Comments on: The real moral challenge of our century http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:46:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Zarquon http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363899 Zarquon Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:10:45 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363899 Mr Nabakov, they're already on to you: <a href="http://www.yoyodyne.com" rel="nofollow">yoyodyne.com</a> Mr Nabakov, they’re already on to you: yoyodyne.com

]]> By: Paulus http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363875 Paulus Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:36:31 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363875 Out of curiosity, Nabs, have you actually ordered a copy off Amazon? If so, I hereby decree that you must write a review of this interesting work and post it here at LP! How will we otherwise know what to do when the alien Sturmabteilung land? :-) Out of curiosity, Nabs, have you actually ordered a copy off Amazon? If so, I hereby decree that you must write a review of this interesting work and post it here at LP! How will we otherwise know what to do when the alien Sturmabteilung land? :-)

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363846 Kim Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:58:22 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363846 You read about it first here, Megan! You read about it first here, Megan!

]]> By: Megan http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363844 Megan Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:55:39 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363844 Good God! Is that what they've secretly discovered on that habitable planet orbiting the red dwarf star? Good God! Is that what they’ve secretly discovered on that habitable planet orbiting the red dwarf star?

]]> By: Fiasco da Gama http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363801 Fiasco da Gama Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:50:30 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363801 Oh really? Diseases you say, is that so? Next you'll be telling us that it was we who brought the alcohol to Redfern Park. I guess the Black Death must have been a very successful pre-colonialist pre-emptive alien attack. Zwilnik, I look to you for an apology or at the very least some practical reconciliation. By the way, would you please stop fucking cheersing anyway, anyway, cheers? It's really getting on my nerves. Oh really? Diseases you say, is that so? Next you’ll be telling us that it was we who brought the alcohol to Redfern Park.
I guess the Black Death must have been a very successful pre-colonialist pre-emptive alien attack. Zwilnik, I look to you for an apology or at the very least some practical reconciliation.
By the way, would you please stop fucking cheersing anyway, anyway, cheers? It’s really getting on my nerves.

]]> By: Nabakov http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363799 Nabakov Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:47:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363799 <blockquote>On behalf of sprawling defence complexes everywhere, I would say: don’t try to make us look sillier than we already are. OK?</blockquote> Yes, if you actually click through the linkstream, the book in question turns out to be a privately funded thought experiment by a bunch of scientists and analysts, treating the central premise as a good blue skies workout albeit slightly tongue in cheek and perhaps with a few coded messages for Centcom now. I seriously doubt <a href="http://www.afspc.af.mil/" rel="nofollow">Space Command</a>, NASA or GeneralNorthropLockheedDynamicsMartinGrummanElectric could get together to produce and sustain both the intellectual rigour and writing chops needed to produce what looks like a very entertaining read. Just ordered my copy off Amazon. Anyway, how do we know the aliens ain't already here and messing with us like lab rats? Can you think of a more viable explaination for the rise and rise of Eddie Mcguire and reality TV? Also there's this presumption that any sentient beings capable of interstellar travel are automatically superior in all other respects. Exhibit A: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Buckaroo_Banzai_Across_the_8th_Dimension" rel="nofollow">Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems</a>. Of course that may be just alien misinformation. The script certainly was. Frankly I think any aliens making contact with us should be worrying more about what homo sapiens could do to them than us about them. "We come from a blue planet light-years away Where everything multiplies at an amazing rate We're out here in the universe buying real estate Hope we haven't gotten here too late [chorus:] We're humans from earth We're humans from earth You have nothing at all to fear I think we're gonna like it here We're looking for a planet with atmosphere Where the air is fresh and the water clear With lots of sun like you have here Three or four hundred days a year [chorus] Bought Manhatten for a string of beads Brought along some gadgets for you to see Heres a crazy little thing we call TV Do you have electricity? [chorus] I know we may seem pretty strange to you But we got know-how and a golden rule We're here to see manifest destiny through Ain't nothing we can't get used to We're humans from earth We're humans from earth - words and music T-Bone Burnett

On behalf of sprawling defence complexes everywhere, I would say: don’t try to make us look sillier than we already are. OK?

Yes, if you actually click through the linkstream, the book in question turns out to be a privately funded thought experiment by a bunch of scientists and analysts, treating the central premise as a good blue skies workout albeit slightly tongue in cheek and perhaps with a few coded messages for Centcom now.

I seriously doubt Space Command, NASA or GeneralNorthropLockheedDynamicsMartinGrummanElectric could get together to produce and sustain both the intellectual rigour and writing chops needed to produce what looks like a very entertaining read. Just ordered my copy off Amazon.

