I have a theory that this is a relatively recent social phenomenon. Historically most cultures have an acceptance of loss and pain that doesn't seem to exist today. Look at the art and sculpture of the middle ages or the un-sullied Grimm fairy tales. Life is cruel, capricious and uncaring and you are doomed to a nasty fate.
I think the sense of invulnerability is a result of CONSTANT exposure to games, television, movies and literature that features heroes escaping from impossible situations. No matter how dire the heroe's predicament we know that they will escape intact by the end of the show/movie/book. Since we are naturally the heroes of our own stories the unconcious feeling that the same situation applies to us.
I know that for myself I frequently have moments where I think "What if my life is a game or interactive fiction of some sort? That must mean that TODAY has some significance and events will take a strange turn sometime soon, because no being would pay to play my life. Everything I remember must be the pre-amble: the prolog that sets up the alien contact or inter-dimensional rift. I recognise that this is a result of my upbringing, but it also feels, on a deep and personal level, true. We expect our lives to repeat the experiences we have had time and time again every day since we were children, and then we are shocked when the world ignores what we expect and goes on being its completely uncaring self.
two notes:
1) Since the wolrd is uncaring it is important to surround yourself with people who are not. The only love and assistance you will get will be from people (well, and pets) who love you. Don't expect miracles or devine intervention, but do encourage, foster and reciprocate that love. (Which I think I need hardly tell you who has done such a fine job so far at that.)
2) What does it say that these teens are more affraid of police than being crushed by a speeding train?
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branchandroot
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Date: 2006-12-07 02:39 pm (UTC)I think the sense of invulnerability is a result of CONSTANT exposure to games, television, movies and literature that features heroes escaping from impossible situations. No matter how dire the heroe's predicament we know that they will escape intact by the end of the show/movie/book. Since we are naturally the heroes of our own stories the unconcious feeling that the same situation applies to us.
I know that for myself I frequently have moments where I think "What if my life is a game or interactive fiction of some sort? That must mean that TODAY has some significance and events will take a strange turn sometime soon, because no being would pay to play my life. Everything I remember must be the pre-amble: the prolog that sets up the alien contact or inter-dimensional rift. I recognise that this is a result of my upbringing, but it also feels, on a deep and personal level, true. We expect our lives to repeat the experiences we have had time and time again every day since we were children, and then we are shocked when the world ignores what we expect and goes on being its completely uncaring self.
two notes:
1) Since the wolrd is uncaring it is important to surround yourself with people who are not. The only love and assistance you will get will be from people (well, and pets) who love you. Don't expect miracles or devine intervention, but do encourage, foster and reciprocate that love. (Which I think I need hardly tell you who has done such a fine job so far at that.)
2) What does it say that these teens are more affraid of police than being crushed by a speeding train?