Comments for Working Hypothesis

Comment on This recruit, this sheep, this Christian by bea

bea — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:44:22 +0000

I guess a certain amount of de-humanising is probably necessary if people are going to be trained successfully to kill other people and survive doing it – though the number of military and ex-military people I come into contact through my work suggests that there is a cost to taking the “I” out of humans – even when people believe passionately in the value of what they do and take a real pride in their way of life.

Comment on This recruit, this sheep, this Christian by Tim

Tim — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:14:14 +0000

You’re asking to be misread as “lowing glorious congregation” at first…

There’s Pauline authority for a sense of individual awareness / self-knowledge, too: the head cannot say anything to the foot if it doesn’t know headness nor footness.

I also have real difficulty with military forces. Withholding the thoughts with which I struggle most in this area, I can safely say the lack-of-self you mention stands diametrically opposed to Christianity’s moral stance of treating people as beings of (self-)worth and value, as expressed in the phrase “made in God’s image”.

Comment on Horror movie by Rosemary

Rosemary — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:27:52 +0000

I expect I told you x had published on…

Comment on Horror movie by Schmeekins

Schmeekins — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:28:27 +0000

We need to discuss progress on …

You need to have a look at …

There’s a new article/book/translation by …

Comment on Horror movie by bea

bea — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:38:16 +0000

I don’t mean to be rude but…

I know you won’t mind me saying…

I just have to say…

Comment on Horror movie by Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:47:03 +0000

All these are awful. But for me it is, ‘what are you doing on . . . ‘

My inclination is usually to respond with, ‘NOT whatever it is you’re about to suggest’. Except that my ’saying no’ practice is still in early stages, so I more often manage an incoherent mumble.

Comment on Horror movie by goforchris

goforchris — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:55 +0000

Ah, Eamonn – that’s the corollary to my horror!

Comment on Horror movie by Eamonn

Eamonn — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:12:03 +0000

‘Now that you’re retired…’

Comment on Horror movie by goforchris

goforchris — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:01:52 +0000

No-one, mercifully, was overcome with a sense of duty. The rest … as you say, not a good week.

Comment on Horror movie by rosemaryhannah

rosemaryhannah — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:31:50 +0000

Does not sound like a good week at all Chris – which one did they avoid?

I fear with a sinking heart I have used ‘presumably you know…

Another for the list ‘I’m sorry but…’ and indeed almost any assertion with ‘but’ tagged onto it.