Li 6.941 Amu

[lithium]

I really hate these things but why nothttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif

Some of you may know me, despite my cunning disguise;) Been around on this forum for almost three years. When I came back after a bit of a break to discover that everyone had gone somewhere else I decided to make a new start.

I'm not a hippy. I am interested in politics, demonstrations for political change and against war, I'm interested in environmental issues - that's the stuff that first got me into posting here. These things I regard as the positive legacy of the hippy movement. But I don't think it's possible to seriously call yourself a hippy anymore, to regard yourself as belonging to a movement which died out more than 30 years ago. It's as meaningless as if I were to declare myself a Renaissance poet, an Edwardian gentleman or a Vietnamese prostitute (sucky sucky five dollar). Things move on. In fact I regard those who insist on slavishly wearing the uniform and listening to the music of a bygone era as either slightly tragic or as fashion victims. :)

Having alienated half of the people here, I might as well go on and alienate the other half. I'm an atheist. I'm a scientific materialist; a rationalist; a Bright. I think religion is and has been an incredibly destructive force throughout history. Not least because it is about keeping yourself wilfully ignorant. I see 'New Age Spiritualism' in all its forms, which has sprung up in the wake of the decline of organised religion in the West as coming from exactly the same mindset, just as backwards - and potentially just as destructive. I think we need to abandon the whole vocabulary of superstition and magic and embrace objectivity, reason and knowledge. I don't know why people still have superstitious ideas in a well-educated, technologically advanced society. It baffles me. Maybe science isn't taught properly in our schools, maybe it's the tenacious folk-influence of generation upon generation, or maybe the need for meaning is so great that the majority are unprepared to truly embrace the notion of a purposeless, meaningless existence in a cold universe.

So that's me... And that's it for now I thinkhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

[PooBrain]

ok.. new disguise.. who the bugger were you? :eek:

[Sebbi]

I agree with the first half. But definately not the second half.

I believe there's more to life than meets the eye (or indeed what you can rationally or objectively prove) and I think dismissing the "irrational" is a terrible thing. I think it's possible to be spiritual without being supersticious. I agree that religion is responsible for some terrible things but I also believe that that's more politics than God.

I won't continue, I'll just start a Yin thread about people like youhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif (my dad and brother are exactly the same, and it really infuriates me; anything I feel to be true but can't scientifically justify often gets shot down by one of them).

If you could be a colour, which one would you be?
Do walls really have ears?
Fire or water?
Do you need glasses?

[lithium]

ok.. new disguise.. who the bugger were you? :eek:That would be telling ... who the bugger were youhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif:D

[lithium]

I believe there's more to life than meets the eye (or indeed what you can rationally or objectively prove) and I think dismissing the "irrational" is a terrible thing. I think it's possible to be spiritual without being supersticious. I agree that religion is responsible for some terrible things but I also believe that that's more politics than God.
I know that there's more to life than meets the eye, and more than we can rationally or objectively prove ... yet;) I would never dismiss irrationality, I think it's hugely important. Some of the things we now know or can do would never have come about without a massive leap of irrationality in the first place - see that pale grey disc in the sky ... let's go and STAND on it! But at the same time in order to be achieved they required focused, objective, rational work. Often people make the mistake of thinking a scientific worldview is closed-minded. Really it's totally the opposite.

Scepticism is the primary condition for progress of any kind, the refusal to accept what seems to be so. This is closely followed by a total open-mindedness to any possibility (irrationality, if you like). Just add to that the determination to really understand according to the ONLY way we have of objectively understanding phenomena which manifest themselves in the universe - a logical scientific methodology. And no knowledge however hard-won is ever final, it's always open to yet more doubt, and that's how more progress is made. Science is total openness to any and all possibilities:)

But ... to accept something as true on the basis of a hunch, without trying to rationally investigate it, or to accept it as true in the face of evidence to the contrary - now that's closed-mindedness. Ghosts, magic, spiritualism, yadda yadda yadda; it's tiresome and childish, and it seems like the people who profess such things really just aren't interested in understanding how things actually work. I shan't go on, I shall just make a yang thread about people like you;)


If you could be a colour, which one would you be?
Do walls really have ears?
Fire or water?
Do you need glasses?I think I would be blue, a deep blue.

I don't think walls have ears unless you're talking metaphorically during the war or perhaps have just been to a gallery of conceptual art.

Fire or water - both, and keep the water within reach unless it's an electrical fire in which case CO2:D

Of course I need glasses, I read a lot as a child!

Thankyou for the questions they made me use my brains.

[Peace-Phoenix]

I know who you are now! Well I didn't expect that, a pleasant surprise to be sure, mister...


















































SHOWMET!

[Peace-Phoenix]

I know that there's more to life than meets the eye, and more than we can rationally or objectively prove ... yet;) I would never dismiss irrationality, I think it's hugely important. Some of the things we now know or can do would never have come about without a massive leap of irrationality in the first place - see that pale grey disc in the sky ... let's go and STAND on it! But at the same time in order to be achieved they required focused, objective, rational work. Often people make the mistake of thinking a scientific worldview is closed-minded. Really it's totally the opposite.

Scepticism is the primary condition for progress of any kind, the refusal to accept what seems to be so. This is closely followed by a total open-mindedness to any possibility (irrationality, if you like). Just add to that the determination to really understand according to the ONLY way we have of objectively understanding phenomena which manifest themselves in the universe - a logical scientific methodology. And no knowledge however hard-won is ever final, it's always open to yet more doubt, and that's how more progress is made. Science is total openness to any and all possibilities:)

But ... to accept something as true on the basis of a hunch, without trying to rationally investigate it, or to accept it as true in the face of evidence to the contrary - now that's closed-mindedness. Ghosts, magic, spiritualism, yadda yadda yadda; it's tiresome and childish, and it seems like the people who profess such things really just aren't interested in understanding how things actually work. I shan't go on, I shall just make a yang thread about people like you;)

I think I would be blue, a deep blue.

