STICK WITH ME PAST THE BRIEF TECHNICAL STUFF! I'm writing "Part 1" because this is a big post I'll have to split up. When I say, "Society," I'm talking human beings. If I typed, "The World," that would include animals, trees, etc. How I see "rocks and plants" isn't my intention with this post so I'll continue.
I'll be boring (probably even more than usual) for a few paragraphs in explaining the Xs and Os of what society is to me from an anthropological and sociological perspective. If you haven't already closed this page, read on. From an anthropological view, humans are motivated by gut instincts such as procreation and the urge to satisfy our needs for food, water, etc. The sociological view of humans is that we form into groups of similar people to satisfy our need for belonging, protection and emotional and spiritual happiness. This is why we form into groups with people of similar religious and political views, as well as groups over things like our favorite sports teams, favorite TV shows, etc. Though humans often like arguing their positions, no one wants to argue all the time. We seek peace and calm, often with family members (the smallest group there is.)
HANG IN THERE! So humans are motivated by gut, physical needs and the physical, emotional and spiritual needs that come from group interaction and participation. STA?Y WITH ME! I've posted his information to give you, the reader, the sense that I know what I'm talking about when it comes to what society is. My perspective isn't distorted and my post isn't a "Society sucks man!" kind of thing that comes from not having a clue what society is.
OKAY. My perspective: I was born in Louisville, KY, in 1973. My family and I considered ourselves at least somewhat "Southern" though I had no idea what that really meant at the time. In 1983, we moved to Wisconsin. I was attacked for being "Southern" by Northern people who are as bigoted and hateful about such things as Southern people are supposed to be (and often are.) For the first time in my life, I learned what it was to be an absolute outcast. Only a few peers in my world came close to defending me. That said, I was far from perfect myself. Some peers wanted to be friends with me but I didn't really click with them. I wasn't completely alone but I went from a great communal feel in KY to being in Siberia in Wisconsin. I'm not saying KY is better than WI, just that I was in a family and community atmosphere from where I was born. That didn't exist where I moved to. So now I'm hated and insulted and rejected and physically assaulted just a few short months after I had friends and extended family and emotional happiness in another place. I leaned some devastating lessons in life's jungle at 10 years of age. I learned what crushing sadness is; I learned what terror is; I learned what loneliness is; I learned how sick group mentalities and bigoted humanity can be; I learned powerlessness and hopelessness; I learned deep humiliation and self-loathing; I learned to hate myself and everything that I was. I learned how evil the world can be because, when you're 10 years old, the world is everything that you experience. I've had to fight and struggle to survive from a very young age in this thing called "society." That is my perspective.
Part 2 will come soon. THANKS FOR READING.
Keeping in mind that we're all animals when it comes to our motivations,
