Here’s an insight into the mad, mad world of Mark. He was on Facebook where someone had said that the direction of evolution is forward. ‘I mean, what the hell?’ he said.
I looked at him, puzzled. ‘Mark, that’s a perfectly normal idea!’ I said. ‘Most people think we are more advanced than the apes. And so do I.’
‘But we can’t climb trees!’ he objected.
‘No. I’m not saying some things aren’t lost in the process. But most people would think that the general tendency of evolution is forward – or upward, or onward – or whatever.’
‘Really?’ he said. ‘But what about creodonts?’
Some days I don’t know what planet that man is on. And no, I don’t know what a creodont is either – and I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of asking.
OK. I will acknowledge that the idea of evolution being ‘ever upwards and onwards’ might be rather simplistic, and that some good species and good ‘ideas’ might have been lost along the way: I also see that the idea of progress can be handily linked to a belief in unfettered capitalism – though I suggest that link is more tenuous.* But why should it seem strange to Mark that most people think this way?
That man is weird.
And speaking of weird, here’s a really good Horizon programme looking into climate change and its effects world-wide: it’s called ‘Global Weirding.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01f893x/Horizon_20112012_Global_Weirding/
Bong! In other news, I’ve started a group on Facebook for post- and peri-menopausal women to share their experiences. Long-time readers of this blog may remember I went a little strange when it hit me – but my experience would have been a whole lot easier if I’d known how common it was to suffer memory loss and psychosis. Hence the group: it’s called Crazy Crones. If you want to join, just send me a friend request on Facebook.
And finally – are we Becoming a More Cruel Society?
I am getting some thoughts together on this theme for the next Drink and Think. If you have any ideas please comment below. Are we becoming a more cruel society? What do you think?
Oops. The post’s just come and with it probably the letter from the bank I was dreading.
Nope. We live to fight another day…
Kirk out
* or ‘missing’, LOL
Sarada Gray 