From: tim@kudzu.viewlogic.com (Tim Foster)
Subject: Re: Selfish
Originator: tim@kudzu
Organization: Viewlogic Systems, Inc.
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 12:09:49 GMT


In article <1992Oct07.171528.21678@brtph560.bnr.ca>, markham@brtph600.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205) writes:
|> In article <1992Oct7.153646.4753@viewlogic.com> tim@kudzu.viewlogic.com (Tim Foster) writes:
|> >
|> >In article <1992Oct7.014555.20744@cs.ucla.edu>, lange@lanai.cs.ucla.edu (Trent Lange) writes:
|> >|> In article <1992Oct6.183156.27896@viewlogic.com> tim@kudzu.viewlogic.com (Tim Foster) writes:
|> >|> >
|> >|> >[...]  However, my comments were solely on Magic's selfishness to
|> >|> >continue to play the game, even though he is endangering his peers.
|> >|> >If others know they have the virus and continue to play the game
|> >|> >and endanger their peers, I feel the same way about them.
|> >|> >
|> >|> >Tim Foster 
|> >|> 
|> >|> "However, my comments were solely on my own selfishness to
|> >|> continue to drive my car, even though I am endangering my peers.
|> >|> If others know they might cause accidents and continue to drive
|> >|> and endanger their peers, I feel the same way about them."
|> >|> 
|> >|> "This is especially true since I'm not a complete ignoramus like other
|> >|> people, and think that HIV is easier to transmit in a basketball game
|> >|> than a car accident is to happen while driving."
|> >|> 
|> >|> - Trent Lange
|> 
|> Very well said, Trent.  I thought this was a classic.
|> 
|> >Clever, very clever.  I guess this falls under the argument of
|> >what is a necessity and what is a desire or want.  In my opinion,
|> >Magic playing basketball is not a need, it is a desire.  If it
|> >was necessary for him to continue to play basketball to live a 
|> >normal life, then the story would be different.  However, there
|> >are many former basketball players who lead very normal lives 
|> >after they retire.  Why would Magic be any different?
|> >
|> >As far as driving a car, it is a "necessary evil".  If Magic or 
|> >anyone else would have to stop riding in a car, or any other 
|> >form of equally dangerous transportation, their ability to 
|> >live a normal life would be severely hampered.
|> 
|> Granted your life would become slightly more inconvenienced, but to say
|> it would severely hamper living a normal life is going a bit far.
|> I would guess you know very few people that don't own a car, but a
|> LOT of people in the lower class don't have their own car and STILL live
|> normal lives (can you IMAGINE that).  They simply take a bus, call a cab,
|> catch a ride, etc.. when it is necessary for them to go somewhere.  

Did you read my entire response?  It doesn't look like it, because
you obviously didn't get the part about "other form of equally 
dangerous transportation", which all the other options you gave 
fall under.  Accidents happen, whether you're driving in a car, etc.
or riding in one.  People who have no form of transportation other
than walking are severely hampered in their opportunities for a 
normal life.  The only place you can get away without the need of any 
additional mode of transportation than walking is if you live in a city.  
But, in this case it would be safer to drive a car.  

|> When I was with Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Atlanta, my 'little brother'
|> lived in a housing project that was home to some roughly 300 plus people
|> and there couldn't have been more than 15 cars parked around it on an
|> average day/weekend.  Surprisingly enough, they seemed to have normal
|> lives.

Not quite as normal a life as Magic would have, even if he retired 
from basketball.

|> The difference between Magic and 'many former basketball players' is that 
|> Magic neither wants, nor needs to retire.  His game has not lost a step 
|> and it is what he loves to do.  Sure Magic could stop playing and live a 
|> normal life, but by the same token you could sell your car and start riding 
|> your bike/taking the bus/calling cabs and live a normal life.  Do you plan 
|> on doing so?  I doubt it.  If not then it is likely because you are selfish.

If you believe that transportation is not a necessity, then you
win the argument (in your own mind of course).  However, I will 
go out on a limb and say that most people in this world believe
that transportation other than walking is a necessity, not just
a want.  You're reaching on this one.

|> How does it feel hypocrite.

You tell me how you feel about the guy who contracted AIDs from a 
head butt in a soccer game.  That's just too bad for him, huh?

|> -- 
|> Andrew W. Markham (markham@bnr.ca)
|> Bell Northern Research, Inc.
-- 

Tim Foster 
E-mail: tfoster@viewlogic.com