Salvage and "The Plan"

In another topic, David Leehumus(sp?) brought up the issue of salvage vs. stealing while reviewing the unfinished story "Survivors Guilt." He noted that salvage of human's waste is okay, which is something I'm inclined to disagree with.

To get this out of the way first, the story also brings up the issue of stealing knowledge from humans. I believe that knowledge is a shared commodity and that it's okay to learn from humans. After all, there's only so many ways you can reinvent the wheel. Knowledge is facts and it would be foolish not to use those facts and apply them.

However, when your goal is to be self-sufficient, you stick to it. The point is to be completely devoid of human dependence. By salvaging metal from the downed aircraft, you are still being dependent on humans regardless if it isn't technically stealing. If you lack something that you can't easily make yourself, you create a substitute. Use the knowledge you got from humans to create one.

The only way I can see salvage as acceptable is that if the humans can take the waste from the rats as a trade off and I can't see that happening.

Agree......disagree?

Salvage of Human's wastes? Oh, you mean like in Timmy to the Rescue! I definitely agree with you, stealing garbage is stealing, just like what common rats do.

BTW, what does (sp?) mean?

Steven

I'm inclined to agree. I think they wouldn't want anything to do with humans, and all their trappings.

(sp?) Simply means the spelling of that word may not be correct.

To clarify, my main problem isn't the fact that they're salvaging metal, it's that they've committed to a self-sufficient way of life and they should remain self-sufficient. Use the resources in the valley to create a substitute, but don't be tempted to leach off the work of humans.

I don't consider salvage as stealing, per-Se, it's like finding $100 on the ground that's been abandoned, it's not technically stealing.

Looks like I opened a can of worms here. (Bon appetit!)

I agree with SMT's points about knowledge being a shared commodity, and--to a point--about committing to self-sufficiency. I see no reason why the rats shouldn't make use of humans' cast-offs, at least for a while, UNTIL they advance and perfect their own manufacturing processes. In regards to the Gibbs story, I can imagine Arthur subscribing to this very philosophy.

I guess my view on this stems from a pet peeve of sorts that too many people think nothing of throwing away any variety of things that are still usable.

Looks like I opened a can of worms here. (Bon appetit!)

I agree with SMT's points about knowledge being a shared commodity, and--to a point--about committing to self-sufficiency. I see no reason why the rats shouldn't make use of humans' cast-offs, at least for a while, UNTIL they advance and perfect their own manufacturing processes. In regards to the Gibbs story, I can imagine Arthur subscribing to this very philosophy.

I guess my view on this stems from a pet peeve of sorts: that too many people think nothing of throwing away any variety of things that are still usable.

How about instead of putting resources into a dangerous metal expedition, you put resources into advancing your manufacturing processes or creating a substitute? The point of The Plan was to devoid of human dependence...yes, the idea came up because they were stealing practically everything from the farmer, but the point, in my opinion, is to remain self-sufficient. After all, the humans don't/didn't have the opportunity to take waste from other intelligent creatures, why should the rats be allowed to take advantage?

...Or they can use their-Jesus-miracle infused stone/amulet to create more metal, cure terminal illnesses and STDs, and bring Elvis back.

...Or they can use their-Jesus-miracle infused stone/amulet to create more metal, cure terminal illnesses and STDs, and bring Elvis back.

While they're at it, can they make the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy not suck, erase the Special Editions from History, and put the Original Theatrical versions on Blu-Ray?

Steven