10/07(Tue.) Is Thanos a bad guy? (Host: Luis Ko)

[Luis Ko]

Hello everyone, this is Luis, the host on 10/7 meeting, in which we are going to discuss Thanos, the main antagonist (or protagonist) in the Marvel movie: Avengers 3: Infinity War. This topic is courtesy of David Jr. generosity. It's his topic years ago, but the introduction and discussion questions have been revised a little. I'm personally interested in controversial issues, and think Thanos and his ideology is exactly one of them. Of course it's better you guys know, and watched, the movie before coming to the meeting. If not, spoiler is inevitable, you can also recap the movie here. Hope you guys will enjoy the meeting.


Must-Read material:
Is Thanos Right About Killing People In 'Avengers: Infinity War'?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/ ... ded1ab1c58

Reference information if you have extra time:
World Population Clock: 7.7 Billion People (2019), 8.25 Billion People (2025 now)- Worldometers
http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

Thanos famous quotes:
https://movieweb.com/mcu-thanos-quotes/



Discussion Questions in Session 1:

1. How will you describe Thanos' personality or character in the movie Avengers: Infinity War?
** Is Thanos a hero or a villain?
** Does Thanos want or care to be treated as a hero?
** What made a hero and what made a villain?

2. With the great power of Infinity Gaunlet, Thanos' finger snap wiped out half of the universe's "all life", either animals or plants, in just seconds.
** What do you think about Thanos' ideology to rebalance the Universe?
Sometimes we hear the analogy that human population growth is likened to the spread of cancer cells.
** What's wrong with sacrificing a portion of life (esp. human beings) to rebalance the world (at least for a period of time)?

3. Human beings cull animals, or selectively kill them, to control disease outbreaks or population size. What do you think of that? Is there any difference from Thanos idea?? At the end of the day, do you agree Thanos is not a bad guy?


Discussion Questions in Session 2:

4. Do you think overpopulation is a problem? Do you think low birth rate is a problem? Why or Why not? If overpopulation is a problem, why are we worried about the birth rate declining? Wouldn't they contradict each other??

5. Instead of wiping out half population, if you could give Thanos advices to rethink how to use the power of Infinity Gauntlet, what will you suggest to Thanos?

6. There are some famous quotes from Thanos. Which one impresses you more? Mine is as below,
“I know what it’s like to lose. To feel so desperately that you’re right, yet to fail nonetheless.”
Please share yours and interpret them in your own way, or what are your interpretations of the above one??
How about this one, “You're not the only one cursed with knowledge.”!?

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Agenda:
6:45 ~ 7:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
7:00 ~ 7:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
7:10 ~ 7:45pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
7:45 ~ 8:00pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:00 ~ 8:05pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Taking a 5 Minutes Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
8:05 ~ 8:40pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
8:40 ~ 8:55pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:55 ~ 9:00pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements

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Meeting Date: As shown on the Subject Line
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Meeting Venue: 丹堤咖啡 Dante Coffee (Minimum Order $85)
Address: 台北市濟南路三段25號[MAP]-捷運忠孝新生站3號出口步行3分鐘

Important Notes:
1. We suggest that participants read the articles and think about the questions in advance.
2. Newcomers should prepare a two-to-three-minute self-introduction in English to deliver when called upon by the host before the start of the discussion.
3. We welcome newcomers and other guests to attend the meetings and join the discussion freely for three times. After that, we hope you will consider becoming a YoYo English Club member. We charge a NT$1000 lifetime membership fee, or NT$500 for students.