Here are some pieces of highlights from what some readers said in Amazon. You can also read some pages at a time of the books at http://books.google.com/

"Picture his ironic portrait of a populace doped into Nirvana on "soma" (read Prozac and Zoloft), isolated and diverted by petty preoccupations in mindless trivial pursuits (read video games and internet surfing to all the porno sites), oblivious to anything not directly pertaining to themselves and totally unaware of the degree to which they are being socially, economically, and politically co-opted. Beginning to sound more familiar? Remember, says Huxley, brute force is not the only method an oligarchy can use to influence, manage, and finally control our hard-won freedoms and liberties; it can be done with over-indulgence and the deliberate fertilization and promulgation of apathy through self-absorption, as well."

"Even Huxley says (circa 1960, almost 30 years after the original publication) in the preface of the revised version of the book that he is alarmed as to how quickly the sort of events he figured might take a hundred years such as the appearance of political internationalism and transnational corporate entities are already arising and beginning to control more and more of the substance of our social, economic, and political lives."

"But, hey! Don't touch that dial; Regis is on! They may retry OJ! What did Bill Clinton really do with that cigar? Have you seen the latest news about the stock market? Did you get any of that new beer they're advertising? It’s supposed to make me a real ladies man....What's the latest gadget? Can I buy one on-line? By the way, where are the kids? Hell, never mind, just turn up the volume; I think I know the answer to that question Regis just asked... Meanwhile, folks, our awareness of what is going on around us, our rights and our liberties are being power-washed away, obliterated, and we cannot even see it happening in front of us. We are diverted, distracted, content in our own little worlds. So welcome to our nightmare. Better beware; it just looks like Nirvana. It's really another "Brave New World"."

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140094385/sr=8-1/qid=1144519430/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3468083-5989528?%5Fencoding=UTF8
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"Postman goes further than other critics in demonstrating that television represents a hostile attack on literate culture." Also that the internet and other forms of entertainment has replaced TV in many ways.

"everything serious as turned into entertainment...Our ideas of what is meaningful and worthwhile have turned bland. television and other powerful electronic media are turning our minds into unconscious slaves."

"the rise of the electronic media and its manipulation of what you see in way of news and entertainment has inexorably changed the meanings, purposes and ultimate uses of politics, economics, and technology. As Huxley himself warned, totalitarian societies need not arise through violent overthrow of the democracies using brutality, cruelty and violence, but can also occur whenever the citizenry is successfully deluded into apathy by petty diversions and entertainments, as well. Postman shows how the electronic media's presentation of facts and fiction in an entertaining fashion diverts us, channeling our attention, money, and energies in ways that make us much more susceptible to social, political and economic manipulation and eventual subjugation."

"He explains that there is no need to fear George Orwell's vision of 1984, but rather to fear an older title of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. One which takes away freedom, the latter giving you all the freedom you want.
television has the power to do away with books by the sheer hypnotic power... forgetting about the world (and what the GOVT is doing) is just as fatal as the government getting involved in every aspect of our lives. "

"Postman contends that television has turned everything- from news to politics to religion- into entertainment, and that we no longer take anything seriously as a culture."

"television's conversations promote incoherence and triviality; that the phrase 'serious television' is a contradiction in terms; and that television speaks in only one persistent voice - the voice of entertainment.
It is entirely possible, of course, that in the end we shall find that delightful, and decide we like it just fine. That is exactly what Aldous Huxley (in the brave new world) feared was coming, fifty years ago."

"As Postman argues, isn't it more important what a president stands for and says than how he stands and how he says things?"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140094385/sr=8-1/qid=1144519430/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3468083-5989528?%5Fencoding=UTF8
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Regardless of its basis in scientific innovation and theory, technology "is a branch of moral philosophy, not science."

"Postman simply makes it clear that the people who are taking us where we are headed don't really know what they're doing anymore than we do in terms of the implications for our culture- or any culture's- future, and really don't care. Because they have sold their souls to the idea of progress and markets- falling in line with the dictates of the cult of technology. Many countries around the world see Globalization as little more than the Americanization of the world, like Rome around the time of Christ.

Postman's TECHNOPOLY makes it clear that that force may have malevolent implications because it could actually be built upon the transformation of American democracy and culture into that of technological fascism."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679745408/sr=8-1/qid=1144519581/ref=sr_1_1/104-3468083-5989528?%5Fencoding=UTF8

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"Matthew 7 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;... depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Orthodox Info

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Omnia Vos Estis Cordatis

Well the bible does predict that what is bad will be considered as good and what is good will be considered bad. We can find a few Christian views that are bad, the other immoral things are good in today’s society, and it is not getting better.

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"Matthew 7 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;... depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Orthodox Info

quote:

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Originally posted by warsong:
When people do not follow religion or religion well they will help and embrace the type of future from the book "Brave New World" which another book amusing ourselves to Death points out.

