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Topic: Guest book (Read 2,776 times)

Chris Davis
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Guest book
« Thread Started on Oct 21, 2003, 5:33pm »

Post your comments on Idle Theory here by clicking on

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Of course I like it. I would, wouldn't I?

Chris Davis

« Last Edit: Oct 21, 2003, 5:37pm by Chris Davis »

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graham sickhappyidle
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #1 on Nov 15, 2003, 6:57pm »

hi

i've add "idle theory" on my links on our site for ages, maybe 18 months? time flies. it's in the graham/links section, but seeing as the site has grown i think i'll move it into our sites main links section, so more people can take a look - if they can be bothered

here's a link to our site... drop by and sign the guestbook et cetera...

www.sickhappyidle.com

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Chris Davis
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #2 on Nov 16, 2003, 10:32am »

Hi graham,

I noticed sickhappyidle about a year back, and I put a link back to its linking page in my "echoes from cyberspace" page. I always link back to anyone who links to me, if and when I discover them.

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tusko
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #3 on May 1, 2004, 7:36am »

Hi Mr Chris. Nice site, and well written too, but you probably knew that already.

I like the perspective afforded by idle theory. After a cursory reading of some of your articles, it seems to me to have considerable contemporary relevance, especially for an apparently unsustainable society such as ours.

Also, it appears (perhaps erroniously) that you're a bit of a Malthus man, which is nice to see. I studied him a little when I was doing my MA last year about 18th century fear of social collapse (specifically focussing on the mid-century charities set up to combat the dreaded forces of decay). He's a very interesting figure, and the relevance of his writing for evolutionary theory is quite apparent.

Furtherrmore, its refreshing to see someone on the internet (who doesn't appear to be a scary biblical innerrantist) write with iconoclastic intent when it comes to Darwin.

In short, keep up the good work. Its a bit sad that this site hasn't attracted more interest. Go back to the univerisity department and knock some heads together!

Steve

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Chris Davis
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #4 on May 1, 2004, 9:42am »

Hi Steve,

I like the perspective afforded by idle theory. After a cursory reading of some of your articles, it seems to me to have considerable contemporary relevance, especially for an apparently unsustainable society such as ours.

I hope it's relevant, though I've yet to seriously address the problems of contemporary society. Somehow or other it's easier to deal with the remote past than with the rather more complex present day.

But in general I guess my view is that these days we all work far too hard, with many of us obliged to earn our living by making and selling luxuries. Rather than use our technology to minimize effort, we use it to maximize output, and therefore maximize resource depletion, pollution, stress, and any number of other ills. If we could simply shut back the overworking engine of the economy to idling, we'd achieve a sustainable society at one step.

Also, it appears (perhaps erroniously) that you're a bit of a Malthus man, which is nice to see.... He's a very interesting figure, and the relevance of his writing for evolutionary theory is quite apparent.

I think Malthus is a very interesting figure, and a very important one. But he was concerned to set people to work, which is quite the opposite of Idle Theory. But he was a considerable thinker nonetheless.

Furtherrmore, its refreshing to see someone on the internet (who doesn't appear to be a scary biblical innerrantist) write with iconoclastic intent when it comes to Darwin.

Yes, I'm an iconoclast when it comes to Darwin. And I'm certainly no biblical inerrantist. I've used Malthus as a stick with which to beat Darwin, but I'm always looking for bigger and better sticks. I dearly wish the theory of evolution could be extricated from the grasp of Darwin. Of perhaps the three major figures from a century or so back - Marx, Freud, and Darwin -, only Darwin continues to enjoy an enduring (and in my view quite unjustified) stature.

In short, keep up the good work. Its a bit sad that this site hasn't attracted more interest. Go back to the univerisity department and knock some heads together!

My university days are long over. But I was anyway left with the impression that universities are deeply conservative institutions. It's instructive, perhaps, to recall that neither Marx nor Freud nor Darwin were academics.

Cheers,

Chris Davis

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jabel
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #5 on Jul 16, 2004, 1:19pm »

Dear Chris Davis,

Just the thought of your web presence is a moral booster to me.

