![]() |
Was Robin Hood a good guy?
My fav author - Scott Adams - put forth a fantastic philosophical question on his blog:
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_d...tlers_dil.html In essence - the question is: Was Robin Hood a good guy - to rob the rich and help the poor? What do you think? Would you steal if you knew you wouldn't get caught - and could in return help a 1000 people survive? |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Wow, what a question, Ankesh!
Two wrongs don't make a right...or do they if someone is starving? There's no such thing as 'never get caught'. You'll know and your God will know even if no one else ever finds out. This knowing, in turn, can have negative influences on other behaviors of yours...a cynicism, if you will, perhaps. My over-riding maxim is people first. Now, whether that encompasses doing wrong to one to do right by another, is another interesting question. At least you gave me another train of thought to hop on if/when I have time. Sandi Bowman |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Hi Ankesh,
Not sure if you Also brought up the Robin Hood theory due to some recent Articles and Research. :) But as you Know... I Always have to "Twist" things for a little Fun and some Creative Thinking... Just a Good Learning process in my Opinion! And Yes!...We Definitely Do it in Life and in Business in a round about way... ;) As You'll read in the Following... Some Good research and Maybe some interesting Story telling for your Publications... Study reveals "Robin Hood impulse" in human nature http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...1?feedType=RSS MarketWatch: Robin Hood Shafts Subprime Sheriff http://www.elliottwave.com/features/...d=3004*time=pm The legend of Robin Hood How the leaders of the hedge fund world have banded together to fight poverty - taking gobs of money from the rich, applying strict financial metrics in giving it away, and making philanthropy cool among the business elite. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...6204/index.htm Phil |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Quote:
What is that old adage about giving a man a fish, or teaching him how to catch his own? I don't recall how it goes... Robin is largely a fictional character and though some of the stories may hold some semblance to the thirteenth century, the accounts of the government wouldn't be accurate either. Still, it is hard to sell stories about what could have been some displaced nobleman teaching cottagers how to fend for themselves or negotiate with their landlords. Who would be interested? I think, regardless of how it is glorified, Robin was wrong. Regards, Steve MacLellan |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Steve, as I recall, the saying you're referring to goes thus:
Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. I did NOT mean to imply that it was right to steal from someone to feed one who is starving. I was merely asking questions. Personally, I believe begging would be better than stealing if push came to shove. Neither being necessary would be best, of course, because then we'd be living in a kinder, gentler, world. In an ideal world, there'd be no need for coveting what another has, no need for wars (which is just a variation of the theme on a larger scale), and so on. Instead of fighting, cooperation should be the name of the game for the good of all. No, I'm not talking about communism either (which is just a variant of the old rob peter to pay paul story). Cooperation with one another to achieve individual development and goals is the best model for a successful, sustainable, community, IMHO. Sandi Bowman |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Forgive me if I am mistaken but I don't remember Robin stealing from the "rich" as the story is often related. He stole from the government only what they had stolen (taxed) from the people. Yes I believe the argument could be make in favor of Robin.
|
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Thanks all.
Quote:
I've got to say - over the years - Michael Ross has got into my head :p You have to protect property rights at all costs. Thus stealing is bad no matter what the reasons for it are. The kicker that helps: You never know what the results of your deeds will be. One may think that he is saving a 1000 people by stealing from people who won't miss it. But what if - out of those 1000 - Hitler arises? Because you never know the end result, its necessary to have a fixed set of rules that should be followed all the time. And the fairest rules are based on "Protecting Property Rights." Disclosure: I'm guilty of not following the rules all the time too... |
A Theif is a Theif
Quote:
Definition of Stealing: Hi Ankesh, Thanks for such a GREAT Question. A Thief is a Theif. ANYONE that STEALS from someone else, no matter the INTENTION, infringes on another person's well being, and, in My opinion, is making the WRONG choice. So, Robin Hood was a 'Bad Guy' no matter HOW you look at it. Of course, the liberal media makes him out to be a hero because that is what they WANT the US to do to those that do well. Punishing those that have more just because they have more does not make it right to take from them to 'redistribute the wealth.' This is called Socialism: Just My take. (definitions above profided by: http://dict.die.net/) I would enjoy seeing Michael Ross' response to this because it would be more clear than my explanations above (but I'm sure that I would agree.) Two Stories will follow: The Ant and the Grasshopper *********************************** The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, "It's Not Easy Being Green." Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, "We shall overcome." Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Tom Daschle &John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Peter Jennings that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share." Finally, the EEOC drafts the "Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act," retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government. Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients. The ant loses the case. The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood. MORAL OF THE STORY: Vote Republican *********************************** College Student: *********************************** A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. She considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, but her father was a staunch Republican. One day she was challenging her father on his beliefs and his opposition to high taxes and welfare programs. He stopped her and asked her, "How are you doing in school?" She answered that she had a 4.0 GPA, but it was really tough. She had to study all the time and ever had time to go out and party. She didn't have time for a boyfriend and didn't really have many college friends because she was spending all her time studying. On top of that, the part-time job her father insisted she keep left absolutely no time for anything else. He asked, "How is your friend Mary?" She replied that Mary was barely getting by. She had a 2.0 GPA, never studied, but was very popular on campus, didn't have a job, and went to all the parties. She was always complaining about not having any money, but didn't want to work. Why, she often didn't show up for classes because she was hung over. Dad then asked his daughter why she didn't go to the Dean's office and request that 1.0 be taken off her 4.0 and given it to her friend who only had a 2.0. That way they would both have a respectable 3.0 GPA. Then, she could also give her friend half the money she'd earned from her job so that her friend would no longer be broke. The daughter angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair. I worked really hard for my grades and money, and Mary just loafs. Why should her laziness and irresponsibility be rewarded with half of what I've worked for?" The father slowly smiled and said, "Welcome to the Republican Party". ********************************** Hope that You Enjoyed! Christopher |
So the US govt.......