I don't think walls have ears unless you're talking metaphorically during the war or perhaps have just been to a gallery of conceptual art.

Fire or water - both, and keep the water within reach unless it's an electrical fire in which case CO2:D

Of course I need glasses, I read a lot as a child!

Thankyou for the questions they made me use my brains.
I completely agree with your take on the science vs. religion debate. I wouldn't go as far to say that believers are childish, as it's a natural state of being, I think, to want to understand the world. And faith, in the lack of certainty, is something we all have. I'm not talking about God here. I would assume God doesn't exist, given that there's no evidence for it - and given no evidence either way I can't see a reason to simply invent a concept, such as an invisible teapot orbiting Mars as Dawkins puts it.

But the universe exists, and we don't know how it came to exist. Religion is happy to rest upon faith in the first - it was God what dunnit. But science seeks answers through, as you say, scepticism and falsification. However as far as you go down that route, eventually you have to come up with a theory without all available evidence, and there has to be an element of faith involved.

I believe that the universe started with a Big Bang, I can say that because it is expanding outwards from a single point and because radiation traces suggest that to be the case but I can't know given current evidence, I can only believe the theory at present. Where science is superior to religion, I'd say however, is that the paradigm under which it operates constantly seeks to prove theories to eliminate belief and knowledge gaps, whereas religion does not. In the past reason might have been used to prove God's existence, such as Aquinas' five proofs, or Descartes scepticism of everything except his own scepticism, but science blows such things out of the water and now religion can rely only on faith - whereas science possesses both faith and reason.

Your point on fire extinguishers, however, evokes images of obsessive steward woman who seemed to want to prove her extensive knowledge of fire safety to the fireman....

What's your favourite day of the week?

[PooBrain]

Is it Showmet :eek: *Goes through previous posts* :eek:

[Peace-Phoenix]

Oh aye, it's Showmet for sure. Even if my method of discovery was somewhat Italian, at least it was accurate....

[lithium]

I would've gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for you meddling kids!http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/pissedoff.gif

[lithium]

I wouldn't go as far to say that believers are childish, as it's a natural state of being, I think, to want to understand the world.
Yes I agree, and I think I read that it's more than 90% of the Earth's population that has some form of mystical/supernatural belief system. This in itself is fascinating - why we have these hard-wired cognitive systems which make it 'natural' and 'normal' to make all these erroneous assumptions about the fundamental nature of the universe. Science is itself highly technical and specialised, and you could quite easily say it's an "unnatural" way of understanding things. It's only done by a small fraction of humanity, and it's only a few hundred years since the whole project really began.

I did a lot of reading about the fairly new field of evolutionary psychology in the first half of this year, and learnt loads of new things, and it still fills me with awe and wonder to glimpse an understanding of how the universe works. Religion does not have a monopoly on awe-inspiring ideas; I would say that neuroscience and quantum theory more than rival anything the Bible has to offer in terms of moving us to be awestruck at the nature of existence:)


But the universe exists, and we don't know how it came to exist. Religion is happy to rest upon faith in the first - it was God what dunnit. But science seeks answers through, as you say, scepticism and falsification. However as far as you go down that route, eventually you have to come up with a theory without all available evidence, and there has to be an element of faith involved.
...
Yep, some good points well made:) Just one more point to add - there is a fundamental difference between the kind of "faith" as you call it which is inherent to science and the kind of faith which is inherent to religion. Religious faith is (almost) always concerned with a final statement of truth, an unassailable belief about how things are. Scientific theories and hypotheses are always provisional and never unassailable - when new evidence comes along, the whole thing can get overturned in an instant. It's fluid, and it's open, and it can always be proved wrong - this is something entirely alien to most superstitious belief systems.


What's your favourite day of the week?Now that's a hard onehttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif Can I pass?

[Peace-Phoenix]

[/size][/font]
Yes I agree, and I think I read that it's more than 90% of the Earth's population that has some form of mystical/supernatural belief system. This in itself is fascinating - why we have these hard-wired cognitive systems which make it 'natural' and 'normal' to make all these erroneous assumptions about the fundamental nature of the universe. Science is itself highly technical and specialised, and you could quite easily say it's an "unnatural" way of understanding things. It's only done by a small fraction of humanity, and it's only a few hundred years since the whole project really began.

I did a lot of reading about the fairly new field of evolutionary psychology in the first half of this year, and learnt loads of new things, and it still fills me with awe and wonder to glimpse an understanding of how the universe works. Religion does not have a monopoly on awe-inspiring ideas; I would say that neuroscience and quantum theory more than rival anything the Bible has to offer in terms of moving us to be awestruck at the nature of existence:)

[/size][/font]Yep, some good points well made:) Just one more point to add - there is a fundamental difference between the kind of "faith" as you call it which is inherent to science and the kind of faith which is inherent to religion. Religious faith is (almost) always concerned with a final statement of truth, an unassailable belief about how things are. Scientific theories and hypotheses are always provisional and never unassailable - when new evidence comes along, the whole thing can get overturned in an instant. It's fluid, and it's open, and it can always be proved wrong - this is something entirely alien to most superstitious belief systems.

