Hell

I like to think we no more than social creatures but rather thinking creatures. To put it simply, we have the ability to think outside of ourself and also acting within the limits of ourselves.

For example, you do not like smoking and you know that it is harmful, but your friends smoke and chide you for not doing so- the mental dilemma in your head is then insofar that of the above. Instinctively, you would smoke- not knowing better, but you hesitate only insofar that you thinking for yourself and not within yourself. And if do the latter- you would smoke because simply because you cannot control yourself.

Let us then revisit whether these two can be collapse together- which means that I can make the social part of you into the rational part and vice versa. For example, smoking is good therefore I should smoke. I was watching a documentary on cigarette companies hosting huge concerts in Indonesia, I don't think there was outright sale of the cigarettes but the songs did not say to smoke- it just simply gather a huge group of people sponsored by these companies in the name of fun. And when everyone is having fun at the expense of someone else- how can one actually say no. It is almost irrational to do likewise. But by attending the concert, you have already circumscribed your rationality in the manner of which would that lowers the social barriers so much so that your left side of your brain would have to work much harder to prevent the subliminal messages from coming in.

I am not engaging in a crusade against cigarette companies. But the point is that these dilemmas are existent in every social interaction. They are intentionally circumscribing your rationality with no regard for your interest. It is really a one-size fits all type of situation in most interactions.

Why do you cross the road only when the green man lights up, and why do you really need a $2,000 handbag and why must you wear in a certain way to attract people of the opposite sex- you did not go for classes for it, well, you simply just do it. And if so, it makes sense, where does your knowledge or information came from- is there a genetic code to identify likewise which was imprinted even before you are born- and it simply because your social self kicking in- you knew before you knew simply because everyone else is doing it: it is really as simple as that. You want to fit in and fitting in simply means that it must be right- and then if so, would you want to fit into a squatter or do you want to fit in a mansion. You are fitting in isn't it- why didn't you want to fit in into somewhere that makes even more "sense" than your existing position. So if fitting in is so important- why did you choose to fit in say being a "prostitute". They have codes and way of behaviour- why doesn't one want to fit in there- simply because you are not thinking within yourself, and because you know the consequences of pursuing such a path. And how different is it for a person to say that my parents are bus driver and therefore I do not wish to be one- the parents would say good for you, and I support you.

On the second manner, where social codes are used to instill control and therefore restrict the self-interested behaviour of individuals. The idea is that for the greater good, it is best to restrain than to unleash. It means that if everyone is self interested, we would simply collapse under the weight of divergent behaviour of individuals. The simple dilemma and the age old paradox comes into play: if everyone is the same- would we be what we are today? We would be stuck in beliefs of animism and various other forms of superstition. Hence if we are really nothing more than self-interested animals waiting to unleash oneself to the world and wreak havoc- lest not forget that wars are waged by nations and parties, never by individuals. And if war is a condition of pathology, then isn't groups and communities the source of it.

There are no answers to the above question, only more questions. And if one claimed to have one- asked one very simple question: are you an absolute- otherwise, who are you?

Tomorrow, as an exercise do this: don't say hello to your neighbours or colleagues or anyone- and you would see how fast things fall apart. The community has unleashed hell.