Alicorn comments on Our society lacks good self-preservation mechanisms - Less Wrong

12 [deleted] 12 July 2009 09:26AM

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Comment author: Alicorn 18 July 2009 09:03:02PM 3 points [-]

It's hardly without precedent to give people backup plans for what to do if they break rules:

  • "Don't you dare go to a party where there is any alcohol, young lady! But if you do, and you get drunk, for the love of God call me and I'll pick you up, don't drive!"

  • "Do not do anything that would cause you to get set on fire. If you do, stop, drop, and roll."

  • "Don't wear socks with sandals. But if you must, at least have them be short socks, not knee-length jobs in a heavy fabric."

  • "Don't drink the water there - if you do, boil it first."

Comment author: thomblake 18 July 2009 09:14:13PM 2 points [-]

But the Church expects people to be perfect, and isn't particularly concerned about minimizing harm in the case that you break the rules. Picture this conversation:

"Don't have sex before marriage, and don't use condoms"

"Okay, no sex before marriage. But what if I do, then should I use a condom?"

"What do you mean, what if I do? Don't do it at all. Have zero sex before marriage. Also, don't use condoms. It's simple."

"Oh, okay. So avoid having sex before marriage, and if I do have sex before marriage, then I shouldn't use a condom."

...

The sorts of rules you cite make sense when you're trying to minimize physical harms. When your job is protecting the immortal souls of people, that's a secondary concern at best.

"Don't do something that damns your immortal soul to an eternity of torment. But if you do, make sure you wear a sweater" makes about as much sense in this context.