Rejected Writings

[Cuddlefish]

So,
Elections have come to a  close, and it's time for those who have voted to retire all cognition until the next elections. Which, by then, you'll assume the same whiny, bitchy posturing you assumed this year. You'll be all fired up for "Change," and all butt-hurt that the last flash-in-the-pan politician failed miserably at bringing about the "Change" you couldn't even define, but so desperately desired. There's a saying: "The definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing, while expecting different results." By this definition, the United States is populated and operated by howling madmen. And you swear by it. Here's an example of our national dialogue, as I see it:                                                

"Lets go left! Ofuk, a dead end!"
"Well... Let's go right! Shit, this doesn't go anywhere, either! Now what!"
" Let's go left again!"
" Ok!"

Thing is, I suspect most of you don't want change at all. You want things to stay the same. You want it to stay the same because it's easier for you. Why would you want change when you can look out for el numero uno, and, when things go bad, you can exercise your inalienable right to bitch and complain, as opposed to DOING something, because "It's not MY problem," or "It's not MY responsibility." Well, guess what, dumbass. This is America, and as long as you live here, it IS your responsibility, and it most certainly IS your problem.

Have I got through yet? No? Well, the train's leaving, and it's not my responsibility to catch you up. Let's continue on. So, we're bored with "Change," and now we want the real thing, right?  And now you're beginning to see how your rampant pseudo-individualism and imposed apathy got us into this mess, right? Good. now you can help us get out of it.

How to fix?  This is debatable, but one thing's for sure. We sure as hell CAN'T do it using the tools and resources of a broken system. A broken tool will fuck you up sooner than it'll fix anything. Let me put it this way. If your car broke down, would you attempt to fix it from the driver seat? No, you'd go and open it up. Take a look at it from the OUTSIDE. Well, I'd hate to break it to all you crazy people, but that's the only way to fix the system. You have to do it from OUTSIDE the sphere of said system.
   
Uh oh. Did someone say revolution?

"Aren't revolutions dangerous? Won't we descend into a state of chaos and anarchy if we don't follow the rules?"

Ha ha! No, silly pants!

Well... Maybe. But, hell, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, eh? The thing is, the popular concept of revolution is that of bloody violence and vicious infighting, conducted by those who do not seek to improve the human condition, but to serve their own selfish desire to re-create said system with them at the top. Well, this is just one of the many common misconceptions that people hold (not your fault. I know, you're only going on what you're told).
According to one insightful individual, a revolution can be defined thusly:

"A revolution is an essential and radical change in beliefs about the meaning of a given particular physical or non-physical thing or type of thing in a given context"

So, by this definition, we see as prerequisites "essential and radical change" about "beliefs." Nothing in there about violence (Though, someone MAY die, and you MIGHT go to jail, but hell. Martyrs make good cheerleaders, and usually make the news/history books. The good ones get sainted by someone). With that being said, revolution is a bit safer than you were thinking, and is probably a GOOD idea, being necessary, and all. Starting to feel better about the whole thing now? Good.

Let's review. What have we learned? Real change is more desirable than "Change" (which is actually Staying the Same). Real change is necessary. Real change is drastic. And, if you want to fix the car, you need to get off your ass and step outside of its confines.

But, then again, what the hell do I know?

   Necessarily,

Dimo, TTLC, HMSH, House of GABCab

[Placid Dingo]

There's a Cain thread somewhere about this but Rebellion may be a better concept than Revolution in this regard.

What does your improved world look like?

[frogsicle]

Some philosopher once said something about human action being prevented by ignorance. I forget this guys name, his elegant wording, and what else he came up with (I may not have been too fond of my single phil class), but I've never managed to forget this point. In the other words, if you don't know what to do, you do nothing, or that which is easiest, you vote for the other party... maybe it'll work this time. And here we do owe a cheers to insanity.

But yeah, props, the logical reaction is certainly to step out of the car and see what is wrong with it and how you can fix it. But what if you don't know shit about cars, wouldn't it just be easier to call AAA, or a buddy to come pick you up?

Also, let's face it, the US isn't broken down on the side of the road. We're driving a bit too fast, with one headlight out, low brake fluid, and a serious drift in the steering. Sure we could stop and take a look at it, but then we'd be late to work, wouldn't know how to fix it anyways, maybe tomorrow...

So, we have:
Those who want to do something don't know what to do (and you can say 'change your beliefs' or 'revolution' all you want but that's not a specific enough answer to help here)
+ they really want to keep a roof over their head and their bellies full
+ yeah ok, they have it good, they are living off of the exploitation of others. But it's indirect, it's not their fault, it's hard to imagine giving up. (Maybe just buy fair trade coffee, that'll help.)
= jack shit gets done. And then they bitch about it.

The ailing car stays on the road as long as it can. Because the mechanic doesn't know what the fuck to do with it either.

This is not a rationalization and I'm not trying to defend the action of my homeland or myself.
It's clearly wrong, it's clearly stupid, but it is pretty much in line with human nature (notably including an inclination towards self-preservation and short-term planning), so far as I can tell.

[Cuddlefish]

Some philosopher once said something about human action being prevented by ignorance. I forget this guys name, his elegant wording, and what else he came up with (I may not have been too fond of my single phil class), but I've never managed to forget this point. In the other words, if you don't know what to do, you do nothing, or that which is easiest, you vote for the other party... maybe it'll work this time. And here we do owe a cheers to insanity.

