BS: The Socialization of Necessity

Subject: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Slag
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 09:03 PM

The needs for the continuance of human life are, in order of importance:

Air
Water
Food
Clothing and Shelter
Reproduction

The most immediate without which we would live only a few minutes has the least number of social implications. I've heard a few clods deride some poor suffering soul with allergies as "mouth breathers" but that's about it. We can last a few days without water and here are a few more social concerns as to, say, quantity, the speed with which you drink and the amount of noise you may make. Not a lot there. Now food has a group of social and cultural concerns. Why is that? Is it because it is not such a necessity that we can take our time about it? In some cultures who you eat with defines who you are. I can't help but think about Christ eating with those low-down publican and sinners! Our clothing fashions go through regular spasms of trend and approbation. Those Victorian ladies hid their ankles lest they inspire lust in some man. Our architecture and how we furnish and care for our living structures are steeped in social rules and status gathering. Reproduction is (in some cases) the least urgent necessity we have but it has the most taboos and rituals of all. Your views?

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 09:47 PM

Ah well, repro is the lowest (logically but not experientially) on a personal scale but utmost on a species-survival scale. Now THERE is a collision of urgencies!

I also disagree on water-- in some places water is a HUGE social concern. And there's all the symbolism surrounding water....

But say, Slag, you have some pretty big thinking processes on on there! Welcome to Mudcat!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 12:21 AM

There are other areas of survival interest as welkl, less immediate, but you make an interesting point -- that complexity of social stigmata, signal systems, symbols, and other mechanisms of socialization increase inversely to the urgency of the need or drive.

Lots of examples come to mind to support this; but the question in my mind is, what are the ramifications of this insight? Can you do some thing with it?

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Slag
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 01:27 AM

I should have included waste management. In ancient times it was pretty much what to do about the left hand and surrounding tabus (or "taboos" if you perfer). Today waste mangaement is high tech and respectable-essential!

What are the ramifications? Well, that's why I floated this little insight out here. Indeed, what are the ramifications? Key elements are these all represents ways in which we are irrevocably bound to our environment. We are part and parcel of this little spinning mudball (all you Mudcats) called Earth. I feel that the more time we have to consider the necessity of each of these areas the more we seek to control and smooth out the availablity of the resources. And when resources ran short we find that those who planned ahead survived better and also came to control, at least in part, the larger portion of society who did not have the foresight. It all has to do with control. Consider politics and religion and how they relate to essential resources. Think about the phony oil shortages of the seventies, the fiat debt exchange system of the US as well as that of all Westenized countries. If Con-Ed or PG&E could sell you air or sunshine, they would. Keeping something like this in mind when you consider things political or things religious might give you certain insights into the character and motivations of certain people or denominations or parties. Food for thought.

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 03:57 PM

Good food for thought, indeed, Slag.

The brotherhood of humans is an interesting proposition -- these issues which you describe are common across the whole species, and across other species as well. Taking them into our political calculations would be a major advance, n'est-ce pas?


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 07:52 PM

Amos and Wyzzy ... You two should know better and recall that reproduction now rates right up there with breathing. Remember the discovery made by Dr. Cajones at the NYCFTTS while he was doing the brainwashing for the CIA? He was training crazed tiple and noseflute bands you might recall to aid in world overthrow when he found a previously unknown channel between the sinuses and the gonads. One of the nose flute players had a cold and when he sneezed while playing the Oscar Mayer Wiener ditty, his balls exploded.

Slag, you need to read up on these things before you post. The Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed has led the way in many social problems (the chief one being Neil himself) and answered age old questions about our culture as a whole.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 07:55 PM

One of which, for example, is "What should Spaw possibly ever be renowned for?".


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 08:04 PM

At least Art's Condom thread went a long way in trying to help with the reproduction, Spaw!


I can think of some folks at, ummm, let's see, Enron who thought they had planned ahead and would be okay...but we all know that went to hell in a handbasket. I doubt if they feel well in control, now.

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 08:12 PM

a decent credit card is quite helpful as well.

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 08:28 PM

Things I should be renowned for?

Well, how about having to put up with Cletus, Paw, Buford, and those three idiot Canadian half-brothers of Rick, the Reg Boys? I ought to get a sainthood for that!

Or howabout being one of the four founding partners in the number one leading edge corporation in the relaxation business? Lane,Fielding,Patterson,& Swan, Layabouts-At-Large and For Hire? We provide relaxation for those who just don't have time. As we often say, when doing sweet damn all is simply too damn much, call LFPS! We do nothing for you...It's the least we can do.   BTW, for the second year in a row. the Top Layabout was once again Rick Fielding who brought in more revenue than all the rest of us combined!

Need I mention bieng the owner of the world's finest ass-blown possum?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 10:10 PM

AND the inventor of the Moustache Tuner. No question, Spaw, those of us who know you and love you will never forget the Icons and Miracles you have wrought here.

But for history, I think it'll be the Neil Young Center.

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 11:18 PM

And Spaw FARTS!!!!! Karen surely MUST be a Saint!!!! LOL!

Subject: RE: BS: The Socialization of Necessity
From: Slag
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 12:55 AM

I love the way this thread went from mere observation to the truly profound! Spaw, you may be due for an optirectomy. That's the surgical proceedure where the optic nerve's connection to the rectum is severed to change your shitty outlook on life!!