Comments on: Dysfunctional Culture http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/ se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:31:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Getting to the heart of it « Villageblog http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-172886 Getting to the heart of it « Villageblog Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:50:13 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-172886 [...] to the heart of it There’s a discussion going on over at Anthropik that I’m going to respond to here because it gets to the core of [...] […] to the heart of it There’s a discussion going on over at Anthropik that I’m going to respond to here because it gets to the core of […]

]]> By: AltaGid http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-171724 AltaGid Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:50:57 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-171724 Hello! Help solve the problem. Very often try to enter the site, but says that the password is not correct. Regrettably use of remembering. Give like to be? Thank you! Hello! Help solve the problem.
Very often try to enter the site, but says that the password is not correct.
Regrettably use of remembering. Give like to be?
Thank you!

]]> By: Nine Nations: Bioregionalism in North America (The Anthropik Network) http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-142080 Nine Nations: Bioregionalism in North America (The Anthropik Network) Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:30:19 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-142080 [...] Bioregionalism is by no means new, and if the sketchy connections to environmental determinism serve to cast a shadow on bioregionalism, its long-standing connections with nationalism in general, and the Nazi party specifically, are positively chilling. In the wild human mind, the two most important elements in life are family and land.8 Just as states have formed dysfunctional, abusive "families" that posit the state as some grandiose parent, so, too, has the natural biophilia9 (as E.O. Wilson calls it) or querencia (to use Kirkpatrick Sale's favorite word) been perverted into "nationalism," also known as, "patriotism." Consider how easily this love of one's ecology bleeds into nationalist jingoism, as exemplified in this Weimar-era pamphlet: In every German breast the German forest quivers with its caverns and ravines, crags and boulders, waters and winds, legends and fairy tales, with its songs and its melodies, and awakens a powerful yearning and a longing for home; in all German souls the German forest lives and weaves with its depth and breadth, its stillness and strength, its might and dignity, its riches and its beauty -- it is the source of German inwardness, of the German soul, of German freedom. Therefore protect and care for the German forest for the sake of the elders and the youth, and join the new German "League for the Protection and Consecration of the German Forest."8 [...] […] Bioregionalism is by no means new, and if the sketchy connections to environmental determinism serve to cast a shadow on bioregionalism, its long-standing connections with nationalism in general, and the Nazi party specifically, are positively chilling. In the wild human mind, the two most important elements in life are family and land.8 Just as states have formed dysfunctional, abusive “families” that posit the state as some grandiose parent, so, too, has the natural biophilia9 (as E.O. Wilson calls it) or querencia (to use Kirkpatrick Sale’s favorite word) been perverted into “nationalism,” also known as, “patriotism.” Consider how easily this love of one’s ecology bleeds into nationalist jingoism, as exemplified in this Weimar-era pamphlet: In every German breast the German forest quivers with its caverns and ravines, crags and boulders, waters and winds, legends and fairy tales, with its songs and its melodies, and awakens a powerful yearning and a longing for home; in all German souls the German forest lives and weaves with its depth and breadth, its stillness and strength, its might and dignity, its riches and its beauty — it is the source of German inwardness, of the German soul, of German freedom. Therefore protect and care for the German forest for the sake of the elders and the youth, and join the new German “League for the Protection and Consecration of the German Forest.”8 […]

]]> By: Jason Godesky http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-30556 Jason Godesky Tue, 21 Nov 2006 12:40:12 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-30556 <a href="http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2267" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.sinfest.net/comikaze/comics/2006-11-20.gif" alt="Despotic heavenly father ... violent mother nature ... prodigal sons and daughters ... how do you like your family?" style="width: 90%;" /></a> <em><a href="http://anthropik.com/2006/06/the-trickster-the-devil-and-an-ambiguous-world/">See also</a></em> Despotic heavenly father ... violent mother nature ... prodigal sons and daughters ... how do you like your family?

