The WRight Way
(Aug. 2013) How much of the trouble in the world is the result of too many people insisting on cramming together as close as possible to others in large groups? Many people can’t stand to be alone for more than a few hours, minutes or seconds.
I enjoy being with my family and friends. I also need study time, down time or other time alone for various scholarly or creative endeavors. I like people – a few at a time, as a rule. I am no better or worse than the next person; I am not a recluse or a hermit. I could care less if anyone other than family members and friends know me by name or sight.
The narcissists of this world were/are on their pedestals shouting for all to adore their very presence. What would they do by themselves on a deserted island? For example, watch old recordings of Fidel Castro, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini or the first, second and third generations of the North Korean dictators as a very few examples.
Socialist control freaks and worse, every one. Then consider slightly more benign personalities like certain “rock stars” performing what some people currently call music. And include self-serving experts proclaiming their profound knowledge that you as a mere mortal would have great difficulty comprehending.
It is not uncommon for some people of these persuasions to fall apart if no one has recently adored or worshipped them. They may turn to drugs or alcohol or get depressed or suicidal to fill in the chasms within their hollow lives.
Changing the view, consider a New Year’s eve celebration in Times Square. Maybe a million other people (give or take) and YOU are there, standing in the cold for most of the day, getting ready to celebrate what would come anyway and what already has the next time zone away.
Why some people become swept away with emotion with the passage of a few seconds of time has always been a mystery for me. What if YOU, an ordinary person, had not happened to be there that evening? Would the million other people miss you? Would they realize you were not there? Would they care? If you answer other than “NO” to the last three questions, you have a problem.
I recall a reporter once asking somebody in a large noisy crowd why he was so deliriously happy.
“Because they just announced that 45,623 people were here in this throng.
The reporter followed up with, “What if there is an even 50,000 people here next year for the event?”
The interviewee replied, “That would be so much more wonderful, I don’t know if I could stand it!”
I would be interested in trying to understand this person’s thoughts. I wonder how you quantitatively know that you are about 9 percent happier one time compared with the previous time when attending any event?
In a numerical continuum from one person (yourself) to a giant group, I always pick the direction back to the former. Did you ever calculate the absolute number of possible relationships between 20 different individuals? A relationship being something as minimal as a brief few seconds of conversation?
The factorial number is in the QUINTILLIONS. You or they would not live so long. So, for example, if you were person number 3,429 at an event and you never had a speaking relationship with or even saw the person with ticket number 38,043 at that same event, would that concern you?
Or what about the person with ticket number 21,654? I trust you are getting the concept.
If one is attempting to any sort of study or doing a project requiring close attention or having an important discussion with another person, the last thing you need is chaos in the form of a significant number of people milling around, partying or whatever. Again, understand I am not attempting to diminish anyone. But how can you academically focus on anything under these conditions?
So being alone rather frequently can be a good thing.
Ron Wright of Cazenovia is a retiree with keen interest in his family, history, politics and his church. He began putting his thoughts on paper a little over a decade ago to share with family and friends. Ron, whose column appears the third edition each month, may be reached at madnews@m3pmedia.com.