Auckland/Conference, Overlander and Palmerston North

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Spent three days at Auckland for the Australasian Society for Continental Philosophy and gave my paper on Lying in Politics Revisited (draft). Seemed well received with third parties telling me it had attracted some interest. Was particularly pleased with recommended further readings in the psychology of moral disengagement and for further elaboration on strategic action. Was also impressed with Paul Miller's (ANU) paper on "The Ambiguity of Freedom" which argued for freedom to be understood as a process and a relationship rather than the traditional model of sovereignty and, continuing on the theme, Matheson Russell's paper on Hannah Arendt's intersubjective concept of freedom and agency. Also managed to meet up and had a great yarn with James Flowers of Redbrick, current publishers of the Earthdawn and Blue Planet roleplaying systems. Managed to miss the entire third day of the conference following drinks with James, then drinks at the conference dinner, and then drinks at a club afterwards!

Took the Overlander down to Palmerston North, which is the first time I'd made that journey by train and was very pleased to do so. It was quite a feat of engineering to have a trainline, requiring flat and straight tracks, through a land famous for hills, valleys and bends. Staying in Palmerston North for a few days to visit mother and brothers was pleasant, very relaxing but quite unexciting. There is only so much small-town gossip I can handle before my eyes glaze over; lengthy stories of who married who, where they live, what their home is like, and what their relationship is with other members of the community. There is no discussion of great ideas, and little of great events (hat-tip to Elanor Roosevelt). Although well-meaning people, an ignorance of worldly affairs leaves me wondering how people derive meaning and satisfaction from vicarious trivialities.

Anyway, I'm now in Wellington at Geekmansion with beagl and kimeros. I can see how one could spend entire days in conversation and/or coding looking over Evans Bay to Mount Victoria. Beautiful.

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It's not the scale of issues that concern me. It's the content.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

Are they happy? Any less happy? What does it matter?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Does it matter that Hagar The Horrible is more widely read than the Poetic and Prose Edda? That people can recite every football premiership for the past ten years but cannot name the head of state of ten countries?

Indeed, you pose the right questions. What does matter? And what is happiness?

[greylock.livejournal.com]

Does it matter that Hagar The Horrible is more widely read than the Poetic and Prose Edda?

Is the latter Tolkien? :P
The answer is yes, then no.

That people can recite every football premiership for the past ten years but cannot name the head of state of ten countries?

Some days I would be enraged, on other days I can't recall the name of the King of Tonga.

Indeed, you pose the right questions. What does matter? And what is happiness?

I think people like you and I worry about Zimbabwe and Darfur enough so others can worry about the death of Harold on Neighbours. Of course, I think Harold should go to Zim as a missionary. :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

That would make a good fifth column.

Harold goes to Zimbabwe and people who watch Neighbours suddenly become concerned and involved with the issue.

Imagine if such soaps didn't deal with.. well, whatever issues that they do deal with - I speak entirely from ignorance on this matter having never watched an episode of Neighbours. I can only presume there is a character called 'Harold'.

[greylock.livejournal.com]

I can only presume there is a character called 'Harold'.

Harold has been in the show (despite a brief hiatus in the 1990s when he was dead) since the 1980s. He was married to Madge.

He is a good Christian, appears to be dying of cancer, and may be gay.
He'd be ideal to head off to Zim. I should write to the Neighbours producers. It'd lift the show above Home and Away. I believe there may be another killer in Summer Bay.

I don't watch either, but I know enough to work these things out.