A very interesting read with my Sunday morning cup of coffee. Thanks!
"... we are experiencing the consequences of good intentions augmented with helpings of opportunism and wishful thinking." Indeed, but I can't help thinking that the latter of the three has become much more prevalent lately. Some people seem to be quite untethered to reality, inhabiting a distinctly imaginary, or virtual world. Not being able to distinguish between the real and the imaginary is the definition of psychosis, and some of them strike me as being somewhat ... unwell.
I agree - we do seem to be at one of those every-so-often periods of history when a mass psychosis takes hold. It's disconcerting, isn't it?
What's also disconcerting is the fact you, quite rightly, remind me of my shortcomings - specifically, the absence thus far of the companion piece to this one. Genuinely, thank you for the reminder. My problem is that I noodle these issues around so much that I sometimes lose track of where I'm going. Olad age, I think. So thank you for your nudge.
To be honest, I did not notice that part 2 was missing, I simply took your word for it and thought "I'll have to leave that for later..." :-)
I'm more of a doer than a thinker so there's only so much abstract thought I'm able to digest in one sitting. This is both a blessing and a curse, I guess ... but mostly a blessing. Here's how I think, for instance regarding mass psychosis formation (ref. M. Desmet): "It's disconcerting, isn't it?" ... well, yes. But in a way; not so much for me. Let me explain: I have inadvertently been protected from this madness by my personality: ornery, difficult and unsociable -- my patience with most people is distinctly limited. I've also been shielded by my choice of work; I deal with material practicalities. In my world, the sap still rises in spring and the leaves still fall in autumn. Wood predictably expands and contracts in relation to ambient humidity. This type of knowledge is timeless and roots me in reality. It makes the world a predictable place, and my mastery of this knowledge makes me secure in the world. When I see a video of a young, confused person who does not know which gender they will manifest come lunch-time I just feel pity for 'they' and anger at a society that has deliberately fostered these misconceptions. I sense that confused, young people are being badly manipulated by deeply malicious actors. There is nothing I can do about it but try to preserve sanity, knowledge and sound judgement in my own little world -- and try to pass it on before I do.
This madness too will burn itself out. They will flap and flail, making much noise and commotion, but eventually they will tire ... having achieved nothing but destruction and vainglorious victories, and destruction is just a species of futility.
The cerebral world is distracted by all this spectacle, but the real world is unassumingly going about its business; being born, growing, fading, dying ... again and again, unstoppably. This is the way of the world -- the rest is at best amusing distractions.
Wow! Just wow! That is one of the finest expressions of common sense that I have ever read. You have made kind comments about my writing - permit me to return the compliment.
A very interesting read with my Sunday morning cup of coffee. Thanks!
"... we are experiencing the consequences of good intentions augmented with helpings of opportunism and wishful thinking." Indeed, but I can't help thinking that the latter of the three has become much more prevalent lately. Some people seem to be quite untethered to reality, inhabiting a distinctly imaginary, or virtual world. Not being able to distinguish between the real and the imaginary is the definition of psychosis, and some of them strike me as being somewhat ... unwell.
Looking forward to reading part 2 :-)
I agree - we do seem to be at one of those every-so-often periods of history when a mass psychosis takes hold. It's disconcerting, isn't it?
What's also disconcerting is the fact you, quite rightly, remind me of my shortcomings - specifically, the absence thus far of the companion piece to this one. Genuinely, thank you for the reminder. My problem is that I noodle these issues around so much that I sometimes lose track of where I'm going. Olad age, I think. So thank you for your nudge.
To be honest, I did not notice that part 2 was missing, I simply took your word for it and thought "I'll have to leave that for later..." :-)
I'm more of a doer than a thinker so there's only so much abstract thought I'm able to digest in one sitting. This is both a blessing and a curse, I guess ... but mostly a blessing. Here's how I think, for instance regarding mass psychosis formation (ref. M. Desmet): "It's disconcerting, isn't it?" ... well, yes. But in a way; not so much for me. Let me explain: I have inadvertently been protected from this madness by my personality: ornery, difficult and unsociable -- my patience with most people is distinctly limited. I've also been shielded by my choice of work; I deal with material practicalities. In my world, the sap still rises in spring and the leaves still fall in autumn. Wood predictably expands and contracts in relation to ambient humidity. This type of knowledge is timeless and roots me in reality. It makes the world a predictable place, and my mastery of this knowledge makes me secure in the world. When I see a video of a young, confused person who does not know which gender they will manifest come lunch-time I just feel pity for 'they' and anger at a society that has deliberately fostered these misconceptions. I sense that confused, young people are being badly manipulated by deeply malicious actors. There is nothing I can do about it but try to preserve sanity, knowledge and sound judgement in my own little world -- and try to pass it on before I do.
This madness too will burn itself out. They will flap and flail, making much noise and commotion, but eventually they will tire ... having achieved nothing but destruction and vainglorious victories, and destruction is just a species of futility.
The cerebral world is distracted by all this spectacle, but the real world is unassumingly going about its business; being born, growing, fading, dying ... again and again, unstoppably. This is the way of the world -- the rest is at best amusing distractions.
Wow! Just wow! That is one of the finest expressions of common sense that I have ever read. You have made kind comments about my writing - permit me to return the compliment.
Hmmm ... sometimes I surprise myself.
PLUS ... I did flag "The Outsourcing of Society" as the companion piece to this one. Phew!