Personal Questions

[ER]

One hour of conversation, in your vernacular, with any dead person in all of history. Assuming you'd do it, with whom would you speak?

Me, I'd skip the famous and talk to my grandma.

[indianasmith]

Abraham Lincoln would top that list.

[ER]

Today's question is also something of a statement:


If it outrages you that slavery existed in the United States 160 years ago among people long dead, why are you not transferring that otherwise empty outrage into doing something to fight slavery in the world today?



If curious, some ways you can push back against slavery include: Writing elected officials and calling their attention to human trafficking and other forms of slavery in the 21st century. Contributing time and or money to agencies that combat slavery. Even making others aware that it exists for potentially millions of people and that we can stand against it counts for something, and is better than doing absolutely nothing but bellyache about the plight of those who died generations ago.


Really, I am tired of people sanctimoniously pontificating on slavery in times past while seeming unwilling to put that moral outrage into doing something for people who can still be helped.

[Rev. Powell]

Today's question is also something of a statement:


If it outrages you that slavery existed in the United States 160 years ago among people long dead, why are you not transferring that otherwise empty outrage into doing something to fight slavery in the world today?



If curious, some ways you can push back against slavery include: Writing elected officials and calling their attention to human trafficking and other forms of slavery in the 21st century. Contributing time and or money to agencies that combat slavery. Even making others aware that it exists for potentially millions of people and that we can stand against it counts for something, and is better than doing absolutely nothing but bellyache about the plight of those who died generations ago.


Really, I am tired of people sanctimoniously pontificating on slavery in times past while seeming unwilling to put that moral outrage into doing something for people who can still be helped.

Who is it you know who pontificates about slavery but has no interest in current social justice? I don't know who you are talking about. Modern day slavery exists but it's not the only social ill. It doesn't follow to me that if you think historical slavery is bad that you must prioritize fighting current slavery (which exists in a much different form). I am outraged by the Holocaust, but I can focus on current social ills that are more relevant than modern-day genocide. And drawing attention to historical injustices still does some good in the world, even if it's not as much as actively helping people today. So I don't share your outrage.

[ER]

Today's question is also something of a statement:


If it outrages you that slavery existed in the United States 160 years ago among people long dead, why are you not transferring that otherwise empty outrage into doing something to fight slavery in the world today?



If curious, some ways you can push back against slavery include: Writing elected officials and calling their attention to human trafficking and other forms of slavery in the 21st century. Contributing time and or money to agencies that combat slavery. Even making others aware that it exists for potentially millions of people and that we can stand against it counts for something, and is better than doing absolutely nothing but bellyache about the plight of those who died generations ago.


Really, I am tired of people sanctimoniously pontificating on slavery in times past while seeming unwilling to put that moral outrage into doing something for people who can still be helped.

Who is it you know who pontificates about slavery but has no interest in current social justice? I don't know who you are talking about. Modern day slavery exists but it's not the only social ill. It doesn't follow to me that if you think historical slavery is bad that you must prioritize fighting current slavery (which exists in a much different form). I am outraged by the Holocaust, but I can focus on current social ills that are more relevant than modern-day genocide. And drawing attention to historical injustices still does some good in the world, even if it's not as much as actively helping people today. So I don't share your outrage.

I hear it all the time, people taking on a certain tone about slavery that existed in the past, something beyond anyone's present control, and I am always left thinking, yeah, you hate slavery, good, but if so why aren't you putting that conviction about its evil into effect in a time when you can do something about it?  Are people trying to disassociate themselves from a feeling of guilt, or do they actually detest slavery so much they really do want to eradicate it?

You've never encountered that empty sanctimony yourself and you've never thought that? There's so much verbiage condemning something that's over, so little awareness or effort put into trying to solve something going on now. People are big on talk and small on action. Like Adalai Stevenson said, "It's easier to fight for principles than to live up to them."

The bottom line is I do support an organization that is trying to undo some of the damage sex trafficking rings are doing in places like Thailand today, the things I read about associated with slavery in our world anger me, and I wish people would do more to help instead of carrying empty idealism. How about more people walk the walk instead of talking the talk? That's my point.

