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[Reptilian Rob]

It can be silent, quiet, and subtle. Or it can be apparent and wrenching.

These past years it seems like we as a species are falling backwards, into some kind of abyss. The economy we entrust with our well being, the politicians that we entrust with decisions they have no right making, the hatred we are so eager to share with our fellow man/woman, the bountiful greed that encroaches on our lives and planet. 

I bring this up because I ran into a dear friend of mine, an old English professor who I have known for years. I took his classes many times, and he was one of the main reasons I have my BA in English. We ran into each other at Borders (the bookstore) and started talking at the coffee shop there. The subject diverted to how we felt about the events of the world we live in, I was not prepared for what he asked me. He scooted his chair closer to the table and leaned over to me and asked, "So, Mr. Williamson, if you had to, how would you describe who we are (humanity) today and how we have changed?" I was struct blindsided by this question, how do I answer something so deep and enthralling as that? It took me a minute but I responded with "I don't think I can answer that, but perhaps someone else can put my words into context." My answer was from "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkle, I thought it fitting.

"And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made, and the sign flashed out it's warning, in the words that it was forming. In the naked light I saw, ten thousand people maybe more, people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, no one dared disturb the sound of silence."

He looked back at me and said, "It fits perfectly, but I asked what you thought, not someone else." I told him I would have to get back to him on it, it's a deep subject that you can't discuss in the moment.

I think I now have my answer and what I am going to tell him, I believe this captures the essence of who we are, both good and bad.

"The alpha, the omega, the protector, the aggressor, to every mind who breaths destruction or defense and to the mind that is at rest. All the children of men, to the old and withered, every life brought and to every life taken. Every pawn at the knights table, every free man with free will, to those who find understanding in anguish and to those who find purpose in euphoria. To those who look beyond, and to those who would travel to the edge, for the souls who fought to the end, and to the souls who lost hope. We endure."

I thought I would share this here, perhaps you guys could share your thoughts as well. 

[Reptilian Rob]

randumb vanguard wrote...

I personally don't find it a fitting description of the world as we live it.

Well, that's where you come in! I said at the end of my post that perhaps you have your own ideas and thoughts, go ahead and use that brain!

[Reptilian Rob]

randumb vanguard wrote...

Reptilian Rob wrote...

randumb vanguard wrote...

I personally don't find it a fitting description of the world as we live it.

Well, that's where you come in! I said at the end of my post that perhaps you have your own ideas and thoughts, go ahead and use that brain!

Humanity as a whole means more then can be simply written on paper but here is some of the things I think should be adjusted
the first part of it seems to be you saying a lot of nothing it does create the feal of you building up the importance of the final sentance "we endure"
but endure we do not. We fight, we conquer, we become smarter, we build things, and we destroy things we do not simply endure.
and the simple fact is we do not simply all "endure" but there are those who have lost purpose jump off of bridges and alltogether fail to endure. We all go through hardship but some refuse to make it to the other side...

That's true, but within my explanation I was referring to the "whole". "We endure" is referring to that fact that if an individual is removed, the whole of humanity still exists. However, your point is well taken.

[Baracuda6977]

the state of humanity doesn't seem to me something that can be summed up by a poem, fancy writing will misrepresent SOMETHING in there and not seem quite right



as a species we grow, we conflict and we let live. Lethargy dulls the actions to correct mistakes as they take root and corrupt. the pessimists give up, the optimists fail to see the problem. we are growing apart while making strides to come together. money holds us together, while fear pulls us apart. we have grown in power from sticks and stones to tools of mass destruction. if we don't kill ourselves first we will raze our home to the ground. even when we see a problem, no one will act without the others and they will not act on their own. We are reaching the point of destruction, may God help us all on 2012.



how was that? also, was that statement you made your own?

[Panderfringe]

Humans is cool I guess?

[ImperialOperative]

OP is poopy-head

Philosophical enough for you?

If I wanted the opinion of an English major... oh wait.

PS

Modifié par ImperialOperative, 16 mars 2010 - 10:56 .

[addiction21]

Reptilian Rob wrote...


These past years it seems like we as a species are falling backwards, into some kind of abyss.

Christ one of you people...  short answer is no.

[Dark Lilith]

"And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made, and the sign flashed out it's warning, in the words that it was forming. In the naked light I saw, ten thousand people maybe more, people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, no one dared disturb the sound of silence

For a Simon and Garfunkle song of the 60's it is still ringing so true!

[Reptilian Rob]

Ok, so 60% of the posts in this thread aren't made by a 4chan wannabe.



Thread is a success!

[Reptilian Rob]

Baracuda6977 wrote...

the state of humanity doesn't seem to me something that can be summed up by a poem, fancy writing will misrepresent SOMETHING in there and not seem quite right

as a species we grow, we conflict and we let live. Lethargy dulls the actions to correct mistakes as they take root and corrupt. the pessimists give up, the optimists fail to see the problem. we are growing apart while making strides to come together. money holds us together, while fear pulls us apart. we have grown in power from sticks and stones to tools of mass destruction. if we don't kill ourselves first we will raze our home to the ground. even when we see a problem, no one will act without the others and they will not act on their own. We are reaching the point of destruction, may God help us all on 2012.

how was that? also, was that statement you made your own?

Yes, the statement was mine. 

[Statulos]

I have posted this in other threads but your perception is not new at all. Do you feel like you just had a rude awakening from the best dream ever? Do you feel like everything is made from plastic, artificial, fake and untrue in a deeper sense?



