Pssst... Look carefully. Are they around?
Doesn't look like it. Phew, it was quite unexpected!
Certainly. It was beyond my wildest dreams that some people would be listening to us.
Approach us with their opinion to boot...
It's all your fault, you know. You're the one who gave the definition of civilization.
But you acknowledged it!
One said I should be telling him a joke because that's what civilized people do among strangers, you remember?
Another guy suggested that we stop talking like this altogether. "It's nonsense," he said.
And made a grin to say, "Trust me."
What I meant was that even when I have some doubts about the stranger in front of me, I prefer to behave as if I trusted that person. To prove that point, I didn't tell those guys to get lost.
I see, you're even avoiding the generic "you" today.
I emphasize that it is about respect and light-heartedness. I wish not to live among people who are so stressed out and horrified that they think anybody outside their circle is a con-artist or a terrorist. As for me, when someone shows lack of trust, be it in terms of intelligence or dependability, I feel like running away as fast as I can.
Or slapping his face...
It happens too often. After a few sentences, it becomes clear that the person I met a few seconds ago thinks that I am an idiot, a social misfit, or even a crook.
Hmmm, do you think that's their fault? I bet it depends on which country you are in, too.
You should hide such thoughts from the person if you can't suppress them. Most importantly, you should always maintain the flexibility to revise who and what s/he is.
Hey, we live to have fun!
Calm down... Don't look around nervously and shout like that.
Can we say that civilization is what separates us from other animals?
Yes, civilization is a fight against our instincts as animals that could be destructive.
Those that drain our energy from productive and creative activities, such as the desire to kill your enemy.
Jealousy, anger, hatred, fear, insecurity, resentment and so on, are emotions that could get out of hand and inflict harm on others, as well as on yourself. I remember talking about this a bit. When an animal sees another that does not belong to its family or clan, the best thing to do is to make a menacing gesture.
Unless it looks like a potential mate.
Please...! Nothing bad about being cautious, it is even required in most cases, but showing friendliness rather than hostility and contempt is more cultivated behavior.
I thought about your examples of civilized behavior from last time, and realized that it doesn't cost you much. Greeting hikers on the trails, wishing "bon appétit" to a lone diner on the terrace, helping an elderly lady with a large suitcase... I should have known!
You're right. We don't have to sacrifice much, or not at all, in those cases. It becomes challenging when it concerns allocation of limited resources.
I think the oxygen-mask rule applies.
What is that oxygen-mask rule of yours?
When the oxygen pressure in an aircraft drops, we need to wear the mask that supplies oxygen in order to avoid hypoxia. In such a situation, you must help yourself before turning to others who need your help. Otherwise, none of you would be saved.
I agree that it is counter-productive to go totally against our biological instinct to care about ourselves first.
What do you think about Mother Teresa, isn't she an exception to that?
Even she had to take care of herself first. She wouldn't have been able to help others if she let herself fall ill. It's your oxygen-mask rule at work.
But you agree that not all of us can and have to be a Mother Teresa?
One contentious point is how far should you go in helping others with masks. Should you go to the next aisle?
Not if there is another passenger who can put it on by her/himself and assist others in the next aisle.
Another is how much of what is, or could be, mine, should be given to others. What if the supply of oxygen is not enough for everyone on the plane?
Some people wait sharing until they reach their first five million in the bank...
They wouldn't have been able to make that five million if there had not been others paving the highway with asphalt, tending the hypermarkets, working on the factory floor, watering the lawn and the flowers of her/his office, cleaning the toilets, etc.
It is difficult to share when you think you earned it all by yourself.
We know that happiness is closely related to how you rank yourself with respect to the average. In fact, with all the progress in technology, the feeling of well-being hasn't become stronger.
Dignity for all necessitates redistribution...
Doesn't look like it. Phew, it was quite unexpected!
Certainly. It was beyond my wildest dreams that some people would be listening to us.
Approach us with their opinion to boot...
It's all your fault, you know. You're the one who gave the definition of civilization.
But you acknowledged it!
One said I should be telling him a joke because that's what civilized people do among strangers, you remember?
Another guy suggested that we stop talking like this altogether. "It's nonsense," he said.
And made a grin to say, "Trust me."
What I meant was that even when I have some doubts about the stranger in front of me, I prefer to behave as if I trusted that person. To prove that point, I didn't tell those guys to get lost.
I see, you're even avoiding the generic "you" today.
I emphasize that it is about respect and light-heartedness. I wish not to live among people who are so stressed out and horrified that they think anybody outside their circle is a con-artist or a terrorist. As for me, when someone shows lack of trust, be it in terms of intelligence or dependability, I feel like running away as fast as I can.
Or slapping his face...
It happens too often. After a few sentences, it becomes clear that the person I met a few seconds ago thinks that I am an idiot, a social misfit, or even a crook.
Hmmm, do you think that's their fault? I bet it depends on which country you are in, too.
You should hide such thoughts from the person if you can't suppress them. Most importantly, you should always maintain the flexibility to revise who and what s/he is.
Hey, we live to have fun!
Calm down... Don't look around nervously and shout like that.
Can we say that civilization is what separates us from other animals?
Yes, civilization is a fight against our instincts as animals that could be destructive.
Those that drain our energy from productive and creative activities, such as the desire to kill your enemy.
Jealousy, anger, hatred, fear, insecurity, resentment and so on, are emotions that could get out of hand and inflict harm on others, as well as on yourself. I remember talking about this a bit. When an animal sees another that does not belong to its family or clan, the best thing to do is to make a menacing gesture.
Unless it looks like a potential mate.
Please...! Nothing bad about being cautious, it is even required in most cases, but showing friendliness rather than hostility and contempt is more cultivated behavior.
I thought about your examples of civilized behavior from last time, and realized that it doesn't cost you much. Greeting hikers on the trails, wishing "bon appétit" to a lone diner on the terrace, helping an elderly lady with a large suitcase... I should have known!
You're right. We don't have to sacrifice much, or not at all, in those cases. It becomes challenging when it concerns allocation of limited resources.
I think the oxygen-mask rule applies.
What is that oxygen-mask rule of yours?
When the oxygen pressure in an aircraft drops, we need to wear the mask that supplies oxygen in order to avoid hypoxia. In such a situation, you must help yourself before turning to others who need your help. Otherwise, none of you would be saved.
I agree that it is counter-productive to go totally against our biological instinct to care about ourselves first.
What do you think about Mother Teresa, isn't she an exception to that?
Even she had to take care of herself first. She wouldn't have been able to help others if she let herself fall ill. It's your oxygen-mask rule at work.
But you agree that not all of us can and have to be a Mother Teresa?
One contentious point is how far should you go in helping others with masks. Should you go to the next aisle?
Not if there is another passenger who can put it on by her/himself and assist others in the next aisle.
Another is how much of what is, or could be, mine, should be given to others. What if the supply of oxygen is not enough for everyone on the plane?
Some people wait sharing until they reach their first five million in the bank...
They wouldn't have been able to make that five million if there had not been others paving the highway with asphalt, tending the hypermarkets, working on the factory floor, watering the lawn and the flowers of her/his office, cleaning the toilets, etc.
It is difficult to share when you think you earned it all by yourself.
We know that happiness is closely related to how you rank yourself with respect to the average. In fact, with all the progress in technology, the feeling of well-being hasn't become stronger.
Dignity for all necessitates redistribution...
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