Comments on: Is This the “Better World” You Were Talking About? http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:14:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ky boy but not now http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-366153 Ky boy but not now Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:21:06 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-366153 "Personally, I’m just waiting for the day when the electric grid collapses and we all get a little forced perspective on what life is really about." Move to the southeast coast. 3 times since 96 much of the area has lost power for nearly a week due to hurricanes and ice storms. And for a few days several times. Lots of neighbors got to "catch up". I'm somewhat for turning off the grid once a year. In nice weather of course. :) “Personally, I’m just waiting for the day when the electric grid collapses and we all get a little forced perspective on what life is really about.”

Move to the southeast coast. 3 times since 96 much of the area has lost power for nearly a week due to hurricanes and ice storms. And for a few days several times. Lots of neighbors got to “catch up”. I’m somewhat for turning off the grid once a year. In nice weather of course. :)

]]> By: Diptherio http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-366123 Diptherio Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:11:14 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-366123 In or around 1854, Soren Kierkegaard described what he called the "unnatural world-historical consciousness" of the modern (wo)man. By this he meant the awareness of global events that makes one feel totally insignificant, like a gnat being swept along in a hurricane. He said that by having this unnatural consciousness of world-historical events, one is blinded to the ethical. Because people were being inundated with information about events they could do nothing about, and that they were assured were of the utmost importance, they began to feel like their individual lives had no import, and so they would neglect to do that which was in front of them to do. We've got it 10 times worse nowadays, but it's been going on for a long time...way before OJ. Turn off the TV, only read the local section of the paper and change the topic when the co-workers start in on the next big disaster news story, if that's possible. Personally, I'm just waiting for the day when the electric grid collapses and we all get a little forced perspective on what life is really about. In or around 1854, Soren Kierkegaard described what he called the “unnatural world-historical consciousness” of the modern (wo)man. By this he meant the awareness of global events that makes one feel totally insignificant, like a gnat being swept along in a hurricane. He said that by having this unnatural consciousness of world-historical events, one is blinded to the ethical. Because people were being inundated with information about events they could do nothing about, and that they were assured were of the utmost importance, they began to feel like their individual lives had no import, and so they would neglect to do that which was in front of them to do.

We’ve got it 10 times worse nowadays, but it’s been going on for a long time…way before OJ. Turn off the TV, only read the local section of the paper and change the topic when the co-workers start in on the next big disaster news story, if that’s possible. Personally, I’m just waiting for the day when the electric grid collapses and we all get a little forced perspective on what life is really about.

]]> By: Ky Boy but not now http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-365388 Ky Boy but not now Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:14:22 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-365388 If anyone is still reading this posting... "When I was a boy in the 50’s and 60’s our evenings were spent ..." Growing up in Ky during the 60s winter & spring was: Tuesdays & Fridays were for high school basketball Saturdays & Mondays were for college basketball (with tape delays of all UK games by the later 60s) Sunday was for church and visiting Wednesday was for prayer meetings Thursday was our off day. During the fall we got Mondays and Tuesdays off with Friday and Saturday for football. Summers were when kids played baseball, rode bikes, scraped knees, etc.. Now it's just a bit different. If anyone is still reading this posting…

“When I was a boy in the 50’s and 60’s our evenings were spent …”

Growing up in Ky during the 60s winter & spring was:

Tuesdays & Fridays were for high school basketball
Saturdays & Mondays were for college basketball (with tape delays of all UK games by the later 60s)
Sunday was for church and visiting
Wednesday was for prayer meetings
Thursday was our off day.

During the fall we got Mondays and Tuesdays off with Friday and Saturday for football.

Summers were when kids played baseball, rode bikes, scraped knees, etc..

Now it’s just a bit different.

]]> By: rampancy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-365167 rampancy Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:33:40 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-365167 Weren't they promising personal jetpacks and flying cars Back In The Day? Where's my jetpack!? Weren’t they promising personal jetpacks and flying cars Back In The Day? Where’s my jetpack!?

]]> By: Rob Lofland http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-364697 Rob Lofland Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:50:51 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-364697 I don't really know unless it is with small support groups from your church or elsewhere but even these are not really deep because you are put together by one common interest not an entire life. As I said, I'm guilty. I've lived in my current home for almost 6 years and only really know one neighbor. I don’t really know unless it is with small support groups from your church or elsewhere but even these are not really deep because you are put together by one common interest not an entire life.
As I said, I’m guilty.
I’ve lived in my current home for almost 6 years and only really know one neighbor.

]]> By: Anna A http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-364646 Anna A Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:11:11 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-364646 Rob, I tend to agree with you about the loss of community. I admit that my closest friends are those who live at a distance; two of whom I've moved away from, the third I've never met. (only the Internet.) So now, the question becomes: How do we become communities again. Or for me (having lived in 7 different areas in 18 years) find those who will help me find my place in their established community. Rob,

I tend to agree with you about the loss of community. I admit that my closest friends are those who live at a distance; two of whom I’ve moved away from, the third I’ve never met. (only the Internet.)

So now, the question becomes: How do we become communities again.

Or for me (having lived in 7 different areas in 18 years) find those who will help me find my place in their established community.

