Uh huh
Bawd turned up at the library one day and went on a little journey of exploration and eventually came across Bic looking comfortable in a reading room. He tapped on the glass door and Bic looked up and recognized him and with a happy look of surprize, wave him to enter.
Hello Bawd, how are you, Bic said.
Good, Bawd replied.
Take a seat Bawd, welcome to what has been saved of human records and scribblings, the public library, Bic said.
You have a nice place here Bic, said Bawd.
Oh, it is not only mine, it is your place as well, it is public. I am glad to see you taking advantage of one of your assets Bawd, Bic had come to life.
Bawd sat there with a smile looking around and said, I didn’t know I was so rich.
This place is a gold mine; however, you can only leave with the gold you can carry in your head, said Bic.
Bawd said how long have you worked here?
I don’t work here, I am customer, I come here to read in comfort and remind myself of my absolute ignorance. In fact, if I could some how instantly recall everything I have read in here, I imagine I could have an even clearer idea of how ignorant I am.
Bawd realized Bic was pointing out, the more you know, the more you know you don’t know and thought this was a funny way of looking at things. He said do rich people come here?
Well Bawd, I am sure some do, but I would imagine they are too busy counting their wealth to worry about being ignorant.
Bawd had always assumed ignorance is the only thing the poor owned.
Now Bic is claiming it is as common as clouds in the sky. He said, I am going to be my cautious self and not read anything while I am here, in case they scan me on the way out and accuse me of stealing information.
Bic started laughing, he thought Bawd is not the straight and serious person he presents himself as.
Bic, I haven’t read too many books, however, I read the one called animal farm. I have lived my whole life in the city and have no idea about farms and animals, but I thought why did the pigs get such a bad rap, like, why are they so bad?
Bawd, I can’t really answer that question with an honest answer. I am like you, a city kid, no rural exposure. I can give my opinion about how humans denigrate pigs to have no enduring human traits and promote other animals to possess all that is wonderful about humans.
Down through history pigs have been domesticated as a source of meat. They aren’t used as a milk supply or as beasts to bear burdens, so they are losers. What do people do to losers, they kick them further down the pecking order, because they are an easy target.
It is an interesting thing that you raise about pigs. They are still lowly regarded as a source meat and all this is done on a factory scale now, no more farms. Now, they have become a vital source for replacement parts in human hearts, I wonder if they will be elevated to a more respected level in cultural depictions of them, said Bic.
Bawd said, “culture crimes”, I thought so, if you are not believed to be important, then, down with you, you are bad, no good, in the devils’ playground, you dwell.
It is interesting how much of a culture is simply fiction and that fiction is constantly changed and adapted to what ever suits the powers to be at the time, said Bic.
I see your point Bic, I can’t see through that wall, but I know I can see through almost everything in the media industry I work in. Fortunately, it doesn’t bother me that much, because I find it entertaining for different reasons to those of the intended audience.
Now that I am aware of my part ownership of this wonderful library, I believe I might come and visit again.
I am here most of the time, do drop in, replied Bic.
Dagge said to Gut, this idea came into my head yesterday, I do not know where it came from, but it is there. The old religions went to enormous lengths to create imagined worlds for the followers to believe in. The big churches with all the pictures painted all over the interior walls for those who could not read. These imagined worlds didn’t stop at death they went on and on for eternity.
This leads me to have another thought. Your idea about the giant cruise ships is really good and I can see a future for humans by adopting it. The problem with it for me is, the current controllers of capital may not be prepared to go along with it because of the start up costs. How will they directly make a profit from it?
So Gut, I thought if your cruise ship idea was adapted by simply building huge industrial sheds and filling them with comfortable chairs, then, have all participants wear comfortable virtual reality hoods, they could be where ever they wish to be, till they resign from participation as a living member of the species.
What do you think Gut, asked Dagge?
I can see your point about the finance and profit returns. My only doubt at this point is their effluence and how could it be recycled to sustain them, said Gut with a serious look.
Have you been reading much about virtual reality lately Dagge, said Gut.
No, but I do have concerns about it, Dagge said.
Gut felt Dagge was acting a little strange and said, what’s the matter Dagge.
