A Sort of Stalin

[cronus]

In times of desperation, food shortages etc people often seek out a Strongman Messiah figure. Would you support, in dire circumstances, a atheist dictator even though he was a bit of tyrant, a bit dumb and had a few pogroms and mass killings of religious types?...or would you join the religious to try and other-throw him?

[SteveB]

You can "join the religion" side and still not believe and still identify yourself as an atheist and still fight autocrats. Not much of an ethical quandary.

[cronus]

You can "join the religion" side and still not believe and still identify yourself as an atheist and still fight autocrats. Not much of an ethical quandary.

I'd stay with the Stalin guy...he's popular and the people who disagree vanish away. Then for me a 100 million dead is a statistic.

[SteveB]

Cool. I do love your faux-nihilism.

[Rum]

That's how Hitler came to power. I sort of guessed Crumple would follow the herd if it ever came to a choice like that.

[cronus]

.....into the realms of realism. All about staying alive. Nature abhors heroics, unlike the movies.

[SteveB]

His saying outrageous things that he doesn't even believe in himself for shock's sake is wearing a bit thin, isn't it?

[Rum]

His saying outrageous things that he doesn't even believe in himself for shock's sake is wearing a bit thin, isn't it?

It has for some months..

[SteveB]

I admit I've only read like 10 of his posts.

[cronus]

I can hardly ask this sort of question at the time can I? and given the looming dollar crash etc it is fairly reasonable.

[Rum]

I admit I've only read like 10 of his posts.

I have him set to 'foe' but make the mistake of opening his posts rather too often.

[Audley Strange]

Creation of a messiah figure is religious. Not believing in Jehovah does not make you my ally, all who would will to rule should be executed.

[Audley Strange]

Creation of a messiah figure is religious. Not believing in Jehovah does not make you my ally, all who would will to rule should be executed.

[cronus]

Creation of a messiah figure is religious. Not believing in Jehovah does not make you my ally, all who would will to rule should be executed.

That was a metaphor...I'm sure nasty alpha males predate religion.

[SteveB]

I admit I've only read like 10 of his posts.

I have him set to 'foe' but make the mistake of opening his posts rather too often.

I've never foed or blocked a soul who I've gotten to know on the Internet nor has anyone done so to me until recently (at least that I know of). It's just my optimistic naivete shining through. Maybe when I get older, but right now my bullshit tolerance is really high.