Comments on: Society http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/ never asking to be seen Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:41:09 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Frank http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1487 Frank Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:41:09 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1487 I am a human being, and as such I need a group to fit into, since human beings per definition is a flocking animal. My brain however can only handle a group of about 150 individuals at most. So, as a human being, to survive in a group larger than 150 people or so, I need for us all to conform to certain social norms so that I can trust that the group will work out even though I can't personally relate to all parts of it. When the group grows large enough to form subgroups it becomes even more vital to have this system of norms, and to enforce them a system of rules and regulations and a leading group starts to evolve. Soon we have a society, which I personally believe is bloody awful, but at the same time the only way to maintain a lifestyle in which people group in groups - or cities - larger than about 150 individuals. So deal with it, or remove yourself from the equation. I am a human being, and as such I need a group to fit into, since human beings per definition is a flocking animal. My brain however can only handle a group of about 150 individuals at most. So, as a human being, to survive in a group larger than 150 people or so, I need for us all to conform to certain social norms so that I can trust that the group will work out even though I can’t personally relate to all parts of it. When the group grows large enough to form subgroups it becomes even more vital to have this system of norms, and to enforce them a system of rules and regulations and a leading group starts to evolve. Soon we have a society, which I personally believe is bloody awful, but at the same time the only way to maintain a lifestyle in which people group in groups – or cities – larger than about 150 individuals.

So deal with it, or remove yourself from the equation.

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]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 uberVU - social comments Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:35:02 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1481 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Reddit by armadus: Isn't this common knowledge?... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Reddit by armadus: Isn’t this common knowledge?…

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]]> By: Ben http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1480 Ben Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:39:25 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1480 Andrew's tirade can be applied to any sort of hierarchical system, not just our current capitalist system. Historically there are any number of economic systems and states that fit--theocracies like ancient Egypt, the feudal economies and monarchies of Medieval Europe, Soviet socialism--in each the interests of a few are upheld at the expense of the many. Yes, capitalism is better than any other system at giving everyone what they want. But, as it exists, capitalism does a better job of convincing us of what we want than any other system. In order to get what we have been convinced that we want, we must participate, we must become the cog. Andrew’s tirade can be applied to any sort of hierarchical system, not just our current capitalist system. Historically there are any number of economic systems and states that fit–theocracies like ancient Egypt, the feudal economies and monarchies of Medieval Europe, Soviet socialism–in each the interests of a few are upheld at the expense of the many.

Yes, capitalism is better than any other system at giving everyone what they want. But, as it exists, capitalism does a better job of convincing us of what we want than any other system. In order to get what we have been convinced that we want, we must participate, we must become the cog.

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]]> By: Hollow Gram http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 Hollow Gram Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:08:36 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1479 I think it's quite presumptuous to outright say society uses us and give a sense as if it precedes our existence. Humans form society, look at BBC's Clever Monkeys documentary and get a sense from where it came. Now of course the modern system has been skewed and shaped in such a way that it's harming the collective balance (ones gain with the price of another's misery), but that also has to do with our desire to be led instead of taking control of our existence through each form. We sustain the system by buying its products, working its jobs and kidding ourselves that the money we use is real and worth something. The whole thing is built on air and we give it steam. Time to find out how things are, how they could be and what it is we really want to do with our lives. I think it’s quite presumptuous to outright say society uses us and give a sense as if it precedes our existence. Humans form society, look at BBC’s Clever Monkeys documentary and get a sense from where it came.

Now of course the modern system has been skewed and shaped in such a way that it’s harming the collective balance (ones gain with the price of another’s misery), but that also has to do with our desire to be led instead of taking control of our existence through each form. We sustain the system by buying its products, working its jobs and kidding ourselves that the money we use is real and worth something.

The whole thing is built on air and we give it steam. Time to find out how things are, how they could be and what it is we really want to do with our lives.

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]]> By: Drax http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1478 Drax Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:56:42 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1478 I am a Human Being, not a Human Thinking or a Human Doing. I am a Human Being, not a Human Thinking or a Human Doing.

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]]> By: Andrew http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 Andrew Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:07:16 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1477 Spastage, I'm sorry but are you telling me that it was wrong for me to take the following statement personally? "You just have to get off your ass and do a little research." How am I supposed to take it then? Spastage, I’m sorry but are you telling me that it was wrong for me to take the following statement personally?

“You just have to get off your ass and do a little research.”

How am I supposed to take it then?

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]]> By: spastage http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1476 spastage Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:00:28 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1476 FYI, Andrew, I found your tone in your reply to Andrew to be far worse than Beaver's. Don't take things so personally. FYI, Andrew, I found your tone in your reply to Andrew to be far worse than Beaver’s. Don’t take things so personally.

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]]> By: Andrew http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 Andrew Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:31:16 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1475 Beaver, I find both your tone and that video to be insulting to my intelligence. I approved it in the interest of free speech but if you want to have a productive discussion with someone it's best not to belittle them. Beaver, I find both your tone and that video to be insulting to my intelligence. I approved it in the interest of free speech but if you want to have a productive discussion with someone it’s best not to belittle them.

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]]> By: Beaver http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1474 Beaver Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:18:50 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1474 I think what you appear to be railing against is capitalism and the free market. I think you need to take a step back and realize that the free market delivers what people want. The problem may be that people often do not think about the externalities (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality) caused by their purchases. The bottom line still remains that the free market is free. You are free to vote with your dollars for the world you want. You just have to get off your ass and do a little research. http://www.hulu.com/watch/99944/saturday-night-live-digital-short-on-the-ground I think what you appear to be railing against is capitalism and the free market. I think you need to take a step back and realize that the free market delivers what people want. The problem may be that people often do not think about the externalities (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality) caused by their purchases. The bottom line still remains that the free market is free. You are free to vote with your dollars for the world you want. You just have to get off your ass and do a little research.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/99944/saturday-night-live-digital-short-on-the-ground

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]]> By: Howard Beale http://natbs.info/2009/10/society/comment-page-1/#comment-1473 Howard Beale Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:16:41 +0000 http://natbs.info/?p=358#comment-1473 I'm a human being goddamnit!! My life has value! I’m a human being goddamnit!! My life has value!

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