I Don't Care That You Don't Care
How many times have you heard the phrase "life isn't fair"? Is life fair? When someone is sad, about something, don't we comfort them by saying "there is someone for everyone" or "your time will come" or something implying that even though they are experiencing bad times, good times will surely follow as a result? So which is it? Let's look at the two possibilities.
If life was fair:
People often associate "fair" as a positive adjective, when in actuality, it is completely impartial to good or bad. Fair is exactly just, and balanced. Take our imaginary friend Quap for instance. Quap has recently started dating a great girl. They are both crazy for each other. She makes Quap very happy. But wait a minute, this world is fair, and good ALWAYS comes with bad. Quap is not allowed to be any happier than the next guy. Shortly after he begins dating this girl, Quap's country goes to war with it's neighbor. Quap's country is jealous of their neighbor's shoes, so they invade them. That's what they get for having nicer shoes. Consequently, Quap is drafted into the army. Quap is given a gun, some fatigues, a few assorted pieces of equipment, and a strong appreciation for life. Everyone else is given exactly the same, to be fair. Quap is torn away from his love, and sent far away. In war, Quap is terrified. He is captured after a firefight in which all of his comrades die. Quap survived because he was too scared to fight. The captors don't think it's fair that Quap live where his countrymen died. They brutally torture Quap. Quap remains a POW for fifteen months. Everyday he is humiliated by having to work completely naked in a quarry. The only thing that keeps him alive is the thought of his lovely bride-to-be waiting for him when he is finally rescued. After fifteen months of pain, the war ends and Quap is released through a prisoner exchange. Quap returns home after nearly two years. The government awards his valor and suffering with a medal of honor. It's only fair after what he went through. Quap is given an excellent job at a local computer parts manufacturer. He is finally married to the wonderful woman who filled his thoughts the past few years. They have two children. One of them is born autistic because the other one is born a genius. Quap lives out his life on an emotional roller coaster that is completely fair. His wife cheats on him, they're divorced. His best friend overcomes cancer. He loses his house. He wins a cruise to Europe. Forever. Is a fair life really a better life? Not necessarily.
If life was unfair:
In an unfair universe, nobody gives a damn if you scream or not. In an unfair universe, everyone is so occupied with unfairness of their own lives, rarely do they comfort others. In an unfair universe, everyone is their own hero. In an unfair universe, the grass is always greener on the other side. Quag was born into a middle class family. When he was three, his parents were both killed in a car crash. They were hit by a drunk driver. Quag lived with his grandmother until he was eleven, then she died. He lived a secluded life during this period of his life, but suddenly he was thrust into various foster homes one after the other. He endured abuse and molestation among other things. He became a heroin addict when he as seventeen. He left his final foster home when he turned eighteen. Quag had only received sub-par education and had only barely finished high school. He found work in manual labor and fast food. He could never hold a job more than three months. Quag lives in a house with several of his friends including his drug dealer. They are becoming increasingly irritated with him however. Quag owes them all lots of money. Quag is a prick too. Prostitutes are the only women he knows. One day, Quag loses his job, only this time, he's unable to find another. The heroin addiction is slowly degrading him and his ability to function in society. Soon after, his roommates kick him out for not paying the rent and bumming all their drugs. Now Quag is homeless. He finds a nice area to sleep under an overpass. Quag spends about two months on the street begging for money so he can eat. He is having withdrawals now. He hurts all the time, he is exhausted, and his mind can't deal with the agony. Finally though, he is picked up by the police in his little area under the overpass. He is put into a homeless shelter. The shelter helps him find a job. He uses the money to see a doctor. The doctor tells him he has AIDS, probably from years of unsanitary heroin injections. Quag becomes depressed again and begins using the money from his job to buy drugs. One day, Quag decides to try acid. Quag has a bad trip. Quag sees demons crawling out of his skin and gnawing at his eyes and ears. To remedy this, Quag cuts his ears off. He gouges his eyes out. He begins slicing and peeling his skin off. When a dragon emerges from the wall, Quag runs. He runs out the sliding glass door, over the balcony railing and into the asphalt below. Two blocks away, Quag's long lost twin brother Quat, hears the commotion of sirens. Quat is the wealthy CEO of his own restaurant chain. Quag has worked as one of his restaurants. Quat makes seven figures a year. Quat is happily married with two children and a gorgeous mansion. Quat is forty-two and is probably going to retire next year. Quat is a distinguished member of the local yacht club and owns twelves cars and two motorcycles. Everyone loves Quat, but only because he is rich and powerful. Quat is a prick too. Quat will leave his life of opulence behind when he is eighty-three. He'll die in his sleep on a vacation to the south pacific. What did the two brothers do to deserve such different lives? Nothing. Life isn't fair. Somebody has to lose in an unfair life. I could be that loser. Or you. Or your best friend. Or your children. Or maybe we'll all be winners. But one thing is assured: Nobody will care.
