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+--- Thread: All at Sea... (/showthread.php?tid=7319)
All at Sea... - Lightspeed - 15 November 2014
While researching an entirely different article I came across this one.
For me it was a good analogy of what is going on in the world around us.
Thoughts?
http://www.newsociety.com/var/storage/blurbs/9780865715103_intro.pdf
Imagine yourself in the following circumstance: You have just awak-
ened from sleep to find yourself on a tarpaper raft floating away
from shore. With you on the raft are a couple of hundred people,
most of whom seem completely oblivious to their situation. They
are drinking beer, barbecuing ribs, fishing, or sleeping. You look at
the rickety vessel and say to yourself, “My God, this thing is going
to sink any second!”
Miraculously, seconds go by and it is still afloat. You look around
to see who’s in charge. The only people you can find who appear
to have any authority are some pompous-looking characters
operating a gambling casino in the middle of the raft. In back of
them stand heavily armed soldiers. You point out that the raft
appears dangerous. They inform you that it is the safest and most
wonderful vessel ever constructed, and that if you persist in sug-
gesting otherwise the guards will exercise their brand of persuasion
on you. You back away, smiling, and move to the edge of the raft.
At this point, you’re convinced (and even comment to a stranger
next to you) that, with those idiots at the helm, the raft can’t last
more than another minute or so.
A minute goes by and still the damn thing is afloat. You turn
your gaze out to the water. You notice now that the raft is sur-
rounded by many sound-looking canoes, each carrying a family of
indigenous fishers. Men on the raft are systematically forcing peo-
ple out of the canoes and onto the raft at gunpoint, and shooting
holes in the bottoms of the canoes. This is clearly insane behavior:
the canoes are the only possible sources of escape or rescue if the
raft goes down, and taking more people on board the already over-
crowded raft is gradually bringing its deck even with the water line.
You reckon that there must now be four hundred souls aboard. At
this rate, the raft is sure to capsize in a matter of seconds.
A few seconds elapse. You can see and feel water lapping at
your shoes, but amazingly enough the raft itself is still afloat, and
nearly everyone is still busy eating, drinking, or gambling (indeed,
the activity around the casino has heated up considerably). You
hear someone in the distance shouting about how the raft is about
to sink. You rush in the direction of the voice only to see its source
being tossed unceremoniously overboard. You decide to keep
quiet, but think silently to yourself, “Jeez, this thing can’t last more
than another couple of minutes! What the hell should I do?”
You notice a group of a dozen or so people working to patch
and reinforce one corner of the raft. This, at least, is constructive
behavior, so you join in. But it’s not long before you realize that the
only materials available to do the patching with are ones cannibal-
ized from elsewhere on the raft. Even though the people you’re
working with clearly have the best of intentions and are making
some noticeable improvements to the few square feet on which
they’ve worked, there is simply no way they can render the entire
vessel “sustainable,” given its size, the amount of time required, and
the limited availability of basic materials. You think to yourself that
there must be some better solution, but can’t quite focus on one.
As you stand there fretting, a couple of minutes pass. You real-
ize that every one of your predictions about the fate of the raft has
been disconfirmed. You feel useless and silly. You are about to make
the only rational deductions — that there must be some mystical
power keeping the raft afloat, and that you might as well make the
most of the situation and have some barbecue — when a thought
comes to you: The “sustainability” crowd has the right idea . . .
except that, as they rebuild their corner of the raft, they should
make it easily detachable, so that when the boat as a whole sinks
they can simply disengage from it and paddle toward shore. But
then, what about the hundreds of people who won’t be able to fit
onto this smaller, reconditioned raftlet?
You notice now that there is a group of rafters grappling with the
soldiers who’ve been shooting holes in canoes. Maybe, if some of
the canoes and their indigenous occupants survive, then the scope
of the impending tragedy can be reduced. But direct confrontation
with the soldiers appears to be a dangerous business, since many of
the protesters are being shot or thrown into the water.
You continue working with the sustainability group, since they
seem to have the best understanding of the problem and the best
chances of survival. At the same time, your sympathies are with the
protesters and the fisher families. You hope and pray that this is all
some nightmare from which you will soon awaken, or that there is
some means of escape
......
RE: All at Sea... - Straight Shooter - 15 November 2014
absolute brilliant post LS ....a breath of fresh air ....at last something of worth, will respond in a bit ....needs some thought, brilliant !
RE: All at Sea... - Midnitemo - 15 November 2014
great analogy...the only bit that doesn't fit for me is the security services heavy handedness....I don't feel it's quite like that just yet...but other than that it's how I see it.
