Comments on: The transgressive order of subversive associative rhetoric in the ambiguous matrix of co-optive power arrangements http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/09/03/the-transgressive-order-of-subversive-associative-rhetoric-in-the-ambiguous-matrix-of-co-optive-power-arrangements/ A graduate student in mathematics and a modern languages major take on politics and culture with the following aspirational motto: ‘Deregulate your mind.’ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:44:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: lee http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/09/03/the-transgressive-order-of-subversive-associative-rhetoric-in-the-ambiguous-matrix-of-co-optive-power-arrangements/#comment-29707 lee Sat, 07 Oct 2006 22:39:43 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/09/03/the-transgressive-order-of-subversive-associative-rhetoric-in-the-ambiguous-matrix-of-co-optive-power-arrangements/#comment-29707 <p>It have an uncle who was a fairly wealthy businessman. The power he belives in as far as medicine is concerned would never be Chinese Medicine. He drove cadillacs most of his life drank scotch , and ate steak. He's 75 years old now. In the 70's when chiropractic health was coming of age , alot of people thought of it as quakery. Power says no..., It just didn't make any sense for him to go to a chiropractor or worse to tell his friends that he did. They would think he was into voodo. In fact podiatrist had this same problem (much much ) earlier as far as the power that says no. Anyway I know from experience that I had given an asian girl some cold medicine which was over the counter stuff, like robitussin and it almost put her in a comma. It seemed like her immune system was not strong enough to take the harsh medicine we consume. At the same time I don't think she gets sick more often than anybody else.</p> It have an uncle who was a fairly wealthy businessman. The power he belives in as far as medicine is concerned would never be Chinese Medicine. He drove cadillacs most of his life drank scotch , and ate steak. He’s 75 years old now. In the 70’s when chiropractic health was coming of age , alot of people thought of it as quakery. Power says no…, It just didn’t make any sense for him to go to a chiropractor or worse to tell his friends that he did. They would think he was into voodo. In fact podiatrist had this same problem (much much ) earlier as far as the power that says no. Anyway I know from experience that I had given an asian girl some cold medicine which was over the counter stuff, like robitussin and it almost put her in a comma. It seemed like her immune system was not strong enough to take the harsh medicine we consume. At the same time I don’t think she gets sick more often than anybody else.

]]> By: Dave http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/09/03/the-transgressive-order-of-subversive-associative-rhetoric-in-the-ambiguous-matrix-of-co-optive-power-arrangements/#comment-21397 Dave Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:22:23 +0000 http://www.sellingwaves.com/2006/09/03/the-transgressive-order-of-subversive-associative-rhetoric-in-the-ambiguous-matrix-of-co-optive-power-arrangements/#comment-21397 <p>Religion is a two edged sword. On the one hand it might have the same effect as Chinese medicine as you describe it. It doesn’t really have any specific power, other than an occasional miracle, but is said to act as a long term tonic to soothe life’s ills. I don’t know. I don’t have a good grip on it, though I am envious of those who do, a sin itself.</p> <p>This is because of sloth. I just don’t have the time really get dedicated about it because lust, greed and gluttony are more fun. The only antidote to this is to be threatened with punishment. Since this doesn’t happen predictably in real life, you have to worry that it will happen when you are dead. This would be more believable if religious rulers were particularly admirable people, but they are no better than anyone else and sometimes worse. The only way to keep a theocracy situation in power is various levels of social control, tyranny and even violence.</p> <p>I think the desire for a higher power is in our genes and must have a survival value. I think that its ability to create social unity and powerful mass movements as well as justify horrible violence and crushing of the individual conscience gives it power. It is also subject to manipulation and perversion. I was studying the history of the enlightenment which showed the progressive weakening of the tyrannical clergy simply by making morality contingent on reason. This necessarily eliminates the idea of certainty, at some cost.<br /> Since you are in China, in addition to having access to the wonderful art, natural and architectural marvels, you might be able to gain some insight into why they fear religious extremists such as the “God-Worshipers” of the late nineteenth century. </p> <p>I think the title for this post is suitably incomprehensible and should guarantee you a place in graduate school.</p> Religion is a two edged sword. On the one hand it might have the same effect as Chinese medicine as you describe it. It doesn’t really have any specific power, other than an occasional miracle, but is said to act as a long term tonic to soothe life’s ills. I don’t know. I don’t have a good grip on it, though I am envious of those who do, a sin itself.

This is because of sloth. I just don’t have the time really get dedicated about it because lust, greed and gluttony are more fun. The only antidote to this is to be threatened with punishment. Since this doesn’t happen predictably in real life, you have to worry that it will happen when you are dead. This would be more believable if religious rulers were particularly admirable people, but they are no better than anyone else and sometimes worse. The only way to keep a theocracy situation in power is various levels of social control, tyranny and even violence.

I think the desire for a higher power is in our genes and must have a survival value. I think that its ability to create social unity and powerful mass movements as well as justify horrible violence and crushing of the individual conscience gives it power. It is also subject to manipulation and perversion. I was studying the history of the enlightenment which showed the progressive weakening of the tyrannical clergy simply by making morality contingent on reason. This necessarily eliminates the idea of certainty, at some cost.
Since you are in China, in addition to having access to the wonderful art, natural and architectural marvels, you might be able to gain some insight into why they fear religious extremists such as the “God-Worshipers” of the late nineteenth century.

I think the title for this post is suitably incomprehensible and should guarantee you a place in graduate school.

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