a1974h Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 You kind of contradict yourself here a bit mate. I agree there is a strong element of human nature that is self-serving and greedy - and will do whatever it takes to keep whatever particular gravy train it relies on in power. But as you admit there are millions of people who aspire to something better. Humanity for me is about helping those less fortunate, and working together to improve things for everyone. Folk on the 'left' (in this context, a very general term) have achieved an awful lot in the face of basic survival of the fittest. Its one of the key things that separates us from the animals. Because you don't get hospitals in the animal kingdom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throbber Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 He's got 99 problems with society yet not one solution. He's like a wee kid that's just discovered what "why" means and he won't stop asking. The problem with Brand and other hippies/lefties/yessers is that they don't seem to realise our lives right now are a product of society and natural human instinct. You take away all the baddies/tax payers/dictators/fox news readers, wipe the slate clean and we'd end up right back with the system we have now which we created. Humans as a race are naturally self serving, power hungry and manipulative. What is Russell Brands alternative? Revolution and elect new leaders, the leaders being only those who Russell and co deem acceptable? Any utopian society would be doomed by our natural greed. There would be power vacuums filled by the "good guys". ^^^ Katy Perry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a1974h Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Also humans have evolved with altruism. Mostly because women pick altrusitc men because they think they would make good family members rather than someone who is totally selfish and greedy. Altruism is a human trait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paranoid android Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 He's got 99 problems with society yet not one solution. He stated, when asked (by Paxman, I think) that he favours some form of socialism. Not much wrong with that, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throbber Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 He does still raise a lot more problems than he gives solutions to though, its always entertaining to listen to and he isn't stupid but he is again another millionaire who will obviously gain a lot from doing these videos even if its what he strongly believes in or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paranoid android Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 He does still raise a lot more problems than he gives solutions to though There are plenty of problems to take issue with, to be fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandarilla Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 He does still raise a lot more problems than he gives solutions to though, its always entertaining to listen to and he isn't stupid but he is again another millionaire who will obviously gain a lot from doing these videos even if its what he strongly believes in or not. I think that's his job now though is it not? Its an entertaining satire - and his job is to entertain. To suggest he shouldn't be paid for this makes no sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throbber Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I think that's his job now though is it not? Its an entertaining satire - and his job is to entertain. To suggest he shouldn't be paid for this makes no sense. Quite a lot of people do blogs just for the hell of it and to get a point across Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throbber Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 There are plenty of problems to take issue with, to be fair. Yeah - a 90 year old American being jailed for giving food to the homeless being the latest one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SANTAN Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 It sounds fun. Well they do say ignorance is bliss! Maybe I am missing out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SANTAN Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 He stated, when asked (by Paxman, I think) that he favours some form of socialism. Not much wrong with that, imo. Some form of socialism isn't really an adequate answer for the many, many problems Sir Russell queries in my opinion. I have nothing against Russell Brand I just feel sad that people take the smack riddled comedians opinions as anything other than idealistic leftie claptrap. It's fairly obvious from this thread alone that those that take his word as gospel are all a wee bit lacking in a dose of reality so to speak. After a few shandies and joints he may seem like a messiah but after the haze wears off he's just an oppurtunist. Funnily enough If we lived in a similar system to the one Brand advocates then nobody would know his name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SANTAN Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 You kind of contradict yourself here a bit mate. I agree there is a strong element of human nature that is self-serving and greedy - and will do whatever it takes to keep whatever particular gravy train it relies on in power. But as you admit there are millions of people who aspire to something better. Humanity for me is about helping those less fortunate, and working together to improve things for everyone. Folk on the 'left' (in this context, a very general term) have achieved an awful lot in the face of basic survival of the fittest. Its one of the key things that separates us from the animals. I've taken everything you've said on board. Thanks for the reply! Slap me down if I'm being ignorant (had a few) but I would/will argue that the millions of people aspiring for "something better" (according to?) are clearly naturally less dominant. As in, if there really was such an abundance of good guys then surely things would be swell? I may just be cynical but I believe the self serving dim witted outnumber the "good guys" as proven by the world in which we live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paranoid android Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Some