On Self-Observed Boyishness: Tonka Trucks & Destruction vs. Death
Sadly, I must confess that I spent at least 15 minutes today right after lunch watching a big, yellow, Caterpillar roll over a mount of crushed and broken brick, stone, and wood and rip and bash to shreds and bits yet another house on 3200 block of N. Charles & St. Paul. Mournfully, I must confess that I enjoyed watching this destruction. Devastatedly, I must confess that I even vocally cheered a few times.
Such a boy!
What is it about men, though, that causes us to like destruction so? I seriously find it fascinating and exciting to watch a building blown up, plowed over, smashed, or otherwise acted upon by other potent forces that seek to increase the entropy of the universe in the immediate vicinity of the said building. I can't help myself. I found myself envying the driver of this giant Tonka Truck. He was clearly having fun. He had no method; he just smashed and broke stuff. What a job -- a stress-free job! Is he mad at his boss? If so, he can swing the long neck of his vehicle through and entire story of wall and watch the glass and brick crumble. He would even pick up random big, metal objects from the ground with the dinosaur-like machine and use them to hit the building. He seemed to favor a particular black, metal, 3-story-long beam from the remains of one of the buildings.
What excitement on my corner since the construction has begun -- buildings getting wrecked by giant hydrolic-powered vehicles and girls getting hit by vans!
I jest. I do not enjoy seeing people harmed. This is where I seem to differ from other males. Many guys like to see action movies where crowds of innocent bystanders are killed without a second thought in the midst of the action, and I have seen more than a few even laugh when bad guys -- or even good guys -- are killed. I don't understand that. But then, I don't understand why I like to see inanimate objects destroyed either. Is there a relationship between these two male-typical entertainments? Why did I spend so many minutes watching the demolition guys at work?
Does anyone have any answers?
Edit: Here's a photo of said destruction:
Such a boy!
What is it about men, though, that causes us to like destruction so? I seriously find it fascinating and exciting to watch a building blown up, plowed over, smashed, or otherwise acted upon by other potent forces that seek to increase the entropy of the universe in the immediate vicinity of the said building. I can't help myself. I found myself envying the driver of this giant Tonka Truck. He was clearly having fun. He had no method; he just smashed and broke stuff. What a job -- a stress-free job! Is he mad at his boss? If so, he can swing the long neck of his vehicle through and entire story of wall and watch the glass and brick crumble. He would even pick up random big, metal objects from the ground with the dinosaur-like machine and use them to hit the building. He seemed to favor a particular black, metal, 3-story-long beam from the remains of one of the buildings.
What excitement on my corner since the construction has begun -- buildings getting wrecked by giant hydrolic-powered vehicles and girls getting hit by vans!
I jest. I do not enjoy seeing people harmed. This is where I seem to differ from other males. Many guys like to see action movies where crowds of innocent bystanders are killed without a second thought in the midst of the action, and I have seen more than a few even laugh when bad guys -- or even good guys -- are killed. I don't understand that. But then, I don't understand why I like to see inanimate objects destroyed either. Is there a relationship between these two male-typical entertainments? Why did I spend so many minutes watching the demolition guys at work?
Does anyone have any answers?
Edit: Here's a photo of said destruction: