We've had it.

[Little John]

I rather like civilisation.

I like many of the things it has given me. An education. A long life expectancy. A resonable assurance that I do not have to spend all of my days merely subsisting. I like the progressive taxation system that means I am insured for illness and old age.

However, I don't like the impersonality of modern urban life. The atomised anonymity of the vast majority of my daily intereactions with my fellow humans. One of the ironies of modern life is that, as we have become more civilised at a societal level, we have become progressively more depersonalised as individual agents in the social world.

I guess the only way that deep and meaningful relationships can be assured for the majority of daily personal encounters is by living in a small community. However, I don't mean the kind of small community that exists in the industrialised West. I mean one where the economics of life underpins the culture of life, in a culturally immediate sense.

However, things will change.

It will be impoissible to maintain social cohesion in the cities when things start to get really tough. People will turn against each other.

Imagine locking six people up in a room with only enough food for 4 of them. Being human, the stupid buggers will probably kill three of their number before they relalise it was only necessary for two of them to die.

Now imagine those same six people. but this time they are all armed to the teeth. Imagine the state of that room by the time they have finished with one another. This is where we are headed, I believe.

No man is an island. Those who learn this lesson now will fare best in the in the times to come. We need to start to organise into communities. Real communities. Perhaps an electronic community such as this is the start. Perhaps not. Who knows? I hope it becomes more than this. Otherwise it is ultimately fruitless.

When I say that I need to divest myself of some of my middle class ideals, what I mean is that I have always beleved in the total fraternity of man. However, this may well not be a luxury that many of us can afford in the future. Maybe our only (but total) commitment will be to our immediate community. Maybe this will make us happier. Maybe it will better service our most basic and anchient social needs.

I guess, I am in a state of philisophical angst at the moment.

I may feel more optimistic in due course.

I hope so....

[RevdTess]

Steve I empathise entirely with your thoughts.

There's the sense of hope that we might be forced into a mode of community living that our civilisation seems unable to choose willingly for itself.

And there's the sense of fear that any such places of happiness and respite that might emerge could be annihilated by violence as the pent-up anger and frustration of millions is left unchecked by authority.

I dive into these feelings from time to time but find no resolution. I guess just by considering them I'm probably directing my life in the appropriate direction, albeit far too slowly. And ultimately there's this horrible sense that whatever I do probably wont be enough.

[Little John]

Steve I empathise entirely with your thoughts.

There's the sense of hope that we might be forced into a mode of community living that our civilisation seems unable to choose willingly for itself.

And there's the sense of fear that any such places of happiness and respite that might emerge could be annihilated by violence as the pent-up anger and frustration of millions is left unchecked by authority.

I dive into these feelings from time to time but find no resolution. I guess just by considering them I'm probably directing my life in the appropriate direction, albeit far too slowly. And ultimately there's this horrible sense that whatever I do probably wont be enough.

Thank you Tess.

It really does help me to know that others are feeling these thing too...

Steve