Punk Music

[Zetetic11235]

Many communes were disastrous though, and the drug ideal Timothy Leary crowd was a big contributor to the failings. On top of this, very human jelousies, disagreements ect took out many of the communes. That there were successful ones is a merit I suppose.

The promotion of compassion is nothing new, though I still find it agreeable. I think the thing I really don't like is that people need to change their way of thinking for compassion to be a viable method, somthing that is near impossible, rather than their current behavior be refocused into somthing to maximize what they really want(like utilitarianism). The promotion of compassion to maximize human potential is almost a metaphilosophy and a religion(since the ideal is so present in nearly every religion) rather than a method of behavior or a measure to maximize gain for everyone like utilitariansim or marxism.

[Didymos Thomas]

Many communes were disastrous though, and the drug ideal Timothy Leary crowd was a big contributor to the failings. On top of this, very human jelousies, disagreements ect took out many of the communes. That there were successful ones is a merit I suppose.

Yes, many did fail miserably. Many factors, nasty stuff. But you're also right about the successful ones. It's amazing what honest, well-intentioned people can accomplish, even if they are little naive. Tim Leary will have to be another conversation.

The promotion of compassion is nothing new, though I still find it agreeable. I think the thing I really don't like is that people need to change their way of thinking for compassion to be a viable method, somthing that is near impossible, rather than their current behavior be refocused into somthing to maximize what they really want(like utilitarianism). The promotion of compassion to maximize human potential is almost a metaphilosophy and a religion(since the ideal is so present in nearly every religion) rather than a method of behavior or a measure to maximize gain for everyone like utilitariansim or marxism.

Make no mistake about it - cultivating compassion requires serious practice. But if you're into as much peace as humanly possible, that compassion is a necessity. The more compassion, the more peace. It's not something that can be forced, and coercive methods also fail. Power of moral example is a great way to promote compassion, though. Imagine if more of our leaders were honestly good people, and not lying, arrogant, self centered, hateful people.

[Zetetic11235]

I can imagine that spiteful, arrogant people would wrest power from the hands of the honest and good as long as it is possible to do so. If it were so that a good man manages to climb upon the fetid tower of power, borrowed and stolen alike, he would not long be king, he would become sick and his doppleganger would inevitably arise from his weakness. Even should he die before this, waiting in the wings shall always be those who thirst for the stolen power of the king. As the First Baron Acton said "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely".

Now, I can hope that the most ruthless route would be lain down before the truest, but can we really believe that can happen? Perhaps one feels that one must, but that doesn't make it so. As long as there would be one who is evil, we cannot all be at our most good. If we were to all volunteer our goods and services and money to the poor, and give all men tough love, compassion and equality, we would have found Eden, but we cannot bring ourselfs to do this. Neither Communism nor any other artificial form of government can force this state, it must come from within, but therin lies the difficulty.

[Didymos Thomas]

Neither Communism nor any other artificial form of government can force this state, it must come from within, but therin lies the difficulty.

Lama Yeshe gave a lecture in New Zealand, and afterward fielded questions from the audience. One young man kept asking questions about communism and implementing Buddhist compassion. Your words are, essential, the Lama's response to the young man.

[Bonaventurian]

Punk climaxed with the Misfits, and died shortly after. The Offspring are ok, though.

[schloopfeng]

.........not one of you mentioned "The Dead Kennedys" ........blimey & I'm english, Jello Biafra still plodding on nicely too in various projects,it's true punk has evolved into what i refer to as "whinge pop" but the thing is, punk did its job, we became aware because of it, we found out it was ok to dissagree. As for punk being a thing of the past, all that happened was the label fell off it, may i recomend the "Subhumans" ...now "Citizen Fish" (trouble with underground bands.....someone in another country quite often had the same idea for a name & theres another "Subhumans" outfit across the atlantic ...strangely enough a similar sound but not as polite & english )....
TTFN

[Theaetetus]

Jello Biafra and the Melvins do what Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys did--only better.

What exactly is considered punk music anyway. To me it seems more of an attitude than a musical style. I would say that the Offspring and their "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" does not have the necessary attitude of punk. The Offspring may have been punk once upon a time, but to call them punk today you would also have to include AFI--another band that abandoned the punk attitude long ago.

[schloopfeng]

Punk just grew up thats all, some of it's habits changed as life's lessons took effect, as a movement in general it certainly shook things up a little which was kind of needed, a good track to illustrate would be "age of panic" by Senser.
On the Jello note i much preferred him with D.O.A, seemed to have more "oomph" for want of a better word & with Nomeansno purely for comic value.
Cheers
TTFN