Well, since I have been hanging out with you fellas, I have begun to think that we are characters in some story. Far too many strange things are happening and unusual thoughts keep coming to mind. I feel I am somewhat of a nutter compared to everyone else and I don’t think that is fair. Now, that doesn’t mean I wish anyone else to become a nutter in order to make me feel good.
Gut was thinking to himself, this poor fellow is a bit mixed up.
Dagge went on, I come from the very rational world of the Business School. Everything is logical with definite structures to make it all work perfectly within a theoretical frame work. I bring my business management model to your world and before I know it, I am a dysfunctional misfit and you fellas are taking pity on me trying to help me cope with the mind mince that use to be my brain.
Oh no, said Gut, that does not sound good. Well, it is good for us, but not for you.
I don’t listen to fiction audio books, so I have no experience with what their authors write, said Gut.
I am glad that you believe my character is a well-adjusted one, said Gut.
Gut said, the funny thing for me is this Dagge, I do not think this is a strange conversation. Two characters discussing who and what they are in a fictional life, in fact, it sounds normal to me.
Being a musician, it is not a big step to believe you are living in a big fantasy and everything is being determined by some external power. Musicians in the pop bands would relate to what you are saying. In fact, I would guess that everyone in the arts would believe it to be the case. Bic told me he believes that members of religions believe their God is the one determining their lives, like the author you refer to.
Gut appeared to freeze for a short time and then said, we humans are so minuscule relative to the size of the universe. Did you know that the light from some of the stars in the night sky, have taken longer to reach us, than, we humans have existed on this planet. It is highly improbable there is some God determining it all and if there is an author who has it in for you, well, lets hope it is a Hollywood author, because everything turns out good in the end of a Hollywood script.
Dagge started chuckling, and said, Gut, I had a thought, maybe, if there is an author, he or she doesn’t like the Business School and I am going to turn out to be the hero that saves the world, through alerting mankind to the destructive nature of business practices.
Gut and Dagge started laughing at their own joke and they walked off very pleased with themselves.
For someone who did not know, which way was which, Sav is a fairly relaxed person. One of the sound engineers they often work with, Tingles Chimes, holds a high opinion of Sav. She says Sav is always straightening out the cables and keeping everything neat and tidy, except for some drummers, this is unusual behaviour.
He told Tingles that Bawd, Yit, Gut, Watt and himself are going to do some original recordings when opportunities come up. Tingles said as quick as a flash, count me in. She said, I would like to engineer for you. What is the deal, Sav?
We have been approached by this sort of interesting character called Dagge Dorsell to put a band together, he really hasn’t got much of a clue, but we all like him and he has energy. Dagge has a friend who we are very interested in and his name is Bic Minderbinder.
Watt and Bic are a natural writing pair. Bic is a real words man, no meaningless wha wha hoooooos! Yit is really happy with the lyrics and Bic encourages Yit to substitute lyrics when and where he likes.
We have a couple of numbers already, but we don’t want to rush, we would like it to develop for a while before we commit. For a start we are thinking all really straight stuff, nothing over the top.
Dagge wants to call the band, Pyschopolies. Say that again, how do you pronounce that, asked Tingles?
Psy-cop-o-lies. The mind of people, Sav said.
It is only a fun thing, nothing to rip your heart out over. We only want to do it so when all this falls apart, we will have something to show for these years beside pet food jingles. Sav was feeling a bit smug, now he had told Tingles, who they all hoped would be interested in being part of it.
You will like Dagge, Tingles, he is very electric, he has energy. We have no idea how he survives and we told him if he needs some work to get by on, we might be able to help him. So, if you need a gaffer, we would appreciate you giving him a go, Tingles.
Tingles said, well as you know Sav, they come and go on a regular basis.
What about this Bic fella, how does he survive, Sav?
Not sure at all, but he is always at the public library and evidently, he does not work there. The others have been there to say hello and they said to me, that I should go to, as I would enjoy myself.
When Dagge finally got a day’s work at the recording studio, he was keen to make a good impression and not stuff up. Bawd was playing on the sessions and kept a close eye on Dagge, to make sure things went smoothly for him.