Anyway, how do we know the aliens ain’t already here and messing with us like lab rats? Can you think of a more viable explaination for the rise and rise of Eddie Mcguire and reality TV?

Also there’s this presumption that any sentient beings capable of interstellar travel are automatically superior in all other respects. Exhibit A: Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems. Of course that may be just alien misinformation. The script certainly was.

Frankly I think any aliens making contact with us should be worrying more about what homo sapiens could do to them than us about them.

“We come from a blue planet light-years away
Where everything multiplies at an amazing rate
We’re out here in the universe buying real estate
Hope we haven’t gotten here too late

[chorus:]

We’re humans from earth
We’re humans from earth
You have nothing at all to fear
I think we’re gonna like it here

We’re looking for a planet with atmosphere
Where the air is fresh and the water clear
With lots of sun like you have here
Three or four hundred days a year

[chorus]

Bought Manhatten for a string of beads
Brought along some gadgets for you to see
Heres a crazy little thing we call TV
Do you have electricity?

[chorus]

I know we may seem pretty strange to you
But we got know-how and a golden rule
We’re here to see manifest destiny through
Ain’t nothing we can’t get used to

We’re humans from earth
We’re humans from earth
- words and music T-Bone Burnett

]]> By: Mick Strummer http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363792 Mick Strummer Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:24:58 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363792 Hey Fiasco da Gama and others. Colonial forces intent on subjugation of indigenous people didn't HAVE to do any mass killing. The microbes - smallpox, measles etc - they brought with them killed far more than were ever mown down by steel wielding conquistadores. So when European colonisers had to face indigenous peoples who had worked out that it was fight or die, most of them were dead and there weren't enough left to make a difference through fighting. Anyway... Cheers... Hey Fiasco da Gama and others. Colonial forces intent on subjugation of indigenous people didn’t HAVE to do any mass killing. The microbes - smallpox, measles etc - they brought with them killed far more than were ever mown down by steel wielding conquistadores. So when European colonisers had to face indigenous peoples who had worked out that it was fight or die, most of them were dead and there weren’t enough left to make a difference through fighting.
Anyway…
Cheers…

]]> By: Paulus http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363785 Paulus Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:43:36 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363785 <blockquote> Our great mates in the sprawling American defence complex ... </blockquote> Ahem. <blockquote> Dr. Taylor has a variety of experiences working for the Department of Defense and NASA. Dr. Boan has been an active member of the space community for over a quarter of a century. Dr. Powell is a professor with specialties including space trajectories, attitude dynamics, and numerical analysis. Mr. Anding has worked as a chief engineer for the development of a new mission to Pluto. </blockquote> So it appears that one out of the 4 authors of this imaginative tome had some "experiences" working for the DoD at some stage. The other 3 are either academics or NASA personnel. I realise that this was meant to be an amusing post, but still. On behalf of sprawling defence complexes everywhere, I would say: don't try to make us look sillier than we already are. OK?

Our great mates in the sprawling American defence complex …

Ahem.

Dr. Taylor has a variety of experiences working for the Department of Defense and NASA. Dr. Boan has been an active member of the space community for over a quarter of a century. Dr. Powell is a professor with specialties including space trajectories, attitude dynamics, and numerical analysis. Mr. Anding has worked as a chief engineer for the development of a new mission to Pluto.

So it appears that one out of the 4 authors of this imaginative tome had some “experiences” working for the DoD at some stage. The other 3 are either academics or NASA personnel.

I realise that this was meant to be an amusing post, but still. On behalf of sprawling defence complexes everywhere, I would say: don’t try to make us look sillier than we already are. OK?

]]> By: Zwilnik http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363762 Zwilnik Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:47:48 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363762 Hah! Kimball Kinnison, so we meet again. Is that a DeLameter in your leather jodphurs or are you just glad to see me? May I speak off record with you Tellurians, just ordinary overlord to future slaves? That is very old tired image of the Grey Lensman. Have you seen him lately? He's been really stacking on the spacekilos and many reported trips to the cosmetic surgey clinics of Vosper 4 too. Also I not one to repeat gossip but I hear he's on the bentlam again. So sad. Like your elvis jackson. I tell you this more in sorrow than anger, and more in evil good humor than either. Hah! Kimball Kinnison, so we meet again. Is that a DeLameter in your leather jodphurs or are you just glad to see me?