Now that's a hard onehttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif Can I pass?
You can't pass no :p

And have you read Horkheimer and Adorno's Dialectic of Enlightenment? Part of their argument is that the paradigm of science still operates along the same principles as mythology, religion and superstition. Although science provides theories that are falsifiable and that one is encouraged to question, unlike religion, no one in post-Enlightenment society supposedly questions that science can provide all the answers. So although the answers themselves may be questioned, the overall framework is not. And this can lead to some very dangerous forms of society.

Of course, you'd have to bear in mind that they were writing just after the Holocaust, and had a very dim view of humanity at the time. And I wouldn't agree with them, but it's an interesting point nonetheless.

But to more important matters...

What's your favourite day of the week?

And what's your worst day of the week?

[lithium]

And have you read Horkheimer and Adorno's Dialectic of Enlightenment? Part of their argument is that the paradigm of science still operates along the same principles as mythology, religion and superstition. Although science provides theories that are falsifiable and that one is encouraged to question, unlike religion, no one in post-Enlightenment society supposedly questions that science can provide all the answers. So although the answers themselves may be questioned, the overall framework is not. And this can lead to some very dangerous forms of society.

I haven’t read it, but it sounds like a fascinating position. Without reading their complete argument it’s dangerous to say I disagree, but I suspect I might;)

From what I understand it talks of the failure of the Enlightenment project. Based, presumably, on the misuse of science by ideologues such as the Nazis. That sounds like blaming a kettle for scalding a child. Science has no position to argue, it isn’t a viewpoint. I talked before of science being a methodology, in truth it isn’t even that, really. It’s a principle of objectivity and logic. Pretty much everything else is open to question.


But true enough there has to be a foundation, a ‘position of faith’ if you insist on calling it that. And the one thing I can’t see changing are the principles of logic which underpin scientific method. There is nothing to which logic can’t be applied, even though there may seem to be. Much of our knowledge and technology would’ve seemed totally illogical 100 years ago! That doesn’t mean logic was at fault – it was that our understanding was not yet complete enough to enable us to apply logic correctly. Similarly, there are many things which seem beyond the grasp of logic now, but it’s just because we don’t know enough yet.


Logic is something I’d be prepared to put faith in as being a trustworthy foundation on which to build knowledge. But even so, if it was discovered that 2+2=5, then I would reconsider the point. I suspect that 2+2 may well equal five under some circumstances; in which case it means we have to refine our understanding still further. That doesn’t mean the Enlightenment has failed, in fact it re-enlivens it!:)



What's your favourite day of the week?

And what's your worst day of the week?I'll have to come back to these, these difficult questions are troubling me:D

[lithium]

What's your favourite day of the week?

And what's your worst day of the week?OK ... worst day is probably Sunday. Because I have to prepare work for Monday. It's also usually the day off in my cycling schedule so my legs normally hurt quite a bit by that point!http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

Favourite day... toughie this, but I'm having to go for Friday. Not because it's the end of the working week or anything. I do so little work it can't possibly be that!http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif It's more just a memory of really loving Fridays as a child. Double chemistry was the last thing on a Friday afternoon with the cruellest teacher ever. I remember loving that lesson just for the bit at the end when the bell went and I could walk out - freedom! So I think it's really just a chemical memory of that, somewhere deep in my brain, that makes Friday evenings just seem a little special.

[Peace-Phoenix]

Whilst I disagree with Horkheimer and Adorno, I haven't been fair to them in that short paragraph. I'll dig out an old essay where I've summarised them better and post a bit of it here if you're interested. The book isn't a great read in my opinion, though the argument is advanced, it's convoluted, at times non-sensical and draws on literary and artistic parrallels to a level which is really rather ridiculous and unnecessary for the social sciences.

I do, however, agree with your reasons for liking Fridays, I've had similar experiences. Sundays are also my least favourite day, not least because nothing's bloody open.

If Britain and Finland went to war, who would you support?

[lithium]

Whilst I disagree with Horkheimer and Adorno, I haven't been fair to them in that short paragraph. I'll dig out an old essay where I've summarised them better and post a bit of it here if you're interested.

Yep I'd be interested ... though I may be tempted to give it back to you with a grade and some pompous comments about grammarhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif


If Britain and Finland went to war, who would you support?Do you even need to ask? The only question would be whether I would move to Ostrobothnia right away or go underground here and organise guerrilla attacks:Dhttp://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/flag.gif

[Peace-Phoenix]

Alright prof, but it already got a 1st:p

[Peace-Phoenix]

And in the spirit of that crazy man on the radio at Beautiful Days...

What's your favourite cheese?

[lithium]

And in the spirit of that crazy man on the radio at Beautiful Days...

What's your favourite cheese?mini babybelhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Peace-Phoenix]

Now for a slihtly deeper question:


What's the best poo you've ever done?

And what's the worst?

[lithium]

What's the best poo you've ever done?

And what's the worst?Hahaha, thanks so much for raising the tone...http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

I've done some great poos at festivals. I think it's because you always expect them to be difficult and traumatic, so when you find a nice clean odour-free loo it can be quite a revelation. Nice consistency, no complications... ahh, wonderful!

The worst has to be being caught with diarrhoea when out and about. Once many years ago I was on a long National Express coach journey and became quite ill ... couldn't hold off ... had to dash to the little cubicle at the back. To this day I feel a great sense of shame and guilt for the sake of the other passengers on that coachhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/embarassed.gif

[Peace-Phoenix]

I know what you mean about festival poos :eek:

[Peace-Phoenix]

If you could be any character from any film, who would you be?

