From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Wed Jul 30 2003 - 21:03:04 MDT
Damien writes
> >> Did you get as far as the end, where the appalling error resulting in this
> >> tragedy was made clear?
> >
> >What error was this?
> >
> >> (That error, emblematic of certain discussions on
> >> this topic, was firstly to overstate the supposed threat, and secondly to
> >> allow a clever child to murder almost all the members of an entire
> >> conscious species while playing what he regarded as a game).
>
> Your subtlety or opacity eludes me.
It has been decades since I read this, so I infer that
that you are trying to say that the "error" was to
overstate the threat. I do not recall that---as I
recalled it, the Earth was in a more-or-less struggle
for existence against a completely ruthless enemy.
In what places (and I am not trying to be subtle, Damien,
I just want to know), if you recall, was the other species
(in *that* book alone) represented as having any compassion
for humans? Were there such parts?
In all these exchanges, I have been careful to leave the
most telling parts of your communications intact, definitely
not because I want to *win* in some misguided fashion this
discussion, but out of courtesy---and to hopefully not cause
you to repeat the most salient parts of your argument.
I'm getting to seldom expect the same courtesy.
Originally, I happened to write
You sound as though *all* genocidal actions can be, or ought
to be dismissed, out of hand. Have you read "Ender's Game"?
And if that scenario isn't adequate to convince you, I am
sure that you could think of one in sixty seconds or less
that would.
Well, it would be interesting for you to address the firmest
part of my argument.
Moreover, I've felt more and more uncomfortable over the last
several decades as "genocide" is considered something far, far
more grave and evil than mere murder. Since it's entirely
possible that you are one of the people who is not especially
interested in there being lots and lots of future people, I'd
like to hear you explain why genocide is worse than murder.
And if somewhere there is a race of totally genetically determined
entities open to no dialog at all, but among whose purposes is our
complete elimination, then why don't aren't you in favor of us
completely wiping them out if we can? I guess it's good that
no sentient strains of smallpox have been discovered, because
they would not want for defenders and supporters on this list.
Lee
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