Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Stealing Prison Items In Order To Escape

Civilization, the most colossal, immoral, unreformable mistake ever made by human beings, is a prison. I naturally wish to escape this prison. But it's a diabolical prison! Its walls are composed of my inability to survive outside it. Civilization says, "What was once easy to procure, like your food and shelter and clothing, is now under lock and key. You must sell your life to civilization in return for what was once free to everyone. You must comply with this system because you are no longer capable of entering the wilderness and procuring your own free food, shelter, and clothing. If you do not comply, you are doomed to die. But don't fret, we know it seems like a rotten deal, but you get American Idol and Cool Ranch Doritos, so it's not that bad."

1 comments:

W.M. Bear said...

Sounds pretty stupid, frankly. Despite civilization's down side, culture is also its product, including the false ethos of "primitivism" that seeks to chuck the whole thing and get back to easy tribal living.

I don't think so. I sometimes imagine what "precivilized" tribal life might actually be (or have been) like. It ain't pretty, compared. Basic survival is not really an issue, since the tribe knows how to do that (yes, without electrical conveniences, etc.) and the individual's survival is supported by the tribe's. But the limitations on possibilities for existence seem to me truly appalling if you start thinking about it. Sure, you don't have to 9-to-5 it, but you are stuck in a truly primitive system of beliefs, totems, and taboos that leave very little room for individual self-realization. Everything is subordinated to the tribe. (Well, for most people, this probably wouldn't be all that different -- I think those of us who are true non-conformists would have a lot of trouble though.) Go back to tribal existence? Well, think about it. Imagine youself there REALISTICALLY.

weevee: oyzrks -- Easterner's initial response to the Ozarks?