to jwgh's talk.bizarre writings
Newsgroups: talk.bizarre Subject: Re: Well . . . i made it . . . From: jwgh at earthlink.net (Jacob W. Haller) Message-ID: <1enqd39.d5cfvv1s57xraN%jwgh@earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 14:44:37 GMTJohn <plum at pcug.org.au> wrote:
[. . .]
And with competition, we have capitalism... which merely corrupts the
soul of man. Better than trying to survive off dry fungus and dirt, I
try to convince myself.
But I think back on life in the cave. Was it so bad really? Certainly at the time I thought so. Living in fear of my life. Having to go for water in groups so that someone could keep a lookout for predators. Dying of bizarre diseases that our primitive brains couldn't even begin to understand.
But there was a feeling of togetherness. We had to work together or perish. Sure, there was a downside. But you never had to wonder where your next meal was coming from. Usually it came from under a rock.
Then we found the monolith. Suddenly new thoughts went searing through our brains. Do you know--and I'm sure you won't believe me, kids these days--before the monolith we never even thought to pick up rocks and throw them. Something as simple as that never even crossed our minds. Now we have spears, bows and arrows...sometimes I worry that someday someone will create a spear so large it will destroy us all.
I know, I know, the foolish worries of an old man. But I was one of the few who was there at the time of the Big Change, so only I have the perspective to see what we've lost and where we're heading.
Back in the day it was share everything or perish. Now it seems like it's everyone for himself. You kids think you're so smart with your supply and demand and your rhythmic banging of rocks. It gives me a headache.
Rugged individualism my ass.
-jwgh
-- "You're saying 'with gcc 2.95.2, demons only fly out of your *left* nostril', and this is fundamentally misguided. Do not tempt the demons." --Malcolm Ray in alt.sysadmin.recovery 7 March 2000