Virgil Showlion
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[b]leones potest resistere[/b]
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jul 17, 2016 19:21:25 GMT -5
I think it's tragic, and cynical. I hate the idea that men ought to withdraw from the world as we enter the twilight of our lives. Indeed there are realities we have to face about our diminishing capacity to do the things we used to do, but old age--even extreme old age--is no excuse to let one's spirit atrophy. As for his assessment of the "greatest generation" and the boomers, perhaps there's some truth to it, but I'm surprised at you, DJ. You've never been much given to such sweeping, cynical generalizations. you are not in a good position to criticize, my friend. your cynicism is without parallel on this board. but for the record- when i said i could relate to it, what i meant is that i think that life should be lived without fear, not that one should withdraw from the world. You never fail to point out when you think I'm being cynical or pessimistic, hence I'm returning the favour. I am, however, glad to see you only relate to a small part of Mr. Shaw's assessment.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jul 17, 2016 20:12:31 GMT -5
are you familiar with Heartbreak House? it is a play written by Shaw. it includes this passage: A man’s interest in the world is only the overflow from his interest in himself. When you are a child your vessel is not yet full; so you care for nothing but your own affairs. When you grow up, your vessel overflows; and you are a politician, a philosopher, or an explorer and adventurer. In old age the vessel dries up: there is no overflow: you are a child again. I can give you the memories of my ancient wisdom: mere scraps and leavings; but I no longer really care for anything but my own little wants and hobbies. I sit here working out my old ideas as a means of destroying my fellow-creatures. I see my daughters and their men living foolish lives of romance and sentiment and snobbery. I see you, the younger generation, turning from their romance and sentiment and snobbery to money and comfort and hard common sense. I was ten times happier on the bridge in the typhoon, or frozen into Arctic ice for months in darkness, than you or they have ever been. You are looking for a rich husband. At your age I looked for hardship, danger, horror, and death, that I might feel the life in me more intensely. I did not let the fear of death govern my life; and my reward was, I had my life. You are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life; and your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live. i always related to this passage. but now, more than ever. I think it's tragic, and cynical. I hate the idea that men ought to withdraw from the world as we enter the twilight of our lives. Indeed there are realities we have to face about our diminishing capacity to do the things we used to do, but old age--even extreme old age--is no excuse to let one's spirit atrophy. As for his assessment of the "greatest generation" and the boomers, perhaps there's some truth to it, but I'm surprised at you, DJ. You've never been much given to such sweeping, cynical generalizations. Virgil, this play was written before Boomers existed. Its a play about the moneyed class and views at the time. The play was written to poke fun of these views. I don't feel like googling again, but I think this was written around 1918 or so. Shaw's last play was written around 1950.
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Jul 17, 2016 20:14:25 GMT -5
I think it's tragic, and cynical. I hate the idea that men ought to withdraw from the world as we enter the twilight of our lives. Indeed there are realities we have to face about our diminishing capacity to do the things we used to do, but old age--even extreme old age--is no excuse to let one's spirit atrophy. As for his assessment of the "greatest generation" and the boomers, perhaps there's some truth to it, but I'm surprised at you, DJ. You've never been much given to such sweeping, cynical generalizations. Virgil, this play was written before Boomers existed. Its a play about the moneyed class and views at the time. The play was written to poke fun of these views. I don't feel like googling again, but I think this was written around 1918 or so. Shaw's last play was written around 1950. it might even be a few years older than that. but yes, Shaw was a great critic of "materialism". that sort of critique is almost absent in modern times. edit: actually, i should say it is almost absent in the more liberal, less doctrinal parts of the world. in conservative doctrinal circles, it is still quite common.
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tallguy
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Post by tallguy on Jul 17, 2016 20:43:21 GMT -5
Yeah, yeah, yeah.... You guys have your discussion. But in the meantime, and I know it's been eight pages, but can somebody PLEASE fix the damn title? It's really annoying. I remember back in high school working on the yearbook. I had the entire staff lined up against me in an argument over the spelling of this particular phrase. A few people actually thought they were right, and the rest blindly fell in behind the majority. They were saying, "Come on, just admit you're wrong." I said, "No, I'm not wrong, and I don't care how many of you think so." They finally asked one teacher, who didn't know, and then asked another (Language Arts, Journalism, school paper) who confirmed I was right. My friend who had led the argument against me said, "I hate you right now!" "I know," I laughed. All that is to say two things. First, always stand up for what is right, no matter how many are lined up against you. And second, fix the title!
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Virgil Showlion
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[b]leones potest resistere[/b]
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jul 17, 2016 21:10:51 GMT -5
I think it's tragic, and cynical. I hate the idea that men ought to withdraw from the world as we enter the twilight of our lives. Indeed there are realities we have to face about our diminishing capacity to do the things we used to do, but old age--even extreme old age--is no excuse to let one's spirit atrophy. As for his assessment of the "greatest generation" and the boomers, perhaps there's some truth to it, but I'm surprised at you, DJ. You've never been much given to such sweeping, cynical generalizations. Virgil, this play was written before Boomers existed. Its a play about the moneyed class and views at the time. The play was written to poke fun of these views. I don't feel like googling again, but I think this was written around 1918 or so. Shaw's last play was written around 1950. Hm. Thought Shaw was more recent than that.
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tallguy
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Post by tallguy on Jul 18, 2016 1:12:17 GMT -5
Yeah, yeah, yeah.... You guys have your discussion. But in the meantime, and I know it's been eight pages, but can somebody PLEASE fix the damn title? It's really annoying. I remember back in high school working on the yearbook. I had the entire staff lined up against me in an argument over the spelling of this particular phrase. A few people actually thought they were right, and the rest blindly fell in behind the majority. They were saying, "Come on, just admit you're wrong." I said, "No, I'm not wrong, and I don't care how many of you think so." They finally asked one teacher, who didn't know, and then asked another (Language Arts, Journalism, school paper) who confirmed I was right. My friend who had led the argument against me said, "I hate you right now!" "I know," I laughed. All that is to say two things. First, always stand up for what is right, no matter how many are lined up against you. And second, fix the title! The phrasing of the title was deliberately chosen in reaction to the phrasing of another "police" thread that was up at the time. Okay, do I need to SPELL it out for you...?
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