So today i'm going to embrace my inner pretentious git and class this blog up a bit with something considerably more high brow than killing cats and my opinions on the entertainment industry (and self depricating comments inserted within brackets). I'm going to talk about someone who may or may not existed, a man named Socrates, a man who was killed for pissing off the wrong people, by playing a game i like to call devils advocate.
I'll set the scene, this is the end of the golden age of Athens, this noble city has been beseiged and thoroughly defeated by the Spartans, and the athenians are looking for a scapegoat. Meanwhile Socrates in his infinite wisdom has been creating a new tradition, critisizing the state in the time of war. Now athenians, being a traditional, family values, heavily religious society obviously took umbrage to this and were pissed off.. Not only were they pissed off about this toga wearing upstart asking the wrong questions but they were also annoyed about his blasphemy. Socrates claimed he was on a mission from God. (He should be played by Dan Aykroyd if they make a movie about him.)
But i don't think it was a mission from God, i think he was just bored.
I think he was just bored of thoughless acceptance, because thoughtless acceptance is boring (and starts wars and removes civil liberties), and how did he alleviate his boredom? By playing devils advocate (or using the socratic method or whatever).
How do you play? I hear you ask, well it's very simple, first you have to see or hear a statement, do you have an opinion? Does it agree with the statement you just heard? Then throw it straight out because no one likes a circle jerk! Finally (and this is the hard part) you present a contrary view.
This is win/win, if you agree with the statement then it makes you seem more fair and balanced (and makes you feel cunning like a fox) and can even strengthen the statement you agree with. If you disagree then you get the fun of a heated arguement.
Just try not to end up with a black eye (or a stomach full of hemlock).
Also Devils Advocate home edition will be available for $19.99, call now and you geta free toga.
