tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post1603991785648636683..comments2019-05-12T13:33:29.278+02:00Comments on ThoughtsOfCrys: Book Review: A Nail Through The HeartThoughtsOfCryshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687873355595487274noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post-34236434769962933942012-08-06T14:55:39.904+02:002012-08-06T14:55:39.904+02:00You don't have to worry about commenting here!...You don't have to worry about commenting here! I don't always reply to all of them right away because I tend to be very busy, but all comments short of straight up trolling are greatly appreciated. <br /><br />I buy books in bulk from amazon whenever I tend to have some money coming in, so I'll be adding those books to my "basket" for the next time I'll be able to order them, since I just got a shipment in today (how exciting!!) I was afraid I was posting too many book reviews here that some may find boring, but since almost all the book reviews are really "this book made me muse on this subject and here it is" I figured they're not a total waste.<br /><br />When it comes to fiscal and monetary policy I don't have very strong opinions, partially because I'm not 100% invested in one particular country and partly because I really don't know enough about economics. The only thing I suppose I really have strong opinions about (other than thinking that major corporations should not be paying negative taxes and that CEOs should not be paying less in taxes than their secretaries) is the health care debate raging on in the US (see "an italian family's story with universal health care" and "my little head rant") mostly because I see it as a right, like access to education, that is fundemental to the acheivement of a true meritocracy, and that all the countries that have it demonstrate that it is sustainable and economically viable. Other than that, I my opinion on monetary policy will be an uneducated one at bestThoughtsOfCryshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687873355595487274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post-2474215279774631532012-08-03T20:14:27.126+02:002012-08-03T20:14:27.126+02:00Cool, thanks for taking the time to say that, so a...Cool, thanks for taking the time to say that, so am I -- chronic insomnia leaves me looking for good reads pretty much constantly too! One of the things that struck me reading your posts is the number of books we have in common recently, in a very wide range too, from fantasy to non-fiction...doesn't happen often! Guessing we both vary mental categories all the time...my Burdett mention above is definitely in the 'fun' category, personally enjoyed mainly because I recognize bits of very Thai attitudes (happen to have long-term ties there) we farang aren't so used to. I know this will seem odd given we don't know each other, but a friend of mine came back to me on a completely different type of book I'd lent her a couple days ago and thought of 'you' sort of, the facet(s) that you've made public that is...Shaking Hands With the Devil, by the head of the UN mission to Rwanda. Thought that when you next feel like non-fiction, you may react to it in a similar way...real kick to the gut/heart, and both because of the lessons in it and the bravery of its author, made my ''required for humans who care' personal list. I'd be curious to hear what you think of it if you happen to get to it sometime. I hesitated to mention it because I'm not used to engaging with someone's blog like this: obviously I find your thoughts interesting and I'm writing because I want to give back in a way to someone who makes me think, but I don't want my comments to imply an expectation of replies, for all I know this is intended more like a journal that happens to be in the public space, I'm just a random visitor and have no business in anyone else's time and space. Feels odd that you introduce yourself and open up here and I get to throw in my two cents without having disclosed anything about myself -- if you feel like evening things out sometime I'm Matt_chauvel@hotmail.com, and if you prefer the interaction to remain quasi-anonymous totally understand as well of course, just throwing it out because it's only fair. As to potential future disagreements, I'll venture a guess that the likeliest areas are government/fiscal and monetary policy, but if still welcome when it comes up, time will tell! --MMCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post-29351513000487523472012-07-31T10:28:54.904+02:002012-07-31T10:28:54.904+02:00Thanks for the tip, as you can probably tell I'...Thanks for the tip, as you can probably tell I'm always on the lookout for more books! <br /><br />And I most certainly don't mind you popping up once in a while, I'm looking forward to a long debate about something we will inevitably disagree aboutThoughtsOfCryshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687873355595487274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post-16169760212445379612012-07-31T10:00:32.835+02:002012-07-31T10:00:32.835+02:00Thanks for the reading tip, I just went through th...Thanks for the reading tip, I just went through the Rafferty series so far in quick succession and will be looking out for the next one. Since you enjoyed those too, if you feel like more in the same vein while waiting for Hallinan to write, I recommend John Burdett's Bangkok 8 etc...equally adept at evoking Bangkok/Thai life behind the curtain, 'bit more whimsical, interesting main character, and inevitably some similar themes.MCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post-87278586361545933312012-07-19T14:27:51.310+02:002012-07-19T14:27:51.310+02:00Understood, and you did illustrate with an 'in...Understood, and you did illustrate with an 'institutional' hypothetical, I wandered off a bit. Agreed with you on the problem with sending a message through the law to a society that is far more bloodthirsty than you are. <br />On a separate note, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I first came across your blog a few weeks ago and it has prompted a lot of further thought free association and reading, helping to fill some bits of major knowledge gaps...in the case of this post, a refresher on theories of ethics led me to this guy: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/dewey-moral/...who is obviously someone I should have learned plenty about already but never had! Sensible, logical approach to me, in contrast with the other dead guys who did take up some classroom time ages ago.<br />Thanks for pointing in the direction of Pharyngula too, enjoying it...if not already familiar with it, think you might like simoleonsense. <br />I think I share your opinions on plenty of things, but figure not much value added in a chorus of 'amens' here and there (perhaps choosing my words more carefully) even though that's generally how I feel reading you, so 'hope you don't mind me popping up once in a while and I look forward to disagreeing with you sometime...MCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post-82723769304247460662012-07-15T13:46:05.178+02:002012-07-15T13:46:05.178+02:00I think you misunderstood me with that last part. ...I think you misunderstood me with that last part. I concede that it is human to want to seek that violent revenge on a despicable human being, which is why I invariably go to that place in my mind when I read about these atrocities. My question was is it right to do so? Is it OK to send the message -through the law- that there are some cases in which violent torture for the sole purpose of personal gratification is morally acceptable and legal? The last hypothetical question was aimed at those people (and my experience on the internet with my reposted video on the death penalty show my there are many of them) was aimed at those who would without thinking about it scream yes! torture the bastards!ThoughtsOfCryshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687873355595487274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-981940062637214408.post-36421769178972538192012-07-14T20:51:46.401+02:002012-07-14T20:51:46.401+02:00It would bother me, but only because that particul...It would bother me, but only because that particular person has forfeited any right to such a 'gift' and the chance to feel pleasure again. I don't see that as a contradiction with being willing and able to inflict violent retribution in some cases myself, or letting someone else enjoy doing so. Why would the pursuit of revenge or punishment hold any less meaning than any other motive for the things we do? The take on it that I come across most often seems to be that it is disappointing, doesn't erase the initial events and their consequences (no argument there), leaves one feeling empty or worse, etc...mostly written or said by people who have had no personal experience with it. Would it be for some? Sure. For most? Maybe (though I don't think so). But definitely not all. Inflicting what one perceives to be rightful violence upon someone else can be extremely satisfying, and I believe it is (tragically) a natural part of the human experience. Should it be part of our judicial system (offically so, because in many ways it already is)? I don't believe so, and in that I include the death penalty (something that took me a very long time to decide upon, having lost someone very close whose murderer, also a repeat rapist, has been on death row for 12 years) -- but that is because of the inevitable flaws in a machine that can never be fair and will always convict innocents, because we could never agree on what is justified, to what extent culprits are responsible for their actions, what the progression in severity of punishment is and where the boundaries if any are, etc etc... In a hypothetical case of certain guilt and crimes that are of the most repugnant sort to me (slavery/trafficking being the clearest example), do I see any problem with someone enjoying the experience of inflicting violence upon people who I feel deserve it? No.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com