]]> By: Headless Unicorn Guy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-364634 Headless Unicorn Guy Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:30:57 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-364634 <i>When the Loma Prieta earthquake hit back in ‘89, we tried to call our friends–and failed; the phones were dead. So on went the TV, and we heard the endless loop of the same statements over and over, with minor updates. The Goodyear blimp was available to show us what was going on, but for what seemed like hours all it showed was the same burning house.</i> -- James Or when that airliner piled into the Pacific off the SoCal coast one January night. I remember hours (not what seemed like hours, actual HOURS) of helicopter coverage showing only the waves of the Pacific. That was it. Some afternoon drive-time wags talked about "What would have happened if there'd been a freeway car chase in the middle of that? Would the TV News Anchor switch to that? Or stay on the ocean waves? Or go crazy with indecision -- "WHAT DO I SHOW? WHAT DO I DO?" And if you're not too Church Lady to take PG-rated mashup videos, here's one that says it all -- <a href="http://www.jibjab.com/originals/what_we_call_the_news" rel="nofollow">JibJab's "What We Call The News"</a>. When the Loma Prieta earthquake hit back in ‘89, we tried to call our friends–and failed; the phones were dead. So on went the TV, and we heard the endless loop of the same statements over and over, with minor updates. The Goodyear blimp was available to show us what was going on, but for what seemed like hours all it showed was the same burning house. — James

Or when that airliner piled into the Pacific off the SoCal coast one January night. I remember hours (not what seemed like hours, actual HOURS) of helicopter coverage showing only the waves of the Pacific. That was it.

Some afternoon drive-time wags talked about “What would have happened if there’d been a freeway car chase in the middle of that? Would the TV News Anchor switch to that? Or stay on the ocean waves? Or go crazy with indecision — “WHAT DO I SHOW? WHAT DO I DO?”

And if you’re not too Church Lady to take PG-rated mashup videos, here’s one that says it all — JibJab’s “What We Call The News”.

]]> By: Rob Lofland http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-364602 Rob Lofland Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:24:45 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-364602 Perhaps I'm straying too far off topic but I would agree that the most egregious outcome of the information and entertainment glut is the loss of community. When I was a boy in the 50's and 60's our evenings were spent mostly visiting with neighbors and relatives. Almost every Summer evening was spent with adults on my grandparents front porch and the kids playing in the yard, barns and pastures. These adults were all a part of my raising. Not just my parents and grandparents but uncles, aunts family friends and others. The topics of discussion were sometimes world or national events but mostly the topics were local. Weather, crop and livestock prices, local politics, church. For entertainment someone might sing or tell a joke or an oft told favorite family story. Is the world better now? No. We live in insulated isolated prisons of our own making while we quake in fear of the current disaster and then sooth ourselves with mindless "entertainment". And before anyone thinks I'm preaching I am guilty as charged. When we lost our sense of community and family we lost something extremely valuable in being human. Can we go back? No, I think the genie is out of the bottle. But we can find ways to connect. This is not easy as we have become effectively a nation of agoraphobics. Perhaps I’m straying too far off topic but I would agree that the most egregious outcome of the information and entertainment glut is the loss of community.
When I was a boy in the 50’s and 60’s our evenings were spent mostly visiting with neighbors and relatives.
Almost every Summer evening was spent with adults on my grandparents front porch and the kids playing in the yard, barns and pastures.
These adults were all a part of my raising. Not just my parents and grandparents but uncles, aunts family friends and others.
The topics of discussion were sometimes world or national events but mostly the topics were local.
Weather, crop and livestock prices, local politics, church.
For entertainment someone might sing or tell a joke or an oft told favorite family story.
Is the world better now?
No. We live in insulated isolated prisons of our own making while we quake in fear of the current disaster and then sooth ourselves with mindless “entertainment”.
And before anyone thinks I’m preaching I am guilty as charged.
When we lost our sense of community and family we lost something extremely valuable in being human.
Can we go back? No, I think the genie is out of the bottle.
But we can find ways to connect. This is not easy as we have become effectively a nation of agoraphobics.

]]> By: ATChaffee http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-364028 ATChaffee Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:09:10 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-364028 "The best (worst?) is the TV preacher who has convinced her that most medical problems are due to intestinal parasites and “he” has the Christian cure." Tell her not to worry; the Communists/New World Order/Jesuit spies have been putting the deadly poison fluoride in our drinking water to make us stupid/docile/infertile/dead. With any luck it will kill the parasites first:-) “The best (worst?) is the TV preacher who has convinced her that most medical problems are due to intestinal parasites and “he” has the Christian cure.”

Tell her not to worry; the Communists/New World Order/Jesuit spies have been putting the deadly poison fluoride in our drinking water to make us stupid/docile/infertile/dead. With any luck it will kill the parasites first:-)

]]> By: TeeDee http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/is-this-the-better-world-you-were-talking-about/comment-page-2#comment-363732 TeeDee Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:34:50 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=2734#comment-363732 This would be too funny if it weren't so true. I work at a mainline seminary, and I've never met so many well-educated, intelligent people who listen to so much right-leaning talk radio and so easily buy into any conspiracy touted there (or on right-leaning tv). They have no understanding that if these programs didn't shock and excite, the audience would shrink. It's also one of the more depressing things I've witnessed in my life. These are the people who will be teaching and preaching to future generations, and they so easily "drink the kool-aid". The main stream media may not be perfect, but neither are the conservative pundits who are all over the airwaves; but where I work, you'd never know that. This would be too funny if it weren’t so true. I work at a mainline seminary, and I’ve never met so many well-educated, intelligent people who listen to so much right-leaning talk radio and so easily buy into any conspiracy touted there (or on right-leaning tv). They have no understanding that if these programs didn’t shock and excite, the audience would shrink. It’s also one of the more depressing things I’ve witnessed in my life. These are the people who will be teaching and preaching to future generations, and they so easily “drink the kool-aid”. The main stream media may not be perfect, but neither are the conservative pundits who are all over the airwaves; but where I work, you’d never know that.

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