After the sessions were finished and everyone had gone except for Tingles and Dagge, Tingles said, how did it go, do you think you would want to do this on a regular basis?
It took Dagge about a minute before he replied and he looked straight into Tingles eyes and said, I believe I am a character in some work of fiction. I do not seem to have much control over decisions or what happens around me. I hope the author does not disgrace me in your company and ensures that I act competently and learn quickly the requirements of the work here in the studio.
Tingles did her best not to burst out laughing, but as she tried to keep her composure, she thinks a little giggle may have slipped out. Well, Dagge, how is the story going so far, she said?
Mainly good, I really like the other characters, I have been unaware that people can live reasonably happy lives and not feel like they are failures because they either are not extremely rich or on their way to being successful celebrities. However, I have felt at times, that the author has abused me by making my character the butt of several jokes. I have not found a way to make my complaint heard though.
Tingles felt she was being drawn into something that is beyond the normal craziness of the entertainment industry and was curious to hear more. She felt very relaxed with Dagge and thought, he is not a threatening person. Where do you believe this story is going Dagge, she asked?
Not only do I not have a clue, but I suspect, neither does the author. When I come to terms with this character and can get on with acting out my part and no longer worry about any injustice I may suffer, then, it might all become a bit clearer.
My friend Bic, believes, that what could be happening is, this is simply how life is for humans and no one really has much of an idea about anything. He thinks we all live in a fictitious world and all we can hope for is that we generally enjoy ourselves.
Since I have felt that I am a character in a story and my character is simply part of a story, I have managed to relieve myself of many doubts about myself. In fact, I am beginning to believe with good suggestions from myself, this story could be extremely interesting and enjoyable, most of the time. Let’s face it, you can’t see much without contrast.
Tingles was now openly smiling and starting thinking, I wonder if I am part of this story.
Sav decided today I am going to the library to visit Bic. Sav wandered around amongst the shelves looking at titles occasionally picking up a book and having a flick through it and eventually found his way to the reading rooms where he spotted Bic.
Hi Bic, nice place, Sav said.
Have a seat Sav, good to see you.
Bawd said to come down here and check out what I partly own as a member of the public, I did not realize how well off I am, joked Sav.
Bic said, when you have food in your belly and somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep and of course, be able to keep clean, then wealth is more about perception than possessions. I am happy to be able to share the library with the rest of the public. I often think of this place as an information mine and I am an information miner, digging away in this treasure trove.
You have a good perspective on things Bic, said Sav.
Why thank you, said Elvis.
You remind me of my music mentor Bill Dazed, he tells me he is at peace with the world now he is a guitar teacher in the suburbs and no longer has to be alert all the time for the next gig, Sav said.
Bic said, I have only gone to work once and it did not turn out so well. I came home feeling ill and my mother said, that’s it, Bic, you are not going back there. I was always comfortable in the library in my student days, so I thought, I will go off to the public library every day from now on. When my parents passed away, they left me a small inheritance and I manage to get by on it. I have had a comfortable life so far and if I can keep it going, I will, said Bic.
Sav said, I really haven’t had a proper job myself. I have played guitar since I was a little fella and I still really enjoy it. My Mum is a long-haul truck driver who often forgets to come home and that is how I learnt the guitar. She dropped me off at Bill’s place for a lesson and I didn’t see her for a couple of years. Bill sort of became my dad and I suppose he still is in some ways. He is not too good at keeping his place clean, but he is a top player.
Sav thought, I have never opened up like this before, ah well, I am in a library, I suppose that is why.
What sort of things do you read about in here Bic, enquired Sav.
Oh, I like history, the more history I read, the more I find society doesn’t really change that much. Sure, technology has huge impacts on our lives, but I mean people and what they get up to.
For example, the Romans had two groups in their society, the Blue and the Green. People were expected to and were loyal to their colour group. A similar thing has happened in many other totally unrelated societies. Today, in the countries that call themselves democracies, citizens mainly fall into two main voting groups, red and blues.
Many of the leaders who become well known and survive through popular history are usually unhinged. The ones who are able to attract a lot of attention for what ever reason, seem to survive best and will probably continue on larger than life, in popular history.
