The difference between the middle east discussion and a general philosophical thread is that the former thread applied philosophical and political theory to a real world situation in which people are suffering and in which commenters have a lot invested emotionally. — Joshs
Participants identify strongly with what they see as victims of moral or even criminal immorality and cruelty — Joshs
To lose an argument is to let an atrocity go unchallenged. — Joshs
Thank you, and sorry. My humor is so advanced that, um, I'm the only one who understands it. Or something.... — Foghorn
No, that's wrong, TOTALLY WRONG!!! What is wrong with your brain??? Are you on drugs? Is your mother in the world's oldest business??? — Foghorn
How does participation in a meaningless activity demonstrate compassion for victims? — Foghorn
none of us in that thread are in a position to challenge those committing the atrocities, however we might have defined them. — Foghorn
If those involved in the discussion considered it meaningless they would not have reacted so strongly to each other. — Joshs
Next, anyone with half a brain would also know in advance that nothing in the real world would be accomplished by such a thread, given that world leaders probably aren't reading this forum in search of our advice. — Foghorn
I think the stated topic was most likely a prop, which served to help us hide our conflict addiction from ourselves. — Foghorn
I agree the topic was a prop, but not because it was hiding ‘conflict addiction’( why do non-political topics on this site normally not generate the same heat?) — Joshs
The middle east was a proxy for issues much closer to home, having to do with our relationships with people in our own communities. — Joshs
I agree the topic was a prop, but not because it was hiding ‘conflict addiction’( why do non-political topics on this site normally not generate the same heat?). — Joshs
Not my circus not my monkeys — skyblack
We’re not addicted to conflict, we’re addicted to sense-making, and it drives us crazy when someone spouts off with an opinion that sounds completely outrageous to us. — Joshs
It’s possible that it seems to you that a vacuous ‘addiction to conflict’ motivated the arguments precisely because you were not invested in the topic. — Joshs
It’s possible that it seems to you that a vacuous ‘addiction to conflict’ motivated the arguments precisely because you were not invested in the topic. — Joshs
why do we so often deliberately seek out the experience of being driven crazy? — Foghorn
I wonder if his friends, the ones involved in the conflict, are infuriated by his impartiality. — Joshs
Without The Philosophy Forum, and publications like the NYT, NPR, PBS, et al to contain this bubbling cauldron of controversy, bloodbaths would be a daily event. That might be a good thing were there adequate ideological oversight and guidance by the Central Committee, but alas there is not. — Bitter Crank
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