Upsetting conversation

[omnifarious]

I became really angry over some things ladyt37 said today. She criticized my friends in a way that was sort of fair, but also not, and rather exceedingly rude in my opinion. I have my theories about what's going on here, but those aren't for public consumption. Aside from that, I would like to talk about what she said.

Her specific criticism was that

Comments

Re: Class structure

[anonymous]

Well, that was an odd response.

Please note, while you were wrong in your statement, I was not implying a lack of tribal structure in mine, simply that tribal cultures have less structure then civilized culture, and that the structures in tribal cultures are not, generally a class system.

Class structure tends to limit population movement from one class to another. Power is not generally shared by all populations in a class system, certainly not equally. Class systems tend to be hereditary. If you are born to parents of a particular class, chances are you will be of that class yourself as will your children. I could go on, but I think my point is made.

None of these things are true of the structures in most tribal cultures. Yes, there are groups that gather, fight, plant and hunt etc. but these groups, and the roles and/or jobs they do are, by and large available to anyone within the tribe that has an affinity to their activities.

Generally, what ones child is in a tribal structure is not based on what there parents are. Are there exceptions? Yes of course. Is there a continuum for these cultural norms? Yes of course. I believe I did say that tribal cultures were generally more egalitarian. I did not say they were absolutely egalitarian.

No offense, but to equate simple cultural structure as class structure seems kind of uninformed, not all structure is class structure. I guess if I were making your argument, I’d research the topic a bit more first.

As to my colorful fancy language, I apologize if I’m speaking in a way that makes you uncomfortable. I write and speak pretty much like I think. If that’s unpleasant or intimidating for you I apologize, it wasn’t intended as either. And as to the thousands of years ago thing, well, those that don't know the past are very likely to repeat it. The fact is that right now, in many parts of the world including ours, other cultures do exist and we have the option of adopting those things about them that are useful and make sense.

-Artos