It Takes a Village to Change a Light Bulb
We all have shit to do. And shit is complicated. Even outside employment and our social obligations, daily life is filled with incredibly intricate processes. Each process requires a general understanding of how it works. On top of that, one needs to know where to purchase replacement parts and services. Then, one needs to know what a good price for a part and service is and how to get a bargain.
Take just our cars. First, we need to know that our cars require gas, oil and fluids. We also need a basic understanding of how or engine works. Second, we need to know where maintenance and repair is done. Where one gets gas is not the same place to get windshield wiper fluid and is not the same place get one’s oil changed. One needs to go to separate places for tire rotation, engine work and bodywork. Third, one needs to know what a reasonable price is for all of these services so as not to get cheated. Fourth, there are some skills we are expected to do. On top of the skill of driving, we need to know how to pump gas, change tires, check air pressure, check oil levels and change headlights. How do we get it all done?
We have taxes, eating, cooking, laundry, computers, lawn care, electrical work, plumbing and an endless number of subjects that we need to master to manage our daily lives. Sure, we have manuals, books and the internet, but it is still fairly difficult to use these items to find all of the information we need, especially learning that requires “hands-on” experience.
No, the only way to really get by is with the help of your social network. Your friends and family teach you how to do everything and, for the things you cannot do yourself, how to purchase services at minimal cost. What is nice is that friends and family usually enjoy helping each other out with knowledge. They are annoyed at doing jobs for others, but actually like telling each other how to get things done.
What is amazing is that there are people without many friends or family. I do not know how they get by and I genuinely feel sorry for them. Not only do they not have these people for emotional support and entertainment, but without this social network to help them live, they must need to spend an inordinate amount of time and money on their daily tasks. It is an anti-social tax.
For this very reason, I do not fear the so-called breakdown of community that anti-urbanites warn society about. No matter how far we live from each other, we need other people to live. We have every reason to maintain these ties, for our lives would be unmanageable without their collective knowledge and experience. In fact, as the world becomes more complicated, it perhaps is more necessary to maintain social networks.
Take just our cars. First, we need to know that our cars require gas, oil and fluids. We also need a basic understanding of how or engine works. Second, we need to know where maintenance and repair is done. Where one gets gas is not the same place to get windshield wiper fluid and is not the same place get one’s oil changed. One needs to go to separate places for tire rotation, engine work and bodywork. Third, one needs to know what a reasonable price is for all of these services so as not to get cheated. Fourth, there are some skills we are expected to do. On top of the skill of driving, we need to know how to pump gas, change tires, check air pressure, check oil levels and change headlights. How do we get it all done?
We have taxes, eating, cooking, laundry, computers, lawn care, electrical work, plumbing and an endless number of subjects that we need to master to manage our daily lives. Sure, we have manuals, books and the internet, but it is still fairly difficult to use these items to find all of the information we need, especially learning that requires “hands-on” experience.
No, the only way to really get by is with the help of your social network. Your friends and family teach you how to do everything and, for the things you cannot do yourself, how to purchase services at minimal cost. What is nice is that friends and family usually enjoy helping each other out with knowledge. They are annoyed at doing jobs for others, but actually like telling each other how to get things done.
What is amazing is that there are people without many friends or family. I do not know how they get by and I genuinely feel sorry for them. Not only do they not have these people for emotional support and entertainment, but without this social network to help them live, they must need to spend an inordinate amount of time and money on their daily tasks. It is an anti-social tax.
For this very reason, I do not fear the so-called breakdown of community that anti-urbanites warn society about. No matter how far we live from each other, we need other people to live. We have every reason to maintain these ties, for our lives would be unmanageable without their collective knowledge and experience. In fact, as the world becomes more complicated, it perhaps is more necessary to maintain social networks.
posted by American Dilettante at
11:09 PM
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