When we cannot tahan pain, we change.
Sounds a bit simplistic? Try it. See how long you can sit still without moving a muscle. Or hold your breath without gasping. Or resist a 90%-off super cheap sale.
If these things don't move you, then I can safely conclude that you haven't crossed your threshold of pain. You are still in your comfort zone. Maybe other bigger pains occupy your mind. Perhaps a crushing credit card debt that's overriding the pain of missing out on a deal of a lifetime.
People grumble at how nothing's changed after 52+ years. That's over half a century. A pretty long time to be a victim.
So have we arrived at our threshold of pain yet? Ha ha, far from it. Why do I say that?
Because there's a tussle for votes at you-know-where.
In a morbid sort of way, people's ability to tolerate punishing levels of pain is a triumph of their grit. They're the true survivors. I mean seriously, how many people can you throw into a Jumanji-like swamp where they are plundered, raped and abandoned and you still have to convince them its painful?
Step into the mind of the fence sitter and the unconvinced. Feel it? Ok ok, some do say to their tormentors, "Ya, you screwed me for so long and it hurt a bit but ok lah, I give you one more chance." Wah, damn keng lah we all.
If there's one thing imperial China and revolutionary Russian history has taught me, its man's ability to tolerate pain. We're no different and I do think it'll take more abuse, and I mean a helluva lot more, before a blip registers in our cerebral cortexes. One big enough to make people actually sit up and say, "Damn there's a mosquito in here!" and eventually want change. To quote Shakespeare (of Columbus, Ohio), this ain't nuthin' yet. He he.
So my conclusion is this: You feel pain, I feel pain, but do the 53% out there feel pain? I'm afraid my answer at this time has to be no. So what do I do now? Lament the suffering that has gone unnoticed for 52 years or rejoice at what tough survivalists our stoic brothers and sisters have become?
There goes that frog cooking procedure again.
ReplyDeleteWhen you want to cook a frog, don’t throw it into boiling water, since it will only jump out instantly. Instead, place Froggie in a pot of tepid water and, ever so slowly, continue to increase the heat. He wouldn't notice the change in temperature. He'd even enjoy the warm water and maybe get sleepy too. When the poor fellow finally realizes he is being cooked, he’ll have no more strength to jump.
Ha ha, true. Many people slam the kataks without realizing they are one themselves eh.
ReplyDeletevery subtle... very subtle... i like :)
ReplyDeleteyeah, the tolerance level to pain is still pretty high. but it's fast dimishing. the other point to consider is fear... many are fearful that when the pain threshold is breach, the reaction may be catastrophic.
Welcome, zewt. Yea, the fear is real but nothing douses fear like a big wad of cash. Whatever country we come from, it seems that we can be bought with money and they understand it all too well.
ReplyDelete