Here is one of the most fascinating collections of profound truths and reasonable ideas which i've ever read:

The World Question Center [edge.org]

I'm amazed at how some people are able to not only arrive independently at an understanding which is generally true, but also to elucidate such truth in a way which is intelligible to most everyone else.

Have you ever thought of any of your own "laws" or principles?

I'm trying to find the best way to expound my own theory of Universal Irony. I'll let you know if i figure out exactly how to say it. So far, it goes something like this:

The more we learn about the universe, the more we realize that irony is one of its only consistencies. The more we think we understand, the more our observations diverge from our expectations.

...or something like that. :-)

From the introduction to John Brockman [edge.org]'s project:

There is some bit of wisdom, some rule of nature, some law-like pattern, either grand or small, that you've noticed in the universe that might as well be named after you. Gordon Moore has one; Johannes Kepler and Michael Faraday, too. So does Murphy.

Since you are so bright, you probably have at least two you can articulate. Send me two laws based on your empirical work and observations you would not mind having tagged with your name. Stick to science and to those scientific areas where you have expertise. Avoid flippancy. Remember, your name will be attached to your law.

I am asking members of the Edge community to take this project seriously as a public service, to work together to create a document that can be widely disseminated, that can stimulate discussion and the imagination.

It's hard to choose a "favorite" from the ideas he's assembled, but i think perhaps Damasio [edge.org]'s three laws were among the most elegant.

Ironically, i did note a small error in their presentation: they are listed as Damasio's First, Second, and Second Laws.

For a while there, I was convinced that everyone was equally stupid, just about different things.

But since then, I've been convinced of the infinite capacity for diversity of the humany race.

Other than that, I'd say that generally "You have more control over your life, more freedom, and more choice in everything than you think you do".

And, in the obscure reference category, "That which you make, belongs to you."

I have long been convinced that every perfect relationship consists of three individuals: The perfect couple and the guy/girl who gets left behind.

I built a law out of my experiences on Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG):

Law of MMOG

People suck, so all will MMOG suck.

From the world of civil engineering and sewage design comes a physical rule that can be applied elsewhere (perhaps at work?):

'The shit always flows downhill'

$80,000, please.

In Response to deerboy (#13501):

There's no denying the wisdom in this rule. Have you any "rules" or principles which you've concocted on your own? My question was meant to solicit original ideas. I'm not knocking your contribution, i'm just clarifying my intent.

Of course, it's terribly difficult to have truly original ideas, as most of what we think is either a composition of others' influences, and much of what seems original actually turns out to have been conceived earlier, whether or not people are aware of this. Truly new ideas often seem rare. I admit to having very few of my own. I'm not embarassed by this, as it seems to be normal; but i'd really like to improve upon the situation. :-)

Everything is either homogenious in nature.
There is no reaction. There is no cause. There is only what happens.. and everything is simply movement- and movement only exists because there is time. (And there are probably other properties that aren't important to us because they don't matter in the scheme of our survival.) Every part of everything is simply a Transfering of little parts of a big something.
Anything that ever happens or doesn't happen never really matters. There is no actual good. There is no actual bad.
-As everything truely is relative.
Because: How does anything that happens (mass killings, not getting a date, winning the lottery) really change anything in the universe? They don't. Time changes everything on a minor scale, but truely the universe as a whole is always the same. It has always been the same and will always remain the same. It simply moves within itself and therefore does not really change at all.

I suppose that is my first principle. Okay so its jumbled ideas. But they are my currrent ideas at hand..

My second ideal...
Drink lots of water. You're made of it..

In Response to Teledildonix (#13504):

To my memory, what I posted was original (as in I don't recall directly hearing it elsewhere). But I think you covered that point for me. The context adds to the humor, partially because it is true.

Truly new ideas often seem rare. I admit to having very few of my own. I'm not embarassed by this, as it seems to be normal; but i'd really like to improve upon the situation. :-)

I have found the best way to develop new ideas is to ask other people for them.

