Good point regarding the Beatles, Justin.

I’m still not 100% certain that one cannot have worthwhile art without terrible suffering preceding it. Seems somehow whacked if things are…

Good point regarding the Beatles, Justin. I agree, I haven’t considered that angle before, and you’re right. They did bring a lot of early age suffering to their timeless art.

I’m still not 100% certain that one cannot have worthwhile art without terrible suffering preceding it. Seems somehow whacked if things are arranged that way. But sure thing, the evidence supporting such claims is overwhelming.

As for you cynicism/pessimism, I understand where you’re coming from. I am not denying that human nature is fundamentally vile. All I’m saying is that I think there is accumulated evidence that points at us making certain progress collectively. Meaning, we’re seeing more and more regulations getting established that make it harder and harder for vile human impulses to act unencumbered. There are less and less places on the planet today where it is forbidden for girls to learn how to read and write, or to get any education. That’s a positive development that even the most hardened cynic cannot deny. Same goes for gay bashing and many other equally despicable practices that used to be the norm not that long ago.

There was a point in time when cannibalism was ‘okay’ in some parts of the world. Today, we have pretty much eradicated cannibalism. Same goes for criminalizing pedophiles, and many other forms of deviant sexual behaviour. All these improvements mean there are more people today who don’t feel threatened by not having the so-called ‘mainstream’ natural impulses. Less and less marginalization is a good thing, at least in my mind.

We have a long way to go before we eradicate many other oppressive customs and senitments. One of my favourite initiatives right now is working on removing the oppressive gender label from our official documents. For example, I don’t think it’s anyone’s business knowing what gender am I. How’s that relevant to anything? So it is only natural that we stop these all prevailing demands that people disclose their gender on any official documents and forms they’re expected to fill out. Including the birth certificates.

And of course, I agree with you, people will forever continue to label others, but my point is this labeling must not be sanctified. The officials have no right to force us to disclose any of our private information. And today we’re working toward a society where we must be freed from all those idiotic remnants of our primitive past.