[lithium]

If you could be any character from any film, who would you be?I would be Spider-Man because he gets to nob Kirsten Dunst!:eek:

[Peace-Phoenix]

Do you often remember your dreams? What's the best dream you've had recently?

[lithium]

Do you often remember your dreams? What's the best dream you've had recently?I don't often have dreams I remember. Maybe a couple in a week. If it's a particularly good one I will try to go over it in detail when I wake up so that it'll stick in my mind.

I had a bit of a corker last night. I was playing squash with Woody Allen. What's that all about?:eek:

[Peace-Phoenix]

Can you play squash? What other sports do you engage in (apart from cycling)

[lithium]

Can you play squash? What other sports do you engage in (apart from cycling)Yeah I usually play squash once a week but haven't for a few weeks since the new term began. I've been a keen cyclist for years but have really started to take my cycling seriously this year. I usually do at least 15 miles a day off road and on, or sometimes as much as 31 miles like today:eek: As for sports, that's it:)


*wonders whether anyone but peace-phoenix will ever ask me any questions*http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Hippie_Girl]

I thought I'd hit y back with the question you hit me with...

Who is your current favourite band? Any favourite albums of 2006?

[lithium]

Who is your current favourite band? Any favourite albums of 2006?I've got shockingly few new albums this yearhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/sad.gif I did enjoy the Flaming Lips "at war with the mystics" and Graham Coxon's "love travels at illegal speeds". Also The Crimea's album "tragedy rocks" and Jeffrey Lewis' "city and eastern songs" which I think both came out at the end of last year but which I didn't buy until this year so I think they still counthttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Favourite band of the moment ... I'll say The Datsuns 'cos that's who's on my CD player right nowhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Hippie_Girl]

The Datsun's what a fantastic choice!!! 'Like a motherfucker from hell' an amazing song - very punk too. Man I haven't listened to that album in ages!!! We still haven't unpacked from when we move in so I think I shall have a rumage for that CD"

Ooo a question.. it would be rude to go without asking one... Errrmmmm... If you were doing an autobiographical film who would play you?

[lithium]

If you were doing an autobiographical film who would play you?I would love to say Edward Norton but I fear I may only be a Steve Buscemi!
(Two actors I greatly admire)

It'd be a very dull filmhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

[flowerchild17]

And I'll hit you with your question to :) Do you see yourself having children, and if so how many and why?

[Hippie_Girl]

Do you have any phobias? And what are they?

[Peace-Phoenix]

To turn your question back to you, do you think there is ever an acceptable circumstance to take someone's life?


Is animal life as important as human life?

I remember some vegetarians and vegans have argued for moral consistency. PETA have placed images of slaughter houses next to images of Auschwitz and people have said if you denounce one, you must denounce the other just as strongly. But can they really be compared, or is it simplistic and facile to do so at that level?

[lithium]

And I'll hit you with your question to :) Do you see yourself having children, and if so how many and why?I don't really see myself having any children, no. I suppose that might change if I met someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and have children with. But raising kids is not something I particularly want to do at this point or in the foreseeable future...

[lithium]

Do you have any phobias? And what are they?Spiders. I hate the things. Not the little ones or daddy long legs, I can cope with those. It's big bastard black ones that scuttle at high speed. They look evil. I know it's irrational and that they can't harm me, but I jump up onto furniture and my heart starts to race when I see onehttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/embarassed.gif

I quite often get vertigo as well.

[lithium]

To turn your question back to you, do you think there is ever an acceptable circumstance to take someone's life?
Well the idealist in me would say no there's never an acceptable circumstance. But I would be a fool if I didn't realise that in some circumstances taking a life is the least bad option available. Only ever as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted should physical violence be used. Violence very often begets violence, so those who think they are solving problems and making things better by violent means generally cause more problems than they solve, add to a cycle of violence and retribution and end up making things worse.


Is animal life as important as human life?

I remember some vegetarians and vegans have argued for moral consistency. PETA have placed images of slaughter houses next to images of Auschwitz and people have said if you denounce one, you must denounce the other just as strongly. But can they really be compared, or is it simplistic and facile to do so at that level?Yes. In philosophical terms an animal life is just as important/unimportant as a human life. There's nothing intrinsically better or more worthy or more worth saving about a human than any other animal.

In practical terms I don't really believe that we should protest the killing of ants as strenuously as the killing of humans. I think I believe this for good reasons, based on what I know about the nature of experience and suffering. Mammals, and higher primates in particular have extremely advanced central nervous systems (CNS) and to different degrees, consciousness and self-consciousness. The amount of suffering you would cause by harming or killing an animal with a not very advanced CNS is objectively less than the amount you will cause by harming an animal with a more advanced one, and less again than the amount caused by killing an animal with a highly advanced CNS and a brain capable of self-awareness.

It's a very difficult area to make these kinds of practical judgements though, because we know so little about the experience other animals have. It's safe to assume I think that gnats and spiders aren't all that aware of suffering if you hurt them. But many mammals probably have experiences which really aren't all that different from our own. For this reason we should probably err on the side of caution in judging what other animals may be capable of experiencing.

The higher primates - apes, like us - have an experience of the world which is almost indistinguishable from our own. I'd say there's a moral equivalence between harming most apes and monkeys and harming a human. To a lesser degree there's a moral equivalence in causing harm to other mammals and to a lesser degree still, non-mammals.

In answer to the point about PETA, I don't think it makes much sense to compare Auschwitz to slaughterhouses if only because it's such a subtle, nuanced and difficult area that that kind of propaganda just doesn't get even a fraction of the point across and makes them look like idiots.

