Musings

People under stress are seldom rational. As such, you have a choice in how you interact with them. In these troubled times, social acrimony seems to be everywhere, from the impulsive act of road rage or butting in line at the checkout counter, to acting aggressively to assert one’s will on others.

If you are subject to this kind of abuse, here are a few words of advice:

First, consider the source. Is the person simply angry or is he or she seemingly desperate? Often, if you can set aside your own ego and show a little empathy or courtesy, you can shame the person gently into modifying their behavior. It beats the hell out of punching them out. However satisfying at the moment, such action will work to your long-term detriment, either physically by injuring yourself, or subtly, by damaging your self esteem.

It is far better to respond thoughtfully than simply react with the old fight or flight impulses that have governed life on planet earth since the beginning of history. Humans, if we are to believe our own propaganda, are better than this. We can rise above being simply animals, but it takes patience and perseverance. Countering aggression with politeness and unwarranted consideration for the disturbed individual can often do wonders, and cause them to question the basis for their own behaviors.

But at the same time, never show fear or apparent intimidation. The person in question has no knowledge whatever of your capability for violence. Keep them guessing and off guard; you will gain their respect. And, if you are forced into a violent confrontation, be ready to act with the maximum violent response. This means emulating a Pit Bull. You don’t have to know how to fight, just focus on ripping out their guts. Start by biting off their nose or ear. Gouge out their eyes. Don’t pause for breath or ease up until they cease twitching. Remember, the Pit Bull only weighs about 90 pounds, and can’t think too well. You have a big advantage. The trick is, don’t stop attacking in order to be defensive. This is a recipe for losing the fight.

Some people are simply deranged, and need to be put out of their misery before they harm someone else. You have to be enough of an amateur psychologist to recognize the difference. Take Osama bin Laden, for example. Today, he purportedly released another tape from his hidy-hole in Pakistan, that starts with a phrase that includes, “our enemies by virtue of religion…” The truly religious have no enemies. They love others as they love themselves, and God, presumably, loves us all. He is projecting his own demented hatred, and needs to be put down, as do others that kill and maim in the name of some value system.

In the coming years, there will be great struggles for the basic necessities of life all around the planet. We can extrapolate my commentary above to these future conflicts.

We can cooperate, have empathy, and share what we have while developing long-term solutions to our problems, or be unyielding, and in the process, destroy everything of value. And, it will be important to identify the incorrigible and demented societies, and deal with them harshly and quickly, should they take advantage of the generosity and kindness of others.