"You must do what you feel is right, of course."

[traceroo]

Ian and I often end up in these wonderful deep talks that start over dinner and meander into a late night. We had a good one tonight, very cheerful, and very challenging. He's my best friend, and I find him so fascinating, and sometimes so alien. I love talks like these! Tonight, I discovered, rediscovered, or confirmed the following things about

Comments

But you'll still love me when I'm a crazy cat lady, right?

[kajivar]

I don't understand Animal Lovers, and I deliberately avoid conversations on this topic in much the same way others avoid talk about politics or money.

Does this mean you won't ever visit me when I achieve my dream of having a house with 60 cats? ;)

Re: But you'll still love me when I'm a crazy cat lady, right?

[traceroo]

I'll visit you... I'll just collapse into a blue heave in the driveway when I take my first breath!

T.

"Wait a minute, I've got two chickens!"

[traceroo]

You actually came up during the discussion, as one can imagine -- and also during the part about who believes in The System. We're not sure if you really believe in it, or you just find it useful.

T.

Re: "Wait a minute, I've got two chickens!"

[traceroo]

I agree with you about The System. I think more importantly, however, you and I believe in A System, and that's a big differentiator right there from what many people believe.

You think taking vengeance is righteous?

T.

I'm in your brain, eating your food for thought

[nighthob]

I'm terribly interested in why you've included a particular tag on this post, but perhaps it isn't for public consumption.

I'm also curious about something. Acting contrary to your own nature is insincere, so if someone is by nature a cheating jerk, should that person be sincere and be a cheating jerk or be insincere and fight against that proclivity?

I'm also curious about the idea of vengeance. Where are the boundaries of vengeance? Is snarky gossip vengeance? Or does it have to be actual acts against the person in question?

Re: I'm in your brain, eating your food for thought

[traceroo]

In the case of the cheating jerk, I think monogamy might not be in the person's basic nature. Therefore I'd suggest that promosing monogamy or fidelity is probably insincere, and therefore leads to trouble. By no means am I suggesting that, "To thine own self be true" is a license to let your inner dickweed run rampant.

More along the lines of every ABC After School Special ever filmed: No matter what the circumstances or pressure around you, you must be yourself.

Snarky gossip might well fall into the category of vengeance. This is an excellent point since you bring up that vengeance doesn't have to be in all caps, and with a valkyrie and all broadswordy. It might be easy and tempting to do, and perhaps difficult to avoid. From a moral standpoint, is gossip any less of an evil than some more overt (yet still legal) act?

I have a good example of this that will apply to private discussion on the topic.

T.

To think, I thought I was already enjoying discussion of your good bras and your stankin dogs enough

[tashewolf]

I love this entry. I really do.

Vengeance could be one on its own -- I actually think there's a strong possibility that the urge is hardwired into much of Irish culture. Do you think so? Do you think this makes you that much stronger to choose another path, with deliberation? Honestly, I do agree with you in the end -- my take is that the correct thing to do is just shut someone / something right the fuck down when possible, but not to then revel in it. I suppose in the end the closest I have come is more along the lines of the fervent wish that "others would see you as you truly are," no further action taken. Though I realize in the case of some we have known, that's a damn potent curse

Re: To think, I thought I was already enjoying discussion of your good bras and your stankin dogs en

[traceroo]

Huh, I never thought of the desire for vengeance being an especially Irish trait. I'd have to think on that... I don't think so, though. I think it's much more human in general. I don't think we've cornered the market here

Re: To think, I thought I was already enjoying discussion of your good bras and your stankin dogs en

[tashewolf]

Oh boy, in no way do the Irish have a trademark on vengeance -- but I think there is a certain owning of it and of anger that is very unusual in what we consider to be more "western" (read also, less biblical) nations. How else to read enthusiastic, casual and monetary support for an IRA who were quite freely bombing at the time, for example? Most of the $$$ came from Boston; almost all of it came from the U.S. (Tangent here that this could be because the Welsh and Scottish have been subdued more, historically, and the whole question as to the true motive for the church burnings in Norway. But even so.) Anyway, basic point being that I found culturally growing up that it was something considered possibly quite acceptable, and I really can't think of much in way of western nations indulging in wholescale organized terrorism. This doesn't even get into the great difference between the Irish and the Irish American, but I'd have to go essay all of the above

Fascinating discussion

[kumir_k9]

I am inherently a Good person, and my nature is also inherently lawful.

This statement always raises the question in my mind, when faced with a situation where 'good' and 'lawful' are not the same in your mind, which one do you pick?

I'll bet you could make a really cool meme out of that whole discussion you presented us with.

Re: Fascinating discussion

[traceroo]

Ha! I recall a certain itinerant missionary and the high priest of her church having a discussion along these lines years ago. ;)

I can't easily think of a situation that occurs in my everyday life where these two things are in real conflict. Really the only laws I can think that I'd be even in a position to disobey are traffic laws, which I believe are designed for safety. I might (and do) break them for convenience, but I make no bones about this being for the greater good!

We could think up random scenarios where this might be the case, but I think they'd be so fantastic, I'm not sure I could accurately predict what I'd do.

What do you think?

Trace