And I wasn't singling anyone out here at all.

[Trevor]

One hour of conversation, in your vernacular, with any dead person in all of history. Assuming you'd do it, with whom would you speak?

Me, I'd skip the famous and talk to my grandma.

Princess Diana: just to tell her how much she meant and still means to me. 

[Rev. Powell]

Today's question is also something of a statement:


If it outrages you that slavery existed in the United States 160 years ago among people long dead, why are you not transferring that otherwise empty outrage into doing something to fight slavery in the world today?



If curious, some ways you can push back against slavery include: Writing elected officials and calling their attention to human trafficking and other forms of slavery in the 21st century. Contributing time and or money to agencies that combat slavery. Even making others aware that it exists for potentially millions of people and that we can stand against it counts for something, and is better than doing absolutely nothing but bellyache about the plight of those who died generations ago.


Really, I am tired of people sanctimoniously pontificating on slavery in times past while seeming unwilling to put that moral outrage into doing something for people who can still be helped.

Who is it you know who pontificates about slavery but has no interest in current social justice? I don't know who you are talking about. Modern day slavery exists but it's not the only social ill. It doesn't follow to me that if you think historical slavery is bad that you must prioritize fighting current slavery (which exists in a much different form). I am outraged by the Holocaust, but I can focus on current social ills that are more relevant than modern-day genocide. And drawing attention to historical injustices still does some good in the world, even if it's not as much as actively helping people today. So I don't share your outrage.

I hear it all the time, people taking on a certain tone about slavery that existed in the past, something beyond anyone's present control, and I am always left thinking, yeah, you hate slavery, good, but if so why aren't you putting that conviction about its evil into effect in a time when you can do something about it?  Are people trying to disassociate themselves from a feeling of guilt, or do they actually detest slavery so much they really do want to eradicate it?

You've never encountered that empty sanctimony yourself and you've never thought that? There's so much verbiage condemning something that's over, so little awareness or effort put into trying to solve something going on now. People are big on talk and small on action. Like Adalai Stevenson said, "It's easier to fight for principles than to live up to them."

The bottom line is I do support an organization that is trying to undo some of the damage sex trafficking rings are doing in places like Thailand today, the things I read about associated with slavery in our world anger me, and I wish people would do more to help instead of carrying empty idealism. How about more people walk the walk instead of talking the talk? That's my point.

And I wasn't singling anyone out here at all.

Our minds are instinctively revulsed by hypocrisy, but I think we have to be careful not to jump to conclusions about it. I don't think I've ever definitively encountered such empty sanctimony, because I don't do audits of stranger's charitable contributions, volunteer work, or outside work. How would I know that they only complain and don't do anything to help others?

I hate to think I can't bring up this or that historical atrocity unless I donate to an analogous modern-day charity! I can't condemn Stalin's man-made famine of the 30s unless I volunteer at a food bank?

It does remind me of a related and sort-of opposite phenomenon that does annoy me. Some white people seems to feel triggered by any mention of slavery, acting like they've been personally attacked or made to feel guilty for being white. I have seen them react on Twitter with the fact that African blacks also engaged in slavery. There was even a guy on Indy's Facebook who insisted that the Irish were also enslaved in America. I'm sure most of them are nice people, though, who just have a blind spot about that one issue.

Sorry to get so heavy, man.

[Trevor]

It does remind me of a related and sort-of opposite phenomenon that does annoy me. Some white people seems to feel triggered by any mention of slavery, acting like they've been personally attacked or made to feel guilty for being white. I have seen them react on Twitter with the fact that African blacks also engaged in slavery. There was even a guy on Indy's Facebook who insisted that the Irish were also enslaved in America. I'm sure most of them are nice people, though, who just have a blind spot about that one issue.

Sorry to get so heavy, man.

I sometimes get upset at people who doubt that I'm an African, despite the fact that I have an English accent and am Caucasian. It's only when I explain my history - and inform them that I have two special family members who are not Caucasian - that people say "OK, no problem."

