tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post5970080525731540016..comments2024-03-20T19:40:58.078-05:00Comments on The OF Blog: Reflections upon lost identity and older SFLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-14363566895625576172007-08-09T15:38:00.000-05:002007-08-09T15:38:00.000-05:00I agree Larry. I don't know that a truly egalitar...I agree Larry. I don't know that a truly egalitarian society is possible, let alone likely even in the fact of a supposed first contact sort of event.<BR/><BR/>And, I agree with your final assessment. We can and should do what we can to address these situations. Part of that is to take a good look at the words and descriptions we use. In context to your post, it's surprising just how many derogatory sayings/phrases refer to that racist/stereo typical image of a Native American... or really any racial group.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07280942764920226291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-23846276281838451412007-08-09T14:03:00.000-05:002007-08-09T14:03:00.000-05:00Kim,I'm going to be honest here. I really am pess...Kim,<BR/><BR/>I'm going to be honest here. I really am pessimistic when it comes to hoping that humans as a whole can become egalitarian and accepting of those who differ from "our" group (to be defined based on situations, from resource sharing to a possible First Contact scenario).<BR/><BR/>I remember reading the omnibus edition of Octavia Butler's <I>Lilith's Brood</I> a few years ago and reluctantly agreeing with her assertion that our genetically "hardwired" brains are organized around hierarchies and power inequalities than around sharing. It will be very difficult to overcome this, if it can be overcome, and it might take something as drastic as a complete overhaul of human societal structure and/or genetic rewiring to accomplish a truly more egalitarian society.<BR/><BR/>But one can hope and struggle against the most overt signs of one group trying to dominate/subjugate another.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-57865049092473772372007-08-09T11:30:00.000-05:002007-08-09T11:30:00.000-05:00Remy,I believe the point that Kim was making that ...Remy,<BR/><BR/>I believe the point that Kim was making that only an external threat to humanity might cause humans to come together, or at least realize some sort of recognized equality.<BR/><BR/>Throughout history cultural genesis has often come in the form of "us and them" thinking. Identity and unification coming as a result of having a more foreign or, if you will, alien presence to define yourself and your neighbors against. This sort of racism/nationalism/clan-ism has been a pervasive definition point in cultural development.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07280942764920226291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-57980940030371032082007-08-09T06:29:00.000-05:002007-08-09T06:29:00.000-05:00Kim, I think it would be impossible to establish a...Kim, <BR/><BR/>I think it would be impossible to establish an equality based relationship with a new species when we can't seem to establish true equality between the various ethnicities that are on our world today. <BR/><BR/>It scares me to think how the world would react to contact from an alien race. We tend to be a shoot first ask questions later race, especially when viewed as a large collective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-65026201107822100832007-08-08T19:59:00.000-05:002007-08-08T19:59:00.000-05:00I've entertained thoughts that alien contact is ou...I've entertained thoughts that alien contact is our only hope of achieving world peace. <BR/><BR/>It seems human nature (on the grand scale) is bent on dominance and that if our species were threatened with domination, we may finally unite. <BR/><BR/>As you put it though, it doesn't leave much room for hope that we'd establish an equality based relationship with the new species.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-55769489967006659132007-08-08T16:44:00.000-05:002007-08-08T16:44:00.000-05:00Fear of the Other comes in so many forms - I suppo...Fear of the Other comes in so many forms - I suppose that should have been stated explicitly in that writing. I fear it may have been a bit muddled there.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-12159201966719181162007-08-08T16:35:00.000-05:002007-08-08T16:35:00.000-05:00I think it frightens me a little that I don't know...I think it frightens me a little that I don't know what to say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com