We start off having others be our servants. Changing us, feeding us, etc. Soon thereafter we become the servants. We do as our parents direct. (At least those of us who are lucky enough to have firm loving parents do) Then we do as our teachers direct. Often we have friendships where we do as our friends direct. Then we enter the working world and do as our bosses direct. Those with their own businesses do as their clients direct. Those on welfare do as their social workers direct. Homeless do as the shelter workers direct. And all through our lives we all do as our spouses direct from time to time.

We are all servants. Even alone on a desert island we would be a servant to the elements and the rotation of the earth. If you're looking for a live devoid of servitude - you will never find it. it does not exist.

The trick is to find a situation where you can derive the most freedom, contentment and comfort while acknowledging that you must serve and be served in order to live.

Our current sociopolitical system has given us more freedom and more comfort than any other in history. And yet there are those who seek to over throw it for some intangible, unattainable dream they have.

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: Rabid Gerbil ]

There is a tendency to believe that the world owes us continued existence in the manner to which we have become accustomed. Although some of us would like to, we are not going to change the situation; it's far more likely to come crashing down about our ears and most of us will be deeply shocked and outraged when it does.

To answer the original question: Yes. Also willing tools, consenting dupes, witting and unwitting accessories; victims and conspirators.
If you must be the servant of something, it's better to choose your master than drift into a semi-conscious servitude. I guess...

[ February 13, 2002: Message edited by: nonesuch ]

Who or what you serve is within your control here moreso than it would be anywhere else. And yet you seem somewhat unsatisfied and petulant at the thought of us daring to have more thanother parts of the world.

If and when it all comes crashing down you will likely sit back smuggly and say "I told you so".

There is another thread on these boards about envy and forced equity and how people seem to enjoy depriving others of their possessions in order to bring them down to their level.

Your attitude about how our society will be "brought down" demonstrates the same warped, sick attitude.

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: Rabid Gerbil ]

I am glad that you are content with the state of the world and able to ignore the homeless in your own country, welfare, slums, health care that is suffering. Of course there is a wee bit of corruption that started from the top and has worked itself down, I guess we call this democratic.

It is people like you who refuse to make the tough decisions on how to allocate our money. I bet you have never seen a social equity expenditure that you didn't like.

Maude Barlow's salary could provide many chemo treatments. And there are thousands like her, greedily suckling at the public teat. The money would best be spent on poor people who really need it.

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: Rabid Gerbil ]

I do wish you all the best in your struggle for attaining intelligence. I do not want to disappoint you but I do believe, that in your particular case it really is a lost cause.

Perhaps a CAT scan could find the problem. I am not talking about the furry ones here Ms Gerbil, just in case you do not understand.

Perhaps another site would be more to you liking and your ideas as you really are pissing a lot of people off. As the great Confucius said, 'Small things amuse small minds'.

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: clersal ]

One can derive a good deal of amusement from learning the origins and processes of the society in which one lives, the sources on which it feeds, the illnesses and injuries it suffers. One may derive a good deal of satisfaction from trying to affect the process, direction and pace of that society's growth and decline. But one cannot prevent time passing or History unfolding.

When this era ends, i won't be sitting smugly anywhere; there is almost no chance of my surviving this cycle. If a few of the young remember what i told them, perhaps they will educate and prepare themselves better to build the next cycle. And small rodents may fly - some do it already.

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: nonesuch ]

"The Empire never ended"
-Philip K. Dick, Valis

If you want to look at statistics that can support this argument and will enable an easying view of our past social movements and pop culture movements view the demographics of North America compared to developing and third world countries, especially the Middle East, India, and Indonnesia, and China, especially now that they have evened out their birht rate.

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: Just_A_Man ]

quote:

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Are we wilfully ignorant of our servitude and complacency,

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Complacency is what scientists call "base-line." Americans felt safe knowing that they were number one - and to be anything but number one is scary to them because they experience it as if the world has just fallen apart. To regain number one status for them is not celebration but a restored sense of normalcy.

What we are used to is experienced as the normal state - anything below that is losing ground and anything above that is victory. When being number one is your normal state you will do anything to maintain that and you become a slave to that maintenance.