worst invention ever?

Mannix · 02-16-2006, 01:06 PM

When talking about the worst thing human's have ever created, there's usually two responses that I hear: Nukes and TV. I personally don't believe either of these two things count as the worst ever because they both have some sort of positive potential in some kind of mass aplication.

Nukes are/were very handy because they managed to keep two militarily potent and ideologically opposed powers (the US and USSR) from seeking direct conventional conflict with one another, which would have been a very costly proposal no matter how you slice it. You can cite a "doomsday" scenario as a negative if you like, but it turns out I kind of hate people so no big loss there

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TV is often listed as bad because of the mind-numbing and degrading nature of most programming. While, in my opinion, 99% of everything on TV is utterly contemptable there are still some very sound educational and communication opportunities to be had from the "one-eyed god." Also we every so often run into a program like Firefly (or whatever, just an example) that's entertaining without being degrading.

I haven't really been able to personally chose a 'worst ever' but I think Caste/Heirarchy systems are probably it. I just can't find the virtue of a minority being held far above the masses while not really producing anything of any measurable value. Obvioiusly there are situations where egalitarianism wouldn't work very well, such as the military. But I honestly have to wonder how useful a military would be if there weren't any nobles to bicker at each other.

Anyway, I digress. What are some of the things I may have overlooked that have nothing to offer to humanity? Also, if anybody is 'pro-caste' I think it would be interesting if you outlined the virtues of the system as you see it, because as it stands now I just don't get it.

02-16-2006, 01:06 PM	#1
Mannix Tenacious C Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 991	worst invention ever? When talking about the worst thing human's have ever created, there's usually two responses that I hear: Nukes and TV. I personally don't believe either of these two things count as the worst ever because they both have some sort of positive potential in some kind of mass aplication. Nukes are/were very handy because they managed to keep two militarily potent and ideologically opposed powers (the US and USSR) from seeking direct conventional conflict with one another, which would have been a very costly proposal no matter how you slice it. You can cite a "doomsday" scenario as a negative if you like, but it turns out I kind of hate people so no big loss there . TV is often listed as bad because of the mind-numbing and degrading nature of most programming. While, in my opinion, 99% of everything on TV is utterly contemptable there are still some very sound educational and communication opportunities to be had from the "one-eyed god." Also we every so often run into a program like Firefly (or whatever, just an example) that's entertaining without being degrading. I haven't really been able to personally chose a 'worst ever' but I think Caste/Heirarchy systems are probably it. I just can't find the virtue of a minority being held far above the masses while not really producing anything of any measurable value. Obvioiusly there are situations where egalitarianism wouldn't work very well, such as the military. But I honestly have to wonder how useful a military would be if there weren't any nobles to bicker at each other. Anyway, I digress. What are some of the things I may have overlooked that have nothing to offer to humanity? Also, if anybody is 'pro-caste' I think it would be interesting if you outlined the virtues of the system as you see it, because as it stands now I just don't get it. __________________ Dangerous, mute lunatic.