In Other Words

A number of points

So, today is my first day in the new office. Doing a new thing. Spent the early hours of the day (after I arrived late due to rain and lazy taxi drivers) looking at technical manuals. I’m expected to write up a report comparing two technical manuals later, detailing what I like and don’t like about them (sounds like a test to me). Couple of advantages to the new place, couple of disadvantages.

Advantages: It looks like the work will be more interesting, which is a bonus (especially considering I’ll be doing this work for the next six months). I’ll also have a better idea of how well I’m doing as I’ll be working together with other people more, which means I can slack off while they do their bit and then work hard when its my turn. I’ve also got a bigger screen, which is nice ‘cause the laptop screen of before was a real drag.

Disadvantages: Gone is the privacy of my own little room, gone are the people I shared that room with (masters of the art of slacking, I might add). Now I’m sitting in a big hall that has been converted from a warehouse. The cubicle walls come to just above navel level (on big people), which basically means no more watching funny videos, or pictures, or websites that look even slightly dodgy. Basically I’ll be restricted to typing in word (though publishing on my Blog shouldn’t be that much of a problem) and reading the newspapers. I think I’ll soon have to convert to enjoying Dilbert.

Received a message from Shazam today informing me that he had spent the morning reading our blogs. Finally got him to sit down and actually glance at the bastards. Bet he enjoyed seeing his name come by every so often (or rather, far too often). Must be fun to recollect how things went, especially seeing as its through somebody else’s eyes. I imagine it will be great fun to read back what I’ve written as well, though I think I’ll wait a little longer to when my mind has truly forgotten what has happened, so as to enjoy the remembering that bit more.

I’ve been called pretentious in the blabber box for my views on Christianity. I’m going to assume that the author of the comment meant prejudiced or generalist, as I don’t quite see how pretentious fits. How am I awarding myself rank or merit that does not belong to me by making the claims I make?

So the argument against me seems to be that I am wrong in making the statements about Christianity that I make because there are groups that are exceptions. This is undoubtedly true, but that doesn’t change the basic premises of my arguments. There are groups making these statements and they are causing serious harm. There are (very large) groups who do not want people to learn, or to question or to examine, as they believe this goes against God. These groups exist and hold major power in world affairs.

It is these people that my rant is directed against (admittedly not exactly clear in my text) and people that do not belong to this group, but are Christians, should try to understand that that is what I’m talking about. I will try to be clearer in the future. These texts are not directed at individuals, but against those religious organisations (like the papacy) that hinder progress and harm people with their beliefs (or, at least in my eyes).

Interesting fact: The US spends more money on its military than the next 12 nations combined.

posted by Symbol @ 2.8.04