Just a quicky. Can someone please link me to a video about how we live in a less violent world?
I know something like this has been posted before, but I can't find it.
[Disclaimer - if this is comes across like I think I know what I'm talking about, I want to make it clear that I don't. I'm just trying to get my thoughts down]
How best respond to someone (an atheist) who has posted this about the above video?
Pinker is behind the times. His assessment of the dangers facing the civilization of the planet is lacking. Never before in our history or in the history of the planet has there been a case of nuclear warfare. Only 2 rather puny, nuclear fission weapons have ever been used in warfare or as a means of destroying other people or cities. The thermonuclear weapons that exist today and that are currently in development are capable of destroying all life on Earth (except possibly of *ugh* cockroaches and spiders, which can survive anything apparently, and loud, bad, unlyrical music which has an ethereal existence of its own). Pinker is one of those who believe that socialist slavery will be commonly accepted and that Islamic terrorists will not seek to use nuclear weapons that are, as we speak, coming within their reach, and that aspiring dictators will cease to exist. You are truly living in lala land if you believe his nonsense. What is all of that anti religious gesturing that you were posing? You seem to have a religious devotion to this guy's overly long and evasive assessment
Haven't watched the vid yet so I cant address what Pinker may or may not have said, but I can't disagree that nukes in the hands of fanatics (in whose numbers I include a large number of western elected officials, BTW, not just the Bin Ladens and Achmenedigeridoos of the world) represent a serious threat to civilization. Even a limited nuclear exchange has the potential to cause catastrophic environmental, political, and economic upheaval, to say nothing of the number of people likely to perish in the initial kaboom.
Deep Sea Isopod wrote:How best respond to someone (an atheist) who has posted this about the above video?
Pinker is behind the times. His assessment of the dangers facing the civilization of the planet is lacking. Never before in our history or in the history of the planet has there been a case of nuclear warfare. Only 2 rather puny, nuclear fission weapons have ever been used in warfare or as a means of destroying other people or cities. The thermonuclear weapons that exist today and that are currently in development are capable of destroying all life on Earth (except possibly of *ugh* cockroaches and spiders, which can survive anything apparently, and loud, bad, unlyrical music which has an ethereal existence of its own). Pinker is one of those who believe that socialist slavery will be commonly accepted and that Islamic terrorists will not seek to use nuclear weapons that are, as we speak, coming within their reach, and that aspiring dictators will cease to exist. You are truly living in lala land if you believe his nonsense. What is all of that anti religious gesturing that you were posing? You seem to have a religious devotion to this guy's overly long and evasive assessment
I don't remember Pinker trying to "assess the dangers facing civilization" in that video, though I'd have to watch it again to be sure. Wasn't it more, describing the decline in violence throughout history?
It's a very emotive post, - "socialist slavery" jumps out out at me, and I have know idea where that even comes into it. The idea of islamic terrorists with nuclear weapons is clearly terrifying - but that doesn't change the fact that more people and societies than ever before, are against war and violence.
[Disclaimer - if this is comes across like I think I know what I'm talking about, I want to make it clear that I don't. I'm just trying to get my thoughts down]