Before the fall of Communism one of the striking things you might have noticed were you to have visited the Economics University would have been the number of eccentric-looking professors going about their business with rolls of toilet paper clutched tightly to their chests. But you need have looked no further than the nearest public bathroom for an explanation of this strange behaviour.
Later, a professor at the University explained that the reason behind this was that, during the communist era, there were shortages of staples such as toilet paper and if anyone were fortunate enough to happen upon it, they would remove it and keep it for themselves. This behavior became so ingrained that even when the shortage abated, people would still steal the toilet paper (just in case!). No matter how many times the paper was replaced, within a matter of hours, the dispensers in the stalls would be empty again. The result was that eventually the University stopped replenishing the stalls and everyone had to look to their own resources to accommodate their own needs.
Among the myths that form the boundaries of the engineered reality within which we live, one stands out in particular. This is the illusion of scarcity. This scarcity need not have any foundation. In fact, the very belief in its existence is enough to create scarcity in a situation, where it otherwise would not exist. Therefore, all those in control, need to get us to believe there is not enough to go around, to set the Game in motion. Once initiated, the desire to hoard goods to protect oneself against the threat of scarcity is enough to perpetuate it indefinitely.
This myth of scarcity brings about the idea of a zero-sum game. This means that just as every reaction provokes an equal an opposite reaction, so for every winner there must be a loser, and for every plus a minus. Thus we exist in a state of constant conflict, forever pitted against each other. In an attempt to promote our own needs we are encouraged to purchase whatever we can so as to ensure we have more than our competitors. This leads to a society in the grip of paranoia with everyone looking over his or her shoulder, and in this way the controlling influence of The Game is only increased.
Keeping a level head is quite the challenge in the game of scarcity. Morality is deemed less important that convenience as we all strive to seem virtuous while indulging our vices beneath the surface. Since everyone is in this Game together, it becomes next to impossible to exist without it, particularly since we all need to continue to market our own wares. And this is the trap which our global society has built for itself. The problem now is, having sprung it, how do we escape?
Later, a professor at the University explained that the reason behind this was that, during the communist era, there were shortages of staples such as toilet paper and if anyone were fortunate enough to happen upon it, they would remove it and keep it for themselves. This behavior became so ingrained that even when the shortage abated, people would still steal the toilet paper (just in case!). No matter how many times the paper was replaced, within a matter of hours, the dispensers in the stalls would be empty again. The result was that eventually the University stopped replenishing the stalls and everyone had to look to their own resources to accommodate their own needs.
Among the myths that form the boundaries of the engineered reality within which we live, one stands out in particular. This is the illusion of scarcity. This scarcity need not have any foundation. In fact, the very belief in its existence is enough to create scarcity in a situation, where it otherwise would not exist. Therefore, all those in control, need to get us to believe there is not enough to go around, to set the Game in motion. Once initiated, the desire to hoard goods to protect oneself against the threat of scarcity is enough to perpetuate it indefinitely.
This myth of scarcity brings about the idea of a zero-sum game. This means that just as every reaction provokes an equal an opposite reaction, so for every winner there must be a loser, and for every plus a minus. Thus we exist in a state of constant conflict, forever pitted against each other. In an attempt to promote our own needs we are encouraged to purchase whatever we can so as to ensure we have more than our competitors. This leads to a society in the grip of paranoia with everyone looking over his or her shoulder, and in this way the controlling influence of The Game is only increased.
Keeping a level head is quite the challenge in the game of scarcity. Morality is deemed less important that convenience as we all strive to seem virtuous while indulging our vices beneath the surface. Since everyone is in this Game together, it becomes next to impossible to exist without it, particularly since we all need to continue to market our own wares. And this is the trap which our global society has built for itself. The problem now is, having sprung it, how do we escape?
About the Author:
John Berling Hardy is dedicated to giving you the inside track on how to play the hidden game which is there in every one of life's social arenas. For more of his writings please visit www.playingtheplayers.com
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