Category: Let's talk
Here's a topic that will hopefully get you thinking.
Now, I don't want to go into a whole huge nit-picking debate over what people think society is, so let's please avoid that if possible.
Anyhow, do you believe:
1. Most of society is just full of silly people with silly ideas and they rarely get things right, so it's best to rebel whenever possible.
2. Society serves a purpose, and if you're going to succeed in life, it's best to just go along to get along, don't make waves, and do as you're told.
3. You want to question society, at least, but you think the system is set up so that the majority always wins and is always right, so why bother.
4. Some point of view that I haven't listed here.
Explain, expand and discuss, please. That is all. Hahahahahaha!
Fantastic topic Godzilla! Society exists, in my humbly uneducated view, because of us humans needing to band together for survival. I can't do my own plumbing, electrical work, drive myself back and forth to hospitals and so forth, and therefore I need other people. We all do, in one way or another, to one extent or another. Having said that, as a whole, it has, nor should have, absolutely no bearing on how I live my life, what views I hold and How I look etc, save for the letter of the law concerning such matters. I mean, if I want to have a beard, then that's my choice, if I want to go out into the street naked, well different kettle of fish ahoy, cuz the good old cops dont' like that too much.
Identity has two aspects to it. One that you can influence yourself, and one based entirely on other people's perceptions. I tend to do what I feel fits the identity I have control over, within the afore mentioned constraints, leaving other people's perceptions their concern, and their concern alone. See my profile here for just one example of what I mean.
There is yet one more exception to the rule, as far as society goes. That rule that says if I don't agree with one aspect of society, a law, a norm, whatever it may be, then it will also in no way, insofar as I can help it, influence me. This applies to society as a whole and sub-cultures within it. If that rule, or norm is such that it hurts those, or some of those, it says it's trying to protect, then I want to do what I can to change things.
I think though that one man's voice is seldom if ever heard by society as a whole, and it is important to then band together with like-minded individuals, for where one man may fail, many can and often do succeed. I do certainly believe in change, without it we'd still be living in caves shivering, after all. The way to change is through organization and saying a big huge "no!" to the way things are though, not an individual voice which is far too easily silenced. So give me a reason to want to change something in society, and an organization to join with whom to do so, and I'm there.
i believe that those who question are shot down by the majority, and that questioners need to be careful who they anger, or they get shut up, until the questions become so great, that the majority have to listen. take apartite for instance, when the ANC began questioning the politics of the old south africa, they were locked up, but then their words became stronger and stronger until the apartite system was seen to be discredited and collapsed. some of those who'd faught for change and freedom must have felt that they'd never change things, but they ended up doing so in the end.
Exactly as I said, there is safety, and power, in numbers.
albanac, your comments are cogent and well expressed. In the main, I agree with them but have some thoughts which might or per haps not dovetail with them.
As you said so well,Changemakers are initially usually ridiculed and then accepted. People tend to be herd animals clustered about the golden mean. We react to change in three big ways. We fight, run, or accept the new order or different event. Our environment from childhood encourages the development of one of the above strategies as our dominant modas operandi.
If I want you to change, I need to realize which method of dealing with newness you favor and work it to my advantage. For example, a woman with whom I work greets a new procedure with every reason why it can't be done. The boss usually gets furious and says she will do it or else. I often say, if you could do it what would you do? After thinking about it and talking about it, she realizes that, hey, the big boys have their reasons, and maybe this isn't so bad. The having a voice and the listening are enough to give her confidence.
It is my duty as a world citizen to support the center while stretching the perimeter toward a positive direction. All change is not good. What may be positive for me, may have horrible consequences for someone else.
During the US presidential election this time, I was very concerned because everyone kept saying "we want change. change is good." Hey, you know what cancer is? Deffinitely a change I don't want.
Before acting, We need to carefully think about what the possible new direction is and what unperceived consequences may come from traveling down a new road. Sometimes a quick easy fix is not necessarily the best one for a long term problem. Too often, I fear, we citizens of the US have impatient itis. If something isn't fixed in 37.5 secconds we lose interest, whine, and move on. It will be interesting to see how my fellow country persons react to our president next year at this time when we are faced with many of the same ol same ols.
am I making sense?
Yes, you are. Very much so. And I have to agree too. There is a lot of sense in identifying with both parties, those aposed to and those for change. I wonder though, where the line is drawn with regard to that? I mean none but those who murder in a country's name will say that murder is a good thing. The persecution under apartheid in South Africa, the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, China's human rights record with regard to its prisoners, etc etc. Should we then examine our motives for wanting change? Or is there a case for stepping in, and saying enough is enough. Banding together and trying, at least, to put an end to it.
I can't control the actions of leaders and people in places like China, palestine, or south africa. I can change things in my corner of the planet to make them better. If we all worry about improving our sector then the whole picture may be slightly better. as the cliche goes "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." I am a seriously practicing Christian. The God I believe in is crying at the crimes that are done in his name in places like you mentioned. Trying to get the boneheads to act with respect for all and to improve our world is one of the most challenging and rewarding attempts we can undertake.
Ok, I'm going for short & to the point here (for me).
I believe that change is imperative & if I can't find someone to stand up with me, then I'll keep fighting the battle alone, no matter what said battle is. One way or another, I'll die having accomplished something.
I'm going to continue to do what I want, when I want & how I want, & do my best to effect change as best as I can along the way. I will also do my best not to push my views off on someone else & not to judge them harshly for their beliefs even if they don't mesh with mine.