The Apocalypse within
20/12/12 15:50![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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talkpoliticsHi, my fellow scared hysterical chicken-hearts brave rational dudes & dudettes! See, I really liked this thread exploring the history of people's apocalyptic inclinations. "People in our country are more scared by their financial problems than the end of the world", anthropologist (whatever that's supposed to mean) Valeri Lichev and social psychologist (same) Plamen Dimitrov concluded in a recent study. Their argument is that the various Doomsday prophecies are primarily a First-World problem, i.e. they concern people generally living in prosperity and abundance. People who have a lot to lose in terms of material possessions, personal achievements, professional career, etc.
Too broad a generalization, but still partially a valid point; and btw, I'd add all those people living in relative ignorance and relying on superstitions for lack of access to information. They're susceptible to doomsday fears as well - fair enough. But even if it may not be so inclusive, let's consider the conclusion of these "eminent scholars" for a minute. See, the argument is that if one doesn't have much to lose (which is the case with many people living in poverty and misery over here), then an impending Apocalypse wouldn't be anywhere near the top of their priority list. They'd have other concerns.
In fact, if we're to step back on Earth though, I'd say from personal observation that Bulgarians (and not only them) are pretty much worked up about the end of the world, but maybe not for the reasons you might imagine. A brief look around the local forums reveals a different approach: people want to see a sudden end to the rising unemployment, petty crime, corruption, surging food and fuel prices, and deteriorating access to goods and services. An end to all the bullshit we see in politics. Perhaps the Apocalypse they're praying for is not exactly in the physical sense, but rather a societal one.
One'd say the Apocalypse has already happened here in both a political, economic and social sense, so there's nothing left to worry about. In the chaotic chorus of protests all around the place (scientists demanding the resignation of the minister of education and the financial minister, due to severe cuts in the science budget; smokers yelling at Parliament due to the recent ban on smoking in public places; or non-smokers yelling back at'em because the government is about to budge under the pressure of the former; pensioners protesting against the humiliating size of their pensions; mothers protesting against the humiliating size of their maternity bonuses), I'd say I haven't been able to notice a mass concern about an impending end of the world, no. On the other hand, the discourse is so broken at all levels of social life that we could argue there's been a societal Apocalypse, and a collapse of value systems, and all that jazz. A metaphorical Apocalypse, so to speak. And I can totally understand why people would want a sudden change, and a new cleansing process, etc. Except, it doesn't work that way. That's just wishful thinking.
The fact that many of our people are deeply invested in various pseudo-prophecies, speaks of a rise of irrationality in society. People can only be rational in a society without a deficit of trust in the public institutions. A society with clear and clean relations between the various segments and factors thereof, with minimum corruption and maximum transparency and honesty at all levels. And sadly, the situation here (and in many other places) is far from that.
"Apocalypse" is a Greek word and it actually means "revelation", not "end of the world". The same way "Jihad" doesn't literally mean "war against the infidels". Even our religious tradition, should we resort to consulting with it, doesn't seem to agree with all the doomsday prophecies. The Apocalypse is very clearly defined and interpreted in our own Orthodox Christian scripture. And I can tell you it's not about the end of the world. That's some New Age nonsense. Or why not literalist fundie idiocy.
From an ex-Soviet satellite perspective, we could say we've been living in a post-apocalyptic era ever since the collapse of communism (if we're to define communism as an extremely protracted apocalypse). So the worst thing we should be concerned about is probably the next "revelation" of the very next political Messiah who's sure to pop up on our political scene very soon, full of grand promises about a brighter future. After all, the next election is always lurking behind the corner (we'll have one election per year for the next 5 years, mind you - if that doesn't sound sufficiently apocalyptic, I don't know what does).
It's rather telling how most people around here are planning to meet the alleged end of the world - funnily, it happens to be on Friday, and Fridays are colloquially known here as "the master workman's holiday", meaning they're not supposed to be exactly work days - we mostly spend Fridays procrastinating and preparing for the weekend, which is always so bountiful and alcohol-immersed. Yes, I'm talking of vast quantities of rakia, red wine, awesome salads and all those spectacular dishes that our national cuisine is so rich of. And, surprise-surprise, tomorrow is the last Friday before Christmas, so... TOTAL ALCOHOLIC APOCALYPSE!!!