Ho ho. I make me laugh.

In Response to delight (#13509):

(All concieved change is purely selfish in essence. People Are delicate and while apparently intelligent, they think they will change the world. But this is only really true in the way that a plague may change a village. Not to say that anything can be destroyed because something can only be destroyed in concept. Everything is moved around. That's all. You can destroy the idea of a chair, but really all you are doing is moving the tiny pieces of the chair when you blow it up.. Everything is about movement... that's why you should drink water.. it is condusive to your movement.. and hydration.)

In Response to delight (#13511):

My dear, your eloquence isn't entirely easy to follow, but it sounds quite convincing. I want some of what you're smoking ;-)

In Response to Teledildonix (#13514):

Universal principles, well okay here goes nothing.

1. If you think you can't, you certainly won't.

2. If you think you can, it's 50/50.

3. If you know you can, why the hell are you wasting our time proving it?

Ok, I'll be the first to admit they're probably not very original, but then again originality is Highly overrated, better to hide amongst the sheep than get shot with the wolves.

If you do something differently than it has been done in the past, someone will complain.

In Response to Teledildonix (#13514):

I want some of what you're smoking ;-)

Hell, you're the one bogarting the Marinol.

I say: Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side
Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side
It a gonna burn, give me music make me jump and prance
It a go done, give me the music make me rock in the dance

In Response to Teledildonix (#13514):

your eloquence isn't entirely easy to follow

Bah! Eloquence-Smelloquence. I'm not majoring in studio art and literature to be able to communicate well...
It's all for the deeper enjoyment of comic books.. and because both majors give me an excuse to draw for any given presentation..

In Response to jon (#13533):

I say: Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side


I smoke two joints in the morning, I smoke two joints at night
I smoke two joints in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright
I smoke two joints in time of peace, and two in time of war
I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then I smoke two more

Oh, my daddy he once told me, "Son, you be hard working man"
My mama she once told me, "Son, you do the best you can"
But then one day I met a man who came to me and said
"Hard work good and hard work fine, but first take care of head"

But it's still not my bag, baby.

In Response to zamphir (#13537):

Zamphir, I am constantly amazed by the things you accomplish using ctrl+c and ctrl+v.

Wow.

In Response to deerboy (#13538):

Zamphir, I am constantly amazed by the things you accomplish using ctrl+c and ctrl+v.

Doesn't take much to amaze you, then?

And, really, it's nowhere near as clever as what you're able to do with acronyms. Those are just so keen!

In Response to jon (#13533):

bogarting

Pas du tout! I offered to share with everybody! (But i did have a momentary pang of anxiety when i realized that there were one or more minors participating in the discussion; so for legal purposes, i disclaim: "Just joking!", and for convivial purposes, i repeat: "Come on over and join(t) me, why dont'cha!")

Your rendition of Musical Youth's early 80s hit is a nostalgic treat. But when they said "Dutchie", weren't they referring to a Caribbean cauldron used to make stews and soups? Or am i as naive now as i was twenty years ago?

In Response to Magus (#13524):

There have been some good suggestions so far, but i think yours are especially wise.

An online friend [tvod.com] of mine from Manhattan suggested this: "The paradox is the ultimate simplicity."

In Response to Teledildonix (#13544):

"The paradox is the ultimate simplicity."

I like that. Clean, and concise. That's hitting somebody right in the brainpan with a two-by-four.
Did I mention I like it?

By the way,did he mention if the paradox of life is also the ultimate in simpilcity? If not, I like that one too.

In Response to Magus (#13545):

the paradox of life is also the ultimate in simp[li]city

Zoinks! You get full credit for that one, sir! I like its elegance.

In Response to Teledildonix (#13546):

Credit despite spelling errors, why my many thanks, and to smooth it over so neatly, how very pedantic of you, Hail Teledildonix, well met!

In Response to zamphir (#13540):

LOL

In Response to Teledildonix (#13543):

Or am i as naive now as i was twenty years ago?

Yes.

Cheers,
Graham