Criminalizing Stupidity? Is that stupid or what?



How interesting.. I just read this morning that the European Union is about to criminalize certain types of thought and speech. In this article you can read the story about how anyone who trivializes or denies in any way the holocaust can be sent to jail for their thought crime. Now, personally, I don't deny the holocaust. After all, I am not a particularily stupid, uninformed, or generally ignorant person. However, a lot of people in this world are.

This got me thinking.. What if we criminalize similarly ignorant thought and speech? Remember when Galileo was sent to prison for his heretical ideas? Maybe now it is finally time for a little turn-about fair play.

I recommend some of the following.

Why not send to jail anyone who believes the entire Universe was created 6,000 years ago?

Or, how about we jail anyone who denies the basic facts about evolution?

What if we criminalize speech that attempts to damn the majority of the population to hell?

Why not criminalize books which suggest God commits wholesale genocide? The Old Testament really has got to be stopped don't you think?

What if we criminalize people who say that the 'rapture' is about to happen?

Man, if we begin to criminalize stupidity what a wonderful world this could be...

The future is so bright I gotta wear shades....

Comments

Anonymous said…
That is insane! With the way everyone has been attacking video games lately we will go to jail for playing them, and you will be like some cult leader for creating them!
10:53 AM
Anonymous said…
Hi John!

Just wanted to say, "Tag you're it!"

http://adelecaelia.blogspot.com/2007/04/bah-bildo-only-hobbit-would-be-quick.html

Welcome to blog tag!
11:12 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Planetside Screenshots

Image
I realize that this post is going to cause some Web-Wiplash, but I think that is ok. For years I have held onto some old Planetside screenshots that I wanted to post online some day. After scouring an old hard drive yesterday these are the ones I came up with. Still, I know I am missing many of the screenshots I really wanted to keep. Especially ones from when the game was very early in development. I designed the entire client side game engine myself and I had a lot of fun during the development process. One of my regrets is that, in many respects, the final game did not look nearly as visually impressive as it did at certain points during development. There were a number of reasons for this. One was from a technology stand point. Most developers of an MMO game engine might assume it would be reasonable to stream data in as a player moved around the environment. That was certainly my original design. However, once the game got into heavy beta testing there was a strong push to get eve
Read more

Ten Reasons *NOT* to become a Freemason

Image
"Why I became (and proudly remain) an 'antient' Freemason" Well, I see no reason I cannot make a Freemason themed post. Last evening I attended a third degree at Naphtali lodge. It was my candidate being raised, my friend William Bean. It was an incredible night, especially since we had 28 Master Masons present for the event which was held at the incredible Masonic Temple in midtown Saint Louis. My friends Right Worshipful Brother Chris Neubold, Russ Tinker, Densel Webb, and Fred Statler drove down all of the way from Wentzville and Troy; over an hour drive each way. I acted as the Senior Steward and Junior Deacon for the ceremony. This was the largest gathering of Masons we have had in as long as anyone could remember for a degree. It is so very gratifying to see Naphtali growing and area members supporting the lodge. After the degree Jesse's wife Meryl provided a lovely dinner in the dining room where we shared fellowship and conversation. All of this had me thi
Read more

How to become a Freemason?

Image
I decided to make a post this evening based on an analysis of blog track-backs to this site. Over the past month or so I get a significant amount of traffic every day from people who type in any one of the following search phrases: "How to become a Freemason" "Why become a Freemason" "Why not to become a Freemason" I suppose this blog has been around long enough that it is slowly moving up the search rankings on Google. I have written on this topic in the past but I want to start fresh here. I decided I would provide some simple basic answers without resorting to lame attempts at sarcasm or humor. "How to become a Freemason?" Well, the standard answer is 'ask one'. Of course, that can be hard to do if you don't know one. Seriously, the best way to 'become' a Freemason is to ask someone who is a Freemason. You will generally be amazed at their positive response. If you don't know any Freemasons, well it is about time you di
Read more