May I speak off record with you Tellurians, just ordinary overlord to future slaves? That is very old tired image of the Grey Lensman.

Have you seen him lately? He’s been really stacking on the spacekilos and many reported trips to the cosmetic surgey clinics of Vosper 4 too. Also I not one to repeat gossip but I hear he’s on the bentlam again. So sad. Like your elvis jackson.

I tell you this more in sorrow than anger, and more in evil good humor than either.

]]> By: FDB http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363759 FDB Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:42:39 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363759 Alright, quit it with the incorrect plural term for our cephalopod masters from beyond the sky. Alright, quit it with the incorrect plural term for our cephalopod masters from beyond the sky.

]]> By: H.P. Lovecraft http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363749 H.P. Lovecraft Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:24:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363749 "space octopi..." Told ya. “space octopi…”

Told ya.

]]> By: Gummo Trotsky http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363742 Gummo Trotsky Thu, 26 Apr 2007 05:21:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363742 Behold your nemesis, Zwilnik! <img src="http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/9/93/200px-Astounding_Grey_Lensman.png"/> Behold your nemesis, Zwilnik!

]]> By: John Greenfield http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363741 John Greenfield Thu, 26 Apr 2007 05:19:24 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363741 Robert Merkel What you are basically saying is that in conflicts between two groups one tends to come off worse than the other. This really is no revelation. See how simply it can expressed without all the bells and whistles of self-loathing passe marxist agitprop? Robert Merkel

What you are basically saying is that in conflicts between two groups one tends to come off worse than the other.

This really is no revelation. See how simply it can expressed without all the bells and whistles of self-loathing passe marxist agitprop?

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363737 Robert Merkel Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:56:22 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363737 John Greenfield, my point was not that colonialists were big on the whole wholesale slaughter thing (clearly, they had better things to do). I was merely illustrating that while resisting subjugation seems to be possible, if a technologically superior force is set on genocide, guerilla/resistance movements don't tend to do very well in those circumstances. John Greenfield, my point was not that colonialists were big on the whole wholesale slaughter thing (clearly, they had better things to do). I was merely illustrating that while resisting subjugation seems to be possible, if a technologically superior force is set on genocide, guerilla/resistance movements don’t tend to do very well in those circumstances.

]]> By: Zwilnik http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363733 Zwilnik Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:41:00 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363733 Space octopi? Space octopi!!?? Ho ho ho hah hah hah ho ho *big breath* hah hah ho ho ho! Oh you foolish foolish Tellurians. Boskone has not employed them as frontline troops for several hundred years, not since the ill-fated Porpoise Major System campaign. (Our Cetacean Intelligence Unit's failure to properly research certain dietary peccadillos has earnt them an endless lifetime in the Pain Amplifier). Rest assured we will not make the same kind of mistakes about your juicy juicy womenfolk when the Glorious Day of Liberation comes. Even as I dictate this to a quivering <strike>onion</strike> minion, I am watching hotsy totsy vidtank transmissions of our crack Bimbo Probing Legions training away on life size replicas of Jessica Rabbit, Marge Simpson, Snow White, the Little Mermaid, Mona Lisa, Minnie Mouse and many other of your juicy earth maidens. So tremble and moisten yourselves with fear, Tellurians. All hail Boskone! Space octopi? Space octopi!!??

Ho ho ho hah hah hah ho ho *big breath* hah hah ho ho ho!

Oh you foolish foolish Tellurians.

Boskone has not employed them as frontline troops for several hundred years, not since the ill-fated Porpoise Major System campaign. (Our Cetacean Intelligence Unit’s failure to properly research certain dietary peccadillos has earnt them an endless lifetime in the Pain Amplifier).

Rest assured we will not make the same kind of mistakes about your juicy juicy womenfolk when the Glorious Day of Liberation comes.

Even as I dictate this to a quivering onion minion, I am watching hotsy totsy vidtank transmissions of our crack Bimbo Probing Legions training away on life size replicas of Jessica Rabbit, Marge Simpson, Snow White, the Little Mermaid, Mona Lisa, Minnie Mouse and many other of your juicy earth maidens.

So tremble and moisten yourselves with fear, Tellurians. All hail Boskone!

