Official State Church

[emperor_bob]

I've been plotting to take over the world. I've put a great deal of thought into this whole separation of church and state thing, and had decided that as Emperor of the world I would just ban all religion. As a benevolent dictator, I thought it would be in the best interest of all citizens to put aside their superstitions and fairy tales. While that may be true ultimately, the fact is that without religion, there would be a great many people who would be wandering around without direction or meaning to their lives. Unfortunately, those people are the ones most in need of direction and meaning in their lives, because they basically are incapable of thinking for themselves. Something would be needed to fill that void. Weak people need something to believe in, outside of themselves. That's why there is religion in the first place. I see now that Googlism is the answer.

Googlism is the answer to every question; seek and ye shall find.

Googlism is the path; the destination is yours to choose.

Googlism is perfect in its simplicity; yet all encompassing.

Yes, this will work very well for rallying support behind my taking over the world. We'll need some rituals and symbols of course. Perhaps a secret handshake. And, of course some paid holidays. (what kind of religion doesn't provide at least a half dozen paid days off a year). At least two of those holidays should include gift giving so as to give a biannual boost to the economy. Tithe has a much better sound to it than tax, and no deductions either.

With Google For Educators (http://www.google.com/educators/index.html) we can start our indocrination young before their minds are corrupted.

Yes. This is good.

[Fallen Hero]

I've been plotting to take over the world. I've put a great deal of thought into this whole separation of church and state thing, and had decided that as Emperor of the world I would just ban all religion. As a benevolent dictator, I thought it would be in the best interest of all citizens to put aside their superstitions and fairy tales. While that may be true ultimately, the fact is that without religion, there would be a great many people who would be wandering around without direction or meaning to their lives. Unfortunately, those people are the ones most in need of direction and meaning in their lives, because they basically are incapable of thinking for themselves. Something would be needed to fill that void. Weak people need something to believe in, outside of themselves. That's why there is religion in the first place. I see now that Googlism is the answer.

Googlism is the answer to every question; seek and ye shall find.

Googlism is the path; the destination is yours to choose.

Googlism is perfect in its simplicity; yet all encompassing.

Yes, this will work very well for rallying support behind my taking over the world. We'll need some rituals and symbols of course. Perhaps a secret handshake. And, of course some paid holidays. (what kind of religion doesn't provide at least a half dozen paid days off a year). At least two of those holidays should include gift giving so as to give a biannual boost to the economy. Tithe has a much better sound to it than tax, and no deductions either.

With Google For Educators (http://www.google.com/educators/index.html) we can start our indocrination young before their minds are corrupted.

Yes. This is good.

Nope, sorry, you're a little behind. I WILL take over the world. Using elections and the combined might of the Canadian and Finnish armies. *Cough*

[GeoffBoulton]

I would just ban all religion.

It's already been tried, didn't work, you can't legislate against stupidity ;)

[SirRuben]

I would just ban all religion.

It's already been tried, didn't work, you can't legislate against stupidity ;)
Haha nice quote!

[SyBerWoLff]

Can we (morally not legally) just kill off the stupid people?

[emperor_bob]

Can we (morally not legally) just kill off the stupid people?

Probably not kill them, but I think we could at least stop them from breeding.

[emperor_bob]

Nope, sorry, you're a little behind. I WILL take over the world. Using elections and the combined might of the Canadian and Finnish armies. *Cough*

At some point in the future I may allow elections. The world is too screwed up right now to risk putting the fate of the world in the hands of the masses.

One man. One rule. One religion. One God.

I won't need an army. I will use the power of the Internet to create a popular world wide uprising.

[Googler]

I won't need an army. I will use the power of the Internet to create a popular world wide uprising.

Lol thats whats used in the U.S. for anti-war demonstrations.

[emperor_bob]

I won't need an army. I will use the power of the Internet to create a popular world wide uprising.

Lol thats whats used in the U.S. for anti-war demonstrations.

Ahhh.... but the mistake they make is that they don't DO anything. They just talk about it, whine about it, but they don't put any skin into the game. They are mostly gutless worms that sit in the cheap seats commenting on life. They won't get on the field and get dirty, they don't put themselves at risk.

The power of the Internet is information and communication.

A revolution still requires people to get off their seats and get their hands dirty. It requires a charismatic and inspirational leader, perhaps with God at their side to lead a revolt.

[AaronD]

I won't need an army. I will use the power of the Internet to create a popular world wide uprising.

Lol thats whats used in the U.S. for anti-war demonstrations.

Ahhh.... but the mistake they make is that they don't DO anything. They just talk about it, whine about it, but they don't put any skin into the game. They are mostly gutless worms that sit in the cheap seats commenting on life. They won't get on the field and get dirty, they don't put themselves at risk.

