Yes, it is indeed a turbulent world which we currently occupy. But in light of recent posts presented, I wanted to ask: if rules and regulations were suddenly (and inexplicably) obliterated, how long do you think it would take before we’d revert to a downright savage society? (perhaps reminiscent of the cave man era)
The Wild West was one example, and even with that era, there was still some small semblance of sanity. Or was there?
Do you think we’d still even attempt to maintain a civil society, or would it all go to hell in a handbasket?
Got this in an e mail a little while ago - think it might be fitting:
An Obituary printed > in the London > Times > Today we mourn the > passing of a > beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with > us for many years. No > one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth > records were long ago > lost in bureaucratic red tape. > > He will be remembered as having > cultivated such valuable lessons > as: > Knowing when to come > in out of the > rain; > Why the early bird gets the worm; > Life isn't always fair; > > and maybe it was my fault. > > Common Sense lived by simple, sound > financial policies (don't spend more than you can > earn) and reliable > strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). > > His health began > to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but > overbearing > regulations were set in > place: > > Reports of a 6-year-old boy > charged with sexual harassment for kissing a > classmate; > teens > suspended from school for using mouthwash after > lunch; > and a teacher > fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only > worsened his condition. > > > Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for > doing > the job that they themselves had failed to do in > disciplining their unruly > children. > > It declined even further when schools we re required to > get parental consent to administer sunscreen or > an Aspirin to a > student; but could not inform parents when a student > became pregnant and > wanted to have an abortion. > > Common Sense lost the will to live as > the churches became businesses; and criminals > received better treatment > than their victims. > > Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't > defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and > the burglar could sue > you for assault.. > > Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, > after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup > of coffee was hot. > She spilled a little in her lap, and was > promptly awarded a huge > settlement. > > Common Sense was preceded in death > by his parents, > Truth and Trust; > by his wife, Discretion; > by his daughter, > Responsibility and > by his son, Reason. > > He is survived by his 4 > stepbrothers: > I Know My Rights > I Want It Now > Someone Else Is > To Blame > I am a Victim > > Not many attended his funeral > because so few realized he was gone. > > If you still remember him, > pass this on. > > If > not, > > > join the majority > and do > > nothing. > >
It would take about 15 minutes in some places; a couple of months in others. But I mostly agree with okhela that we live in a savage society now - I know I don't feel safe anymore.
sassysatin : I really enjoyed what you wrote. Everything mentioned is so true. Long Live "common sense". I sometimes wonder how, where and when we went wrong? Can anything be done, or is it too far gone?
okhela & KellyALee: I know what you both are saying but for me its not quite that bad. However, I will say, with each passing day I become more and more disenchanted with the human race and quite frustrated as what one person(s) can do to try to make things better. It just seems like the inmates are running the asylum. Is that how it feels to you too?
Isn't the implementation of a system of law the hallmark of civilization? As I said in the other thread, civilization is merely a thin veneer over human nature. It only works if there's enough food & resources to afford the leisure time for a few people to devote to organization & higher thinking. Have you ever considered exactly how long we've had "civilization" or how it even came to be? In the 14th century so many people died of the plague (30-60%) & the rest were so busy just trying to live, that that period of time is considered a societal collapse in Western Europe when little significant cultural progress was made. And this was *after* civilization had already been established for thousands of years.
Survival is by far the strongest instinct any living thing has. Does anyone doubt that they would do whatever was necessary to ensure the survival of their family, or themselves? If a group of people threatened you & your family with violence, then attempted to take all the food, blankets, & medicine your family had, what would you be prepared to do? That's how evolution works. Enough books have been written & enough movies made about apocalyptic events, & none of the stories end in a Utopian society. I think Stephen King's book The Stand covered a lot of different possibilities of that extremely well, as did On The Beach (Nevil Shute), Swan Song (Robert McCammon) , & The Road (Cormac McCarthy) -- all of these are excellent reads, btw. Though they're all fiction, personally I don't think they're too far off from what would probably happen.
All you have to do is take a look at societal conditions in Third World countries today; Darfur, Haiti, Sudan, & Somalia come immediately to mind. Or really any country that has war on its soil such as Bosnia & Chechnya. That's what happens when civility - law & order - is removed: violence, horrific injuries & disease, famine, societal breakdown & chaos.
Although we call ourselves civilized, look at what we do to each other *now* here in the United States. 10,000 years hasn't been nearly long enough to evolve the savageness out of us.
I actually read "Lucifer's Hammer" but I don't remember much about it except someone driving around in the ruins in a Toyota. I read "On The Beach" and remember it also because of the movie. Entertaining but does anyone think that millions of people, waiting for the end, would act perfectly civilized until it's time for the clean, clinical pill? The actual disaster would not even have to occur. Just announce that the doomsday asteroid is on its way and will arrive at a definite time and the nukes would start flying.
I think not so much a complete collapse of civilization,, but consider if just our creature comforts were taken away,, cell phones,, computers,, cars,,telephones,, TV's, ipods, stereos, prepackaged food,, etc Barring the third world countries, and pockets of poverty in the US,, I wonder what the normal citizen in developed societies would do if WE were suddenly thrust back to say,,, 1799 or 1250. Would we be able to survive with 21st century knowledge and skills in the 18th or 14th century ?
