Divided we Fall

Could just as well have been put into the Creative Writing section, listed as a poem. And a good poem, too.

Thanks, yea... kinda is poem-ish, isn't it

I love Free time! I have so much of it since I lost my business. I learned to cook and bake bread. Everybody encourages me to become professional. I don't see selling my products would make me any happier. I give it to friends, organize a brunch to share the products of my Free time.

Be with each other too.

Well I chopped some wood, fed the birds chatted to my sister. thought about walking on the beach and then it rained..Lots really .

What beaches? I remember surfing at Bude, Castle at Tintagel and church in Kilkhampton. Sunday school!

Gwithian if the rain would let me. No sunday school for me.:bigsmile:

Yea, and the 89.5% of those who do sit isolated, polarized, munching MSG and wallowing in Glen Beck-hate mongering will also outline how they spent the other 2:30 too; descrying their lack of guilt. No one wants to feel like or admit this, nor would/do I; this isn't an individual indictment. Besides, that's not the point.

The point is a social commentary on the condition perpetuated by economic, political and personal consumption habit-factors.

I read a lot; I've been plowing through mostly classic and philosophic literature for quite some time (mixing in contemporary nonfiction & non-fiction) to round it out. As I look back over what I've seen happen through these recorded ages, I see what's become an increasing historical trend towards isolation, consumption and polarization in economically highly-developed areas:[INDENT] Isolation comes from many factors (and no, I don't count a twitter or facebook social life "socializing" - it lacks the proximity, physical-ness and interaction that face-to-face, full-attention socializing gives). The perceived need to leave the house and visit friends, family and neighbors decreases as neat things to do in the house increase. This is magnified/compounded by gadgetry and clean, plentiful electronic entertainment. Just look at us here; what need is there for someone to create or patronize a local philosophy-discussion hangout when we can sit on our asses right here? Fart away folks, no one's watching... Isolation's safe, it's nonjudgmental, its convenient and its easy.

Consumption can satisfy our whims, our bellies, bodies and hearts. Whether it be cheap thrills or deep thought, there's something to buy and consume to satiate it. This isn't bad, in and of itself (for these are just "things", with no motive, no intent and no malice of forethought); but our over use or perhaps even use of them has consequences. Consumption may keep our bloated economies alive, but who thinks humans have the good judgement to use only when prudent, necessary and in the proper proportions? I don't

Polarization is the natural result of loyalties wherein the structure leads minds and hearts into "camps" (and especially where such loyalties are staunch, close held and encompass a high self-identification component). Me and mine, "us" vs "them"; high loyalties blind us to the good the "other" might imbue and shield us from the potential stupidity towards that which holds our hearts. Yep; I'm talking political and Yep; I'm talking religious - and no, this isn't all people and all situations political and religious. But it does carry the marks of a persistent mind-closing phenomena.
[/INDENT]Isolation, consumption and polarization play off each other; one provides fuel for the other in a social feedback-loop that has no STOP button. As I ponder the largest social problems, I can't help but see that what these - and other - proclivities hurt is the PERSON-TO-PERSON goodness, interaction and reliance of which we're so proud. How much less compassion, cooperation and interaction might you have when these habits virtually remove any perceived "need"?

It's not all things, nor all people or all situations all the time and in every place; and while I'd like to ask that folks observing this commentary avoid two-dimensional "But this isn't ALL bad!!"-responses, I fully realize that since this isn't a black-and-white evaluation, such close-mindedness is inevitable. In any case, my personal evaluation of trends over time tell me that these have steadily increased; loosening our bonds. Again, who thinks this is a good thing?

Thanks for your attention, thoughtful responses and thank you's

I know it's not All bad. That's no reason not to examine what is bad. The thing is: human relationships are made over time. The best friend is one with whom you've had disagreements... even harsh words spoken, but the friendship endures.

Our beloved freedom is the thing that can keep us from reaching the relationship which only comes over time.

Our spirits follow the path of least resistance.

Quite true and somewhat ironic, to be sure. Nice insight there

Just because people put hope, loyalty, love and such into certain aspects of everyday life doesn't mean they can't put it into multiple aspects at one time. Just because I have faith in my religion doesn't mean I don't have faith in everyone else around me, my country and my family. Same goes for love and every other emotion inside of me.

... you gotta love it.

But I do think I see what you're saying; and you're quite right! Unfortunately, it's not a matter of "Can't we cut the pie into a thousand slices instead of 500?". The more your time, energies and resources are expended in one, the less remains for others. Contrary to many schools of thought, hope isn't endless - nor is time available per day or the number of emotional investments one can hang their most positive and affectionate strivings.