Thanks for the interesting question:)

[fountains of nay]

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what 3 items would you take with you?

[lithium]

A satellite phone, GPS device and a large crate of food and drink!:D

[Peace-Phoenix]

Would you rather be too hot or too cold?

[dapablo]

Why don't you answer your questions ?

[phoenix_indigo]

Why do you call yourself Lithium?

[lithium]

Would you rather be too hot or too cold?I prefer being too cold, you can always wrap up warm but when it's too hot there's nothing you can do except lie down and want to die ... I don't deal with the heat well...

[lithium]

Why don't you answer your questions ?I do.

[lithium]

Why do you call yourself Lithium?I don't:D

Urm, I suppose when I chose it I'd been doing some reading on the use of lithium as a mood stabiliser, I think it's a pretty nice little word, it's easy to type and has several meanings and connotations. Just chose it pretty much at random though because I fancied a change from my old name (showmet).

[dapablo]

Have you ever fallen in Love ?

[lithium]

Have you ever fallen in Love ?I thought so.

[dapablo]

Presume that means a no, but why wasn't it ?

What is the purpose of Love ?

[lithium]

Presume that means a no, but why wasn't it ?

What is the purpose of Love ?Love is a complex set of hormonal and psychological effects that you choose to call love, it's a physiological illusion. I've experienced it.

Its purpose of course is to get you to have children:)

[Peace-Phoenix]

Interestingly, the feeling of love is chemically indistinguishable from happiness. It's all seratonin and dophamine. But it is different, and it's more than words. Perhaps the attachment of happiness to an external and reciprocating being elicits a certain kind of selflessness implicit to love. Naturally love is a means to reproduction. But I like to think what sets us apart most from the other animals is the extent to which we have exceeded our natural programming. Some hippies seem to think we should get back to nature. Well, I'm sure they'll enjoy dying of smallpox at the age of thirty surrounded by a million children, but what is natural is not always what is good. Our ability to dominate nature brings with it benefits as well as risks, brith control being one great example.


Anyway, back to happiness. When have you been happiest? What is your happiest memory?

[lithium]

Naturally love is a means to reproduction. But I like to think what sets us apart most from the other animals is the extent to which we have exceeded our natural programming. Some hippies seem to think we should get back to nature. Well, I'm sure they'll enjoy dying of smallpox at the age of thirty surrounded by a million children, but what is natural is not always what is good. Our ability to dominate nature brings with it benefits as well as risks, brith control being one great example.Indeed, as the evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker famously said, humans have evolved to the point where we can tell our genes to "go jump in the lake". I'd agree with your analysis of the slightly Luddite tendency which sometimes goes along with hippydom, technology and human ingenuity is a great thing, and also necessarily a product of evolution. That's pretty much what I meant when I tried to convince you once that mobile phones were a product of nature, a concept I remember you having trouble with, but that might've been 'cos of the mushrooms ... homonym:tongue:


Anyway, back to happiness. When have you been happiest? What is your happiest memory?Having trouble with this one:confused: Having been a depressive soul most of my life, the times I tend to remember are the bad times. They stick out in my mind far more than times when I was happy, but I must have been happy for at least some of the time.

So I'll go with a bittersweet memory (which is also associated in my mind with loneliness and depression!) and that's my last year living in Paris. I was 18 and used to spend the weekends discovering the many tiny arthouse cinemas dotted around Paris, with my Officiel des Spectacles in hand, going to see loads of obscure little films. I loved finding these places in hidden corners of the city as much as I enjoyed getting to see so many great classics of cinema.

Recently I was very happy when I unexpectedly gave a good lecture and seminar ... everything went perfectly and the students seemed to really enjoy it and actually learnt something:D

[dapablo]

Indeed, as the evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker famously said, humans have evolved to the point where we can tell our genes to "go jump in the lake".Do you really agree with that ?
Recently I was very happy when I unexpectedly gave a good lecture and seminar ... everything went perfectly and the students seemed to really enjoy it and actually learnt something:Dlol, I've been reading an educated student rather than a teacher since I first read you, apologies for that sir, first impression I suppose. What subjects do you give lectures in ?

[Peace-Phoenix]

I really don't remember the mobile phone conversation at all. But that night I was having trouble even grasping simple words....

[lithium]

Do you really agree with that ?
That we have evolved to the point where we don't have to strictly obey our genetic coding? Yes. Contraception is a perfect example of that, and genetic engineering a glimpse of a future in which we can directly alter the very essence of humanity if we so desire...

Of course we all still act according to the instincts passed down to us through our genes - they influence us in some subtle, and some not so subtle ways. But we are (or can be) at the very least, aware that these are biological impulses that we can sometimes choose not to obey.


lol, I've been reading an educated student rather than a teacher since I first read you, apologies for that sir, first impression I suppose. What subjects do you give lectures in ?Hah, well I suppose you could say I straddle those two worlds (like a muscle-bound colossus:eek: ). I'm still battling through my thesis and lecture in literary history (mostly poetry) though my real interest is in contemporary fiction.

[lithium]

I really don't remember the mobile phone conversation at all. But that night I was having trouble even grasping simple words....I think they were quite strong, it was that same batch that made me forget where I lived when I was just 100 yards away from my house...:tongue:

[dapablo]

I'm of the opinion that because we think we believe we have the ability to control, but in fact our mind is actualy coded to think the necessary to match our genetic disposition.

Who would you call your favourite poet, and at a stretch poem maybe ?