The power of the Internet is information and communication.

A revolution still requires people to get off their seats and get their hands dirty. It requires a charismatic and inspirational leader, perhaps with God at their side to lead a revolt.

Didn't you just state that you don't need an army, and would rather use the internet? How does that equate to getting off your seat and getting your hands dirty? Wait, now that I think about it, cross off the latter, the internet has plenty of things that will do that. But what about getting off your seat?

[emperor_bob]

I don't need an army in the conventional sense with guns and such. However, that doesn't mean that we can over throw the status quo sitting on our collective asses. At some point we have to stand up, be counted and take power. That means putting ourselves on the line and at risk, in other words, 'getting our hands dirty'.

[Fallen Hero]

Would this uprising not count as an army with weapons and such?

[emperor_bob]

I haven't worked out all the details quite yet (give me a break, taking over the world is a huge undertaking). My idea is to recruit followers until we reach critical mass and are able to execute a peaceful coup. A populist revolution without a shot being fired.

[Alice Shade]

Oh?

Well, you`d also better think up, just how exactly are you going to explain to googlists, that there is no need to get violent, when christians get back to old practice of burning at stake at some point.

[emperor_bob]

Well, you`d also better think up, just how exactly are you going to explain to googlists, that there is no need to get violent, when christians get back to old practice of burning at stake at some point.

I would never tell Googlist that. After all, Googlism is going to be the official state church. So if anyone is going to be burnt at any stake it will be Christians and other heretical religious zealots, who don't believe in the one TRUE God. ;)

[Alice Shade]

You need to get the power of law before, to make Google official. I`m refering to the time you`ll be amassing a force of Googlists to take over.

[emperor_bob]

ok, I got it now.

Yes, there will have to be some thought put into how to protect and defend ourselves from persecution, but that is an issue for the Church members regardless.

[Fallen Hero]

Also, getting the heretic masses on your side may be a little trouble.

[acachinero]

But surely you believe in a separation of Church and State? I know I do.

[emperor_bob]

But surely you believe in a separation of Church and State? I know I do.

I did until I discovered Googlism. Now I believe in a State Church.

[emperor_bob]

Also, getting the heretic masses on your side may be a little trouble.

Well of course. Why do you think I haven't already taken over the world?

[Nameless]

Church and state should be seperated. A country having an 'official' religion is stupid. Using god as a justifier for war is stupid.

Of course, using a lack of god as a justifier for a war against religion is equally stupid. Hmm.

Can we (morally not legally) just kill off the stupid people?

Morally, I think hospitals should refuse to treat anyone who has harmed themselves, directly or not (self-harm, obviously, but things like smokers, people not wearing seatbelts, fat people...)

One solution is to force everybody to play a game of chess when they hit eighteen - if they lose, we kill them. We need to somehow re-introduce naturally selection but for brains not brawn.

[Fallen Hero]

Ummm, I could NEVER win a game of chess. I just never have learned to play chess properly. I CAN play, I just choose not to.. seeming as I have no chessboard and no money to spare for one. Online and Computer chess is too easy to get distracted at.

[emperor_bob]

Church and state should be seperated. A country having an 'official' religion is stupid. Using god as a justifier for war is stupid.

Of course, using a lack of god as a justifier for a war against religion is equally stupid. Hmm.

I think religion is stupid, but since we can't get rid of them all together, then the next best thing would be having Googlism as the official State Religion.

War is just stupid.

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

Does Googlism have any Saints? Can I nominate John Lennon?

Imagine will be the New Empire's Anthem.

Morally, I think hospitals should refuse to treat anyone who has harmed themselves, directly or not (self-harm, obviously, but things like smokers, people not wearing seatbelts, fat people...)

On what moral grounds could you think it would be justified to stand by and let people die?

One solution is to force everybody to play a game of chess when they hit eighteen - if they lose, we kill them. We need to somehow re-introduce naturally selection but for brains not brawn.

Yeah, that makes sense. Let's fill the world with idiot savants. Winning at chess doesn't have anything to do with being smart. It just means you play a game well.

[SyBerWoLff]

Yeah... I suck at chess XDD

[Nameless]

Morally, I think hospitals should refuse to treat anyone who has harmed themselves, directly or not (self-harm, obviously, but things like smokers, people not wearing seatbelts, fat people...)

On what moral grounds could you think it would be justified to stand by and let people die?

The ground that they knew DAMN WELL what they were doing to themselves or risking doing to themselves when a far safer and more sensible alternative was available. Hospital resources should be given to those who had NO OR MINIMAL CONTROL over the injurries recieved to them before.


