h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Insightfully Meaningless Writings of Random Specificity #8

Ah, here I sit yet again watching my cursor blink-blink-blink at me in its profoundly holier-than-thou manner. But we have worked an arrangement where I won't look at it and it won't blink . . .though I fear it is not living up to its part of the bargain.
What strikes me today is the topic of blame. Something that everyone is ready to put on someone else but rarely willing to assume themselves. Like some rancid fruitcake passed around amongst family at Christmas. Blame is something attributed when something goes wrong sometime or somewhere. Things can't just happen . . .oh no. . . .they happen because of someone or something; that someone or something mostly being of the someone else or something else variety. Whether it be God, your boss, your parents or the Internet, blame is ultimately ensconced upon others. It is a natural phenomenon and one that happens out of habit. Perhaps it's the guilt complex, a need to purge oneself of all misdoing by "passing the buck" so to speak. Perhaps it's a reflex built into us from childbirth. A reflex we have where we are afraid of ensuing punishment from trivial misbehavior. It's perhaps bred into us. Though I doubt it.
Everyone is willing to place blame. For instance the latest victim of the blame game is the Internet. Parents in uproar, senile politicians huffing and puffing on Capital Hill, religious groups and holy rollers spout unethical behaviors resulting from its inception. Seems childish really. Blame being passed back and forth in a non-war. Lets take a look. Parents and all the others mentioned earlier are in an uproar about the ease in which their children can access "pornographic" sites (and I include quotation marks because as far as a definition for pornographic goes no-one knows clearly what it is, because to everyone it means something else), gambling sites and sites they deemed as immature or offensive. Parents lobby politicians and boycott telecommunications companies as a result. Blame-blame-blame. Parents blame the Internet for fostering subversive ideals in the minds of young children. The ease in which these children can access sites of these nature is undisputed . . .I grant that much as a concession. But the fact that children, once found accessing these sites aren't properly educated as to their place in society leaves one to wonder as to the parenting skills of the parents. Is childhood about discovery or isn't it? If a child stumbles onto a weird colored bug or strange animal, doesn't the parent tell the child the name and type of the said specimen? Well, shouldn't the parents also educate these children as to why the pornographic images on the screen are what they are or the literature found about the recent hate group initiatives and why they are wrong? You see, I don't blame the Internet for a parent's lack of parenting. You see the excuse that these sites are accessible to children isn't a viable one. All computers and servers have parental controls now . . .they all give the parents the ability to restrict the access. This sounds not like an Internet problem, but a parental one. Sure I agree that some things on the Internet aren't the best for all viewers. Some things seem so outrageous and down right unjustifiable. Yes, I agree the appearances of hate groups and new porn servers are a certainty, but these sites can be blocked. Where does the blame lay there? Perhaps with the parents huh? Perhaps rather than spending their time lobbying Washington or Parliament or going out of their way to NOT use things made by AOL or MSN . . .perhaps that time could be better spent telling their children why these things are wrong or immoral. Now then we do enjoy freedom of speech here and these ideas and sites area fact of life . . .education is the key to showing the children the way of right versus wrong.
But the remarkable thing about this blame placing is that has been going on for years before the very birth of the Internet. Yes, that is right, years before, music was blamed for festering satanic ideals or the violence amongst minorities who just don't have the same chance at life like those placing the blame. Television is blamed for adolescents for throwing themselves at vehicles or off roofs just like their heroes. Adult movies are blamed for the defiling of women and the sex crimes that occur. Blame is placed by those, most often, who are in a position to judge lest they be judged themselves. Rather than looking at the problems that these people suffer from, the lack of knowledge that they possess, the way in which people time and time again have turned their backs on them they subject them to an omniscient blame. Now I am sure that there are down right evil people out there in the world. People whose very actions send waves of fear and horrific sentiments of pain in the public. These people exist, the Manson Family, the Hitlers of the nations, the Dommers. These people exist, and they are sensationalized. Thus all injustices are placed upon the media are linked to the media because that is what media does . . .sensationalize. We need to educate and blame not one thing alien to the situation. Do ICE T's lyrics make minorities kill policemen . . .do Beatles lyrics make men kill people by the dozens . . .do images of naked women make men commit sex crimes? Perhaps in some. . .but not in all. Education, learning by both the commit-er and the commit-ee is key to making these types of things lessening . . .they'll never stop . . .but the number of incidents would lessen considerably. And the blame will be properly placed and measures can be taken to assure that the occurrences of such atrocities won't happen again.
How come blame isn't something we can't assume ourselves? Doesn't it make us more honorable and give us more integrity? Does it make us someone that people can trust? Shouldn't we scoop up what is left of our faces by standing tall? I would like to think so.


