I don’t know Wenrem outside of what he said on this thread and I have yet to care enough to scroll through his back posts. For all I know he’s one I’d find agreeable. Honestly, I don’t even know where he stands on this threads issues, he’s been purely obfuscational, which is fine I guess. Normally I’d ignore him being he hasn’t even really been that clever, but let’s veteran members show some unity ([size=85]just a little[/size]).
You are right on about ultra pc groups.
Just as fanatics in religion or politics raise people into frenzy and destruction, these groups also have that manipulative ability. I watched a news story about a man that won a bid to hunt an old male black rhino that cannot breed anymore and has become violent and dangerous to other animals. The millions he paid is going to the animal preserve. People are threatening his family and him. To me this behavior reeks of ignorance born of misplaced passions.
How to calm fanatic behavior and increase knowledge or at least rational thinking or hearing? Preferably without escalating to violence.
Multiple stories there any one in particular?
Whichever. Maybe this one?..
facebook.com/media/set/?set … eb415bf768
I think it makes sense to see the destruction of ivory as just one aspect of a broader campaign to address this problem.
You are right it does make sense.
It does though still require the question: Is the campaign being performed effectively or correctly? Take the rhino horns, most are for used for remedies. Would it not make sense to flood the market with a real substitute that is less expensive? And punishment rarely is effective in addictions. Desiring possessions of a type is an addiction. Rather than destroying the horns, tusks etc. Would it not be better to make them icons of a sort or memorial? Museums,quality artists and quality educators could be more effective with the right direction. Passion blurs thought and common sense.
Hmm. I think that works of art can be made from bad sources, and that these sculptures are things of some value- and I don’t mean just monetarily. They are cultural objects, not merely ‘evil pieces of crap’ that we are obligated to destroy without further justification.
So the question would be, will this actually do anything to reduce the poaching of elephants? If so, then it’s probably worth it. If it’s just a symbolic act of “Look at how great China is for expressing it’s disapproval”, then it’s a waste and a shame like Kriswest says.
And how do we answer that question?
I don’t know the answer to that question, and I don’t think anyone can really answer that question. But I suspect there are many people out there who are more involved in the whole thing than I am, and whether they have better information than me or they’re just trying something new and hoping for the best, I can’t think of anything better to do than to just sit back and hope it’s a good thing to do.
China tends toward saving face attitude or what is best for them, not philanthropy or helping because it is right.
I see.
That’s basically where I’m at. But we can still evaluate the intentions- we can say that if the INTENTION of this act is to stop/slow the killing of elephants, then they are good intentions, and if they intentions are to make a political statement, then they are bad intentions. Leaving open the possibility that the good intentions could be a result of bad information.
Or bad intentions could lead to positive results.
Accidental results pervade life. Would it be better to be sure? Passion has it’s place but, to use it for real and positive change is like Russian Roulette.