[ER]

Today's question is also something of a statement:


If it outrages you that slavery existed in the United States 160 years ago among people long dead, why are you not transferring that otherwise empty outrage into doing something to fight slavery in the world today?



If curious, some ways you can push back against slavery include: Writing elected officials and calling their attention to human trafficking and other forms of slavery in the 21st century. Contributing time and or money to agencies that combat slavery. Even making others aware that it exists for potentially millions of people and that we can stand against it counts for something, and is better than doing absolutely nothing but bellyache about the plight of those who died generations ago.


Really, I am tired of people sanctimoniously pontificating on slavery in times past while seeming unwilling to put that moral outrage into doing something for people who can still be helped.

Who is it you know who pontificates about slavery but has no interest in current social justice? I don't know who you are talking about. Modern day slavery exists but it's not the only social ill. It doesn't follow to me that if you think historical slavery is bad that you must prioritize fighting current slavery (which exists in a much different form). I am outraged by the Holocaust, but I can focus on current social ills that are more relevant than modern-day genocide. And drawing attention to historical injustices still does some good in the world, even if it's not as much as actively helping people today. So I don't share your outrage.

I hear it all the time, people taking on a certain tone about slavery that existed in the past, something beyond anyone's present control, and I am always left thinking, yeah, you hate slavery, good, but if so why aren't you putting that conviction about its evil into effect in a time when you can do something about it?  Are people trying to disassociate themselves from a feeling of guilt, or do they actually detest slavery so much they really do want to eradicate it?

You've never encountered that empty sanctimony yourself and you've never thought that? There's so much verbiage condemning something that's over, so little awareness or effort put into trying to solve something going on now. People are big on talk and small on action. Like Adalai Stevenson said, "It's easier to fight for principles than to live up to them."

The bottom line is I do support an organization that is trying to undo some of the damage sex trafficking rings are doing in places like Thailand today, the things I read about associated with slavery in our world anger me, and I wish people would do more to help instead of carrying empty idealism. How about more people walk the walk instead of talking the talk? That's my point.

And I wasn't singling anyone out here at all.

Our minds are instinctively revulsed by hypocrisy, but I think we have to be careful not to jump to conclusions about it. I don't think I've ever definitively encountered such empty sanctimony, because I don't do audits of stranger's charitable contributions, volunteer work, or outside work. How would I know that they only complain and don't do anything to help others?

I hate to think I can't bring up this or that historical atrocity unless I donate to an analogous modern-day charity! I can't condemn Stalin's man-made famine of the 30s unless I volunteer at a food bank?

It does remind me of a related and sort-of opposite phenomenon that does annoy me. Some white people seems to feel triggered by any mention of slavery, acting like they've been personally attacked or made to feel guilty for being white. I have seen them react on Twitter with the fact that African blacks also engaged in slavery. There was even a guy on Indy's Facebook who insisted that the Irish were also enslaved in America. I'm sure most of them are nice people, though, who just have a blind spot about that one issue.

Sorry to get so heavy, man.

Ah, if there's one thing I understand about people, it's that I don't understand people. 

[Rev. Powell]

On a less contentious topic, can you dance?

I don't dance. I hate all dance music. Unfortunately, it would have been a good skill to master when I was younger for courting purposes.

[RCMerchant]

If you call head banging dancing- yes.

[ER]

When no one's watching I dance with wonderful and heartfelt chaos.

[claws]

I read that "straight" white men can't dance, which is BS. I used to boogie down in nightclubs. My dad had pretty good moves as well.

[indianasmith]

On a less contentious topic, can you dance?

I don't dance. I hate all dance music. Unfortunately, it would have been a good skill to master when I was younger for courting purposes.

I don't dance well but I have never let that stop me!

[Trevor]

On a less contentious topic, can you dance?

I don't dance. I hate all dance music. Unfortunately, it would have been a good skill to master when I was younger for courting purposes.

I used to be quite a good dancer until certain body parts started saying "No way, Jose" to me