tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post3072506651302847456..comments2024-03-27T03:19:11.216-04:00Comments on Assistant Village Idiot: Why Should They Care? AdditionAssistant Village Idiothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-89602910772668417402011-12-15T23:12:38.490-05:002011-12-15T23:12:38.490-05:00Almost six years ago I posted about the Indo-Europ...Almost six years ago I posted about the Indo-European root <b>*ghosti.</b> "It refers to the ambiguous interactive relationships between strangers. From it we get our words <i>ghost, guest, hostile, hostel, and host</i> (in several senses). Meeting a stranger was fraught with peril. Is he an enemy? A trader? The acceptance of <b>hospitality</b> created a mutual obligation that was protective for both parties. Gift-giving created similar obligations. To accept a gift was to imply that you would shortly give one in return. Native Americans practiced a similar obligation of exchange, and when they gave a gift expected one in return as a sign of unity and peace. When Europeans were not forthcoming with a reciprocal gift, the Native American would demand his gift back. Thus the term Indian Giver, resulting from that misunderstanding.<br /><br />This contractual binding undergirds much of informal legal custom, and became a foundation for our legal systems. The words "legal" and "ligament" derive from the same root.Assistant Village Idiothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-78139520594348662652011-12-15T21:43:26.786-05:002011-12-15T21:43:26.786-05:00I grew up singing, Jesus loves the little children...I grew up singing, Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight...<br /><br />I remember a Muslim from India asking me how I could adopt, especially children who were a different race from me and my husband. I was appalled to find out that Sharia forbids adoption.Lelia Rose Foremanhttp://www.leliaroseforeman.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-3287289038804594582011-12-15T20:42:09.173-05:002011-12-15T20:42:09.173-05:00I clearly need to not post until I've had my c...I clearly need to not post until I've had my coffee. The point of comment 6 was to say that dragons and gargoyles aren't the only fantasy going on in these games. People need a _reason_ to view others as more than competition and I agree that "Love your neighbor as yourself" is a large part of what makes it possible for that to happen now.Kittennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-60585956233107423742011-12-15T16:45:42.616-05:002011-12-15T16:45:42.616-05:00I'd extend Texan99's remarks a bit.
Once ...I'd extend Texan99's remarks a bit.<br /><br />Once you get to that default level of safety a tribe that is atleast hospitable to outsiders (until they prove themselves hostile) is likely to obtain advantages through trade in goods and knowledge. Repeat that enough times over generations and you will wind up where I think we are .. a general agreement that other humans should be accepted coupled with a more situationally specific wariness about engaging with that particular group that just wandered over the hill.<br /><br />In other words, "trust but verify".Der Hahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05967487071137862252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-2682114002889604182011-12-15T09:05:56.185-05:002011-12-15T09:05:56.185-05:00Arrgh. *_haven't_ had a _chance_*
morning fin...Arrgh. *_haven't_ had a _chance_*<br />morning fingers.Kittenhttp://princessmommykitten.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-61142879419321615862011-12-15T09:03:52.318-05:002011-12-15T09:03:52.318-05:00I see this in the on-line role-playing world Eberr...I see this in the on-line role-playing world Eberron as well. The difference from older worlds/systems is that no given member of any species (orcs, elves, etc.)_has_ to be good or evil. All are independent moral actors, although some races goals are more likely to run counter to those of the "civilized races".<br /><br />The developers show everyone living in _realative_ harmony but my thought on that is "just wait 'til a plaque breaks out and see how long it takes for the Kobolds, already living in the sewers with a name as thieves and insurgents, to be completely driven out or exterminated. <br /><br />In general, I love playing the game but have a sneaking gratitude that in real life there are no dragons and only one sentient race. I don't think the world, or humans at least, could handle the competing needs/desires of upwards of a dozen races while maintaining the sort of populations of each that is needed to accomplish anything.<br /><br />Sorry for the length, I javen't had a cjance to share my thoughts on the subject in a while.Kittenhttp://princessmommykitten.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-61838410458346818592011-12-14T20:02:01.382-05:002011-12-14T20:02:01.382-05:00That's what I am wondering, sponge.
Many cult...That's what I am wondering, sponge.<br /><br />Many cultures have traditions of hospitality to strangers, but I am not thinking of any generalised goodwill toward mankind beyond defined relationships, except for those which take the Biblical quote seriously.<br /><br />OTOH, even we did not seem to take it very seriously for most of our history. Is the embedding of this idea in culture just something that takes generations, even if there are specific religious commands?Assistant Village Idiothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-52359811240539029642011-12-14T18:45:37.792-05:002011-12-14T18:45:37.792-05:00I ask that for our entire fondness for other human...I ask that for our entire fondness for other humans: "What's our motive for this?" <br /><br />This might have something to do with it:<br /><br />Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31Sponge-headed ScienceManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12914014641719908195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-67146032935227428882011-12-14T10:12:10.724-05:002011-12-14T10:12:10.724-05:00Maybe I'm cynical as a result of my own rather...Maybe I'm cynical as a result of my own rather shallow level of caring for strangers (I have to work hard on warmth even among my intimate circle!), but I suspect for most people warmth toward strangers is something that's likely to give way rather quickly when there's not enough safety to go around. Strangers are all very well as long as you're pretty sure they're no threat to your children, or their food supply, or their livelihood.<br /><br />Some very few people rise above this state of nature, but I don't think the accomplishment is anything like widespread.Texan99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10479561573903660086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-1555618974019158132011-12-14T07:37:07.794-05:002011-12-14T07:37:07.794-05:00Seconds after I read your post I read these at the...Seconds after I read your post I read these at the BBC site this morning: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16175877" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16175877</a><br /><br />and<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16172662" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16172662</a>jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792036361407527304noreply@blogger.com