Maybe because it is, maybe because it has been for decades. Welcome to Hyperreality.

[Reptilian Rob]

Statulos wrote...

I have posted this in other threads but your perception is not new at all. Do you feel like you just had a rude awakening from the best dream ever? Do you feel like everything is made from plastic, artificial, fake and untrue in a deeper sense?

Maybe because it is, maybe because it has been for decades. Welcome to Hyperreality.

Well, not everything is that black and white but I sometimes feel that way. There is always the good we tend to not notice, when the bad is glaring us down.

[Statulos]

Hyperreality is not good or bad, it´s just a nice lie.

[paperkut808]

When you say that as a species we are taking a step backwards, do you actually mean as a species or a particular society?



There have been civilisations, much like the Romans and the Greeks, who had progressed and uplifted humanity as a whole. At the same time, as their societies grew, more and more corruption came forth, from political realms and individual life styles.



I use corrupt liberally here, but what I mean to say is that the lines between what is right and wrong in a particular society became so blurred that people lost faith in their own leaders and even themselves. These Empires rose, and fell, because people were jaded. It didnt stop humanity from continuing on, because many other nations rose out of their fall.



Now I may sound really bleak here, but I doubt this cycle will end any time soon. But that is how we as a species evolve. From the ashes of those previous we are reborn, and wewill continue to advance our species.



2012 is not taken into account here either btw

[AntiChri5]

@OP:  People can not be summed up so easily, and neither can societies,

Wow i even did that without quoting Sten.

The more interesting people (keyword being interesting, most i dont bother with) i meet the more differences i find, the more cultures i look at the more fascinating differences i find. The other day i watched a documentary on the Nenyat (sp?) tribe and it was just fascinating. If that is what you think of people you just arent talking to the right ones.

Unless your talking about pop culture.

And anyone who actually believes that 2012 crap needs a punch in the face.

Modifié par AntiChri5, 17 mars 2010 - 08:18 .

[MarloMarlo]

Reptilian Rob wrote...
I think I now have my answer and what I am going to tell him, I believe this captures the essence of who we are, both good and bad.

"The alpha, the omega, the protector, the aggressor, to every mind who breaths destruction or defense and to the mind that is at rest. All the children of men, to the old and withered, every life brought and to every life taken. Every pawn at the knights table, every free man with free will, to those who find understanding in anguish and to those who find purpose in euphoria. To those who look beyond, and to those who would travel to the edge, for the souls who fought to the end, and to the souls who lost hope. We endure."

Fix the typos before you send your paragraph to your old English professor.

[Reptilian Rob]

MarloMarlo wrote...

Reptilian Rob wrote...
I think I now have my answer and what I am going to tell him, I believe this captures the essence of who we are, both good and bad.

"The alpha, the omega, the protector, the aggressor, to every mind who breaths destruction or defense and to the mind that is at rest. All the children of men, to the old and withered, every life brought and to every life taken. Every pawn at the knights table, every free man with free will, to those who find understanding in anguish and to those who find purpose in euphoria. To those who look beyond, and to those who would travel to the edge, for the souls who fought to the end, and to the souls who lost hope. We endure."

Fix the typos before you send your paragraph to your old English professor.

Meh, if you're refering to the un-liberal use of commas I guess I could cut it down. Other than that I don't see any spelling errors or the like. 

Thanks though, I tend to type quickly and sometimes errors do occur.

[Reptilian Rob]

paperkut808 wrote...

When you say that as a species we are taking a step backwards, do you actually mean as a species or a particular society?

There have been civilisations, much like the Romans and the Greeks, who had progressed and uplifted humanity as a whole. At the same time, as their societies grew, more and more corruption came forth, from political realms and individual life styles.

I use corrupt liberally here, but what I mean to say is that the lines between what is right and wrong in a particular society became so blurred that people lost faith in their own leaders and even themselves. These Empires rose, and fell, because people were jaded. It didnt stop humanity from continuing on, because many other nations rose out of their fall.

Now I may sound really bleak here, but I doubt this cycle will end any time soon. But that is how we as a species evolve. From the ashes of those previous we are reborn, and wewill continue to advance our species.

2012 is not taken into account here either btw

1) Society, the species in based on animal instincts. No matter how technologically advaned we become, we're still animals.

2) Very true. Have you ever read the book "Collapse", good stuff.

3) The Roman empire fell because it's government never put in checks and balances on the amount of power the ruler could wield. So the citizens had to step in and murder him.

4) I liked the movie 2012, but anyone who actually believes that crap needs to be decked. The Myan calander does NOT end in 2012, it starts a new cycle.

[Dark Lilith]

1) Society, the species in based on animal instincts. No matter how technologically advaned we become, we're still animals.

give that man a cigar!

[Balerion84]

Reptilian Rob wrote...

It can be silent, quiet, and subtle. Or it can be apparent and wrenching.

These past years it seems like we as a species are falling backwards, into some kind of abyss. The economy we entrust with our well being, the politicians that we entrust with decisions they have no right making, the hatred we are so eager to share with our fellow man/woman, the bountiful greed that encroaches on our lives and planet. 

Oh oh oh! Internet melodrama! Cool!
*grabs popcorn*

*raises hand*
Question!
*puts down hand*
By "past years" you mean "ever since humans came down from trees" right? Because I doubt someone who tries to act intelligently would think those things are something new. Right?
*starts eating the popcorn*