But yeah, props, the logical reaction is certainly to step out of the car and see what is wrong with it and how you can fix it. But what if you don't know shit about cars, wouldn't it just be easier to call AAA, or a buddy to come pick you up?

Also, let's face it, the US isn't broken down on the side of the road. We're driving a bit too fast, with one headlight out, low brake fluid, and a serious drift in the steering. Sure we could stop and take a look at it, but then we'd be late to work, wouldn't know how to fix it anyways, maybe tomorrow...
So, we have:
Those who want to do something don't know what to do (and you can say 'change your beliefs' or 'revolution' all you want but that's not a specific enough answer to help here)
+ they really want to keep a roof over their head and their bellies full
+ yeah ok, they have it good, they are living off of the exploitation of others. But it's indirect, it's not their fault, it's hard to imagine giving up. (Maybe just buy fair trade coffee, that'll help.)
= jack shit gets done. And then they bitch about it.

The ailing car stays on the road as long as it can. Because the mechanic doesn't know what the fuck to do with it either.

This is not a rationalization and I'm not trying to defend the action of my homeland or myself.
It's clearly wrong, it's clearly stupid, but it is pretty much in line with human nature (notably including an inclination towards self-preservation and short-term planning), so far as I can tell.

Sure, you make some good points (bonus points awarded for maintaining the analogy). I think the bolded segments help in identifying a problem, which is the first step in solving it. Sure, know one knows how to fix the damn thing, which is exactly why we should all be having this dialogue, starting with "Okay. Let's get out and, at least, take a look."

We might not be mechanics, but we can change a tire or a light bulb, it's pretty easy. It doesn't fix everything, but it will help, you just gotta get out and change it. Or, get a new car. I s'pose I couldn't rightly say...

I think the red letters need a  though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc (focuses a bit more on economics, but a few points carry over)

What does your improved world look like?

Better education takes care of a lot of things.

[Placid Dingo]

Seen that vid before. Interesting, though despite what he says at the start, it really doesn't contradict Skinner at all as far as I can tell.

Better education takes care of a lot of things.

OK...

And what does better Education look like?

[Salty]

Oh I liked this.

If I may mix metaphors for moment...

I was explaining to a steely-eyed democrat before this recent election that I didn't think our system was worth a damn and she was of the mind that it would be more dangerous, more harmful to people at large if you gave up on the system you had and started with a brand new one. I found this to be no small amount of cowardice, though I can understand that kind of fear.

I avoid looking at things in mechanical ways because it makes my brain hurt.
Instead I look at Amurrika as a great, big flabby necrotic body. The body is a fine system when it works and is so capable of failing in so many subtle ways that lead to massively painful consequences. A little hardening around the sclerosis, nothing much to look at if you slapped it down on a platter, yet so much pain. A tiny scrap of fatty tissue surrounding your joints and they just DIE because nutrients can't get through. A bit of film in the wrong spot on your eye and you don't see for shit. Little things, big consequences for poor little monkeys.

At some point, things break down so bad inside there really is nothing you can do. You'll be lucky if you can bear it and squeeze out as much life as possible. Sometimes that's bad luck.

Sometimes a limb is so far gone, maybe a big limb, and it's gotta go or you risk compromising the whole system. Sometimes you have to flood the whole system with noxious chemicals, chemicals that make you sick and feels worse than the sickness itself, just so you can save the system.

Sometimes you gotta be the noxious chemical.

[Cuddlefish]

Seen that vid before. Interesting, though despite what he says at the start, it really doesn't contradict Skinner at all as far as I can tell.

OK...

And what does better Education look like?

Sorry for the brevity. I was really high when I responded, and I didn't want to say too much and sound like a complete idiot. Anyhow.

Real quick, I just want to say that I really don't claim to have any more answers than anyone else, and this is just a rant.

Not to let RSA answer all of my questions for me, but, again, relevant:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

And just as we are using an outdated system of education, I would argue the same about our political systems, methods of interpersonal relationships (romantic or otherwise), and our concepts of religion and spirituality, or, rather, what it means to be "a spiritual being".

Anyhow, I'm high again, now. So... blrp

TTFN

[frogsicle]

Nice clips, RSA always makes one think.

The part showing the increase of ADHD across the nation as you move from west to east was great. A previous co-worker of mine got started as a minor drug dealer by pawning off the Ritalin he didn't actually need to his study-oriented friends in high school. Hope the docs are proud... probably are actually, making more money that way.

But yeah, of course we need to get out and look. Face the pain, give up the blissful ignorance, start biting off chunks of the problem and trying to solve them. But then, (some) people actually do this quite a lot.

Real quick, I just want to say that I really don't claim to have any more answers than anyone else, and this is just a rant.

Awww darn, answers are always such a nice, elusive thought...

[Placid Dingo]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT YEAH!!!

Ken Robinson is a real hero of mine. I have his book, and I recommend it very very strongly to you, it's called 'The Element' and plays on this. There's another speech by Robinson too, called 'do schools kill creativity.' It's more entertaining, but less prescriptive, though I recommend it.

And of course, there's some very clear trends happening between the two videos. 

I wasn't having a go btw, just wanted to try and get a more specific vision of what you're talking about.

Also there's a chapter in a book I've got called 'Opening Skinner's Box' that deals with prescription culture, which KR adresses.