Toeing the line vs. principled voting: Would you like to jump or take the elevator?

[Gravitycollapse]

Let's say you have a mass of people on the edge of a cliff. The group starts pushing each other towards the edge. A few conscious of this movement shove their way out of the pack and begin walking away to a separate portion of the cliff. They construct a roped elevator system that allows one person to lower the other to the bottom safely.

Well, the cliff-jumpers finally realize what's happening and they all turn around and say:

"Hey! Look at those ridiculous fools! How are they both going to get down with that elevator?"

"If more of you joined us, the elevator could be made more effective. We could make it better. You won't have to jump."

"Hey, hey, hey. If you don't follow us off this cliff, you're really hurting the group. The more bodies we have landing at the bottom to form a cushion, the more likely those who land on top will survive. WE NEED YOUR COMMITMENT."

Sure, the group's argument is sound as long as we agree on a basic premise. That is, jumping off the cliff is better than taking the extra effort to participate in the elevator system.

It's easy to observe that the cliff jumping is the ridiculous choice, that those who jump are condemning themselves and those who walk away to safety are not the least bit responsible for the other's fate. After all, the elevator users have presented a feasible alternative to jumping off the cliff. It won't be as direct, it might take a lot of work in the end, but we all get to our destination in relative safety.

The argument from the cliff jumpers becomes necessarily silly. If they would simply come to their senses and turn around before it's too late, much could be saved. Hell, if a lot of the cliff jumpers came to the aid of the elevator users, more elevators could be constructed. The process of descending would be hastened and, eventually, we'd all be at the bottom in one piece.


When a method is only silly or fruitless because it lacks your participation, and your participation would make it superior to another method, then the logical choice would be to participate and turn it around.

[JHB]

1. I think you need to find a better allusion

The one you're using detracts from your point by being simply absurd.

[Gravitycollapse]

4. It's suppose to be somewhat absurd to accentuate the important points of the argument.

Of course, the allusion is cartoonish. And that is part of the process of presenting my argument.

[BOG PERSON]

8. whats the OP an allusion to?

n.t

[struggle4progress]

2. um ... yeah ... well ... don't quit the day job to become a political commentator yet

[Gravitycollapse]

3. I've been anticipating your arrival.

Your personal attack is noted. Thanks for playing.

[struggle4progress]

5. And thank you for painting those of us who work for voting rights as cliff jumpers!

[Gravitycollapse]

6. You don't have a monopoly on the fight for voting rights. Sorry.

You don't get to own progressive ideals.

[struggle4progress]

7. Of course not. But I will nevertheless try to encourage people to think straight and not cloud minds

with gobble-de-gook

[MFrohike]

9. Is there a point to this?

It has the feeling of an inside joke minus the humor part.

[winter is coming]

13. There are only two options and both of them lead downwards?

[MFrohike]

15. Hahaha

Maybe it really is an inside joke!

[quinnox]

10. Meanwhile, I would be watching with a smirk, and then going down the stairs at the back of the cliff

that were slightly hidden.

[Gravitycollapse]

11. Communist.

[quinnox]

12. hehe

[winter is coming]

14. Screw that, I'm taking the Super Secret Slide! n/t

[Gravitycollapse]

16. Fascist.