Despair 15

[im_in_despair]

Attention, all students!

Under the normal schedule, this would be time to give out report cards.

Comments

[chalk_witch]

[Aha, finally found the social studies teacher.]

Would you be able to explain functionalism for me?

[im_in_despair]

Functionalism? I didn't see that on the curriculum.

[chalk_witch]

From what I've read, functionalism seems to be like a basket full of eggs? Each egg serves its particular purpose in the basket, and without the individual eggs, one can't have a basket full of them.

[im_in_despair]

Seeing as individual eggs in a basket don't serve functions that assist the other eggs, I'm not sure that your simile is accurate.

[chalk_witch]

They prevent the other eggs from rolling around, don't they?

[im_in_despair]

Yes, but by that example, every egg supplies the exact same purpose, which isn't the point of functionalism.

[chalk_witch]

So it's more like a packet of herbal tea?

[im_in_despair]

I'm afraid I've lost track of your simile again.

[chalk_witch]

The herbs have different flavours but blend together to make one "functioning" flavour, and the whiskey gives it the soothing quality, while the packet holds them all together, and the string keeps it from sinking.

1/3

[im_in_despair]

That's exactly correct! Just like a teabag, society is a precarious combination of interlocking functions, every one essential to those around it! Thus, a single failure can lead to a chain reaction of chaos and disfunction! The ripples can spread throughout civlization, like the effect of removing a single key part from a well-oiled machine!

2/3

[im_in_despair]

3/3

[im_in_despair]

I'M IN DESPAIR!
Functionalism has left me in despair!

[chalk_witch]

. . . Thank you for the clarification.

[im_in_despair]

You're welcome.