Myths?

I remember this sentence was written in Timus website (an ACM website):

"Every problem has a fast, easy, wrong answer"

Yours isn't wrong, but there are better answers out there...think again maybe

You think so?

Then why ask? hahaha.

Hehe great discussion guys, i'm glad so many have such great input into the idea of Myths. Hmmmmmm where to begin with Myths...... oh i know, lets start from the beginning!



Do you know the one indisputable difference between Humanity and the rest of Nature? Some say its the ability to construct, but you see birds-monkeys-ants-etc. building enormous structures all the time. Others say it's our ability to Love, although dolphins have been known to pick life long partners and mourn for them when they die, as well as apes and so do elephants. In all actuality the one quality that separates us from the Animal Kingdom is..... Our ability to tell Stories !!!


The defining moment for early man was when they went out for their daily hunt and happened to look down upon these animal footprints they were hunting and through their form of communication was able to relay to his hunting partner a detailed description of what animal it is, how big it is, how fast and what direction it was going.
That fact alone is what projects us into the evolutionary record books, because from there you develop Myth and of course from Myth you get Culture


You can track the beginning of Culture, almost every time, to the camp fire. The camp fire is where the stories would be shared, the long and exciting day of tracking down pray or the gathering of berries or the weaving of baskets or the playing of children, would all be shared around the camp fire- consequently creating Culture! As we see today the few remaining tribes that are still around all center around fire circles, especially for social events and ritualistic dances, which is obviously what keeps their culture alive.



So here we are, "The Modern Age" "The Digital Age" "Age of Information", titling our present is yet another form of myth, not to say that its false but it is our story's title(or myth's title). If simply the Era we choose to declare is a myth then We must be immersed in more myth than you can possibly believe!!! So have u heard of the American Dream Myth? or how bout the War on Terrorism Myth. And better yet let me introduce you to the Social Media Myth, which will actually turn into a super Myth (-Meme-) factory.
We should all know the "World is meant for Man" myth by now, but do you realize your kids are told this myth everytime they go to school. History books are packed full of Cultural Myth's passed down from generation to generation. Now not all myths are bad, in fact majority of myths are there to help. But the "World is meant for Man" Myth is the most dangerous one of our culture, it is literally the Noose we will hang ourselves with if we don't open our eyes and change our minds.

The way You destroy a Myth is the same way you Create a Myth, by Exposing The Myth!!

Sorry to "pop" back in here RiddleNox when you made it so clear earlier that you were "done" with me, but...

RiddleNox wrote: So, what we've proven is this:

I think it's important for you (and everyone else who likes to argue "facts") to remember, that just because you've stated a thing...even if the rest of the community agrees...does NOT equal "proving" a thing.

You have argued much, but proven nothing.

If you're going to take for granted that the consensus of the "scientific community" will "stand as proof", fine, but state it as such. And when that very consensus is what's being debated, you can't use it as a basis for proof. That would be like saying the bible is true because the bible says it is.

(And for the record, we were not coming down to simply "arguing definitions")

Alluvius wrote: If you're going to take for granted that the consensus of the "scientific community" will "stand as proof", fine, but state it as such. And when that very consensus is what's being debated, you can't use it as a basis for proof. That would be like saying the bible is true because the bible says it is.

(And for the record, we were not coming down to simply "arguing definitions")

I'm not talking about logical proofs. I'm talking about philosophical abstracts. I prove that love exists because I feel it. And, I choose to identify love as the feeling I have when I am in "love". So, therefore, it exists.

I mean, in the end, if you think that way, NOTHING exists. But, we have to assign meaning to things or else we cannot communicate.

So, yes, we were arguing definitions.

RiddleNox wrote: I mean, in the end, if you think that way, NOTHING exists. But, we have to assign meaning to things or else we cannot communicate.

But all communication exists in the realm of the abstract...thus meaning is unnecessary. But, by that token, neither is communication, and you're right, nothing exists...at least not as opposed to or separate from anything else.

