Half Brained Ideas? Maybe so:
Good Morning out there to those of you who remain semi-sane; your King of Simple News is on the air.
My Canadian writer friend Tim Murray introduced me to a subject that I had literally never considered. Tim wrote a thesis on the human mind that I will abbreviate in this space and hit on the most important aspects.
In short, Tim Murray challenges that the human mind has yet to develop to a point that would allow us to survive long term. Pretty deep stuff huh? But think about it, we actually believe that we can grow out of a growth problem. That we can expand indefinitely in a finite space. That we can utilize finite resources in ever greater quantities and never run out. That we can eradicate poverty in America by importing millions of poverty stricken immigrants.
The above beliefs certainly don’t echo ideas that would come from a sound and fully developed mind to me.
I’m thinkin’ that Tim is on to something here. This is a little of what he had to say, “…our brains are not sufficiently developed, a deficit that cannot be remedied by “education” or moral improvement. We are hardwired for denial, we need unfounded optimism to get through the night. We require comfort, not the cold truth. Even Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth” needed a Hollywood ending. We have a limited tolerance for bad news. Remove mass advertising and media-spun delusions, and we are still left with an ineradicable human appetite for escape. We can’t live with reality. It is too mundane, boring or awful. We need to be entertained with good stories. Soap operas, games and gossip were as much the signature of our species in our hunter gatherer guise as they are now.”
“ It is really quite bizarre when you think about it. We face extinction and we spend our time talking about David Beckham or the Winter Olympics. What would alien pathologists and archaeologists conclude about our demise? Especially if they discover the archive of books and movies and documentaries that we produced that have warned us of the consequences of our folly. The best snapshot of human mentality can be found by recollections of so many Titanic passengers who continued to party well after the collision.” End quote.
So what do you think?
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Yes, he could be on to something. Or maybe he is one of the few amongst us who understands the simple concept of paying attention. Anyway you look at it, his assessment is accurate and quite frustrating for all who possess this understanding. My own family has driven me to the edge of the loony bin with their incessant denial of truth and their feel-good mentality; fortunately for me it was a short trip. - bb
Billyb,
Tim indicated that his own family doesn’t want to talk to him. I have many other readers and writers that say that their own family members don’t read their work and refuse to discuss the possibility that we are toast.
A couple of quotes on truth come to mind:
“As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.” —Josh Billings
“Truth: the most deadly weapon ever discovered by humanity. Capable of destroying entire perceptual sets, cultures, and realities. Outlawed by all governments everywhere. Possession is normally punishable by death.” — John Gilmore
“The best snapshot of human mentality can be found by recollections of so many Titanic passengers who continued to party well after the collision.” - Mike
The Invincible and Unsinkable Titanic was a shining example of a Big Lie that was believed by virtually all on board including Captain and Crew. Until it was far too late. Even the engineers believed it was Unsinkable and only designed it with a fraction of life boats required to evacuate all passengers and crew. Hmmmmm…… Sounds a lot like our so called American Dream.
I personally would like to reset my American Dream to that of 1776. I’d highly recommend the book 1776 to anyone that hasn’t read it.
Add me to the list of folks who can no longer discuss “reality” with his family. They quite frankly just think I am a nut case…
SO I quietly prepare without telling them now, while they dance up on the deck… they will be pleasantly surprised later when I pull up in one of the few lifeboats!
Recently I read an article that claimed that approximately 6% of the population could clearly be labeled psychopathic and another 18% would have those tendencies. The author also claimed that psychopaths have many “gifts” including charm, intelligence, focus, drive, but all topped by a lack of conscience or moral compass. They can fake empathy, identify with their victims, and put on a real show, but it is all made up.
He went on to claim that the vast majority of our leaders worldwide (political and corporate) are psychopaths, or have those characteristics, as these serve them well in stepping on others on their way up the ladder.
I tend to believe this theory. Our leaders don’t really care about us at all. It is just a game and we play along, reluctantly at times, but we still play because that is the easy option
It is amazing that there are still whistleblowers among us who do not have the stomach to keep quiet when they see wrongdoing. There is no reward, and often there is career suicide for stepping forward and bucking the powers that be.
It is the same for people who are realists in our current economic mess. We are looked at with amusement, if not disdain, by our families and friends. All of you are to be commended for being courageous enough to be outspoken in these troubled times.
There is a ton of stuff that has been written about the evolution of the human brain and how it functions. Unfortunately, most of it is unintelligible to a general audience.
One of the few books that is readable for someone lacking a degree in research psychology is Cordelia Fine’s, “A Mind of Its Own.” If you get a chance, it is worth the time to read it. The book is entertaining and easy to read, and it is based upon the research findings that most of us have no desire to read.
In a nutshell, our brains don’t work the way we like to think they do. Fine describes our brains as “vainglorious, emotional, immoral, pigheaded, secretive, bigoted and weak-willed.
By the way, she is not the only one who sees it this way, lest you think she’s exaggerating. All of this boring and unflattering information goes a long way to explaining why we are in the mess we are in today, and why it is a long-shot for us to get out of it.
By the way, knowing how our brain works doesn’t confer any immunity on us. We are just as prone to being tricked by our subconscious as the idiot who lives down the street. Any wonder people don’t want to read this stuff.
Well, the comments above say it all! The common bond of those who are truth seekers and are outspoken; is that they are outcasts.
I agree with Hotrod, most our political leaders have elevated power tendencies that are assisted by psychopathic characteristics.
I have long believed that there will be no central solution to our critical problems. That is why I constantly stand for individual action.
Believing that there will suddenly be a massive cultural change that will make all of our boo-boos better would be suggesting that the human condition is pliable. Such a radical shift is not something that I consider possible.
Consider that growth is the most sought after condition in America. How could anyone judge us as sane?
Mike,
This just in Congress is throwing $155 Billion at the unemployment problem. It looks like it more a continuation of unemployment benefits than any significant jobs creation. In other words this will get them past the 2010 elections.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1612851020091217