... and also of priorities; what's more important? What enriches my life while also contrasting What turns me into a mindless fat, angry zombie sitting catatonic at home?

Thanks

I know what you mean; since I am a member of P.Forum I hardly leave the appartment. So many interesting thoughts, affraid missing one of them.:whistling:

Thoughtful insight Khethil. Remarkable! It was not always this way though what I remember was better before television invaded the home and allowed us to view all we didn't have. Let's go back a little shall we:

Before the internet, the PC or the Mac
Before semi-automatics and crack
Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari...
Before cellphones, CD's, DVD's, voice mail and e-mail...
Go way, way, way back and....

We played hide and seek
at dusk, Red light, Green light, Red Rover....
Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first....no.....second....no
....the third street light came on.
Ring around the Rosie...London Bridge...Hot potato.....chase....You're it! Blind man's bluff.....Hop Scotch....Jump Rope.
Parents stood on the front porch and yelled
(or whistled) for you to come home-no pagers or cell phones.
May I....take one giant step
Seeing shapes in the clouds
Endless summer days and hot summer nights
Windows open......the sound of crickets.
Running through the sprinkler
Cereal boxes and cracker jacks with a GREAT
prize inside.
Popsicles that you could half and share with
a friend....
Watching Saturday Morning cartoons
Tom & Jerry, serial adventures
Captain Midnight, The Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger
Amos and Andy, Our Gang, Howdy Doody and Captain Kangaroo reminding us to use the magic words-Please and Thank You.
Catching lightin' bugs in a jar.
Bedtime prayers and good night kisses
and sweet dreams.
Climbing trees
Swinging as high as you could in the park
burning your bottom on the slide in the summer.
Mosquito bites and sticky fingers...
Jumpin down steps, playing in the rain....
Jumpin' on the bed
Pillow fights
Laughing so hard your stomach hurt....sitting on home made ice cream maker and freezing you butt off.
Being tired from playing.
Work was taking out the garbage, Cutting the grass, or the neighbors for a dollar, washing the car and doing the dishes.
Your first crush and kissing with your mouth closed
and you eyes open and the only pornography was National Geographic magazine.
Rainy days at school and the smell
damp concrete, chalk erasers, and the smell
of crayola's in a cigar box.
Kool aid was the drink in the summer and so was a swig from a water hose.
Givng your friends a ride on your handlebars of your bicycle, knowing where all the kids lived and ringing the doorbell to see if they could come out and play.
Attaching cardboard to you bike frame with a clothes pin reaching
the spokes to sound like a motorcycle
Wearing new shoes and getting blisters, going bare footed and stumped toes.
Eating soggy sandwiches in a paper bag
Your Mom was home when you got home from school
When a quarter was a weekly allowance
When any parent could discipline any kid
, or feed him, ou use him to carry groceries and
nobody not even the kid thought anything of it
when your parents took you to the cafeteria
and it was a real treat.
When being sent to the principal's office was
nothing compared to what was waiting for you
when you got home.
We weren't afraid of shootings, drugs, gangs
just did not want Mom or Dad mad at us.
Decisions were mede by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"
mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming "do over"!
Race issues meant arguing about who ran the fastest
Having two or three best friends was ok.
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex
Was cooties.
Nobody was prettier than Mom.
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
Getting a foot of snow was really something.
A 'double dog dare' made you brave...
Spinning around and getting dizzy and falling down was
a kick.
The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team
Water balloons were the greatest weapons and and there was a Dad present on Fathers Day and hearing the dreadful warning wait until your Dad gets home.

William

An interesting thread, but a very tough question I think.

As affluence increases, isolation increases...because people choose to stay at home more. They have things to do there and a house that isn't crowded up next to their neighbors. Isolation, consumption and polarization aren't forced on us.

So, you have to argue that people are choosing what is wrong for them. Which can certainly be true, but is hard to show. Especially since everyone has to travel their own journey, make there own mistakes, learn from experience.

There is less a sense of community than before, but people still have many friends and spend tons of time socializing, that isn't going to change. I don't agree with that particular thrust of your posts, although I agree that time is often spent poorly.

I visit my neighbour, go for nice long walks in the country, catch a show. I'm not working so I cant go out with my friends but hopefully that's gonna change soon. I'd rather listen to music, mess about than watch the tv, I'll watch something to make me laugh like 2 and a half men but that's about it and the news. I'll go to the second hand book store get something to read. I have a big flat screen though, ace for playing games on but I rarely do that.

Hello Caroline. How's the engagement going? Getting any closer to setting a date?

William

No I'm scared so I put it off, I don't want to give up my independence as I've been burned before so it's a no no, we thought I'd get over this but apparently not yet. Thanks for asking.