Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all! Be glad you're not on Chiron Beta Prime.

Man is a Beast

One argument that annoys me greatly is, "Men are unthinking beasts who can be induced to barbarism by stimuli and have no determination of whether they act." This is the basis for a lot of the "Women shouldn't dress a certain way" arguments. Free will exists and behavior is a choice - the key to any criminal act is the choice the person makes.

The assumption of "man is a beast" is derived from other kinds of nihilistic determinism. For example, anyone who says, "Emotions are just chemical reactions" is perpetuating this same argument, since they remove the role of choice in what we feel. If emotions are nothing more than chemicals, then rape turns into a predetermined response to certain triggers - and now you're blaming the victim for presenting those triggers.

A proposed structure to the brain that does not include some mode of free will or agency can be labeled a supporting viewpoint of rape culture. Without a system that accounts for the fact that a rapist chooses to act in that way - that they are not compelled by any behavior on the part of the victim - you end up assigning blame in entirely the wrong spot.

Star Wars VII

Star Wars Episode VII plot points:

1. New main character is Harry Skywalker.

2. Gets handed a lightsaber by C3PO who tells him, "You're a Jedi, Harry."

3. Goes to Jedi Academy, is taught by Obi-Wand Kenobi.

4. Featured class? Defense Against the Darth Arts.

Keep the Krampus

Remember to keep the Krampus in Christmas: beat naughty children with sticks.

Tidbits

There's a new employee collective where every member works from home. It's called Tele-Communism.

Tidbits

How would Aladdin be more interesting?

"I wish this wish was not granted."