Re: virus: Re: virus-digest V2 #191

Eric Boyd (6ceb3@qlink.queensu.ca)
Tue, 22 Jul 1997 20:31:02 -0500


Brett Lane Robertson wrote:

> There is a shame which binds people together. People prefer to deal with
> others who are like them. The average person wants someone to cover for
> him...to deny, project, subjugate, lie, share in power-plays, form cliques,
> conquer and be conquered; thus, we have government, police, inequality,
> religion, war, and marriage (to take undesirables out of circulation). The

hmmm. An interesting idea, but I'm not sure the evidence stacks up in
your favour. Are not criminals generally more "self contained" than
regualar people? That is, do they not keep to themselves more, just to
protect themselves? In that way, the criminal is in fact *more*
responsible for his/her own life and livelyhood than a regular person.

> only real requirement for genius is honesty...and there
> are--statistically--very few geniuses.

Now here's an idea I think has merit. The only real requirement for
genius is honesty. That is, *total* honesty.

Votes, boys (and girl!): is there any evidence to support this? Is
honesty a necessary condition for genius?

(and could it possibly also be a sufficient condition, too?)

ERiC

wooo boy... this honesty idea has set of a cascading series of memes in
my head... fits in very well with my "responsible freedom" meme set.