I have had the link in my favourites for years.
To me it relates to the need to abolish "economic conscription" via the evolutionary social idea of an unconditional "guranteed subsistence income" for every human alive.

I am pleased to see that you have enhanced this website since my last visit.

Janos Abel
-----
Evolution is happening here and now;
The capacity for foresight in the human species is its latest innovation.

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Chris Davis
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #6 on Jul 17, 2004, 4:23pm »

Dear Janos,

Just the thought of your web presence is a moral booster to me. I have had the link in my favourites for years.

Why, thank you!

To me it relates to the need to abolish "economic conscription" via the evolutionary social idea of an unconditional "guranteed subsistence income" for every human alive.

It does indeed relate, and I have discussed the idea several times with people like Brian Dean of Anxiety Culture http://www.anxietyculture.com/, who is an advocate of that approach. While I find the idea attractive, I am yet to be persuaded that one can supply a guaranteed subsistence income for all without guaranteed subsistence work by all.

I guess that the kind of economic system I would like to see is one in which there is a primary and highly egalitarian economy in which everyone does a minimum of work to support subsistence. The rest of their time they can do as they like, including working in a secondary and non-egalitarian economy to make and trade luxuries and amusements to increase their perceived 'standard of living'.

I am pleased to see that you have enhanced this website since my last visit.

Yes, these days I add updates fairly regularly. These are usually listed in the 'updates' at the bottom right of Idle Theory's front page.

Regards,

Chris Davis

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Fred Coleman
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #7 on Jul 23, 2004, 8:29am »

Hi chris we just met as it were through the wanadoo forum ,I will have to comment on your site at a later date when I have studied it. Good luck. Sign my GB if you so wish
http://www.wawwa.co.uk

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Janos
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #8 on Feb 11, 2006, 7:06pm »

Quote:

Dear Chris,

This is just to tell you that I am still with you in thought, and to reaffirm our acquaintance.

I am also pleased to see the continuing presence of your ideas in cyberspace.

It was a nice surprise also to find a reference to Idle Theory at http://go.webassistant.com.

Janos Abel
-----
Evolution is happening here and now;
The capacity for foresight in the human species is its latest innovation.

PS
Not quite sure why I can only log in as a guest

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Chris Davis
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #9 on May 28, 2006, 9:26am »

Due to excess spam (all of which has been deleted), these threads are now locked.

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Chris Davis
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #10 on Jan 8, 2007, 9:36pm »

Given increased recent traffic, I've now unlocked the threads. It should now be possible for members to post messages again. Hope the spammers don't come back.

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JS
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #11 on Aug 6, 2008, 10:47pm »

Hi, I just happened to randomly come across your idle theory essays...not even sure what led me to them. I especially enjoy your discussion of the distinction between primary and secondary economy. It's indeed absurd that when we've created tools that allow us to work less, we then don't work less, but instead just produce more...

Anyhow, don't have much intelligent to say, but wanted to leave an appreciative note for the work you've done. I'm glad to see some rigor applied to my favorite topic

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Chris Davis
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #12 on Aug 30, 2008, 7:44am »

Thanks, JS.

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VS
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #13 on Jul 15, 2009, 2:37am »

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zealotforliberty
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Re: Guest book
« Reply #14 on Jul 16, 2009, 9:44pm »

FINALLY!

I agree with everything I've heard you say on this site about idle theory, especially how it pertains to ethics and economics. Have you written or published a book about it? Have you heard of the zeitgeist movement? I'm not sure that I'd say I'm part of it, but it seems like something you'd want to check out.
What do think of the idea that economic conscription could be obviated by a "dual currency" - one set of bills and coins designed to be traded in the primary subsistence ethic/economy, another set to be traded in the secondary idleness ethic/economy? That's one of my crazy ideas, don't know if it's ever been tried.

Anyway, thanks for doing all the work to bring this theory to people, I'm sure I'll enjoy reading the rest of it, and it seems like I'll learn a lot too.

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