Will humankind ever transcend its natural pettiness?

[Writer]

We fight one another for resources. We torment those who appear different or weaker. We believe we're in the heat of battle in all things; not just for religious doctrine, but also for mates, for material goods, and for status. We never see beyond the boundaries of our own existence.

Can we ever transcend these basic human conditions? Will we ever discover a greater, holistic way of viewing the world that casts aside selfishness for the greater good?

I do not know. Who knows for sure? But if we ever get there, and when our species becomes extinct, we will die in peace.

In July, I found myself stranded in the Las Vegas airport. I was en route from Boston to Denver, with a layover in Chicago. Weather in Chicago cancelled many connecting flights, so they rerouted us on a hellish 5-hour flight through major turbulence to Las Vegas.

It was 11pm PST. I had been travelling (or waiting in line) for 18 hours straight. Yet another line waited for us at the ticket counter to schedule a flight back to Denver. I stood behind one hundred others, all waiting because we missed our connecting flights due to weather delays. Ahead, I saw a man standing before the ticket counter, and in a style so quintessentially American, he flailed his arms, demanding kingdom and treasure from America West Airlines. HE was going to get the compensation HE was due, never mind the 100 others behind him who had endured the same inconvenience as he had. He was the alpha and the omega of that terminal.

A book I read last year, "Mediated" by Thomas de Zengotita, said it best: "It's all about ME." Our entire economic and political systems are wrapped around pleasing the self. Yet the theory of the Enlightenment, that we are rational creatures, was wrong. We are anything BUT rational, and it shows by how decrepit both American capitalism and American democracy are after almost 230 years. If you want to blame someone or something for the state of this nation, you need only to look in the mirror.

We are a society that has lost the ability to choose our battles. Everything is of utmost importance now, because deep in our consciouses, it's all about ME. The man I watched at the Las Vegas airport never once took the time to put his experience into perspective, to understand that the airlines cancelled our flights because they worried for our safety, including his. Perhaps the man missed an important meeting. Perhaps he had an important engagement to attend. Perhaps he was worn out after a long day of waiting and travel. Yet, so did many of us standing in line. That's what happens in life, and we must learn to view that life outside of ourselves.

In short, we must learn to get over ourselves in all things before we can begin to live together peacefully. But will that ever be possible?

[rug]

Not if this room is any indication.

[Writer]

2. I'll have to agree with you there.

Yyyyup. :hi:

[crim son]

1. Not without a serious intervention.

If there were a common cause... say, a giant meteor poised to hit the earth and only a unified effort by all Earth's inhabitants could change its course, EVEN THEN about ten percent of the population would probably say WTF and loot our houses while we're outside praying, or manning the net, or whatever.

Human beings aren't inherently evil, but they are inherently weak in mind and spirit. I don't have great hopes for worldwide peace, love & understanding.

[idgiehkt]

3. I know that I see everything through the filter of my previous experiences

When I feel weirdness coming at me from others it usually is their filter getting in the way. It's why I don't bleach my hair blonde any more, lol, too much shit to deal with.

Pettiness...most of the time I can be okay with it, but sometimes I am just not capable of dealing, like certain times of the month. Then I react and if the other person is reactive too, it's off to the races. You seem to be really good at not being reactive though. I wish I had that quality. I am way too reactive and I regret it sometimes.

[Writer]

5. It's must easier to do online.

I'm a live wire in person, however.

You're speaking about phenomenology! And that is precisely why propaganda is only MOSTLY effective.

Wait, I didn't mean to go down that road... more personally, I think it's great that you recognize that individuals view the world through their filters. That makes you less quick to judge - a good quality. :hi:

[SPKrazy]

4. Only If It Directly Affects Moi!

until then, no.

Hitting bottom is a prerequisite to that order of change.

Lots of death and destruction to precede such an event.

[Writer]

6. That's a good point...

we will only learn to appreciate what we have when it's gone.

[SPKrazy]

7. Not Only That

I truly think that we will have to destroy much of what is here before we transcend pettiness. Pettiness is such a commonplace way of relating to others in this modern world.

A good case of a pandemic to cull the population would serve to eliminate the pettiness.

Crises bring out the best in most.

[Writer]

8. And we're overpopulated...

but the fundies are telling us to keep giving birth!

[SPKrazy]

9. So They Can

Have a greater chance of being in charge, more fundies, equals more fundie voters.

It also means their chances of being annihilated are less if there is a catastrophic event.

[Aristus]

10. I've been thinking for a while now that what this country needs is another Great Depression.

To kind of put things into perspective again. And, whether we like it or not, that's probably where we are headed.

[Writer]

11. It has to be something that threatens our basic needs...

such as food, shelter, or even healthcare.

But yes, a Great Depression can bring about any or all of the above.