(no subject)
Magic is the downfall of civilization. By using, “downfall,” I mean limiter, and by, “civilization,” I mean people, and by, “people,” I probably mean myself. Just the concept of magic severely retards any kind of intellectual growth. Let me explain:
Adults enjoy telling kids to ask questions. They tell the kids how, even though he thought it would be nice to purposely try to electrocute himself during a lightning storm, Ben Franklin was a really smart guy, smart because he always asked questions. At least, that’s how it went down for me. “Ask questions,” those adults kept telling me, using smart Ben Franklin as proof.
And those adults were right. It’s good to ask questions. Answered questions = Learning. Learning = Good. Asking questions = Good. Simple. That’s where magic steps in and ruins everything. Wait, I was supposed to explain, right?
Okay. I’m sure you’ve heard the concept that basic modern technology taken to prehistoric times would be viewed as magical. For example, I travel back in time and meet up with some men in medieval Europe. I show these men my lighter. I light my lighter. These men are amazed at my magical powers. I can summon fireballs! This is why magic is the downfall of civilization.
A lighter is easily explainable, a contraption of “flint and steel” igniting the fluid encased within a little refined oil. They sell them for about a buck at the corner store. But, instead of figuring this out, instead of asking questions, the men call me a magical sorcerer. Hell, if I packed a microwave for my back-through-time trip, they might even call me or the microwave a god. But we’re talking about magic at the moment, not religion.
The concept of magic, while entirely fascinating, is simply an excuse for not asking questions, and this excuse is that downfall of civilization I mentioned earlier. Imagine a kid who wants to throw a fireball. He might think of the fireball throwing as some magical feat existing only within his imagination and go through life merely fantasizing about shooting balls of flame at helpless pets, trees and people, or he might ask questions, learn and discover a less-mystical but fully functional flame-throwing device. Maybe even a nice ring-sized one that allows a person to simply point and shoot. Who knows? There can be no question unanswerable, only answers not understandable, which require further questions. Technology is simply knowledge, and I doubt there has ever been a person who knew everything. I think that’s how I got onto this babble. I was wondering aloud to a co-worker yesterday what it would feel like to know absolutely everything. Hmm.
/babble
Adults enjoy telling kids to ask questions. They tell the kids how, even though he thought it would be nice to purposely try to electrocute himself during a lightning storm, Ben Franklin was a really smart guy, smart because he always asked questions. At least, that’s how it went down for me. “Ask questions,” those adults kept telling me, using smart Ben Franklin as proof.
And those adults were right. It’s good to ask questions. Answered questions = Learning. Learning = Good. Asking questions = Good. Simple. That’s where magic steps in and ruins everything. Wait, I was supposed to explain, right?
Okay. I’m sure you’ve heard the concept that basic modern technology taken to prehistoric times would be viewed as magical. For example, I travel back in time and meet up with some men in medieval Europe. I show these men my lighter. I light my lighter. These men are amazed at my magical powers. I can summon fireballs! This is why magic is the downfall of civilization.
A lighter is easily explainable, a contraption of “flint and steel” igniting the fluid encased within a little refined oil. They sell them for about a buck at the corner store. But, instead of figuring this out, instead of asking questions, the men call me a magical sorcerer. Hell, if I packed a microwave for my back-through-time trip, they might even call me or the microwave a god. But we’re talking about magic at the moment, not religion.
The concept of magic, while entirely fascinating, is simply an excuse for not asking questions, and this excuse is that downfall of civilization I mentioned earlier. Imagine a kid who wants to throw a fireball. He might think of the fireball throwing as some magical feat existing only within his imagination and go through life merely fantasizing about shooting balls of flame at helpless pets, trees and people, or he might ask questions, learn and discover a less-mystical but fully functional flame-throwing device. Maybe even a nice ring-sized one that allows a person to simply point and shoot. Who knows? There can be no question unanswerable, only answers not understandable, which require further questions. Technology is simply knowledge, and I doubt there has ever been a person who knew everything. I think that’s how I got onto this babble. I was wondering aloud to a co-worker yesterday what it would feel like to know absolutely everything. Hmm.
/babble