/lit/ - Literature

The Economist! If you like News and Opinion pieces, you might find it interesting.

"Fortune Favors the Bold" - Virgil

I liked it-- Solid Characters. Got a little cheesy for me towards the end, but the beginning and middle more than made up for it. I like that he offered the perspectives of characters of different backrounds--kept things interesting. More than anything, I think it was a decent commentary on human behavior--a "what people do when no one is looking" sort of thing.

>>1618158
Also a favorite of mine of his. Again, a little over the top in certain parts--not a big fan of Fate, Destiny, or what have you--but that didn't ruin it for me. Would love to read more about pre-Roland days--The Height of Gilead. I hear the graphic novels cover some of this, but I'm not sure if that's enough to satiate.

That's an interesting question. I'm assuming you're speaking of Justice in practice, rather than justice as a concept.

To what extent?

Personal Justice? If you subscribe to a form of natural law or an ethical system that doesn't depend on authority, then sure.

But what do you consider active leadership to be? A working political system? The presence of law enforcement?

If we're talking about justice based upon legal standards--whether people would agree to live under a legal system in the absence of law enforcement--it gets a little tricky. I'd argue that it would result in mob rule and a very loose interpretation of even mutually agreed upon legal standards. As people often act subjectively and occasionally irrationally --an absence of any authority to enforce laws or defend individual rights would result in conflict that would not always benefit the party "in the right". You'd more or less have a "Might Makes Right" scenario, which--if you subscribe to objective moral standards isn't exactly justice.

Perhaps I've perverted your question, in which case I'd welcome elaboration.

>>1578276
The reason why public institutions cater to engineering and medical science? Because they get grants that keep them afloat when the rest of the state's budget is floundering (46 are now in default now) . If they catered exclusively to Middle Ages History they wouldn't get the money they need to stay fucking open. And if you like Middle Ages history, you can find plenty of it, this "market-based economy" produced a wealth of knowledge accessible to your fingertips at this very moment.

For Christssakes. You're responsible for your own education, and if you or your kid don't seek it out (either recreationally or through a school tailored to the education you're looking for), it's not your right to reach into your neighbors pocket for more money because you don't want to pay for these things yourself. It's not even a cost issue if you have the incentive and know where the goddamn library is.

Jesus, what a weak criticism. I feel as though I've been trolled.

I was an engineering student for 3 years in Florida-USA, and honestly, a lot of kids are there because it's a "good" degree that pays well when you graduate, not because they are passionate about it.

Now some do like the subject matter. But the number of engineers that I met that resented the high paying yet low vacation day providing jobs was a little unsettling. By the end of my three years, the classes I took and the people I met kinda provided incentive for me to seriously considering whether I was really doing it for the right reasons myself.

I find that you've often got to seek out people who spend most of their time thinking. It's hard to find--especially among students-- those who are more interested in developing themselves as people and not only shooting pool, getting drunk, chasing tail, or smoking dope. Not to say that I didn't do my fair share of those things while I was in school.

Student Organizations devoted to debate and Philosophy may be your best bet. To be honest, the way in which I've met the most interesting people was through working a job at a restaurant through college. The ones I preferred catered to more than a select group of people, and were comfortable places to have a conversation in. By expanding your pool of potential conversationalists beyond your major, you'll meet a very large number of people in all kinds of fields and get a handful of perspectives on life, work, etc.

>>1573185
Bah, that's like saying a man can't drive because you can force him to drink a case of beer.

Ethics is the product of rational thought. The fact that a particular fellow is under the influence of something says nothing about what is objectively right and wrong.

>>1574155
/lit/ gets nasty at night, eh?

Duly noted.

Carry on, gentlemen.

>>1574073
I like it. Not an altruist myself, but it's a solid piece of work.

Hoo boy. Here we go.

Grab the popcorn, gentlemen.

>>1573535
One becomes smarter through effort.

You might find this interesting
http://www.ludism.org/mentat/

Also, check out Mind Performance Hacks by Hale Evans. Pretty neat stuff.

>>1574088
Honestly, I'm a bit of a Noob myself, and I reently got Examined Lives: From Socrates to Nietzsche. It's an account of a number of philosophers lives--specifically whether they practiced what they preached. It's been a real treat so far. Kind of a good springboard to getting into the heavy stuff, I thought, anyhow.

Well, I reckon holdin' an axe, wearin some dead badger between yer legs, and standin' on top of dead fellers is best.

D'int 'chew know?

>Those with the most deadly arsenal owns their world.

Good argument for joining the Marines.

>>1574013
You shouldn't. He's a real douche.

>>1573989
Top threads on /mu/

"Call me a faggot but I havent stopped listening to Enchanted for 3 weeks. Best. Song Ever."

"404MAN
BACK FROM THE GRAVE
YOU THOUGHT I WAS DEAD? NOOOOOOOOOOOO
404 MAN BRINGER OF THRUTH
THE EYES OF JUSTICE
404MAN"

Hot shit, You weren't kidding.

>>1573905
Alright, Cool. I know that it probably sucks after /new/ and /r9k/ went aground. That and the "raids" that other boards like to go on. Still learning the ropes here. Fortunately, there's a lot less garbage threads--"The Jews are taking your money and eating your children" or "I like this girl but she doesn't know--what should I DO?!".

Seems like a fairly decent crowd. I really like the sticky they put up--just got a Kindle for Christmas and Free books are amazing. I've got to limit myself to reading 3 at a time though--sometimes I get a little overenthusiastic.

>>1573888
Clearly, you haven't read the Memo.

Criticizing a person with a differing race/gender/ethnicity/religious affiliation/caste/sexual preference/height/weight/eye color/food preference/number of nose hairs than your own is strictly forbidden. And to make the preposterous suggestion that the oppressive caucasian race has any proficiency in producing a form of literature that originated in an anglo culture is a bannable offense.

Please exit without making a scene or you will be escorted out!

>>1573834
Damn, Son. Makin' friends already.

Why Wilde in Shit? I thought his writing was very entertaining.

Vonnegut I found to be overrated--Slaughterhouse was like sitting in on a very depressing psychological exam.

Surprised to see someone rank Rand above shit. A lot of vitriol on the boardds against her. Her non-fiction is more fulfilling to read, I find.

I'm just glad I didn't see Nathanial Hawthorne at all or in any respectable tier. One of the two authors that I've ever really disliked. Him and the guy who wrote Confederacy of Dunces. Seriously, fuck that guy.

By the way-- where's Kerouac?

>>1573827
I was an old /new/ lurker, but since the overhaul I've turned my interests towards literature. Kinda wish I had checked out other boards before then, but hey.

With any luck I'm the only Latin name on this board. I've already earned enough criticism to rank up there with the retards. Got ribbed on /tv/ by a few feminists while cracking what I thought was a fairly innocent joke. What's a guy to do, eh?

>>1571251
Haiku's are easy
if you're a cunt and don't fol-
low convention Fuck

>>1573790
Well played. Though it's likely lost on the fellow who raised objections to the list.

>>1572978
Agreed. Taking it too far isn't any good.

>>1573089
Where do you think /stormfront/ and /r9k/ came when the ship went down?

>>1572947
Then piss off until you have something worth saying.