RE: All at Sea... - Straight Shooter - 15 November 2014
The analogy is perfect to the way i feel and see things at this moment in time, frustrations ...i have many , in particular...most people cannot see what,s all around them....or choose not to.....people are aware that things are not quite right....they see the cost of utility bills raising , food bills are up....fuel bills down of late so they feel a little better something is good, but all the while the trends are in a spiral the erosion will not go away. If you are one of the lucky loosers in full employment the raising bills seem manageable so no action is required right now ....okay the holiday weekend is put off but nothing major......on the other side of the tracks you have the majority of people willing able and wanting to pay their way....low pay part time work they see things a bit more clearly ,when prices go up....instantaneous plan of action is required to counter the threat....and without the use of a safety nett...forced to take action.....survival kicks in heat or eat .....which ? i call these lucky people....they still have options.In my first post to this thread i said ...breath of fresh air....something of worth ....and i do believe its the case, lately the threads have become threadbare pun intended....its all about what,s in the news or papers ...most of which is total rubbish...in my view...i am guilty of participation in these threads which do nothing to help any of us, WE are about survival ...the common factor that should be binding us ALL. If i was a newbie looking in on here ...why? would i want to sign up Where is the advantage...what is to learn what is the point ? ....i do not know what other forums are like ....and have no inclination to find out ...when i joined here it really was the greatest thing loads of help advice , and a welcoming band of brothers ....and sisters...in short I want it back ! I want what i signed up for and once had.....now fuck off ! the fuck off is a joke just in case you did,nt get it.
RE: All at Sea... - Lightspeed - 16 November 2014
I agree with you SS
This was of course written by an American, but the sentiment of it matches the way I think and feel. Its another way of viewing the boiling frogs article that SD posted on the main SUK site a while back ( and that is also a good way of looking at things)
Yes things have been a bit quiet on here of late, but the forum is a huge reserve of knowledge from past discussions. I also hope we get back to lively and though provoking discussions on here
RE: All at Sea... - Straight Shooter - 16 November 2014
Gary was a bully ,Gary had his followers, he controlled the school yard through fear and intimidation, the followers used all Gary,s tools for their own ends , this was the elite no one messed with the elite, they could take the piss out of who they liked when they liked , the followers felt safe under the protection of Gary,s rule . This is not new we all have witnessed this behaver for control and dominance . So what happened SS......... you must understand Gary started out on this leader of the pack three years before secondary school , which i and others had to endure .....twas rugby on friday afternoons double lesson, Gary was on the opposite side along with the inner circle, because of the intimidation of the GANG our side were taking a hammering , when people take a hammering there comes a point of ....well there,s nothing to loose we will not win the game , then it becomes all about pride and self respect.......did i score a try ......no.....what i did do was a crunching tackle ...and yes on gary...he felt the full venom of years of shit and piss taking ...and was taken off the pitch and completely legal, the mood of my side changed but to late for any good use.
MONDAY morning arrived .....morning break came....Gary is going to f...ing kill you.....around the yard it went....SS is going to get a hiding ......he is dead..... had a sign from Gary ....slit your throat......your dead....mouthed sign....and yes i was shitting myself, lunch break arrived......Gary wants you ....back of porta cabin NOW ! shouted his second in command.....around i go thinking i have nothing to loose here ....give a good account of yourself SS......the crowd was already gathered FIGHT FIGHT rang out.....Gary squared up ....danced about a bit ...your f...ing dead...........I tried golf once never really got it ....at the driving range i used to hit the ball as hard as i could thinking the farther the better ....now and then i hit the sweet spot ... i was amazed at the range at the least power required............back to Gary ....i did not dance about just moved to stay square on....waited for him to throw his punch...right cross....then i threw mine ...upper cut ....sweet spot....then watched him collapse .....to my and everybody else,s amazement ...get up i say......no that,s it he said. the odd thing i remember about this is...feeling the power that Gary had held , i now seemed to hold .....what about you do you want to try i say to the followers......they just walked away, no one ever f..ked with me after that, the reputation of that day lasted many years, so am i the hero here....the good triumphing over evil .....NO not at all ....when people have nothing to loose THEY loose it .....that,s all .....so people who control the raft beware........ comeuppance may well be coming your way .....to the sweet spot.
RE: All at Sea... - Steve - 16 November 2014
I can still clearly remember the punches in my back as I walked away from a school bully, the next bit is a blur but I know I properly smashed his nose and he never came near me again. The emotions I felt were so strong I cried - it frightened me. I've never lost my temper since, even in a fight I can remain calm and almost detached, and that is how I'll be whatever happens if TSHTF.