[lithium]

I'm of the opinion that because we think we believe we have the ability to control, but in fact our mind is actualy coded to think the necessary to match our genetic disposition.Hmm, I can't really see a mechanism by which our genes could code for thoughts. I think conscious thought is pretty much an accidental side-effect of the way we've evolved, and it introduces a random element. I do think free will is largely an illusion, but that's not the same thing as saying that the ability to manipulate our biology is something which is a purposive consequence of and necessarily beneficial to the genetic imperative for the survival of the species.

Our genes influence the way we think and the kinds of things we think about, but I think it's clear that we are capable of transcending blind biological imperative, to an extent anyway. Genes are blind machines whose sole purpose is to replicate themselves. Intelligence and consciousness is a development which came about because it aids survival, but when we apply that intelligence to reducing the amount of offspring we have and allowing ourselves to enjoy the benefits of existence while avoiding the costs, it may well backfire in an evolutionary sense. The species may de-evolve as a result; or rather, this development may burn itself out if conscious intelligence proves to be less than the 'fittest' way of ensuring the pre-eminence of our genes...


Who would you call your favourite poet, and at a stretch poem maybe ?I hate to be a cliche, but off the top of my head I might say Blake or Wordsworthhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/embarassed.gif

This one by Wordsworth has to be a contender...

A slumber did my spirit seal;
I had no human fears:
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.

No motion has she now, no force;
She neither hears nor sees;
Rolled round in earth's diurnal course
With rocks, and stones, and trees.

[dapablo]

Hmm, I can't really see a mechanism by which our genes could code for thoughts. I think conscious thought is pretty much an accidental side-effect of the way we've evolved, and it introduces a random element. I do think free will is largely an illusion, but that's not the same thing as saying that the ability to manipulate our biology is something which is a purposive consequence of and necessarily beneficial to the genetic imperative for the survival of the species.

Our genes influence the way we think and the kinds of things we think about, but I think it's clear that we are capable of transcending blind biological imperative, to an extent anyway. Genes are blind machines whose sole purpose is to replicate themselves. Intelligence and consciousness is a development which came about because it aids survival, but when we apply that intelligence to reducing the amount of offspring we have and allowing ourselves to enjoy the benefits of existence while avoiding the costs, it may well backfire in an evolutionary sense. The species may de-evolve as a result; or rather, this development may burn itself out if conscious intelligence proves to be less than the 'fittest' way of ensuring the pre-eminence of our genes...Wish I was as good with words. I concur.
A slumber did my spirit seal;
I had no human fears:
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.

No motion has she now, no force;
She neither hears nor sees;
Rolled round in earth's diurnal course
With rocks, and stones, and trees.Reminds me of The Levellers song "Elation".

When listening to music do you have a preference for the lyrics or the music ?

Who would be your favourite artist lyricaly ?

[Aunty Al]

Who are your favourite authors of modern fiction? Do you have a preference for any particular genre?

[phoenix_indigo]

Since I've been completely uncreative recently I'm going to pose the same question to you as I'd be interested to see your response.

Would you like to be invisble? If you were, what would you do?

oh and I'll add:

Are there any super-powers you wish you could evoke?

[Peace-Phoenix]

If you could be any metal other than Lithium, what would you be and why?

[lithium]

Who are your favourite authors of modern fiction? Do you have a preference for any particular genre?Um, I like a lot of American authors from the 50s onwards, J.D.Salinger, Pynchon, etc. Quite keen on Bukowski. I used to like all that clever postmodern stuff and I suppose I still do... but generally world-weary philosophy-heavy type stuff is what floats my proverbial boat. I tend to struggle to see the point of fiction unless it has a grounding in strong ideas.

[lithium]

When listening to music do you have a preference for the lyrics or the music ?

Who would be your favourite artist lyricaly ?I usually focus on the music first, I'm quite capable of having favourite songs but having no idea what the words are!

Favourite songwriter?:rolleyes: Well all I have are favourite songs, so I'll go for Yo La Tengo or Herman Dune or Low, three bands whose lyrics move me...:eek:

[lithium]

Would you like to be invisble? If you were, what would you do?

oh and I'll add:

Are there any super-powers you wish you could evoke?Well I'll skip over the sneaking into women's changing rooms part... I would love to be invisible, I would love to be able to exist as a being of pure mind with none of this hideous material existence stuff and stupid self-consciousness getting in the way...

Superpowers... well the obvious one of being able to fly, just because it'd be a cool thing to do, or at least jump really high...:confused:

[lithium]

If you could be any metal other than Lithium, what would you be and why?If I could be any metal other than lithium I would be titanium because of its low weight, high strength, and high-temperature stability!

[Peace-Phoenix]

Don't know why, but I can't help reading that in David Mitchell's voice :P

[CrucifiedDreams]

What's your favourite word? Why?
What's your favourite sound? Why?

[lithium]

I love the word "corollary" which means something like 'necessary counterpart' or 'natural consequence'. I love words you can only use properly in context very rarely, and they just wait there in the back of your head waiting for a chance to get out!

My favourite sound is probably a certain kind of squelching.

[fountains of nay]

If a Lion approached you and asked you to join his pride as his new wife, would you?

[CrucifiedDreams]

What do you put your faith in?

[lithium]

If a Lion approached you and asked you to join his pride as his new wife, would you?Do you know, I think I would give it some serious thought. A life on the plains of the serengeti, dodging hunters, posing for BBC wildlife documentary makers and chasing gazelles. But I think I would probably come down on the side of preferring to just stay in bed and dream about what it might be like to be married to a lion.