See also

]]> By: Jason Godesky http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-30435 Jason Godesky Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:50:30 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-30435 <ol><li>Well of course we're a "natural species," what else could we possibly be? More to the point, what does "natural" even mean? What <em>isn't</em> "natural"?</li><li>WTF is "Net Creative Usefulness"? "Nature" doesn't decide whose DNA continues based on "Net Creative Usefulness"—<em>natural selection</em> decides that, based on <em>whether or not you're adapted to survive the current situation.</em></li><li>WTF does it mean to have a "creation-based" way of life? "The universe" isn't exactly going to hold a caucus and decide to save our butts because they really like Beethoven. The "Net Creativity of individuals, communities and the species" means diddly squat. "The universe" can only barely notice our existence. If we want to continue existing, it's up to us to find a way that works. If we don't, then we won't, not because "the universe" voted not to continue our existence, but because if you can't find a way to live that works, you stop living.</li><li>Lots of animals are competitive, and do not destroy the world. Competition is not the problem. Human emotions are not the problem—humans aren't even the problem. The problem is systemic. The problem is exactly what you'd expect from such an enormous, dysfunctional family, and that makes the solution equally obvious: smaller, functional families, a systemic solution.</li></ol>
  • Well of course we’re a “natural species,” what else could we possibly be? More to the point, what does “natural” even mean? What isn’t “natural”?
  • WTF is “Net Creative Usefulness”? “Nature” doesn’t decide whose DNA continues based on “Net Creative Usefulness”—natural selection decides that, based on whether or not you’re adapted to survive the current situation.
  • WTF does it mean to have a “creation-based” way of life? “The universe” isn’t exactly going to hold a caucus and decide to save our butts because they really like Beethoven. The “Net Creativity of individuals, communities and the species” means diddly squat. “The universe” can only barely notice our existence. If we want to continue existing, it’s up to us to find a way that works. If we don’t, then we won’t, not because “the universe” voted not to continue our existence, but because if you can’t find a way to live that works, you stop living.
  • Lots of animals are competitive, and do not destroy the world. Competition is not the problem. Human emotions are not the problem—humans aren’t even the problem. The problem is systemic. The problem is exactly what you’d expect from such an enormous, dysfunctional family, and that makes the solution equally obvious: smaller, functional families, a systemic solution.
    • ]]>         By: auntiegrav http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-30209 auntiegrav Sat, 18 Nov 2006 20:19:16 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-30209 Civilized or not, humans are a natural species. Nature decides whose DNA continues based upon their Net Creative usefulness. Whether we have cities, yurts, or caves, technology or trash, the way we live has to be creation-based. We have to be able to show the universe that we have something to contribute that will add to the resources of the universe and not consume our planet, our solar system, or ourselves in order to achieve it. The Net Creativity of individuals, communities, and the species is the deciding factor over the Long term. We can achieve a positive result in many ways, but currently, the 'civilization' which we know is one of consumption and competition, not one of creation and cooperation. Condemning THIS civilization doesn't get us anywhere if we are just going to reduce ourselves and start over again in the same vein of competition with each other. Better for the planet to let it fall apart completely and never come back than to start a 'different' one which is more efficient at destroying things with different fuels. Civilized or not, humans are a natural species. Nature decides whose DNA continues based upon their Net Creative usefulness. Whether we have cities, yurts, or caves, technology or trash, the way we live has to be creation-based. We have to be able to show the universe that we have something to contribute that will add to the resources of the universe and not consume our planet, our solar system, or ourselves in order to achieve it. The Net Creativity of individuals, communities, and the species is the deciding factor over the Long term. We can achieve a positive result in many ways, but currently, the ‘civilization’ which we know is one of consumption and competition, not one of creation and cooperation.
    Condemning THIS civilization doesn’t get us anywhere if we are just going to reduce ourselves and start over again in the same vein of competition with each other. Better for the planet to let it fall apart completely and never come back than to start a ‘different’ one which is more efficient at destroying things with different fuels.