]]> By: Enemy Combatant http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363722 Enemy Combatant Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:33:45 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363722 As a metrosexual alien travelling solo, I'm worried sick about what sort of terrestrial entrance I should make. First impessions are important, even in a species about to be subjugated. Broad brush H.G. Wells was Shock & Awe overkill. A little too much "Hey! Notice Me!" Besides, I havn't had my booster shots yet. The "personal approach" favoured by my colleague in the film where he bursts from John Hurt's thorax, had a certain je ne sais quoi quality, although the creature's orthodontic work was disgusting. Certainly got the crew's attention. Many astronomers are convinced that all life on Earth sprung from the garbage of former Fiascon explorers. Tacky genesis. You people deserve to be taken out in style. As a metrosexual alien travelling solo, I’m worried sick about what sort of terrestrial entrance I should make. First impessions are important, even in a species about to be subjugated.
Broad brush H.G. Wells was Shock & Awe overkill. A little too much “Hey! Notice Me!” Besides, I havn’t had my booster shots yet.

The “personal approach” favoured by my colleague in the film where he bursts from John Hurt’s thorax, had a certain je ne sais quoi quality, although the creature’s orthodontic work was disgusting. Certainly got the crew’s attention.
Many astronomers are convinced that all life on Earth sprung from the garbage of former Fiascon explorers. Tacky genesis.

You people deserve to be taken out in style.

]]> By: Gummo Trotsky http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363718 Gummo Trotsky Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:27:04 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363718 No evil octopi in this old pulp cover, but it has a certain charm: <img src="http://www.vinylzart.com/images/PulpCovers-AstoundingScienceFictionVol22No6February1939.jpg" /> No evil octopi in this old pulp cover, but it has a certain charm:

]]> By: Atticus http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363700 Atticus Thu, 26 Apr 2007 02:08:25 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363700 Kim wonders, "Could it be that our own man of steel is asleep at the wheel?" Fortunately, the Solicitor-General let slip that the Government is aware of the issue, and has established its <a href="http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/02/21/the-war-on-…-asteroids/#comments" rel="nofollow">constitutional power</a> to deal with it: <blockquote>MR BENNETT: ... The third matter, which it is not necessary for your Honours to consider in this case, but it is worth bearing in mind in looking at the breadth of the power, is that the threat under the implied power of protection of the nation need not be human. It could be invaders from outer space...</blockquote> Kim wonders, “Could it be that our own man of steel is asleep at the wheel?”

Fortunately, the Solicitor-General let slip that the Government is aware of the issue, and has established its constitutional power to deal with it:

MR BENNETT: … The third matter, which it is not necessary for your Honours to consider in this case, but it is worth bearing in mind in looking at the breadth of the power, is that the threat under the implied power of protection of the nation need not be human. It could be invaders from outer space…

]]> By: Fiasco da Gama http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363699 Fiasco da Gama Thu, 26 Apr 2007 02:04:46 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363699 None of those expansionists were into extermination, John. In fact, all of them, despite the Mongols' taste for scorching earth, and the Soviets' taste for moving entire populations East, were heavily into looting and levying tribute. In any case my very favourite hyper-expansionist power has got to be the 1900-1940s Japanese Empire. Came from nothing, whipped everybody important, ransacked an entire hemisphere, added a few interesting words to the global vocabulary, died young, left a glorious corpse. What's not to like? Banzai! None of those expansionists were into extermination, John. In fact, all of them, despite the Mongols’ taste for scorching earth, and the Soviets’ taste for moving entire populations East, were heavily into looting and levying tribute.
In any case my very favourite hyper-expansionist power has got to be the 1900-1940s Japanese Empire. Came from nothing, whipped everybody important, ransacked an entire hemisphere, added a few interesting words to the global vocabulary, died young, left a glorious corpse.
What’s not to like? Banzai!

]]> By: John Greenfield http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363690 John Greenfield Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:46:00 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/04/26/the-real-moral-challenge-of-our-century/#comment-363690 Robert Merkel <blockquote>How did indigenous populations go when they went up against colonial forces who were intent on mass killing, rather than merely subjugation?</blockquote> Are you people STILL banging on about "colonialism?" Change the tune, dude, the 70s are over! But if you are really interested in turbo-charged expansionist violence check out the Mongols, the Inca, twentieth century Communists, the Arabs of Sudan, and the Mughals. I know they probably aren't white enough to feed your occidentalist fantasies, but they were the best. Robert Merkel

How did indigenous populations go when they went up against colonial forces who were intent on mass killing, rather than merely subjugation?

Are you people STILL banging on about “colonialism?” Change the tune, dude, the 70s are over! But if you are really interested in turbo-charged expansionist violence check out the Mongols, the Inca, twentieth century Communists, the Arabs of Sudan, and the Mughals. I know they probably aren’t white enough to feed your occidentalist fantasies, but they were the best.

]]>