Best Of
Re: Deliberatly Ending a Human life- How can we justify it ?
Not so long ago in the Dutch parliament there was a request that was debated about a new right which some of the political parties were sponsoring to be put into the constitution. This was a right to die at a completed life, so basically euthanasia for people who felt their life was ‘complete’ and what remained would only detract from it.
A lot of the people sponsoring it were elderly, and were thinking about a possible dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Some were mental health patients. Some were sufferers from other illnesses. There were quite a few groups whose needs would have been addressed by this.
But in the end the debate in parliament failed to gain the needed majority.
Jeroen
Re: Deliberatly Ending a Human life- How can we justify it ?
My mother (93) is against voluntary euthanasia, or assisted dying. Yet she wants DNR on her medical records, should the question arise, and hopes to be able to pass away 'free of pain'. So she's not above some kind of medical application. I personally consider it to be an acceptable premise, for reasons already stated eloquently by others.
federica
Re: How very disappointing...
I think TNH was a rare example of someone who never became embroiled in carnal complications...
federica
Re: Dogen's Shobogenzo - Komyo (光明)
I'm reminded of this quote by D. T. Suzuki
“Zen always aims at grasping the central fact of life, which can never be brought to the dissecting table of the intellect”
Shoshin1
Re: Quotes - discussion
@Jeroen said:
I’d like to be one of those older folk who still have a sense of lightness, kindness, fun.
>
Think you'd enjoy listening to Bob Harwood. Says that throughout his life he just did what sounded like fun 
Celebrated his 80th birthday by hiking up a Colorado 14k-er. Businessman, construction/contractor, family guy... widely considered to be enlightened, and I see no evidence to the contrary. Current hobby: trading stocks No Thai hermitness necessary apparently
marcitko
Re: Talking outside the echo chamber
@Jeroen said:
I’ve noticed that selling advertising on FB seems to be an effort to categorise people’s echo chambers and give them those ads that are likely to bring a reaction. It is a mechanism, paid of course, outside the echo chamber.
Nothing new. The tech has been in the field since the late 90s. Facebook? Twitter? Reddit? They're all collecting data, that you provide free of charge. Amazon is a data gold mine.
Re: East vs West
@marcitko said:
the lesser value of women
In many ways the suppression of the feminine in patriarchal agricultural cultures has been amongst the great tragedies of history.
Jeroen
Re: Talking outside the echo chamber
I’ve noticed that selling advertising on FB seems to be an effort to categorise people’s echo chambers and give them those ads that are likely to bring a reaction. It is a mechanism, paid of course, outside the echo chamber.
Jeroen
Re: Talking outside the echo chamber
There I was in another echo chamber WHEN:
- I realised that I was listening to an echo, in a bubble of my own creation.
- Only hearing and listening to my Self.
- "Is there anybody there?"
Just imagine if I listened to others echoing and could burst their bubbles and talk to them. I have a theory that this might be possible. 
I knew there was a plan
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2113246-how-can-facebook-and-its-users-burst-the-filter-bubble/
lobster
Re: Letting go of games
I think that is a key point, it is about the activity of play, and the rules are there to support it rather than being a totally rigid framework. Story, acting, role playing and gaming all meet at this junction. The thing is, the rules do act like a set of restraints on what you can invent… they are there to bring an element of the rational to complete chaos.
But as a dm you have to bend the rules a little. I came across the rules for inspiration, and thought that was a really good way to make the rules encourage acting and rewarding players for drawing on their backgrounds, involving their story telling abilities. A good dm could be more generous with awarding inspiration, to help draw players out.
Jeroen