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Aswad -> RE: The Horror We Call Humanity (2/8/2008 4:52:29 AM)
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ORIGINAL: MissMorrigan
I genuinely believe attitudes have changed, Aswad.
Look back in time, not fifteen or twenty years, but fifteen hundred or two thousand, and the intervening space. The more things change in this world, the more they stay the same. Once upon a time, a public torture session would involve people lifting their kids up to see. Now they stand outside the building during executions, but the spectacle is the same. Nobility started out as people who were able and willing to take charge and act in defense of their group; the ancient Sumerian Priest-Kings would often use the title of Shepherd for themselves, rather than King. (Sond like what a popular man from about 2000 years ago tended to say?)
Over time, the excesses of the degenerating nobility, and the perceived lack of need for them, creates a world of people who hold for themselves that we are all equal, and assigns the same roles to huge, impersonal governments that they can influence or swap for some other government if they get too far out of line (or so the theory goes). But their wiring is the same as it has always been, and there is increasingly a pressing lack of people who are willing to claim the authority (and attendant responsibility) that nature has assigned them via their genes. And people grow increasingly resentful of those that choose to do just that, and parents teach their kids a lot of things that prevent many from forwarding their claim, even when they should.
Yes, there has been a change, but it's not so simple as it seems on the surface (and neither is the above a deep thought).
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Thank you for mentioning the Milgram Experiment. It answered a lot of questions for me especially regarding personal accountability.
For me, too. It took quite a while for me to reconcile this with respect for humanity.
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And why many people refuse to obey authorities - b/c rarely are authoritative figures in positions of authority, as in the case of the bus driver who clearly knew that the attack was occurring, but blocked it out rather than take affirmative action.
Authority is something you claim.
Legitimacy is something you're given.
In practice, at least, that's how it works.
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In my teens and going into my 20s I studied/practised muay thai and wado ryu. Then I encountered someone who took me along to self defence classes that were taught specifically for women in relation to disadvantages in height/strength, etc... and based on using natural instincts and training the person to respond automatically without hesitating. I found it a much more natural and practical form of self defence.
I used to do Wado Ryu myself. [:D]
And, yes, there is way too much dogmatism in a lot of these arts. But there are some out there that have a somewhat more complete angle, like Systema, Jeet Kune Do, Genbukan, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, Krav Maga, and so forth. The problem being that most do not have enough quality assurance on their instructors to make sure they are able to impart useful skills. As you note, the trick is to work with your instincts without hesitation, and to train muscle memory and actual performance. Relying on forms and techniques doesn't seem to work for me or the people I know; sensei's muscle memory drills for evasion, however, have proven very useful. Last time something happened, I wasn't aware of it until I saw a fist passing by my face and noticed I had not only evaded it, but positioned myself perfectly for a counterattack.
The classic martial arts are great for a workout and some external discipline, but the only people I have seen them work for, are those that would have turned out great martial artist in any style. (I'm not counting things like Shaolin Kung Fu and the like, since most people will not be spending the 15-20 years or so that it takes to become proficient in it.)
Health,
al-Aswad.
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