dagblog - Comments for "Humiliation Junction...What's Your Function?"

I couldn't find the Far Side

Elusive Trope — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:11:32 +0000

I couldn't find the Far Side cartoon I wanted to make a particular point, but this one seems relevant to the discussion ;)

For this arrangement to have

Elusive Trope — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:48:45 +0000

In reply to So much here! Well

For this arrangement to have worked on an evolutionary scale means nothing more than that it allows reproduction. It says nothing about quality of life.

This is an important distinction, which many people tend to forget, especially when it comes to contemplating human evolution. The development of opposable thumbs, increased frontal cortex, etc have definitely lead to an increase in a quality of life in many regards, although those who experienced the Spanish Inquisition might add there are some regards where these developments decreased the quality of life.

Nature knows that we cannot all be Genghis Khan and that somebody, even when they really are not in the mood, has to make the conqueror a sandwich when he asks for it.

It is very likely that the "extreme form of humility"was a way to help compensate for the other evolutionary developments, most notable being the development of human language, that were as much a hindrance as a compliment to the development of what we think of as society or civilization.

The first season of Deadwood is one of the best examples of this dynamic I can think of, which might also be viewed as the unfolding of the battle between the alpha males for dominance of the troop.

Worldwide, the mass of people struggle and yet we choose to perpetuate a system that not only fails to make people happy, it fails to give the majority a fair shot at happiness.

Without getting into all the details, this is what Judith Butler would say is witnessing what power really it is - it isn't so much us that we perpetuate the system, but that system perpetuates itself through us, as coded in the very language through which our sense of "I" emerges.

From this perspective, much of the system can be said to be remnants of the pre-language days, remnants that were embedded into the discourse as it emerged. As such, these remnants can be understood as windows into the baseline of what can be termed "human nature."

It may be that the impermeable system of power itself is only natural. That it is only natural we have created it, just as it is only natural that we also resist it. Maybe the only thing that is consistant about human nature is that we are a bundle of contradictions, that the pinnacle of achievement is the love/hate relationship.

We finally get a seat on a

Elusive Trope — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:48:22 +0000

In reply to So much here! Well

We finally get a seat on a train leaving Humiliation only to hear the conductor tell us the next stop is Quiet Desperation.

So much here! Well

Michael Maiello — Mon, 06 May 2013 03:05:46 +0000

In reply to Humiliation Junction...What's Your Function?

So much here! Well done.

Humiliation... As an extreme form of humbling must have evolutionary advantage. Nature knows that we cannot all be Genghis Khan and that somebody, even when they really are not in the mood, has to make the conqueror a sandwich when he asks for it.

But we also know that's not right. Why do we have to make him a sandwich while he can ignore us when we're hungry? For this arrangement to have worked on an evolutionary scale means nothing more than that it allows reproduction. It says nothing about quality of life.

And, Thoreau tells us that the "mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Yet, we do nothing about it. Worldwide, the mass of people struggle and yet we choose to perpetuate a system that not only fails to make people happy, it fails to give the majority a fair shot at happiness.

Our system subjugates the majority to a minority. That is, in practice, humiliating for most.

i justify no one or no action when I say that extreme reactions to the impermeable system of power we have created for ourselves is only natural.

Trope, this essay brings up

A Guy Called LULU — Sun, 05 May 2013 01:07:50 +0000

In reply to Humiliation Junction...What's Your Function?

Trope, this essay brings up lots of thoughts and I may may come back with some of them. For now I will just quote some Leonard Cohen lyrics that were brought to mind for some reason. Not sure why. [Actually, I don't have a clue] I hadn't listened to this for a while though, so thanks for that nudge even if accidental. Anyway, I think the ideas in this song are somewhat related to your blog, at least in places. The lyrics that came to mind are in this verse. To be clear, I'm not thinking of that italicized part as actually referring simply to domestic situations.

It's coming from the sorrow in the street,
the holy places where the races meet;
from the homicidal bitchin'
that goes down in every kitchen
to determine who will serve and who will eat.
From the wells of disappointment
where the women kneel to pray
for the grace of God in the desert here
and the desert far away:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on

Anyway, even if I am off base as to relevance you might enjoy the song.
First time I clicked this it went straight to the song, second time I got a commercial first. Good luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU-RuR-qO4Y

No, thank you. Of course,

Elusive Trope — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:04:38 +0000

In reply to Wonderful written essay. Do

No, thank you. Of course, once we start talking about putting the marginalized onto trains we're getting into some potentially dark territory.

Honor killings is one of the

Elusive Trope — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:28:53 +0000

In reply to You have got me thinking

Honor killings is one of the examples that came to mind when I was thinking about differing views of what causes a state of humiliation to be experienced. It also highlights the differing views on how to resolve the humiliation and achieve a state of closure and peace.

You have got me thinking

artappraiser — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:45:41 +0000

In reply to Humiliation Junction...What's Your Function?

You have got me thinking about honor killings. That is all, (for now .)

Ok, one P.S.: Last time I talked with my brother who works as a grade school coach, we were talking about some of our family dynamics being influenced by a bullying incident that happened to another brother. And he said that he has come to feel from his work that childhood bullying may be a source of more trouble in the world than we can ever imagine.

Wonderful written essay. Do

trkingmomoe — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:08:31 +0000

In reply to Humiliation Junction...What's Your Function?

Wonderful written essay. Do you have room to fit 20% of the population who is also humiliated and marginalized by the privleged in that waiting room with you? The question is now when will those trains start to run? We have reached a tipping point in this frustrated society. Lots here to think about. Thanks.