Well, my fellow researchers that is all I have to say about this topic. I open the floor for discussion and will entertain all opinions thusly and without condescension or sarcasm. So until then Godspeed and I look forward to hearing from you.

As Humans we are haunted by the Demon Fear. Fear Drives us to try to control our reality. The way most of us do this is to know why and how things occur. So naturally when something occurs such as a plane falling out of the sky, a hot cup of coffee falls on our lap or a mad man kills 168 people,we know how and ask Why. Why have these things happened and when we can find no logical answer we become frightened. The best way to chase away that Demon is to find something anything to blame this unsettleing event on. With blame there is a reason and with a reason we can once more indulge in the illusion of control. For what it's worth thats my two cents on the subject.

Interesting. So in that way we blame something (or someone) so that we can move on without actually changing something but we think we are still in control of the situation. hmmmm

It could be what I first said was a complete load of donkey crap. It is possible I was only making excuses for the real reason behind blame. That most people do not have the moral fortitude to except responsabilty for their own actions. {Blame it on the human condition.}

Ah but to blame it on the whole human condition is so vege. I like to blame it on specific things like fluffinuter (how ever you may spell it)

or we can just blame the conditioner. . .for limp shineless hair. . .

no flufanuter that marshmallow stuff you can put on PB&J sandwiches

or even nyquil. . .the sniffling sneezing aching caughing jumping running eating talking . . .ing. . .. ing. . .ing. . . .ing how the heck did I end up on the floor medicine

I can't help but think that the best soloution is to blame it all on the tabacco companie's and sue them for a few billion.

you have just illustrated one of my points on misplaced blame beautifully. . .thank you.

Seriously it is a sad commentary on humans {not all thankfully} in general. brrrrr enough of that serious stuff, Did you here the one...........

Well, this is serious stuff. Addressing the problem is just a step towards realizing the true meaning behind these actions. . .mothers in houston that kill their five children aren't obsolved from the guilt becasue their medication is to "blame". .. which by the way is a stupid way to shift the blame. . .

I saw a news clipp today where this women's husband was being interviewed. He said that he didn't blame her because she had been going through deppression. What the hell is that! Becuase your down you take the lives of 5 inocent's? If she was so depressed why didn't she get to the root of the problem and blow her brains out. your right this is a serious subject and i should not have deligated it to light hearted folly with flippant remarks. It is time that this countries legal system stop looking for reasons and things to blame these on. By faceing the facts that people like this women let there emotions control their actions. Thier actions being grissly murder.
they may lack self control but they sure dont lack self preservation.

Again, beautifully illustrated. Depression is hardly a justification for the taking of lives. . .and to blame it post birth depression is even more assinine. . .the youngest child being 6 months. Doesn't make sense.

It is enough to make you sick isn't it. Now for the next 50 years we will house, cloth, feed, give medical attention not to mention mental care to this monster who killed 5 children because see was having a bad day. But we will physo-anylize here for a decade to find it was not her fault her underware was to tight.

This is one of those situations were we must decide if this person should just be gotten rid of. I know a couple of guys who know a couple of guys that can get the job done if the courts decide not to take action.

now that I am done joking around because this is a very serious topic who cares why she says she did it she murdered her kids this is not someone breaking into her house to harm her or her family this is out and out murder I do not want to see this woman sit in jail but I am a firm beliver in the death sentence and I know many other people are not so I will leave it up to the jury of her peers to decide

I realize that the moderation team may have some affect on things, but should you wish to tell me what you really think email me at [email protected]

Hi, just a quick note to tell you that the postings were referred because you were discussing an ongoing court case, sometimes we have to remove postings about court cases, because they could predudice the case. In this instance though, your comments are fine.

Peta

In court cases and circmstances that offend our sensablilities, we often look for the quickest and easiest "reason" for the actions committed. More often than not that can lead to a misjustice.

Being a father of three children a case like this brings out a wide spectrum of feelings. First it brings out pure outrage that any adult who has had a chance to live would denie that basic right to a inocent soul. Secondly I am at a utter loss to understand how someone could methodicly murder any children let alone ones that they brought into this world. Personally I find it painful to even think about this subject as it shows the depth of evil that humans as a specie's can and do sink to.