tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212980052118894066.post6748464715106426445..comments2023-06-18T14:00:57.026-04:00Comments on The Philosophers' Pea Shooter: The Fermi Paradox as an Exercise in Social EngineeringJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03922074719460022887noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212980052118894066.post-77470299272705493432009-04-06T15:27:00.000-04:002009-04-06T15:27:00.000-04:00No real useful comment, just letting you know I ap...No real useful comment, just letting you know I appreciate the blog. :)Injinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344218283179690569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212980052118894066.post-64159631183450899942008-06-06T14:37:00.000-04:002008-06-06T14:37:00.000-04:00Sure, people are proud of their accomplishments, t...Sure, people are proud of their accomplishments, their families, their children, etc. But it is unlikely that a group of people will spontaneously self assemble and build a pyramid, the Titanic or Stonehenge. Someone or some group organized these people and motivated them to see the task through, while providing for their wellbeing and immediate needs. Quite an undertaking, indeed. Besides, you can be a part of a public works project, like building the Hoover dam or the Pyramids, and still be proud of your work. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comments,<BR/>Jon.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03922074719460022887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212980052118894066.post-9436961943014394362008-06-05T21:41:00.000-04:002008-06-05T21:41:00.000-04:00In short, I don’t think you can have this level of...<I>In short, I don’t think you can have this level of cooperation and the American Dream at the same time.</I><BR/><BR/>I have to disagree. To me there is two major factor you are missing, pride and the human spirit. Perhaps I watched to much Star Trek when I was a kid (the original of course) but the human spirit is a powerful force. Though slow it is analogous to rising flood waters, once a seed is planted in the spirit it begins to grow, whether it is the seed of freedom or curing polio. Once set in motion we accomplish amazing things and yes often the driving force is competition or greed but that which starts the ball rolling is something more pure.<BR/><BR/>I mentioned pride, meaning pride in an accomplishment not egotistical pride. A farmer feels pride in the food he lays before his family. A steel worker feels (or at least use to) pride in the ship he had a part in building. Some of this is nationalism however more then not this is personal satisfaction from being part of something bigger. And in being part of something bigger being able to provide for ones family.<BR/><BR/>Not everyone wants to rule the world or cure cancer or even be remembered by history. Most people just want the ability to live their lives with some creature comforts, the possibility of a better life and the freedom to explore that world.<BR/><BR/>We are nostalgic for times like the 50's not because we were being pushed into 1984 style projects but because there was a sense of greater purpose and possibility. The difference today is our government is intrusive and we are forced to pay for the ills of our fellow man, furthering your evolutionary idea of a dependent, submissive generation bred to wait idly for they meal wagon to bring their food. In reality I think we are much more like the Eloy and Morlocks then any of use would care to imagine, but at least the Eloy can dream!<BR/><BR/>Perhaps that is all we humans need to accomplish great things, the illusion that we are part of something greater? Perhaps, but I will hold out on the human spirit and individual pride.Sensei Mitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139500666718123583noreply@blogger.com