RiddleNox wrote: I choose science because I can see it.
Others choose Christianity/Indigenous/Hindu/etc. because they can FEEL it.

We tell kids about Santa Claus so they will grow up to be kind and generous.
Kids like fantasy because it paints a picture of the universe in a way that tunnel visions it. Simplifies it by breaking rules. We use these "myths" to teach lessons.

I personally dislike this system because I'd rather hear: "Connor. Be a good person..." and leave it at that. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE STORIES. I read LOTR twice a year. And, I love Harry potter and what not. But, I don't read for "lessons" or myths. I read because it's an escape.

I'm curious...how does the above statement not contradict the statement below?

RiddleNox wrote: I'm not talking about logical proofs. I'm talking about philosophical abstracts. I prove that love exists because I feel it. And, I choose to identify love as the feeling I have when I am in "love". So, therefore, it exists.

I can't see how they conflict... so I don't know how to answer your question.

RiddleNox wrote: I can't see how they conflict... so I don't know how to answer your question.

...and we're done here.

haha. Ok! Sounds good. nice talking with you.

lol,

okay if you don't mind....

Sajjad Heydari wrote: Yeah, that's just another way to put my words

Well, what I was wishing the discussion would lead to, is an answer to the last questions I asked... "Why we have these myths? Why people spend money to hear those story again, rather than staying home, listening old stories from their grand parents?"

"Why Do We Have These Myths"
. Let it be known we are creatures that have placed ourselves in a very unnatural style of living, one which is harmful for our species. Because its unnatural we have to constantly keep it sustained via Myths, so that our unnatural life-style doesn't turn into more of a burden by creating chaos and confusion. Since we've volunteered to stay in this state of living generation after generation we've had to update our Myths to keep relevant, to keep the next generation interested in our cultures main Meme. Without these Myths to keep the culture current, you are left with a break down in understanding between members within the culture. You can definitely see it happen in America when you look at political parties-
. FYI: Did you know we didn't have a strict "2 Party System" until after the great depression in 1932? The point to be made here is before that moment, there was a central Meme(Myth) called "Manifest Destination" and EVERYONE in the American version of our culture understood it, but after the great depression that Meme changed... Both sides want to share their side of the myth but If you don't have a central Myth nobody will agree, leading to more confusion, which leads to the circus act we call elections. Which is my eyes is a major Myth needing to be exposed.....



"Why Do People Spend Money On These Myths(Stories) Again And Again?"
. Well this question gets easier if we now understand the state of confusion we are in. Without a main meme to keep this unnatural life-style sustained, we get desperate for any outsource that will draw us closer to having our own main myth again. Again many choose to go towards politics to get their fill of the story, Religion is another path, Many also decide to use drugs and alcohol to suppress the confusion, while others choose less drastic measures like immersing themselves in other stories like movies and books. Silly as it sounds but choosing to just pick a career is part of this confusion too, which can explain why so many people spend their entire lives chasing a career and rarely end up happy with it.



"Listen To Old Stories With Their Grand Parents"
. When did we stop listening to our Elders? Shouldn't they be the ones we admire for our intelligence? Isn't their view the most relevant as far as History? Why does it seem like society wants to make our Elders all out to be loonies or senile old folks?
Honestly i dont know, maybe all this confusion has made us turn against them, making them a burden.... but I do know that in our Tribal days our Elders were the focal point of all the stories, masters of passing down history and knowledge. And knowing we are in the culture of amnesia, I'd like to see the day we choose to replace whatever Meme we're in today with an Elder based understanding of history, so just maybe we wont forget where we came from....

-Hope this helps Sajjad

Thanks Sikik

Well, I asked "Why we want to see movies, instead of hearing old stories from grand parents" I didn't said we don't listen to them!

okay, let me give answer myself.

because those myths are too old for our age, we need new ones...

Okay, as I'm going to be away for a while, I will no longer answer to this topic, will ask either master Daniel L. or Sikisoulja to continue this...

MTFBWY!