Showing posts with label speculation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speculation. Show all posts

Friday, September 2, 2022

What If Everyone Had to Tell the Truth?


Sometimes when I see the outrageous and clearly false assertations made by politicians, (looking at you, former guy,) I fantasize about a Universal Auto-Correct (UAC). What if lying were no longer possible—ever? What if every statement one made, whether one believed it to be true or not, were subject to UAC.

“The USA was founded as a Christian nation,” says Mr.X. But before the words are out of his mouth, to his horror he finds himself retracting the statement, “Actually, the Framers never mentioned Christianity." 

Lying, hyperbole, evasive statements are common in politics. What in the world would it be like if those pursuing a political agenda were compelled--how, I can't say--maybe God would have to rare back and pass a miracle-- to speak only Truth. And not just their truth or their alternative fact but the actual verifiable Truth.

What if this miracle extended to the entire population? Can you imagine what havoc would be wreaked in any number of relationships. "Yes, those yoga pants make you ass look enormous."  "No, I've always hated your lasagna."  "Actually, I think this workplace environment is toxic to the max."

So, there are kinks to be worked out. Absent an omniscient, omnipotent deity to mandate and implement UAC, whom could we trust to oversee this? AI is too easily manipulated by programmers. It would come down to the old Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who will watch the watchmen? for those of you who didn't have the dubious pleasure of four years of Latin.)

Still, it's fun to think about...

 

Monday, September 26, 2011

Dumpster Reading

At the dumpsters (aka Recycling Center) last week I was putting my mixed paper into the big bin and right there on top were some books.

I couldn't resist.

First of all was my old friend Nancy Drew who, in this incarnation has teamed up with the Hardy Boys and they, along with her ever-faithful boy friend, Ned Nickerson (those two have been dating since the 1930's and I don't think Ned has gotten to second base yet,) and her girl pals Bess and George are having a beach party on Padre Island.


I grew up on a combination of the early Nancy Drew's along with the Fifties version and I was a little surprised by the romance novels elements that have crept into the 1989 version. Nancy, that minx, has unresolved feelings toward one of the Hardy boys and is a bit of a flirt with another guy. The cover should have been a giveaway. 
Then I picked up a little clutch of Christian apocalyptic books.  W. G. Heslop was predicting doom back in 1937 (if I'm reading those Roman numerals correctly.) Ron Parsley's books are more recent --1990 and 1992.
But what I want to know is why these books were discarded rather than passed on to someone who might be receptive to their message.  Did the previous owner decide the books were useless? Or was he/she caught up in a kind of pre-Rapture Rapture and the books tossed in the recycle bin by skeptical family members who were left behind.

Inquiring minds want to know...

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