OT: And you thought the world was sane...

[Jack Simth]

Originally posted by dogscoff:
Seriously, a random encounter with a frenzied knife-wielding killer is so unlikely as to be virtually negligible. I'd call it paranoid scaremongering.

The specifics are somewhat contrived, about on par with being killed in a car accident as a pedestrian, but it strikes me as more of a joke and a comment on stereotypes of people's thoughts on the matter rather than an actual argument. Such contrived situations simply make it mostly morally unambiguous, so that it is easier to make fun of the target(s).

If you want something slightly more realistic, and hence closer to an argument, try a different situation.
Suppose for a moment that you are a drug addict turned thief to get money for your next fix. There are several houses on the street, all with silent alarms (but you know how to stop those; just cut the phone line - easy). However, you happen to have some intel about these houses (now it starts to get slightly contrived); you checked the local gun registries under the freedom of information act, and so you know which houses have firearms (it's also a very law-abiding place; anyone with firearms will have them registered - more contrived now, I know). It's a fairly ritzy neigborhood; most will have dvd players, jewelry, or other rather valuable, readily hawkable items. You'd wait till everyone was away at work, but you need your fix now; everyone's at home, probably asleep. You don't have a gun (if you did, you'd hawk it for fix money), but do have a kitchen knife. Which houses are you more likely to burgle: the ones you know have guns or the ones you know don't?

While individually the circumstances for such scenarios are usually a bit contrived, it is a fairly simple matter to come up with many such scenerios, and the collective probability (the chance of at least one of them) becomes reasonable.

[DavidG]

Jack: just a bit contrived???

[ August 29, 2003, 21:49: Message edited by: DavidG ]

[Gozra]

Mr. Smith
I have noted that your replies are thoughful and thought provoking. But this Forum is Serious about Space Empires the Game from Malfador. And I have noticed that on just about every other topic except serious OT's about news events and real world topics most of it is Humor. I have been following this thread for a few days and have enjoyed the humor posted by the other folks on this thread. Your post on the other hand takes an almost compleatly serious tone to the joking tone of this thread is this your intent?

Oh and having been a drug crazed addict at one time I would choose the nearest most darkened house with out regard to any information I have and hope to brazen my way through any adverse situation I may find myself. After all getting a fix is of paramount importance irregardless of any danger.

[Jack Simth]

Originally posted by DavidG:
Jack: just a bit contrived???

Contrived isn't a concrete term; there is no defining probability line where you can say "this is not contrived, this is slightly contrived, this is contrived, this is very contrived, this is totally contrived, I didn't think it was possible to get a situation this contrived," lines between those are essentially matters of opinion. You have a different opinion on where such lines ought to be drawn. I have a slight tendancy for understatement. No matter.

[Loser]

A nice quote from a friend of mine who, after reading this, has decided that he might be a Liberal.

Shoot out the kneecaps.
I'm an expert shot after all.

It looks like I'm a liberal. Oh well.

(The whole, "I guess I'm a Liberal" thing has more to do with how this question relates to a real world situation, and my actions in it, that we have discussed at length.)

[ August 29, 2003, 12:34: Message edited by: Loser ]

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Jack Simth:

quote:

---

Originally posted by DavidG:
Jack: just a bit contrived???

Contrived isn't a concrete term; there is no defining probability line where you can say "this is not contrived, this is slightly contrived, this is contrived, this is very contrived, this is totally contrived, I didn't think it was possible to get a situation this contrived," lines between those are essentially matters of opinion. You have a different opinion on where such lines ought to be drawn. I have a slight tendancy for understatement. No matter.

---

Yea OK. Read Gozra's reply.

[Jack Simth]

Originally posted by Gozra:
Mr. Smith
I have noted that your replies are thoughful and thought provoking. But this Forum is Serious about Space Empires the Game from Malfador. And I have noticed that on just about every other topic except serious OT's about news events and real world topics most of it is Humor. I have been following this thread for a few days and have enjoyed the humor posted by the other folks on this thread. Your post on the other hand takes an almost compleatly serious tone to the joking tone of this thread is this your intent?

Sorry - I was just responding to Dogscoff's apparent criticism of the scenerio; I didn't intend to change the tone of the thread, but I'm not the best at humor, and I suppose I did accidentally do so.

Originally posted by Gozra:
Oh and having been a drug crazed addict at one time I would choose the nearest most darkened house with out regard to any information I have and hope to brazen my way through any adverse situation I may find myself. After all getting a fix is of paramount importance irregardless of any danger.

So the flaw in my scenerio was assuming that an addict would take the time to think about it and cross the street? Good to know.

Congratulations on getting out from under that addiction.

... and I'm coming up empty on how to make this even slightly humorous. Ahh well, there's always next time.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

if i was going to rob somebody, i'd use a rag and some chloroform. does that make me a liberal?

[Raging Deadstar]

No sorry narf, it makes you spin doctor who works for a politician, we all know politics is cloack and dagger and subtle methods. Anyway we know for a fact spin doctors drink chloroform as a beverage

Now, if anyone knows what i'd be if i caused somebody death by laxative? apart from a murderer with a bad sense of humour?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

spin doctor in what way? because i'm robbing them nicely? i am nice. unless provoked.