The complexity of society is very simple to break. Just add a lot of snow in a short amount of time and watch people freak out.
So when McDonald’s at JFK airport announced there was no more food, people reacted poorly. When the “A” train sat on the track for 8 hours overnight at 34th St., people really didn’t know what to do. When Anne O’Daley sprained her ankle in Brooklyn, she waited 30 hours for an ambulance.
This is what happens for complex societies — they become just as predictably vulnerable as impoverished societies during times of extreme condition.
These stories for the most part are merely annoyances, but what happens if you add another layer of crisis like an extended grid down scenario? A severe financial crisis? A quarantine outbreak of viral disease? Because, all of these things have happened within the last few years — just not all at once.
When the predictable crisis happens, we’re still shocked because we have never experienced it personally. We become conditioned to believing “it’s somebody’s job.” We expect government to always be there, and complain when it’s not.
Here’s the thing — in 2011 your government will become completely overwhelmed and will not solve your hunger, pain, or suffering. Only you can do that, and no amount of shouting into the wind is going to change it. Perhaps 2011 is the year of awakening when we stop talking and start organizing, fixing, and putting up a larder for hard times.
It’s not possible to do it alone.
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Great argument for being resilient.
Tommy said, “This is what happens for complex societies — they become just as predictably vulnerable as impoverished societies during times of extreme condition.”
Yes, but vulnerable to what? The problem with complex societies is that they are most vulnerable to themselves. Impoverished people are always at each other’s mercy or aggression, and when TSHTF, they still look at each other from nearly the same level. Complex societies tend to panic because they are afraid of losing all of their Stuff. People without any stuff just see more hardship, and try to deal with it.
Most of the things done in the complex society which are most profitable are also most expendable. When the society is convinced that these expendable things are “not negotiable”, then hijinks ensue. This cognitive swap of needs vs. wants is especially possible when the needs are met so cheaply with cheap energy and devalued individual labors.
Another factor that will affect people individually is that when our system breaks down we are forced or may by choice do things we don’t ordinarily do. Often we are so angry or distracted by the major problem, be it two feet of snow or a hurricane, that we fail to take precautions or use common sense and we take risks and hurt ourselves. The right thing to do when there is an emergency is get more control of ourselves; our thoughts and our actions and not allow anger or distraction put us in danger. When things go bad put your mind in overdrive and begin paying more attention to your surroundings. Be extra cautious, think ahead, plan for the worst. The worst possible time for a life threatening injury is when emergency services are temporarily unavailable. Ironically that may also be the time when you feel forced to be more physical and react rather then plan and think things through. When it snows I enjoy shoveling but I keep track of how hard I’m working and take regular breaks. Know your limits. Recognize dangerous situations. be aware of your surroundings and the people you encounter. Think, plan then act rather then act without thinking, regret and suffer. Any natural or man caused emergency is the worst time to injur yourself or do anything to make your situation worse.
Well said. It reminds me of an incident at my home some time ago. Someone had cut themselves badly with a kitchen knife. (I can’t say who it was. I’ll get shit for it like you wouldn’t believe if I do.) The weather was fine. Wrap a clean dishcloth around it and drive to the hospital — no big deal.
Now, add two feet of snow outside to that little occurrence, and it’s no longer merely a bit of unpleasantness to be dealt with; it could turn into a very big deal.
Anyway, a belated Merry Christmas. (My internet access was absent for a few days while we fired the gouging cable company, and switched over to a DSL provider.)
I have been reading about the idea of peak complexity, how societies evolve into ever more complex structures which demand ever more energy (human & physical) to function. This translates into a harder and poorer life for us little people…this situation continues until life becomes totally miserable, people become desperate and angry. The decent into chaos may be lengthy like Rome or may be sudden as the Mayans of Mexico. The end result is the same, people regroup and society is reborn as a much simplified and humanly satisfying state. The book Anazasi America, traces the collapse of the large cities in the Four Corners of the Southwest. People voted with their feet deserting the power structure that demanded extraordinary amounts of labor and food from the little people. Their ancestors live here today, villages of maybe 2000 people at most, traditionally hunting, fishing and large scale gardening. Living in large adobe structures that assure warmth and safety, we can hope to evolve into something similar.
Keep up your good work Tommy!
Lee
I grew up with almost no cognizance of government on any level. As a kid, if I had a problem, I solved it, unless it was beyond me, then my parents helped. They solved their own problems, as did everyone around us, sometimes with each others’ help. It’s hard to understand how so many people rely on the .gov for everything.
I don’t know the story of the woman with the sprained ankle, but I’ve known people who have hiked out of the backcountry with such. I knew an old rancher who crawled half a mile uphill with a broken leg in the winter – it was do or die, literally. I’ve seen so many examples of learned helplessness, and I’ve had people look at me with amazement and often resentment for taking action in circumstances where immediate help was needed (i.e., accidents). They either thought I was heroic or crazy, and the truth was, I was neither, just acting like humans normally do in non-dysfunctional situations.
Our country is beginning to remind me of a bad relationship where both parties encourage complete reliance on the other. It appears that’s not working out so great. It’s amazing what we can do when we set our minds to it, but if we’ve been coddled or made fearful, it never happens.
Excellent point, Auntie–so much is expendable, especially given the margin return on so much of what is “essential” like Xmas shopping to support the economy.
Not to nitpick but the article states the women broke her ankle. Changes things a little. But growing up in that area I wouldn’t be suprised if someone had called 911 in the middle of a snow storm for a minor injury. Every time there was a big storm people just wouldn’t stay put, but would venture out ill prepared. Somewhat like the guy on the subway with a spring jacket on. I agree people don’t take these situations seriously and expect others to pull them through.
Apparently the snow mess was preventable to some degree but the snow plow workers didn’t clean it up to the best of their ability. They participated instead in a pre-planned work slowdown to protest budget cuts.
“Perhaps 2011 is the year of awakening when we stop talking and start organizing, fixing, and putting up a larder for hard times.
It’s not possible to do it alone.”
Absolutely, Tommy, absolutely…
Merry New Year, and I will be personally happy for 2010 to just go away already.
Amen to that. You and me both.
I hear you…
You reminded me with your earlier comment that I need to add content on prepping and backpacking/camping on my blog soon. I am grateful I and my sons love those activities, takes a lot of work out of prepping, and you get to use it for “fun” before it’s needed.
Definately some inspiring poetry for hard times.
I live in an area where freaky snow and ice storms out of nowhere are the norm, not the exception. Anyone around here who does not have a little stash of food and necessities during the winter months is an idiot. I do call off of work under these circumstances as a day’s pay will not cover my potential towing bill.
Emergency services would not be so challenged to provide service if the idiots stayed home!
My dogs and cat hunker down and sleep through these storms. IMHO, their behavior is the sensible response to these conditions.