Orion Empire and Free Will

[EvolvingPhoenix]

As far as not getting 'personal', I guess there's a distinction between historical figures (i.e. dead people) vs those still here. Of course it gets tricky when those deceased are close to the institution, but there are lessons to be learned from their actions as they are inextricably tied to the material. So I guess it's a matter of being respectful.

Maybe. But whether you consider something "respectful" or not is still subject to oersonal bias. Because somebody might mean no disrespect, but dispassionately call a spade a spade and put forth the assertion that someone is a sociopath, not really intending it as an insult, just a matter of fact. And that may offend. So if you CHOOSE to get offended by an observation and take it as an attack, then you may choose to project a lack of respect onto it. Tell me, what is the respectful way of addressing an elephant in the room and pointing out so ebody's sociopathic tendencies? I have noticed that "respect" has been used as an excuse to enforce tyrranical impositions on peoples' speech, thinking, beliefs and even moral decisions since the dawn of human civilization.

For example, let's take the highly authoritarian philosophy of Confuscious and his idea known as filial piety. According to this idea, you must show proper "respect" to figures deemed by society to be authority figures by oneying their co,mands unconditionally, even if you disagree. Oh, you are allowed to disagree with the decision and vkice your disenting opinion, but must obey anyway, even if you find it morally repugnant. You know, out of "respect"

And of course, if one finds something wrong with this philosophy of "respect" through unconditional obedience, one must "respect" the cultural differences of thkse who espouse it by not assertig it to be a morally inferior philosophy to one which espouses critical thinking and acting in accordance with one's own moral philosophy, even when it opposes the demands of authority figures. You know, because asserting unconditiomal obedience to be an inferior philosophy means you have "disrespected" another cukture and are therefor xenophobic.

This is just an example. I have said it before, and I shall say it again: manners are frequently used as a tool to silence dissent and police peoples' behaviour into conforming with unhealthy status quos, because even pointing put the flaws of a flawed norm, belief, influential figure, philosophy or system is considered "disrespectful" and therefor a punishable offense.

So what is then "respectful" way to address such an elephant in the room?

Because in my view, it's a pretty big elephant.