The end of the world may not be so certain, but one thing is for sure: we don't need an occasion to celebrate our arses out! And when we do have an occasion, well... Things can get really interesting. ;-)
So yeah. We're far more concerned about the economic situation than the end of the world. And don't you be fooled by the endless partying - it's what you do when you're in trouble, right? And by the way, we've been living through a permanent state of crisis for the last 2 decades, so we must've gotten used to all that drinking and suffering - damn right! It sure never hurts complaining some more (around the rakia- and salad-laden table, no doubt). That's the best way to tackle our fears, concerns and uncertainties - by drowning them in vast amounts of alcohol, food and songs.
Of course, drowning these fears doesn't really remove the big questions, like what's the meaning of life, what's the answer to the Universe and Everything, and all that stuff. And whether there's any use of all we're doing: going to work, earning money, bringing the kids to school, spending the weekends in the countryside, saving money for a car or for holidays, etc. That's universal for all people around the world, it's not specifically cultural. I'm sure religions, entertainment and leisure could provide some temporary, illusive sense for answers, as history has shown.
But the thing is, as the title of a popular Mexican telenovela goes, "The Rich Also Cry". Yeah, these fears and questions don't only torment the average dude or dudette, but also that superior species, called Teh Rich. The reputed scientific couple argues that the wealthy folks have also made compromises with their lives, and the result is a big civilizational neurosis in which they've also immersed themselves, along with the rest of us mortals. There MUST always be some threat to be afraid of, it's what brings some cohesion in society. If it's not the imminent Doomsday, it'll probably be an alien invasion (that issue was big in the 20th century). Or why not bird flu. Or an asteroid. Or terrorism. Or just the government. Etc, etc, etc. Deep down, it's actually the fear that life might be meaningless (we're a tiny speck of matter located at the backwater of an average galaxy in the immense, indifferent Universe) - and this complex materializes into something real and perceivable. An externalized threat that's well visible, which we could all focus on, and get some sense of purpose. Ain't life so much more bearable this way?
In this neurotic civilizational situation, people learn to accept that suffering could be negated through fantasy, through creating collective mental constructs that would help us avoid thinking too much, and substitute questions with self-reassurance of various artificial character. Like the illusion that absolute happiness is unattainable, and life is meant to be full of suffering and pain. As a bonus, that could be used as an excuse to cause suffering and pain to other people as well. Because they're supposed to suffer anyway. Isn't that so convenient?
That sort of approach could be extended to many broader consequences on both policy and inter-personal relations. It could be used to justify postponing the solution of various big problems for a later time, for the future generations, and only dealing with the symptoms for the sake of our short-term convenience. Or refusing to address the issues at all. It's also what makes us prone to living beyond our means, living on credit, postponing payment for a future time, and craving for more material possessions than we actually need, or could afford. Consuming as much as we can, as if we're the last humans on Earth, and there's a real Apocalypse coming just tomorrow. We're in denial about the fact that our resources are not limitless, we like to imagine that the way our societies work is totally sustainable and it just needs a few minor adjustments here and there, and then it'll be all right.
The two researchers then conclude that, if people really tried to organize their actions in an efficient way, they'd actually succumb to eternal depression, once they've come to the realization that this is practically impossible. But, after all, it's true that "no crisis should go to waste". It's exactly the times of strife, not blissful prosperity, that have triggered moments of self-introspection, and ultimately decisive transformations in societal organization. Sure, they could bring huge cataclysms, but they could also open new options for moving forward. Or at least occasionally bring us back to the ground, and grant us a head-on encounter with reality. It may hurt, but it's the only way.