[lithium]

What do you put your faith in?Now that's an odd question, it's not a word I like to use because of its associations with religious faith. I don't really fundamentally believe or trust in anything; I like certain things more than others, I think that some things are empirically truer or better than others. Examples of this would be my lefty politics, my rationality and love of scientific inquiry. But if I put faith in anything, I suppose I put it in myself, because I am the only thing I am capable of knowing, but even me I'm not too sure about!:)

Thanks for the interesting question, I hope I made sense in answering it!

[mynameiskc]

I would love to say Edward Norton but I fear I may only be a Steve Buscemi!
(Two actors I greatly admire)

It'd be a very dull filmhttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gifthat's not bad. edward norton is or was salma hayek's man.

steve buscemi is on my "gimme list."

[lithium]

steve buscemi is on my "gimme list."Now that's what I like; a woman with low standardshttp://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/humm.gif Hubba hubba;)

[CrucifiedDreams]

Now that's an odd question, it's not a word I like to use because of its associations with religious faith. I don't really fundamentally believe or trust in anything; I like certain things more than others, I think that some things are empirically truer or better than others. Examples of this would be my lefty politics, my rationality and love of scientific inquiry. But if I put faith in anything, I suppose I put it in myself, because I am the only thing I am capable of knowing, but even me I'm not too sure about!:)

Thanks for the interesting question, I hope I made sense in answering it!Got it. :)


What's you biggest pet peeve?

[Peace-Phoenix]

So, tell us how it feels to be the first winner of a PISS Award in at least four years....

[lithium]

What's you biggest pet peeve?I really hate the grocer's apostrophe! It's like the sound of fingernails on a blackboard to someone who has to spend so much time reading and writing. So yeah, bad grammar and bad writing generally tends to make things unreadable for me, there's no excuse for it. I love breaking rules with language, but I'm a firm believer that you need to actually know the rules before you can successfully break them.

I guess that'll count as a "peeve" - not exactly something I'd go to war over, but a little irritating annoyance! Actually come to think of it, I might go to war over it if it came to that:stunned:

[lithium]

So, tell us how it feels to be the first winner of a PISS Award in at least four years....Honestly, I am exceptionally proud of my PISS. There really is no better feeling in the world than having a PISS. I have been showing my PISS to anyone who will look at it. I love my PISS.

[CrucifiedDreams]

I really hate the grocer's apostrophe! It's like the sound of fingernails on a blackboard to someone who has to spend so much time reading and writing. So yeah, bad grammar and bad writing generally tends to make things unreadable for me, there's no excuse for it. I love breaking rules with language, but I'm a firm believer that you need to actually know the rules before you can successfully break them.

I guess that'll count as a "peeve" - not exactly something I'd go to war over, but a little irritating annoyance! Actually come to think of it, I might go to war over it if it came to that:stunned:You should win the Grammar nazi award to go along with your PISS award! Hahaha. :D

You must hate reading my posts/chatting with me! I wouldn't know grammar if it bit me in the arse. My spellings pretty atrocious too. [Had to spell check "Atrocious" before submitting this.. it was spelled wrong, point proven.]

[lithium]

You should win the Grammar nazi award to go along with your PISS award! Hahaha. :D

You must hate reading my posts/chatting with me! I wouldn't know grammar if it bit me in the arse. My spellings pretty atrocious too. [Had to spell check "Atrocious" before submitting this.. it was spelled wrong, point proven.]I'm not really a Nazi about it, it's not like I complain - I'd be doing nothing else! It just annoys me sometimes! And your spelling and grammar really isn't too bad compared to many. Although you do write "ect" instead of "etc" which is another pet peeve...:tongue:

[Peace-Phoenix]

How do you feel about black people saying aks instead of ask?

[CrucifiedDreams]

I'm not really a Nazi about it, it's not like I complain - I'd be doing nothing else! It just annoys me sometimes! And your spelling and grammar really isn't too bad compared to many. Although you do write "ect" instead of "etc" which is another pet peeve...:tongue:Haha, I'll try to keep that in mind just for you. ;)

What's your favourite season and why?

[lithium]

How do you feel about black people saying aks instead of ask?Usually "ax", I think? I feel "ax" is a very useful scrabble word, I also feel that it has an interesting etymological heritage!


Ax, a common nonstandard variant of ask, is often identified as an especially salient feature of African American Vernacular English. While it is true that the form is frequent in the speech of African Americans, it used to be common in the speech of white Americans as well, especially in the South and in the middle sections of the U.S. It was once common among New Englanders, but has largely died out there as a local feature. The widespread use of this pronunciation should not be surprising since ax is a very old word in English, having been used in England for over 1,000 years. In Old English we find both āscian and ācsian, and in Middle English both asken and axen. Moreover, the forms with cs or x had no stigma associated with them. Chaucer used asken and axen interchangeably, as in the lines “I wol aske, if it hir will be/To be my wyf” and “Men axed hym, what sholde bifalle,” both from The Canterbury Tales. The forms in x arose from the forms in sk by a linguistic process called metathesis, in which two sounds are reversed. The x thus represents (ks), the flipped version of (sk). Metathesis is a common linguistic process around the world and does not arise from a defect in speaking. Nevertheless, ax has become stigmatized as substandard—a fate that has befallen other words, like ain't, that were once perfectly acceptable in literate circles.

[lithium]

What's your favourite season and why? A while ago I would have said Autumn because of the change and the decay and the slow descent into swirly gusty rainy Winteryness, which I find beautiful. Now I think I'm starting to go for Spring because of its optimism, sunshine and warmth, or even Summer because of its long days, absence of work and plenty of festivals! I think I've mentioned three, so I'll also say Winter is another favourite because of its bleak icy desolation and the cosyness of my bed in the morning.

