{"id":10249,"date":"2015-07-25T02:26:45","date_gmt":"2015-07-25T02:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/daylightatheism\/?page_id=10249"},"modified":"2015-07-25T02:26:45","modified_gmt":"2015-07-25T02:26:45","slug":"iii-i-13","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/daylightatheism\/series\/atlas-shrugged\/the-cobra-commander-dialogues\/iii-i-13\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cobra Commander Dialogues: III.I.13"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Originally posted on Atlas Shrugged: Hume\u2019s Meadow<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Cobra Commander:<\/b> So no conflict?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> None whatsoever.
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Well not before I showed up at least.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Touch\u00e9, but yes, otherwise objectively speaking no conflict.
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Pizza toppings.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> We all go with pepperoni, objectively the best.
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> The best way to handle the conflict in the middle east?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> We all collectively don\u2019t care.
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> But how can you always be sure you\u2019ll always agree on everything?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Well it\u2019s simple. As rationally minded people, the moment a truth becomes obvious to us we merely accept that truth and move on. And since everything in the world, including all levels of interpersonal interaction, has an objectively correct answer. It only takes people who are intelligent enough to be able to comprehend it when it is presented to be able to make a perfect not-society.
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> And what defines this\u2026 \u2018objectively correct\u2019 answer of yours?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Why whatever is best for me of course!
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Well let\u2019s put that to the test shall we?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Why\u2026 did you pull a gun out?
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> You and\u2026 hmmm\u2026 that Judge fellow, we\u2019re going to have a little game.
\nJudge Narragansett:<\/b> I um\u2026 think it would be in my best interest if someone else played this\u2026 game of yours?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Yes it would be in mine too!
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Oh come come Judge, I\u2019ve just been told you\u2019re not doing anything else. And Mr. Galt\u2026 this game can end with you not being shot so certainly someone as intelligent as you will figure out how to get there. And look, just to be sporting\u2026 and because I want to make this last\u2026 I\u2019ll be sure all my shots are nonlethal. I\u2019ve got a lot of practice at it. Fair enough?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Fine\u2026 I\u2019ll play your little game, and Judge Narragansett will too!
\n<\/b>Judge Narragansett:<\/b> I\u2019m not so sure I\u2026
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Splendid! The rules are simple. I\u2019ve got a hand behind my back, and I\u2019m holding up either one or two fingers. You get to guess, and if you guess wrong, I shoot you in the leg.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> What!? I\u2026 I thought you were going to make us play the Prisoner\u2019s Dilemma or\u2026
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Oh please, you think life is so kind as to always feed you the information? You yourself have admitted that when new people come to this valley of yours they bring inventions and ideas you don\u2019t know about. So even in your own twisted fantasy world you don\u2019t all have perfect knowledge. Sometimes you have to deal with a situation in which you don\u2019t know everything.
\nJudge Narragansett:<\/b> But this isn\u2019t fair! There\u2019s no way to win! You\u2019ll just cheat!
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Oh definitely, I actually can promise you I will cheat. It\u2019s sort of the point here. But there is a sure fire way to win, I can\u2019t believe you haven\u2019t seen it.
\nJudge Narragansett:<\/b> To\u2026 ask very nicely to be let back to the dinner party?
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Of course not! You just have the other player guess first. If you assume I\u2019m going to cheat and say they\u2019re wrong no matter what they pick, I\u2019ll shoot them and then you pick the other choice and you win.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Of course. Well\u2026 Judge\u2026 I think you should be up first.
\nJudge Narragansett:<\/b> What!? Why should I be first!?
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Well\u2026 you know\u2026 I\u2019m very important to running this place and if my leg was crippled it would be very bad for you\u2026
\nJudge Narragansett:<\/b> Having my leg shot would be very bad for me!
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Yes but surely not so bad as having my leg shot. I mean think of how amazing I am! I\u2019m surely more valuable to you than your ability to walk.
\nJudge Narragansett:<\/b> But if I can\u2019t walk\u2026 how will I\u2026 um. .. arbitrate\u2026. I mean\u2026 if\u2026 if anyone ever needs it\u2026 and\u2026 and they couldn\u2019t just come to my house\u2026 I\u2026.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Quit dithering and guess already!
\nJudge Narragansett:<\/b> Fine! Two fingers!
\n*BLAM*
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Oh sorry, you guessed wrong. Good try though, better luck next time.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> I think he\u2019s passed out from the pain.
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Oh I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be fine. Really though if you\u2019re plotting to overthrow the world governments you really should be prepared to be shot at least once. Rather disappointing.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> Ha, One finger!
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Brilliant play!
\n*BLAM*
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> YOU SHOT ME!?
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Sorry about that, you lost. I was actually holding up three fingers.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> YOU SAID YOU WOULD ONLY HOLD UP ONE OR TWO!
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Yes and I also explicitly said I would cheat, I just cheated in a way you didn\u2019t expect. I also made it clear that this game would mirror a reality where you didn\u2019t always have all the answers to everything, it\u2019s like you don\u2019t even listen to me sometimes.
\nJohn Galt:<\/b> YOU SHOT ME!
\nCobra Commander:<\/b> Oh whine whine whine. You have the \u2018best doctor in the world\u2019 don\u2019t you? Little pain is worth the life lesson I think. Oh and now he\u2019s passed out too. Well, better go get the medic. I\u2019m certainly not done with this lesson just yet.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally posted on Atlas Shrugged: Hume\u2019s Meadow. Cobra Commander: So no conflict? John Galt: None whatsoever. Cobra Commander: Well not before I showed up at least. John Galt: Touch\u00e9, but yes, otherwise objectively speaking no conflict. Cobra Commander: Pizza toppings. John Galt: We all go with pepperoni, objectively the best. Cobra Commander: The best way […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1308,"featured_media":0,"parent":9712,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10249","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Cobra Commander Dialogues: III.I.13 - Daylight Atheism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Originally posted on Atlas Shrugged: Hume's Meadow. Cobra Commander: So no conflict? John Galt: None whatsoever. 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