fightclub.on.toribash.com

see you in the dojo

ps. My favorite movie

In gang and other criminal interactions, force (e.g. guns and fists) will always be the rule – this is a given. But why is violence so popular in media, sports, entertainment, cinema, etc? Why is dominating or destroying another man with physical force an act of manliness and a source of pride and entertainment?

Man’s basic means of survival is through the use of his mind – this is his crucial distinction from other animals: his cognitive faculty. He cannot compete with the tiger, the elephant, or even the domesticated cow in terms of physical strength. So, in his early days he created the spear, the knive, and the bow & arrow.

Now apply this idea to men’s interaction with one another: it is immeasurably better to for men to deal with one each other without physical violence…so man developed language, the alphabet, and thus communication. He planned, he wrote, he thought, and he applied his mind. And he created the machine gun, the skyscraper, automobiles, internal combustion engines, refrigerators, the computer chip, the nuclear missile, and the F-22.

Is today’s culture one that values the fist over the mind? The Fist is the tool of the dumb, unthinking brute, too stupid and thoughtless to integrate the facts of reality and his own capability into a plan of action to achieve his goals and desires. The mind (i.e. rational thought and action) is the tool of any real man or woman.

(The use of physical force is, of course, warranted in the case of self-defense or retaliation on the part of an individual or a nation. And no doubt the skill and training involved to be a successful mixed martial arts fighter is impressive.)

The solution is not to ban fighting on television, or restrict violent movies, or abolish war-simulation video games. The solution is a shift is values and a crucial recognition of the fact that man’s mind is infinitely more powerful than his fist.

The mind can produce immeasurable wealth. The fist and the gun can only destroy. It’s time our culture and our entertainment reflect this.

However, the overall message is wise: fighting in the streets runs an elevated chance of serious injury and death. Fighting should not be entered into lightly.

As to the delayed maturity of youth: perhaps, though I am always suspicious of any “kids these days” argument. I work with 18-24+ year olds and some of them display a retarded maturity; others, however, work and support families while they attend college.