Aaron_Brown

• Aaron_Brown 30 Dec 2008 1:14 UTC

  7 points

  on: Am­pu­ta­tion of Destiny

  If there’s nothing more to life than eliminating suffering, you might as well eliminate life and be done.

  I nominate this for the next “Rationality Quotes”.

• Aaron_Brown 17 Oct 2008 1:31 UTC

  9 points

  on: Tra­di­tional Cap­i­tal­ist Values

  This is something I’ve remarked upon before, with respect to “the terrorists hate our freedom” or “the suicide hijackers were cowards” (statements that are sheerly silly).

  I think the terrorists et al. probably do hate our freedom—e.g., our freedom to watch DVDs of people having sex. This fact may not be particularly useful in keeping from being attacked again (I for one am not willing to give up the right to watch DVDs of people having sex).

  On the other hand, I agree that “the suicide hijackers were cowards” is sheerly silly, and I think it’s pretty stupid that Bill Maher lost his job for saying the same.

• Aaron_Brown 30 Aug 2008 2:36 UTC

  8 points

  on: Qual­i­ta­tive Strate­gies of Friendliness

  the dreaded Maximum Fun Device

  I’m going to start watching for opportunities to use this phrase. “Nobody expects the dreaded Maximum Fun Device!”

• Aaron_Brown 16 Dec 2007 6:59 UTC

  2 points

  on: Guardians of the Truth

  I once read an argument (can’t find source) that a key component of a zeitgeist is whether it locates its ideals in its future or its past.

  David Brin has written about this in his discussions of Star Wars (here and here) and Lord of the Rings.