    ]]>         By: Village Blog http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-29840 Village Blog Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:05:18 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-29840 <strong>Getting to the heart of it</strong> There's a discussion going on over at Anthropik that I'm going to respond to here because it gets to the core of what this blog is about. Or at least what it has come to be about. For the uninitiated, I started this blog to track my long term plans t... Getting to the heart of it

    There’s a discussion going on over at Anthropik that I’m going to respond to here because it gets to the core of what this blog is about. Or at least what it has come to be about. For the uninitiated, I started this blog to track my long term plans t…

    ]]>         By: Alpha Dogs, Wolf Packs & the Wandering Free Families (The Anthropik Network) http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-29810 Alpha Dogs, Wolf Packs & the Wandering Free Families (The Anthropik Network) Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:15:25 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-29810 [...] In other words, Millan succeeds in so traumatizing the dog that it "calmly submits." Learned helplessness is a subject we often encounter in humans placed in hierarchical situations, and it is one of the primary reasons we submit to intolerable power structures.3, 4 One popular technique the Millan uses is called the "alpha roll," in which a dog is rolled onto his back, exposing his belly, and held there by the throat. Early researchers noted this roll as a means by which alpha wolves established dominance, and the Monks of New Skete suggested it in their famous book, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend. [...] […] In other words, Millan succeeds in so traumatizing the dog that it “calmly submits.” Learned helplessness is a subject we often encounter in humans placed in hierarchical situations, and it is one of the primary reasons we submit to intolerable power structures.3, 4 One popular technique the Millan uses is called the “alpha roll,” in which a dog is rolled onto his back, exposing his belly, and held there by the throat. Early researchers noted this roll as a means by which alpha wolves established dominance, and the Monks of New Skete suggested it in their famous book, How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend. […]

    ]]>         By: Jason Godesky http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-24430 Jason Godesky Sat, 07 Oct 2006 15:58:13 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-24430 Ever hear of the <em>pretas</em>, usually translated into English as the "hungry ghosts" of Buddhism? Ever hear of the pretas, usually translated into English as the “hungry ghosts” of Buddhism?

    ]]>         By: Peter http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-24427 Peter Sat, 07 Oct 2006 15:40:11 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/dysfunctional-culture/#comment-24427 Thanks for another good blog. I also appreciate the link to the Wandering Free Families piece. The New World is one of my favorite all time movies. The "Naturals" were literally living in the Garden of Eden before we came along. This paragraph really resonated with me: "This stands in such stark contrast to the Jamestown colonists: prisoners of a culture they could not escape, compelled by their hollowed out hearts to chase wealth that will never satisfy, obedient to a power uninterested in the simple needs of a human…ease, affection, creativity, peace." This is why I left Seattle a few years for life in a smaller culturally-progressive city. Back in Seattle, people would seize you up before you got within 20 feet of them. What kind of car did he step out of? What designer brand is he wearing? Does he have an expensive or cheap watch? Where I live now many people seem to grasp that there's more to life than a neurotic accumulating of status symbols. It always puts a smile on my face to see so many people here commuting and running errands on bicycles. "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." - HG Wells Thanks for another good blog. I also appreciate the link to the Wandering Free Families piece. The New World is one of my favorite all time movies. The “Naturals” were literally living in the Garden of Eden before we came along. This paragraph really resonated with me:

    “This stands in such stark contrast to the Jamestown colonists: prisoners of a culture they could not escape, compelled by their hollowed out hearts to chase wealth that will never satisfy, obedient to a power uninterested in the simple needs of a human…ease, affection, creativity, peace.”

    This is why I left Seattle a few years for life in a smaller culturally-progressive city. Back in Seattle, people would seize you up before you got within 20 feet of them. What kind of car did he step out of? What designer brand is he wearing? Does he have an expensive or cheap watch?

    Where I live now many people seem to grasp that there’s more to life than a neurotic accumulating of status symbols. It always puts a smile on my face to see so many people here commuting and running errands on bicycles.

    “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” - HG Wells

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