h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"If no one attacked, no one would have to defend."

True.

But, what would happen is: yeah it'd go on fine for a while, and then some devious nation would notice that no- one else is attacking them, so they'd attack somewhere. Whilst that nation was the only armed one, they'd have a field day. Lots of gain, no loss.

I'm not explaining that very well am I?

Anyway, the point is, humans are too devious for that to work.

No, I know that. I was just trying to show that it would work if it was a rule that was universalized. No exceptions.
Why'dja think that the USSR and the USA are so keen for everyone to disarm?

And what a nice rule it would be were it universalized.

Possibly because at least a *few* millionsth of a percent of people in the government have some sense?
Or, maybe because they(we) can take over the world afterwards.

Yeah, I think it's that second one, AK. Although they're not ENTIRELY stupid in the admin department...



...are they?

"entirely stupid" & "admin department" in the same sentence as the word "not". Wow.

Okay, maybe not, then.
Hmm, I'm beginning to feel surrealist again...

oh bloody hell

Oh, go ahead. I'm in a slightly surreal mood myself.

Okay, fine.
How many fish does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Two.
Hah hah.
"Dada is not
dead -
watch
your overcoat"

Oh yeah? Oh yeah? Oh YEAH?

Right.

A man is at a fair. He sees a medium's tent, and being the superstitious sort, he decides to go in and see what his future holds. Well, he goes in, but he can't see the medium. In fact, all there is is a plate of jelly. The jelly goes "wobble wobble wobble". The man decides to leave. A little bit later, just after lunch, the man decides to go back. Well, the medium stil isn't there. But the jelly is. And again, the jelly goes "wobble wobble wobble". The man is unnerved; he thinks it's an omen. So around six, later, when the fair is just closing up, he goes back. Three times, he thinks. Three times! Did I mention he was a superstitious type? Anyway, he goes back to the tent, and again, the jelly goes "wobble wobble wobble". The man flees from the tent, so spooked is he. When the man's footsteps have died away into the distance, the jelly goes "hah!".

Why was the pumpkin knocked off his bicycle?
He was hit by a fridge.

Both of the above are supremely funny when you've been trapped in a car for four hours. And it's about 40 degrees outside.

What noise does a fish make after a minute?
"Bing!"
What noise does a cat make after a minute on high setting?
"Bing! Hiss..."
What's the best thing about baby jokes?
The delivery!
What's the best thing about kicking twenty six year olds?
There's twenty of them!

Or, best of all:
What's cubic, white, and climbs trees?
A fridge; I was lying about the trees.

When a hand points to the stars, a bureaucrat looks at the finger.

So?

My point exactly.

I think it may be time to stop being surreal before the thread dies or someone hurts themself hitting their head against the wall.

Hmmm. Well, it seems I'm a wee bitty late, here. I wanted to post my opinions on the meaning of life... Ah, well, what the hey. I'll giver 'er.

The concept of "meaning" to life requires that one accept other concepts. Religious beliefs, a belief in "Good" or "Evil."
These two concepts generally breed the same sort of behaviour. The adherent applies their energies to the doing of things with which they are familiar as being "good," and avoiding those things they believe is "evil."
In the religious bracket, these ideals are extended, facets of good include being reverential or respectful of your God(s), doing the things they see fit to have you do, accepting the things they see fit to do unto you.

My personal belief is that there are no gods, there is no good or evil. There are only goals, and depending on those goals, success or failure.
For instance:
We have here a misguided individual labelled Mr. A. Mr. A spends his life pursuant of money, and things that get Mr. A money are "good." Things that take money away from Mr. A are "bad." The meaning of Mr. A's life is the bottom line. Dollah dollah bills, y'all. Sucess, or failure, his life has meaning. After a fashion.

Then we have Ms. B. Ms. B spends her finances and energies sheltering and feeding the unfortunate, lobbying to have living conditions brought up to a global or national standard, helping kittens, children, and what have you. The meaning of Ms. B's life is compassion, caring, and the happiness of humanity. Success or failure, her life has meaning, and is likely very fulfilling. Unless she happens to be stabbed by some crack-head neo nazi. Which, incidentally, happened to me. To be fair I didn't know he was a crack-head when I attacked him. Sans knife. He stabbed me about a week later. (I'm not sure about the crack, really. He may have just smelt like sour sweat and American cigarettes.)

So, is there a meaning to life? Perhaps. People must choose whether their lives will have meaning, and the meaning is based on person to person to person, unquantifiable, and undefinable.

well contrats guys, you actually managed to beat this once excellent thread into submission
goodbye