Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id TAA00975 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 27 May 2002 19:21:14 +0100 User-Agent: Microsoft-Entourage/9.0.2509 Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 19:12:51 +0100 Subject: Re: Bracing for Yucca Mountain's Nuclear Forever From: Steve Drew <sd014a6399@blueyonder.co.uk> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Message-ID: <B91811A4.423%sd014a6399@blueyonder.co.uk> Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi.
Scott:
>Maybe warning signs featuring snakes and spiders could work somehow, but
>there's not much vagueness in a good old-fashioned skull and crossbones.
>Wouldn't this symbol tend to convey a message of danger that crosses
>cultural and historical divides?
And Kenneth:
>OTOH, it must be understood even though the species which survives
>isn 't that smart, than Scotts skull and crossbones would suffice, although
>in some cultures magical powers are attached to them.
>Anyway, something to think about
My first thought was the same - a skull of some sort.
I see problems. Part of humanities early history seems to indicate the use
of skulls in ancestor worship. The killing fields of Cambodia have been
replaced by reminders of the tragedy in the shape of of mounds of bones in
glass cases which have become shrines as well as a warning, and IIRC isn't
there a church whose interior is decorated using human bones?
The final point is this. Put a warning sign up that is only partially
understood, such as 'Danger!' but nothing more, instead of 'Danger Of
Certain Death!' and someone will deliberately go and look!
So what is needed, as Kenneth points out, is the idea of death that is
universal. A tough one!
Regards
Steve
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