Monday 3 February 2014

In my spam filter (un-opened): Life is short. Have an Affair

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At first I thought, for the millionth time, what a sordid world we live in where internet usage forces such things - and worse - upon us, every day and many times per day.

And then I recognized that 'Life is short. Have an Affair' is actually the sub-text of innumerable mass mainstream novels, magazine articles, news reports, TV soaps and movies - and has been all of my life.

And then I realized how difficult it has become for people to have a solid and lasting marriage under this relentless propaganda and encouragement to evil (with sin portrayed positively; as intelligent, natural, enlightened, self-enhancing behaviour).

And then I remembered that it has actually become illegal and punishable for anyone in Britain straightforwardly to advocate the protection and strengthening of marriage and families.

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So - this is the modern world: a place where it is okay to advocate 'having an affair' at every level from sleazy spam e-mails on upwards; from all varieties of the Mass Media 24/7, and to the pinnacle of contemporary art, politics and social research.

But a world where to oppose this is strictly and explicitly against the rules of 'decent' society, and subject to harsh sanctions.

All of which is not some extreme extrapolation of present trends, some dystopian fantasy - but just how we live, here and now.

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9 comments:

AlexT said...

"And then I remembered that it has actually become illegal and punishable for anyone in Britain straightforwardly to advocate the protection and strengthening of marriage and families."

I know that it's very unfashionable, but illegal? Please explain. And, apologies if the answer should be obvious to me.

Morendo said...

The common methods of dodging this reality come in the form of : "you need to find a 'good' man/woman and this won't happen." BS, the good are as easily corruptible as anyone else. I've known many 'good' men/women who have cheated frequently. And where is one to find this mythical and ever dwindling 'good' population? Should not the 'good' be the bulk and the 'un-good' be those for which one must be forced to 'seek out?'

Great post, good day Mr. Charlton.

Bruce Charlton said...

@Alex T - The rules and regulations are those related to Hate Crimes/ Incitement to Hatred - which is being interpreted that any negative or non-positive remark = hatred-promoting when directed at certain groups; and various requirements that non-traditional sexual and lifestyle options must 1. be taught and 2. be positively presented in schools; and multiple laws, rules and regulations (both generally and in specific organizations and institutions) against 'causing-offence' (enforced such as to favour only Left-approved categories of persons).

In sum, there is a combination of: A. Laws/ rules/ regulations which are very loosely-written and which are being breached almost all the time by everybody; plus B. A legal (and bureaucratic) system which enforces these laws/ rules. regulations selectively and unilaterally.

George said...

@Morendo - We are, of course, in a sinful world. Odds would be in your favor to find a spouse less-likely to cheat among a community with strong religious convictions that supports large families. Children, community support, traditional marriage, closeness to your spouse, etc. all work against the likelihood of this outcome.

Adam Greenwood said...

It's actually a very succinct summation of your theme:
modern man, believing in no hereafter ("life is short"), escapes into hedonism.

AlexT said...

@George,
The exclusive plymouth brethren are my current faves of these communities. They still take converts too, which is nice.

@Adam Greenwood,

As Dostoevsky said 'if God doesn't exist, everything is allowed'

Don said...

I watched the super bowl yesterday with my family. Fortunately, the children decided to watch Prince Caspian rather than the super bowl. It was fortunate because I saw at least two anti-family ads. The first was a coke commercial with gay 'fathers' the second a candy ad promoting multiple partner sex. There is an ad on regular FOX news for an 'affair' site and on SyFy ads for adult friend finders.

Modern society has mainstreamed deviancy. It didn't even take as long as I expected. Heinlein's 'Crazy Years' are here.

Fernando said...

The shallowness and sleaze that you detract in your post is the direct result of the debasement that is deliberately taking place in today's society.

The notion of Absolute, Common Sense and Universal Judgement are but dead. By "hegellianly" challenging assertions based on Common Sense and Universal Judgement, the Left consistently debases each individual sense of belonging: once menaced by dialectic attacks, the unprepared and common mortal tends to turn into itself, unable to debate and defend himself. This is turn generates isolation and ultimately a sense of irrevocable Loneliness.

Loneliness (being lonely, not being alone) is the ultimate fragile state of a human being. In order to mitigate it, one tends to turn to vices and immediate pleasures. The temptation to have adventures outside of marriage is too big to be avoided: the Loneliness appears to vanish.

But it doesn't. Loneliness persists and permeates society because the ultimate companion was chased away from us: G*d.

Only by turning to G*d can we re-base ourselves and stop being lonely.

Loneliness is the playground of Evil.

Wm Jas said...

Another example of the importance of calling things by their right names. "Life is short; commit adultery" just doesn't have the same ring, does it?