Mind you Sav, the more I read about history, the more I realize that I am only looking through tiny windows and social values could be extremely different to the ones we life by at the present time, therefore, it is probably very easy to end up with a distorted view. Every decade I manage to live, I find some social values will have changed and so does my own behaviour. When I listen carefully to the lyrics in pop song from the past, I realize, they would not be written today and you notice them disappear off the old time play lists.
Looking back, like you try to do by reading history, do you believe that affects the way you see the world we are in now, asked Sav?
It certainly influences the way I see everything in my life. For example, with every war and major catastrophe there will be a surge in migration. When it is a large movement, it will result in a major change in the perspective of those migrants and the community they move to. For example, a Russian couple migrated to North America between the first and second world wars. They had a son who was not the slightest bit interested in what his parents represented. He embraced the culture he was exposed to growing up in wealthy America after the second world war. He changed his name and become a major poet and musician of his time.
Getting off the subject a little bit, Bic said. When a country boasts about how great it is and this is due to its system of governance and cultural heritage, which results in great wealth for all who get out of bed in the morning and pick the fruit from the abundant trees of opportunity. Then, lots of people in less fortunate circumstances are going to think, let’s have our children there. When our children grow up and become rich, they will be able keep us in comfort in our old age.
So, people migrate there anyway they can, take what ever work and abuse is offered, so their future offspring will be for ever grateful to them. The economy of their adopted country grows from their hard work and ambition. When there is some economic trouble, certain sections of the political class, start crying out, those migrants are stealing our future and on and on.
My appraisal of this is, if a country believes it offers heaven on earth to its citizens, keep it quiet. Shut down the propaganda machine and only project negative message about its self. The cars are all old and rusty, the children have straight hair and curly teeth, the ladies are not pretty or friendly.
However, they boast and brag and then, cannot understand why so many people turn up on their door step.
Sorry about the digression, most of my time is spent dealing with ideas and from experience, I have found to stay safe, remember, they are only words. What some unfortunate people call the voice in their head, can be highly entertaining, but really it is only a lot neurons connecting up with each other, possibly in an arbitrary way, sometimes. Information in, behaviour out, said Bic.
Sav said, I know exactly where you are coming from there Bic. Bill is always on about much the same thing. He says listen to everything and if you think it is worthwhile, listen to it more. Fill the brain with lots of music. Then, let loose, see what your brain does with it when you play. Bill says, when you put good ingrediencies in, you get good cooking. Lots of variety with the ingrediencies, better results.
Sav thought that’s funny, now I understand what Bill is on about a lot better. He is not entirely in a smoke haze.
I have to get going Bic, do you mind if I drop by again sometime?
As a member of the public, you are always welcome at the library Sav, after all, it is here to serve the public.
Dagge’s life took a positive turn after starting work at the recording studio. He found he had a natural talent for following directions, especially from Tingles Chimes. He never stopped being amazed by how everyone was polite and relaxed. When something went wrong, those not involved with the problem would wait quietly until it was time to resume. The relaxed politeness was starting to influence Dagge in a way that he liked. He thought, it is about time that author gave me a break.
On Saturday he went to the library to see Bic and tell him about his new job.
Bic noticed straight away how Dagge is the most relaxed he had ever been, since he knew him.
Hi Bic, I haven’t had a chance to get here as I have been working at the recording studio.
How is it going Dagge, do you like it?
I realize now that it was a major mistake going to the Business School. However, it can not be changed and so much of it is going to be with me for a long time, said a cheery Dagge.
Bic, Dagge said in a conspiratorial way, I have accepted that I am a character in a story and hopefully I am important enough to not be discarded too early. Hopefully, I am not the central character, they never get a rest, it is go, go, go, for centrals.
Well, Dagge, what can I say beyond congratulations. Bic was very interested in what Dagge was saying and he knew for sure his behaviour had not resulted from an induced substance.
Dagge went on, this does not mean for one second that I am going to be some sort of boring robot. Even though I see my existence is dependant on being in some story, I want to contribute to the role I play in that story.
