Re: piffle | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Silbury Hill 180

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Trespass on SSSI sites

Mustard Sep 5, 2012 12:52:56

Replying to Rhiannon

Rhiannon wrote:

But what's wrong with having different opinions? We don't have to call a halt to the discussion at all.

I think you want to stop the discussion because you don't want to elaborate on the who and why.

If you don't think it's black and white, then why not explain your more nuanced greyish view?

You might educate a few other people even if you can't change poor Nigel's mind.

And by provocatively speculating about reasons why I may not wish to continue debating, you're demonstrating exactly why I don't see much point in continuing - if a discussion's not productive, then there's no point, is there?

For the record, the very question of "who and why" is a leading, straw-man argument. It suggests the need for further definition and rules, which is entirely contrary to the point I was making - as Nigel well knows. I'm sure, for example, that there are people already visiting Skara Brae without permission. The world hasn't come to an end. Thousands of visitors haven't started flocking there after dark. The monument hasn't been damaged. By all means, debate amongst yourselves "who and why". Personally, I'm quite happy with the status quo, where rules aren't rigidly and blindly adhered to.

nigelswift Sep 5, 2012 13:07:42

Replying to Mustard

"Personally, I'm quite happy with the status quo, where rules aren't rigidly and blindly adhered to."

Its a strange status quo for you to support. You're saying youre happy the rule is there as it serves a good purpose and nearly everyone obeys it, except you.

Shouldnt you give EVERYONE your right to ignore it, in other words ditch it, rather than saying youre happy with it?

Rhiannon Sep 5, 2012 13:15:28

Replying to Mustard

Ok then, this is what I've inferred you mean. If you don't want to clarify then how can anyone know what you're really thinking?

who? = anyone who feels like it, including me. Except that I rely on everyone else not doing it, so that I can do it.
Why? = because I can go on these places without damaging them. And I'm really interested in them, unlike most of the visitors.

If everyone visiting applied those two answers to themselves there'd be a lot of people sitting in skara brae and climbing silbury, surely you can see that?
So why aren't there? Because people love rules? No! It's because people respect the monuments themselves and they don't want them ruined.

You depend on those people that "keep the rules" so you don't feel guilty, because their care for the monuments and ability to act in an unselfish, future-considering way enables you to be one of the few people who can do it so then claim you're not damaging it (much).

That is totally hypocritical, surely. You hate the rules (man) but you rely on them at the same time.