Vincent Law writes: “There has to be a common framework of symbols, of shared meanings or past historical experience to rely on. People have to have a shared conception of who/what they are to begin any meaningful debate over the merits of one course of action or another. Furthermore, there has to be a collective feeling that everyone is more or less in the same boat, and is arguing in good faith for the good of the tribe.
How can you have even begin to have a debate with a foreign tribe? They don’t have your best interests at heart. They have theirs. Your debate immediately transforms into a negotiation..and eventually you’re just haggling over the terms of the Danegeld.”
