you. But if you told me you were a Silver Stacker, that would make all the difference in the world - we would have something in common that is more than just 2 legs, 2 arms etc. Just because we are all people doesn't mean we have a bond.
You shouldn't be proud of that view at all - it's shallow. What is so important about your genes that you can't find a reason to help another human if it means you might have less as a consequence? Are you better or more deserving than other people? Do you lack common bonds with others? Are you acutely xenophobic, even against other humans? Did someone betray your trust once and hurt you? I'm glad your view is not representative of all of humanity.
After the floods in Queensland last year there was a "mud army" of volunteers who all pitched in to clean up. It made for a great feel good story on the news about how Queenslanders (feel free to substitute a nationality, race or religion) stick together in tough times and help each other out. However I was there and I know what I saw. Nothing to brag about that's for sure.
Saw some stuff here that didn't make it onto the news as well Nugget Punchups at the servo over people last minute stockpiling bulk petrol when supplies are cut, same with bread and milk at the supermarket :/ There's some true ugliness in at least some of our neighbours, and fear and greed make for irrational behaviour.... (and that was only during a few days when the road was cut off, let alone weeks/months)
I'm not proud Dogmatix. What I am is a realist. We are talking about a SHTF scenario here, so I'm preparing for that. I'm practicing being harsh because it is not my nature. My nature is to trust, to see the best in others (W&F will and has vouched for me), but don't for one second assume there is some "innate Aussie spirit" that binds us all. That is BS and naive. I am loving, and I care for my friends, my family and my workers - because they are critically important to me on a number of levels. But why should I share my resources with the family down the road if it will mean putting my own family and friends at risk? This is what it comes down to Dogmatix. You can express all the nicest, most humanitarian philosophies you like - but what happens when the crunch comes. Who do you choose? It's hardly shallow - it's more obvious that I have given greater thought to the possibility that one day I may have to sacrifice someone I don't know for someone I do. As far as all the other questions you have raised: My genes are no better I am no more deserving than others I have bonds I hopefully will fight for How can I be xenophobic, the son of immigrants? Yes, I have been betrayed and hurt. That is a part of life. :/
You make it sound like that movie, there the parents choose to push a button and it kills someone they dont know, but they get 1 million dollars in return. Sounds like you'll push the button shiney...
Thanks thats one to remember, the onion trick is more like the ultimate callibre killing machine. Frozen then partially defrosted in warm water so you get a tight seal. It'l blow head sized holes through corrugated iron. Does some wicked damage to a possum but I wouldn't call it hunting.... no good to eat. But would sure turn someone around in a hurry if used in self defense.
Whilst this isn't a movie if this doesn't at least cloud the rainbows and lollipops perspective then I don't know what will 5 Psychological Experiments That Prove Humanity is Doomed http://www.cracked.com/article_16239_5-psychological-experiments-that-prove-humanity-doomed.html Please note that I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom. But if anyone's plan for SHTF* is that someone will help you out then I sincerely hope that you are correct and I'm just a cynical man old before his time. *SHTF can range from the loss of your job, serious illness, legal troubles, marital problems, running out of petrol in a bad area (if this is you you are DUMB. Seriously how hard is it to maintain a min of 1/2 a tank of fuel? certainly easier than maintaining a perpetually empty one) to being a victim of crime or even to a natural disaster or a situation where the rule of law is temporarily suspended.
When I went t to college, I ran out of fuel twice in one day, it's coz I was a broke student, not coz I was DUMB. Quote from your link Nugget: @ Dogmatix: this is the crux, if I am pressed for time or pressed for any other reason, you will not get my assistance. But if I had the resources and the time and the skills to protect you and my family and my friends I would. That's a lot of resources I have to share, you must agree.
I only give any weight to the Milgram experiment, but all that tells us is that weak-minded people conform to authority (it's pretty interesting though, I studied it at Uni). The other experiments are very flawed and don't tell us anything much, except that some people are stupid. I can appreciate that. As I said to DanDee: So just because we can't fix world poverty for example, doesn't mean we shouldn't care at all. But it also doesn't mean we should necessarily devote all our resources to fixing it (particularly as a large portion of it is not something that can readily be fixed by outside sources). I'm not suggesting that a starving person would give away their last piece of bread, but I am rallying against the idea that 'every person for themselves!' is the right strategy. Humans are naturally social and communal and whilst we look to safety and self preservation I still think we're always going to be better off when we band together in hard times rather than to separate. (not accounting for the plague, ebola, avian flu, head lice, chicken pox, etc)