:tongue:

[Peace-Phoenix]

Usually "ax", I think? I feel "ax" is a very useful scrabble word, I also feel that it has an interesting etymological heritage!
I'm not sure that's it. It's not something I've noticed amongst African Americans or Anglo Americans as much as black Londoners. And it sounds more drawn out than ax. More like arks or aaks. It might be the same phenomenon, but the description above doesn't seem to fit....

[lithium]

I'm not sure that's it. It's not something I've noticed amongst African Americans or Anglo Americans as much as black Londoners. And it sounds more drawn out than ax. More like arks or aaks. It might be the same phenomenon, but the description above doesn't seem to fit....Ah, I know what you mean. I checked my OED and "aks" is in there as a variant spelling of "ax". Ax I normally associate with African American slang, but the British form is a version of the same phenomenon of metathesis. I doubt most of the people you hear using it are deliberately making reference to Old English going back to Chaucer, but I'd like to think that one or two might be:tongue:

To be honest it really doesn't bother me, because I'm vaguely aware of its heritage in the history of English, whereas another manifestation of metathesis, "nuculer" for "nuclear" really annoys me because it's always only ever an unknowing mistake.

[Peace-Phoenix]

Your post in Farabovetheclouds's Karma got me thinking. I've asked you about your PhD before, but you being an old man, I've never asked you about your undergraduate life. Where did you study, what did you study, and what was the social life there like?

[CrucifiedDreams]

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? :eek:

[xZx]

Do you have a favorutie type of tree?

[fountains of nay]

If your Lion husband caught you cheating on him with a zebra, would you plead for forgiveness or run away with the zebra?

[fountains of nay]

I know..it's a hard one!

[Peace-Phoenix]

If your Lion husband caught you cheating on him with a zebra, would you plead for forgiveness or run away with the zebra?
I'd call him a zebra bastard, zebra, zebra, zebra fucker! And kudos for anyone who gets that reference. Actually I've seen a real zebra fucker. Or more accurately a fucking zebra. In the Sex Museum in Amsterdam, there's a picture of a zebra with it's big zebra penis fucking a woman from behind....

[fountains of nay]

I'd call him a zebra bastard, zebra, zebra, zebra fucker! And kudos for anyone who gets that reference. Actually I've seen a real zebra fucker. Or more accurately a fucking zebra. In the Sex Museum in Amsterdam, there's a picture of a zebra with it's big zebra penis fucking a woman from behind....Wooooooo kudos for me :D I fancy a bit of Xylophone Buggery right now

[CrucifiedDreams]

What did you do at 11:26? :D

[Peace-Phoenix]

Have you considered going on Deal or No Deal or Are You Smarter Than a Ten Year Old to excercise your Noel Edmunds wank fantasy?

[phoenix_indigo]

Have you considered going on Deal or No Deal or Are You Smarter Than a Ten Year Old to excercise your Noel Edmunds wank fantasy?:lol: that would be awesome! jon, so needs to do that. :D

what was the last thing you bought for your bike (which is evidentally in need of some lovin')? :)

[razy]

I would've gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for you meddling kids!http://www.hipforums.com/forums/images/smilies/pissedoff.gif

oh I remember showmet, you used to have a gif of saddam playing the banjo, non?

[lithium]

oh I remember showmet, you used to have a gif of saddam playing the banjo, non?Ah yes, Saddam Formby! I didn't realise you'd been around that long, raz. Saddam was actually part of a team:

http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/george_w_formby.gif http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/saddam_formby.gif http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/tony_formby.gif

Well, it was topical in 2003:tongue:

[Moon_Beam]

Which dwarf most closely resembles your personality?

[verseau_miracle]

I remember the saddamatar:)

Wellies or a banjo?

[verseau_miracle]

Ahem:toetap05: LOngest time to respond EVER?:p:p

You can have more questions now to make up for it
When was the last time you went on holiday, where did you go, and where do you want to go next and can i please come along?

[Jaitaiyai]

how many times have you caught a cold in your life?
If you cant remember that / work it out, how many times this year?

[Joshua Tree]

Why do you call yourself Lithium?

I think I have the real answer!

lithium used to be a hardcore grunge kid in the Nineties, and here is a snippet from his favourite song, 'Lithium'...

Sunday morning is everyday
For all I care.
And I'm not scared
Light my candles
In a daze cause I've found God

...so you see, lithium is in fact a secret worshipper of the Almighty, though he proclaims so vehemently to be an atheist.

Elementary, my dear Watson. :cool:

[Moon_Beam]

Now the dressing up as a vicar finally makes sense.

[PinkMoon]

He wasn't dressing up wearing a dogs collar is his normal attire - those clothes you see him wearing at festivals is Lithiums idea of fancy dress.

[lithium]

how many times have you caught a cold in your life?
If you cant remember that / work it out, how many times this year?

Once, I think:confused:

[lithium]

When was the last time you went on holiday, where did you go, and where do you want to go next and can i please come along?

I last went to visit my lovely friend Claire in Yorkshire in July... I suppose that's the nearest to a holiday I've had in a while. A particular highlight was going to the National Museum of Coal. I still have my lump of coal proudly displayed!

[lithium]

I remember the saddamatar:)

Wellies or a banjo?

Banjulele!

[Jaitaiyai]

how many cups of tea have you in your life?
Do you regret such hasty drug taking?
Do you own a teacup?
Tea cosy?
Is your tea cosy, actually cosy?
How did you work it out?