Battleangel

Blah … I spent the better part of the evening discussing the concept of intimate relationships. I don’t know why. I don’t remember whose idea it was in the first place. Seems that this has become quite a dilemma in our new ultra-individualistic societies. And I thought it was just me. Hmmmm. It worries me, not so much for my own sake as for the course of our civilization.

Suffice to say, social interaction isn’t my thing. While none of us can escape interacting with others, some “features” of this interaction are surely superfluous. Such is a thing is intimate relationships. I feel that one should only engage in the minimum of social contact required to keep ones sanity. Intimate relationships are replaceable. Nothing will perhaps ever be able to fill the (biological) void but you can try. Try to keep busy until you drop dead so to speak. Will I succeed or will life get me first? Stick around and find out. The path is anything but clear. I enjoy the simple pleasures that society has to offer and hope that it will be enough to sustain me. It’s taking a bit of a risk.
You probably think I am a fool. That is perfectly understandable. You think that just because nearly everyone in our species is part of the system, it is pointless to question millennia of social dogma. But is there a natural selection for social ideas? Can we be sure that only the best solutions are passed on and for that exact reason? Think about religion for example. How come that nearly everyone in our species believes in a higher power of some sort? How flakey isn’t that and how did that get passed on over the millennia?

One simple reason is that we all have a more or less strong genetic basis for learning these things. To accept flakey things because they have proven effective over time. Intimate relationships would for example be positive since they increase the likelihood that out offspring prevail under harsh environmental circumstances (thousands of years ago). Religion is efficient since it forms a common bond between members of larger groups (and keeps strangers away) as well as increase well being (an lull you into a state of self delusion that increases your lifespan). Those are biological explanations of course but none the less plausible.

Suppose the above is true. Just because e.g. religion and relationships once were vital components in our lives doesn’t mean that they are today. They prevail for other reasons. Just like the our appendix or fifth fingers. So don’t be so sure you have the “truth” all figured out. You might be just another lemming. Think about it. As for the actual pros and cons of relationships I am sure you can figure them out by yourself.

I feel privileged never to have experienced “love” and intimate relationships. I do not deny that I harbour feelings from time to time. It’s just a matter of repressing them indefinitely. It is one poison that I can live without. One substance that would only cloud my mind. Only for the weak. It’s only for the weak.

He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god.

–Aristotle

I wish I had the time and energy to have these debates more often. It’s really a fresh breeze.