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We are safe. We live like kings. Whenever people start talking about how bad things are, well, let's take a ride back through history. Complaining about "too much freedom" is a real slap in the face to those Third World countries.

I agree that TV is crap.

Complaining about the heat in the dessert is a slap in the face to the people that are freezing to death.

Here is some advice.
"Everything to moderation."
"He who thinks he knows everything, knows nothing. He who knows that he knows nothing, knows alot. "
"He who stands for nothing, falls for anything. "

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"Matthew 7 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;... depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Orthodox Info

My heaping globs of freedom are such a burden.

Into of the book that explains it better. Let's not be lazy people.

"We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares.

But we had forgotten that alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another--slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among the educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their
capacities to think.

What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley re marked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions." In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us. "

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"Matthew 7 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;... depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Orthodox Info

You're right, you got me on that last post. I'm addicted to good food and video games. And when they disappear I feel like something's missing, when really it's just my greed getting hungrier.

However, the problem isn't "too much freedom" - it's how I abuse what freedom I have.

Now don't take this too literally, its just an opinion. But my example is that the gov't is basically bending over allowing some pretty shady things to start happening, gay marriges, legalization of marijuana, etc. so now the gov't is in a position where they try to please everyone, even if it is morally wrong. They're weak because they're not standing their ground.

Don't bother ripping this apart tooo far, I probably won't follow up on it, and you'll be talking to yourself.

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"The only people on Earth who do not see Christ and His teachings as nonviolent are Christians". - Mahatma Gandhi

[This message has been edited by CapnStank (edited May 14, 2006).]

It is not very fulfilling when what you do is meaningless, so do you want to be a meaningless person or meaningful person? You will turn old one day and ask yourself if playing pointless games hours on end worth it. There is a whole world and the world is not blinking lights behind a piece of glass or stimulating a few nerve endings.

You have a long road ahead of you and a lot to learn, but if you feel you know it all then I have to wish you good luck since you will need it.

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"The conversion of a savage to Christianity is the conversion of Christianity to savagery." George Bernard Shaw (Hence christian sects)
"Hell is paved with good intentions, not with bad ones"
"Matthew 7 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;... depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Orthodox Info

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"I am very good at hiding, so if you don't see me, that's where I am." Orc Outlaw, TES III Morrowind

Oooh, never talk to an atheist about meaning lol. Anyway, I do put a lot of thought into this, especially in terms of what career I get myself into. For example I'd have a lot of fun making video games for a living, but on my deathbed all I would have is pointless junk like "heh, that boss I designed back in '06, yeah, that was sweet" *dies*

So I do see myself as meaningless. The universe will grind on whether or not I experience it. But being a speck of dust doesn't mean I can't try to help other specks.

"It is only when the tadpole finds that it is meaningless that it is truly ready to become a frog.......and still remain meaningless."

No, seriously, that's a neat way of looking at life, a little depressing, but very interesting. Just a question though, doesn't some of the fulfillment in life come from doing what you love along the way? If you love something and have a passion and a gift for it wouldn't be better to go ahead and use that gift and try to help other "specks" that way than to go ahead and do something you hate or like less trying to help them?

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"I am very good at hiding, so if you don't see me, that's where I am." Orc Outlaw, TES III Morrowind

[This message has been edited by Ereon (edited May 17, 2006).]

quote:

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Using the brain scan called functional magnetic resonance imaging, the scientists pinpointed regions that were active during compassion meditation. Activity in the left prefrontal cortex (the seat of positive emotions such as happiness) swamped activity in the right prefrontal (site of negative emotions and anxiety), something never before seen from purely mental activity. A sprawling circuit that switches on at the sight of suffering also showed greater activity in the monks. So did regions responsible for planned movement, as if the monks' brains were itching to go to the aid of those in distress."

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So, the emotional part of the brain can be taught to generate its own happiness, and the planning part of the brain wants to go help.

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"I am very good at hiding, so if you don't see me, that's where I am." Orc Outlaw, TES III Morrowind

Before he become the Buddha he was a rich prince, but eventually became sick of palace life. His story must have sounded strange to poor peasants ("He has nothing to complain about!") but I think modern society can relate to that. Greed for money has this ever-changing display of internet fads, reality TV shows, fashion, music... it keeps going like a virus because it mutates. They keep us addicted to our sensory pleasures by changing the flavor slightly whenever we realize how pointless their products are.

Well, I am tired of depending on external sources of happiness, which appeal only to the senses and thus become addictions... may as well go straight to the source and learn to be happy for no reason. And since you can't eat happiness, a job is needed to put food on the table. May as well make it a useful job, is how I see it.

But to your response, what is the difference between happiness and joy?