form of socialism isn't really an adequate answer for the many, many problems Sir Russell queries in my opinion. I have nothing against Russell Brand I just feel sad that people take the smack riddled comedians opinions as anything other than idealistic leftie claptrap. It's fairly obvious from this thread alone that those that take his word as gospel are all a wee bit lacking in a dose of reality so to speak. After a few shandies and joints he may seem like a messiah but after the haze wears off he's just an oppurtunist. Funnily enough If we lived in a similar system to the one Brand advocates then nobody would know his name. I don't think anyone is saying that Brand is a messiah, to be fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I don't think anyone is saying that Brand is a messiah, to be fair. He's just a very naughty boy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SANTAN Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I don't think anyone is saying that Brand is a messiah, to be fair. Well you're right if we're being literal. If you read back through the thread however then i'd suggest a lot of people are using his opinions as a representitive of their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paranoid android Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Well you're right if we're being literal. If you read back through the thread however then i'd suggest a lot of people are using his opinions as a representitive of their own. I would agree that a lot of his views tally with a lot of people's, but I wouldn't say that he represents anybody, particularly - I just happen to agree with a lot of the things he says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetterlund Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 He's got 99 problems with society yet not one solution. He's like a wee kid that's just discovered what "why" means and he won't stop asking. The problem with Brand and other hippies/lefties/yessers is that they don't seem to realise our lives right now are a product of society and natural human instinct. You take away all the baddies/tax payers/dictators/fox news readers, wipe the slate clean and we'd end up right back with the system we have now which we created. Humans as a race are naturally self serving, power hungry and manipulative. What is Russell Brands alternative? Revolution and elect new leaders, the leaders being only those who Russell and co deem acceptable? Any utopian society would be doomed by our natural greed. There would be power vacuums filled by the "good guys". Historically there has always been a ruling class then everyone else, of course, but it's only in relatively recent times that the common people have become broadly literate and educated. With these developments it's not surprising that more and more people are questioning whether there could be a fairer system, as I believe the majority of humans have higher moral standards than you give us credit for. Although I've never been a fan of his I agree with much of what Russell Brand says, but I don't claim to have all the solutions either. I don't think that's a prerequisite for merely being aware that things can be better than they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SANTAN Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I would agree that a lot of his views tally with a lot of people's, but I wouldn't say that he represents anybody, particularly - I just happen to agree with a lot of the things he says. He has little substance though, specifically what do you agree with? It's akin to me saying 'Christmas is decent" of course people agree. Hardly interesting or debateable though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandarilla Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I've taken everything you've said on board. Thanks for the reply! Slap me down if I'm being ignorant (had a few) but I would/will argue that the millions of people aspiring for "something better" (according to?) are clearly naturally less dominant. As in, if there really was such an abundance of good guys then surely things would be swell? I may just be cynical but I believe the self serving dim witted outnumber the "good guys" as proven by the world in which we live. Historically there has always been a ruling class then everyone else, of course, but it's only in relatively recent times that the common people have become broadly literate and educated. With these developments it's not surprising that more and more people are questioning whether there could be a fairer system, as I believe the majority of humans have higher moral standards than you give us credit for. Although I've never been a fan of his I agree with much of what Russell Brand says, but I don't claim to have all the solutions either. I don't think that's a prerequisite for merely being aware that things can be better than they are. What he said... From a historical perspective ordinary people on this planet are far better off than they were 100 years ago. And 100 years ago they were better off than 100 years before that. I'm an optimist. There are plenty of steps back, but I think we're making progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SANTAN Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Historically there has always been a ruling class then everyone else, of course, but it's only in relatively recent times that the common people have become broadly literate and educated. With these developments it's not surprising that more and more people are questioning whether there could be a fairer system, as I believe the majority of humans have higher moral standards than you give us credit for. Although I've never been a fan of his I agree with much of what Russell Brand says, but I don't claim to have all the solutions either. I don't think that's a prerequisite for merely being aware that things can be better than they are. Have you any inclination what this fairer system might entail or is it just the typical "there must be more" argument? What moral standards have I attributed? Must have missed that! Things can be better than they are is as applicable as saying I want to shit slush puppies but unfortunately reality and actuality is pretty similar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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