is a thief. Sounds like the IRS to me...... Yep you've just described them to a tee.
later.... Pappy |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Hi Ankesh,
Thanks for this question. Was it a "Let me post this to see if it draws Michael out" question? Either way, I'm here. HA! I think you will Already know My Answer to that question. Was Robin Hood a good guy - to rob the rich and help the poor? Simple version... NO. More Indepth Answer... Robin Hood is the embodiment of everything that is Wrong. He is the government summed up into one man. Let me elaborate... We start with Property Rights and some definitions to help those who don't know, understand them more fully... Property: What is earned, made, created, bought, inherited, given, trade for and already owned, all without coercion. Infringe: Take, damage and/or control the use of, without uncoerced permission. With these two definitions we now have Property Rights as... What I earn, make, create, buy, inherit, am given, trade for and already own, all without coercion, is My property and no person shall infringe upon it. A Violation of an individual's Property Rights is Wrong. Obviously, the largest infringer of an individual's Property Rights is The Government - they TAKE your money without your permission and under coercion and then Distribute it to those groups THEY deem more needy of it. Robin Hood did the same thing - going by the Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood the story does change. But the modern version is "Rob from the rich and give to the poor". An action which literally turns the Robbed into a Sacrificial Animal to Support the Life of the poor, ne'er-do-wells and can't-be-bothereds of society. Of course, those who define WHO the poor are are those who also do the taking. This is, in essence, a Socialist thing. To TAKE from the hardworking, able and productive people and to GIVE to the incompetent, lazy-bones and unproductive hordes. A Property Rights Infringement of the Highest order. Where the Prime Motive Force stops being Achievement and instead becomes Proof of Need. The more Needy you can prove to be the more you will be rewarded. Conversely, the more able, hardworking and productive you are the more you are punished and your life and efforts sacrificed to those who had a higher Need Proof. If it is wrong for Me to come into your home and threaten you with force, take some of your money and then use it to buy food, headache tablets, or pay rent - and - it is equally wrong for a few of my mates from the bar to do it on my behalf, why is it alright for the government to do the same thing? Just because THEY say it is The Law and They are a group of people who call themselves the Government? It doesn't matter WHO does it. It is a Property Rights Infringement and is Wrong. It is sacrificing one individual for the benefit of another. That's what it is in its most simple term. A term you might not like to read so blatantly put. But one you Must understand and stop denying or Thinking Around or whatever mental games you play to avoid naming it for what it is (YOU being the generic You, and not you specifically). Robin Hood is held aloft as some kind of Champion. But in reality, he is a socialist and common old thief turning one group of people, at their expense, into the life-support system of another group which he favors. But you cannot expect people to think any differently when they grow up in such a system of human sacrifice where we Punish Effort and Hard Work by taxing it and Reward Laziness by paying it from the taxed money stolen from the productive. Imagine if Property Rights was taught at school. I don't think I need to spell out how ruinous it would be for The Govt and even the Unions and other Socialist and Collectivist Groups. With such vested interests at stake and those same interests the ones who Control what is taught, it is no wonder such is not taught. Robin Hood, a socialist slave monger who supports human sacrifice. Definetly NOT a good guy. Michael Ross |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Sandi,
Thanks for your comments. WARS are caused by governments. Right now there is never a Need for war, but they happen anyway. There is nothing wrong with Coveting, as long as you do not take Wrong Action upon your desires. Wrong Action being to infringe upon someone else's property rights. Right Action being to use the desire to Rightfully Acquire your own copy of the coveted item. What hope is there to preventing Coverting and Wrong Action when the government does it on a Mass scale. It is imprinted upon our psyche. You can talk about right and wrong and knowing the difference... and I'll agree with you. People should be held accountable for their actions and wrongful actions. However, just as a child is imprinted and brainwashed with religion, it also absorbs that coveting and taking wrongful action to obtain the coveted item is okay - it sees it go on on a daily basis without repercussions. cooperation should be the name of the game for the good of all According to WHOM? And WHO judges what is good for me? In any transaction, the name of the game should actually be... to the best YOU can get from mutual agreeable and uncoerced dealings. Otherwise you turn me into my Brother's Keeper and force me to look after his interests in any deal we make. To Compromise. Let me tell you about Compromise... there is no such thing. What you call Compromise actually means, one person gains at the expense of another. Because it stems from a Have giving up something tangible to a Have Not, while all the Have Not gave was their Desire - their coveting. E.g. A company pays its workers $20 an hour. The workers WANT $30. The "Let's compromise" phrase it heard and suggested Compromise of $25 is bandied about. Maybe even agreed to. All that happened was... the workers gave up their Desire - they lost nothing. But in reality and in a very real and tangible way, the company lost for no gain. It COST the company but not the worker. THAT is what Compromise is when it is stripped of its Feel Good clothing. Cooperation with one another to achieve individual development and goals is the best model for a successful, sustainable, community, IMHO Why is this the "best model for a successful, sustainable, community"? What REASONING do you have to back up your general statement? Doesn't this just turn me into my brother's keeper again. Needing to co-operate with him so he can achieve his goals and desires. Doesn't it turn me into a sacrificial animal giving up my life and efforts for the desires and goals of others? Placing Their Need above my own? And what is so righteous about that? Why is that a good thing? Michael Ross |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Thanks for your opinions, Michael.
