Common sense R.I.P.

The ghost of Jim Morton · 08-02-2010, 02:59 PM

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and sadly rather true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Discuss.

SaintDougie · 08-02-2010, 03:09 PM

I like that, Makes you realise what a horrible society we live in.

Peterheed Saint · 08-02-2010, 04:05 PM

So true.Mr Politically Correct killed Mr Common Sense

HertsSaintee · 08-02-2010, 04:29 PM

The saddest thing to read there is the death of "Truth". Truth, and our ability to relate truth openly without recrimination, should be the absolute bedrock of any society based on free-speech, in such as we are meant to live. Sadly, people, even elected politicians, both in this country and our near European neighbours are now being actively prosecuted for actually telling it like it is. Governments, such as our current one, are based on an ideology, and not what is actually in everyone's interests - making it impossible for people to address issues rationally and openly without persecution. That's what happened in Germany in the 1930s as well...

The ghost of Jim Morton · 08-02-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HertsSaintee

The saddest thing to read there is the death of "Truth". Truth, and our ability to relate truth openly without recrimination, should be the absolute bedrock of any society based on free-speech, in such as we are meant to live. Sadly, people, even elected politicians, both in this country and our near European neighbours are now being actively prosecuted for actually telling it like it is. Governments, such as our current one, are based on an ideology, and not what is actually in everyone's interests - making it impossible for people to address issues rationally and openly without persecution. That's what happened in Germany in the 1930s as well...

Fuxake . That's a bit highbrow for a Monday afternoon

I was thinking more along the lines of Stewards with no common sense and not allowing people to sit in empty comfortable seats at hampden

You'll be mentioning Hitler next

HertsSaintee · 08-02-2010, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ghost of Jim Morton

Fuxake . That's a bit highbrow for a Monday afternoon

I was thinking more along the lines of Stewards with no common sense and not allowing people to sit in empty comfortable seats at hampden

You'll be mentioning Hitler next

Do you not agree that the wee steward who kicked you out of that soft seat last Wednesday WAS a little Hitler?

O'Rourke · 08-02-2010, 05:27 PM

Cheers Ghostie.

Sad but too true!

ANDY5565 · 08-02-2010, 05:39 PM

can't miss some buddy i don't know!,but from what i have heard he was a good buddy to have around in delicate situations! R.I.P. common sense may your passage on this earth be a lesson to all...sadly gone but not forgotten!

monkfish · 08-02-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HertsSaintee

The saddest thing to read there is the death of "Truth". Truth, and our ability to relate truth openly without recrimination, should be the absolute bedrock of any society based on free-speech, in such as we are meant to live. Sadly, people, even elected politicians, both in this country and our near European neighbours are now being actively prosecuted for actually telling it like it is. Governments, such as our current one, are based on an ideology, and not what is actually in everyone's interests - making it impossible for people to address issues rationally and openly without persecution. That's what happened in Germany in the 1930s as well...

Could you give an example of an elected politician being prosecuted for telling it like it is?

slf · 08-02-2010, 07:42 PM

so what

Fair Maid · 08-02-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slf

so what

Cheery wee soul aint ya

CynicalSaintee · 09-02-2010, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ghost of Jim Morton

Fuxake . That's a bit highbrow for a Monday afternoon

I was thinking more along the lines of Stewards with no common sense and not allowing people to sit in empty comfortable seats at hampden

You'll be mentioning Hitler next

Uh-oh!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

HertsSaintee · 09-02-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkfish

Could you give an example of an elected politician being prosecuted for telling it like it is?

Geert Wilders

Indicator · 09-02-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANDY5565

can't miss some buddy i don't know!,but from what i have heard he was a good buddy to have around in delicate situations! R.I.P. common sense may your passage on this earth be a lesson to all...sadly gone but not forgotten!

Will be remembered by those that knew him but... not by those that never met him, nor are likely to ever meet him in today's PC society.

Dave H · 09-02-2010, 11:08 AM

No mention of icy pavements

Obviously the author had not read this forum a couple of weeks ago. I pride my life with common sense, trust and truth. Common sense will always win in the end.

Bruno Strasser · 15-02-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HertsSaintee

The saddest thing to read there is the death of "Truth". Truth, and our ability to relate truth openly without recrimination, should be the absolute bedrock of any society based on free-speech, in such as we are meant to live. Sadly, people, even elected politicians, both in this country and our near European neighbours are now being actively prosecuted for actually telling it like it is. Governments, such as our current one, are based on an ideology, and not what is actually in everyone's interests - making it impossible for people to address issues rationally and openly without persecution. That's what happened in Germany in the 1930s as well...

Eh ? You been sniffing fire extinguishers again ?

MiguelSimao · 16-02-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HertsSaintee

Geert Wilders

Wilders pontificates about the "Islamisation of western society," and champions "free speech" while calling for a ban on the Koran! He's hardly "telling it like it is." He's a propagandist for the reactionary right. He's telling it how he wants us to see it, surely?

You talked earlier about the death of open discourse as something that happened in Germany in the 1930's, so I might as well give you something else: Books were banned.

HertsSaintee · 16-02-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiguelSimao

Wilders pontificates about the "Islamisation of western society," and champions "free speech" while calling for a ban on the Koran! He's hardly "telling it like it is." He's a propagandist for the reactionary right. He's telling it how he wants us to see it, surely?

