Reply To: General thought on old coal mines.

[Phil’s Dad]

Rezwan, I understand the passion of your previous response. I was, quite consciously and directly attacking something you believe in [the oil spill video]. That you respond by pointing out my own failings, which are many, is no more than I should expect.

Let’s put aside accusations of preening – I started it in an emotional moment, mea culpa, no more. My point about the video (which media I fully support) is to go for a positive theme rather than bashing the other side.

A very great deal of research indicates that a positive message carries more weight with a new audience. Negative messages work best only when the audience feels it has to make imminent decisions. This can not come until well after FF-2 at least.

The question of trust verses self interest/war has been debated since Socrates and Glaucon, through John Lock, Thomas Hobbs, Hume, Kant and Marks right up to the family get together.

You are right to say “Pretending there’s nothing you can do about [war] is disingenuous and usually the refuge of people who are profiting from it.” I advocate the very opposite “…constant vigilance and constant resourcefulness…” in the pursuit of peace. Of course if war is somehow not the normal state such measures are needed less.

But I confess now some confusion. Where is the trust in the scenarios you present here?

And sadly it seems I have yet again chosen a taboo subject. :zip: