Which is not only a general tendency, but a general opinion as well. To explain it through cause and effect can be seen as immature. To say the least. It's an oversimplification of something simple and complex. To satisfy the intellect, sure, give it a reason. Describe it with a word or two. Not that it has been thoroughly researched. Nor from the most honest standpoint. But hey, as in general, a general tendency flows from people in general. Just like movies are the same when you see the generalization in them. Who are writing them? It is recognizable because they are written by people. And most people, generally speaking, feel the same way. Do not miss out on me, too. Who is general as well. I am using the same alphabet as anyone. Our health gets better? Comparison is for high school. When scrutinizing, there should be a natural letting go of such ideas. Just as a lifespan is not something to compare. It is what it is. And a concept at that. An idea. A tool to measure things, is a tool to measure things. Time itself is made up. An illusion. Remember Einstein? People in the year 2000 cannot be living in the year 1000, in order to compare. To talk about life, many aspects may be needed. And yet we zoom in on numbers, duration and voilà . It also seems better to live longer. No one knows, for no one lives longer. There is no comparison. Get it? You do not know what a hundred years of life is, when you only reach eighty. And if you hypothetically live longer, perhaps you get bored, an accident happens or war breaks out. Thus, is it better to live longer, or are we of the opinion that life is good, and we want more of it? As greedy bastards, we are. I would not care to die earlier, or to not have been born at all. But hey, that's me. Facing fears, seemingly. Seeing how happiness is short-lived and not within the grasp of our ego is one thing. Love turns out to be ego as well. Life can be a chore, not resembling paradise. Don't get me wrong. Simplifying things makes it manageable. To not overshoot in pessimistic and ill-tempered nihilism, there is nothing wrong with it, too. I cherish no belief, anyway. It is ok from a different angle. It is plausible to see the sober as the bottom of life. Not obscuring it with positivity. Which in the long run is too dualistic, anyway. Black, white, you and me... as long as it is general, for general people with a general life. Fine. Not for me, then. Though I haven't met anyone described as such. This response has not been taken into account, has it not? As if anyone would listen to me. No offense. Unsurprisingly, since listening is not what we think it is. One's head has ears, one's thoughts do not. Nor are there many, who are looking from as many angles as possible. Especially the 'negative' ones. Which I do not consider negative. But to paint a picture. Drawing parallels between education throughout time is also not realistic. No problem. Just throw it on the pile of crap. Where an abundance of nonsense in books and through word of mouth is overflowing. Which we at first see as real. Take my words, or rather, don't. They mean nothing. Nor are they suddenly true. I may say to hold our horses. Not to go race with them. Or divert the race from out- to inwards. Where one fights a fierce battle with itself. In order to throw in the towel. To dive deep into matter, before saying anything. If there is anything to say at all. Which is clear to me. For what I say, I ultimately could not care less. So, are we humans, and for the story, better? Sure, fiction knows no limits. Which may be apparent by the amount of crap I can come up with in regard to Långvall's response to the question about whether humanity is improving. Is it? Not yet. With all possible improvements, there remains one big fucking problem. I am not swearing. Apart from a grain of salt and a wink, I say it like it is. With emphasis on the story I am telling, not the truth. Of which there is none. What is the big fucking problem? Fucking. Sex. Copulation. Look at the numbers and look around you. Eight billion people today do not make groceries easier. If we are going to compare, let's do it right. In the year 200 there seemed to be 190 million of humankind. As numbers increased, it is going to be less kind. If you catch my drift. In 1800, we were so 'kind' to come up with one billion. A century later, with two. Another hundred years, and it is eight all of a sudden. Despite two major discoveries in science and technology. The condom and birth control pill. No offense to Mr. Långvall, but the science we see getting better is not doing well, then. Improving contraception should increase prevention. Which should make humans better. For whatever that may mean. Words are superficial rather than deep, anyway. One seems to be able to think about it in different ways. A snorkeller may be on the water surface and a diver deep below. Both are still in the water. One thought may be seen as superficial and another profound. Both appear as appearances. Problems. Phenomenal signs of the brain disease called ego. It may be virtuous to acknowledge yourself to be the problem. Why then multiply? Humans in the year 200 were perhaps better. They sure had fewer ways to prevent birth. Perhaps it is getting worse. If I act high schoolish and do not scrutinize. Looking from angle upon angle, it does not matter. By now, the reader may have noticed the baloney of it. Of Långvall's words and mine. That it is not about what is written. Nor who wrote it. Try to look through it. Through questions and answers. Criticize them, me and yourself. Why not show the space behind it? Like one can feel when letters are s e p e r a t e d a s s u c h . Just as distance between people creates space to breathe. To prevent further mistakes. To control birth. Or when that is impossible, the pill prevents a body. Forgot to take it? Get a condom. Hit the brakes. It takes less effort to resist, than to let someone live a human life. Which is a lot of energy apart from you doing the upbringing, changing diapers, and whatnot. Who warns you of the battles it may face? Who guarantees there will be no suicide? Which is the third leading cause of death among young adults and affects nearly a million people each year. Who wants its offspring to experience the inevitable pain and suffering that comes along with it? Do not cover it with positives. Take time to think about it. I have no belief in the dualistic nature of things. They are not even questions. Pain for me is part of it. It teaches. 'Feel me!', it demands excruciatingly. 'See through my illusion', it whispers. 'At least I feel good' during a stretch, it says. Ending with 'any questions?' Though not everyone will say so. Perhaps your newborn is not going to be as open-minded. It may be the next Hitler. No offense, but also no excuses for egocentric minds, who breed self-centered individuals. Look at me. You want something similar? I don't think so. As I just said, for listening there is no insurance. Heeding a humble humanity is not for the hedonistic. Such words will most likely fall on deaf ears. Nevertheless, think before the fuck. Fuck off, even. It may prevent a problem which will otherwise exist. It may reduce the amount of people who want to get better, as well. Think about it. We are as good as we are. The best we can be. Not perfect, yet perfect in imperfection. Again, for the story and not in the absolute sense. Plus, questions remain. Does an improvement improve? Who on earth wants to be better? Who is who, anyway? |