The Importance of Being Earnest II

[Luna]

It's the smug "I stand for THIS (whatever it is), and if you don't, and don't agree with me 100%, and don't support me 169%, you're scum" attitude that gets me.

[Jenne]

People RARELY like a zealot or a fanatic.  That's why the words zeal and fan have to be used far, far away from the causes that zealots and fanatics use their passion for--otherwise they'd rarely be used without a prejorative end in mind.  And for some, they probably still are.

I think earnestness can be done with a certain amount of win if you don't take yourself too damned seriously and ALLOW for the fact you ARE over the top, for most folks.  If you accept that, and are still earnest, then I think you're less apt to catch shit.  Esp from the denizens that inhabit this particular hellhole.  

[East Coast Hustle]

Is it that he's really zealous about saving whales? Or that he's really sincere about it?

The guy sounds like a D-Bag but I'm having trouble putting my finger on exactly why. Earnest doesn't strike me as quite the right word. A lot of us are passionate, dedicated, and sincere about certain things, but that isn't douchey in itself. Is it the sort of righteous wind he's sailing?

For me, it's (aside from the fact that they're all raging hippies) the fact that he's willing to jeopardize the safety of another vessel and its crew in pursuit of his ideals. Whale hunting may be immoral, and there are people on that ship on whose shoulders that immorality should lay, but the deckhands, engineers, and cooks are probably just trying to get a paycheck and feed their families. And even if they're ALL complicit in the immorality of whaling, it's not a justifiable reason for endangering their lives while they're at sea.

Seriously, if I ever run into one of those guys in a bar somewhere, noses will be broken. Though I imagine the chances of finding them in any bar frequented by sailors is about zero.

[East Coast Hustle]

Obviously that's pretty contextually specific, but I imagine that something similar can be applied to most people that are that over-earnest about their pet causes.

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

And even if [everyone aboard the vessel is] complicit in the immorality of whaling, it's not a justifiable reason for endangering their lives while they're at sea.

I tend to agree, but why not?

Why do a small number of people deserve their lives more than whales deserve to exist as a species?

[kingyak]

Why do a small number of people deserve their lives more than whales deserve to exist as a species?

Because whales are physically incapable of dressing monkeys in people clothes.

[Doktor Howl]

And even if [everyone aboard the vessel is] complicit in the immorality of whaling, it's not a justifiable reason for endangering their lives while they're at sea.

I tend to agree, but why not?

Why do a small number of people deserve their lives more than whales deserve to exist as a species?

Because people > whales.

[Scribbly]

That's just like, your opinion man. 

[Doktor Howl]

That's just like, your opinion man. 

Well, we COULD declare open season on anyone who works in an industry that we consider immoral...

Dok,
Has a bunker in the front yard.  Bring it, bitches.

[Scribbly]

 I don't think I could die happy unless I got to eat roast leg of banker at least once in my life.

Then again, I essentially work in marketing now... 

[East Coast Hustle]

And even if [everyone aboard the vessel is] complicit in the immorality of whaling, it's not a justifiable reason for endangering their lives while they're at sea.

I tend to agree, but why not?

Why do a small number of people deserve their lives more than whales deserve to exist as a species?

Because people > whales.

This.

[Doktor Howl]

I don't think I could die happy unless I got to eat roast leg of banker at least once in my life.

Then again, I essentially work in marketing now... 

Bankers and hedge fund managers are an exception.

  <--- Lot of beef on those guys.

[Luna]

Because when you start deciding that a cause is more important than human lives, you're heading a bad direction.  When you accept that an idea is worth killing for, you never know where that will stop.

[Doktor Howl]

Because when you start deciding that a cause is more important than human lives, you're heading a bad direction.  When you accept that an idea is worth killing for, you never know where that will stop.

Precisely.

[Payne]

Yeah, their the lethal tendencies of the particular group of people I mentioned in the OP really are more "I would die for the whales!" rather than directly trying to harm others. However, the line is so fine, and their enthusiasm so blinding that they really are dangerous to those they target.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXsqs5AbtgU

This ^ sickens and fascinates me. From the cultish leader, down to the wilful disregard for their others' safety.