For the most part, I consider myself an optimist. I find it funny that a lot of people label me as a pessimist because I advocate for the collapse of civilization. When I say “civilization will collapse no matter what we do,” rather than see that as an opportunity for something new, they file it away under “doom and gloom.” I think these people have it all backwards.
That you so much everyone for your words of solidarity in my current state of depression. The best feeling in this state of depression doesn’t come from bullshit advice, but solidarity in feeling the pain of those around me. Thanks for that. It feels good to not feel this pain alone. So, thank you thank you thank you! And thank you to Jason, David and Christine for throwing some much needed cash into my tip jar.
Depression ain’t just for the economy. It sucks. I haven’t felt this depressed since age 20. At least, I haven’t felt noticeably this depressed since age 20. Age 21-24 I self-medicated using alcohol and cigarettes so I can’t clearly say what I felt during that time. But now, I don’t medicate at all, legal, illegal, prescribed or otherwise. I drink coffee for the occasional boost, like right now, in order to write this.
You’re right. I’ve gotten really sick of writing, and this is just a ploy to pass the time until my writers block passes (probably four weeks from now when my job ends!). Write an essay under 500 words in length on your topic Vs. Rewilding. It can be sincere, ironic or absurd, just make it good!I will select my favorite three who will win an award or prize of some kind… Perhaps a lifetime membership to the Urban Scout Cool Kids Club. I’ll make little badges or certificates you can frame or something. You have one week! Please send them to urbanscout (at) gmail (dot) com with the subject “rewild challenge.” You have until Sunday May 4th.
Humans have a long history of teaching social taboos through jokes irony, sarcasm, and mockery showing us what we do not find as acceptable behavior. Such comic geniuses as Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David know this too well, their narcissistic characters always breaking social taboos and looking like assholes. In Farley Mowats “People of the Deer” I recall a moment where he drew a picture of a deer smoking a pipe, to which the intuits laughed hysterically! I think this kind of ridiculousness encapsulates the humor in irony and mockery. It has a kind of innocence to it; it looks silly for a deer to do human things, just as it looks silly for a human to mimic deer things. We laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, whether we see a deer smoking a pipe or Larry David not bringing a gift to Ben Stiller’s birthday party.
Good ‘ay mate, if you live in Australia check out the new issue of Chain Reaction, the national Friends of the Earth Australia magazine. I adapted my Agriculture Vs. Rewilding chapter for an article in it called “Rewilding Food Systems.” If you can’t find a copy of the magazine you can read it online here.
I notice a lot of people from Austin, Texas check out my site, and I have a few myspace friends in Austin. I thought, perhaps, that some austinites would feel compelled to throw a weekend rewild camp? mikerock just formed an e-mail list in yahoo groups for those-rewilding-austin, so if you live there and want to connect with some like-minded folks, peep this list. If you want my help to organize a rewild camp in your area, first read my How To Run A Rewild Camp article and than tell me what you need.
No one knows what the future will bring, but this we know: Civilizations destroy the land. Our civilization won’t last much longer. A movement known as rewilding has started against civilization. This movement has a frontier and we live in it.
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