I simply stated things the way I see them...in other words, my opinions. No need to defend them to anyone. They're mine, I own them. Period. Sandi Bowman |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Sandi,
Thanks for your post. I'm not asking you to Defend anything. I AM asking what Reasoning you have behind your Statements. How you came to the conclusion you came to. Surely you know Why you think you do? Or don't you? It's easy Sandi. I'll start you off and you finish... "I think Cooperation with one another to achieve individual development and goals is the best model for a successful, sustainable, community because..." "I think cooperation should be the name of the game for the good of all because..." And please don't come back with the old standard "I don't have time right now". Michael Ross |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Michael, I'm not stupid but you're certainly dense. There are some things of MUCH higher priority than satisfying your nosey curiosity.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for surgery in about 3 hours...just one of many lately. Sandi Bowman |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Mr. Ross, while I agree with some statements you have made, I disagree with the following:
Quote:
Isn't coveting the very seed that grows toward the fulfillment of the desire? |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Can't a desire be fulfilled in a wrong way or a right way?
Quote:
|
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
If it were a "good" desire, then by all means, yes. The desire being discussed above is defined [by thefreedictionary.com] as a blameworthy/reprehensible desire.
|
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Did you know many of the Ideas Edison had were stolen from other people but he knew how to steal. He said as much. You can't blame him, he had little education. It was the workers he hired that did the inventing in many cases. He gave them the ideas which he stole. Now a man that lived during the same time names Emer Gates had twice as many patents and never stole a thing. He sat in a sound proof office thinking of ideas, according to Napoleon Hill. He used Creative Vision.
|
Elmer Gates the inventor, "Think and Grow Rich" and a key to success!
Quote:
Thanks for mentioning Elmer Gates... I didn't know much about Elmer Gates, so just did some reading. Apparently part of "Think and Grow Rich" is based on Elmer Gates's work (in particular, part of chapter 12 on developing your creativity)... Elmer Gates (as Joe says) was a prolific inventor, during the same time as Edison. He invented the foam fire extinguisher, plus a type of air-conditioner and many other inventions... You can read many of his books online... Check out http://www.elmergates.com and also http://www.emeralda.com/gates/ However, Gates seemed to die in poverty (according to this page)... In this, he reminds me a little of Nikola Tesla - another incredibly brilliant inventor, who however wasn't always the best at business. Edison, on the other hand, was a very successful businessman and entrepreneur. Edison started General Electric - also known as GE - now the 7th largest company in America (according to the Fortune 500). The lesson? Creativity is important, but you'll do best if you couple that with knowledge of business too! - Dien |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
S1ERRA,
Thanks for asking. Covet as found on Google "define: covet": # wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person); "She covets her sister's house" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn # A strong desire for something that does not belong to you. www.godonthe.net/dictionary/c.html All property that is not mine is, by default, someone elses - the business owner who sells it for example. People tend to buy only what they desire, only what they covet. If the item belongs to a business ower who is selling it we think nothing of it. But if the item belongs to someone who is not in business, our desire can lead us to... 1: Wrong action - theft. 2: Right action - the acquisition via standard means of trade (we buy it) and have thus kept up with the Joneses. Thus, there is nothing wrong with coveting as long as you do not take Wrong Action upon your desires. Michael Ross |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Sandi,
There is no need to call me names - "you're certainly dense" - just because you cannot answer a simple question. Your name calling reminds me of something Margaret Thatcher said, "if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." If you have no Reasoning to provide to explain Why you claim a certain way of living is the best way to live, when asked, and all you can do is call me a name (and my simple question as "nosey curiosity"), then don't bother posting. When you come to a publicly accessible place and say something, you should also be able to answer any questions about what you said. Michael Ross |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
What do you refer to when you say "the desire being described above"?
Quote:
|
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
Thanks, Michael. You just proved my point.
Sandi |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
HA! :)
My turn... how did I just prove your point? (But don't answer until you've answered my other question. hehe) Michael Ross |
Re: Was Robin Hood a good guy?
DENSE: impenetrable or thick-headed.
The dense would not understand, just like they won't understand this. No explanations just Sandi Bowman |
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:20 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin Version 3.6.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.