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I was an infinitely cold and rainy dot
(25 Aug 2005 at 04:59) |
I found my power adaptor—it was in my boot!—which is good because nobody sells them around here. Unfortunately I can't copy photos from my camera, so you'll have to wait until I get back for those... Anyway, unlimited power leads to unlimited corruption, or something.
Conference update: After the first day, in which everybody was sort of sticking in their comfort zones, talking to those people that they already knew, etc. (myself included), we've started really mingling, and that is great. I am happy to hear that my presentation was, at least, memorable. Most of the people here do something very different from what I do, but there are a few type theorists, and a few people interested in learning type theory, and I am trying to help. ;) I am learning some things, too...
On Wednesday we went to Bletchley Park, which was the secret intelligence base where Alan Turing and others broke the German Enigma cipher in World War II. This was cool. Lots of room-sized vacuum tube computers. [If only I could insert the images now!] Yesterday was the banquet and subsequent pub visit. There are lots of pubs in Oxford, like dozens, but this one ("The Turf") was particularly neat in that it was hidden thirty meters down what amounts to an unlabeled crack in the wall. I have actually been quite surprised (based on my own knowledge of English beer from explorations of, e.g. the beer cave at D's) that the dominant style here is a bitter ale, rather than stouts. The Turf, for instance, had about 11 beers: Guinness and ten (to my taste) palatable but indistinguishable bitter ales. I did, however, make my pilgrimage to the Bird and Baby, where JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis had their literary club while at Oxford. It was fun to have a hand-pumped pint ("Old Hooky") standing at the same mantle that they did while reading their work to each other 60-or-so years ago. [Imagine picture] I'm still in search of a Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout, though... |  |
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| Did you mean "With great power comes great responsibility" from Spiderman the movie? Clearly not because you're drinking 10 beers per pub. Cheers! |
| I think that is NOT WHAT I MEANT. |
unlimited power may not lead to unlimited corruption. U need a decently messed up cerebral cortex or a profoundly bizzare psychological state or in lieu of the context ridiculous powers of reasoning or a 'lez bomb other places to stone age' fun spirit along with unlimited power to get to being unlimitedly corrupt.
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| I think that the idea is that unlimited power necessarily leads to a gradual "positive feedback" weakening of one's psychological state, and thus along the road to unlimited corruption as you describe. |
| i see what you're trying to do, interesting. But can't get the explicit sense of it. What do you mean by positive feedback? how does this lead to a weakening of ones psychological state? |
| What I mean is that the weakening of one's psychological state leads in fact to *more* weakening, producing a positive feedback loop. I'm not sure what causes the initial weakening. |
well since we are talking about the initial pre-requisites to unlimited corruption it is the initial weakening that matters. Because if you
don't have that then unlimited power may not lead to unlimited corruption.
However, as to your having said that inital weakening of psychological state leads to further weakening this sounds probable. |
| Yes, I agree, and I have indeed left that unsatisfied. |
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