Entropy
Entropy is a word with a few concepts attached, but the one I really like is this: Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society. I somehow enjoy the thought that all sociteties are on a downward spiral eventually. Some start out better, and have a longer fall, some start out pretty crappy and don't have very far to go, but they all end up there. I think there are things that you can look at in any society to appraise where they're at along the curve.1. Civil Rights - Does everybody have equal protection under the law
2. Manners - Are people polite and kind to each other
3. Treatment of the land - Is there proper stewardship of the land they live on
4. Positive Social Interaction - Do people interact, or do they shut themselves up in isolation
These are just a couple of things that I think can indicate to me if a society is just starting the slide down, or if they're in a full headlong plunge. Looking at those 4, I'm pretty sure America is on a street luge, headed down Mt Whitney. Civil rights are being taken away, nice people are the exception to the rule, we have abhorhent environmental policies, and people are more concerned with their central air than their neighbors. Unless of course, their neighbors have done something to offend them.
I don't think that there is no good in our society, don't misunderstand me. I do think that the good is disappearing pretty quickly, however. Sometimes I'm almost tempted to just pack up and leave. That doesn't do any good, though. It's better to stay and fight for improvements, even if I believe that the decline is inevitable. I can at least stake out a piece and fight to keep it good.
posted by WunEyedDog @ 9:24 AM
4 Comments:
i have problems with number 4.
Yes you do. It's good for you though. Social interaction is very key for being happy. I'm not saying you have to be super friendly and buddy buddy to everybody. However, I think too many people just hide in their air conditioned suburbanite houses and don't go outside and see the neighbors. The move away from the rural areas, where you needed your neighbors and it was a small community combined with the exodus from the cities, where you live in such close proximity is helping our move into a isolationist nation.
good observation. you would think it would be the other way around, but perhaps familiarity breeds contempt after all?
I really think the suburbs are the end to our civilization. In a small town, everybody knows everybody, largely due to necessity. In a city, you live on top of each other, so invariably get to know one another. This relatively new things, suburbs is separating people from their society. It's too easy to go home, hide in the A/C, watch the digital cable, play on your internet, then hop in your car for your one hour communte in solitude and shut yourself in at the office, where you see a dozen coworkers that you don't know anything about and don't see outside of work and the annual christmas party. Boo suburbs.
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