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Messages - Dido

#136
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#137
Or Kill Me / Re: Cain contra Robert Anton Wilson
March 22, 2008, 08:14:11 PM
Intellectually speaking it seems ever so stupid to blame an author for the idiocy of that person's self proclaimed followers. But that has never led anybody to wash their hands off praise received for the greatness they have inspired in others.  See what I mean?

Of course, the consequence of that view is regarding everybody as responsible for every result of all of their actions. That sounds a little Kantian in its rigidity but we would not want personal rejection of a philosopher stand in our way, would we? Ahem. What I meant  was that accepting responsibility only when it suits you kind of fucks the concept.

#138
Principia Discussion / Re: STRIFE or CHAOS?????
March 17, 2008, 01:56:53 PM
 All of it?
#139
Principia Discussion / Re: STRIFE or CHAOS?????
March 16, 2008, 09:42:01 PM
The portrayals of Zeus change over time. In later stories and texts by later authors he is indeed shown as capable of long-term planning but especially when dealing with Titans he lacks intelligence as well as instincts. Prometheus for example tricks him into choosing the bones and not the meat of a sacrificed animal as the part the gods are entitled to by hiding the meat in the animal's hide (or stomach, depending on the source) and covering the bones with the glistening fat.
Prometheus is a Titan and less mighty than the Olympian but cunning and able to foretell the future accurately. In a story where both are present he is more likely the one who does the planning.
Postscriptum: The story with the sacrifice is from Hesiod. He contrives to portray Zeus favorably, but whoever Hesiod really was, he was certainly a believer. And of course I simply prefer the tricksters.


#140
Principia Discussion / Re: STRIFE or CHAOS?????
March 16, 2008, 07:21:33 PM
It isn't just easier. It also causes whoever advocates another opinion to state their arguments in detail which saves you (well, me) a lot of guessing as to their nature, the research necessary to confirm or refute them and the effort of typing. That is, it would have if some people did not think that name dropping equals argument.
Anyway. I do not question the authority of people whose work I do not know but I really do not see what the part from the Cypria is supposed to prove in that context. But I should say that I do not doubt that Achilles was indeed meant to die as soon as possible. Relating my one- word-comment to the quote preceding it should have clarified that I was not objecting  to the theory that Zeus was scheming to get rid of his almost-offspring  but to the opinion that the bit about Prometheus was supporting said theory.


#141
Principia Discussion / Re: STRIFE or CHAOS?????
March 15, 2008, 08:58:44 PM
Quote from: Cain on March 13, 2008, 10:22:34 PM
Yeah, that ties into the idea that Achilles' death was arranged by Zeus.

no.
#142
Principia Discussion / Re: STRIFE or CHAOS?????
March 15, 2008, 08:33:24 PM
Like Nietzsche's contemporary critics I believe that he was a little off target with that idea. It is only in comparison to Dionysos that Apollo looks rational.
Prometheus is a pre-Olympian trickster cum hero deity and known for the accuracy of his prophecies (as indicated by his name).
#143
Quote from: Golden Applesauce on March 12, 2008, 05:06:41 AM
I have an excellent conspiracy theory:

This whole PKLS thing is Cain pranking / trolling the PD.com forums.  Utter genius!  Nobody would see it coming.

Evidence: [...]

I do not know about you but i want that to be true. It would so dispel any lingering doubts of moi on CainĀ“s brilliance ( :D or  :evil: ? hm.) Then again,  maybe it would be too much of an Shyamalan-style twist... Oh well. No nice little conspiracy for today.
#144
Principia Discussion / Re: Hello everyone
March 14, 2008, 03:16:14 PM
Cut the throat and let him/her bleed into the earth. Maybe i should turn pagan after all.
#145
Principia Discussion / Re: Hello everyone
March 14, 2008, 03:10:21 PM
Quote from: Khara on March 14, 2008, 02:15:37 PM
Off topic, but I have never understood the fascination for the royals :?

I agree with Nigel, Monkey please keep Pickles on a tight leash and we will stay away :D

That fascination is the sad last remnant of the more noble custom to sacrifice your royalty after a given amount of time.  Now we get stupid stories (and sometimes teary interviews) instead of real blood.
#146
Principia Discussion / Re: STRIFE or CHAOS?????
March 13, 2008, 04:41:12 PM
As far as i remember, the ancient greek deity chaos was more some kind of conscious prima materia.
Following a sequence of events to the earliest event that can possibly be constructed as a reason (as the prophecy that people are trying to avoid instead of the morons actually doing what they do) is a very prominent feature of ancient Greek thought, which is why I should like to remind you of the other trickster lurking around the golden apple.
Meaning Prometheus, whom Zeus offered do free from the rock he was chained on (for being nice to humans ) if he would tell him what he knew about Thetis (supposedly only a minor sea Godess favored by Zeus). Prometheus  played hard-to-get for a few centuries until Heracles freed him. In return for 'allowing that to happen' P told Zeus that Thetis' child would be mightier that his father, which caused Zeus to pass her off to a mortal....aaaand not invite everybody to the wedding. etc.

Ancient Greek myths are not very coherent but the holes in this one are among the best.