If life was fair:
People often associate "fair" as a positive adjective, when in actuality, it is completely impartial to good or bad. Fair is exactly just, and balanced. Take our imaginary friend Quap for instance. Quap has recently started dating a great girl. They are both crazy for each other. She makes Quap very happy. But wait a minute, this world is fair, and good ALWAYS comes with bad. Quap is not allowed to be any happier than the next guy. Shortly after he begins dating this girl, Quap's country goes to war with it's neighbor. Quap's country is jealous of their neighbor's shoes, so they invade them. That's what they get for having nicer shoes. Consequently, Quap is drafted into the army. Quap is given a gun, some fatigues, a few assorted pieces of equipment, and a strong appreciation for life. Everyone else is given exactly the same, to be fair. Quap is torn away from his love, and sent far away. In war, Quap is terrified. He is captured after a firefight in which all of his comrades die. Quap survived because he was too scared to fight. The captors don't think it's fair that Quap live where his countrymen died. They brutally torture Quap. Quap remains a POW for fifteen months. Everyday he is humiliated by having to work completely naked in a quarry. The only thing that keeps him alive is the thought of his lovely bride-to-be waiting for him when he is finally rescued. After fifteen months of pain, the war ends and Quap is released through a prisoner exchange. Quap returns home after nearly two years. The government awards his valor and suffering with a medal of honor. It's only fair after what he went through. Quap is given an excellent job at a local computer parts manufacturer. He is finally married to the wonderful woman who filled his thoughts the past few years. They have two children. One of them is born autistic because the other one is born a genius. Quap lives out his life on an emotional roller coaster that is completely fair. His wife cheats on him, they're divorced. His best friend overcomes cancer. He loses his house. He wins a cruise to Europe. Forever. Is a fair life really a better life? Not necessarily.
If life was unfair:
In an unfair universe, nobody gives a damn if you scream or not. In an unfair universe, everyone is so occupied with unfairness of their own lives, rarely do they comfort others. In an unfair universe, everyone is their own hero. In an unfair universe, the grass is always greener on the other side. Quag was born into a middle class family. When he was three, his parents were both killed in a car crash. They were hit by a drunk driver. Quag lived with his grandmother until he was eleven, then she died. He lived a secluded life during this period of his life, but suddenly he was thrust into various foster homes one after the other. He endured abuse and molestation among other things. He became a heroin addict when he as seventeen. He left his final foster home when he turned eighteen. Quag had only received sub-par education and had only barely finished high school. He found work in manual labor and fast food. He could never hold a job more than three months. Quag lives in a house with several of his friends including his drug dealer. They are becoming increasingly irritated with him however. Quag owes them all lots of money. Quag is a prick too. Prostitutes are the only women he knows. One day, Quag loses his job, only this time, he's unable to find another. The heroin addiction is slowly degrading him and his ability to function in society. Soon after, his roommates kick him out for not paying the rent and bumming all their drugs. Now Quag is homeless. He finds a nice area to sleep under an overpass. Quag spends about two months on the street begging for money so he can eat. He is having withdrawals now. He hurts all the time, he is exhausted, and his mind can't deal with the agony. Finally though, he is picked up by the police in his little area under the overpass. He is put into a homeless shelter. The shelter helps him find a job. He uses the money to see a doctor. The doctor tells him he has AIDS, probably from years of unsanitary heroin injections. Quag becomes depressed again and begins using the money from his job to buy drugs. One day, Quag decides to try acid. Quag has a bad trip. Quag sees demons crawling out of his skin and gnawing at his eyes and ears. To remedy this, Quag cuts his ears off. He gouges his eyes out. He begins slicing and peeling his skin off. When a dragon emerges from the wall, Quag runs. He runs out the sliding glass door, over the balcony railing and into the asphalt below. Two blocks away, Quag's long lost twin brother Quat, hears the commotion of sirens. Quat is the wealthy CEO of his own restaurant chain. Quag has worked as one of his restaurants. Quat makes seven figures a year. Quat is happily married with two children and a gorgeous mansion. Quat is forty-two and is probably going to retire next year. Quat is a distinguished member of the local yacht club and owns twelves cars and two motorcycles. Everyone loves Quat, but only because he is rich and powerful. Quat is a prick too. Quat will leave his life of opulence behind when he is eighty-three. He'll die in his sleep on a vacation to the south pacific. What did the two brothers do to deserve such different lives? Nothing. Life isn't fair. Somebody has to lose in an unfair life. I could be that loser. Or you. Or your best friend. Or your children. Or maybe we'll all be winners. But one thing is assured: Nobody will care.