Philosophy in the damnedest places
Anybody watch Recess? For those unfamiliar, allow me to introduce you to (l-r) Vince, Spinelli, Mikey, TJ, Gretchen and Gus.
I got sucked into it when I saw an ep with a girl only known as "swinger girl." It reminded me of how we used to assign "titles" to other kids as well. I was known as "jump rope girl" in my old neighborhood for a while.
Another thing that I love about this show is that it reminds me that we're all not too far from elementary school. For one because for the most part we have the same wants that we did as children. And also because although they get magnified as we grow older some of the problems we experience from there are the same ones we're currently experiencing. In fact most of the problems adults have are due to issues that aren't resolved from childhood. [/end major digression and psych geekdom]
So there's this episode called "Economics of Recess" where the kids are using these stickers called Monstickers as money. At some point everything on the playground becomes governed by the stickers. You can't get on a swing without one. Can't use a ball. Can't use the water fountain. Unless, that is, you have enough stickers.
The ring leader of the group is TJ. He'd missed school for a week because he was sick. So when he gets back he's shocked that he can't even walk through the doors without three stickers. Initially he's a bit outraged because things that he once used regularly now have a charge. Imagine if you had to use currency for water..... Oops.
The school geek, Menlo, now has friends because he "comes from stickers." He inherited them from an uncle. The school snitch, Randall, now has sole control of the balls and auctions them out to the other kids. After seeing this and being charged one sticker just for laying on the grass TJ realizes he needs stickers and fast.
The store ran out of them so he wound up selling his cap (which is a big part of his identity) for just five stickers to Menlo. So in order to get it back he starts working during recess. Digging for the Digger Twins, pushing swinger girl so she can rest her legs and other chores. But he gets tired of working hard with not much return (I hear you, TJ) and living "sticker to sticker" so he comes up with inventive ways of earning stickers w/o actually doing the work.
Like he gave the school crossing guard (who was the one getting stickers from kids just for walking in and out) a deal to split the door if he helped him for a few hours. Then turned and made a deal with another kid to watch the door for him for much less than he bargained for with the crossing guard. He even had some kindergarteners pushing Swinger Girl and digging for the Digger Twins. So he went from the quintessential "American dream" of working hard for your money/monstickers to become successful to realizing that true "success" actually came when you figured out how to manipulate people and get others to do the work for you. By definition, in order to get from working class to upper or middle class, you have to NOT work. The illusion that working hard is how you succeed in this country is PAST false. Those of us who have worked hard, know this.
Eventually he gains a lot of power with the stickers. He owns the playground. Because he controls the stickers he controls the other kids. If anyone wants to play they have to answer to him. Whether directly or in a roundabout way when they give stickers to do something, they give them to him. After a few days the kids are basically all sitting around doing nothing because they don't have enough stickers. He's charging more than they have to do everything. And he doesn't care anymore because he's become cold and greedy and only cares about making monstickers.
But the next day he walks on the playground and tries to get a ball with his monstickers when someone tells him they are worthless. Lick and stick Alien stamps are now used instead of monstickers. He then tries to get on the jungle gym and the "guard" says "two, please." TJ says "Two Monstickers, right?" "Nah playa, we're using lick and stick aliens now." (He didn't say "nah playa," but you know) The tool that once ruled the playground is rendered worthless because of a switch in fad.
BUT the tool never really had the power, at least not literally. The kids were all fine and having fun until the stickers came along and changed how they played. Everything was free before the stickers. I repeat, everything was free. We all seem to be convinced that money is necessary. That people need monetary motivation in order to get things done. This, my friends, is the bullshit. Civilization existed premoney. And people weren't just lounging around waiting for currency to be invented for them to get things done. I find it hella funny that as a society we encourage children to share as a part of social development, but we go out "into the world" and get sticky fingers.
*gasp!* Is she saying we should all be communist?! OMG! Where's McCarthy when we need him?!
You know, when I was young I NEVER understood why Communism was so feared. I could not grasp the concept of Red Scare and why people were so averse to it. Now, of course I realize that those in power need capitalism to continue in order to remain "on top." THEY fear it because they've grown used to their power and prestige and realize that if all things are equal, there no longer is a "top" for them to be on. They took that fear and infected an entire nation with it. I'm still baffled at the things they did in the name of "protecting America." The House of Un-American Acts? Which was actually the most "Un-American" legal program to date.
But I'm actually not necessarily advocating communism. Being anti-capitalist is not synonymous with being pro-communistic. Although I'm not necessarily against it either. (I need to finish reading the Manifesto!!!) I recognize that we've all been conditioned to think that money is necessary. And I admit that the idea of wealth is still one that seems alluring to me. But I always contend that there has to be a better way. Whether I know it or not, it exists. I just haven't discovered it yet. And I know that our current system is too easily corruptible and at this point virtually unsalvageable. The powers that be have set up this system so intricately that it pretty much runs on its own. The tools of control are set in motion on autopilot and they have to do little to maintain who are the haves and who are the have nots. Please believe it's not a coincidence that certain people have and certain don't. More importantly please recognize the things a person has to do in order to become wealthy in this country.
