How these tensions manifest themselves reflects the values of the society.
We express it in merchandise or sports loyalties (the bread and circuses) because that's what occupies much of our lives. This is far better than the ethnic and religious expressions that these fears forms in most places. If you are looking forward to your favorite team's next match, you are not very likely to want to strap a box of TNT to your behind. Seen in that light 'bread and circuses" are not the luxuries as they may appear but vital ingredients to the peaceful functioning of a complex society.
We deal with threats in two forms: fight or flight. You either kill it, or run away from it. Well, that doesn't work all that often anymore; we are dealing with more than gazelles and leopards. So we internalize it (anger, depression) or lash out in acceptable equivalents. Angry phone calls, letters, posts.
It's another survival trait we have to learn to control. It leaves very little middle ground. We will treat a small problem, say, a key sticking on your keyboard) with the same intensity that we would deal with something like a lion stalking us. It can be a great ability. We tackle all problems with intensity. So we can put a man on the moon or make music from a hole in the ground, a stick, and some banana leaves. It can also cause suicide over a change of some numbers on a balance sheet, or murder over a parking space.
Btw, yes, my keyboard is sticking. And it's one of the good "switched" keyboard that are so hard to find now. Roarr...err.. I mean... oink! oink!
KP
We express it in merchandise or sports loyalties (the bread and circuses) because that's what occupies much of our lives. This is far better than the ethnic and religious expressions that these fears forms in most places. If you are looking forward to your favorite team's next match, you are not very likely to want to strap a box of TNT to your behind. Seen in that light 'bread and circuses" are not the luxuries as they may appear but vital ingredients to the peaceful functioning of a complex society.
We deal with threats in two forms: fight or flight. You either kill it, or run away from it. Well, that doesn't work all that often anymore; we are dealing with more than gazelles and leopards. So we internalize it (anger, depression) or lash out in acceptable equivalents. Angry phone calls, letters, posts.
It's another survival trait we have to learn to control. It leaves very little middle ground. We will treat a small problem, say, a key sticking on your keyboard) with the same intensity that we would deal with something like a lion stalking us. It can be a great ability. We tackle all problems with intensity. So we can put a man on the moon or make music from a hole in the ground, a stick, and some banana leaves. It can also cause suicide over a change of some numbers on a balance sheet, or murder over a parking space.
Btw, yes, my keyboard is sticking. And it's one of the good "switched" keyboard that are so hard to find now. Roarr...err.. I mean... oink! oink!
KP