We've got, what? 7 Billion people on this planet?

On every single day, since the beginning of time, if you look hard enough, you are going to be able to find something horrific going on somewhere. People being devastated. Every single day. Today, the media broadcasts it without you having to look for it.

But if you look around your own life, your own town, everything is pretty damn good. I mean, sure. We all have health issues sooner or later, or loved ones die or get sick. But on the balance, I'd rather live this life and enjoy it, even with some suffering thrown in now and then, than always worrying about that day's horrific thing happening somewhere else. Especially when there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

I wish I could find the well-referenced article about how we (worldwide) genuinely live in the most peaceful of times in the whole history of the planet. The frequency with which human beings have always slaughtered each other is really quite astounding. Of course it doesn't mean that this isn't a tragedy or that we should stop trying to improve, but it can help at least a little to know that we are still on the right path, if moving slowly on it. Like, we got out of the handbasket, at least.

I read a piece last night claiming as unemployment goes up, violent crime goes down.

Rather counter intuitive to me but maybe criminals prefer the ghetto where there's less chance of cops interrupting their enterprise, and when unemployment is up less people have two cents to steal? I don't know.

I think maybe a lot of violent crime is jealousy-driven. If everyone has a job except you, there's no escaping the mental voice pointing out that it must be your fault you don't have a job. That cognitive dissonance hurts, makes you angry, makes you want to hurt your neighbor and take the stuff that you feel like should have been rightfully yours. But if all your neighbors are struggling too, you have to look farther away for a target of jealousy. And it's a lot harder to violently rob the lords and ladies in the manor on the hill.

Hmm, I wonder what the effect of unemployment is on infidelity? Got the time but no money to woo somebody's spouse, That might lower the violent part of crime. :confused:

With more unemployment, then more entrepreneurs start their own business. With a resulting increase in whores, then a need to rape decreases. Crime violate crimes decrease.

Is that not obvious?

Plus, if you have a job, you can sneak off from the office for a nooner BJ with your wife none the wiser. If you're home on the couch all day unable to get a job, you're going to have to explain yourself every time you want to leave the house.

The plot thickens ...

No Lamplighter so somebody should cherry-pick this...

Yes, I know. I have cherry picked items for this post. ~ Lamplighter

Shouldn't have to say it all again.
The universe is hostile. so Impersonal. devour to survive.
So it is. So it's always been.

We all feed on tragedy
It's like blood to a vampire

Vicariously I, live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I

Under the heading "Twisting the Narrative to Suit Me" my bacefook feed this am blames the trend of moving people with disabilities from State Hospitals to Community based housing for mass shootings.

If you think Americans are blasé over another shooting...

What a tragedy that the Muslim son of Muslim Immigrants and his Muslim Immigrant wife ruined the reputations of Muslims, Immigrants, the US Immigration screening process and all those who support such immigration, by killing a bunch of people in San Bernardino when all they had to do was pop some heavy duty bubblewrap to terrorize people.

We shall have to make it law that all immigrants be issued heavy duty bubblewrap.

Egyptians encased in bubble paper? A 21st Century mummy? I thought importing mummies was illegal.

Base security gets a call somebody heard three pops. They have to respond, even if it's just a paranoid airman, as a matter of fact they probably hope that's the case. But a lot of people are on edge. Not me, I'm as low value target as they come. :haha:

Now, being covered in heavy duty bubblewrap will constitute wearing assault-style clothing.