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Interesting that he's able to do it, but as he states in the last paragraph, this isn't something everybody could do, and I think that is a good thing. For the
by pedalpete 13y ago
Interesting that he's able to do it, but as he states in the last paragraph, this isn't something everybody could do, and I think that is a good thing.
For the most part, it seems in the current state, Mr. Boyle is actually living off the goodwill of others while actually giving very little back to society. He has a caravan, a bike, was given a place park and is off the grid for electricty. He barters (which is as good as using money, but let's ignore that for now).
He talks about being happier and healthier than he had ever been before, which is important. But think about what would happen if everybody did as he does. We'd use up all our waste, which would be great, but I'm sure it wouldn't be too long before we would run out. We wouldn't have the things he relies on others giving away, like his bicycle and caravan. He's been healthier over the past year, but what about when he does get sick? He may be able to rely on the kindness of others to care for him, but what if he needs drugs or surgery?
What initially struck me was that he is able to live off the land, but being a non-practicing member of society, he isn't helping to take care of those who are less fortunate in other parts of the world. His taxes aren't paying for food-aid, or medical research.
I'm surprised how strongly I feel about this, why should I care what this guy does, but as this is being promoted as a positive thing, I'm concerned that more and more people might take up the practice, and the long-term implications for those who live in less fortunate environments.
- icu 13y agoI think differently to you pedalpete, how fantastic that this guy can live by his beliefs. Although my beliefs about economics are different I can still respect his right to pursue them and it challenges me to more strongly stick to my own.
- skidoo 13y agoMost taxes do not go to food-aid or medical research. And by not contributing to or directly enabling so many of society's ills he is indeed giving back far more than most others ever will.
- PLejeck 13y agoComplacency and apathy are not a form of protest.
- rosser 13y agoAre you suggesting that what this guy's doing is "complacency and apathy"?
- PLejeck 13y agoNot at all. I'm suggesting that arguing that doing nothing is better than doing something is something people do to promote complacency, and has no place in the world.
- skidoo 13y agoI don't see how depriving the machine of a cog can be construed as complacency. I've had several windows of unemployment and homelessness, sometimes by fate and sometimes by choice, and it is never an easy route. Like the saying goes, "If you are not an active part of the solution then you are just another part of the problem". In that respect, re-tweeting insolence and signing e-petitions and the like is closer to complacency.
- gadders 13y agoNo. Childish self-indulgence would be a better description.
- logn 13y agoHe didn't get into it, but I would guess he contributes a lot back to society, via his close-knit community. And for benefits to the whole of society I see two positives: 1- If he's able to live off the land and teach other how to do so, I think that's a great contribution in that it might be important in disasters. 2- Also, if more people take up this practice, we might relieve the burden of the state to manage an increasingly complex society where many people might not possess the skills (or desire) to earn a decent living, but still do possess skills to live off the land and be productive in small communities. Just days ago EBT (food stamps) computers crashed and it made national news; how can it be bad to be self-sufficient? (edited this comment for clarity)
- loumf 13y agoIf everyone of us decided to live like any one of us, it would be a disaster. The world works because we have diversity of jobs, lifestyles, etc. He is obviously an outlier case that we don't seriously need to worry will be emulated in any significant way.