You talked earlier about the death of open discourse as something that happened in Germany in the 1930's, so I might as well give you something else: Books were banned.

I prefer to take a wider view than simply one of lefty, happy-clappy, everything's-rosy-in-the-garden thinking.

The point Wilders makes is that the contents of the "sacred text" of the Koran CAN and DOES influence young, impressionable people from muslim backgrounds. I don't think anyone would argue against the fact that it preaches a quasi-political doctrine maintained though suppression and military conquest. Terrorist events perpetrated by islamic fanatics influenced by said "sacred text" in numerous countries around the world all attest to this - all in the name of said doctrine. That's quite apart from the cultural aspects of Islam in general pertaining to the likes of human rights, the treatment of women in Islamic society and honour killings, all of which are roundly criticised the world over. Take Afghan President Mohammed Karzai's attempt to "legalize" a husband's right to RAPE his wife as an example (that, ladies and gentlemen, appears to be what British troops are dying for in Afghanistan...) Geert Wilders is simply stating that against ANY standards - Islamic doctrine and the Koran are backward and certainly NOT compatible with the general values we have here in the west. So his question is simply why should we have to put up with it here?

But don't take my word for it - research it and think it through for yourself. And for what it's worth, in addition to the koran, I'd have the bible and all other "sacred texts" banned too - we hear of too many "pious" parents who have let sick children die because they resort to "prayer" instead of proper medical attention for their sick offspring, and also the murder of surgeons who perform abortions which mainstream religious groups refuse to condemn. "Gentle Jesus meek and mild" indeed...

MiguelSimao · 16-02-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HertsSaintee

I prefer to take a wider view than simply one of lefty, happy-clappy, everything's-rosy-in-the-garden thinking.

The point Wilders makes is that the contents of the "sacred text" of the Koran CAN and DOES influence young, impressionable people from muslim backgrounds. I don't think anyone would argue against the fact that it preaches a quasi-political doctrine maintained though suppression and military conquest. Terrorist events perpetrated by islamic fanatics influenced by said "sacred text" in numerous countries around the world all attest to this - all in the name of said doctrine. That's quite apart from the cultural aspects of Islam in general pertaining to the likes of human rights, the treatment of women in Islamic society and honour killings, all of which are roundly criticised the world over. Take Afghan President Mohammed Karzai's attempt to "legalize" a husband's right to RAPE his wife as an example (that, ladies and gentlemen, appears to be what British troops are dying for in Afghanistan...) Geert Wilders is simply stating that against ANY standards - Islamic doctrine and the Koran are backward and certainly NOT compatible with the general values we have here in the west. So his question is simply why should we have to put up with it here?

But don't take my word for it - research it and think it through for yourself. And for what it's worth, in addition to the koran, I'd have the bible and all other "sacred texts" banned too - we hear of too many "pious" parents who have let sick children die because they resort to "prayer" instead of proper medical attention for their sick offspring, and also the murder of surgeons who perform abortions which mainstream religious groups refuse to condemn. "Gentle Jesus meek and mild" indeed...

Think it through for myself? It's a tad patronising to assume I haven't, isn't it? There's also no need for the "happy-clappy" nonsense. Just because I disagree with you on certain aspects of this doesn't mean there's any need to resort to sneering.

What exactly is "wider" about your point of view? It certainly seems to be in opposition to mine, but the suggestion that it's therefore more panoramic is ludicrous given your lack of knowledge about how my opinions are formed. I could be Christopher Hitchens for all you know, and I doubt you'd accuse him of not thinking for himself.

I don't think Wilders should have been charged, for what it's worth, but he wasn't charged for "telling it like it is." That's a ridiculous statement.

Do you, a champion of Wilders' "free speech", think the Koran should be banned? It certainly seems, from reading your last post, that you do, but surely that's not the case? If so, it means the freedom that you were at pains to defend earlier, "for people to address issues rationally and openly without persecution," is really only applicable to non-Muslims.

That'd make you a bit of a racist, no?

HertsSaintee · 16-02-2010, 02:34 PM

Whoa there chief! Can you explain to me in language I can understand just why my views on a "holy" book, and my opposition to nutjobs that want to kill those of us who don't believe in it in it's name, make me a "racist"???

Last time I looked, Islam and it's nefarious doctrine dominates a good part of the planet, so can be hardly said to apply to just Asian people or Arabs, for instance. Sure, I guess it all started around the Middle East, but so did the other Abrahamic religions. Certainly, the psychos who murdered all the Australians in the Bali club didn't look middle eastern. Nor indeed did Richard Reid the infamous shoe bomber. I am equally opposed to those latter atrocities as those perpetrated by terrorists of middle eastern origin - nothing to do with skin colour. So that would make me a racist how exactly?

To answer your question simply. Yes, I am absolutely in favour of banning the Koran, as well as other symbols of Islam, until the threat of violence against our own country and culture in it's name by it's fanatical adherents ceases. On a wider integration issue, France have done exactly the same with the wearing of the hijab, and it is strongly suggested by the Australian government that if immigrants to their country are unwilling to integrate into the prevelant western culture there, perhaps Australia is not the right place for them. Both entirely acceptable in my view. Geert Wilders is expressing a similar concern over integration and potential violence.