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> a modern, 1st world mindset, Yours was a valuable testimony. Let me just comment on one aspect of the mindset bit. Class, as you noted, still very much exis
by B1FF_PSUVM 8y ago
> a modern, 1st world mindset,
Yours was a valuable testimony. Let me just comment on one aspect of the mindset bit. Class, as you noted, still very much exists, but modern day aristocrats don't expose themselves to snipers as they did two or three centuries ago. Instead we get celebrities and players and self-made rich critters out there to catch the limelight and flak. And family, the key base to aristocratic wealth and power, is played down as unnecessary, because a meritocratic system needs no more than individual prowess to succeed.
- wozniacki 8y agoInstead we get celebrities and players and self-made rich critters out there to catch the limelight and flak. And family, the key base to aristocratic wealth and power, is played down as unnecessary, because a meritocratic system needs no more than individual prowess to succeed. Terrific observation! Although I think I get what you mean by this I'd love for you to expand on it. I'm sure you have dwelled as I have and arrived at some keen insights. Also who or what did you mean by snipers as they did two or three centuries ago Were aristocratic families the object of scorn back then? All the attention they received from society eventually led to bad stuff? Bad actors?
- kilburn 8y ago> Were aristocratic families the object of scorn back then? All the attention they received from society eventually led to bad stuff? Bad actors? Not scorn, but definitely resentment. Worst case for that aristocracy was... the french revolution ;)
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- isk517 8y agoFrench revolution was more of a bad case scenario, I think the Russian revolution was more of a worst case.
- B1FF_PSUVM 8y agoIf you look at XIX century sources, you'll see there were groups whose idea of fostering human progress was to terrorize the ruling class, mostly by piecemeal killing of its members with guns and bombs.
- wozniacki 8y agoCan you suggest a piece of writing that specifically delves into this? Even if not a whole book but a chapter somewhere?
- B1FF_PSUVM 8y agoI'd suggest giving a look to the Wikipedia articles on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narodnaya_Volya https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narodnaya_Volya and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_terrorism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_terrorism. Chesterton wrote The Man who was Thursday (1908) spoofing the policial mindset about anarchist plots that was pervasive at the turn of the century. If you search for "XIX century novels about terrorism" you'll find more material.