Re: virus: Quid pro quo (caveat emptor)

David McFadzean (david@lucifer.com)
Tue, 16 Mar 1999 09:19:25 -0700

At 09:38 AM 3/16/99 -0500, Reed Konsler wrote:

>>Is every side equally valid/true/beneficial/right/valuable/good?
>>If not, then I don't understand your point.
>
>It depends entirely on the context.
>You cannot make algorithmic rules for living life.

No, it does not depend on context. The only situation where every side is equal is the one where nothing matters AKA nihilism. The sides are not equal using every other set of criteria (an infinite number of possible contexts).

>If I say "heads I win, tails you lose" what does it matter?

That is the best description of Level 3 I have seen yet.

>You enjoy playing Lucifer in this anti-church and stand
>as an antagonist to the faithful. I'm just nesting within
>your little Hell and playing the redeemer. Inside of me,
>there is a small voice telling me how irrational it all is.
>Framing us all is Nature, which cares not whit for our
>reason, or our faith, but operates according to her own
>cycles and mysteries.
>
>Which level are we talking about when you say:
>
>"valid/true/beneficial/right/valuable/good"
>
>Because, at this time, my only rational answer can be
>"it depends". I'd be happy to play the level 2 game
>with you if you will play the level 3 game with me.

I thought Level 3 was about consciously choosing one's memes but I was wrong. Level 3 means never having to admit you were wrong. Level 3 means if you disagree with anyone you can always simultaneously insult them and discount everything they say by putting them on a lower level. Level 3 means that if anyone shows an inconsistency in your ideas, you can hide behind rhetoric. Maybe this isn't what Richard had in mind when he invented Level 3 but this is what it has become.

I can certainly play your game. Do you think it will be fun?

--
David McFadzean                 david@lucifer.com
Memetic Engineer                http://www.lucifer.com/~david/
Church of Virus                 http://www.lucifer.com/virus/