K&R If You Think.

[JFN1]

Maybe it is the chronic pain that kept me awake all night; maybe I've misplaced my sense of ironic humor...or maybe I'm just getting old (I did see some rather irritating clouds yesterday...damn smart-alecky clouds, just floating along...they should mind their own freakin' business...). But is sure does seem this country has become one emotional, impatient, love-starved, anxious, twitchy puppy, who is sporting a shoulder chip about the size of a concert grand piano - and a serious anger-management issue.

And it is everywhere. I mean, just look around DU - there are what - 25 - 30 threads debating who was wrong, Current or KO. Reading through some of these (couldn't stomach more than a few, plus, gotta keep an eye on those clouds), it is amazing how easily offended we've all become. I mean really, who cares? Millionaires all hurtied by each other...and what are we doing, instead of not giving a shit about it? Throwing stones at each other over who is more right about who is more wrong.

Looking beyond the DU landscape, reading comments in articles from, well, all over the place, the emotionally-hurt-offended-great, now I'm angry because somebody I don't personally know and will likely never meet disagreed with me-comments, in the comments section, begin almost immediately. I was reading an article at some physics site, about dark matter's weight/mass, and in a realm of supposedly rational science-types, the offended were everywhere, displaying their hurt/outrage in full force. I could have just cried...well, no, not really...but it does suck.

Sigh.

You know, Pepperidge Farms and I remember a time, oh, for you young folks it was quite a long time ago - when people used to think beyond the satisfaction of the moment...when we weren't all so obsessed with winning every debate...these days, it is as if our egos have somehow collectively become fragile little snowflakes, unable to withstand losing an argument, and worse, never seeming to realize the opportunity to learn from the loss...thus we feed the negative, and the cycle strengthens...and repeats...

I am reminded, by all of this, of ancient Rome, and the gladiator arenas. Ahh, the spectacle! The noise of the crowd cheering and hissing, the clash of the mighty titans, the occasional lion, the distraction from things much more mundane, and much more important.

The Internet has become little more than a free-for-all gladiatorial arena attached to a gigantic shopping mall with an even bigger porno theater in the back. Sure it's entertaining, even useful. It is a social, entertainment, and business forum, much like the Roman arenas, where all manners of business and personal socialization took place during the course of the day's entertainment. Sure, they had bloodlust and excitement; but we've got feline jello wrestling and a mainline connection to unlimited supplies of Viagra and riviting political theater...

It's not bread and circuses; it's a mass of fucking melees - millions of them happening all at once, all the time. And we're all basically addicted to it - just ask Facebook. And it wouldn't be so bad, if it wasn't pretty much all we did collectively as a civilization...

"Did you hear?" "Did YOU hear?" "He said!" "She said!" "Blah blah blah!" "Oh yeah?" "Well, yada yada YADA!" "I'm shocked!" "I'm horrified!" "I'm simply outraged!!!!" "How dare you?" "How dare YOU?" And so on, and so on...and so on..........{please insert ad nauseum here}...

Well, most of my head hair is missing, my beard has gone grey, my athletic grace is nearly comatose, and in my advancing years, I've learned...shit, I don't believe I've learned a damned thing.

Actually, wait - I do know this: We Americans, we're not, at heart, a bunch of crybabies. And this easily offended thing donned by pretty much all of us with the opening of our browsers, is not real, it is not...us, who we are, what we are. Rather, it is the sword, the battle axe, the spikey thingies on the ropes we spin around our heads and throw, the spear...our offendedness...es...are the weapons we bring into our arena - and that is all that they are.

Look, just keep it in mind, would you?...and I will attempt to do the same, though at 44, my mind isn't quite what it used to be...I think...(stupid clouds)...

[lunatica]

1. DUers having a discussion

[lisa caufield]

2. Circus

I have been feeling that the circus you speak of, is purposefully orchestrated by the powers that be. I feel that we, the people around the world are playing right into it. Chaos, fear and anger serve their purpose when the end game is control and war? War on our own soil? I think we are being prepared for it. I see the signs. Homeland security 450 million bullets? Women, blacks, gays, foreigners, muslims, shoot first laws, the push to poverty. The more hateful and divisive they can make a society, the more they can control it.

I remember McCain saying "bomb bomb bomb Iran", when he was running for president.

I feel that we need to remain peaceful and loving in our hearts and reach out to others and prove that we aren't going to play the game. Most people aren't going to see this though. The big picture is not good. Question everything, do the opposite of what they want. Fight the powers, not each other. Reach out with love to strangers. Even when you want to attack.

[JFN1]

3. Tried to, but did not, say it better myself.

You nailed it - thanks!

[freshwest]

5. +1,000

[niyad]

4. you stole MY clouds?????? I need them back.

seriously, I know what you mean. I keep thinking about "bread and circuses", and "beware the man who looks you straight in the eye--he wants to keep you from seeing something". In these modern times, I see this as wondering, whenever the powers that be have our attention focused on the latest insanity, what it is they are doing elsewhere they do not want us to see.

So I really thank the internet, thank international news, and thank DU, each and every day. This morning, the first think I saw when I came to DU was a long list of incidents about good police officers from all around the country.

I try to remember each and every day that the vast majority of people are, as I read recently, hardwired to be helpful, loving and caring (which means that the repukes and their supporters are genetically defective??) I remind myself to look out my window, and look up at all the beauty around me. I remind myself that I have wonderful friends, wonderful 4-legged friends too.

and I remember this rather bastardized latin phrase "illegitimati non carfurundum" (don't let the bastards grind you down"

[Tobin S.]

6. I'll give you a rec and a kick

I actually do not post sometimes to preempt any arguments that I might get involved in. I shouldn't be that way, but I guess I'm not the argumentative type. I probably should just let it roll and let people say what they want to and not worry about it. So, I don't get all outraged usually, but I'm sensitive to being outraged upon.