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October 3, 2003
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Four things I just don't
understand. I've Googled in search of answers, I've spent hours in
books and bookstores and reading between the lines in movies, and
talking to people who are supposed to know, and still I don't
understand. Can anyone please tell me:
- The cause of human cruelty:
What is it that causes people to take pleasure in, or even to be
knowingly indifferent to, the suffering of other people and of animals?
I've seen small children kick dogs. I've seen bosses take delight in
watching their staff squirm. I've seen women enthralled at stories of
other women victimized and abused. I don't understand.
- The cause of intellectual poverty:
When there are so many excellent, highly entertaining documentaries and
remarkably informative non-fiction books written, why are the
best-sellers in both media always shallow, throw-away stuff that does
nothing for the brain whatever? The people I know, from all walks of
life with all levels of education, are intellectually curious and love
to learn, so who are these people that watch and read nothing but crap?
- The reason for the popular length of art and entertainment:
Why don't collections of short stories and short films sell as well as
novels and 'feature-length' films? And if the best concertos and
symphonies are an hour long, why is most popular music no more than
five minutes long? And why are television comedies almost always twenty
minutes (sans commercials) and
television dramas almost always forty minutes, when the history of film
and theatre suggests the ideal length is at least twice that?
- What makes people crave power:
I've spent time with lots of politicians and business leaders, some of
whom I like, most of whom I don't, but they all have this thirst for
authority, the ability to control, to influence, to wield power. I can
kind of understand the desire to be rich, but I just don't get the
desire to be powerful. It comes with so much responsibility, it makes
me uncomfortable. When I've had it, my instinct is to share it. But
most of those I know who have it are insatiable in their desire for
more. It's unhealthy, and it corrupts, and it seems to be addictive.
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6:06:15 AM 
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© Copyright 2003 Dave Pollard.
Last update: 02/11/2003; 10:50:10 AM.
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