Preference for Banana Daiquiris over just Bananas: it's what makes us different from the apes.
Hadrian said 06/12, 08:04 AM
Also, we don't pick fleas from each other's coats and eat them.
Evolution: better food and beverage choices!
Miral150 said 06/13, 02:02 PM
I thought I'd stop this debate spiralling into oblivion.
Whilst this is true, there are many other traits that seperate us. We have a democracy and government, we have sense of morality and justice.
Those are good points, but not the only things that make us different.
Hadrian said 06/14, 06:04 AM
We also have an appendix. But its not used for anything. Lets look at our so-called "sense of morality and justice". Thou shalt not kill? That apparently only applies to members of your own tribe -- outsiders are fair game. In the largest single God-assisted massacre in the bible. one million Ethiopians are killed by God's chosen people. (2 Chronicles 14) I don't recall ever hearing about any apes going on that kind of rampage!
As far as government, in their natural environments, the different apes show sharply varying social structures which help govern their behavior. Democracy? What would Aristotle was about American democracy and the need for candidates to raise large sums of money from donors who expect something in return? Aristotle said "it is thought to be democratic for the offices to be assigned by lot, for them to be elected is oligarchic".
I'm not sure your "differences" are differences that make a difference. Now, a refreshing drink that blends tropical fruit and rum? That is a human achievement to be applauded without question!
Miral150 said 06/15, 02:06 PM
Last I checked Apes don't go out and vote for their prefered candidate. The strongest wins, leaving the weak to die. They don't have a healthcare system. There is a difference between a social structure and a government. A social structure is simply a complex set of relationships, whereas a government is a body which controls the community under it's jurisdiction. Whether or not democratic government is fair is another matter.
The fact that we are discussing morality generally shows that we are above apes; I may be mistaken but chimps are never to be seen in groups discussing the theories of relativity or causes of political embourgeoisement. We all have different interpretations of Moralilty, shown by your use of the ten commandments. Whilst a christian would view these as hard and fast rules, someone else might not take the same view.
Oh and the appendix? Turns out new research suggested that it is used for habouring safe bacteria during times of infection.
Hadrian said 06/18, 05:13 AM
Ha! When was the last election when your preferred candidate was actually the nominee? "The strongest wins". Indeed! The strongest at fund-raising! The money needed for campaigning has turned this "democracy" into an oligarchy, as I've already noted.
And, it can be argued that with the highest cost and only a marginal level of health when compared with the rest of the world, we in the U.S. hardly have a health care system either.
Our "discussing morality" is as significant as the sound of a beautiful songbird - sitting on a barren branch in the midst of the carnage and rotting corpses littering a battle-field. Humans are the deadliest and most dangerous of animals my friend. The delusion of our superiority only contributes to the problem.
No, I believe the situation calls for a visit to La Cuna Del Daiquiri (The Cradle Of The Daiquiri), following the famous footsteps of Gary Cooper, Tennessee Williams, Marlene Dietrich, Ernest Hemingway and Jean-Paul Sartre. Find me a group of apes such as these my friend and I will concede the debate.
Miral150 said 06/18, 11:52 AM
Just because your candidate didn't win is no reason to start criticising democracy. "The strongest at fundraising" you say?. In the 1997 British General election the Conservative party spent more money than any party previously yet they suffered the greatest defeat in British political history. Ron Paul also raised more money than McCain, yet lost. In France during the 2002 Presidential election Le Pen managed to get to the presidential run-off despite having less money than the Socialist Party candidate Lionel Jospin
The UK also has a national health system which looks after everyone (save for those who choose to go private). Even America does not require health insurance for everyone, as various charities and government funding can pay for treatment for the poor. Plus the hippocratic oath means that a doctor is required to treat any sick person and prevent the loss of life.
Okay so humans aren't perfect. Our 'delusion' of superiority however is justified. We have vets which look after sick animals and most people will respect animals. Animals don't look after us, and barely look after each other. Evolution did a lot of things, the most important of which is humanity.
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SB "What would Aristotle say" not "What would Aristotle was". I had to correct this before DonkeyDude got the grammar police after me.
Hadrian | 06/14/08
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Hadrian, Aristotle wasn't exactly a model democrat himself, so i really don't think it's relevant what he would have said about American democracy. What would he say about American democracy? Well for one, he would say that we shouldn't have ended slavery. He saw it as necessary and just.
Skipper04 | 06/19/08
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I think in future, concerning debates about evolution, a better name is needed. The name is fairly confusing and has no relation to evolution.
Miral150 | 06/19/08
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Please keep it clean. Bad words will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.
Only Axl Rose remains in the group, but since 1987 GnR has been rocking with fury
More than 50 years of cover stories about the 35th President
Who says apes don't have a sense of morality? And the use of "whilst" instead of "while" was odd.
DonkeyDude | 06/13/08
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