OMG! She's all political and stuff! =x
I got sucked into it when I saw an ep with a girl only known as "swinger girl." It reminded me of how we used to assign "titles" to other kids as well. I was known as "jump rope girl" in my old neighborhood for a while.
Another thing that I love about this show is that it reminds me that we're all not too far from elementary school. For one because for the most part we have the same wants that we did as children. And also because although they get magnified as we grow older some of the problems we experience from there are the same ones we're currently experiencing. In fact most of the problems adults have are due to issues that aren't resolved from childhood. [/end major digression and psych geekdom]
So there's this episode called "Economics of Recess" where the kids are using these stickers called Monstickers as money. At some point everything on the playground becomes governed by the stickers. You can't get on a swing without one. Can't use a ball. Can't use the water fountain. Unless, that is, you have enough stickers.
The ring leader of the group is TJ. He'd missed school for a week because he was sick. So when he gets back he's shocked that he can't even walk through the doors without three stickers. Initially he's a bit outraged because things that he once used regularly now have a charge. Imagine if you had to use currency for water..... Oops.
The school geek, Menlo, now has friends because he "comes from stickers." He inherited them from an uncle. The school snitch, Randall, now has sole control of the balls and auctions them out to the other kids. After seeing this and being charged one sticker just for laying on the grass TJ realizes he needs stickers and fast.
The store ran out of them so he wound up selling his cap (which is a big part of his identity) for just five stickers to Menlo. So in order to get it back he starts working during recess. Digging for the Digger Twins, pushing swinger girl so she can rest her legs and other chores. But he gets tired of working hard with not much return (I hear you, TJ) and living "sticker to sticker" so he comes up with inventive ways of earning stickers w/o actually doing the work.
Like he gave the school crossing guard (who was the one getting stickers from kids just for walking in and out) a deal to split the door if he helped him for a few hours. Then turned and made a deal with another kid to watch the door for him for much less than he bargained for with the crossing guard. He even had some kindergarteners pushing Swinger Girl and digging for the Digger Twins. So he went from the quintessential "American dream" of working hard for your money/monstickers to become successful to realizing that true "success" actually came when you figured out how to manipulate people and get others to do the work for you. By definition, in order to get from working class to upper or middle class, you have to NOT work. The illusion that working hard is how you succeed in this country is PAST false. Those of us who have worked hard, know this.
Eventually he gains a lot of power with the stickers. He owns the playground. Because he controls the stickers he controls the other kids. If anyone wants to play they have to answer to him. Whether directly or in a roundabout way when they give stickers to do something, they give them to him. After a few days the kids are basically all sitting around doing nothing because they don't have enough stickers. He's charging more than they have to do everything. And he doesn't care anymore because he's become cold and greedy and only cares about making monstickers.
But the next day he walks on the playground and tries to get a ball with his monstickers when someone tells him they are worthless. Lick and stick Alien stamps are now used instead of monstickers. He then tries to get on the jungle gym and the "guard" says "two, please." TJ says "Two Monstickers, right?" "Nah playa, we're using lick and stick aliens now." (He didn't say "nah playa," but you know) The tool that once ruled the playground is rendered worthless because of a switch in fad.
BUT the tool never really had the power, at least not literally. The kids were all fine and having fun until the stickers came along and changed how they played. Everything was free before the stickers. I repeat, everything was free. We all seem to be convinced that money is necessary. That people need monetary motivation in order to get things done. This, my friends, is the bullshit. Civilization existed premoney. And people weren't just lounging around waiting for currency to be invented for them to get things done. I find it hella funny that as a society we encourage children to share as a part of social development, but we go out "into the world" and get sticky fingers.
*gasp!* Is she saying we should all be communist?! OMG! Where's McCarthy when we need him?!
You know, when I was young I NEVER understood why Communism was so feared. I could not grasp the concept of Red Scare and why people were so averse to it. Now, of course I realize that those in power need capitalism to continue in order to remain "on top." THEY fear it because they've grown used to their power and prestige and realize that if all things are equal, there no longer is a "top" for them to be on. They took that fear and infected an entire nation with it. I'm still baffled at the things they did in the name of "protecting America." The House of Un-American Acts? Which was actually the most "Un-American" legal program to date.
But I'm actually not necessarily advocating communism. Being anti-capitalist is not synonymous with being pro-communistic. Although I'm not necessarily against it either. (I need to finish reading the Manifesto!!!) I recognize that we've all been conditioned to think that money is necessary. And I admit that the idea of wealth is still one that seems alluring to me. But I always contend that there has to be a better way. Whether I know it or not, it exists. I just haven't discovered it yet. And I know that our current system is too easily corruptible and at this point virtually unsalvageable. The powers that be have set up this system so intricately that it pretty much runs on its own. The tools of control are set in motion on autopilot and they have to do little to maintain who are the haves and who are the have nots. Please believe it's not a coincidence that certain people have and certain don't. More importantly please recognize the things a person has to do in order to become wealthy in this country.
OMG! She's all political and stuff! =x