The Monkeysphere

CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">...or why I don't give a ****</div> There's a bit of crude language here, be warned.

Please read the whole article before posting, the following is just a teaser.
<a href='http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/monkeysphere.html' target='_blank'>http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/monkeysphere.html</a>
<!--QuoteBegin-"The Above Link"+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ("The Above Link")</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Picture a monkey. A monkey dressed like a little pirate, if you wish. We'll call him Slappy.

Imagine you have Slappy as a pet. Imagine a personality for him. Maybe you and he have little pirate monkey adventures and maybe even join up to fight crime. You'd be sad if Slappy died, wouldn't you?

Now, imagine you get five more monkeys. Tito, Bubbles, Fluffy, Marcel and ShitTosser. Imagine personalities for each of them. Maybe one is aggressive, one is affectionate, one is distant and quiet. And so on. They're all your personal monkey friends.

Now imagine a hundred monkeys. Then a thousand.

How long until you can't tell them apart? Or remember their names? At what point, in your mind, do your beloved pets become just a faceless sea of monkey? If you get enough monkeys, you'll eventually have enough that you no longer even care if one of them dies.

Now, each of these monkeys is every bit the monkey that Slappy was. It's just that you don't give a rat's **** any more.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That first section of the linked article pretty much sums up the whole thing, but it makes a lot of good points, and I thought it to be a good read.

An example of this applyed to humanity is today's attacks in London. People feel bad, even sympothetic to those who died, but so long as nothing happened to you or anyone in your "Monkeysphere" you're not too terribly bothered. How many of you sat down and locked yourselves away to cry for the casualties you don't know? Would you have felt differently if it had been your neighbor, your mother? You may feel angry, but not because the people were attacked, but because your homeland was attacked, and countries are personofied. I felt national pride and some other emotions on September 11th as well.

Yea, discuss.

Comments

  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Interesting topic Boosey, and some good points made.

    I'm probably one of the few who bend over backwards to please the sanitation workers. Hell, if I hear their truck rumbling down the street I run outside with a handfull of ice cold Code Reds for 'em. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> I also cut my yard waste into appropriately sized bundles ...
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    Is this too much reading people? Or do links scare you? This is a really interesting topic, come on people!
  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    I'll be honest with ya, I found the first page interesting and the second page boring. But yeah, it's a lot of reading.
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    I found it really interesting, and I think it could potentially be right on the money. Didn't have much more to say about it though. I loved the reference to "They live." Great movie. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • NGENGE Join Date: 2003-11-10 Member: 22443Members
    A simplistic and childish essay on human nature. However it still makes good points, the fact that we can only focus on so many human beings around us is just yet another reason as to why Captialism and Liberalism (real liberalism) work.



    However, the essay makes on error... it assumes everyone is limited to 150; that isn't true, for some it may be more, for others it may be less.
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    I don't know, I thought this could bring up all sorts of things, kind of a multi topic.

    The article touched on capitolism/communism, and explained why capitolism works, and why communism doesn't, unless it's in small groups, say 150 or less <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    I know I've refered to the government as a lone entity before, not thinking that it's actually a collective of people just as human as myself.

    It also made me think that in the grand scheme of things just how worthless I am to 99.9999% of everyone.
  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Well, I love my sanitation workers, and I think about them when I am preparing their pickup. That's all I'm going to say about that ...
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Depot+Jul 7 2005, 09:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Depot @ Jul 7 2005, 09:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, I love my sanitation workers, and I think about them when I am preparing their pickup. That's all I'm going to say about that ... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Well, then they are inside your monkeysphere <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Caboose+Jul 7 2005, 11:43 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Caboose @ Jul 7 2005, 11:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Depot+Jul 7 2005, 09:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Depot @ Jul 7 2005, 09:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, I love my sanitation workers, and I think about them when I am preparing their pickup. That's all I'm going to say about that ... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Well, then they are inside your monkeysphere <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Exactly, as are many others that most would not allow in. I especially care for those who work in theaters.... ... .. . <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    Are you hitting on me? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    On a more serious note, that's probably because you sympathize with people like that because you've worked. But if some popcorn sweeper from your local theater died, would you feel the same as if a friend of yours died?

    I mean, obviously you'd be sad, but the level of sadness would be different because you didn't know them.
  • BulletHeadBulletHead Join Date: 2004-07-22 Member: 30049Members
    I didn't cry... I did say a quick prayer for them though.
  • SkySky Join Date: 2004-04-23 Member: 28131Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->First, TOTAL MORON. That is, accept the fact THAT YOU ARE ONE. We all are.

    That really annoying person you know, the one who's always spouting ****, the person who always thinks they're right? Well, the odds are that for somebody else, you're that person.

    So take the amount you think you know, reduce it by 99.999%, and then you'll have an idea of how much you actually know regarding things outside your Monkeysphere. Once you accept this you can no longer smirk over other people just because you think they're morons.

