Living in Archaic Times
What do you think?
Posted in on Jul 27, 2010 - 10:25 AM
Having old (mom and dad being 50 and 74 respectively) parents has got me thinking about behavior, and how it evolves. It makes me wonder, will there ever be a point where I am content with "living" in the past? When I think of an old person I get a sensation of being trapped or stuck in one dimension or another. They seem to sag and drag, as if their past is personified, physically and cognitively weighing them down. If it comes down to living in an archaic state of mind, unmoved by change, then elderhood is not something I look forward to. Although it's not fun or even bearable, I can get all the wrinkles and degeneration, but if my mind is not keen on change and progress, then that is my biggest problem. I don't want to grow up to watch reruns and only care about the "old jams" (although I'm one of the many youth who abhors the music of her generation). I don't want my mind to be fixated on a world that no longer exists. I want to be in touch with the reality that our universe is always changing, creating, destroying, and adjusting. What is it about life that brings individuals to a point of no return? Of course there are people like the late George Carlin, who changed as society changed. He had a certain style and message in his early comedic works, but as time went on his messages and style changed. He also kept aware of society's changes while keeping in mind relevant factors of the past and his past ideology. However, he appears to be the exception to the rule. When I see my grandma and my mom especially for example, as well as many other elderly people, I feel sad and wonder if I will ever fall upon such archaic times.What do you think?
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Zuleka Irvin
Jul 28, 2010 - 01:46 PM
It’s a combination of educational background as well experiences and environment. I am not aware of the psychological or sociological reasons for holding on to archaic beliefs, but looking at education is actually important. Well, my dad grew up fending for himself and being mostly open to societal issues. My mom went to school and did as she was told, she strongly believes in the linear ideas of success that school provides (grades, ranks, gpa’s, and vague markers) rather than curiosity, actual ability, and personal interests. Education plays a role, but of course, life is more complex than just the few factors we attribute to a situation. In sum, rigid schooling is a culprit in many cases, but I’m not sure if it’s the main one across the board.