Too broad a generalization, but still partially a valid point; and btw, I'd add all those people living in relative ignorance and relying on superstitions for lack of access to information. They're susceptible to doomsday fears as well - fair enough. But even if it may not be so inclusive, let's consider the conclusion of these "eminent scholars" for a minute. See, the argument is that if one doesn't have much to lose (which is the case with many people living in poverty and misery over here), then an impending Apocalypse wouldn't be anywhere near the top of their priority list. They'd have other concerns.
In fact, if we're to step back on Earth though, I'd say from personal observation that Bulgarians (and not only them) are pretty much worked up about the end of the world, but maybe not for the reasons you might imagine. A brief look around the local forums reveals a different approach: people want to see a sudden end to the rising unemployment, petty crime, corruption, surging food and fuel prices, and deteriorating access to goods and services. An end to all the bullshit we see in politics. Perhaps the Apocalypse they're praying for is not exactly in the physical sense, but rather a societal one.
One'd say the Apocalypse has already happened here in both a political, economic and social sense, so there's nothing left to worry about. In the chaotic chorus of protests all around the place (scientists demanding the resignation of the minister of education and the financial minister, due to severe cuts in the science budget; smokers yelling at Parliament due to the recent ban on smoking in public places; or non-smokers yelling back at'em because the government is about to budge under the pressure of the former; pensioners protesting against the humiliating size of their pensions; mothers protesting against the humiliating size of their maternity bonuses), I'd say I haven't been able to notice a mass concern about an impending end of the world, no. On the other hand, the discourse is so broken at all levels of social life that we could argue there's been a societal Apocalypse, and a collapse of value systems, and all that jazz. A metaphorical Apocalypse, so to speak. And I can totally understand why people would want a sudden change, and a new cleansing process, etc. Except, it doesn't work that way. That's just wishful thinking.
The fact that many of our people are deeply invested in various pseudo-prophecies, speaks of a rise of irrationality in society. People can only be rational in a society without a deficit of trust in the public institutions. A society with clear and clean relations between the various segments and factors thereof, with minimum corruption and maximum transparency and honesty at all levels. And sadly, the situation here (and in many other places) is far from that.
"Apocalypse" is a Greek word and it actually means "revelation", not "end of the world". The same way "Jihad" doesn't literally mean "war against the infidels". Even our religious tradition, should we resort to consulting with it, doesn't seem to agree with all the doomsday prophecies. The Apocalypse is very clearly defined and interpreted in our own Orthodox Christian scripture. And I can tell you it's not about the end of the world. That's some New Age nonsense. Or why not literalist fundie idiocy.
From an ex-Soviet satellite perspective, we could say we've been living in a post-apocalyptic era ever since the collapse of communism (if we're to define communism as an extremely protracted apocalypse). So the worst thing we should be concerned about is probably the next "revelation" of the very next political Messiah who's sure to pop up on our political scene very soon, full of grand promises about a brighter future. After all, the next election is always lurking behind the corner (we'll have one election per year for the next 5 years, mind you - if that doesn't sound sufficiently apocalyptic, I don't know what does).
It's rather telling how most people around here are planning to meet the alleged end of the world - funnily, it happens to be on Friday, and Fridays are colloquially known here as "the master workman's holiday", meaning they're not supposed to be exactly work days - we mostly spend Fridays procrastinating and preparing for the weekend, which is always so bountiful and alcohol-immersed. Yes, I'm talking of vast quantities of rakia, red wine, awesome salads and all those spectacular dishes that our national cuisine is so rich of. And, surprise-surprise, tomorrow is the last Friday before Christmas, so... TOTAL ALCOHOLIC APOCALYPSE!!!
The end of the world may not be so certain, but one thing is for sure: we don't need an occasion to celebrate our arses out! And when we do have an occasion, well... Things can get really interesting. ;-)
So yeah. We're far more concerned about the economic situation than the end of the world. And don't you be fooled by the endless partying - it's what you do when you're in trouble, right? And by the way, we've been living through a permanent state of crisis for the last 2 decades, so we must've gotten used to all that drinking and suffering - damn right! It sure never hurts complaining some more (around the rakia- and salad-laden table, no doubt). That's the best way to tackle our fears, concerns and uncertainties - by drowning them in vast amounts of alcohol, food and songs.