One solution is to force everybody to play a game of chess when they hit eighteen - if they lose, we kill them. We need to somehow re-introduce naturally selection but for brains not brawn.

Yeah, that makes sense. Let's fill the world with idiot savants. Winning at chess doesn't have anything to do with being smart. It just means you play a game well.

It was just an example. Obviously the test would have to be something measuring broad intellect as well as other aspects (such a creative intelligience). Not that any such system would ever really be introduced, so it's all hypothetical...

Although, to my defence, good chess players require strong logical intelligence, so we'd gradually end up with a race of higher logic.

[emperor_bob]

The ground that they knew DAMN WELL what they were doing to themselves or risking doing to themselves when a far safer and more sensible alternative was available. Hospital resources should be given to those who had NO OR MINIMAL CONTROL over the injurries recieved to them before.

Who gets to decide what sorts of self inflicted wounds are cause to withhold medical care? I think skateboarding is a terribly high risk activity. If someone gets injured skateboarding, I think they should just go home and tough it out. They could have avoided injury by not skateboarding.



It was just an example. Obviously the test would have to be something measuring broad intellect as well as other aspects (such a creative intelligience). Not that any such system would ever really be introduced, so it's all hypothetical...

Although, to my defence, good chess players require strong logical intelligence, so we'd gradually end up with a race of higher logic.

Sorry, but you just sound like a really bright guy that has trouble getting laid because all of the Jocks and Pretty Boys get all the girls.

I have an easier solution. Smart guys should quit screwing pretty, but dumb gals.

[Fallen Hero]

Walking down the street can be dangerous, hell going down stairs is dangerous. Pretty much anything you do can get you hurt. Smokers deserve treatment as much as the next person. Despite the fact that they did it to themselves. There should be a fee or something. (Look into the case of B.C. vs. Tobacco Industry)

[Nameless]

Walking down the street can be dangerous, hell going down stairs is dangerous. Pretty much anything you do can get you hurt. Smokers deserve treatment as much as the next person. Despite the fact that they did it to themselves. There should be a fee or something. (Look into the case of B.C. vs. Tobacco Industry)

Walking down a street, there's a small unavoidable risk something bad might happen. Going down stairs, there's a small unavoidable risk something bad might happen. Smoking, there's a 100% certainty you're going to screw up your body.

[SirRuben]

I'm a smoker, and a happy one too. I do it out of pleasure and i have chosen to do so myself. I know it's now healthy, but many things are bad for you. I can't live my life protecting me from all that's bad, then i would have no life at all, though i would save money and be able to run for more that 300 yards before i would feel like i was going to die.

I don't want to stop smoking (in this point in my life) as i would not stop drinking beer or work in a filthy steelmill even though i know it's not good for me.

[Fallen Hero]

Well, alcohol in moderation is actually healthy, and steel mills are also pretty safe, but I get your point.

[SirRuben]

I agree that alcohol in moderation is healthy, but i disagree about steel mills. All that metal dust i inhale every day... Not good at all..

[Fallen Hero]

Well surely they wear masks. I knew a guy that worked in a mill and he was not sick or coughing ever.

[SirRuben]

Well surely they wear masks. I knew a guy that worked in a mill and he was not sick or coughing ever.
We don't ... No kidding..

[Fallen Hero]

Well. I take that back then.

[Nameless]

Well surely they wear masks. I knew a guy that worked in a mill and he was not sick or coughing ever.
We don't ... No kidding..

:?

Working at a place like that, wearing protective masks strikes as an entirely reasonable precaution... I'd suggest having a word to your boss, but coming from a person who smokes, I guess it's not going to make compartively much difference!

[Fallen Hero]

Well surely they wear masks. I knew a guy that worked in a mill and he was not sick or coughing ever.
We don't ... No kidding..

:?

Working at a place like that, wearing protective masks strikes as an entirely reasonable precaution... I'd suggest having a word to your boss, but coming from a person who smokes, I guess it's not going to make compartively much difference!

On the contrary, it would make a huge difference.

[Nameless]

Well surely they wear masks. I knew a guy that worked in a mill and he was not sick or coughing ever.
We don't ... No kidding..

:?

Working at a place like that, wearing protective masks strikes as an entirely reasonable precaution... I'd suggest having a word to your boss, but coming from a person who smokes, I guess it's not going to make compartively much difference!

On the contrary, it would make a huge difference.

Well, I guess it would depend on the mill in question. I can't say I have a great (read: any) experience with these these things.

[Fallen Hero]

Eh, I have never worked there, one of my co-workers did. Also they are pretty dirty in of themselves.