Conflict. It seems to be at the heart of so much of human activity and one has to wonder why? Our very existence seems inextricably entwined with one form of conflict or another, and there are just so many forms. Aside from the the brutal maximum of warfare there are many layers of everyday life in which conflict is still the major force. How many fictional dramas do not have human conflict as the main driver of the narrative? Even totally imaginary dramas with animals as the characters most often revolve around conflict. Is there even a single sport that doesn’t embody conflict, either physical or mental?
We are also taught that working as a team in a spirit of cooperation is the best way forward, but paradoxically that ‘team spirit’ is most strongly evoked as a tool of conflict and competition. How many times have I heard people try and spin something positive out of wartime by eulogising the way it makes people ‘all pull together’ in common cause. Always leaving out that the same is true for all of those on the other side. Was their ‘pulling together’ also to be praised as a good thing?
Another oft stated ‘good thing to come out of war’ is the advance in technology it supposedly brings. As if getting a new type of widget was somehow worth the loss of so many lives and the misery of the wounded, along with the extended suffering of the surviving relatives and friends. As if that ‘advance’ couldn’t have waited a few years or even decades without anyone being significantly the worse for it?
I started writing this months ago after getting involved in playing chess in a local (online) club. I wasn’t sure about it but a very nice friend was keen for me too join.
Now, anyone who knew me as a youngster would know that I was then a very competitive person. Always 110% commitment to whatever game or sport it was, or indeed arguments and ‘whatever’. Interesting to me now is how that never spilled into my music making though, in any way, but perhaps I need to think more about that, so back to the point. In the chess club games I realised that I really don’t want to ‘beat’ anyone anymore. I can’t put it more simply. I would rather play the chess puzzle against a lifeless computer that won’t feel anything whatsoever regardless of the outcome.
If I really stretch my memory back to when I was a tiddler, I recall always wanting to give stuff away if someone else liked it… perhaps that was the real me, before school and conditioning for ‘growing up’ essentially corrupted me? That’s actually a happy concept!
OK it’s taken me sixty years to get back from the dark side but nevertheless, hurrah! So is the almost universal state of continual conflict something that at least partly stems from the ideas of ownership and control and tribalism that are encouraged in us as we grow up, even with that encouragement being delivered in a most conflicting way… sigh.
“Be generous, but keep hold of your stuff!”
“Be a team member, but not of that team!”
Even now, with many billions of us on the planet, this world still has the resources to happily cater for every single human to eat, drink and have a good home. As a species we humans have long seen off any competitors. We’ve made many of the other species extinct along the way, either deliberately or by blundering around carelessly and selfishly. Perhaps this driving emotional compulsion to fight and enjoy fighting (even as a spectator) is our most dangerous legacy and the one that will be our downfall if not reigned in.
Well, having at last posted these cheery notions for the reader to ponder, I will sign off. Meeting a mate down the pub for a pint or several of Goachers finest ale and no doubt to talk much nonsense with not a serious thought!
If you want to be notified when treehugga waffles blogs some more 'old toot' you can fill in the simple form below. Zero spamming or data sharing as per privacy policy.