Why does everyone feel compelled in these situations to preface what they intend to say with "I was glad no one was hurt..." I find it impossible to believe that the majority of us are really anything beyond indifferent in these situations, when those folks are strangers. There's always the chance for instance that some asshole deserved it and didn't get it. What's to be glad of there?
One wonders about people who apparently relish the idea of the end of the world? Are they that miserable here? And if they want it all to end, why do they have to take the rest of us with them?
Relish the end of the world or rather relish the end of this civilization? "The world" has billions of years left, it will explode back to glory once the current primate plague (just the math here, not a judgement call) runs its course. What they really mean then is the end not even necessarily of our world, but rather our world as we know it now. So, having clarified this, why would people relish not just the idea, but the reality of the end of world (given that by all measures we are firmly into our decline-and-fall now)? How about because they look at where this model has arrived and see nothing worth preserving, or at least, nothing worth preserving that can be preserved without preserving the majority of conditions that aren't worth it? How about because we are probably 8 to 16 times overshot at this point for the space and resources we have at our disposal here? (Swarming Yellowstone annually in ghastly shambling oppressive hordes, for one minor instance.) How about for the fact that the only way any of us are going to enjoy a future somewhere off there over the horizon that is worth contemplating is for this present situation to end? A person could go on for a long time here. But there's a good start.
Your point is well taken, but you know darned well that most of those who anticipate the end of the world do take it literally (a la Revelations) and do not expect this Earth as they know it to survive or,alternatively, do not care whether it survives because they expect to be somewhere else, on some other plane where their misery is relieved.
As for end of this civilization? While I know that it is not guaranteed, I prefer to think that there will be a transformation in which what is worth preserving persists. And when I turn off the "news" (which is seldom on around here), I see the possibility. I don't think we have to end this civilization, just some current delusions.
Ah yes, the worshippers of the dead. I hear ya there. It is interesting though, the parallels between what the data, the science is revealing to us and what’s in Revelations. I think meanwhile that any hope for the future based on this idea that we are in charge of where any of this involving us now is headed is based on a false premise. Humanity today is a mindless superorganism in its functioning. There is no one driving the bus. At this point we are merely being swept along by the monster we set loose.
Terrific piece. When I read the Yellowstone news last week, I was hoping you'd write about it. The contrast between the views of this event reminds me of how we approach the world — with a sense of abundance/joy or scarcity/fear. Thanks for more great writing and food for thought.
Good read. But I think the Park Service should put safety first and start turning off the thermal features at night. Then they wouldn't heat up so much. Sort of a no-brainer.
Why does everyone feel compelled in these situations to preface what they intend to say with "I was glad no one was hurt..." I find it impossible to believe that the majority of us are really anything beyond indifferent in these situations, when those folks are strangers. There's always the chance for instance that some asshole deserved it and didn't get it. What's to be glad of there?
One wonders about people who apparently relish the idea of the end of the world? Are they that miserable here? And if they want it all to end, why do they have to take the rest of us with them?
Relish the end of the world or rather relish the end of this civilization? "The world" has billions of years left, it will explode back to glory once the current primate plague (just the math here, not a judgement call) runs its course. What they really mean then is the end not even necessarily of our world, but rather our world as we know it now. So, having clarified this, why would people relish not just the idea, but the reality of the end of world (given that by all measures we are firmly into our decline-and-fall now)? How about because they look at where this model has arrived and see nothing worth preserving, or at least, nothing worth preserving that can be preserved without preserving the majority of conditions that aren't worth it? How about because we are probably 8 to 16 times overshot at this point for the space and resources we have at our disposal here? (Swarming Yellowstone annually in ghastly shambling oppressive hordes, for one minor instance.) How about for the fact that the only way any of us are going to enjoy a future somewhere off there over the horizon that is worth contemplating is for this present situation to end? A person could go on for a long time here. But there's a good start.
Your point is well taken, but you know darned well that most of those who anticipate the end of the world do take it literally (a la Revelations) and do not expect this Earth as they know it to survive or,alternatively, do not care whether it survives because they expect to be somewhere else, on some other plane where their misery is relieved.
As for end of this civilization? While I know that it is not guaranteed, I prefer to think that there will be a transformation in which what is worth preserving persists. And when I turn off the "news" (which is seldom on around here), I see the possibility. I don't think we have to end this civilization, just some current delusions.
Ah yes, the worshippers of the dead. I hear ya there. It is interesting though, the parallels between what the data, the science is revealing to us and what’s in Revelations. I think meanwhile that any hope for the future based on this idea that we are in charge of where any of this involving us now is headed is based on a false premise. Humanity today is a mindless superorganism in its functioning. There is no one driving the bus. At this point we are merely being swept along by the monster we set loose.
Terrific piece. When I read the Yellowstone news last week, I was hoping you'd write about it. The contrast between the views of this event reminds me of how we approach the world — with a sense of abundance/joy or scarcity/fear. Thanks for more great writing and food for thought.
Well said. Thanks for the kind words!
Good read. But I think the Park Service should put safety first and start turning off the thermal features at night. Then they wouldn't heat up so much. Sort of a no-brainer.
😂
They could flick a switch while they're coralling the animals for the evening.