Of course, drowning these fears doesn't really remove the big questions, like what's the meaning of life, what's the answer to the Universe and Everything, and all that stuff. And whether there's any use of all we're doing: going to work, earning money, bringing the kids to school, spending the weekends in the countryside, saving money for a car or for holidays, etc. That's universal for all people around the world, it's not specifically cultural. I'm sure religions, entertainment and leisure could provide some temporary, illusive sense for answers, as history has shown.
But the thing is, as the title of a popular Mexican telenovela goes, "The Rich Also Cry". Yeah, these fears and questions don't only torment the average dude or dudette, but also that superior species, called Teh Rich. The reputed scientific couple argues that the wealthy folks have also made compromises with their lives, and the result is a big civilizational neurosis in which they've also immersed themselves, along with the rest of us mortals. There MUST always be some threat to be afraid of, it's what brings some cohesion in society. If it's not the imminent Doomsday, it'll probably be an alien invasion (that issue was big in the 20th century). Or why not bird flu. Or an asteroid. Or terrorism. Or just the government. Etc, etc, etc. Deep down, it's actually the fear that life might be meaningless (we're a tiny speck of matter located at the backwater of an average galaxy in the immense, indifferent Universe) - and this complex materializes into something real and perceivable. An externalized threat that's well visible, which we could all focus on, and get some sense of purpose. Ain't life so much more bearable this way?
In this neurotic civilizational situation, people learn to accept that suffering could be negated through fantasy, through creating collective mental constructs that would help us avoid thinking too much, and substitute questions with self-reassurance of various artificial character. Like the illusion that absolute happiness is unattainable, and life is meant to be full of suffering and pain. As a bonus, that could be used as an excuse to cause suffering and pain to other people as well. Because they're supposed to suffer anyway. Isn't that so convenient?
That sort of approach could be extended to many broader consequences on both policy and inter-personal relations. It could be used to justify postponing the solution of various big problems for a later time, for the future generations, and only dealing with the symptoms for the sake of our short-term convenience. Or refusing to address the issues at all. It's also what makes us prone to living beyond our means, living on credit, postponing payment for a future time, and craving for more material possessions than we actually need, or could afford. Consuming as much as we can, as if we're the last humans on Earth, and there's a real Apocalypse coming just tomorrow. We're in denial about the fact that our resources are not limitless, we like to imagine that the way our societies work is totally sustainable and it just needs a few minor adjustments here and there, and then it'll be all right.
The two researchers then conclude that, if people really tried to organize their actions in an efficient way, they'd actually succumb to eternal depression, once they've come to the realization that this is practically impossible. But, after all, it's true that "no crisis should go to waste". It's exactly the times of strife, not blissful prosperity, that have triggered moments of self-introspection, and ultimately decisive transformations in societal organization. Sure, they could bring huge cataclysms, but they could also open new options for moving forward. Or at least occasionally bring us back to the ground, and grant us a head-on encounter with reality. It may hurt, but it's the only way.
(no subject)
Date: 20/12/12 13:58 (UTC)...and start posting to LJ community.
(no subject)
Date: 20/12/12 14:07 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 20/12/12 15:22 (UTC)It's all about the strength, not the name.
Putin is loved for his conistency, and not because his name is Vladimir.
(no subject)
Date: 20/12/12 15:31 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 20/12/12 18:34 (UTC)And you're asking me why I'm sad?
People's stupidity - that's what drives me crazy.
WE LIVE in Apocalypse...
(no subject)
Date: 20/12/12 18:46 (UTC)Ooo-kaay...
(Backs off slowly)
(no subject)
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Date: 21/12/12 12:19 (UTC)You got me thinking about this end-of-the world topic now. Maybe some people entertain the concept all the while thinking, "well, I might as well smoke/drink/eat-cake/affair today because it's all going to end soon anyhow." While others entertain the concept and are made to feel in a hurry to accomplish much!