Ignorance, Gillard PM, Holidays Approach, Gaming Reviews

[tcpip]

Most regular readers will know I'm an advocate of land tax as a replace for inefficient and unproductive taxes on labour and capital. On a whim, I entered this discussion on a property investment website. Enjoy the results. What I find particularly remarkable is their ignorance of basic economics (like the Law of Rent or the distinction between land and capital) on matters they claim expertise in. Actually I must confess I find this a lot; often people with a strong opinion on a topic like to think they're an expert on a topic. Personally, I prefer to form a strong opinion by reaching "deeply considered convictions", based on reason and evidence, rather than having "deeply ingrained prejudices" from emotions and assumptions.

Julia Gillard became the first ever female Prime Minister of Australia yesterday (that's only taken over one hundred years, *grumble*). It's an acting position whilst Rudd is in Bali (finally a PM who's acting on climate change!) , and one which seems to attract a share of odd events. I've sent her a congratulatory email (the last email conversation we had was a little terse; I was writing on behalf of Labor for Refugees and she was shadow minister for immigration).

Speaking of which, for the second year in a row, I'm desparately trying to organise tickets to Bali again over the break. I've contacted Flight Centre, and they've sent an email confirmation saying their processing the request, but no confirmation yet. Meh. It's been years since I've been to the archipelago, and I really want to see it again. New Zealand is not an option this summer (I think I'll go south for winter). If this doesn't work out for whatever reason maybe a visit to Tasmania is in order; it's been a while since I've seen Murdoch's former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Boyce and we remain in irregular correspondence.

This week I finally managed to finish my review of Earthdawn: Gamemaster's Compendium; it's a huge, stunning book and quite good on the substance level as well. Not so good is the old AD&D module D1: Descent into the Depths of the Earth, which is seriously lacking in style, substance and a purpose for existence. Played another session of Legend of the Five Rings last Sunday with a refitted AD&D Oriental Adventures module. It's going very well, if only I can hack out some overall narrative to the various instances of character development and plot leads.

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Taking the Wikipedia definition, my intent wasn't really to engage in an argumentative response, merely to express an alternative point of view with the hope that they would perhaps read it and consider it.

If there is an act of foolishness on my part it's that I often think that people who seek to acquire knowledge in the same manner that I attempt to. I am yet again reminded that this is usually not the case. Honestly, I don't know how to get around this except to continue to present issues as I do.. If one in ten read the material and even try to understand it with an open mind (even if I don't agree with the conclusions) I suppose it makes it worthwhile introducting them to the idea.

[amazinggoatgirl.livejournal.com]

Interesting. How do you seek to acquire knowledge? And how is it different from the way others do?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Pretty well covered in the content of this post really. When confronted with a proposition test it with internal logic and empirical correlations. If one doesn't understand the proposition simply state to the proponent "I don't understand" and have them explain it to you.

I have found even in IT there are plenty of people who feel bad about asking questions which they think they should know the answers to but are embarrassed (I suppose) that they don't. In my world there are no bad questions and I'm quite ready to admit what I do not know.

All this said it is a lot easier I suppose to start with a visceral reaction and in engage in logical fallacies such as ad hominen attacks etc.

[demonhellfish.livejournal.com]

"Even in IT"?? Maybe my experience is biased, but IT is far from being the least culprit in matters of hubris (Larry Wall's virtues notwithstanding).

Anyway, an excellent thread on that forum. The crux appeared to be "Well, us landlords don't want to pay taxes, and we don't care how well the total economy does.". I do have to agree that it's rather like trolling to try explaining how to use landlords as taxes' entry point into the economy when the thread started as a discussion of how to dodge taxes.

Then again, I like trolls. They regenerate 3HP/rnd.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

but IT is far from being the least culprit in matters of hubris

There was a hint of humour in my remark :-)

I do have to agree that it's rather like trolling to try explaining how to use landlords as taxes' entry point into the economy when the thread started as a discussion of how to dodge taxes.

pooh, the popular consensus is that I was trolling without intent :-)

Then again, I like trolls. They regenerate 3HP/rnd.

Better than RuneQuest's imho (although the material for trolls whas better in that product).

The coolest ones are, imo, those in Harnmaster...

[demonhellfish.livejournal.com]

*Smirk*

And now, I have successfully trolled you.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Dang! Caught again! :-)

[amazinggoatgirl.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess it depends how you define 'easy.'

[evil-genius.livejournal.com]

"If there is an act of foolishness on my part it's that I often think that people who seek to acquire knowledge in the same manner that I attempt to. "
I run into that problem more or less everyday. WTF is wrong with our species that we become so intellectually complacent later in life.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Anti-intellectualism is a rampant and destructive mental disorder which has become increasingly prevalent among both the fundamental theologians and the vulgar materialists. In both cases understanding the world has become too difficult to understand and their own lack of humility does not allow them to consider the possibility that on a certain subject, someone else may have a better answer.

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

..but someone else almost always will!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

You would think so wouldn't you? :(

[ruth-lawrence.livejournal.com]

I truly hope so.