Let's talk Gaians

[AdamantineFist]

which planet?...

Cork, in Londonderry. It was to be the new Molly homeworld, and the Corsairs nuked the bejesus out of it, rendering it an inhospitable, radiation choked hellhole.

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[Zelot]

Being in a terrible position like that and striking out would be rational. If, however, they were, for instance non-Muslim Germans from Berlin, living reasonably comfortably, who decided to go and join a Palestinian terrorist group...

That's how I see Gaians.

They aren't from Leeds, where pollution is a problem. They originated from Cambridge, where there was no, and is no, BMM presence. Planetforming will never have an effect, positive or negative, upon them in their lifetimes.

There's little or no rationality here, just as there is little or no rationality in terrorists who use suicidal methods.

So rationality has something to do with your proximity to the problem? Then why would someone work for Doctors without Borders, or many of the United Nations sponsored aid organizations, or for that matter their local food bank. It's ok for someone to have interests in causes that dont effect them personally, when YOU think they do it in a good way, but not when YOU think they do it in a bad way.

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[bluntpencil2001]

So rationality has something to do with your proximity to the problem? Then why would someone work for Doctors without Borders, or many of the United Nations sponsored aid organizations, or for that matter their local food bank. It's ok for someone to have interests in causes that dont effect them personally, when YOU think they do it in a good way, but not when YOU think they do it in a bad way.

Those groups aren't killing people. There isn't suicide bombings involved. Altruism does not mix with suicide bombing. There is no rationality in fighting and dying in a war that can't be won, nor is there rationality in sacrificing one's self, causing only death.

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[Marburg]

@ blunt: Yes, the Gaians originated from Cambridge, but after 127 years, Gaians come from everywhere throughout Bretonia. (& following player RP from other houses now as well)

::edit- Incedently though, in my personal view, the majority of Gaians by now are multi-generational station-livers::

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[AdamantineFist]

So rationality has something to do with your proximity to the problem? Then why would someone work for Doctors without Borders, or many of the United Nations sponsored aid organizations, or for that matter their local food bank. It's ok for someone to have interests in causes that dont effect them personally, when YOU think they do it in a good way, but not when YOU think they do it in a bad way.

Yes, but working for those organizations helps people. There we have a reason that is considered to be logical. In the case of violently opposing the terraforming of a lifeless ball of rock... well, most people would find it hard to understand why someone would do that, now wouldn't they?

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[bluntpencil2001]

@ blunt: Yes, the Gaians originated from Cambridge, but after 127 years, Gaians come from everywhere throughout Bretonia. (& following player RP from other houses now as well)

True, but I imagine people with more pressing concerns, such as paying their rent, getting food on the table and the like, would take up other militant causes instead of the Gaian one. It seems to be a very bourgeois terrorist faction.

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[Friday]

The Corsairs are big boys now, they can look after themselves.

Humans are not rational - they are rationalising. That is to say they are very good at justifying their behaviour to themselves.

The claim was made that terraforming is needed to prevent famine - and it is irrational to stop it.

The counterclaim is that it is MORE irrational to breed to the point that a planet can no longer feed itself - and begins to starve.


A zealous follower of Gaia could well say "Let them starve - it is Nature's way of dealing with the irrational".

Heartless? By 'civilised' standards yes.
Arrogant? Its a bit like 'let them eat cake' perhaps.

But hey - legally recognised governments have skirted with controversies in their actions... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Potato_...ons_of_genocide

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[bluntpencil2001]

One rational explanation for hating Planetform that I would put forward, however, is that it doesn't actually work. Apparently they aren't as succesful as they thought they'd be.

Claiming this is a waste of resources et cetera would certainly be reasonable. However, then attacking them, forcing them to waste even more resources... well... not a great idea.

I imagine this would be the sort of protest raised by the loyal opposition.

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[Zelot]

Those groups aren't killing people. There isn't suicide bombings involved. Altruism does not mix with suicide bombing. There is no rationality in fighting and dying in a war that can't be won, nor is there rationality in sacrificing one's self, causing only death.

Good and bad are unquantifiable or quantifiable and thus are not good indicators of rationality.

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[bluntpencil2001]

Good and bad are unquantifiable or quantifiable and thus are not good indicators of rationality.

When suicide is involved, it tends to be deemed irrational.

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