At the Business School it is a continuous drone of you are an individual. Your success is dependent on adhering to the plan. You must understand the developed modelling. Follow the program vigorously. Adhere to the rules diligently. Your failure to comply will result in disgrace. Remember you are an individual, it is your duty to be a great success. Follow the rules relentlessly and believe, belief is everything.
There are eight billion humans Bic, surely the system is not going to collapse if one individual is simply not up to it, said Dagge.
Bic sat there with a hint of a smile and when he felt that Dagge had paused long enough to indicate that it was time for him to respond, he did.
Dagge, I respect your decision of, how you believe you should adapt to the environment you appear to exist in, by applying what ever methods you deem necessary. I hope your author is also respectful towards your character. Your position has lots of precedent historically. Millions of humans down through the ages have believed they are being directed through their lives by authors of the universe, I mean Gods.
Thank you, Bic, I will try not to bore you with details of my ongoing interactions with this author who ever it may be. But, if something of importance arises, especially if it concerns you, I will keep you informed, Dagge said reassuringly.
They sat there in silence for some time, when Dagge suddenly said, oh no!
Bic, that’s it, I have fallen for one of the greatest delusional tricks of all time, I am not a believer and what have I done? Answering his own question, Dagge went on.
All I have done is fallen for the old one two, I have substituted religion with an author, what a dunce, I am.
Silence fell once again as Dagge collected his thoughts. Finally, he said, this is getting complex. I think wacko, I am on top of this, then, klunk, it all falls apart. However, for one week I have managed to manage my life really well, simply by letting go and getting on with it. Even though I have proven that I am a prized dork once again, maybe I can salvage something from my latest plunge into madness.
Once again, they sat in silence for some time, then Bic finally spoke. It strikes me as very interesting how popular the phones have become with the general populace. I often wonder what people are actually doing with them. Are they playing games, reading, interacting with others through text. One thing is for sure, they will be up to far more than I could possibly imagine.
Dagge returned to the conversation from his thoughts, maybe they are doing everything, not at the same time of course. Like burning up their boredom, feeling like they belong, getting it off in some non-committal way. Maybe, most of it is simply filling in time without having to strain the brain.
On that point Dagge, I suppose it could be seen as a better option to use time with a small amount of energy on a phone, than to be smashing out with substances or wasting huge amounts of energy.
Dagge said, the more you question something, the more answers you can think up. Most of our existence in a wealthy country is really about what goes on in our heads, don’t you think Bic?
A healthy well-balanced mind is very important. I wonder why our culture gets so carried away with the promotion and consumption of goods and by doing so, pays little attention to having a happy population. If anything, it is a culture of insatiable appetite, said Bic.
Ah yes, that’s it, COIA, Culture of Insatiable Appetite. Dagge proclaimed. The citizens are kept on the tread mill by the COIA. At the Business School they constantly broadcast a message, “productivity must be improved”. Then, every day on a news site their will be a story, Business can not agree to any wage increases, until productivity is improved. The poor workers, how much more productivity can be blead out of them?
Bic said, at the peak of the domination of the religions, the theologians argued over how many angels could fit on a pin head. I suppose there will be a time when the corporations reach their peak and the economists will be arguing, how many humans are required in the productive process to maintain maximum profits?
None! said Dagge while laughing, get rid of them all, they are a waste of time, they spoil the supply side model. How can we have a perfect theory with those costly wasters upsetting everything with their unqualifiable behaviour.
Dagge and Bic had become quite jovial after Dagge realized his author idea is now an unborn-again religious experience, also known as a UBARE.
Bic, if there is one thing the Business School did not manage to destroy in my undeveloped mind, that is, the ability to laugh at my own short comings, occasionally.
It is a bit of a pity in some ways that your author theory didn’t turn out to be completely correct. Imagine all the wonderful questions you could have demanded answers to.
For example, you could ask things like, what would two peasants in a third world country sitting under a shady tree think of us wealthy westerns with gridlocked monster trucks on perfectly good roads.
The answer to that question cannot be found in this library, or any other for that matter. It is my guess they could laugh louder at us, than, we could even imagine.
Dagge said, I hope they don’t curse their poor donkey for its poor productivity.