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"I am very good at hiding, so if you don't see me, that's where I am." Orc Outlaw, TES III Morrowind

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"I am very good at hiding, so if you don't see me, that's where I am." Orc Outlaw, TES III Morrowind

When I look for enjoyment in my life I look towards self improvement. Playing games and whatnot is just an opiate to pass the time. Things such as Footbag, practicing instruments, or even MSN are more fun than anything a game or TV can provide. Improving my mental, social, physical health is something that I see as a long term benefit rather than a short term fix to a long term problem.

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"The only people on Earth who do not see Christ and His teachings as nonviolent are Christians". - Mahatma Gandhi

To CheeseStorm: I like to meditate, and I find it very relaxing, but I think our defintions and methods probably vary quite a bit.

Funny story, I was on this message board and this guy posted this quiz thing you were supposed to take that would tell you what kind of religion "suited" you best. So I took it and I came across as a Buddhist. I looked at the charts/algorthim that was used and the only reason I didn't get Christian returned was because apparently Christians aren't suppose to think for themselves very much......at least according to the dudes who made the quiz

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"I am very good at hiding, so if you don't see me, that's where I am." Orc Outlaw, TES III Morrowind

[This message has been edited by Ereon (edited May 18, 2006).]

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"The only people on Earth who do not see Christ and His teachings as nonviolent are Christians". - Mahatma Gandhi

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"I am very good at hiding, so if you don't see me, that's where I am." Orc Outlaw, TES III Morrowind

There is a saying “Happiness is of the mind” I heard that from the movie “Never on Sunday”, you don’t want to know whats never on Sunday lol. There are cheep thrills and real thrills, kind of like real food or junk food. Both satisfying but only one can give you what you truly need to benefit you in many ways and others. Kind of like heavy people how they are happy eating junk but in the end they will be sad of the many bad consequences which they do not see when they eat the junk.

Cheese/capstank
Obviously the saying is common sense but most don’t have common sense, and even atheism is not common sense. Reminds me of former atheist that died and cam back to life and because a Christian after seeing hell. Obviously he believes since he didn’t think about common sense but because he was shown the reality of it. You say about to find meaning in video games but many video games are meaningless and waste peoples time which hurts them. It makes people addicted to them to the point they don’t grow as people to learn more. Games now are not common sense. If it is just for happiness then maybe you should not complain to a person that stairs at paint dry for hours and has fun just staring at the wall. You name will be forgotten in time even if you make the best pointless game, but will your action be truly admired by many people that use common sense or kids and people that like to watch paint dry?

As for Buddha being rich and not being satisfied it is called having a conscious, and that money doesn’t buy happiness, it only helps you buy things to distract the person from what they truly need. Also Buddhism is nihilistic which is not in moderation which contradicts itself. There was this political chart/test which shows how extreme/moderate famous leaders are and you can test yourself where you stand.

On your other points about marketing read the other post about marketing I posted which can give you more information. Everything distracts us form what we do in today’s society and if you see for example the US how more people are distracted now the less religious and not truly happy they are. Cheese and capn need more guidance but modern society took its told on the both of you, the same modern society that wants a more secular view, says one sided liberal views, had more overweight people, more people getting divorced, more depressed people, more people with lack knowledge and history, etc. A Christian like Ereon gets affected and someone that lost hope has been affected more. Something as mowing the lawn is more meaningful than playing a pointless game, but there are other things more meaningful than cutting the lawn.

For capnstank shows that he doesn’t understand religion which he rejects it, and his comment about agreeing with some of the 10 commandments and Buddhist teaching which both Christianity states it kind of odd since he is looking all over for information when the answer is in front of him which he doesn’t care to look at. His point about self improvement is admirable and everyone should do that, but his lack of information is what keeps him understating what is right. Atheists always fall short and think they know enough, which even Christians don’t know enough. An atheist gathers up enough information they can in their life time, but a Christian gathers up the information over the entire span of Christianity. Only someone that thinks they know but doesn’t would do it all.

There was another post about Christ being a realist which explains it in the religious forum if you care to look.

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"The conversion of a savage to Christianity is the conversion of Christianity to savagery." George Bernard Shaw (Hence christian sects)
"Hell is paved with good intentions, not with bad ones"
"Matthew 7 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;... depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Orthodox Info

So an atheist died and came back to life and became a Christian after seeing hell? And if he said he saw leprechauns, you wouldn't believe him because it wouldn't agree with your argument. Great use of "common sense".

It's like a sealed box. Atheists say it's empty; spiritual people say there's stuff in it. No amount of common sense or reasoning can prove anything until we figure out how to open it and look inside.

quote:

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Warsong:
you should not complain to a person that stairs at paint dry for hours and has fun just staring at the wall

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Yes, I think Buddha's story of giving up palace life would have sounded more remarkable to medieval age peasants than to spoiled societies like ours. I think his teachings are more important, but the history is interesting too I guess.

A Zen koan about two Buddhists discussing nihilism:

quote:

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Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku.

Desiring to show his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no relaization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received."

Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth quite angry.

"If nothing exists," inquired Dokuon, "where did this anger come from?"

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