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

when "mankind" appeared on the planet, that started the death knell for it's own destructionA few thousand years on and no "lessons" have been learnt over it's history

rant over

You know, I can identify with this kind of problem so much more since I moved to Belfast.

Except that Belfast seems to be a little further along where peace is concerned. But we've got the same posturing on two sides and hate crimes - they're on the rise especially against foreigners now - and people just shrug it off if a road or a business or a school is closed because of a bomb scare.

I'm fleeing the country myself this weekend because of the Twelfth, an alleged celebration of culture that to me, as an ignorant outsider, looks more like a deliberate attempt to provoke the other side, then go crying when it backfires. Because mutual respect is something only the *other* side has to do. Sigh.

Most people are just pissed of at it. I've met only a disturbing few that are extreme in their views either way. It's almost like they're embarassed to talk about it if there are outsiders around, because they realise how silly it is.

And yet, they ruin it for everyone else.

Not quite sure what I'm trying to say here, beyond, er, people are idiots.

There was a psychological experiment where people were asked to put pressure on their partner's finger. The partner was then asked to put the same amount of pressure on the first person's finger. Invariably more pressure was put on in the second "press". We seem to be programmed to think that worse has been done to us than actually has. We don't seem to be able to keep a balance or even temper what we do.
We can only be accountable for our "retaliation."

I think I understand the concept of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth much better now. It's not you have to get an eye for an eye, but you should get no more than and eye for an eye.

I think in all conflicts we think that our losses are worse than those of our opponents and that we need to teach them a lesson.

Fascinating idea.

And very informative.

But as I think of that experiment, without knowing anything of the methodology that was used, I had to wonder about it.

I imagined it being done by putting pressure plates under the subjects fingers, one with subject A above subject B and vice versa. They randomly take turns one pressing first, the other "retaliating".

The thought occurs to me if it was done is such a simple way as I imagined it, that the first press will feel stronger to subject B, the receiver, than to subject A. Subject A only feels the resistance pressing back up on her finger. Subject B feels squeezed between the other's finger and the table. Also, if you press on the other's fingernail, it might increase the sense of pressure.

I'm sure they accounted for this, but this is just what I couldn't help thinking about the experiment on face value.

In other words, I digress.

Hi all.

Thanks for the latest contributions - Vestie and Mala, it was fascinating to get your perspective about the North Ireland situation. It's quite different in many ways from the situation here, but of course, some things are very similar, mainly those to do with human nature.


Not much to update about, as far as my own situation is concerned. If you're following the news, you know about Israeli ground forces entering Gaza, and the death toll on both sides.
I currently have a friend who's in reserve service on the Gaza border; last I've seen, he wrote on Facebook that he's mainly bored at the moment, since he finished the book he brought with him (the Silmarillion, because he's a ) and doesn't know anyone else there well enough to start some improv games (did I mention he's a ?), and, well, I hope it just stays that way. And that this whole mess ends soon.

Hoping all is well with you and your family Yael
following our tv news updates
my concern - without politics! is you and yours love

Hey all,

Not around much, as usual (and what with having a bunch of work and university things that I'm supposed to be working on, and knowing me, I'm afraid I'm probably gonna stay on-and-off for the foreseeable future), but since it's March 11th, it seemed like a good time to drop by.

Happy birthday, Mr. Adams.
(Okay, addressing this to him actually feels kinda silly, since, as I also wrote on the postcard I left at his grave when I visited London, neither of us believes in the afterlife. But commemorating his birthday still feels nicer than commemorating his death...)


(Also, it's been about ten years since Dan and I started talking, on here. Which also feels worth commemorating.)


Anyway, to quickly touch on politics , we are less than a week now before the elections. I am still half in denial about the fact we're actually having an election, because COME ON, we had one just two years ago. This is ridiculous. And, much as I try to be optimistic, I am rather certain that it's not actually gonna change much, around here; the parliament will look more or less the same, the government will look more or less the same, and the situation will continue going in circles, same as before. So really, just a waste of time and money for everyone.
Still gonna vote, though. And still gonna try to maintain at least some careful optimism.

I'm probably around here less than you nowadays, Lady P, but I just wanted you to know that someone read your contribution. Our elections are coming up and I'm really hoping for a change...