A Bright, Vibrant Blue Diamond
A Bright, Vibrant Blue Diamond
John Æonid, Reflections in a Personal Web Site
John Æonid, Reflections in a Personal Web Site

Cultural Samsara

Nov. 8, 2019, John Æonid (2nd Draft Dec. 24, 2019)

Fashions come and fashions go.  But more than that, the kinds generational patterns all seem go through phases, and it seems that some of these patterns tend to repeat.  That is, they seem to repeat patterns expressed or experienced by previous generations, only the particulars of the fashion is different for each generation.

The developmental stages of childhood, adolescence, and your adulthood are all well documented in the field of psychology.  And, I'm really not shocking people with any grand revelation that there will be fashions that emerge with each of these stages.  It's not even worth giving any examples.  Each generation remembers some fad game or trick that was going around. 

Sometimes older adults, or say grups (from "Miri" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miri_(Star_Trek:_The_Original_Series), Star Trek, original series), will try a new fad out, and the kids will make fun of them for trying.  In the late 60's or 70's, there would be plenty of comedic examples in television shows about older people wearing overtly fashionable clothing.  It's all about who the latest bit of culture belongs to and who is perceived as having the correct insight into it meaning.  Yet, It's really nothing new. It's just normal for younger people to make fun of older people when the just don't quite get it.

The dysfunction or anti-pattern here is how we think we're finally going to conquer the age old problem that previous generations had failed to solve, only to then grow up and get absorbed into the machine.  And, then ultimately we fade away hoping to get one last fragment of recognition, just so much as a hug from our grandchildren, on our way out.

It's complete but obsolete
All tomorrows become yesterday
In demand but second hand
It's been heard before you even play

Up to date but came too late
Better get yourself another name
You're so right but overnight
You're the one who has to take the blame
“Looking for Today“, Black Sabbath

I was just short of being a teenager when the song “Looking for Today” was released, and the hippie revolution was already beginning to fade.  I am tagged as being part of that generation, a BOOMER, but I only got to be part of the growing apathy that emerged as the hippie movement faded at the beginning of the 70's.  Oh, we embraced the values.  We just didn't have any momentum to do anything about it.

Oh, and just think of those who revelled in claiming that the hippie revolution was a failure.  Actually, it wasn't really a failure.  It most definitely resulted in a significant cultural shift.  It was almost like a kind of kensho, a little awakening.

But, then disco and the me generation emerged.  I guess that was supposed to be my generation.  But then the prepies and the yuppies emerged, and things really got sick.

The point is that it's really three steps forward and two steps back.  Or, is it two steps forward and three back?  It's hard to tell.  I think that there is actual progress, but it's so painfully slow that it's so hard to tell if we're getting anywhere or slipping into oblivion.

One thing to point out is this: I've come to notice that if I say I don't like something and say so in a calm tone, I sometimes get a dismissive response.  I say I don't like a thing, and then I'm told “oh no, this is really the way it should be”.  In those situations, it doesn't matter how I phrase it, logically or emotionally, I continue to get a dismissive response, like they're stuck on that like a broken record.  It isn't until I !@$#!@$#!@ SHOUT that they are suddenly taken aback and say "oh, I guess you really don't like that".

Why is it that we're not believed until we get irrationally loud?  Why do we have to shout before they pay attention.  Well, look around.  Do you see those who are shouting?  Do they sound irrational?  That's because people wouldn't listen.  That's the pain talking.  If you want them to be rational then pay attention before they start shouting.

I write this just a few days after I've become aware of the OK BOOMER movement.  And, just a week or two ago, I saw where Barack Obama warns of how hash tagging doesn't really yield meaningful social change. Any attitudes it might change only change slowly, oh so slowly.  Remember, fashion changes quickly; but as fashion changes, it's momentum fluctuates.  Just watch how quickly a thing fades when the apathy sets in—just as it had for us.

So, if your engaging in any shouting, do you really want finger pointing to be the only thing you do?  Prayer to Greta Thunberg.

Again, it's always been a thorn in my side that I was tagged as a BOOMER.  (BTW, labels are another anti-pattern of thinking.)  I came in at the tail end of it and had to suffer my adolescence through that transitional apathy just before the me generation emerged, with its disco era, self involvement.  I pray for those who are about to experience the same.  And, if I manage to pass any manner of useful seed onto them, it'll by allowing them to be who they are.  After all, it's their experience from which the new perspective will emerge.  Our experience has already been imprinted on the culture, and it's our final duty to clear any taint we might have left behind, to whatever extent our fading energies will permit.  From there, the best we can do is back those clearing the cultural karma when they need it, but otherwise let them be who they are.

So, this is a taste of the things that arise from generation to generation.  The fashion changes, but the pattern continues to cycle through it's phases.

And, then we wonder: if our generation only made a tiny bit of progress, taking us only a little closer to meaningful social or economic change, then what is it that will be enough to escape the vacuum that pulls you into the machine?  With such minute progress as the end nears, how many more generations will have to suffer the latest fashion until one finally escapes the machine.

We once thought that we were close—oh so close.  And, now we fade.  "All tomorrows become yesterday."

Normally, I like to end on an up-beat, vibration raising note.  But, not here.  This the shadow section.  Welcome to the cultural samsara.

News

Nov. 8, 2019 Shadow
I've replaced the home page, though the old is retained, and I'm going deeper into shining light on the shadow, taking more risks..

May 14, 2017 Listing
I'm now generating a chronological list of postings here (in addition to the sitemap).

Jan. 14, 2017 WOT
I now participate in WOT.

Oct. 20, 2016 New Website!
This is truly in its infancy.  There is much that I want to share, yet it's just beginning.

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