Happy Atheist Forum

I didn't bother to introduce myself before leaping into the fray.  My name is Vichy (not Vicky, it rhymes with 'cliche') and I sell candy on the beach.  I'm a life-long fan of philosophy and science, with a more recent (but no less) interest in economics and political theory.  I read a lot of history, too.
Now that I've given my Rhodes Scholar credentials, some other things you might (or might not) want to know about me are that I like comic books (superhero ones mainly), pulp-adventure novels and I have an absolute despisation for agressive violence in general and the State in particular.  Equally strong and related is my aversion to fantasies and nonsense religious and quasi-religious beliefs.
If you wanted to tag-and-bag the major pillars of my philosophy, Neo-Aristotileanism and market anarchism wouldn't be far off base.
I'm about 5'4" if I stand up straight, and you might not have guessed from my icon but I am of Korean descent (adopted).

Welcome to HAF. I very much look forward to your contributions and based on what you've contributed thus far, I'm sure we'll enjoy some lively debates.

Quote from: "Vichy"I didn't bother to introduce myself before leaping into the fray.  My name is Vichy (not Vicky, it rhymes with 'cliche') and I sell candy on the beach.  I'm a life-long fan of philosophy and science, with a more recent (but no less) interest in economics and political theory.  I read a lot of history, too.
Now that I've given my Rhodes Scholar credentials, some other things you might (or might not) want to know about me are that I like comic books (superhero ones mainly), pulp-adventure novels and I have an absolute despisation for agressive violence in general and the State in particular.  Equally strong and related is my aversion to fantasies and nonsense religious and quasi-religious beliefs.
If you wanted to tag-and-bag the major pillars of my philosophy, Neo-Aristotileanism and market anarchism wouldn't be far off base.
I'm about 5'4" if I stand up straight, and you might not have guessed from my icon but I am of Korean descent (adopted).

Well, it's about damned time, Vichy!  :confused:  

And thanks for diving right into the forum. Your contributions thus far have been very thought provoking and fresh. Keep it coming!

QuoteThanks for that introduction. Glad to have you here. I have to ask though, as your introduction makes me wonder...how do you reconcile a love for superhero comics and pulp adventure novels with an aversion to both fantasy and violence?

Fantasy I mean as distinct from fiction or contra-reality, there is nothing wrong with entertainment (though it is often confused or propagandistic, comics not excluded) but I am opposed to the fantasy-making of things like Christianity, especially those who say they're Christians because it 'gives them comfort' or some alleged moral or other benefit, as I do not believe that ignoring and falsifying reality can ever be good.
Although violence is a terrible thing, I believe that it is evil only when used aggressively (IE, not in retaliation or protection of property) and that when it is used defensively and justly it is comendable and just, since it deprives an evildoer of his ill-gotten gains.  Thus I like superhero comics (when they are not too ethically muddle-headed) because it is essentially people taking it upon themselves to protect and help people who cannot defend themselves from the depredations of others, and also it comes with an implicit assumption of state incompetence and corruption (I doubt Batman would be doing what he does if the police were actually protecting people in Gotham).
My favourite superhero is Superman because he does not extol bad-decision making as some sort of storytelling virtue (I believe most personal-drama comes from long-term bad decisions that inevitably result in such things) and as his principle values are Truth and Justice, which he unflinchingly follows even under the most extreme pressures, it is a fictional character I can genuinely admire.

Quote from: "Vichy"

QuoteThanks for that introduction. Glad to have you here. I have to ask though, as your introduction makes me wonder...how do you reconcile a love for superhero comics and pulp adventure novels with an aversion to both fantasy and violence?

Fantasy I mean as distinct from fiction or contra-reality, there is nothing wrong with entertainment (though it is often confused or propagandistic, comics not excluded) but I am opposed to the fantasy-making of things like Christianity, especially those who say they're Christians because it 'gives them comfort' or some alleged moral or other benefit, as I do not believe that ignoring and falsifying reality can ever be good.
Although violence is a terrible thing, I believe that it is evil only when used aggressively (IE, not in retaliation or protection of property) and that when it is used defensively and justly it is comendable and just, since it deprives an evildoer of his ill-gotten gains.  Thus I like superhero comics (when they are not too ethically muddle-headed) because it is essentially people taking it upon themselves to protect and help people who cannot defend themselves from the depredations of others, and also it comes with an implicit assumption of state incompetence and corruption (I doubt Batman would be doing what he does if the police were actually protecting people in Gotham).
My favourite superhero is Superman because he does not extol bad-decision making as some sort of storytelling virtue (I believe most personal-drama comes from long-term bad decisions that inevitably result in such things) and as his principle values are Truth and Justice, which he unflinchingly follows even under the most extreme pressures, it is a fictional character I can genuinely admire.

Wow, that is a well thought out answer, and makes perfect sense to me. Thanks for explaining it so well and kudos for the stand on personal defense. You probably figured out that I was being a little facetious in my question, but it is good to see another person who has a similar stance on this. And you also get mega-points for the whole Superman as favorite super hero thing. No doubt about it, he's the best.

Again, welcome and thanks for the great input to the forum!

 

Like I always say, he's not just the man - he's Superman.

Quote from: "Vichy"... My name is Vichy (not Vicky, it rhymes with 'cliche') and I sell candy on the beach.  

What a beautiful name, Vichy!  Your job sounds intriguing and it conjures up all sorts of peaceful images.  When I was about 12 years old I decided I wanted to run a shop near the beach where my family often vacationed...but since I now live in AZ, that aint' gonna happen!  

Welcome to the forum. I  look forward to reading more of your posts.

Thanks
Vichy is a city in France, which I am named after.

Sounds like a pretty sweet job. Make a lot of clams?

Quote from: "jcm"Sounds like a pretty sweet job. Make a lot of clams?

Hardly, about $200 a month.  Selling candy on the beach, so a lot of people do it (mostly in the stores).  Thus my income is pretty small, ala supply and demand.  But I like it, and it keeps me from having to pay income taxes for blowing up random strangers around the world.

Welcome to the forum, Vichy.  I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Hey Vichy - welcome to the board!

Hi, Vichy. Welcome. What's your favorite area of history to read?

Welcome, Vichy... this is a great place for you to debate all of those subjects near and dear to your heart.  I can tell that we have many differences of opinion, you and I, but that's what makes this a great place to be.  

Quote from: "myleviathan"Hi, Vichy. Welcome. What's your favorite area of history to read?

I have gone the gamut from Assyria to Perestroika in Russia.  Lately I have been focusing on 20th century histories of Japan and Russia, and I have an interest in reading more about the China and Southeast Asia.  I recently finished a book on the USSR's foreign policy in third-world conflicts.  I liked it specifically because it went into a lot of detail, I've gone through enough 'general' histories of western civilization and a couple of specific periods that I can't find anything interesting (and little enough that is accurate) in them.  So, I guess, right now I'm into 19th and 20th century stuff focused on my interests in history of governments (it's amazing what you NEVER hear that's public record) and histories of ideologies and also biographies of people of interest to me.