    This way you won't, for instance, snidely dismiss all religious faith as ridiculous and in the next breath solemnly share your experiences with the conspiracy of reptilian overlords who secretly run society.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Quite possibly the best piece of advice ever written.
  • The_FinchThe_Finch Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8498Members
    That was pretty inane.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->"One death is a tragedy. One million deaths is a statistic."

    -50 Cent <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yes. This is exactly the way to start off with my full respect. 50 Cent? <i>50 Cent!?</i> The person to originally state this is Josef Stalin. 50 Cent, a would-be malefactor, is incapable of this keen insight. Stalin, a man responsible for the death and suffering of millions of Russians, is the origin of such sagacity.

    Like NGE said, it's a childish and simplistic view of human nature. I'd personally add ill-informed to the list too. The article was neither perspicacious nor original. "Expand your horizons," "Be less judgemental" and "Love your fellow man" are hardly revolutionary concepts.

    The more we invest in something, be it cronological, financial, emotional or intellectual, the more we feel its loss. I know nothing of the victims of the London bombings and it's likely I never will know anything beyond their membership to the species <i>homo sapiens.</i> The fact that I feel more attachment to my sister than a Londoner has nothing to do with apathy and "monkeyspheres." It's Psychology 101.
  • maniacrippermaniacripper Join Date: 2004-01-13 Member: 25288Members, Constellation
    this is just an overglorified example of a famous quote, though I forget the exact line and the author but its something like, "you'd care more/longer about the cut on your finger than the suffering and death of 1000 innocent people 10000 mikles away"

    its something of that nature and I'll get back here when I find the non-butchered version I shamelessly shared with you all, until then stay the fark outta my finger-cut-caring reality. thnx
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-The Finch+Jul 7 2005, 11:54 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (The Finch @ Jul 7 2005, 11:54 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The person to originally state this is Josef Stalin. 50 Cent, a would-be malefactor, is incapable of this keen insight. Stalin, a man responsible for the death and suffering of millions of Russians, is the origin of such sagacity. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    So, one of the most famous 'communists' ever, admited the human flaw that prevents communism from working exists?
  • SnidelySnidely Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13098Members
    edited July 2005
    Yes. It's not like he cared for a true communist state - otherwise, he wouldn't have had power.
  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Just hug your local sanitation worker / theater worker. Today. And step into the monkeysphere. It's all good .... ... .. . <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • CrotalusCrotalus Join Date: 2003-12-02 Member: 23871Members
    I picked up this "thinking" about a year ago,
    that the only reason you care about people
    is because you have connections with them.
    Other people are simply "statistics." This
    article helped clarify it for me a bit, lately I've
    been troubled about why I can't feel sadness
    for 9/11, or any other major incident...
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    edited July 2005
    I think the reason why nobody responded to the thread at first is because there's nothing to add, really. Some of us knew this all along. The rest, they're probably nodding right now, saying "okay." For some of them, this will mean something. For the rest, it won't. But what is there actually to <i>discuss?</i> I haven't seen any actual <i>discussion</i> in this thread so far, and I can't think of something about this to discuss because it's so straightforward that there is nothing to discuss or clarify about it.
    We can remark how a certain quote was <i>NOT</i> said by 50 cent, we can argue that the "monkey sphere" (what a stupid word, to be honest) is not always <i>exactly</i> 150 people, but those are insignificant details compared to the overall message.

    If you'd have us discuss, Caboose, start doing so and we will join in.
  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    I think that the theory on the first page has some validity, but the conclusions on the second page are somewhat worthless.

    It is pretty obvious that humans care more about the people who they know and who affect their lives than people who they don't know and who don't affect their lives.

    I think that his comments on communism vs. capitalism are insipid. I think that his three suggestions at the end are right, for the most part.
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Oh, true. That's where I had kinda stopped listening though.

    However, I must agree with the point he makes: Capitalism is inherently a system that is much simpler to grasp, and therefore fit for unsophisticated people. We need to become better people in a sense before communism has any chance of working at all.
  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-lolfighter+Jul 8 2005, 02:57 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (lolfighter @ Jul 8 2005, 02:57 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Oh, true. That's where I had kinda stopped listening though.

    However, I must agree with the point he makes: Capitalism is inherently a system that is much simpler to grasp, and therefore fit for unsophisticated people. We need to become better people in a sense before communism has any chance of working at all. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I'd think the opposite. Communism is basically having everyone throw all their material possessions into a pot and then dividing it up equally. Capitalism involves bartering, currency, supply and demand pricing, partial and shared property ownership, etc. I'd say communism is a much simpler system to grasp, even if it is harder to implement well.
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Well, put it this way: Under communism, everyone must understand the system so well (as well as having enough moral fiber) to understand why they may not attempt to exploit the system, lest it collapse. Capitalism is practically BASED around exploiting the system.
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