The Good Ol' Days
I came across this while reading C.S. Lewis' autobiography, Surprised By Joy (Peebody and a couple of other guys gave it to me for my 21st birthday):
"The deadly power of rushing about wherever I pleased had not yet been given to me. I measured distances by the standard of a man, man walking on his own two feet, not by the standard of the internal combustion engine. I had not been allowed to deflower the very idea of distance; in return I possessed "infinite riches" to what would have been to motorists "a little room". The truest and most horrible claim made for modern transport is that it "annihilates space". It does. It annihilates one of the most glorious gifts we have been given. It is a vile inflation that lowers the value of distance, so that a modern boy travels a hundred miles with less sense of liberation and pilgrimage and adventure than his grandfather got from travelling ten."
I think I agree: while mass transit has had many positive effects on supply and trade, the damage to our society and group identity has been amazing. Sometimes I wish I could know the people around me very, very well and everyone else not at all - or have the people around me that I know very well.
posted by Dboy @ Monday, October 24, 2005
17 Insightful Contributions
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17 Comments:
Ah yes, they're onto you DBoy. The spam always seems to follow onto a profound post!
DBoy, we don't see how 'colonised' by the religion of modernity we have become. I wonder if the cellphone and 'net don't do the same thing.
We can sit here and bask in glorious uncommitted anonymity but really believing that we are in genuine relationship. The latest toys, the more complex the games, such subtle analagesics.
That's lovely, Puffin - you'll enjoy it a lot. Lewis has a wa of putting things that makes them seem visually intricate and intellectually vivid - it puts a smile on my face :)
What ended up happening to John Addams? Was there a negative consequence to his travelling lifestyle?
MPB>> That small community thing is exactly what I meant. Spot on. If I had my way, I think I would buy a whole suburb, take all the people I know and love and plonk them there. What a place!
TRH (analagesic: a medication capable of reducing or eliminating pain)>> interesting... what pain do you think people are trying to dull? We certainly are 'colonised by the religion of modernity' - I was trying to think of all the reasons why we 'need' mass transit in our society, and the basis of almost every one was promoting a materialist lifestyle. Things things things. Good one, mate.
I've got a thought: do you think that the internet is an effort of the people to repair the damage caused by mass transit?
No, I think it was designed for much more convinient reasons. Although I love it.
I do agree with the quote. Provokes much thought. I love the fact that I can travel long distances in short amounts of time, but I also know that it has taken away my appreciation of space in general. Pilgrimage is not a word that gets thrown around much these days. I doubt many people ever take a pilgrimage these days. I would love to really take a real pilgrimage one day when time and money allows.
Sorry to rid the air of usual agreement (Heyheyhey, poetic)
but I don't agree with the quote. I don't really wish to know my neighbours, I'd rather choose my friends.
Knowing people far away seems to me much more benificial. I'd hate having to talk to everyone who saw me at the shopping centre, I spend to much time like that anyway.
I'd much prefer to choose the times I see my friends and associates.
You can still know people 'very, very well', they just don't live near you, I'd count that as another advantage.
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I agree, KK. Here I am living in Anchorage, Alaska - and I feel I almost know you KK.
I can picture you all alone in your run down old cave at the back of the dark mountains, all alone. The saliva running down your stubbled and unclean pale chin, wiped off by a filthy scuff, as you chew on a piece of cold fisssh and scowl at the little children playing and shrieking in the distance: "Baa! Humbug! Digusting little infectionsis! Ah! My ppprecious!!
heheheh
I am finding it hard to articulate, but something about your post unsettles me KK.
Super blog you have here! Does it have an RSS feed? I really want to put this type of information on one of my websites somewhere... anyway, just thought I'd ask because i really like you blog. Bookmarked you!
maybe you could give me some advice on my blog or site... Making Out - French Kissing Tips. well,
~ keep up the great work ~
Making Out - French Kissing Tips
And on mine. I think dboy has decided to blog spam us. Because that's obviously a void in our lives.
haha, good one
Hehehe...
"What inspire you to create such a wonderful blog!!!"
Seriously Danny boy, I totally agree. Stupid rush about nature of the modern society. Sometimes I wish things could just slow down and it could be about getting to know people again.
Personally I would like to just take some time and get to know everyone around me.
I always think of remote tribes (like I studied in anthropology), in which most of the time each day would be taken up just hanging around and talking - that's what they did!
And when they had to do something active, like go hunting or pick vegies, it was always a group activity. Imagine that. "Hey blokes, let's go spear us all some grub! Who wants to help me catch a boar?"
MEEEEE!!!
How wrong can you spell "MEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I want to come also!" There's really not that much room for error.
how about 'Mie, i waint too cum aslo?'
I guess if that's how it has to be, that's how it has to be. Depends on your expectations I think, and your level of involvement.
Not obligated at all, but it is inevitable: even if you slide 'backwards' (however you perceive that direction to be), you are still progressing in a way :)
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