In a internet forum someone is asking about a train and five men who are about to be run over. Do you pull a switch and kill two men standing on another line, or let the five men die? It goes on. Do you push a bystander onto the tracks to stop the train and save the five men? This is to generate thought. The Philosophy instructor wants to see situational ethics. He could read the minutes of Congress for that. The whole thing reminded me of why the world has largely turned its back on philosophy majors, and really doesn't care what Kant figured out. But it does have practical application; we're letting 20 million illegal aliens stay because we don't wish to offend anyone. Kant never saw that coming. Be nice, you might be on TV some day. Forget about Being and Nothingness; are you nice? Are you so non prejudiced you'd allow the death of your nation rather than say a bad word about people who don't own as many big screen tv's as you do?
Last night my kids were in the basement on mattresses on a 'sleep over'. It's really just an excuse to joke around till 12 midnight and wake up cranky the next day, but they love it. Sort of their version of camping out. They've a new game they play; Evil Dad. I started this concept some months ago, and it's really taken hold.
"What would happen," the littlest one says, "if Evil Dad came and put....GRAPES in your sleeping bag? You'd roll over...and squish them."
OHHHHHHHH. There's a collective groan from the audience. That's bad.
"Or, Evil Dad put potato chips in your bag?" OOHHHH.
"Or, what would happen, if Evil Dad went into your room when you were asleep Carter, and ate all your candy, but put the wrappers on Trav's bed?" I asked. "And then said, 'why did you steal all Carter's candy, Trav??!'"
OOOHHH NOO: That's Evil, Evil Dad.
"That's nothing," I say, "what would happen if Evil Dad peed into a bottle, and then when you were all asleep, poured it in your sleeping bags, and when you woke the next morning, yelled: HOW COME ALL OF YOU PEED YOUR BAGS??!!"
OHHH NOOOOO. They all burst out laughing. That's the worse alright. Evil Dad.
"But what would happen," the youngest continued, "if Evil Dad put grapes, and leafs, and GRASS into your bags?" He just couldn't give up on a good theme once he had one. Typical 4 year old. He'd continue on this for awhile.
"...and what would happen, if Evil Dad put....Worms into your bag, and grapes, and grass, and leafs?"
It was cool in the basement, and I really didn't want to leave, but at 10:00 it's more than past time for sleep and lights out. I left them down there giggling, and only heard a few more bumps and brief fights. They'll fight, those three. And it's always someonelse's fault too. Maybe I am wrong about philosophy majors.
But they sure love Evil Dad. The idea that their father, this man who loves them and gives, could at heart be secretly plotting their demise, their worst interests, their DOOM. A cartoon character hasn't gotten this much play since I invented the Atomic Tick, or Pipperpopper the Black Crow. They're ready for advanced concepts. The oldest just tested out for college freshman in reading ability, and he's ten. Maybe he'll take on Kant soon and those railroad trains.
The real Evil Dad stayed up to Midnight watching old black and white movies. When I went to bed all was quiet, and a cool breeze finally coming in the open windows, dispelling the heat of summer in our small Montana town. Our town doesn't have any railroad tracks, so we're all safe until they go to college, anyway.
OH, and they woke up this morning plenty dry, if you were wondering.
munk
Last night my kids were in the basement on mattresses on a 'sleep over'. It's really just an excuse to joke around till 12 midnight and wake up cranky the next day, but they love it. Sort of their version of camping out. They've a new game they play; Evil Dad. I started this concept some months ago, and it's really taken hold.
"What would happen," the littlest one says, "if Evil Dad came and put....GRAPES in your sleeping bag? You'd roll over...and squish them."
OHHHHHHHH. There's a collective groan from the audience. That's bad.
"Or, Evil Dad put potato chips in your bag?" OOHHHH.
"Or, what would happen, if Evil Dad went into your room when you were asleep Carter, and ate all your candy, but put the wrappers on Trav's bed?" I asked. "And then said, 'why did you steal all Carter's candy, Trav??!'"
OOOHHH NOO: That's Evil, Evil Dad.
"That's nothing," I say, "what would happen if Evil Dad peed into a bottle, and then when you were all asleep, poured it in your sleeping bags, and when you woke the next morning, yelled: HOW COME ALL OF YOU PEED YOUR BAGS??!!"
OHHH NOOOOO. They all burst out laughing. That's the worse alright. Evil Dad.
"But what would happen," the youngest continued, "if Evil Dad put grapes, and leafs, and GRASS into your bags?" He just couldn't give up on a good theme once he had one. Typical 4 year old. He'd continue on this for awhile.
"...and what would happen, if Evil Dad put....Worms into your bag, and grapes, and grass, and leafs?"
It was cool in the basement, and I really didn't want to leave, but at 10:00 it's more than past time for sleep and lights out. I left them down there giggling, and only heard a few more bumps and brief fights. They'll fight, those three. And it's always someonelse's fault too. Maybe I am wrong about philosophy majors.
But they sure love Evil Dad. The idea that their father, this man who loves them and gives, could at heart be secretly plotting their demise, their worst interests, their DOOM. A cartoon character hasn't gotten this much play since I invented the Atomic Tick, or Pipperpopper the Black Crow. They're ready for advanced concepts. The oldest just tested out for college freshman in reading ability, and he's ten. Maybe he'll take on Kant soon and those railroad trains.
The real Evil Dad stayed up to Midnight watching old black and white movies. When I went to bed all was quiet, and a cool breeze finally coming in the open windows, dispelling the heat of summer in our small Montana town. Our town doesn't have any railroad tracks, so we're all safe until they go to college, anyway.
OH, and they woke up this morning plenty dry, if you were wondering.
munk
